DJ Planning Software

Albatross said:

Does anyone here use any of the DJ event planning software systems?

I've avoided them for a long time. I felt like it removed some of our ability to be consultative with the process of creating a timeline with our couples, or just having a discussion around music. But I'm curious if I've been making life more difficult for myself.

Rather than writing a timeline, we could just review and edit together. It would probably cut at least 30 minutes out of my event prep time per gig.

Curious if you use one and which one you use.

Click to expand...

I use djeventplanner... I LOVE IT... but like you I wanted the ability to converse. So event planner handles all my contract links, my database of events, packages, etc... and yes I do use an online planner... but I keep mine limited to things that I don't really have an input in such as:

- names and order of bridal party members
- songs for formalities
- last song of the night
- names and order of toasts and blessing speakers
- any special announcements
- what color uplighting
-etc etc etc

I still go over timeline, I still go over playback of songs for formalities, and I still go over the overall atmosphere on the dancefloor. My planner just is there to make life easier on the couples so they have everything that they need to pick out in front of them from day 1... it also makes it easier during our meeting with having all of these songs picked out already. "I see for your intro song is "xyz", let me play that back really quick to make sure I have the exact version you want", as opposed to "have you decided what song you want for your introduction" and for them to be "oh I didn't even think of that" or "I didn't know we choose that" and then spending 10 minutes trying to find one for them.

In my planning though I do ask if the venue has a timeline that they provided (I know dc is different with event planners) and we'll work off that or make subtle tweaks. Here you gotta follow the venues timelines, and while slight tweaks can be made, you can't go rearranging everything.

I use ewebmin /djintellience. I've used it for years. I've never tried the other ones. I've never felt its hindered my ability to be consultive. Rather, a place where the client or I can store information and then have it readily available for me when we have our meetings and at the event itself.
I find it saves tons of time. For a few hundred dollars a year, to:
Send out agreements
Record payments
Send out reminders
Easily show booked events, leads, and pending events all color coded and how much still needs to be collected on a calendar.
Have contracts e-sign ed
Let clients add things to planners.

I'm sure it's possible for someone to use these things wrong. Not talking with clients and just relying on the client to fill out forms with the software is what I'd say is wrong. But like any tool, it's only as good as the person using it. But I've found it to save me a ton of time.

Being out of the office and able to take a phone call, enter a few details and have the agreement sent, signed, date booked, payment recorded and planners sent, schedule a follow up and be able to see all of this at any time is invaluable.

I'm there with Taso. I use djeventplanner but I know I don't use it for anywhere near what it is capable of. I use it for the calendar, to keep contacts, and to keep track of payments, etc.

DJ EventPlanner here as well. Moved to it about 5 years go from GigBuilder.