It's about what works best for you. There are certain controllers I would sell if they gave it to me for free. Certain ones I can't do what I'm used to and play the way I'm used to playing. Someone else can use that same controller and shine.
New DJ Controller
- Thread starter Mike Burke
- Start date
But that's like I said, there is no right or wrong, it's just a matter of preference.
I made the jump from 2 stanton st8-150s and a mixer with real vinyl tracks to a dvs system. It was great for me.
Once I started mobile DJing, there was no way I was lugging all that equipment, plus vinyl, to a gig.
I got a numark ns6 at a ridiculous low price. It took me awhile to get used to it, but I could never go back. I do however have a turntable hooked up to my 4th channel for the purposes of converting vinyl to mp3. Can't lose all my collection.
Once I started mobile DJing, there was no way I was lugging all that equipment, plus vinyl, to a gig.
I got a numark ns6 at a ridiculous low price. It took me awhile to get used to it, but I could never go back. I do however have a turntable hooked up to my 4th channel for the purposes of converting vinyl to mp3. Can't lose all my collection.
I'm still thinking about it. I was going to go get this thing but I got sidetracked. I have to drive 30 miles to buy most anything DJ related. The landlady told me she will no longer sign for anything coming to my house, so if USPS can't ship it, I'm not getting it shipped to the house. Besides large items don't fit in the mail box , it's an apt. mailbox. Life has me sidetracked at the moment so I have to dedicate energies into other endeavors at the moment.
It might be worth looking to see if Amazon has a Lockers location near you where you could pick up a shipment at your convenience.
Man I have been trying all day to get logged into this site. It wasn't happening on my mobile phone. Now I'm on the computer.
DJ Art, I sunk the whole Angel Flight Entertainment thing back about 2 years ago. I have been operating under my own name now as wll as moved to a whole different region. I got out of Northern Virginia because ultimately it has got too big for it's britches and live in a whole different region of Virginia now where the demographics are substantially less 89,000 vs. 3 Million people. I had to get out of there because the cost of living there was pretty astronomical.
I was pigeon holed for 14 years trying to do Christian only gigs, That's who I ultimately wanted to have as clients back then but I also played mainstream music as well. Back then it was a barrier. for me. Now I play anything pretty much, I've expanded my horizons a little but regrettably even doing that has not really "done" anything for me. I've tried very hard to move away from the moniker that I only do Christian only events. I did away with it. Changed the name of my operation and everything but most of it has been to no avail, leading me to believe that was not the problem because it still remains.
I've been much happier since moving away from Northern Virginia because it's a lot less stress and a lot more beach. But things here do not compete with things in Northern Virginia , you really can't because the two regions are like night and day. As a rule, things don't cost that much out here as they do in Northern Virginia. People don't make as much out here as they do there. Though it's about an hour or so away, it's a whole different world here. Everything costs less out here. Rent is cheaper, electricity is cheaper, personal property tax is cheaper, food holds the fair market price , housing is way cheaper, gasoline is cheaper and I have a beach here.
Most of the reason is nobody knows me. How do people get to know you if they don't ever hire you?
What has not worked for me has been :
1. Websites. I have spent thousands of dollars on trying to get a website to work, to do something . All they have done is fail me since 2002 so I have a low opinion of them. Not all they are cracked up to be.
2. Networking: I have been to numerous networking events, presented my information got to meet people and tried to do all the stuff that networking is supposed to accomplish. Nothing. No calls, no referrals and no money. so with no money I'm broke.
3. Bridal fairs: I had presented all my information, listed as gold sponsors been in front of literally hundreds of people all at once. Again spent lots of money to no avail.
4. Associations: though I believed in what they were doing, how they were doing it and all was costing more than I could afford and justify. After a while the IRS is not sympathetic.
5. Radio advertising: though I think it had the best potential even after doing it, still no ROI.
6.. Conventions: I went to one convention once. I had some high hopes. I learned some stuff there and felt that I did not get enough benefit from it to go half way across the country to justify no ROI.
7. Pigeon Holed. People only believed I did one type of show which was never the case. Never was I approached and asked if I did anything else. Resoundingly I would have replied yes I do but never was I asked. Too many people were making false assumptions.
8. Public charitable events: usually never resulted in anything tangible to get ROI lost major interest in doing them.
9. Being taken advantage of: didn't result in anything
In 2009 to 2014 I really didn't do anything but get into trouble trying to make it work.
so it's been one cavalcade of calamities after another. I have done some wonderful places and over the years, I have done actually quite a few but never really anything that lead to anything. Nobody was calling when I needed them to there were no inquiries no anything. Being stymied with internet presence really " soured" time after time after time after paying somebody to help me with getting a website done, up and running, all it was for me was a vacuum sucking up all my money, leaving me nothing. I put it on the same level as playing the lottery. It was all a crap shoot to me. I tried to do so many of the well intentioned things people told me to do but seemed to always fall flat on my face with it. Do this, do that do this,nothing worked for me and everyone was upset with me because it didn't work.
