True or not this kind of makes us look bad

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Jeff Romard

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Sep 4, 2006
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I’m calling BS. I see dj software on other computers. There’s nothing wrone with having Spotify ready to go as a back up or to play a song. But loading ANY premade play list, from Spotify, or your own, and letting it play without workout it is a recipe for disaster. Any DJ that is able to charge good money knows this.

But, unfortunately, like a lot of ”News” we see today, it’s a way to get clicks, forwards, likes, etc.; The accuracy is unimportant.
 
This will only effect you if you have clients which believe how stupid that is. To be believe you could just take a list of songs and let it play and puff successful party. There more to DJing a event than that even if the client give you a list. Order, transitions, & presentation make a difference. Actually there are DJs who likely get paid way more than that, some people get paid big bucks for just being at venue. But people who make real money don't discuss how much they get paid, let alone on social media. It is easy to discuss what you do to someone without give figures. There are also somethings I do which seems simple but there a lot more to it to you don’t see.
 
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Apparently, Paris Hilton made close to $3 million for just four nights of work as a DJ. She actually made $2.7 million for four DJ sets, which comes out to $347,000 an hour.

In comparison, $4,000 to do a wedding and play the couples play list from Spotify sounds kind of like a bargain! The DJ probably had to load his car, unload his car, and set up all of the equipment too. He probably had to provide microphones for speeches, and perhaps a sound system for the ceremony. Paris Hilton probably just showed up, and all the gear was already set up and ready to go for her. She probably had a pre set show too. Probably just hit play at the start, and act like she was turning knobs and pressing buttons and dance around a bit behind the DJ controller and put her arms in the air a few times.

...I should probably start charging 3.5K for weddings and advertise that Spotify playlists are not a problem! :)
 
It's about how you do things. Some do things differently than others. If it works for them then that's fine for them. How do you do things and what works best for you?
 
Apparently, Paris Hilton made close to $3 million for just four nights of work as a DJ. She actually made $2.7 million for four DJ sets, which comes out to $347,000 an hour. She was paid a celebrity appearance fee,

In comparison, $4,000 to do a wedding and play the couples play list from Spotify sounds kind of like a bargain! The DJ probably had to load his car, unload his car, and set up all of the equipment too. He probably had to provide microphones for speeches, and perhaps a sound system for the ceremony. Paris Hilton probably just showed up, and all the gear was already set up and ready to go for her. She probably had a pre set show too. Probably just hit play at the start, and act like she was turning knobs and pressing buttons and dance around a bit behind the DJ controller and put her arms in the air a few times.

...I should probably start charging 3.5K for weddings and advertise that Spotify playlists are not a problem! :)
 
Apparently, Paris Hilton made close to $3 million for just four nights of work as a DJ. She actually made $2.7 million for four DJ sets, which comes out to $347,000 an hour.

In comparison, $4,000 to do a wedding and play the couples play list from Spotify sounds kind of like a bargain! The DJ probably had to load his car, unload his car, and set up all of the equipment too. He probably had to provide microphones for speeches, and perhaps a sound system for the ceremony. Paris Hilton probably just showed up, and all the gear was already set up and ready to go for her. She probably had a pre set show too. Probably just hit play at the start, and act like she was turning knobs and pressing buttons and dance around a bit behind the DJ controller and put her arms in the air a few times.

...I should probably start charging 3.5K for weddings and advertise that Spotify playlists are not a problem! :)
Something tells me if Paris wasn't famous, rich, thin, and blonde, her DJ skills would suddenly be in less demand 😁
 
Simple question. How does this hurt you?

It hurts the perception of the industry. If DJs are perceived as overpaid button pushers, then it can create downward pressure on industry prices. Especially since this guy is using the language "Tricked" it's adding an element of deception that the client is too stupid to know the difference. That creates distrust that makes people wonder if they can trust the next DJ they talk to.

Anyone doing quality work should be able to explain how much they are contributing versus simply playing the music. We are (at least should be) offering clients a combination of peace of mind, making their day easier, and helping them execute on their vision for the event we are hired for. But the more we are combating a view of what we do that is negative, that doesn't help.
 
It hurts the perception of the industry. If DJs are perceived as overpaid button pushers, then it can create downward pressure on industry prices. Especially since this guy is using the language "Tricked" it's adding an element of deception that the client is too stupid to know the difference. That creates distrust that makes people wonder if they can trust the next DJ they talk to.

