Time To Start Building My Business

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T

The Wizard Of OZ

Well-Known DJ
Dec 13, 2007
3,130
50
65
Tampa Bay Area
As some of you know, I'm not a traditional DJ. I'm a singer. I'd like to think of myself as a singing DJ. In any case, I've spent the past year learning what to do and how to do it. I've learned about gear and how to use it, I've learned and rehearsed a couple hundred songs, I've learned some valuable lessons about song choice, what volume levels different crowds want and really, many, many things.

I did a few gigs in 2008 and I'm confident now that I have the entertaining skills and the equipment necessary to be successful. Now the time has come for me to begin the hardest part of this business IMO - marketing, promotion and sales.

I'm working on a spreadsheet with a business plan of sorts and one thing that I've listed as essential for me to succeed in 2009 is a website. I'd like your opinions on this company to build and host my site. They have templates and I would make my own site. I need to get some pictures, video and audio for the website and I'm working on that right now.

Then I could use some advice on how myspace works, Wedj-yay or nay and some other things.
Thanks in advance.
 
Wiz

If you really want to build your business in 2009 you may have to decide between the singing and being a DJ unless you want that niche but that niche I suspect would be small unlessyou are adding Karaoke on

As far as a website I would talk to Travis first. Between him and Davy you will end up with a great site that ranks high.

I can't help out with Myspace but if you need some advice on Facebook check out the threads here there's some great info
 
I'm not sure I understand Jeff, are you saying I can't DJ AND sing at the same function, because I really don't understand that at all? If anything I feel it makes what I do stand out over what most other DJs can offer.

I was at a wedding a few days before New Years with a local DJ and I sang about 10-15 songs that night. The crowd was very receptive and I got a bunch of people out on the dance floor and multiple compliments.

I DJed and sang for my New Year's gig and it went over great, but I don't have to sing at all, I can just DJ, it's up to the people who hire me, but it seems to me that most people prefer live music to recorded and if anything it's a bonus.

If it's a niche, then it's one that is a cut above what a typical DJ can offer unless they bring a singer along with them and that can add a significant cost in most cases.
 
I was hoping someone would look at the link above and comment on whether it's something I should pursue or if there is another, better choice available. I'm trying to go about setting up some marketing and I feel like this is the first step.

At first I need a simple web site to get myself started and get some jobs, then I can get a little fancier. I'm still new to all of this and what I'm looking for is some gigs so I can get my self established locally. I haven't been doing this for decades like many of the people here.

I'm very committed to doing this and I've already seen lots of very positive feedback from people I've performed in front of. I'm just trying to work on getting the word out that I am available and what it is that I do so I can get hired. In other words, I'm trying to put together my 2009 marketing campaign. As I see it, that involves several things that I need to do.

My county alone has about one million people. The county next to me has another one million people. All told there are about three million people within a four county area here which is all within about a one hour drive in any direction.
 
Wiz unfortunately there isnt an EBAY site which will design your website and your SEO abilities it can be fatally expensive but all I can recommend spend your honest dollars and ask Davy Wavy to assist you, Honestly if you dont you are what you are. Thats my only comment. I wont waste another moment on it.
 
I fully intend to ask Wavy Davey to do the SEO for me. After reading his comments, I have no doubts that he is very, very good at what he does and that it will more than pay for itself. I'm not quite to that juncture yet since I don't even have a web site, a logo, a zippy company name or a corporation set up and several other things I need that I'm working on.

I hope to have most of this put together in the next few weeks and be off to the races.
 
My point is,

I have helped you, you can not deny it. Many of us and i have given you many valuable tools. You have claimed me a braggart who gives a shizz. However, you must know its much more than you regarded our trade!
The Wizard Of OZ said:
I fully intend to ask Wavy Davey to do the SEO for me. After reading his comments, I have no doubts that he is very, very good at what he does and that it will more than pay for itself. I'm not quite to that juncture yet since I don't even have a web site, a logo, a zippy company name or a corporation set up and several other things I need that I'm working on.

I hope to have most of this put together in the next few weeks and be off to the races.
Click to expand...
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
As some of you know, I'm not a traditional DJ. I'm a singer. I'd like to think of myself as a singing DJ. In any case, I've spent the past year learning what to do and how to do it. I've learned about gear and how to use it, I've learned and rehearsed a couple hundred songs, I've learned some valuable lessons about song choice, what volume levels different crowds want and really, many, many things.

I did a few gigs in 2008 and I'm confident now that I have the entertaining skills and the equipment necessary to be successful. Now the time has come for me to begin the hardest part of this business IMO - marketing, promotion and sales.

I'm working on a spreadsheet with a business plan of sorts and one thing that I've listed as essential for me to succeed in 2009 is a website. I'd like your opinions on this company to build and host my site. They have templates and I would make my own site. I need to get some pictures, video and audio for the website and I'm working on that right now.

Then I could use some advice on how myspace works, Wedj-yay or nay and some other things.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

There is a guy around here who does exactly what your looking at doing. His company is called "The Singing DJ".

Heres his site

http://www.singingdjnc.com/
 
If it's any help...

