Mixing...is it really that important?

To me mixing is important to the degree of a clients expectation, the crowd your playing to, and type of gig.

I like mixing (traditional, harmonic, scratch...). To me its a core skill of the trade and see it as part of my job that I do at every opportunity however there are instances where it isn't practical like when taking requests during weddings at which time I may do some MC work to announce the next song as a request, or a change up.

With respect to wedding DJs being formulaic, that is casting a wide net. I do weddings primarily and may play some of the same songs as they are hot at the time and are on the MP list but I cant say I've ever performed the same mix the exact same way gig to gig.

If my hands aint movin I aint groovin...party on!

Performance you say brides expectations are lowered because of what a DJ is or is not doing. That's partly true. Some will say stay away from craigslist but i beg to differ. There are a lot of nice things that can be found on craigslist. You can find DJ gear or a nice used Vehicle.

Now just look in your area or state on the events section and see what ads are up there where a person is looking for a DJ. Check out what some people are willing to pay a DJ to come to do an event for them. Some want to spend less then $200.00 on booking a DJ to come do an event for them. For some DJing is a way to make some extra money and they will jump at the chance to show off their skills and make some money.

I used to see it that way too because i had my day job. I wasn't depending on DJing to survive. I've had a change of heart since I'm in the process of retiring. The thing that hurts us as a whole is the DJ who will do a gig like say a wedding for $250.00-$300.00. Add to that if they do a really good job and the client and guest loved what they did. That really hurts this business. Now that says to some why would you pay more then that for a DJ. They are only playing music.

Now what happens if that DJ sucks? Most won't blame themselves for choosing a DJ willing to do their wedding for such a cheap price. They will say a DJ isn't even worth paying $300.00. Now add the fact of all the under cutting that is going on in this business now along with making far to easy for someone to call themselves a DJ and you have this disaster that is happening now.

The real problem that has been discussed on dj chat is that there are no laws out there governing this business. So a DJ gets to charge whatever they want and basically do whatever they want. And there's no say so. That's where it's at.

I got into this business because of one of my friends in college who said i would never become a DJ. I was determined to prove him wrong! In 81 i became a DJ. I became a perminate employee for the job I'm now retiring from and i went and bought some equipment. I stayed in my bedroom practicing constantly until i became good enough to play in a bar and do private events for people. I didn't use contracts at the time. Most people were honest and i got paid. I never looked at this as a business. It was something i did for fun and made some extra money besides my day job. It was what i loved to do! I still do most times.

I just kept going in that direction because i had my day job to fall back on. So if i didn't get a gig that wasn't a big deal at that time. So i didn't plan i just went along with what ever happened. I can admit that was big mistake of mines besides getting my name better known at that time. Now I'm getting noticed quite a bit now. I just got a call to possibly do a NYE gig. I told them i was available and would love to do the gig. They will be getting back to me. I really hope i get this gig. It's for something special in my heart!

Just wanted to share that and hope it will help someone on here just starting out not to make the same mistakes i did. First thing besides getting equipment and practicing on that equipment to learn about DJing so you can come do events for people. Come up with a business plan. Have an ideal of where you want go as a DJ.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Performance you say brides expectations are lowered because of what a DJ is or is not doing. That's partly true. Some will say stay away from craigslist but i beg to differ. There are a lot of nice things that can be found on craigslist. You can find DJ gear or a nice used Vehicle. You can also find a hooker on craigslist.

Now just look in your area or state on the events section and see what ads are up there where a person is looking for a DJ. Check out what some people are willing to pay a DJ to come to do an event for them. Some want to spend less then $200.00 on booking a DJ to come do an event for them. For some DJing is a way to make some extra money and they will jump at the chance to show off their skills and make some money. True, what is your point?

I used to see it that way too because i had my day job. I wasn't depending on DJing to survive. I've had a change of heart since I'm in the process of retiring. The thing that hurts us as a whole is the DJ who will do a gig like say a wedding for $250.00-$300.00. Add to that if they do a really good job and the client and guest loved what they did. That really hurts this business. Now that says to some why would you pay more then that for a DJ. They are only playing music. This is where I call BS. They are not hurting anyone, except the DJ that thinks that all wedding clients should be paying them $5k. There is and always will be clients and providers in all price ranges, get over it and go drink some more cool-aid.

Now what happens if that DJ sucks? Most won't blame themselves for choosing a DJ willing to do their wedding for such a cheap price. They will say a DJ isn't even worth paying $300.00. Now add the fact of all the under cutting that is going on in this business now along with making far to easy for someone to call themselves a DJ and you have this disaster that is happening now.

The real problem that has been discussed on dj chat is that there are no laws out there governing this business. So you want the government to step in and say what we can and can not charge for our services?? So a DJ gets to charge whatever they want and basically do whatever they want. And there's no say so. That's where it's at.

I got into this business because of one of my friends in college who said i would never become a DJ. Maybe he ment a good DJ? I was determined to prove him wrong! In 81 i became a DJ. I became a perminate employee for the job I'm now retiring from and i went and bought some equipment. I stayed in my bedroom practicing constantly until i became good enough to play in a bar and do private events for people. I didn't use contracts at the time. Most people were honest and i got paid. I never looked at this as a business. It was something i did for fun and made some extra money besides my day job. It was what i loved to do! I still do most times.

I just kept going in that direction because i had my day job to fall back on. So if i didn't get a gig that wasn't a big deal at that time. So i didn't plan i just went along with what ever happened. I can admit that was big mistake of mines besides getting my name better known at that time. Now I'm getting noticed quite a bit now. I just got a call to possibly do a NYE gig. I told them i was available and would love to do the gig. They will be getting back to me. I really hope i get this gig. It's for something special in my heart!

Just wanted to share that and hope it will help someone on here just starting out not to make the same mistakes i did. First thing besides getting equipment and practicing on that equipment to learn about DJing so you can come do events for people. Come up with a business plan. Can you share your business plan with us? Have an ideal of where you want go as a DJ.

Click to expand...

Mix, are we on some type of hidden camera tv show???

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Most people have never booked a DJ before and don't know what to look for.

Click to expand...

That might have been true in 1983 but, no longer. There is no one left on the planet who does not understand the variety of things a DJ can do. You are making excuses for not making a clear connection with client expectations, or not properly qualifying your prospects.

So brides don't know what to expect a DJ to do beyond playing music.

Click to expand...

That's your expectation of people - a disconnect you haven't figured out yet, and it is not their reality, it is yours. This whole notion that "the brides don'y know any better" is bulls__t. It's DJs who by and large don't listen - they preach. They aren't really in the business of service - rather they want to tell brides what's important. Most brides are turned off by the bulk of DJs because of that blind arrogance and self-importance.

On another note, you can learn how to mix by practicing in your bedroom. However, to be a better DJ you have to practice in front of a live audience until you learn the psychology of what it is in music that makes dancers walk on and off a dance floor. Club DJs are not necessarily the best DJs because in fact, many of them in the ordinary pubs and lounges of Anytown USA are in the midst of that practice. It is not that hard to fill a dance floor in a venue where people come to dance. Clubs are the colleges of our trade.

Looks like the peanut Gallery is back up the page again!