Technology is changing the entertainment industry... again

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sawdust123

sawdust123

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Nov 10, 2006
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Music at events has been popular for hundreds of years. Large events used to require large orchestras. Amplification allowed smaller bands to replace large ensembles. Portable media and playback systems allowed DJs to replace bands. DJs also offered larger and more varied catalogs and took up less space than bands. But bands haven't sat still. Synthesizers, samplers, sequencers and backing tracks have allowed small bands to offer much larger music catalogs. Two piece dance bands are now fairly common by me. They were almost non-existent back in the day. They also tend to be more entertaining and engaging to watch than a DJ twiddling knobs on a controller.

Streaming services are also squeezing the DJ market (particularly the low-end). People now have millions of songs at their fingertips and can pull up premade playlists for just about any occasion. Most big-box retailers offer large PA style BT speakers at relatively low cost.

The is always a market for unique entertainment value. The question I wonder about is how technology might help the DJ offer something unique in a market being squeezed between small bands and services like Spotify.

BTW, I don't mean to discount the DJ role as an MC in this discussion. However, I think there could be a market for AI generated audience announcements for DJs, especially for multi-lingual crowds. Many airlines now have recordings for all standard flight announcements. It is really not much different.
 
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sonic-vision said:
There are a few DJ's that could use AI for annoucements.
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Now that's funny.

I think technology has essentially pushed DJs back to their origin - clubs and places where patron dancing is the primary entertainment.

Technology (Television, Internet, Cell Phones, Tablets, et. al.) have so expanded the entertainment space that it is now entirely possible for someone to become "famous" in terms of market impact - and yet remain relatively unknown in terms of the population at large.

Frank Sinatra was known worldwide, Michael Jackson supposedly couldn't go out in public without being recognized (though, honestly neither could I if I always showed up in a stretch limo dressed like Capt. Kangaroo and missing one glove.)

Today, entertainers complain about a lack of recognition while having no clue about their lack of relevance. :
 
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I'm just going to keep on truckin' the wedding market in my area until couples stop having wedding celebrations, or the venues install AI driven sound systems that replace us, or the Robots come out and the IDJBOT can be booked for a fraction of what I charge, and show up to an event venue, and setup/strike 2-3 different sound system locations and do just as good a job as I do. OR the 4th option is SKYNET takes over and Judgement Day actually occurs. Until one of these 4 things go down, I'll keep booking events to do up and through 2034 at a minimum. Once I reach 35 years deejaying I'll figure out if it's time to exit the business OR stay in and target the 40 year mark and keep it going to 2039.

I think we are going to experience a crazy amount of changes in our lives between now and 2039. Rural Areas will have Giant Data Centers everywhere. Giant Robot manufacturing facilities everywhere. Electric bills for the average American will probably reach $1,700 to $2,000 a month. Fuel will be $10 a gallon. A burger and fries and Soda at a restaurant will probably be $40 etc. It will be a wonderful era to be a part of.....
 
Proformance said:
Now that's funny.

I think technology has essentially pushed DJs back to their origin - clubs and places where patron dancing is the primary entertainment.
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Or to expanding to other things like you and I have done especially you
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
I'm just going to keep on truckin' the wedding market in my area until couples stop having wedding celebrations, or the venues install AI driven sound systems that replace us, or the Robots come out and the IDJBOT can be booked for a fraction of what I charge, and show up to an event venue, and setup/strike 2-3 different sound system locations and do just as good a job as I do. OR the 4th option is SKYNET takes over and Judgement Day actually occurs. Until one of these 4 things go down, I'll keep booking events to do up and through 2034 at a minimum. Once I reach 35 years deejaying I'll figure out if it's time to exit the business OR stay in and target the 40 year mark and keep it going to 2039.

I think we are going to experience a crazy amount of changes in our lives between now and 2039. Rural Areas will have Giant Data Centers everywhere. Giant Robot manufacturing facilities everywhere. Electric bills for the average American will probably reach $1,700 to $2,000 a month. Fuel will be $10 a gallon. A burger and fries and Soda at a restaurant will probably be $40 etc. It will be a wonderful era to be a part of.....
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You always have such positive posts
 
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The way I see it Technology has good and bad side. It's a lot easier for me to DJ now then I first came back. I have a ton of music on my portable 2 TB HD. I use a console with active speakers. One of the down sides is because of the way people are allowed to get music today they automatically expect a DJ can get any song on the fly.