There are many mobile entertainers who do more than just play music. The ability to sing well is a gift and shouldn't be wasted. I have seen several entertainers whose shows include DJing, singing, karaoke and open mic. In some cases, the DJ part is secondary to playing keys and singing.

It isn't limited to coffee houses and bars. An online friend told me about their union holiday party recently. They had a DJ who sang and offered karaoke. It's not as uncommon as one may think. :)
 
Well, here's some things I've figured out, I want my own domain name, I don't want a free hosting company, I'd prefer a company that has the templates and does the hosting, but I guess that's not critical and I need to get some professional photos of myself taken ASAP.
 
i say if it is successful and it is working, then I wouldn't change. But I agree with Jeff that some customers may not see it as a value added service. they are hiring a DJ because they want to hear the songs they like. If they really wanted a live performance, they would have hired a band.

My only feedback on this was one couple who asked if i would be singing any of the songs. they were at a wedding and the DJ sang a lot of the songs. They said, "it was karaoke, with him doing all the karaoking. They said he wasn't a bad singer, it just seemed weird to them.

I assured them that me singing was the last thing they had to worry about.

again, not trying to knock anyone. I wish you luck and hope it works for you. just giving my observation and one client's experience.

and im only talking about weddings.
 
Well, maybe I need to focus on the DJ aspect and have me as a live entertainer as an add on rather than as a focus point. I certainly don't want to alienate anyone or lose any gigs needlessly. I'll have some video of myself singing if they click on that on the website. They can decide if they want me to sing or not. I'll also have a songlist of songs that I sing for them to choose from.
 
Wizzard:

You might check out Godaddy.com. They have a website builder in their tools. I use them for hosting, but I use Front Page 2003 for my web site. If you do select Godaddy, go with a package above the basic so that you avoid the advertising pop ups on your site.

With Godaddy you can purchase your domain name and your hosting along with several other things, and their price was very competitive

Bill
Preble County Wedding Reception Entertainment!
 
Oz, you have entered into an area that I understand... I grew up playing bass and being the lead-singer in various bands over the years. I love to sing, it is my passion. I have played bass and sang on many different recording studio projects since I was about 16 years old. I have run live sound for a friend's band. I have taken audio engineering and record production classes through a local college as well. If it's music, I'm there.

With that being said, I have shied away from adding it to my DJ service for a number of reasons. I mainly DJ weddings and feel that the guests are there to socialize and not to watch a performer; that makes me feel out of place. If anything, I would only sing during cocktails and not during the dancing part of the evening. Sure, I have sung a song live on occasion at various weddings. Stepped up on stage at a friend's wedding and sang lead-vocals with the band for one tune; I actually played a gig with them in the past when their bass player couldn't make it. Their guitarist was also the guitarist in my band. Another time, a friend was DJ'ing my buddies wedding where I was best-man and I sang That's Amore. I slipped my buddy the CDG and told him to mix it in like any other song, only difference was that I sang it live. Couples were dancing by thinking that I was lip-syncing; it was pretty funny!

Singing at fundraisers, casino nights, etc... are the way to go as far as singing live goes, at least to me. The energy in the room is different and people are there to be entertained.

I know of one DJ who sings during cocktails, dinner, etc... you can check him out here: www.mydjmc.com His name is Arthur, I have chatted with him via PMs on another DJ site and emails on and off over the years about this very topic since he has been able to pull it off. Arthur will not even accept a gig unless they will let him sing. I sent him a small video clip of me singing along with a backing track in my office and he encouraged me to get out there and sing but here I am...

Here is another guy I found on-line: http://thesingingdj.com/ I have never spoken with him but the singing appears to be working for him.

I would feel more comfortable singing with a band as opposed to with backing-tracks, as you would appear more professional. Singing with backing tracks kind of makes you look like a Krazioke (Crazy-Oh-Kee) DJ! I think you have to be VERY careful in how you do this. I am afraid that I would lose gigs if everyone knew me as the 'Singing DJ' but maybe I'm just paranoid. Maybe if you had a Planner for your clients to fill out and you had a box for them to check-off if they would like 'Live' vocals or not during cocktails. I suppose if you are charging extra for this, they would know 'up-front' that they would not have to worry about you singing if they didn't pay since some couples would not want you to sing even if it were free-of-charge.

I am thinking about going back into the studio one day and recording some more original tunes, then possibly putting up a myspace page... It's just that my wife and 3 kids keep me too busy. It's actually 4 kids if you include our very own Jon Tuck. Lol Yes, he's in my hood. Lucky me...

I'll follow this thread cause I am very interested to see where it goes. I hope my 2 cents has helped in some bizzare way...
 
Wiz,

I have been in bands, ran sound for bands, Djed, done Karaoke, and a mixture of all of the above at once.

On a limited basis throwing a song into the mix live can get some great response, it can also kill the party so you have to be very careful as to what and when you throw something in.

If you want to be a wedding singer put a band together and do it. If you want to offer karaoke then do that, if you want to DJ do that but don't try and mix them all together or it is just a disaster waiting to happen. If you are DJing and want to throw a song in do it as a farwell to the crowd make it the last song of the evening. Just remember if you are promoting yourself as a wedding singer you are going to have to preform regardless of how you feel on that particular day!
 
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