I got an email today with some very interesting questions for me to answer.

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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I responded to an ad from a bride looking for a DJ to do her wedding on October 12th. I just got a response back today and this bride had some very interesting questions to ask me. Some that I rarely get asked. Here are the questions.

1. How many years of professional experience do you have?
2. Have you done any corporate event?
3. Do you also provide MCing services?
4. Have you ever done DJing at( name of venue here) ?
5. What equipment do you use?
6. Can you give me a reference from a venue?
7. What would you like for compensation?
8. What was your favorite gig?

Now I found questions 2, 5 and 8 strange to me as rarely do I get such questions. I don't even get why they asked question number 2 as this is a wedding and not a corporate party.

Just saw they had some very interesting questions. They also mentioned in the email that the venue has equipment there. I would never use the venues equipment as I like to bring my own. I know my own equipment better then I probably would the venue's equipment and I wouldn't want to be responsible if something where to happen to the venue's equipment or even take a chance that there was something wrong with the equipment before I get there. Besides a lot of times some very inexperienced DJ's are allowed to use the venues equipment. So to avoid all of that I being my own equipment and use that.
 
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So you responded to a craigslist ad and need us to tell you how to respond? You either give her the answers she wants or pass on the job. As for the venue system. SOme places have their own sounds system and require you to plug in to that. I only know of two such places in my area but they both do have good gear and make sure it is maintained properly. Again if you are not comfortable with that then you do not have to answer nor take the job. This is a case where a site visit would give you the answers you need.

By the way my price would not change because I do not need to bring speakers or amps to a job.
 
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Dj Jimmy D said:
So you responded to a craigslist ad and need us to tell you how to respond? You either give her the answers she wants or pass on the job. As for the venue system. SOme places have their own sounds system and require you to plug in to that. I only know of two such places in my area but they both do have good gear and make sure it is maintained properly. Again if you are not comfortable with that then you do not have to answer nor take the job. This is a case where a site visit would give you the answers you need.

By the way my price would not change because I do not need to bring speakers or amps to a job.
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Thanks but I wasn't making this thread because I needed help with how to respond to her questions. I answered them. I just thought some of the questions were strange and ones I rarely if at all get.
 
1. How many years of professional experience do you have?
2. Have you done any corporate event?
3. Do you also provide MCing services?
4. Have you ever done DJing at( name of venue here) ?
5. What equipment do you use?
6. Can you give me a reference from a venue?
7. What would you like for compensation?
8. What was your favorite gig?
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Mix, They are not that hard of questions?! Most should be on your web page. Answer the questions and move on.
 
sonic-vision said:
Mix, They are not that hard of questions?! Most should be on your web page. Answer the questions and move on.
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I didn't say they were hard questions. Just some that I find were unusual to me. Like the one asking what equipment do we use? I can't remember the last time someone asked me that question.

I think they ask these questions because either that's what they got coached to do or they saw this online somewhere that gave them questions to ask a DJ when looking for one to do your wedding.

Now as for me having answers to these questions on our website, that's fine but I've heard a number of SJ's who won't post the gear they use on their website. They feel it's not worth it as most won't know what it is that they are looking at that you posted up there.

The last part Jimmy is this. I've never been to this venue. So I don't know what their equipment in this venue is like. I don't know if the equipment is low grade, middle or top of the line equipment. I don't care to use other peoples equipment unless I either know them and know what they are using or they know me very well. I don't know those people working in this venue and they don't know me. Even if they said it would be OK to plug into their system I wouldn't do so. Reasons being their equipment may sound like pure crap. That will make me look bad. I know how to use our gear and I know it sounds damn good. Then there are those places that will allow any DJ to fool around with their equipment and not everyone who says they are a DJ knows what they are doing. It might have been that they had some inexperienced DJ using this equipment and they messed things up. I don't want to be held responsible for something that another DJ have messed up with this equipment. Then what if something were to get messed up with this equipment while we were using it? They will be looking at us to pay for the damages. No thanks. I'll stick to using our equipment and let that be it.
 
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They were reading some "how to book a DJ" website and this is the result. They should have read that same website a year ago and booked then not two weeks before the event
 
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Jeff Romard said:
They were reading some "how to book a DJ" website and this is the result. They should have read that same website a year ago and booked then not two weeks before the event
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That all would depend on when they even started planning all of this. It may have been only a short while ago as they said this is for the grandmother and they already got married. They said the were expecting 80 people to attend and not the people who already attend their wedding when they officially got married.
 
I love when people ask questions.

And yes, most times they come from some website.

My typical response is
Suzy,
Great questions. When are you available to talk and I can get all of your questions answered. We can get together by phone or I'd be glad to meet you in person.
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Mix, that is why you go to the venue and find out what they have and are using and what they rules are. I have only been to one of the places that has their own sound system and it is a very nicely done system and this venue also had a sound tech on site to work with you to make sure everything is done properly. This venue may not let you bring in your gear, so for that reason alone your statement means there goes another job you will not be doing.

Say this women chooses to book you and lets say it is for $800.00. Are you telling me you would turn it down because the hall will not let you use your own gear and you would do this without going to find out what they have and what controls they have in place? Well then I would say that is just bad business.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
That all would depend on when they even started planning all of this. It may have been only a short while ago as they said this is for the grandmother and they already got married. They said the were expecting 80 people to attend and not the people who already attend their wedding when they officially got married.
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Sure last minute gigs happen but usually when they do especially a wedding and asking those particular questions is because they are looking for a last minute discount. A lot of these sites use this as a suggestion.

