How would you define a "bottom feeder"?

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The Vinyl Spinner said:
Now, I get it! :p





Is it safe to say, "This person IS educated, and COULD be a GOOD DJ?"

I'm not picking on anyone. :)

I've been called a BOTTOM FEEDER many times (all the time at another chat place). One thing that I am still proud of, however, is the fact that, although my prices are "unacceptably low" by people who think they're God in the flesh (even though they don't even know WHERE Abbotsford is), I NEVER "negotiated" prices. My price is my price is my price--low or not, and it is the price that is acceptable for ME. MOI.
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And YOU are the only one You have to answer too...........RIGHT!!!

Boy some "Blackened Catfish" sure sounds good.....New Orleans Style....Ummmmmmmm
 
BKSound said:
Gray, you show me somebody who doesn't think catfish is desirable eating, and I'll show you somebody who just wasn't raised right. :sqbiggrin:
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Now that's what I'm "talk'in 'bout". My Wife and I, many years ago went to the CMA Festival in Nashville, Tenn. I think it was 1991. My first exposure to "Southern Hospitality", Blackened Catfish at a local restaurant . I thought I had died and gone to heaven........what a difference......awesome taste. But there are those who don't know a good thing when they see it.......
 
By a lot of people's definitions and perceptions, I could be considered a "bottom-feeder".

I never heard the term (other than the fish references) until I started frequenting DJ forums.

My take on this derogatory term would be "someone who fails to improve in their offerings to clients, who fails to improve their business practices, unwilling to learn from others and improve themselves, basically someone who is unwilling or unable to rise to the occasion and meet higher expectations of themselves and their business." In a nutshell, "someone who is not willing to grow."

I'm not too keen on setting monetary levels as there are many variables to be taken into account.

Just my opinion...

Kirby
 
Coffee can PARs?? :eek:

All jokes aside, we all had to start somewhere. No one starts at the top. We start at the bottom and work our way up.

As promised, I'll share: When I got started in this biz I was what many would call a bottom feeder.

Home stereo stuff, using provided music (often cassettes) and working free or dirt cheap. If someone offered some dough to do a gig somewhere I'd jump at the chance. I didn't have a mic in them days... just a RS receiver and pair of home stereo cabs. I aimed a small fan at the receiver to keep it from overheating in the summer. :D

Didn't matter who nor where... many a night I set up in a backyard in a trailer park with a dagger in my vest pocket just in case. Rough crowds, there. Driving home after, the local cops would pull me over, hoping they could get a DUI. They gave up after a few failed attempts. :D

I saw a lot of underage drinkin' and some things that are better left unsaid.

That was many years ago... and I remember those days with a smile. I put a wad of cash in my pocket and people had a good time dancing to the music they liked. It was fun in those days. Dangerous at times... and a lot of hard work but it was fun.

Yup, I was a bottom feeder. I'm not ashamed to admit it. :)
 
Fred,
You are correct like I said I'm not a PRO DJ but I enjoy throwing the parties, mixing music (Lousy dancer) and love the equipment. I love purchasing pro audio among other things. When I did my first DJ parties 20 years ago I would take a Sansui and Pioneer home amps with big Pioneer 15" 4 ways and a set of JVC dual 12" home speakers. For lighting I built my own boxes back then using 4 flood lamps per chanel on a home made chaser.

I used a set of Pioneer direct drive turntables which I still have and the trusted RS mixer. A Technics cassette deck, a RS Equalizer and like you a couple of fans over the amps. By the way I did all of this for free I enjoyed so much.

Now my interpretation of bottom feeder is just what I mentioned. When someone offers a lower price saying they can provide the same show as a $750+ DJ that provides Pro Gear with a backup, a decent professional lighting set up and proper attire.

When the "suggested" bottom feeder shows up and starts setting up the coffee cans, the volleyball net poles with the tires on concrete in the bottom, etc. I can just see the B&G having a massive coronary even though they are only 24 years old ;) .

We all had a little bit of bottom feeders in us at certain stage in our lives but I think we've matured and understand things in a true business sense.
 
It depends really but generally a bottom feeder DJ is anyone charging less than $2000 per gig.
 
Gotta love it.

Leave it to Steve to cause me to splatter beer on my monitor... :D
 
Steve you are just not right. Hehe. I bet anyone that the best one to know what a bottom feeder is, would be a person who considers themselves one. If that makes any sense!
 
