The Wedding Guild

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Kevin : You're not alone.

Your classmates are replying with some very valid points, albeit seemingly negative in response to your personal goals. Pay attention to their fears, their insights, and separate the wheat from the chaff. There are some pearls in this oyster bed.

Note all the "why it can't work" and turn that list upside down. It may magically change from "why it can't" to a "to do" list, proactive as opposed to reactive.

Sharing in your honest posting forthrightness, the biggest trepidation for me is submitting my monetarily and reputational successful 28 year career's worth of my life to a review panel where 75% of them have neither the tenure nor career earnings that come close to mine. That's a tough pill for this ego to swallow, that "how dare you" ego. That's my DJ side. My business side is saying this has a huge untapped, never before traveled, potential. The "bigger the risk, the greater the rewards" thingy.

Your postings are influencing my still to be decided action in a positive manner. Thank you for your tenacity.
 
djdawg said:
I'm going to say something...and I honestly don't want to offend anyone. You guys are cool and I feel really embraced here on this board like no other. It surprises me because of the fiasco I brought up about a month or two ago. I guess it just seems like I'm the only one that feels they can still learn something. That's what this is all about for me. It's a very lonely feeling to be honest. It seems that everyone has faced every situation in the world, knows how to do everything right and I just wonder if that's what's going on with some of you? I don't know...I'm certainly not pointing fingers at anyone, just throwing it out there. Sometimes it seems like people think PM, the guild, anything that might be helping nudge people in a new area or whatever, are just thought of as absolutely ludicrous. Like these people are selling banana pancakes or something. (I hate that song...ugh) I know this has all been beaten to death but everyone must admit there is a ton of negativity surrounding the whole thing and I just wonder why if no one even knows much about it yet? Why not just check it out or if you don't want to, give it some time and see what becomes of it? What's wrong with that before dumping all over it? Heck, if me and three other people...ok, two other people on this board join and it goes nowhere, then everyone can laugh and say "SEE! I told you so!" I just don't understand why everyone is saying "I told you so" before it even happens.
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You're right to a point. Yes, we are all still learning, and yes we all still make mistakes. I wish you the very best in this new venture. I only hope that they don't deny your application since you are a PT DJ.

I would really like to hear the results from someone I know and trust.

Keep us posted.
 
Great point ! Personally I'm just not happy with PM looking down on PT DJs. I don`t have anything against the Guild though, it may be a good thing or just plain worthless, I'll wait an see. its all I can say about it at this point.
 
jfactor1 said:
You're right to a point. Yes, we are all still learning, and yes we all still make mistakes. I wish you the very best in this new venture. I only hope that they don't deny your application since you are a PT DJ.

I would really like to hear the results from someone I know and trust.

Keep us posted.
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Thanks Jay...I will. For the record, being a part time dj does not disqualify you from the guild at all.
 
My advice:

PAY THE APPLICATION FEE WITH A CREDIT CARD

That way, if your application is rejected, you can do a "charge back" because you didn't receive anything of value from the recipient!!!
 
Kevin:

Great post.

While I can pull all of the information the guild would require together, honestly, I'd rather invest my time in working for one of my clients or getting more clients. Someone indicated that it took them 30 hours to pull all of the stuff together.

There is a trust factor involved.

There is also that annual fee. Yes, I can afford the $900 but why should I pay it when I can invest it in advertising, equipment, training, and so on.

Lastly, what qualifies the board to judge me? Are they in my market and understand the nuances?

I give you credit for givining it a try and hope you do well.
 
GoodKnightDJ said:
Kevin:

Great post.

While I can pull all of the information the guild would require together, honestly, I'd rather invest my time in working for one of my clients or getting more clients. Someone indicated that it took them 30 hours to pull all of the stuff together.

There is a trust factor involved.

There is also that annual fee. Yes, I can afford the $900 but why should I pay it when I can invest it in advertising, equipment, training, and so on.

Lastly, what qualifies the board to judge me? Are they in my market and understand the nuances?

I give you credit for givining it a try and hope you do well.
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I understand what you're saying night but my question is still the same. You are echoing something that I've heard quite a bit of.

