So, my lack of knowledge, and stance on hip hop probably just cost me a LOT of money.

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
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Valley Forge Area
In the last few months I have become fairly friendly - though I wouldn't say friends - with a big name former NFL player. He knows I DJ and tonight he asked me if I wanted to DJ a party at his house on NY Eve. As we discussed the whole thing, obviously we discussed music..... and he wants LOTS of hip hop / rap.....

Now, in this case I know that I wouldn't be offending many with lyrics - maybe nobody. But that point aside, I just don't have the knowledge or the music library to handle such a party. ( Plus, most likely I will be working my FT job on NY Eve, anyway ).

I don't mind not actually doing the party. Quite likely I would have sucked as the DJ for such an event, plus I probably would not have enjoyed myself.... but those potential dollars not coming my way hurts a little..... OK, a LOT!

That said, I could probably have told the guy I could handle it, and he probably would have hired me, but in good conscience I couldn't do that. I was able to refer a DJ I think would do a good job, but I don't know whether this guy will actually call him.

Oh, well.... maybe some day I'll become friendly with a 45 year old PGA golfer! :rofl:
 
Principles are really worth something. Stick to them ;)
 
DJ SVO said:
Principles are really worth something. Stick to them ;)
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Yeah, but, truth be told, for this particular crowd, it wasn't about principles, but everything else. All I was seeing was DJing lots of parties for guys with LOTS of $$$..... then I had to realize, I was just not the right person for this event.

Thanks, Jacob.
 
Papa you know how I feel about this topic and Im proud you represented that which you do best. Offering integrity and honesty in your business model. Thank you my friend.
 
Jon Tuck said:
Papa you know how I feel about this topic and Im proud you represented that which you do best. Offering integrity and honesty in your business model. Thank you my friend.
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Yeah, but I sure as hell did waver, before doing the right thing. :sqeek: Thanks, Jon.
 
I understand and honestly I say that sometimes our limitations are our own worst nightmares. I have chosen to learn as much music and become very good at what I do no matter the genre for this very reason. I can do a teen dance. Rave and all the way down to a square dance party cause I provide no limits ( or as close to it as I can possibly handle.) I have passed on certain events cause the fact was like you I had a limited selection in the genre of choice and wasnt quite up on the style. The waver was definitely not uncommon. Doing profile events like this can put you amongst that upper level crowd we all would like working for well most of us. I feel your pain with the waver.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Yeah, but, truth be told, for this particular crowd, it wasn't about principles, but everything else. All I was seeing was DJing lots of parties for guys with LOTS of $$$..... then I had to realize, I was just not the right person for this event.

.
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And if you bombed it could mean the loss of alot of big dollars. Your best case senario would be you would get a whole bunch of big dollar gigs you didn't enjoy doing...

I think you made the right choice Chuck
 
Papa: Tch tch tch. To me, you may have passed on a prime learning experience while being paid ( a DJ scholarship if you will).

You assumed what their idea of hip hop was. You assumed what you'd have to play and which versions. You assumed you wouldn't know what to do without ever trying.

The obligation is to be honest to the client, and to the audience, not to commit suicide or be some sort of martyr for the cause.

What may have been forgotten is that this guy likes YOU! He wanted YOU! Even he can program an iPod. YOU were the difference.

Imagine taking that honesty to the party itself. "Hey, everybody, I'm Papa Deuce and I have no clue what I'm doing so help me out a bit will ya?" WOW! Talk about creating love at first sight.

Without taking risk or expanding business boundaries, growth and knowledge are the first victims. Right, Mike?
 
While I agree with Cap in principal here, I also have to admit that I don't take all Latin events but for a different reason! I like latin music and play some but I don't speak the language and it is difficult for me to communicate with Spanish speaking people so I generally don't take those events (although I am currently working with rosetta stone spanish to fix that problem a plus is my Grand daughter is becoming rather fluent in the language and my daughter in law to be is Mexican).

Perhaps I look at hip hop and rap differently than Papa because I DJed in a hip hop club fror more than a few years!
 