There is a difference between a "rookie" and a "bottom feeder". Rookies don't know better, bottom feeders don't care.

A bottom feeder usually has a lower price, but may come in all shapes an sizes.

They are the ones that make promises they can't keep. "Yes, I can do that"! Then post on a chat board "how do I now?"

They don't have origional ideas, but only copy, (usually poorly) what someone else does.

They usually have "pro" equipment (hell even the "cheap" stuff now is better than what the "pro" gear was when I started). But it is often "used", or the cheapest they can "get by with".

They don't care about music quality. (the guests won't know the difference, they are drunk)

Equipment does not match, (specs and appearance)

Usually don't even "look" to make sure they have the right music untill the "night before", then download.

They talk the talk, but don't follow thru. They have the "Looks" but are fake.

These are the dj's that hurt the industry more than anything. They client truly believes they did good, then gets shafted.
 
Dan you can PM me your thoughts if you want LOL

There is no hatred here my friend I just call them as I see them. You are pushing something I think is a load of BS, and I posted my opinion on it.

You see it as hatred I see it as opinion. Personally I see the agenda you are pushing as hatred, it is hatred of any who are not what "I" want them to be, it is hatred of any who are not charging what "I" say they should charge. The entire agenda is designed to cause conflict not harmony and it is pushed by those what want that conflict.

I never said Sid's board was hateful, what I said was Sid's board had a couple of idiots for moderators and Sid was too ignorant to know it.
 
Not to get into a Pi**ing match.

But who said anything about "following"? Because I "agree" with a general philosophy, or even thought someone shares?:sqconfused:

I guess I am a total fool! I follow (guilt by agreement) with too many to name. (including some of your posts at times):sqwink:

I do think my own thoughts, (occasionally the wife lets me).

But if following some "process" that shows ways I can be a better dj, better business owner, and provide a better service (and value) to the client, makes me a "lemming, follower, or whatever", SO BE IT! Sticks and stones...

I still think a path that says "you can" is better than a "you can't".
 
OK now I am confused!

You are right "WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FOLLOWING"!

I said pushing an agenda, and that is the way I see it. You don't agree with me and that is OK, I don't get angry because you don't agree, I don't call you a hater because you don't agree. I simply state my own opinion!
 
Ok, I chose the wrong words.

If the "guilty agenda" is increasing the value of the dj's around me, trying to make them better $$ thru better performance and value, and realize the importance of what they do. Earning a 'liveable wage'...

Guilty as charged.
 
I don't understand how anyone can be upset, concerned, p***d off about anything anyone says on this board, or any board regarding Who or What you are as a Disc Jockey. The discussion here on this topic only makes any sense when it has to do with something as inocuous as "Fish".
Just because someone, anyone "Says its so ...don't make it So"...."Ya all" see that...... Gone shopping......Fresh Catfish....Gray Out
 
We are, are own worst enemies. Having said that our society tells people(tv,radio,newspaper,internet) best price in town, we wont be undersold, you wont find a better deal anywhere I guarantee. Yet djs are trying to change that mentallity. Why? Because we're worth more, we're the most important thing that will happen to you at your event,etc etc.

As I see it not all but most people dont really understand anything more than price. It is the most relevant aspect of anything you purchase, regardless of the quality or lack of. So you have to be really good at selling yourself to people to overcome price.

Now when djs, and I cant tell you how many times Ive heard this, they just arnt my customers if they wont pay my fee. In reality what you should be saying is I didnt do a very good job of selling myself. But that leads to the next question. If they arnt your customers whos are they?

And this leads to the next level of pricing for people. Now if they have a preconcieved idea on pricing then the person who sells them on themselves will win, now if this person cant convince them they will drop to the next level. Now if they cant find anyone at the bottom level they have a decision to either take whats there and hope for the best or go back up to the best presentation.

You may very well be worth everything you say you are but we as an industry need to realize that there are different levels of customers so to me it only makes sense we have different levels of dj services. Are there people out there that will undercut the market sure there is. But just like the store front down town who has had 7 different businesses in it the last 5 years they will either die or just get by from the ones you wont serve because they arnt your customer.

Bottomfeeders hate the term. This term is used IMO used because we lack some basic fundamental skills in salesmanship. Any good salesman knows that not everyone will buy the best salesman know they can get a bigger percentage to actually buy than most.
 
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