I've come to a conclusion... Honesty...

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Tyrone Blue said:
While I'm the lighting mod, I'm sure there are a lot of members who are more qualified than me, and I bow down to those people. I will give advise that I personally know to be accurate, but defer to those more qualified when asked something I don't know... I will never BS anyone with an answer that I don't' know to be accurate.

OK, I'm done...
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Dude, I've been reading your posts about DMX for a while now. Even though you aren't utmost authority on it, your knowledge has helped countless people on here and djcrap. You don't talk over people's heads and you're not afraid to listen. Sometimes its hard to get simple answers or ideas out of people who are too technical. I've also seen you go out of your way to help people find their answer elswhere. I really can't think of a better lighting mod.....thanks!
 
Wow I must be one of those honest ones then lol. I have no party for this month or new years eve either so far. My best so far for a wedding was 800 dollars and I had to travel 150 miles to get it. I do have my own equipment. And I can tell I'am becoming better and better at each one of my events. I do have a personal code that I have as a DJ. I know its just me maybe.

But I will only feel comfortable asking for alot more money when I feel as good about my DJing abilities as I do with my job I do know. My prices are reasonable for my area not to high but not to low. In my area alone on wedj http://www.wedj.com/wedjcom.nsf/usalinks!open&V=DJ&X=95350


There are 73 local DJ's and those are the ones that have some idea about the internet.
I'am number 47 on the list. I'm thinking of going gold for a few months and see if it helps. I also know I need to get out and about a little more which I will be doing this saturday.
 
Honesty and integrity will pay dividends in the long run. Ask any DJ that's been in it for a long time. Without honesty, your business will disapper.
Through converstions on this, and many other boards, I've learned who the "players" and the "wannabe's" are. But, in the world of cyberspace... it's is far to easy to "talk up your game" than it is to just be honest. Most of the new guys seem to feel the need to imbelish so they may feel that they are running with the big dogs. The problem is, they do no harm but to themselves.
I'm like Fred and Val....Call 'em as I see 'em.
Yes, Ive done $1000 plus weddings, but.....That's the top in MY market. It's easier to get $800 (which is where I start) the rest is upsells. I've watched all the self help videos, gone to the worth seminars, read the books. But, if the client won't buy it, then it's NOT worth what we're asking.
Do I have a mega sound system? Yes actually...I do (several)
Is it as big as Val's? No. But hthen...I don't look for the scale they do. Am I proud of my accomplishments? Yep. Got to work with more celeb's than I can remember. It's been a heck of a ride!
Do we have ego's? You bet! If we didn't beleive we were better than the next guy, We would have a tough time convincing a client. Will I lie or exagerate to get a gig? Nope!
That's just not me.
But an ego, in check, is not neccesarily a bad thing.
Is it?
Honesty however IS!
 
I tend to wonder at times if the perceived need to fib on bbs forums is encouraged by the venue.

If I was brand new and saw all these folks chatting about high-dollar shows and touring grade business equipment, I'd want to be a part of it as well. Who wouldn't?

Were I to post on some of the "other" forums I may get kicked upside the head. Were I to post here I more than likely would receive honest answers. Those answers may not be what I wished to hear... but they'd be honest answers from folks who have been there and done that.
 
I have to say that Tyrone now has the record for most "Thanks" in one post.
I've come to a conclusion... Honesty...

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Especially on the other board, but there are some here too... who claim to be "this" or "that" when it comes to DJing. That's the subject of this post... embellishing claims about who they are.

JTV and I had a great conversation last night. We talked about claims everyone makes regarding who and what they are. It is our consensus that A LOT of posters are "full of it". Some claim to make over 5 grand on gigs with no lights. This is just plain BS. Some make similar claims about just about everything. I'd really be surprised that there are more than a FEW who regularly make over $1000.

I myself, have several "packages" listed for over $1000, but have only booked one such show. I suspect this is the norm for all of us. I don't know why so many claim to make tons of money DJing and spend so much time telling everyone that fact. The average "take" for a wedding gig is around $700. Less, you need to raise your price... more, good for you!

My first mention about BS'ers was regarding a young lad who had not even done a show yet, but was claiming what a great DJ he was and giving advise about DMX. This, after he had mentioned a few days earlier, that he had no desire to use DMX, because he felt that he "didn't need it". Last time I heard, he'd done 3 shows.

I've seen lots of guys post pictures of their setups, then mention later that it wasn't theirs... "this is my buddy's set-up" when questioned about it. This is the "wanna be" syndrome, and there are lots here. I don't care if there are a tons of wanna be's as long as they're honest about it.