I put my family at risk over it in 2009 and in 2014 I filed for bankruptcy because of all the failed ventures that just never worked out. So now that I have a new start, I am not going to go down that road again. I am not going to incur the debt. I'm not going to put my family at risk over it again. I worked really hard at trying to get the things with my family back together again. This is why I am skeptical and perhaps even biased about many things when they get talked up but not proven. Frustrated as hell, absolutely.
DJ Art, I sunk the whole Angel Flight Entertainment thing back about 2 years ago. I have been operating under my own name now as wll as moved to a whole different region. I got out of Northern Virginia because ultimately it has got too big for it's britches and live in a whole different region of Virginia now where the demographics are substantially less 89,000 vs. 3 Million people. I had to get out of there because the cost of living there was pretty astronomical.
I was pigeon holed for 14 years trying to do Christian only gigs, That's who I ultimately wanted to have as clients back then but I also played mainstream music as well. Back then it was a barrier. for me. Now I play anything pretty much, I've expanded my horizons a little but regrettably even doing that has not really "done" anything for me. I've tried very hard to move away from the moniker that I only do Christian only events. I did away with it. Changed the name of my operation and everything but most of it has been to no avail, leading me to believe that was not the problem because it still remains.
I've been much happier since moving away from Northern Virginia because it's a lot less stress and a lot more beach. But things here do not compete with things in Northern Virginia , you really can't because the two regions are like night and day. As a rule, things don't cost that much out here as they do in Northern Virginia. People don't make as much out here as they do there. Though it's about an hour or so away, it's a whole different world here. Everything costs less out here. Rent is cheaper, electricity is cheaper, personal property tax is cheaper, food holds the fair market price , housing is way cheaper, gasoline is cheaper and I have a beach here.
Most of the reason is nobody knows me. How do people get to know you if they don't ever hire you?
What has not worked for me has been :
1. Websites. I have spent thousands of dollars on trying to get a website to work, to do something . All they have done is fail me since 2002 so I have a low opinion of them. Not all they are cracked up to be.
2. Networking: I have been to numerous networking events, presented my information got to meet people and tried to do all the stuff that networking is supposed to accomplish. Nothing. No calls, no referrals and no money. so with no money I'm broke.
3. Bridal fairs: I had presented all my information, listed as gold sponsors been in front of literally hundreds of people all at once. Again spent lots of money to no avail.
4. Associations: though I believed in what they were doing, how they were doing it and all was costing more than I could afford and justify. After a while the IRS is not sympathetic.
5. Radio advertising: though I think it had the best potential even after doing it, still no ROI.
6.. Conventions: I went to one convention once. I had some high hopes. I learned some stuff there and felt that I did not get enough benefit from it to go half way across the country to justify no ROI.
7. Pigeon Holed. People only believed I did one type of show which was never the case. Never was I approached and asked if I did anything else. Resoundingly I would have replied yes I do but never was I asked. Too many people were making false assumptions.
8. Public charitable events: usually never resulted in anything tangible to get ROI lost major interest in doing them.
9. Being taken advantage of: didn't result in anything
In 2009 to 2014 I really didn't do anything but get into trouble trying to make it work.
so it's been one cavalcade of calamities after another. I have done some wonderful places and over the years, I have done actually quite a few but never really anything that lead to anything. Nobody was calling when I needed them to there were no inquiries no anything. Being stymied with internet presence really " soured" time after time after time after paying somebody to help me with getting a website done, up and running, all it was for me was a vacuum sucking up all my money, leaving me nothing. I put it on the same level as playing the lottery. It was all a crap shoot to me. I tried to do so many of the well intentioned things people told me to do but seemed to always fall flat on my face with it. Do this, do that do this,nothing worked for me and everyone was upset with me because it didn't work.
I put my family at risk over it in 2009 and in 2014 I filed for bankruptcy because of all the failed ventures that just never worked out. So now that I have a new start, I am not going to go down that road again. I am not going to incur the debt. I'm not going to put my family at risk over it again. I worked really hard at trying to get the things with my family back together again. This is why I am skeptical and perhaps even biased about many things when they get talked up but not proven. Frustrated as hell, absolutely.
Mike Burke:
It's a tough business to be in for sure! My brother is in a similar situation.
Truth be told, only a small fraction of DJs experience Success...especially in today's market. I have experienced a lot of what you talk about. Networking doesn't guarantee any results. People don't refer other vendors often today. IMO the Wedding and Event industry is more of the "Wild West" than ever before.
Best thing to do is make friends with a venue coordinator/sales director. Another good thing is to become best friends with successful wedding planners. If you can do both of those WELL...then you can obtain some good paying clientele.
Bridal Shows Suck. Online advertising (Results VARY - Typically slow coming, and poor results)
Prices have become cut throat as well depending on where your clients are coming from. It's super hard to compete on pricing these days. If you are trying to command average or above average...then your success depends much on the quality of referrals are coming your way.
