Who is your competition?

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
I used to think that I was on top of my game.
Well, thanks to this thread, I now know that the competition is kicking my ass in the business of posting useless content :tritongue:.
 
ittigger said:
This is gonna get exciting *makes some popcorn and sits in the recliner*
Click to expand...
Make sure you put butter on it......real butter!
 
'round some parts of the ODJT, they use 'I can't believe it's not butter' butter. I use the real deal.
 
The government and I'm winning yorofl:
 
Great question!

I'm in a sh*t area. Hordes of bottom feeders all over. I don't care about nor do I badmouth them. These folks are not competition to me. I tell my clients what I offer, and exactly what I will do to earn their business. Then I go the extra mile for them once booked. I would rather get 1 wedding a month at my rate and have a pleased client...... Than book 4 weddings to earn the same amount of money at the bottom feeder rate. One load in/out or 4 load ins/outs for the same money. This has been a good summer for USDJ. We were busy. Not as busy as I would like but busier then last year and the year before that.

I believe in face-to-face. If I can meet them or get them to my place (preferred) I book 99%.

I never turn away from a price shopping Bride, hey....what does she know about getting a DJ? Practically nothing. So she will ask the only question she knows......... How much? Use the price shopper and educate them. Don't say "I'm above your budget". Go easy, show value...be honest. Get the gig!

You want to be good and get work? You need to believe in yourself. You need to be sincere and truthful always with your clients. You need to have a passion for music and people. When you have all this......you have a good recipe for success.

I believe in God....and I believe in an old saying that He does not put any more on your plate than you can handle.

Best,

Paul
 
DJ Jynxx said:
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.
Click to expand...

That because most bars in my area don't and wont pay the big bucks because that takes away from there profits
 
It is whomever you feel your demons are. Who am I to tell another what they should consider their competition. maybe its the guy or gal in the next bedroom.
 
ahoustondj said:
What kind of loaf, whole or sliced? :trismug:
Click to expand...

Just a plain loaf of sliced white bread. If you need a name, call it Widget Bread.

It's a simple product, and gets the job done well. Can you put a value on that loaf that you are willing to pay, right now, at this particular point in time...?
 
The man in the mirror. Don't worry about what the other guy or gal is doing.
 
Kirby Ball said:
The man in the mirror. Don't worry about what the other guy or gal is doing.
Click to expand...

I wish that were the case, but in the business of mobile DJing, which is what most of these guys are talking about, a big chunk of it is wedding receptions. The b&g almost always shop around, and I think the OP is basically saying "What would make them pick YOU over someone else". In which case you would pretty much HAVE to worry about what the other guy or gal is doing, because this is your JOB.... and if someone else is doing it better, and/or cheaper, your job is being threatened. It's just like as if it were a job at... let's say... an advertising firm. If there is another guy there who is doing a better job than you, and will work for a smaller salary, guess who is getting the promotion?
So unless you are some unique, one of a kind, invaluable employee (and lets face it, most people think a DJ is a DJ is a DJ...), unfortunately, competition is something everyone in any job market has to worry about.
 
DJ Jynxx said:
I wish that were the case, but in the business of mobile DJing, which is what most of these guys are talking about, a big chunk of it is wedding receptions. The b&g almost always shop around, and I think the OP is basically saying "What would make them pick YOU over someone else". In which case you would pretty much HAVE to worry about what the other guy or gal is doing, because this is your JOB.... and if someone else is doing it better, and/or cheaper, your job is being threatened. It's just like as if it were a job at... let's say... an advertising firm. If there is another guy there who is doing a better job than you, and will work for a smaller salary, guess who is getting the promotion?
So unless you are some unique, one of a kind, invaluable employee (and lets face it, most people think a DJ is a DJ is a DJ...), unfortunately, competition is something everyone in any job market has to worry about.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that post. I see you have a grip on business practices and what it takes to stay afloat.
What do successful retailers do? Send people out to other stores to see how they are doing things, utilizing Secret Price Shoppers. I am not surprised by some of the answers on here at all. After all, not many view what what they do as a business. To many it is a Hobby or Part time Occupation to make a few extra dollars while feeding a favorite pastime.
 
My biggest competitors are:
a) Clients who think they can do the same thing we do with their ipod
b) The DJs who charge $400 for a 6 hour event, 4 speakers, 10 uplighting units and no experience. Unfortunately, clients buy into the idea they will get the same thing that we provide.

Bottom line is - the client mindset is the biggest competitor. I just need them to call us. Once they do and I explain the differences, they usually book the more experienced/professional DJ (not necessarily our company).