It's really about are you in demand? There are those who are in very high demand for example like Taso. It's about consistently doing a good job for clients that they will either have you do another event for them or recommend you to someone else. So far there are clients looking to book a DJ to do an event for them and right now that's what counts. Nobody Can predict the future.

When I first became a DJ I couldn't imagine a DJs would be using a computer to DJ with or that there would be all in one controllers where you don't need to use a computer. There was a song by Brass Construction Times Are Changing that fits perfectly for this conversation. It's about either you adopt to the changes or get left behind.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
The way I see it Technology has good and bad side. It's a lot easier for me to DJ now then I first came back. I have a ton of music on my portable 2 TB HD. I use a console with active speakers. One of the down sides is because of the way people are allowed to get music today they automatically expect a DJ can get any song on the fly.

It's really about are you in demand? There are those who are in very high demand for example like Taso. It's about consistently doing a good job for clients that they will either have you do another event for them or recommend you to someone else. So far there are clients looking to book a DJ to do an event for them and right now that's what counts. Nobody Can predict the future.

When I first became a DJ I couldn't imagine a DJs would be using a computer to DJ with or that there would be all in one controllers where you don't need to use a computer. There was a song by Brass Construction Times Are Changing that fits perfectly for this conversation. It's about either you adopt to the changes or get left behind.
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
The way I see it Technology has good and bad side. It's a lot easier for me to DJ now then I first came back. I have a ton of music on my portable 2 TB HD. I use a console with active speakers. One of the down sides is because of the way people are allowed to get music today they automatically expect a DJ can get any song on the fly.

It's really about are you in demand? There are those who are in very high demand for example like Taso. It's about consistently doing a good job for clients that they will either have you do another event for them or recommend you to someone else. So far there are clients looking to book a DJ to do an event for them and right now that's what counts. Nobody Can predict the future.

When I first became a DJ I couldn't imagine a DJs would be using a computer to DJ with or that there would be all in one controllers where you don't need to use a computer. There was a song by Brass Construction Times Are Changing that fits perfectly for this conversation. It's about either you adopt to the changes or get left behind.
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So is the reason you’re not in high demand because to don’t consistently do a good job for clients???🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
 
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honestly... technology has really been a positive more so than it's been a negative. The entry barrier has always been low in my lifetime. While many of you talk about how hard it was to be a dj and you had to buy cd's and records... you gotta realize in my lifetime as a dj since 2024 that's not the case and that for my generation it's just what it is.

There will always be a competitive force creating more competition and making what we do "appear" easier. The spotify list era came and went bc couples realized a dj's job is more than just music, or they actually want someone that can mix, or didn't want to deal with the actual setting up of equipment and the technical stuff.

I've always tried to grow w/ and embrace technology and use it to my advantage. I was one fo the early ones (aside from Jason Jani) making videos of events in 2010 and those videos in a sense helped fuel my growth in Philadelphia. From a purely sound perspective, things are smaller and more efficient. RCF just came ut with the 9016... more powerful than my 18" sub, whcih is powerful enough... but sized like a 15". Column speakers save space. I can now fit 3 full sound systems in my van ALONG with all my lighting, uplights, trussing, photo booth, effects. etc.

Lighting has gotten easier to control and more efficient. I just bought new uplights where 40 of them take up 33% less space than 16 of my previous lights.

Photo booths have gotten easier to setup and run virtually attendant free nowadays and more profitable.

As a business I now have over $10k in add-ons available to couples to help increase my average event price. And the best thing of all, I can set it all up with just me and one other person in less than 2 hours if needed. Even if the DJ demand itself dies down hypothetically, there are numerous avenues of rentals and production that can be offered to small private events. I used to do that with bands a lot to make extra money 15 yrs ago when I was one of the few with uplights and heads.

If there's one thing technology has made challenging is standing out online. Everyone can create content now. This is where performance, skill, and a quality experience matter more than ever in order to breakthrough the noise of everyone else's flashy content. Content is still important to show you're relevant and so that when people hear about you they have something they can check out. Ultimately though I believe I'm successful because clients see the consistancy in my work, I provide the expeirence that people appreciate and it sounds and looks impressive... plus I beleive I'm also extremely easy to work with. I am more expensive than most, and while for many of my clients that's not an issue, I do have clients who skimp elsewhere but are willing to splurge on the entertainment to ensure that it's the best quality they can attain. It's about reaching those clients that is just as important as the djing itself.

