Talking at Mobile Beat

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sawdust123

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I talk on audio related topics at conferences almost every year (AES, NAMM, NAB, and others). However, it has been about 15 years since I spoke at Mobile Beat and that was before I was actually working in the audio industry. I just saw the call for speakers for next year's Mobile Beat and was thinking maybe it was time to return. I could of course speak on audio related topics again but it seems like the threads here where I discuss my sales techniques get a lot more traffic and likes. This is leading me to wonder if I should do a presentation on those techniques. I was even thinking it could be something interactive where scenarios are practiced with people from the audience. Would anyone here be interested in such a talk?
 
I am surprised that people still go to these DJ expos/conferences. Something like NAMM will always be around, but the DJ Expo, Mobile Beat, and the other ones...I feel like they are on borrowed time at this point. Will they continue to be able to have these shows in the future? I just wonder.

With that said...I am sure you could put on a informative presentation. The question wll be will you only have 10 to 20, maybe 25 DJs show up to listen to your presentation, or will there be 150+ in the room?
 
I haven't been to MB in years so I don't know how many people go to the seminars. What I have seen is that most of the presenters are still the same people that were presenting 10 years ago. (side note: I just realized I presented last about 10 years ago, not 15). Some of them are great presenters and their messages get more refined each year however, the lack of diversity in presenters from year to year doesn't help attendance. Of course, it can be risky for organizers to accept an unproven speaker. They may not have a draw or they may be bad. It is never easy to put on a show. I know, I have been on many show committees for the AES.
 
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The Dj expo and Mobile beat have changed over the years but the real value is in the networking and making connections. And that happens throughout the conference. Yes, many come just to pickup some good sales and make some noise. I always pickup something small as vendors need to make money. But the real good stuff & info comes from networking and talking with vendors other DJs on the new stuff they’re using, how to use it & marketing it At the DJ Expo with all the noise on the floor they Basically totally eliminated that whole area for Networking because you can’t hear a thing guys blasting music. I haven’t been to Mobil beat in like 10+ years. I actually enjoyed the show meeting a bunch of people which I stayed in contact with for years. But with my travel budget spread between LDI, CES, & NAMM I have to pick and choose where I go. On the east coast even the small events are great for getting info, ideas & networking. The last ADJ event NJ, I was about to get done personal hands-on Quality time with items I’ve been looking at. Personal instruction on how to operate, market & use them along with a chat with some higher ups from the west coast & east coast reps . But as with anything all these conferences are only as good as you make them and the people connect with there.
But in answer to Sawdust I don’t really hit the lectures as I used to. At times many are at intro or beginner level at the Dj convention or at times the timing isn’t right with my schedule .
 
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I talk on audio related topics at conferences almost every year (AES, NAMM, NAB, and others). However, it has been about 15 years since I spoke at Mobile Beat and that was before I was actually working in the audio industry. I just saw the call for speakers for next year's Mobile Beat and was thinking maybe it was time to return. I could of course speak on audio related topics again but it seems like the threads here where I discuss my sales techniques get a lot more traffic and likes. This is leading me to wonder if I should do a presentation on those techniques. I was even thinking it could be something interactive where scenarios are practiced with people from the audience. Would anyone here be interested in such a talk?

Absolutely (keep in mind, I don't go to these) it would be interesting. I think sales is a subject that lot of us could use work on refining, I know I could.
 
The interesting thing about sales is that there is no wrong or right. Even the most annoying techniques (e.g. telemarketing) work enough of the time that the practice still exists. Sales is always a percentage game. As robo-callers know, even the worst techniques can make you a lot of money if applied often enough.

I have seen great sales people that were not at all cognitive of their methodology. They just did what came naturally to them and got great results. I have also seen great techniques fail because they were applied too rigidly or because it wasn't a match for the person using them. My goal would be to provide a cognitive framework to the process that one can adapt as they see fit. Also, to get DJs to realize that practicing sales conversations is as important to a DJ as practicing mixing skills or announcements. Learning sales from a book or seminar alone is about as effective as learning to swim from a book or seminar. You have to get wet to learn.