What Will You Do When.....

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Hey Cap,

Since you have more clauses in your contract then Cod has liver pills, and it's probably thicker than a phone book to boot -- I can only assume that comes from experience.

Which begs the question...

Have you ever satisfied a client...? :sqlaugh:
 
Madness
Yes I know it is EGO,
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No sir, it is NOT ego...it is confidence! Never let those two elements get confused as it does a huge diservice to your talents.
 
Rick : Actually, my contract is just one 8 1/2 x 11 page in 8 point type. It has taken 30 years and six lawyers to get it to the precision surgical instrument it is now, yet like everything else in business, is a living breathing document capable of adapting to the times.

I assume you meant have I ever been taken to task on the contract in terms of not satisfying a client? Yes. Once. It was my fault (although just 35 seconds worth...an incorrect Bride and Groom introduction music track. My bad. I blew it. I took full responsibility for my blunder. The remaining 4 hours, 59 minutes and 25 seconds was perfect) and they were compensated. From that experience also came an adjustment to the wording. Now, any and all issues dealing with any problem must be made in real-time and all guarantees expire 24 hours from the beginning of the event.
 
Yes but

Cap Capello said:
Madness No sir, it is NOT ego...it is confidence! Never let those two elements get confused as it does a huge diservice to your talents.
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It is confidence, but it is our EGO that enjoys what we do, it is the reason we are good at what we do. If our confidence did not feed our EGO. We would not be as good at this as we are. But you are right, In the ego I am speaking in the emotional portion of each and every one of us. We are in awe of some, we feel we are as good as others. But sometime our EGO, be it from confidence or just over cocky, tells us we could do it better.
 
Madness : Perhaps we're involved in a wee bit of a semantical discourse however, just as in the traditional use of the word "professional" is a singular individual's view, so goes the word "ego".

This business is not an ego trip for me. It's my calling. It's my life, my livelihood, my passion, my career. Ego has nothing to do with what I do and frankly take a certain level of exception and disappointment when the word "ego" is used as a generic term as a user's perception or opinion about DJs in total.

Ego is used as a slam in most posts and begs further definition in most cases.
 
No I agree totally with you and most of are us good becuase we are skilled and are confident in what we do and we are saying the same thing. However, I am talking about the basic human emotion that is inside all of us. And everyone has an ego to deal with and how we utilize our ego is a great testament to how skilled we really are. Some people would not do well with moving out of the way letting someone else make the music choices. Others would say, cool have at it, I can focus on other parts of the show. That is what I am talking about.
 
Interesting thread............................

It's (the changes in our business), that are upon us now, whether we acknowledge it or not, that will shape our futures.

I was on a committee @ our Country Club that was addressing our new Building construction.

One of the points/changes that they the committee wanted to implement, was to include "Pro Audio/ Lighting" systems as part of the new Meeting rooms as well as the new ballrooms. The main reason for this had nothing to do with putting DJ's out of work. The reason was there are many (majority) of functions that they have, that have need for a good sound, as well as lighting systems, that don't involve dancing. There was a feeling that we needed to be able to offer this as part of our package to members, as well as outside parties. Quality/consistency were the main concerns. In probably 80% of the inquiries our Entertainment coordinators gets from those looking to rent our facility, comes the question can you recommend a DJ? Our coordinator said it would help him get his price for the rental, if He could offer the sound system and some music to potential clients, as part of his regular package.

In a separate experience I had the pleasure of working with several professional singers over this past year and one of them said something to me that was interesting and explained, at least in part, the attitude some people have towards the task of playing music for others. She said some customers/patrons have no idea what it takes to put music out to them.They have no clue what you go through to make it sound good. So as long as they think it's just "pushing play", things won't change, and we will see a lot more of your venue's of the future, not having a need for a DJ, but rather just someone to push "play".........

I don't think this will be the "exception to the rule", it will be more common to see this rather than having a full time, fully compensated Disc Jockey....it comes down to overall cost......On the other side, for the "well healed well to do" client, they will still want the professional DJ, MC .............that won't change.
 
Bill Kexel said:
Huh?
Bar work sharpens your skills?...What skills? Celebrity?..huh?
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Many a DJ has built good skills and a good following coming out of a bar. Although this is not where I started I did work bars for a while and I learned alot about being the personality instead of the push play DJ

Where did you start Bill?
 
Bill Kexel said:
Huh?
1) Bar work sharpens your skills?...What skills? Celebrity?..huh?

2) I think the first area of mobile DJing headed for the chopping block is bars.


