Who is your competition?

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SemiRetired DJ

SemiRetired DJ

Mac Daddy DJ
Nov 22, 2010
1,189
155
67
Abingdon, MD 21009
www.goodknightentertainment.com
Well, who?

Are you competing with that bottom feeder? Why? Aren't you lowering yourself to his level by doing that?

What about the premiere guy that gets all the big bucks gigs? What, you say that you can't compete with him? Why not? What does he have that you don't?

No, I really mean it! What does he have that you don't? What does he do? How big is his staff? What equipment does he use? Why is he getting the high paying gigs and you are not?

It is your market; where do you want to be in it? With the bottom feeders, in the middle, or running with the big dogs?

The only way to find out who your competition is is to get out there and do the research. When you have a free weekend start hitting the venues around the area and find out who is there (because you ain't). If you don't know them, get their card.

Hit their website and, if you have to, do some secret shopping. Some say it is unethical but do it anyway; get a friend to test them; have them call up the DJ and get the pricing information. Find out what is included.

The economy still sucks so break out the spy tactics and find out what you need to know to overcome your competition.
 
While I understand where you are coming from....I never believe in running your business based on what your competition does. Pricing and services should be based only on what YOU want to do, not what others say you should do. If you can live on $100 a gig, that is your choice, just like if you can pull in 10 grand a gig. The idea of basing what you charge or offering services because that is what your competition is doing is not how you should be doing business.
 
SemiRetired DJ said:
If your competition is getting more business than you and getting it at higher rates than you then you should be paying attention to them. Answer the questions I posed in the post, particularly, what do they have that you don't.
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I will answer your question in a sec Tom, but I want to address this statement first. There is at least one person on this board who is in direct competition with me for clients, and he can attest that I never once have asked him how busy he is or what he charges....because it is none of my business...worrying about what others are doing is simply distracting from I am doing right...This does not mean I don't think I can improve things...I am looking to do that every day....but only on what our clients say...and not on what others in the business say.

But, to answer your question....I can pretty much guarantee what the "big boys" in my area are doing the following things we do not do:

Face to face meetings
Tux / suit at event
charge for lighting

Those are the three things I can tell you is what separates them from us (I am not getting into the whole "inferior" equipment crap....because it is completely subjective)
 
SemiRetired DJ said:
Well, who?

Are you competing with that bottom feeder? Why? Aren't you lowering yourself to his level by doing that?

What about the premiere guy that gets all the big bucks gigs? What, you say that you can't compete with him? Why not? What does he have that you don't?

No, I really mean it! What does he have that you don't? What does he do? How big is his staff? What equipment does he use? Why is he getting the high paying gigs and you are not?

It is your market; where do you want to be in it? With the bottom feeders, in the middle, or running with the big dogs?

The only way to find out who your competition is is to get out there and do the research. When you have a free weekend start hitting the venues around the area and find out who is there (because you ain't). If you don't know them, get their card.

Hit their website and, if you have to, do some secret shopping. Some say it is unethical but do it anyway; get a friend to test them; have them call up the DJ and get the pricing information. Find out what is included.

The economy still sucks so break out the spy tactics and find out what you need to know to overcome your competition.
Click to expand...

My competition is anyone who may get the Gig before I do. With proper Salesmanship I have the ability to make a client spend $800.00 when they were originally expecting to spend $300.00 with a Bottom feeder.
 
My competition is me. How I choose to use my time. There are a bunch of other djs in the area. I don't compete against them. If I book myself at full capacity, there would still be plenty of other business for them, and visa versa.

In this business, it comes to people that work hard at promoting themselves and creating raving fans. Unfortunately, some think they would just automatically be more successful if XYZ company wasn't around, which is very seldom the case.
 
Same here. I think there are quite a few on here in my area and I too, have never asked pricing, etc. I'm also aware of what the big guys are doing that I'm not but I also know how much effort they go through to get that work - some being multiple guys on site because of the amount of equipment and events. Being that I know that I don't want that much work, I'm ok with it. Especially when at the end of the day, they each (sometimes) made the same amount as me doing it myself. I don't want employees. IMO - that opens up a whole new world of problems. I applaud those of you that do. It's not my bag.

Also, as Scott said, 'There are a bunch of other djs in the area.' 'If I book myself at full capacity, there would still be plenty of other business for them, and visa versa.'

I have pretty good relations with most of my 'competitors'.
 
ahoustondj said:
With proper Salesmanship I have the ability to make a client spend $800.00 when they were originally expecting to spend $300.00 with a Bottom feeder.
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I see you've attended the Steve Jobs school of marketing... :yoWave:

Sell them what they don't need, and charge them almost triple just for sh_ts and giggles...



I don't know how some folks sleep at night... :dontknow:
 
SoftJock Rick said:
I see you've attended the Steve Jobs school of marketing... :yoWave:

Sell them what they don't need, and charge them almost triple just for sh_ts and giggles...



I don't know how some folks sleep at night... :dontknow: I sleep on a bed! How about you?
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Nope. I am charging them for what they do need and at the price they should be paying not what the bottom feeders are charging. It is their mindset that I have to change. Do you think I can walk into a Tire store and pay $50.00 a piece for brand new Michelins for my van?
My Sales Training came mainly from my Art Business which I applied to the Music Business. Sales approaches are relatively the same its only the products and services that may differ.
 
SoftJock Rick said:
That Sir, is the most arrogant statement I've heard today... :sqerr:
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Why is that the case? Should all DJ Software Manufacturers all charge the same? If some are giving it away should you also give yours away? Should I use Craigslist DJs, most of whom do not report their DJ incomes, buy cheap gear, steal their music, do what they do as a hobby etc set the market rate for MY DJ services? I don't think so. Craigslist is just another place to go for things not THE place to go, therefore a price shopper will be faced with different values. It is up to the presenter to let his stop be the last stop for the shopper.
 
ahoustondj said:
Why is that the case? Should all DJ Software Manufacturers all charge the same? If some are giving it away should you also give yours away? Should I use Craigslist DJs, most of whom do not report their DJ incomes, buy cheap gear, steal their music, do what they do as a hobby etc set the market rate for MY DJ services? I don't think so. Craigslist is just another place to go for things not THE place to go, therefore a price shopper will be faced with different values. It is up to the presenter to let his stop be the last stop for the shopper.
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What is a loaf of bread worth...?
 
Me, personally.... I have to apply this to the DJ's spinning at clubs. I usually don't have a problem getting an event, because event planners are promoters are not club owners. I am sorry if I offend anyone here, but in my personal experience anyone who is a club owner has their head surgically implanted into his own a**. THEY are the biggest reason I wouldn't get a gig. Not really because of any competition, because when you have a name around here it kinda sticks, and even the other DJ's know who is worthy of a gig or not. None of the other "big dogs" in my area would go after a gig I already had and try to undermine me. Luckily, those few guys (literally a handful) are all good dudes, and I am friends with most of them... but the club owner... ohhh the owner. He makes the bottom feeders my competition.
I am not scared of the $500 a night DJ.... I am scared of the bartender that the owner just made his "DJ" for Ladies Night at $30-$50 a night. The fact that 99% of club owners think that one DJ is just as good as the next, that all we do is "push play"...

THAT is my competition.
 
ittigger said:
right now - the same amount as the most powerful gun.
:)
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Do you realize, that us Illuminati (some people call US that), are fully prepared to let Texas succeed from the Union?

We actually offered that back to Mexico, just for shipping charges -- they refused... :sqerr: :sqeek:
 
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