Papa please get in touch with this guy and tell him that you and I will do his event. I have a hip hop collection that spans from 1979 - 2008. These events require R&b, Hip Hop, classic House and today's music. This would be the easiest 4 or 5 hour party and the word of mouth business would come back to us 10 fold.
If you want to do this I will drive up with 2 EF500 Yorkville tops and 2 LS 800p subs. CD players and 4 moving heads. This is an easy $2000.00 event.
 
Cap Capello said:
Papa: Tch tch tch. To me, you may have passed on a prime learning experience while being paid ( a DJ scholarship if you will).

You assumed what their idea of hip hop was. You assumed what you'd have to play and which versions. You assumed you wouldn't know what to do without ever trying.

The obligation is to be honest to the client, and to the audience, not to commit suicide or be some sort of martyr for the cause.

What may have been forgotten is that this guy likes YOU! He wanted YOU! Even he can program an iPod. YOU were the difference.

Imagine taking that honesty to the party itself. "Hey, everybody, I'm Papa Deuce and I have no clue what I'm doing so help me out a bit will ya?" WOW! Talk about creating love at first sight.

Without taking risk or expanding business boundaries, growth and knowledge are the first victims. Right, Mike?
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Wrong. We discussed EXACTLY what he wanted in music, and I am not the right guy.
 
DJ JohnThe1 said:
Papa please get in touch with this guy and tell him that you and I will do his event. I have a hip hop collection that spans from 1979 - 2008. These events require R&b, Hip Hop, classic House and today's music. This would be the easiest 4 or 5 hour party and the word of mouth business would come back to us 10 fold.
If you want to do this I will drive up with 2 EF500 Yorkville tops and 2 LS 800p subs. CD players and 4 moving heads. This is an easy $2000.00 event.
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Thanks John. I already declined and gave him a referral. Plus, the reason I know him is that he is a temporary sports guy at the TV station I work at. Most likely I will be scheduled to work NY Eve. I think I would get in fairly serious trouble if I DJ'd this event, and some management from work showed up, and I called out to DJ this event.
 
DJ Ducky said:
What was he looking for?




Sorry, I can't help but be curious.
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Lil John, Ludacris, Jay Z, David Banner.... I make no apologies to ANYONE about not knowing this genre. I hate the music. But that doesn't hurt a potential client; it only hurts me, and I am OK with that. I'm quite sure that he'll find a qualified DJ.
 
Papa : My apologies for making my assumptions. I should've asked you more questions about your consultation. The truth of the matter appears to be more of hating the music and that's reason enough not to want to know or understand it.

What was the intent of your post? To me, its title read more like a confession than a personal stance against a music genre. I've learned a lesson here too. Thank you.
 
Cap Capello said:
Papa : My apologies for making my assumptions. I should've asked you more questions about your consultation. The truth of the matter appears to be more of hating the music and that's reason enough not to want to know or understand it.

What was the intent of your post? To me, its title read more like a confession than a personal stance against a music genre. I've learned a lesson here too. Thank you.
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No worries. Yeah, I hate the music. No, I have no plans to learn about it.... but that is A-OK. Why? Because my clients, and all potential clients know this. I tell them that this is not a genre I know well. So, it costs me a chance at money. But clients won't suffer because of my lack of knowledge or desire to play it; they will just find the right DJ for the event.


Like I have said before, probably ad nauseum, I don't rely on DJing for income that matters to my family. While I take the jobs I actually do VERY seriously, DJing to me is mostly a well paid hobby. ( though I do pay my taxes, :sqlaugh: ). If I had to rely on DJ money, I probably would have to suck it up and learn it.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Lil John, Ludacris, Jay Z, David Banner.... I make no apologies to ANYONE about not knowing this genre. I hate the music. But that doesn't hurt a potential client; it only hurts me, and I am OK with that. I'm quite sure that he'll find a qualified DJ.
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This sounds like it's right up Dj Cam's or Johnthe1's Alley!!

Hell i be all over it too!!!
 
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