So for those of you that choose not to learn via books, DVD's or workshops, how are your sales looking for next year?
I don't have the exact company numbers in front of me but it's around 200 this year and 88 of them I will have done personally. All private events no bars. I expect next year will be around the same if the numbers stay the way they are now.
What alot of you guys are missing is some of us have been doing this a long time. Most of the games and methods have been done a long time before they were put on DVD and compiled nicely in to a package you can pay for. There are alot here that invented these methods or at least our own versions of these methods. We are long past being told how to. For someone fresh to the business some of these educational materials are worth thier weight in gold there is no doubt.
I'm not saying you can't teach an old dog new tricks but the bottom line is there aren't too many new tricks in this material. How many ways can you spin a Hula hoop
I do alot of reading, probably more than I have ever done, but I dont waste time on material that serves me no purpose. I am currently reading Guerilla Marketing. It helps me get them through the doors i'll teach them the Hokey Pokey on my own
Tommy, I would have to disagree. Most DJs are too arrogant and cheap to ever buy these tools and if they do I would venture that most aren't really willing to incorporate what they learn. Leaving only a few to actually learn the material, put it into practice and then try to improve upon it. So many hear just beat up any learning tool in any medium. There is so much to learn about being a better DJ and being better at sales and learning how to manage your business better and how to handle your money and how to find or create new talent. The list is endless, there is so much to learn and so little time to learn it. How completely arrogant is it for those who sit here and say there is no reason to buy this or that as though they know everything. The very same people who tell others that they just can't charge more for their services than the others in their area. Mediocrity is a very safe place. There is very little risk, if you don't claim to be great, then no one will hold you to the standards of "great" and life is easy and good. The people here who pretend that they can't learn anything from anyone else are fools, who love mediocrity. I don't care if that is where they want to live their lives, just don't tell others that their way is the best way.
And yes, I have been doing this over 20 years. About 6 or 7 years ago I swallowed my pride and realized that I was not very good at my craft compared to what I could be, and I set out to learn. In my lighting business I have the opportunity to watch other DJs work, all that I have come across do things just like I used to do. They aren't bad, but they suck when compared to what they could do. The only person we compete against is ourselves.
I think the hula hoop and the hokey pokey may be the problem/difference in what we are talking about. I think we are serving different markets, which makes things easier to understand.
Jeff, I know you read a lot of self-growth and development books as I do. Most of those books are variants of the same basic principles. However, some leave a lasting impression because of the way they are worded, phrased, or one of the concepts stands out. There is a market, i'm sure, for any kind of information if it is well presented and the intrinsic value of it is there.
Books are a lot like DJ's, there are plenty of them but only a few truly stand out.
young...
I just might write a book in 3 years, just to make a few bucks on the side. By then, I'll have more DJ work under my belt and I might have an M.B.A. which means that I'll be more than credible in the DJ world. Couple that with annual visits to Las Vegas (using money made from selling books) and I'll be golden!
Sorry. Sometimes, I just can't help myself.
Why wait? I posted about writing a book on DJs and got no response from a DJ forum. That alone should give you an indication of what a tough market it would be to sell in. DJs encourage everyone to pay top dollar and seek the value, not price. Yet, when it comes to their own spending they are hesitant to spend a few bucks to improve themselves.
young...
I offer a hands on, person to person service to help with mic skills. Who will take me up on it?
Dave
Dave
DJs encourage everyone to pay top dollar and seek the value, not price. Yet, when it comes to their own spending they are hesitant to spend a few bucks to improve themselves.
young...
Some don't like to take their own advice.
This is true... and some folks definately aren't receptive to unsolicited advice from others.Some don't like to take their own advice.
I honestly believe that many people in this biz would be receptive to raising their own bar if doing so will be in their own best interests. That's what's got to be promoted... not rehashed and compiled posts copied from online DJ forums.
Call me nuts but it worked for me. I didn't listen to advice when it was put forth in a negative manner. I didn't appreciate being called a bottom dweller by people who didn't know me. I listened to my clients and gave them what they wanted.
If a client or guests didn't like something, I didn't do that. If they did, I did it.
Perhaps you are right but just for reference I don't use Hula Hoops or even know the Hokey Pokey I was just using that as an example
I agree 100% with you Chris information learned is never wasted. What I am saying is there isn't a whole lot in the DJ training DVDs and books that have any value for someone that has been in the business a while and cares to learn
G
Guest
Guest
This is true... and some folks definately aren't receptive to unsolicited advice from others.
I honestly believe that many people in this biz would be receptive to raising their own bar if doing so will be in their own best interests. That's what's got to be promoted... not rehashed and compiled posts copied from online DJ forums.
Call me nuts but it worked for me. I didn't listen to advice when it was put forth in a negative manner. I didn't appreciate being called a bottom dweller by people who didn't know me. I listened to my clients and gave them what they wanted.
If a client or guests didn't like something, I didn't do that. If they did, I did it.
OUTSTANDING post Fred. I wish more felt the way you feel.
Jeff,
Thank you for responding to my post. In regards to having done this a long time, so have I. The difference I see is that I am humble enough to know areas I need to improve in and have seeked out ways to get better in all facets of my business. Sales, Marketing, Production, Performance, etc. Online forums (chat boards) should be a place where others can share ideas and help your fellow man out....NOT pissing contests, who knows who or let's see whose d*** is bigger.
BTW...I hope I never get to the point of "long past being told how to." The reason being is that I always want to learn...even if the person telling me "how to" is giving me a way that it SHOULDN'T be done in my market or to my clientele. I learned a great idea that I still use today from one of the worst DJ's I have ever seen. Everyone has knowledge to impart...it's up to (collective) you to be open minded enough to listen....take what you like and leave the rest.
G
Guest
Guest
Believe it or not, I went through that myself. That is why I went to the expos, purchased the 1% Solution, and purchased several other DVDs, Books, and CDs. All of them gave me pointers that I applied. The workshops I attended were given at the expos; as a matter of fact, an expo workshop taught me the basics of building a photo montage. I put trust in people I did not know or consider a leader.
That being said, it just seems that, within the last few years DJs that have developed some "new" wrinkle are putting together workshops, CDs, DVDs, and so on. A few I have heard of but some I haven't a clue to who they are. Sure, I can read their bio but is it fact or fiction? Some of these folks are defacto industry leaders because they have done this.
I am a person that now watches every penny spent. If I am going to do a workshop I want it from somebody with credentials I can verify. I can verify Mark's, Randy's, and a few others. But, if some guy steps up and says I have a workshop that will make you the greatest DJ, ever, then before I even consider it I need to know his qualifications for producing that workshop.
G