3)I don't really understand what type of bar "DJ skills" you are talking about. The bars that I do know who hire DJs, are more concerned with "finding the DJ with the cheapest rates. I have yet to meet a bar DJ in my area that can get over $500 for a night.
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1) No, not celebrity- ALL of your DJ skills. Why? Because a bar crowd, unlike a private party, is not a captive audience. If you're not good enough, they go elsewhere for their entertainment. A bar DJ works under more pressure to excel- or be replaced. A bar will keep you from getting stale, stimulate creativity, and most especially build interaction skills with a wide variety of personality types. It is also one of the best ways to stay abreast of current musical trends.


2) Just the opposite. Prior to working bars I had a VERY small private event business. The bar did all the things I said it would. Honed my skills, gave me great exposure, and enabled me ro raise my event fees to a decent level. Remember, my suggestion was that all DJs work a bar just ONE night per week. That's all it would take.


3) Wrong mindset. Bar owners are not cheap- I've been one. A private event is not supposed to make money. It is an acknowledged loss, as far as money goes. A bar is in business to make a profit. To pay you your $500 dollars, they would have to sell approximately $2,300 dollars in drinks, or more in food where the costs are more. You get around $1.50 out of every $5.oo mixed drink sold. If it's a primarily beer drinking crowd, that's a LOT of beer at a couple of bucks per. Out of that $3.50 left of the 5, they have to pay their other employees, utilities, expenses, the actual cost of the drink, AND make a profit.

I have 7 venues ( 4 once per week, and a rotating Sunday ). I make over $200 in all the venues but one. I live in Northern NJ. IF you are a bar DJ in the largest clubs, you can make more than a wedding event EVERY NIGHT- because these places have the volume to be able to afford it, and "celebrity" comes into play. The "celebrity" can be a key factor in not only booking events, but in the fees charged.

The other change in mindset is in realizing why you are there. Not just honing your skills. Many of us pay a LOT of money for advertising that may or may not bring in more business. When you work a bar, you are not only getting free advertising that is virtually guaranteed to bring you more event business ( if you are any good ), but you are PAID to advertise. Also, you are not just being paid the $150 or whatever. If that night brings you more private events at your normal event rate, then you must factor the extra money made into your pay. After all, you wouldn't have gotten them if you hadn't been there.

The philosophy above has enabled me to live a pretty nice lifestyle in one of the most affluent sections of the country, on my own terms. Now I could just be the most luck endowed person in the business, but I doubt it.
 
With 53 years (this January) in the entertainment business (notice I said entertainment business and not DJ business) I have had to make a number of changes and directions in my business.

I welcome it and love the change. Our business has changed as follows:

  • Ambassador Orchestras
  • Ambassador DJ Service
  • Ambassador Music Service
  • Ambassador Entertainment
  • Ambassador Event Service

Each one of these changes was made because of industry direction and to allow our company to grow. You have to change to grow (or maybe even to just stay static in the business).
 
Jeff Romard said:
Many a DJ has built good skills and a good following coming out of a bar. Although this is not where I started I did work bars for a while and I learned alot about being the personality instead of the push play DJ

Where did you start Bill?
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I started in radio.
Yes, as I began doing mobile DJ work, I did the bars, teen dances, dog shows, car shows, proms, Etc. Etc.

Of all the different type of DJing, I found bars to be the least rewarding...low pay, screwed out of pay, dealing with drunks, fights, and it being the most fickle line of DJ work, because most bars would hire DJs based on whether you would work cheaper than their present DJ.

Some may enjoy it. For me, no thanks.
 
The question is what kind of DJ will you be[//b] when the banquet facility has it's own user friendly version of a Cortex like controller built in to the wall of every function room? (Remember, there's no reason a function facility can't have it's own music server.)

"Just push play" doesn't matter becasue the customer's own playlists are already loaded. They're just asking you if you want to drive.

If you didn't need your music, your mic. or any of your audio gear - would you be worth it to a potential customer?

We can assume live bands would still have their appeal - but what is your appeal if there's no DJ booth?

Would your income go down? If not why not? Would your perceived value go down?
 
Proformance said:
The question is what kind of DJ will you be[//b] when the banquet facility has it's own user friendly version of a Cortex like controller built in to the wall of every function room? (Remember, there's no reason a function facility can't have it's own music server.)

"Just push play" doesn't matter becasuethe customer's own playlists are already loaded. They're just asking you if you want to drive.

If you didn't need your music, your mic. or any of your audio gear - would you be worth it to a potential customer?

We can assume live bands would still have their appeal - but what is your appeal if there's no DJ booth?

Would your income go down? If not why not? Would your perceived value go down?
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Good questions!

Without having to drag out equipment and music, income would go down. Yes.

At the same time, so would my expenses. Not having to replace worn out equipment, damaged equipment, cases, lights... Not having to purchase songs for an event that will be never played again... Time spent copying to multiple hard drives... Time spent cleaning equipment, cables...