There will always b a contingent looking to save or simplify, and I truly do believe there will be a time where a DIY DJ option will exist. Have ai create mp3 files with prescripted intros, and announcements, and then have spotify "dj" mix songs (it can do it now pretty well). It's honestly not diffcult even today. Just rent a sound system, or use a venue's built in one as more and more are installing them now... although you still need a person to "run" things.

Just realize this typically only affects the low end spectrum where people are looking for "just a dj to play some music and make a few announcements". There will always be a demographic that appreciates working wiht an actual person, someone who can actually mix and read the crowd in the moment, someone you can throw an audible at and handle it seamlessly, provide more than just music, and overall appreciate just getting a live performance. Hence why despite there being so many djs, high end bands are in more demand than ever and are easily gettng 30-50k to perform at weddings.

30-40 yrs ago one could say I know the best places to find new music. Those that didn't evolve from that mindset faded. Likewise, if all you do now is play music and make announcements... that too will soon be not enough.
 
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Don't worry all. There will always be a need for a DJ doing an event. It's about will they want you to an event for them or somebody they know. The thing that some see to them is the way things are done now that it's easy to be a DJ. It's not as easy as it looks.

It's really about how dedicated to become a good DJ if you decide to try it out.
 
sonic-vision said:
I would have too agree. You always have your partner doing the bulk of the gigs.
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Not true at all. Now let me say this. When someone says I/we did a good job without thinking they are not complimenting you on the music you played at an event, they are also complimenting you on the gear you used. For me one big thing is having good sounding reliable gear to do events with. That's why I bought those QSC K12.2 speakers.

It's also about knowing how to hookup the gear. Making sure that you have the right music for the event and knowing how to read the crowd.

The other thing that some on here don't like to say is to make sure you're the right DJ for the event.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Not true at all. Now let me say this. When someone says I/we did a good job without thinking they are not complimenting you on the music you played at an event, they are also complimenting you on the gear you used. For me one big thing is having good sounding reliable gear to do events with. That's why I bought those QSC K12.2 speakers.

It's also about knowing how to hookup the gear. Making sure that you have the right music for the event and knowing how to read the crowd.

The other thing that some on here don't like to say is to make sure you're the right DJ for the event.
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No one really compliments me on the gear that I use. I can bring 100k worth of gear to an event... literally no one will mention gear or the brands or how things sound. They mention 3 things:

- My dj skills and the music I played

- My MCing and how hyped things got as well as how enaging the formalities were.

- How things "look" in terms of how it comes together. Not the gear itself, not the brand of speakers, the crispness of the sound, the quality of the moving heads... that's all subconsciously appreciated. The amount of comments that I get from couples, guests, and other dj's on the "look" is what's notable.
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Not true at all. Now let me say this. When someone says I/we did a good job without thinking they are not complimenting you on the music you played at an event, they are also complimenting you on the gear you used. For me one big thing is having good sounding reliable gear to do events with. That's why I bought those QSC K12.2 speakers.

It's also about knowing how to hookup the gear. Making sure that you have the right music for the event and knowing how to read the crowd.

The other thing that some on here don't like to say is to make sure you're the right DJ for the event.
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While there are a very few gigs I am not qualified to do mostly certain ethnicities that I don’t has a grasp on music or traditions, 98% of the gigs I am perfectly comfortable with rock, country, hip hop, oldies, r&b, whatever it’s my JOB as a DJ to be familiar with and know this music in order to do my job in a professional manner. You NEVER want to pigeon hole yourself into only a very few specific genres, just because your to stubborn or lazy to grow and learn
 
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djtaso said:
No one really compliments me on the gear that I use. I can bring 100k worth of gear to an event... literally no one will mention gear or the brands or how things sound. They mention 3 things:

- My dj skills and the music I played

- My MCing and how hyped things got as well as how enaging the formalities were.

- How things "look" in terms of how it comes together. Not the gear itself, not the brand of speakers, the crispness of the sound, the quality of the moving heads... that's all subconsciously appreciated. The amount of comments that I get from couples, guests, and other dj's on the "look" is what's notable.
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Taso I said they won't compliment you on the gear you use directly. Let the gear sound like trash and they won't be happy with the job the DJ is doing. What I'm saying is that I love working with gear that will sound great and work well, so that I don't have to worry about something causing a problem while doing an event.
 
Mixxy, Did you get your cans working?
 
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