Rather spend the money on new equipment, training, etc

Rather put the time in working for one of my clients

I would get the dates booked anyway

I still hold to the assumption that you will be able to get better clients (bigger budget?) by being a part of the guild. I don't understand who wouldn't want that? Obviously it's an investment and you (and many others it seems) don't think there will be any payoff right? You don't feel that you WILL get better paying clients...more bookings or else you would do it, right? Who cares about the 30 hrs it takes to put stuff together if it's an investment? I guess that's the rub. I feel there WILL be a ROI - aside from what I can accomplish myself - and you don't.

And this is where I get frustrated. You and several others are judging the ROI before the thing is even up and running. This is truly beating a dead horse but it's a mentality that I just don't understand it will always leave me scratching my head. How can the success of ANYTHING be judged before it is fully implemented? I respect anyone that decides...a year from now...that it is a joke and it's not worth it but to decide now just seems so short sighted to me.
 
Let's be realistic...

Kevin... I'd say go for it if that's what you have your heart set on. However, I'm going to be realistic in my following comments.

I've been told there are 14 current members of the "guild". I have NO DOUBT that none of them have paid the $200 application fee and then the $900 members fee.

These folks are in the PM clan already. They've all gotten together and compiled a set of requirements that no one could attain. I believe it's "their little joke" on the rest of us. "Let's see how many of those PT bottom feeders we can 'entice' to attempt to join our group" (knowing full well that you won't measure up). You've seen "Revenge of the Nerds"? Those type of guys!

The concept of a "certification" program is worthy of investigation, but let's consider a way of setting realistic accomplishments. I've said this all before, but Johnny's "A DJ Revolution" is a start at putting some of those goals out there for DJ's to live up to (and it's free).

Think about this: a bride is looking for a qualified DJ and is informed that her DJ is only one of 14 world wide that has met certain requirements for certification. I think her first thought would be: "what's with these guys"?

Kevin, why don't you make a list (of realistic goals that you think would make you a better DJ). Then run it past our members for some evaluation. I think you'd get much more of a benefit out of that, than spending all that money for a "title" that means nothing to anyone.
 
Tyrone Blue said:
..... spending all that money for a "title" that means nothing to anyone.
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I think PM may have found the next "Bose"

PM charges $900. they now have something nobody else has, nanny nanny boo boo.

It would be like paying $900 for that "BBB" (Better Business Bureau) certification.

But the BBB has been around for 88 years, I think. ROI from BBB is a proven commodity for most types of businesses.

PM's new venture is NOT a proven commodity. Not enough knowledge by consumers, initially.
 
Tyrone Blue said:
....They've all gotten together and compiled a set of requirements that no one could attain.....
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Blue...I've read the requirements twice now and they are ALL quite attainable. YOU have them already right now! I'm not sure what you're reading that leads you to believe that they aren't attainable. I don't have a video of myself yet in action but you can even send that in 6 months after submitting your application. It will take time to get everything together of course but most of us...dare I say even most part timers - that are on the dj boards - (I need to point that out) ALREADY have attained most of the requirements.

I just don't want anyone that's even slightly interested be discouraged after reading your post.
 
DJMC :
I think PM may have found the next "Bose"
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Congratulations! This comment has reached the new all-time low in useless analogies. Here's your sign!
 
Here's a quote from a book I just read. Kind of sums it up for me.

"I have a legitimate aversion to the notion that a bunch of elitists should tell everyone else what to do and what to think. I have an aversion to self-appointed experts."

Kirby
 
Cap Capello said:
DJMC : Congratulations! This comment has reached the new all-time low in useless analogies. Here's your sign!
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Hmmm I would have taken that comment as a compliment
 
Djdawg,

You are not alone in the quest. There are many others that are willing to make a go of it.

To address a couple of the darn good arguments...

The money.

The application fee is 200.00. You do not pay more untill you are "accepted" and meet the application critera. I have wasted $200.00 in a night at a bar, (much younger days), and still then came home with nothing but shattered dreams.:sqbiggrin:

I think the opportunity, and odds of success, with this endevor are much higher than the "bar" days.