Anyone doing quality work should be able to explain how much they are contributing versus simply playing the music. We are (at least should be) offering clients a combination of peace of mind, making their day easier, and helping them execute on their vision for the event we are hired for. But the more we are combating a view of what we do that is negative, that doesn't help.
[/QUOTEW]
It hurts the perception of the industry. If DJs are perceived as overpaid button pushers, then it can create downward pressure on industry prices. Especially since this guy is using the language "Tricked" it's adding an element of deception that the client is too stupid to know the difference. That creates distrust that makes people wonder if they can trust the next DJ they talk to.

Anyone doing quality work should be able to explain how much they are contributing versus simply playing the music. We are (at least should be) offering clients a combination of peace of mind, making their day easier, and helping them execute on their vision for the event we are hired for. But the more we are combating a view of what we do that is negative, that doesn't help.
When people know you and know what you do, that makes a big difference. It's when someone doesn't know you is when your aim should be putting them at ease that you're the right DJ for their event. Not every prospect is going to be sold. Some it's a question of your price and some are not convinced that you're the right DJ for their event. Many times the argument is about price.

What I learned is some times you have to stand firm. This is the price or keep shopping.
 
It hurts the perception of the industry. If DJs are perceived as overpaid button pushers, then it can create downward pressure on industry prices.

That's fundamentally flawed.
Most jobs today are all about pushing buttons.

I push buttons nearly 7 days a a week - digital audio consoles, lighting controllers, circuit relays, video switchers, scalers, encoders, computers, tablets, etc. I'm in demand because I know exactly which buttons to push to produce what's needed. When I'm hired to DJ it's because my history in that arena aligns with a level of experience and knowledge people trust.

Time cures all defects and today the overpaid button pushing DJs are as much a fossil as any dinosaur. Sure, there are plenty of DJs who are more talented at looking fashionable than rocking a dance floor - but, there's a demand for that too. Some are genuinely talented entertainers whose stage presence is real talent - not simply a music mix.

The art of DJing events has never been about who's behind the booth. It's always about what's happening in the space around it.

I think jokers who get called out for over-charging and under-performing are a GOOD thing. It forces consumers to pay closer attention to who they hire and how to get better quality at a reasonable price.

There's probably an over-abundance of DJs on the flip side of that - people with no self-awareness of how minimal many of the skills they promote so highly really are. They're prone to self-imposed turmoil and customer friction based on that lack of self-awareness and frequent blame shifting.
 
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Bob it does matter who is behind the booth. There are those who are very good at DJing and those who plain suck. Now let's be fair about this. There are times when a client picks a DJ to find out they made a big mistake. That normally is during or after an event. Unless they are planning to do another event they haven't learned a thing. What clients should do is truly research to find the right DJ for their event. Some just base their decision on price alone. Price alone doesn't tell how good or bad a DJ is. The assumption is that a DJ charging 1k or more must be good. That's not true. Someone else charging half that might just be a better DJ.
 
That's fundamentally flawed.
Most jobs today are all about pushing buttons.

I push buttons nearly 7 days a a week - digital audio consoles, lighting controllers, circuit relays, video switchers, scalers, encoders, computers, tablets, etc. I'm in demand because I know exactly which buttons to push to produce what's needed.
So, when someone uses the term, "overpaid button pusher" in this thread, you can't discern between someone that pushes the right buttons at the right time and someone that plays a preloaded song list on a streaming service? Or believe anyone else couldn't make that distinction?

That would be a comprehension flaw.

Or a fundamental flaw of splitting hairs.

Being able to understand, communicate with, and socialize with other people will always be more important than knowing what buttons to push, Sheldon.😁
 
How does this thread affect you? It doesn't affect me at all. That DJ is probably nowhere near me. What they do is not what I do.
 
So, when someone uses the term, "overpaid button pusher" in this thread, you can't discern between someone that pushes the right buttons at the right time and someone that plays a preloaded song list on a streaming service? Or believe anyone else couldn't make that distinction?

That would be a comprehension flaw.

Or a fundamental flaw of splitting hairs.

Being able to understand, communicate with, and socialize with other people will always be more important than knowing what buttons to push, Sheldon.😁

I doubt your interpersonal skills are going to compensate for a lack of technical ability. You're just not that guy.

We can easily flip this thread on it's head by presuming the the person posting about getting big $$$ for doing what they perceive to be very little is NOT a DJ at all. Rather, they are someone of an entirely other line of work who simply took on this role ONE TIME for family or a friend. Anyone with a little style and artistic flair can do battery powered up lighting, and DJs do not have the market cornered on good music selection or timing. There are a LOT of people who know how to host a great party. There are also a lot of people whose career line of work would more than qualify them to handle a DJ role - and even outpace much of the current market their first time out the door. I've met a lot of young adults who got into DJing as a sideline in this very manner. It began as endeavor for ONE occasion, one coworker or acquaintance, but they were very good at it, it was easy for them, and the money made it worthwhile.
 
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