Mentoring other DJ's

ittigger said:

FYI - 'azz' is our way of keeping it somewhat cleaned up.

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Either way he can't be that dumb he doesn't get it.

ittigger said:

I'm pretty certain he's not dumb .. even he's tried to get you motivated to do the right things.

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Just having some fun.

Precisionpower said:

Then my phone internet quit on me so had to switch to text..


Told her she has potential to be a great dj, But will have to step out of her comfort zone to elevate her work
(and pay) Told her my honest opinion is that she doesnt want to, Because i'm not seeing any improvements.

She replied

""Although i need improvement, I make lots of efforts. I've been using Virtual Dj program for last 2 shows"

I asked if she bought a PRO copy yet??

She replied

"I use VDJ Broadcast version, And am planning on upgrading"

I then said "The ability to Cue songs is to a DJ what a knife is to a Butcher"

She Agreed.

She told me that the bar owner where she works told her one night that she (the bar owner) could
"Do what she does from behind the bar i bet"
I told her to use that as inspiration...

She said TRUE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of conversation~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, I hear lots of excuses.. and not much ambition. Some of you were right on the money.

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You still haven't given a valid reason WHY you need her to step up her game?
She concedes she's not as good a DJ as you are - but, she also never claims that she'd care to be. She even scoffs at you notion of a competitor dipping into her territory.

I hear you giving lots of unsolicited criticism and telling her what to do - and yet, no reason?
Why did you issue an ultimatum - telling her she has to start meeting your standards or no more help? Clearly - even she is confused by your assertion. Quote: "U seem annoyed? I thought we helped each other?" You see, your claim of simply being helpful doesn't wash because, you are making demands of her - the purpose of which remains unstated.

She has not indicated any goal that she needs your help to achieve and yet, there you are talking about "needs" and making demands relative to some goal you obviously have but can not articulate.

It does not sound to me that this woman needs or wants a mentor so much as you need or want an under-study?

Precisionpower said:

Proformance.. She is the one who reached out to me for help at getting better at the dj business.

I'm simply holding her to her own goals that she discussed with me when she initially asked me to help her.

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Define "reached out" - what exactly did she ask you for?
You're already annoyed with her - so what did she specifically commit to doing (in her words - not yours) that she hasn't followed through on?
Keep in mind - that simply accepting or agreeing with your critiques is not a commitment to act on any of them.
I hear her using the word "help" and you seem to be hearing the word "change."

Precisionpower said:

Yes.. she asked me about the program that i use (VDJ) and expressed an interest in using it. But she has a stripped down broadcast version, That will not allow her to spin like i do. She told me quite some time ago that she was going to upgrade it
and never has... Just makes excuses.

She is the one that has said time and time again that she wants a better light show... and yet never seems to buy more or better lighting.

I have helped her out (2) times now with lights when she asked me. And now i'm just pushing her to step up her offering like SHE told me she wants to do. I'm not making up these "standards" for my own sake.

She obviously needs a "push" to make it to the next level, or she will be stuck doing $150 bar gigs and bottom feeder weddings for $250-$300. Which is a shame, As she has the only Bose L1 rig around here that i'm aware of.. And she has no idea how to market that to her advantage

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I think "push" is a good description since it's your expectations that are misplaced.

As I see it, she already has an upgraded light show - yours!

I think she has her priorities very well in line. She is making money and not wasting it on upgrades she doesn't want or need.
The only person not satisfied with her performance or pricing is you!

She is getting work and getting paid. That seems to be where she wants to be. All this hype about the Bose L1, and better software & lights, etc. these ideas are all coming from you. She can listen, agree with your perspective - and still not want to be like you. Get it?

Precisionpower said:

Yes.. she asked me about the program that i use (VDJ) and expressed an interest in using it. But she has a stripped down broadcast version, That will not allow her to spin like i do. She told me quite some time ago that she was going to upgrade it
and never has... Just makes excuses.

She is the one that has said time and time again that she wants a better light show... and yet never seems to buy more or better lighting.

I have helped her out (2) times now with lights when she asked me. And now i'm just pushing her to step up her offering like SHE told me she wants to do. I'm not making up these "standards" for my own sake.