It's a tough business to be in for sure! My brother is in a similar situation.
Truth be told, only a small fraction of DJs experience Success...especially in today's market. I have experienced a lot of what you talk about. Networking doesn't guarantee any results. People don't refer other vendors often today. IMO the Wedding and Event industry is more of the "Wild West" than ever before.
Best thing to do is make friends with a venue coordinator/sales director. Another good thing is to become best friends with successful wedding planners. If you can do both of those WELL...then you can obtain some good paying clientele.
Bridal Shows Suck. Online advertising (Results VARY - Typically slow coming, and poor results)
Prices have become cut throat as well depending on where your clients are coming from. It's super hard to compete on pricing these days. If you are trying to command average or above average...then your success depends much on the quality of referrals are coming your way.
Best of luck Mike. Things have changed as DJ Ricky B has noted. Bridal shows never netted me much success either, but it did get my name out there. Best course was to line up with a venue that will refer you to those who seek their services. However, you've got to get you foot in the door some way and that's not always as easy as it sounds. Keep your head up.
that's been the issue. I don't really know how to introduce myself to a venue without actually working there. Do they even like people bothering them when they see so many of that type anyway?
Mike let me say this please. With the new way to DJ today that has led more people to become a DJ. More so then ever before. The 2 big things I found out are this. Who are you marketing your business to and not just how much better of a DJ you are then the next DJ but what's different about you then the next DJ? I understand you about websites and them not working well for you. You said you have spent thousands of dollars having them created. First did you have a real professional build you a website and not just someone telling you they know how to build a website? Also I learned on here and the other forum that a website needs to catch people's attention right away or they will quickly leave the site and move on. Why not look at other DJ sites and see what I mean? See what you like and dislike about the different sites. Check online for a site called Wish. That site is where you get to buy a so many different things on there. Just check the site out to see how attractive it is.
One thing for sure when you move to a new area it's going to take a while for people to get to know who you are, what you do and how really good you are. Also I didn't see anything about a Facebook page or any other social media that you are a part of. Do you have a FB page at all? You might want to start there and make sure you hit share for the info you post so not only friends and family will get to see who you are and what you're doing but the world. Let me ask you for one more thing and please this is not meant to be disrespectful in any way at all. Can you post any pictures or videos on here of past work you've done? hat way you just might get even more help that way. Trust me for sure I understand feel your pain too.
One thing for sure when you move to a new area it's going to take a while for people to get to know who you are, what you do and how really good you are. Also I didn't see anything about a Facebook page or any other social media that you are a part of. Do you have a FB page at all? You might want to start there and make sure you hit share for the info you post so not only friends and family will get to see who you are and what you're doing but the world. Let me ask you for one more thing and please this is not meant to be disrespectful in any way at all. Can you post any pictures or videos on here of past work you've done? hat way you just might get even more help that way. Trust me for sure I understand feel your pain too.
I don't have that many pictures because usually I am there to DJ not be a photographer. I don't really have video much for the same reason and additional reasons like can't upload it anywhere because of copyrighted music. I have had companies like WeDJ and ProDJ try to build me a site, they didn't work I went to outside companies. I have a very active Facebook page no one is going to really sell me on facebook it's not anything I'm going to believe can be done for me. It needs to be understood I do not have the friends and the following enough to have any sort of impact with it. I've been using facebook since 2008 have 2 separate accounts . Recently I started weeding out the people I don't really know who seem to spend most of their time complaining about the election or how their football team lost. I don't have time for that stuff anymore. I have PTSD, and it's better to not get me worked up over stupid stuff because it doesn't end well.
This is my facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009655089172
This is my Website: www.michaelburkeentertainment.com
It's not there to brag. It's not there to say "hey look at me!" Those who know me well know I don't "brag" This is a transitioning work in progress. I try to be a real person. I just made a lot of changes to it. I'm already tapped out on my budget right now. There are many things I am quite limited on my ability to accomplish with this right now .
My day job, I work for a County School System as a school bus driver. I also do communications with the State Defense Force under the National Guard. So I stay busy. The DJ ing is on my 3rd burner.
here are some pictures of some of my old websites that never worked. These ARE OLD, so some of the stuff now are laughs and giggles. Yes I was in ADJA and NAME
This is my facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009655089172
This is my Website: www.michaelburkeentertainment.com
It's not there to brag. It's not there to say "hey look at me!" Those who know me well know I don't "brag" This is a transitioning work in progress. I try to be a real person. I just made a lot of changes to it. I'm already tapped out on my budget right now. There are many things I am quite limited on my ability to accomplish with this right now .
My day job, I work for a County School System as a school bus driver. I also do communications with the State Defense Force under the National Guard. So I stay busy. The DJ ing is on my 3rd burner.
here are some pictures of some of my old websites that never worked. These ARE OLD, so some of the stuff now are laughs and giggles. Yes I was in ADJA and NAME
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