Unfortunately, there is no barrier to the market like we had 15-20 years ago. Now, ANYONE can get into the DJ business cheaply. For $2000, they can buy halfway decent equipment, download illegally and BINGO- "I AM A DJ". I cannot compete with the 22 year old living with mommy and daddy, has no wife, no kids, no car payment, no mortgage, doesn't pay for insurance (auto, home OR LIABILITY), that doesn't even treat his gigs as a business but rather "a great way to meet chics".
 
Kirby Ball said:
The man in the mirror. Don't worry about what the other guy or gal is doing.
Click to expand...

Right on Kirby! In this industry we're not selling gear, music, add-ons nor experience (to a degree at least); we're selling ourselves and our personalities.


DJ Jynxx said:
I wish that were the case, but in the business of mobile DJing, which is what most of these guys are talking about, a big chunk of it is wedding receptions. The b&g almost always shop around, and I think the OP is basically saying "What would make them pick YOU over someone else". In which case you would pretty much HAVE to worry about what the other guy or gal is doing, because this is your JOB.... and if someone else is doing it better, and/or cheaper, your job is being threatened. It's just like as if it were a job at... let's say... an advertising firm. If there is another guy there who is doing a better job than you, and will work for a smaller salary, guess who is getting the promotion?
So unless you are some unique, one of a kind, invaluable employee (and lets face it, most people think a DJ is a DJ is a DJ...), unfortunately, competition is something everyone in any job market has to worry about.
Click to expand...


If all you do is worry about what the other guys are doing, you'll end up spending all your time chasing them instead of creating and innovating and making them chase you. As for the analogy of someone doing a better job for a smaller salary getting the job/promotion, you've only got part of the equation. Ask any recruiter or HR manager, the job output is a small part; the larger and most important part is personality...are you a good fit for this company/work group/team/position, etc. If you're not a good fit, you can have the best work at a company, but you're still not going to get that promotion. Translate it back to competing for brides and what does it mean? It means if you and your personality/style is the right fit for the bride and groom then you'll be the one getting the job.


blacktiedjs said:
My biggest competitors are:
a) Clients who think they can do the same thing we do with their ipod
b) The DJs who charge $400 for a 6 hour event, 4 speakers, 10 uplighting units and no experience. Unfortunately, clients buy into the idea they will get the same thing that we provide.

Bottom line is - the client mindset is the biggest competitor. I just need them to call us. Once they do and I explain the differences, they usually book the more experienced/professional DJ (not necessarily our company).

Unfortunately, there is no barrier to the market like we had 15-20 years ago. Now, ANYONE can get into the DJ business cheaply. For $2000, they can buy halfway decent equipment, download illegally and BINGO- "I AM A DJ". I cannot compete with the 22 year old living with mommy and daddy, has no wife, no kids, no car payment, no mortgage, doesn't pay for insurance (auto, home OR LIABILITY), that doesn't even treat his gigs as a business but rather "a great way to meet chics".
Click to expand...

Dude, if you're worrying about the 20-something taking gigs from you, then you've got a lot bigger issues than who is taking a gig from you.

I know people don't want to hear it, but it's the personality of the DJ that makes all the difference and that's what will set you apart from anyone else.

I can buy the exact same gear and music as you, set it up identically to you and play the exact same songs as you. I can belong to the same organizations as you, I can market myself the same as you, I can also tell brides the same things you do. I can dress the same as you, comb my hair the same as you, if you wear glasses I can get non-prescription glasses that are identical to yours. I can be your identical twin in every regard except one...personality.
 
DJ J Mac said:
I know people don't want to hear it, but it's the personality of the DJ that makes all the difference and that's what will set you apart from anyone else.

I can buy the exact same gear and music as you, set it up identically to you and play the exact same songs as you. I can belong to the same organizations as you, I can market myself the same as you, I can also tell brides the same things you do. I can dress the same as you, comb my hair the same as you, if you wear glasses I can get non-prescription glasses that are identical to yours. I can be your identical twin in every regard except one...personality.
Click to expand...

You are right on with this. True story: I recently attended a wedding reception. First one for me (as a guest) in years. I was interested to see what this other DJ was going to be like. When I got there, I recognized the guy. He is from a town an hour away. He has been around for many years and is booked nearly every weekend. When I got there he was playing dinner music...which was essentially inaudible. His "system" for this wedding reception/dance with about 250 guests (at a Hilton)....one pair of ELX 112s. NOTHING else. They were set up...literally...at arms length apart. He was wearing them like headphones! He had no lights for the dance floor. His only lights were 2 LED pars sitting on the floor, pointed at 2 white sheets he had in front of the ELX 112s, to give a lighted column effect. I was stunned at how ill equipped and poorly set up he was for this event. When the dance started you couldnt understand a word that was being said. His wireless kept popping loudly (due to some sort of short) too. Unless you were sitting directly in the 4 foot wide 'alley of sound' coming from his ridiculously set up system, you could barely tell what was being played.