On the other hand, the true value and importance to the rest of what we do will come to the forefront. The parts that many dj's don't realize is where there is a separation in abilities and talents, and what we should be charging for. Not just the crap that happens the day of the event. Those who stay the course, and better themselves in this direction could possibly profit even more on less cash flow.

Writing scripts for introductions to dances, grand entrances, love stories... Crowd motivation... Leading dances... Not everyone, nor, IMO not even many, are truly gifted naturally in all these areas. I am not. I will need to work, hard, on them. But, if one chooses to... I do see a future and profit.

Income itself would probably go down. But profit would probably go up. The people that would be wanting my services as a professional MC, planner, crowd motivation, etc would be willing to pay (for quality) as opposed to some relative or the hall doing this.

Marketing, dvd's of past performances, references, would really be important to get the money.

Performance is totally right. The halls are stupid to not install quality a/v equipment. Dollar for dollar, the wedding market is not a big money maker for the venue when looking at costs vs, the business market that happens during the week. Seminars, are big money makers with very little expenses to them. Adding a/v for them is pretty much a no brainer.

Really getting my brain thinking future Bob, Thanks much!!!
 
Flyingdjdan said:
G

Really getting my brain thinking future Bob, Thanks much!!!
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thinking in the present is better.

I'd be too busy worrying....

like: "what to do with the TV sets in the house after Feb 11, 2009..."

THAT has an immediate impact and I'm inclined to sell 2 sets NOW on Craigslist before CRT's become completely worthless.
 
Flyingdjdan said:
Good questions!

Without having to drag out equipment and music, income would go down. Yes.
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Mabye....

If you are really good at what you do and offer advanced services (love story, montages etc) your income might stay around the same with alot less overhead and wear and tear on the body. You might actually take in less and make more
 
Bill Kexel said:
Of all the different type of DJing, I found bars to be the least rewarding...low pay, screwed out of pay, dealing with drunks, fights, and it being the most fickle line of DJ work, because most bars would hire DJs based on whether you would work cheaper than their present DJ.

Some may enjoy it. For me, no thanks.
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OK, Bill. I see AND understand your problem with bars. Not all bars are like that though. I no longer do neighborhood bars or gin mills, but have plenty of similar experiences in that type of bar. Now I generally stick to upscale restaurant bars where customer behavior pretty much matches the venue, with very few exceptions. The atmosphere is pleasant, the people reasonably polite, and the venues dont squawk about my fee ( of course, increasing their profits on the nights I work where others haven't helps).


I also offer my apologies for the hijack. My original answer to the original question stands.
 
Bill Kexel said:
I started in radio.
Yes, as I began doing mobile DJ work, I did the bars, teen dances, dog shows, car shows, proms, Etc. Etc.

Of all the different type of DJing, I found bars to be the least rewarding...low pay, screwed out of pay, dealing with drunks, fights, and it being the most fickle line of DJ work, because most bars would hire DJs based on whether you would work cheaper than their present DJ.

Some may enjoy it. For me, no thanks.
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It's not my cup of tea either but I wouldn't give up the experience it gave me.

At the time I was getting $100 per night using thier gear, which was double what other bar DJs were getting. and in most cases are still getting. I was putting the arses in the seats. I would still be doing the bar weeknights if I didn't have to chase the owner for my pay every week. After I left the weeknight crowd went too and the owner ended up selling out and after a few more times changing hands they converted to a sitdown resturant.

I did a few bar gigs after that and always drew well but I lost interest in the bar scene and put my focus to more mobile work
 
I am negotiating a pub gig Friday Nights and my off Saturday nights (I provide a fill in when I have other events.). 3-4 hours bring my music and make 350 to start. 6 week trial. Only 5 miles from home.
 
JoeChartreuse said:
OK, Bill. I see AND understand your problem with bars. Not all bars are like that though. I no longer do neighborhood bars or gin mills, but have plenty of similar experiences in that type of bar. Now I generally stick to upscale restaurant bars where customer behavior pretty much matches the venue, with very few exceptions. The atmosphere is pleasant, the people reasonably polite, and the venues dont squawk about my fee ( of course, increasing their profits on the nights I work where others haven't helps).


I also offer my apologies for the hijack. My original answer to the original question stands.
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I was living in the boonies in the midwest (small towns) at the time & these were the only bars around. I guess the upper scale clubs in the larger cities are a different story.

The bars I played at reminded me of the type of bars that the characters on "Roseanne" would hang out in. People that get rowdy & get out of hand when they start drinking. Plus dealing with owners that will screw you over in a heartbeat.

But I guess these bars can be found anywhere, because I just received a call from a bar in Phx that needs a DJ & his gear every Fri. night from 9PM-2AM for $200.00

In my area Fri night weddings are common. I can make 6 times that amount...for 4 hrs playing time.
 
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