As we grow here on this site, I'm sure these "folks" will undoubtedly fill our ranks. Giving and taking advise needs to done with this thought in mind. Some are giving false or inaccurate advise, and everyone needs to take statements with a grain of salt, unless you know the credibility of the poster.

While I'm the lighting mod, I'm sure there are a lot of members who are more qualified than me, and I bow down to those people. I will give advise that I personally know to be accurate, but defer to those more qualified when asked something I don't know... I will never BS anyone with an answer that I don't' know to be accurate.

OK, I'm done...
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The Following 22 Users Say Thank You to Tyrone Blue For This Useful Post:
Remove Your Thanks AlbanyAMS (Yesterday), Balanced Line (12-07-2006), ballphotodj (12-07-2006), Bounce (12-07-2006), Carolyn (Yesterday), DJ Bob (12-07-2006), DJ Zac (12-07-2006), DJCraziAce (12-07-2006), djotherguy (12-07-2006), Ed The Sawk (12-07-2006), eklondon (Yesterday), Fred Stewart (Yesterday), Jeff Romard (12-07-2006), jfactor1 (12-07-2006), jtnichol (Yesterday), Ken Petersen (12-07-2006), Kreation (12-07-2006), mtnsounds (12-07-2006), Scotch (12-07-2006), Scott Hanna (12-07-2006), The Vinyl Spinner (12-07-2006), Valerie Ruste (12-07-2006)
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Honesty is a treasured and hard to come by gift... I am in the same boat as Fred. I don't get a lot of money for shows these days, I'm currently working at a small bar doing karaoke for peanuts 3 nights a week. I'm going back into the work force again soon full time and taking a break from DJ'ing as he and Shirl have done. I've been working, but not in a filed that would cause me to make a career choice out of it. I recently had an offer handling paperwork that doesn't pay badly, so I'm taking it... I don't have a confirmed new years eve gig, and to be honest, I'd rather take the night off. 24 years and I've had about 2 of them off so far. I look forward to relaxing and having a cold one on the other side of the fence so to speak. :)

My signature is honest, I really was Operations Manager for a cluster of radio stations until feb of last year and handled air shifts on all three stations at the same time for a while, lol. Morning talk, afternoon drive classic country and weekend active rock... There were days I had to force myself to remember what station I was at before I opened the mic, and I used 2 different air names to complicate it farther! But that's another story for another thread and time. :)
 
In the real world, honesty does not reign supreme. Just drive out to a car dealership, for example. Try and honestly move up in the coporate world. Several years ago I took an Operation Managers (exempt) position with the company that I have been with for over 13 years. In those 2 years, I saw a completely different side of the coporate ladder. I decided that I had rather be an (non-exempt) employee and be happy than be caught up in the world of back-stabbing, ruthless, dishonesty.
In the coporate world of our DJ business, it's the same as anywhere else. You have those who will stop at nothing to undercut, lie, slander, or anything else to get business. The sad thing is, they succeed alot. Most of them tend to compare large crowd, large dancefloors, large equipment and large prices- successful. I am not saying that some who are honest are not successful. I consider myself very successful in this business. I absolutely love what I do and I still anticipate each event. Heck, I still get that anxiety pee before every gig...lol. I am not booked every weekend. I had a gig last Friday and Saturday. I did a gig last night for my wife's company and did not get paid anything but the smiles of her co-workers enjoying themselves(posting pics next). I don't have anything else lined up until '07.

Thanks to you all for being a part of this board and this post! Honesty in itself is reward enough for me...thx
 
Thanks, Eddie. :)

The corporate world is not real life. Few appreciate honesty and integrity within the hallowed halls. Out there on the factory floor, it's a whole nother world. There you have your politics to be sure... but the majority is good, hard working people who are trying to put a bowl of beans on the table.

As to salesmen... you're only as good as your last sale. The successful salesman is a cross between a camel trader and a fortune teller. You work your arse into the ground for someone else and he throws you a bone.

Honesty has more than its own rewards. When others know you as an honest person your words will be respected. You will be welcomed anywhere. Your work will have earned glowing references.

On the other side of the coin, those who lie and cheat are either in jail or not far from it. These folks are pariahs who are welcome nowhere.
 
"Real World" Is Right

Fred Stewart said:
You will be welcomed anywhere...
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"Honest to a fault" is what I have been described as by many, believe it or not.

With a few exceptions, I can honestly add to the above: "...but needed nowhere."

