Weddings Seriously.....I am reconsidering using some sort of banner. Talk to me!

Before I went to my first Mobile Beat in Vegas I used my sign all the time. At the show with some networking talk I decided I would drop my sign because people said it might look tacky.

Several years later I'm still not using my signs and my business is down but all my competition are still using their signs. They all tell me that their business is up. I see them at events I should have gotten.

Throughout the last year I have played some awesome events and people have come up to me and ask if I work for the competition. Not once, not twice, but to many to count. That REALLY PISSED ME OFF!

Tacky or not, I'm losing business and the signs are going back up this year. Do you want to look "pretty" on stage or make money?

I haven't come across anyone in my market who hasn't hired a DJ because they look tacky.

There are too many people who are shy about coming up to the stage and asking for business cards.

I guess markets are different, but in this market signs are in!

Abbey Lane said:

Before I went to my first Mobile Beat in Vegas I used my sign all the time. At the show with some networking talk I decided I would drop my sign because people said it might look tacky.

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But do you think it looks tacky?

Abbey Lane said:

Tacky or not, I'm losing business and the signs are going back up this year. Do you want to look "pretty" on stage or make money?

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If your truly believe the absence of signage at your event is costing you measurable business, you are likely looking right past the real reasons.

Abbey Lane said:

I haven't come across anyone in my market who hasn't hired a DJ because they look tacky.

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Was your scientific sample large enough to rely on the speculative results?

Abbey Lane said:

There are too many people who are shy about coming up to the stage and asking for business cards.

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Again, your assigning blame to the most unlikely of all possibilities. If people aren't approaching you at your events, it ain't their shyness that is the cause.

Abbey Lane said:

I guess markets are different, but in this market signs are in!

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If you market consist of only sign manufacturers/makers, you may be right.

At a public event - I'd consider signage.

At a private event - never.

I never use banners........

Hey!! I love Nick At Night!!

there is safety and comfort in seeing those that you have seen before. And sometimes I even see a show that I missed, so it's like brand new!

Not everyone has been around as long as you, and to some these may be brand new threads...

Like playing music at weddings,,,, You may be sick of "Celebration" but the crowd only hears it once in awhile. It's almost new to them and they enjoy it.

I agree with you Jon,,, the problem is there is never a cut and dry answer to any question. That is one of the things that is so cool about our biz.

Everyone can run their company how they see fit...

When peeople start asking for opinions, that is what they are going to get... It is up to each of us what we do with the influx of knowledge.

It is why nobody should EVER tell someone that this or that way is wrong. It's not wrong, it's how you chose to do it. Then it's right.

Chuck The DJ said:

It is why nobody should EVER tell someone that this or that way is wrong. It's not wrong, it's how you chose to do it. Then it's right.

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Too much gray in that position and evolutionarily dangerous.

Pure opinion is certainly free from such characterization, as right or wrong, correct or incorrect, or judgment in any enforceable effective manner. But the resulting behavior is.

If I opine that Faus Leopard Pimp Jackets are tacky, that is purely and completely my opinion. Others may disagree. The act of having either opinion has no effect on either side. It exists in thought only.

However, if those that disagree with my opinion, elect to wear such pimptastic garb to a Formal Wedding/Black Tie event and expect to be seen as appropriate or professional, they are wrong, incorrect, and worthy of judgment.

Here are some other examples where opinons ead to WRONG and INCORRECT behavior:

Alleged professionals stealing/leeching music is WRONG.

Lying to clients about experience and ability is WRONG.

Bottom feeders making claims of equivalence to actual legitimate professionals is WRONG.

When hired to entertain at a wedding or other honorary/commemorative event, using a banner is an overt act that takes the attention and purpose, in whatever small or grand degree, away from the intended and deserving. That is why it is wrong.

I didn't say it should be legislated or legally prohibited but it is wrong and the practitioners will more likely than not, suffer the judgment of those with more impact than any of us could have, that of potential clients.