She obviously needs a "push" to make it to the next level, or she will be stuck doing $150 bar gigs and bottom feeder weddings for $250-$300. Which is a shame, As she has the only Bose L1 rig around here that i'm aware of.. And she has no idea how to market that to her advantage

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Let's be fair here everyone. You said she is doing weddings for $250.00-$300.00 and bar gigs for $150.00. With that said I know you want her to upgrade to a pro version of VDJ and get better lights. That sounds like the right thing to expect but look at what she's getting paid to do events. I recently bought a ADJ Double Phase LED light that I paid over $200.00 for. The regular price everywhere else is $299.00. So if she right now is getting at most $300.00 to do gigs, how does she get to upgrade like you would want her to?

Now if she were doing gigs every weekend for $300.00 and working 2 nights out of the weekend then I could possibly see her doing the upgrades you see she needs to do. Can you tell us how often does she get to do these gigs each month?

Also look at it this way. Look at how much each gig is costing her to get to do them. Yes she may be getting $300.00 to do a wedding but how much of that $300.00 is she actually making a profit off of. Depending on where the gig is at it could cost a pretty penny in gas to get there alone. What I did myself was to make some big sacrifices to get the things I wanted lately for the business. Such things will pay for themselves down the line.

The bottom line is this. If you want top quality stuff it will cost a nice dollar. You said the VDJ pro program alone will cost $200.00. I agree that she should get that program because it works great and that's what I use. Now after after she gets paid the $300.00 for doing a wedding and then looks to buy that program that will leave her with $100.00. Actually less then that because of other expenses. I know it's a one time buy and you're done. Maybe you should try that angle with her and just maybe she will take the plunge. Then next you said she needs Headphones. I have Shure headphones that sound great. I paid less then $100.00 and I love them!

My point being to it all is that this business can become very expensive. Especially if you want to become truly polished professional. I know that right now since buying the powered setup and other stuff I've spent I would guess roughly 6k. That's not including the gear I already had before then. So it's easy to tell someone you should buy this this and this but the question is can they afford such things?

You mentioned she has study work in bars. Have you truly checked what most bars will pay a DJ? Trust me not a lot. 2 nights a week at $150.00 a night is not a lot of money. The question I would have for her is what is she doing with the money she is making?

I'm starting to feel like the others are right. Why are going through all of this to help her out and these red flags keep coming up? You're upset because she won't do what you tell her so she can get better. Who is that on then?

Precisionpower said:

The thing you guys dont realize is this has been an ongoing issue for what going on 3 years now.... She has steady work in the bars.. So she is making money pretty much every weekend. And yet, doesnt see the need to reinvest some into her business.

She approached me while i was spinning to a packed bar and dance floor 3 years ago for a St Pattys day gig,...
I looped the first 8 beats of "Party up-DMX" to hype up the crowd, And they went ape ****.. She thought that was the coolest thing ever and asked me how i did it... Thats what started this whole deal of me "mentoring/Helping her out"

She doesnt like doing the cheap gigs she is doing now, and has said to me numerous times she wants to be able to charge more for her services.... I told her she needs a regular job during the week to help support her business till she get to where she can charge what she is looking for... Thats how I DID IT.

I have excellent gear that i spun 4-5 nights a week, while working 50 hours a week at my regular job for better than 5 years.... If you want it, Go out and get it. So, i'm tired of the excuses she gives. and after 3 years, there isnt much reason that someone couldnt come up with $200 for a software upgrade, or a nice light show...

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She seems fine to me, and fine with herself. You on the other hand just sound pissed off because she doesn't care to be like you.
Give her your lights to use or don't but, realize she doesn't work for you and it's not her job to follow your plan.

Perhaps when she found out it was software that looped those 8 beats she lost interest in that type of DJing. Whatever, it is - she obviously was not impressed enough to buy VDJ. Just let it go.

Precisionpower said:

I have. If she is so fine to you and herself, Then why does she continue to tell me she needs/Wants to improve??

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Realizing you need to improve and doing something about it are 2 different things. It takes a lot to get your ego out of the way and take the help that is given to you. Now my question to you since you keep telling us you see a lot of potential in her. What do you see her doing that has you feeling that way?

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Realizing you need to improve and doing something about it are 2 different things. It takes a lot to get your ego out of the way and take the help that is given to you.

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Very well said Mix...you should make this your signature.

Precisionpower said:

I have. If she is so fine to you and herself, Then why does she continue to tell me she needs/Wants to improve??

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Because that's where you keep taking the conversation?