Professional vs professionalism.

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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I hope this thread doesn't go off track because I'm making it. Sid made up a great point about people who get a good camera and now think they are now going to be a photographer.

First the technical definition of a professional is someone who gets paid for a service. Normally when we see a cheap price for a service we think the person providing thee service can't be that good. PRICE ALONE DOESN'T TELL IF A PERSON PROVIDING A SERVICE IS GOOD OR BAD AT THE SERVICE THEY ARE PROVIDING.

Now with that being said as a lot of you know I bought a Canon T3i camera. Excellent camera by the way. I have a DJ friend that I emailed him pictures I took at a party he promoted. He liked the pictures so much that he said I should look to making money on the side as a photographer. I told him I got lucky. The truth be told I'm getting better at using this camera. That doesn't mean I'm going to become a photographer taking pictures or video charging people. First I don't have the tools right now to do it with. I only have the lens that came with the camera right now and I don't have the special flash to use with the camera. Besides I don't have enough experience to charge people to take pictures for them at an event. Great camera but that will not make me a photographer where I can charge people money to shoot pictures and video.

Now a person can be a professional but not show professionalism. Professionalism to me means how you conduct yourself when meeting with potential clients. Knowing the proper way to provide the service people are paying you for and certainly looking like a professional while doing the job you're getting paid to do.

It's one thing when doing a back yard barbecue dressing properly for that and doing a wedding. I certainly would dress differently doing a wedding then a cookout.

Another factor I think that needs to be considered is how do you get to become a truly good professional? We all had to start somewhere and learn as we go along. Who hasn't made mistakes when first starting out. What I find today is not everyone is willing to work hard at the craft they choose to do first so they know what they are doing. Some just want to hurry and get out there and make some money and just may not be all that polished at the service they are providing. Even then I have still sometimes made mistakes. Pushing the wrong button stopping the music from playing or once I forgot to plug in my laptop. It didn't shut down on me as I noticed it said I had 20% battery life left and I quickly plugged in the cord and kept going.

Now for me professionalism means I need to dress properly for the event I'm getting paid to do. Know how to properly conduct myself while doing the event and that even means when I have rude guest up in my face barking at me. Also I'm working harder and harder to have a better looking setup. OK that my take on things for now on this topic. Have at it and please try to show respect to each other. At least respect the right that we all have the right to disagree with someone else.
 
hahahahaha Neither will I

Mix has NO idea!!
 
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hahahahaha Neither will I

Mix has NO idea!!
Trust me I have an ideal. The deal is that some will look to get into a business looking for what they think will be a quick way to make some money. So they rush in expecting to make money right away thinking that to do a certain service must be real easy. Like a person that gets a really good camera and think now they can make money taking pictures. Or the person who sees a DJ and thinks it can't be that hard to DJ. So they go out and buy some powered speakers. Get a controller. Then get a HD sometimes with music already loaded on it. And in a lot of cases they already have a laptop and take that, load it with some DJ software. They think it's just that simple to become a DJ. All they see us DJ's doing is playing music and they think it can't be that hard to do what we do.

Later on down the line they will find out it's not just that simple. In a lot of cases that person will buy some cheap gear thinking that will be good enough. That's a mistake a lot of newbies make. They learn from making such mistakes. The real truth to become a polished professional it takes time, dedication and hard work. Things don't happen by magic. It's taken hard work and dedication for Lebron James to get the title to be called the best player on the planet.

It also doesn't hurt to truly love what you do. That passion is what drives some to want to be the best professional they can be. Just think of it this way please. How long did it take for you to become the polished professional you are today and what sacrafices did you have to make to get there?

For me even when I came back into DJing I spent many hours and months at learning how to mix again. I thought since I did it before it would be a piece of cake. All I really knew was that I refused to buy some cheap starter DJ gear to use since I already knew that wouldn't be good enough.
 
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You spend more energy avoiding a business plan than if you were to just buckle down and do it. If you can't make yourself sit down and focus / commit to a plan, how in the world can you expect a client to commit to you?
 
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Sweet Baby Jesus here we go again :rolleyes:

[video=youtube;pVThw0EE_Jo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVThw0EE_Jo[/video]
 
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Amen, Brother Jeff! The lunatics have taken over our asylum! ;)
 
hahahahahaahhahhhhahahahahahaha

sorry got carried away laughing so hard at Mix's last comment

he may have the brains of a 2yo I think

but dont count on it, he cant even create a business plan for himself and tries to tell others how to run a business
 
The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path

The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forbodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

The lunatic is in my head
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me 'till I'm sane
You lock the door
And throw away the key
There's someone in my head but it's not me.

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon
 
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I'm thinkin' either Steve's account got hijacked .. or he's all jacked up on Mountain Dew!

Heck no .. PF is my favorite band of all time. Just listening to a boring webcast for work ..
 
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Who's Sid?
His name is Sid Vanderpool and he's the founder of DJ CHAT. Now I was giving my thoughts on what I would do in certain situations. I made it clear I'm not a photographer and don't know all the technical stuff they have to do or deal with to get good shots of the B & G. Or any other shots they need to get. That's it.

As for a business plan I'll say I'm working on it and wanted to take my time. I don't want to rush and do things. Also I don't want to throw all my ideals out here at once for fear of getting beat up on here. I'll throw just a few ideals out here for now and if you have some good suggestions please by all means chime in. I'm looking to do other events where I can get better pictures and video to add to the website. I know it still needs work. I need some new business cards. I wanted to get some made up with our logo on them with a different design on them then the ones I have now which I'm almost out of. I have a printer that will make me 2,500 for $125.00. I mentioned about looking into online advertising. I was looking into having the printer make up a brochure for me. Not sure what it should include if I do besides how to contact us. Also I still have more to add to the new tablet I bought so that will look more professional when meeting with potential clients. There are some things on there that need to be taken off as well. That's part of it.
 
Mix, you jump around more than a Mexican Jumping bean ..

First, we don't talk about other boards here, especially DJ ones.

Second, take the time and FINISH the business plan before you worry about brochures, tablet apps and such. As for business cards, you can get a few hundred made for less than $20 at VistaPrint.com .. do that while you finish the plan.

Without knowing what you are going to do .. step by step .. why bother paying someone to make a brochure for it .. it's a moving target.
 
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