The "video" of unique events (Give away the cow?)

Nothing says it has to be your best stuff! It says "unique". The way one plans, performs, or leads into or out of events, songs etc. can be "unique".

Where is Peter's best stuff???

Read the book! I just viewed a "draft" copy of the book last year. I took a LOT of new ideas and "how to" be different. The book alone and improvements done, (some yet to be implemented) was not only worth the $25.00 list price, but worth the $200.00 app fee.

I know I will improve because I already have.

ROI

Dawg spelled it out (imho) quite well.

I feel this is going to make a dent. No matter a good platform for the future of any other "better" associations that may be more appealing to the masses.

Perfect? Far from it. But it is the best thing I have seen in a long, long time.

I wish to be in on improving my little corner of the world, as I can, where I can.

I feel this is a great opportunity!

sarcasim on
(Don't worry, I won't forget all the "little" people I stepped on to get there either :rofl: ):sqwink:
 
Flyingdjdan said:
I know I will improve because I already have.
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Is there anything you have learned that you couldnt have learned on your own or from networking with others?
 
The application fee is $200, is that refundable if the application isn't accepted?

The $900 membership fee does that include the application fee or is it on top of the app fee?

So what happens if you aren't accepted?

A. you get angry and bad mouth the guild.

B. You send another $200 app fee in and hope you make it next time.

c. You realize that you just aren't as good as you thought you were.

What happens if you are accepted?

A. you have tea with Peter Merry.

B. you suddenly become very successful and are charging $5000 per gig.

C. Nothing changes other than the amount of money in your pocket.
 
Steve Miller said:
The application fee is $200, is that refundable if the application isn't accepted?

The $900 membership fee does that include the application fee or is it on top of the app fee?

So what happens if you aren't accepted?

A. you get angry and bad mouth the guild.

B. You send another $200 app fee in and hope you make it next time.

c. You realize that you just aren't as good as you thought you were.

What happens if you are accepted?

A. you have tea with Peter Merry.

B. you suddenly become very successful and are charging $5000 per gig.

C. Nothing changes other than the amount of money in your pocket.
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As has been stated, if you're not accepted it's not that you can NEVER be accepted. You basically are told the things that you need to work on or redo but you certainly aren't paying another $200 every time you resubmit stuff.
 
Jeff Romard said:
Is there anything you have learned that you couldnt have learned on your own or from networking with others?
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To be totally honest, I don't know. I do know Peter does a lot of things that I have never even contemplated before.

Could I have learned from other sources? possibly.
On my own? Some maybe, some doubtful.

Most assuredly, not anyway near as fast. Which will allow me to get better quicker, and potentially book more jobs and or increase rates.


Originally Posted by Steve Miller
The application fee is $200, is that refundable if the application isn't accepted?

The $900 membership fee does that include the application fee or is it on top of the app fee?

So what happens if you aren't accepted?

A. you get angry and bad mouth the guild.

B. You send another $200 app fee in and hope you make it next time.

c. You realize that you just aren't as good as you thought you were.

What happens if you are accepted?

A. you have tea with Peter Merry.

B. you suddenly become very successful and are charging $5000 per gig.

C. Nothing changes other than the amount of money in your pocket.
Click to expand...


Steve,

I try not to bad mouth things. If I don't "make it" I will keep trying to better myself untill in.

They review your application packet, tell you if and where you are "short" and what to fix or improve. Either way I look at it, I win.

I will have a beer, Peter does not drink, so if he likes Tea, so be it.

I doubt I will ever charge $5000.00. But if I do? Great! Unlike so many, I am not fixated on a "set price to attain" before I consider this to be a benificial expense.

If I can charge more (any amount), book a more knowlegable and respectable client, and have that job made easier... it's all good.

I am not thinking anyone will change their opinion. If you are happy where you are, how you learn, what you are learning, and at said pace. More power to you!

I am quite sure many think chat boards are a crappy way to learn, and a waste of time. I see a benifit. Same with the guild.
 
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