How much longer will you be a DJ, and what will you do when you stop?

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DJ JohnThe1 said:
I will give it up in another 30 years. The economy should be better by then.
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As long as we can keep you on the docks -- we'll overlook that aspect of yer life John... :sqbiggrin: :sqlaugh:

BTW, we may have something for you this week -- some God awful karaoke guy in Joisey, needs a reminder... :D
 
Papa Deuce said:
Have you thought about when you will no longer DJ? What will you do after you stop? How much longer do you hope to DJ?
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November of 2009 is my last event.

I will be starting up interactive team trivia.
 
At this point in time, I'm thinking approximately 6 more years for the DJ part of the business as long as no health issues shorten this projected time-frame. After that, I might consider doing just a few select events per year if I feel like it.

As far as the photography side, I'm projecting that about 12-15 years.

Now if I'm still having fun, I might keep doing things until no one wants to hire me/us anymore!:sqlaugh::sqwink:

So as you can tell, I'm not making any solid predictions and time will tell. :)
 
Cap Capello said:
Mike : It's not the physical stuff at all. I love that part. Hell, I'd roadie for part time pay locally. Lord knows I know what I'm doing.

It's the ever changing market. It's the speed of technology. It's the babysitting the clueless. It's the constant looking over the shoulder at how close competition is getting. It's the need to continually reinvent one's self to keep the edge, the lead, the reputation.

Actually, it sounds like I should find an agent or work for a multi. Hmmmm.
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Hey you could always write a book.
 
We went the semi-retired route a few years ago and couldn't be happier. Now it's all about working smarter. :)

I'll probably hang it up once I can't load the system anymore. You guys talk about hiring help but that's easier said than done. I've learned the hard way that if you want something done right, do it yourself.
 
Alphabet said:
Forget "Paper or Plastic", how about...

"Welcome to Walmart"...
:sqwink:

Hear they have a good medical plan.
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Great, then what you expect Ken Peterson to do. Just move over and let you take his job? He's got college books, you know.:sqcool:
 
If I can keep the pace up 11 more years I'll be 50. If I am still having fun at it I'll drop back to 20 or so hand picked events a year and let the rest of the crew handle the rest
 
Cap Capello said:
It's the ever changing market. It's the speed of technology. It's the babysitting the clueless. It's the constant looking over the shoulder at how close competition is getting. It's the need to continually reinvent one's self to keep the edge, the lead, the reputation.
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Those are good reasons and that is part of what led to my decision.

Precisionpower said:
Get fed up with cheap azz people, working weekends, holidays,etc...

And think to myself..."to Hell with it all, i'm selling this crap while i still have my sanity"
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I have had those thoughts and have acted on them.

Precisionpower said:
Then, you have a really great show....And you get that DJ buzz again....
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I actually had a great show the last one I did. They begged me not to retire. I'm still done.

SoftJock Rick said:
You don't count Tom -- you already committed Hary Kary :sqlaugh: :rofl:
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I don't call it Harry Kary, I call it retirement with sanity.
 
Mike [MBM] : Me? Write a book? It wouldn't sell. Why, you ask?

Chapter One: Business Plan
Chapter Two: Contracts
Chapter Three: Office Management Software Design
Chapter Four : Adult Behavior In Social Situations
Chapter Five : How To Deal With Spouses and No Weekends
Chapter Six : How To Get A Loan Even With A Waaay Adjusted Salary
.....
.....
then somewhere around Chapter Thirty eight:

How To DJ

which if one doesn't have the talent for before buying the book, it was wasted money.

Wanting to be a DJ and having the inherent talent and skill set for being a career DJ are two far different things.

Nope, the book wouldn't sell but thanks for the thought.

Hell. Look at the arguments spawned from advice given freely here. Many a successful full time career minded DJs or part time realists get publicly hammered by short sighted know-it-all hobbyists all the time.
(Read Chapter Four above)
 
Hey!

Cap Capello said:
Mike : It's not the physical stuff at all. I love that part. Hell, I'd roadie for part time pay locally. Lord knows I know what I'm doing.

It's the ever changing market. It's the speed of technology. It's the babysitting the clueless. It's the constant looking over the shoulder at how close competition is getting. It's the need to continually reinvent one's self to keep the edge, the lead, the reputation.

Actually, it sounds like I should find an agent or work for a multi. Hmmmm.
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I can tell you how low some of our competition is getting:sqmad:...PM or in person only if you reallllly wanna know. And...I'm always looking for a few good people;)

As far as getting out, well I'm 40. I figiure this, I have a good 25 years left before I'm either told or otherwise. I'll be having Cap as my *Booking Specialist*...

My wife's teaching career ends in 25 years. Then, the pets will be long gone, her parents will be gone, mortgage will be paid off and itll be time to drive into the sunset...

We'll buy an RV and hit the road..

Unless of course I hot the Lottery, then it'll come SOONER than later...I think my time is due, been playing since I was 18. Hit once for $1500, only to have to share it with 2 others....Bastards!! ;)
 
Cap....I would have paid good money to get that book back when I started, I know I'd be a lot better off now if I had! I wasted way to much time inventing and reinventing the wheel only to find out there were already bicycles!
 
Well, I'm turning 26 this year. I figure that if the DJ industry is still around in another 26 years, I'll still be DJing. I don't plan on stopping until my health prevents me from DJing. By then, I hope that a son or daughter (or both!) will want to carry on the family tradition.
 
I figure i'll stop when it becomes more work than it's worth. I'm 33 years old with four kids and two jobs so i'm looking forward to having some weekends off. I enjoy DJing and it helps to pay the bills and if my day job doesn't pick up i'll be DJing full time. If my day job stays steady i'm going to cut my gig load down to 10-15 per year.
After I give up DJing i'm sure i'll stay in music somehow or maybe take a job cutting grass at a golf course. I would like to open a small sports bar where I can DJ one or two nights during the week and have live bands on the weekend with an open jam night on Wednesday or Thursday.

young...
 
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