Think about it; while it may not be as BAD as it reads, it is very true.
 
First off you have to understand what honesty is worth in this country.

This little story is very true...............

I was making a court appearence once (well I have many times but I am talking about this particular time LOL)

I sat and watched as witness after witness for the plantiff get up and lie their asses off. When it was my turn to testify I told the Judge in the case that I had nothing but the truth to tell.

The Judge without any humor in his voice and no smile on his face looked straight at me and stated.... "This Court isn't interested in the truth, We only want the facts"!
 
On another DJ chatboard in the photography section, a DJ has suddenly decided to question my photos by asking questions like "You must be really good at photoshop" or "Must be using filters . . . right?"

Quite possibly, perhaps, this person needs to resort to doing those things to get good pictures . . .

But not all of us have to!

Of course, having spent the majority of my adult life making my living behind the camera has taught me how to get good photos without post processing (photoshopping) and using colored filters!

Oh no . . . does that sound like ego coming out? :sqerr:
 
It's a classic problem... People go into cyberspace to escape reality.

But the question is if these people who need to run away can actually take what they see in communities such as this and integrate it into real life so they no longer need to run.

I'm working on a local dj community forum site for the Long Island, NY area since we really have no professional development organizations... Surely we'll get our share of whopper stories - but if the industry grows and can represet it self better.... We'll all do better!
 
i think it was Ben Franklin that said, "Always tell the truth, it will amaze your freinds and confuse your enemies"
 
Sounds like a Billy Joel song:

Honesty

If you search for tenderness
It isn't hard to find
You can have the love you need to live
But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind
It always seems to be so hard to give

CHORUS

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can always find someone
To say they sympathize
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve
But I don't want some pretty face
To tell me pretty lies
All I want is someone to believe

CHORUS

I can find a lover
I can find a friend
I can have security
Until the bitter end
Anyone can comfort me
With promises again
I know, I know

When I'm deep inside of me
Don't be too concerned
I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone
But when I want sincerity
Tell me where else can I turn
Because you're the one that I depend upon

CHORUS
 
Steve Miller said:
The Judge without any humor in his voice and no smile on his face looked straight at me and stated.... "This Court isn't interested in the truth, We only want the facts"!
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Sounds like the Judge was a wise man. Though most would not admit it, "truth" can often be arbitrary while "facts" usually are not (though they CAN be distorted and/or used selectively by any decent attorney). And the two are easily confused in both criminal and civil courts. That's what attorneys are paid well to do.

Unfortunately, we don't even get THAT far in the mobile DJ industry. Here, its more like, "Don't confuse me with the facts because I've already made up my mind."

Scott
 
Just so you all know and in all honesty, I post on more than one board, and you know what? I am the DJ God!! Just to be clear here so you know where I am coming from. I'm coming from that Godly space that only I can come from.

I am so far above all of you, that you have to look up just to see my shoes.

OKay... :dcool: :dcool:
 
Chuck The DJ said:
Just so you all know and in all honesty, I post on more than one board, and you know what? I am the DJ God!! Just to be clear here so you know where I am coming from. I'm coming from that Godly space that only I can come from.

I am so far above all of you, that you have to look up just to see my shoes.

OKay... :dcool: :dcool:
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Chuck:

Move your left foot, you're stepping on me! :sqerr: :sqrolleyes: :sqlaugh:

Kirby "Not Worthy" Ball
 
scottsusor said:
Sounds like the Judge was a wise man. Though most would not admit it, "truth" can often be arbitrary while "facts" usually are not (though they CAN be distorted and/or used selectively by any decent attorney). And the two are easily confused in both criminal and civil courts. That's what attorneys are paid well to do.
Scott
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Scott,

The problem with facts is that they are based entirely upon perception. In the court room in the case I am talking about the facts were the truth and the defendant in that case had plenty of paper to back his truths as well as testimony. The plaintiffs however did in fact have an attorney who twisted and or ignored facts to suit the needs of the plaintiff. The Judge found for the plaintiff.

The State Supreme Court however disagreed with that Judge, and reversed his ruling in that case.

Back to the point though, you are correct many "DJ's" post about gear, jobs and/or money that they do not have, do not get, or may only have gotten once or twice. Then in the case of money claim that is the amount they normally receive. Some know it is BS but others are duped into thinking well if he can get it so can I. You and I have both seen this over and over in the past 5 years.

Not that this was a bad thing for me, because everytime a DJ prices himself out of the market he has increased my business.
 
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