When we are unwilling or too afraid to make such judgments, we have surrendered and are guilty and complicit.

djrox said:

Too much gray in that position and evolutionarily dangerous.

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actually, there was too much GRAY AREA in the original question.
much like most topics here at ODJT.com
that is why it is a forum
so you can get other people's OPINIONS on the subject at hand.
In the end, you will make your OWN decision..

and in the end, hanging (or NOT hanging) a banner will not be "evolutionarily dangerous".
in fact, I don't think too many people would notice, or give a crap!

Rox,,, as usual you are wrong... tee hee : )

While yes I agree that there are certain things that are wrong by anyone standards, I also think that what you want to wear at any event is purely your choice and can never be considered out and out wrong.

But I am sure you could find someone to argue with you about stealing music, lying to clients and making claims.....

If someone chooses to wear a "pimptastic garb to a Formal Wedding/Black Tie event" that is their choice.

If you and I think it is wrong doesn't matter.

People will or will not hire them based on what they feel. If the DJ is comfortable with that fine.

I wear Aloha shirts at 99% of my weddings... would you?

When I wear a tux I wear red leather shoes and a tux jacket with red silk lining.. would you?

Before I shaved my head, I used to wear a black leather fedora at my events,,, would you?

I don't care what other DJs think... I run my business how I feel and I reap the rewards, or not. But I do it my way because I want to.

Do I listen to what others post and say and put that in the mix before I make a decision? sure,,, but in the end, it is my choice, my life, my business...

Banners yes, also make sure my van is parked out by a road or high traffic area where people can see the signs on it. Business cards on my table, on the bar, and one placed near the center piece of each table. if they have a courtesy basket in the bathrooms I'll put a few in there as well.

No one really uses the phone books, and the net is ok. people like to see you around town. Makes you look busy if they see your sign more than a few times.

I own a banner, but have used it only a few times for public outdoor town block parties or street events. Thats it. I would never use one for private events. Just not my style.

Chuck The DJ said:

Rox,,, as usual you are wrong... tee hee : )

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djrox said:

However, if those that disagree with my opinion, elect to wear such pimptastic garb to a Formal Wedding/Black Tie event and expect to be seen as appropriate or professional, they are wrong, incorrect, and worthy of judgment.

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I said, "...expecting to be seen as appropriate or professional, is wrong, incorrect, and worthy of judgment."

Chuck The DJ said:

I wear Aloha shirts at 99% of my weddings... would you?

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If the theme suggested it, I would. Of course I wouldn't look as good or as natural as you.

However, I wouldn't wear my Hard Rock flare at other venues. I wouldn't wear a WWJD t-shirt to a Mitzvah, and I would wear a costume suggesting "prostitution is happenin up in dis biotch", either. I have worn costumes equally pimpalicious to a Halloween show.

Time and place. Your Island attire is appropriate...in HAWAII. But such casual attire at the VAST MAJORITY of Formal Wedding/Black Tie event (Wasting time addressing every minute, .001% possibility is useless) is inappropriate as would be a Pimp Costume or some other clown outfit.

Chuck The DJ said:

But I am sure you could find someone to argue with you about stealing music, lying to clients and making claims.....

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Talk about your lowest common denominator. If that is your barometer, and I doubt it is, I have misjudged you. Finding an idiot to take an ignorant position is not very difficult but it doesn't validate his position or your claim that finding him negates the judgment of the act as wrong.

Chuck The DJ said:

If someone chooses to wear a "pimptastic garb to a Formal Wedding/Black Tie event" that is their choice.

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...and by choosing to do so, they reveal their "LOOK AT ME," disrespectful, immature, and selfish nature.

Chuck The DJ said:

If you and I think it is wrong doesn't matter.

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Certainly not to a disrespectful, immature, and selfish individual.

Chuck The DJ said:

I do it my way because I want to.

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My four year old niece has the same attitude. Go in the time out chair.