All this amounts to TRAIN WRECK imo...but they guy gets RAVES about his 'service'. Why? Because he fawns all over the bride and groom, walks around like a cop surveying the room during the reception and dinner, yaks on the mic incessantly, plays the silly games with the crowd, etc, etc. IMO, the guy is more like a wedding coordinator than a DJ...nearly to the point of being nauseatingly annoying. The B&Gs really eat his 'shtick' up. Clearly, people are willing to over look a very poor/under equipped set up when you are willing to fawn all over them.
 
There's something to be said for monitoring competitors. Big companies didn't get where they are by pretending they had no competition. Also, if a competitor tries some new fad and it flops, you'll know not to waste time and money on it.

As Mad Joe Martin said, price don't mean squat. This is entertainment, not retail. If you compete on price alone you'll be competing in the lowest income bracket.

Around here, competition is mainly folks who've been working the area forever. They have all of the venues and regular gigs cornered. Fraternal houses mostly have a member who does their DJing. For a relative newcomer, new residents - people who've recently moved here - are the target market.
 
DJ J Mac said:
Right on Kirby! In this industry we're not selling gear, music, add-ons nor experience (to a degree at least); we're selling ourselves and our personalities.





If all you do is worry about what the other guys are doing, you'll end up spending all your time chasing them instead of creating and innovating and making them chase you. As for the analogy of someone doing a better job for a smaller salary getting the job/promotion, you've only got part of the equation. Ask any recruiter or HR manager, the job output is a small part; the larger and most important part is personality...are you a good fit for this company/work group/team/position, etc. If you're not a good fit, you can have the best work at a company, but you're still not going to get that promotion. Translate it back to competing for brides and what does it mean? It means if you and your personality/style is the right fit for the bride and groom then you'll be the one getting the job.




Dude, if you're worrying about the 20-something taking gigs from you, then you've got a lot bigger issues than who is taking a gig from you.

I know people don't want to hear it, but it's the personality of the DJ that makes all the difference and that's what will set you apart from anyone else.

I can buy the exact same gear and music as you, set it up identically to you and play the exact same songs as you. I can belong to the same organizations as you, I can market myself the same as you, I can also tell brides the same things you do. I can dress the same as you, comb my hair the same as you, if you wear glasses I can get non-prescription glasses that are identical to yours. I can be your identical twin in every regard except one...personality.
Click to expand...

20 something gigs? Really? If that was it I wouldn't spend the time with answering the question! I am talking about 350-400 events per year (15 DJs on staff). OF COURSE personality makes the difference, but in Washington DC metro area there are some clients that want personality, others that don't. Some want to pick out all the music, some none of it. We have backup equipment, experience, etc. and the $400 DJ always promises the same thing and doesn't deliver. The things you point out are true, but are only view AT the event. The cheesiest DJ in the world thinks (and says) they are not cheezy and have a great personality. Problem is - clients believe it.
 
DJ_MJ said:
You are right on with this. True story: I recently attended a wedding reception. First one for me (as a guest) in years. I was interested to see what this other DJ was going to be like. When I got there, I recognized the guy. He is from a town an hour away. He has been around for many years and is booked nearly every weekend. When I got there he was playing dinner music...which was essentially inaudible. His "system" for this wedding reception/dance with about 250 guests (at a Hilton)....one pair of ELX 112s. NOTHING else. They were set up...literally...at arms length apart. He was wearing them like headphones! He had no lights for the dance floor. His only lights were 2 LED pars sitting on the floor, pointed at 2 white sheets he had in front of the ELX 112s, to give a lighted column effect. I was stunned at how ill equipped and poorly set up he was for this event. When the dance started you couldnt understand a word that was being said. His wireless kept popping loudly (due to some sort of short) too. Unless you were sitting directly in the 4 foot wide 'alley of sound' coming from his ridiculously set up system, you could barely tell what was being played.

All this amounts to TRAIN WRECK imo...but they guy gets RAVES about his 'service'. Why? Because he fawns all over the bride and groom, walks around like a cop surveying the room during the reception and dinner, yaks on the mic incessantly, plays the silly games with the crowd, etc, etc. IMO, the guy is more like a wedding coordinator than a DJ...nearly to the point of being nauseatingly annoying. The B&Gs really eat his 'shtick' up. Clearly, people are willing to over look a very poor/under equipped set up when you are willing to fawn all over them.
Click to expand...

Exactly my point! PERFECT example! Clients will look at the reviews and think, "well he must be great" without any further research. THAT is our competitor!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back