From my experience most people that book a party after a wedding like these folks are doing are nowhere near that fussy they are doing it more to have a family function.

That being said I would work the lead to find out more


Jeff
 
Now this is funny. I called the venue to speak to the lady who rents the place. I called to make sure this was real and I wanted to find out about the equipment they have in this venue. I was told they have a Mic and PA system. That's it for the equipment. Now that's why the bride ask that question about what equipment do you have? I gave out a price and I'm just waiting for a response. Whatever happens the price won't change. I got some great news today for me that I'll make another thread about later! I'm super excited about getting this gig!
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Now this is funny. I called the venue to speak to the lady who rents the place. I called to make sure this was real and I wanted to find out about the equipment they have in this venue. I was told they have a Mic and PA system. That's it for the equipment. Now that's why the bride ask that question about what equipment do you have? I gave out a price and I'm just waiting for a response. Whatever happens the price won't change. I got some great news today for me that I'll make another thread about later! I'm super excited about getting this gig!
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What does the PA system consist of?
 
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Mix, by what you have told us on this forum, you honest answers should sound something like what's in red

1. How many years of professional experience do you have?
Well, I'm not really a professional. I don't have a business license or insurance.
2. Have you done any corporate event?
No, but I've done some backyard picnics & birthday parties.
3. Do you also provide MCing services?
Me, my partners all kinda pitch in.
4. Have you ever done DJing at( name of venue here) ?
Yes, that was my speaker on top of the ice machine.
5. What equipment do you use?
Yamaha speakers, Denon controller, some lights I throw on the floor and lots of orange extension cords.
6. Can you give me a reference from a venue?
No, but you can talk to my partners girl.
7. What would you like for compensation?
I'd like $1200 cause I heard of other DJs charging that much, but will take whatever you can pay. I'm very negotiable
8. What was your favorite gig?
Well I did a party and we had some strippers.........
 
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Audio One said:
Mix, by what you have told us on this forum, you honest answers should sound something like what's in red

1. How many years of professional experience do you have?
Well, I'm not really a professional. I don't have a business license or insurance.
2. Have you done any corporate event?
No, but I've done some backyard picnics & birthday parties.
3. Do you also provide MCing services?
Me, my partners all kinda pitch in.
4. Have you ever done DJing at( name of venue here) ?
Yes, that was my speaker on top of the ice machine.
5. What equipment do you use?
Yamaha speakers, Denon controller, some lights I throw on the floor and lots of orange extension cords.
6. Can you give me a reference from a venue?
No, but you can talk to my partners girl.
7. What would you like for compensation?
I'd like $1200 cause I heard of other DJs charging that much, but will take whatever you can pay. I'm very negotiable
8. What was your favorite gig?
Well I did a party and we had some strippers.........
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Now you're funny! What I did quote her was $650.00 to do this wedding. I haven't gotten back a email which tells me the price is too much. That's not my problem. It's either she agrees to that price or she can keep shopping. All I can do is wish her the best.
 
Dj Jimmy D said:
but what were your answers to her questions?
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You asked what were my answers and here we go. But first you forgot something Jimmy. You forgot to make that a capital B for but. LOL!

1. I said we both have over 25 years as professional DJ's each.
2. Yes we've done corporate events
3. Yes we do.
4. No we've never DJed there.
5. I told her the equipment we would use to perform at her wedding and I sent her a couple of pictures of us with the setup we would use. That's the 4 Yamaha powered speakers, 2 controllers, Denon DN MC 6000, nUMARK Mix Trak Pro, 2 laptops and external HD's with our music on them. I also mentioned that if she would like we could provide her with some lights.
6. Yes I can. I told her I like to do that at a meeting with a potential client.
7. I told her we wanted $650.00 for compensation.
8. I told her there were too many to name just one. I told her about one of our favorites. It was a surprise birthday party for this minister who thought he was coming to a ministers conference. They danced the whole time! We had the minister and his wife dancing up a storm.

Now I just really feel like someone else on here said that they are looking for cheap Charlie DJ to do their wedding. Like I said I gave out a price and I'm not changing my mind.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I responded to an ad from a bride looking for a DJ to do her wedding on October 12th. I just got a response back today and this bride had some very interesting questions to ask me. Some that I rarely get asked. Here are the questions.

1. How many years of professional experience do you have?
2. Have you done any corporate event?
3. Do you also provide MCing services?
4. Have you ever done DJing at( name of venue here) ?
5. What equipment do you use?
6. Can you give me a reference from a venue?
7. What would you like for compensation?
8. What was your favorite gig?

Now I found questions 2, 5 and 8 strange to me as rarely do I get such questions. I don't even get why they asked question number 2 as this is a wedding and not a corporate party.

Just saw they had some very interesting questions. They also mentioned in the email that the venue has equipment there. I would never use the venues equipment as I like to bring my own. I know my own equipment better then I probably would the venue's equipment and I wouldn't want to be responsible if something where to happen to the venue's equipment or even take a chance that there was something wrong with the equipment before I get there. Besides a lot of times some very inexperienced DJ's are allowed to use the venues equipment. So to avoid all of that I being my own equipment and use that.
Click to expand...

I love questions. It really helps me field the potential client! The interview goes both ways.
 
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