What do you do when a potential client ask to hear a sample of your music?

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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I had a DJ friend of mine refer a client to me. We met and at the meeting he wanted to hear a sample of my music. I brought a couple of mixed cd's with me for him to listen to. I played one using my laptop but I let him know that I wasn't comfortable with doing that. The reason I gave him was because the stuff I put on cd might not be music that would like us to play and he might just think that's the only music we play.

I let him keep the 2 cd's which isn't a big deal to me. He called the next day and we setup a meeting to sign the contract. That got taken care of. The thing I wanted to know is how do handle it when in a meeting with a potential client they want to hear some music of what you do?

I was thinking since my laptop has VDJ and music folders are in there can I just use a small battery powered speaker, hook it up to my laptop and play songs from those files? The biggie I say is being able for a potential client to hear more then one genre of music. So if say they wanted to hear some reggae, they can hear songs that we have that we would play at their event.
 
If you are going to take a Laptop to a meeting and are worried about questions about your music Library, then may I suggest you also take a pocket Hard Drive that shows your Music Folders/Genres. Picking a few songs can backfire as it may be a Genre/Selections that the Client hates. Remember, you first have to sell YOU. Let the Client know what you are willing and capable of doing for THEM!
 
We tell them that there's a wiki on our website with all of the music we currently have. Other than that, all we do are private events, so we can give them references and that's about it.
 
I did forget I need a HD loaded with the music on it. My question is can I play songs from the HD to my laptop? Will that work? Also ahoustondj I just wouldn't randomly pick songs to play. They would let me know the genres of music they want played at their event and just play some samples of songs. That's so they would just get an idea of what we could provide for them music wise.

Actually this rarely happens. Most clients just want to know if we have their styles of music they want to hear.

I really wish I had the money to spend. I saw a 6 TB external HD at Micro Center for over $600.00. Imagine how much music you could put on that. What 5,000,000 songs? LOL!!!!!!!!!
 
You don't want a big drive, you want more than 1 big enough drives. Always best to have a backup (and backup of backup if possible). A 2Tb external drive should hold almost collections, so look for a sale and get 2 of the units and clone them.

Also, don't give out music .. It's not allowed under the licenses you use. If they want samples, either video tape parts of your performance or print out a song list. Or send them to the FM radio and say "I can get that".
 
if a client said they wanted a "sample" of my music...
I would act confused. Because I honestly would be.
it's not like I'm a singer/songwriter...and I actually have my own music.

If they are really asking for an "idea of the kind of music" you PLAY....
that's something I'm pretty sure you can answer,
even without a laptop handy
 
I got a 1 and 2 TB HD. That's not an issue for me. I was just amazed to see a 6 TB external HD. This client wanted to hear something from me and right now i don't actually have a video to show potential client. I'll check later to see if my idea of hooking up my HD to my laptop and see if that will do what i need it to do. I love the idea of a list of songs. Do you give them a list od certain songs from each genre of music you have or what do you do?
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I got a 1 and 2 TB HD. That's not an issue for me. I was just amazed to see a 6 TB external HD. This client wanted to hear something from me and right now i don't actually have a video to show potential client. I'll check later to see if my idea of hooking up my HD to my laptop and see if that will do what i need it to do. I love the idea of a list of songs. Do you give them a list od certain songs from each genre of music you have or what do you do?
Click to expand...
You have to take control of the situation and not have them sending you scurrying for requests they want such as samples.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I saw a 6 TB external HD at Micro Center for over $600.00. Imagine how much music you could put on that. What 5,000,000 songs? LOL!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

In reality, for what we do - it's not how many songs you have - it's which ones to play in x amount of time for the event you are at.

In 4 hours, you MIGHT get 80 songs in. The question really is, which 80.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I got a 1 and 2 TB HD. That's not an issue for me. I was just amazed to see a 6 TB external HD. This client wanted to hear something from me and right now i don't actually have a video to show potential client. I'll check later to see if my idea of hooking up my HD to my laptop and see if that will do what i need it to do. I love the idea of a list of songs. Do you give them a list od certain songs from each genre of music you have or what do you do?
Click to expand...

A sample playlist from a recent wedding or 2 should suffice.
 
Many DJ software applications have provisions for saving that off as you play or when you finish.
 
tell them you never play the same songs in the same order....
then turn the table on them.
ask them, "What songs do YOU like"
make them give you an example.
then pull it up and play it for them (on your laptop)
if it seems to satisfy them, ask them for another one.
then ask them for a song their Mom would like
 
Itigger is so right, I tell them I have all genres of music which i have, then ask for must plays and any do not plays and tell them it usually is lite jazz for the dinner/cocktail hour and that leaves about time for 45 songs, also i tell them they will have all age groups there so keep that in mind, they need to have some music for every one,, usually goes pretty good
 
I try to keep it simple. Pick the few that you MUST hear. Leave the rest to the floor - it'll move all on its own. If you fill the time with must play's, your guests may not have any fun (and you invited them to come have fun with you).

I think we each have had the macro manager types, so you can't help it with those shows. I've been pretty lucky to get clients that generally are open to thinking.
 
I address that issue in my first response to their inquiry. Direct them towards the online music list telling them there's a little something for everybody, followed up by I do not provide samples of the music I play because the music is never the same & is specifically tailored to each event.
If they don't understand, I thank them for their interest & tell them that I am not the right dj service for their event. They're usually stunned by my response.
 
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