How do you see yourself as a DJ 3 years from now in 2022?

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How do you see yourself as a DJ in 2022?


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I explained my 2019 plans in another thread, and this is a continuation of that. I think my business will continue to evolve. I want to continue to grow revenue and profit margin. But I'm more focused on profit margin right now than top line revenue. I want my execution to lead to a broader base of referral partners that trust me and my team so that I can rely even less on advertising externally. I'm testing a cut of 75% of external advertising - and I'm having a super busy booking month.

What I do in 2022 depends on how all of this goes, and if customer demand changes. As long as my current offering is competitive, I don't need to add crap just to add toys. But, if clients are requesting something from me that requires an investment I'll make it. But my goal is to continue to run a brand that is considered the go-to for clients that really care about the quality of their music service and want a passionate professional at the wheel of their event.
 
In 2022, I foresee the following:

Less DJs using Controllers out at events: ...I believe Controllers have pretty much reached their maximum maturity on the popularity scale. It's a slow decline from here on out.
-The DJ Community will notice this because manufacturers will be coming out with fewer new controllers in the coming years as sales drop.
-More choosing to stream music off the net at events. ...ESPECIALLY if the 5G grid actually takes off....Actually, I think it will be very popular in 2022.
-More advanced options and features with add ons pertaining to photo booths coming out.


-The Decline of the $250 and less mobile DJs. I have no evidence to back this up. I just firmly believe that the availability of real cheap DJs will be lower than today, and in the past. I feel there will be less new comers to the industry as time marches on, and real cheap DJs will be much harder to find.

-I believe more apps will be created which will help people search for DJs/Entertainment in general on their phones. More ituitive booking apps will be coming onto the market as online tech continues to evolve.

-I think that effect lighting will ultimately come down in price even further than it is today.
 
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This sounds more like things you would like to see happen (a wish list) vs 'where do you see yourself'.
 
In 2022, I foresee the following:

Less DJs using Controllers out at events: ...I believe Controllers have pretty much reached their maximum maturity on the popularity scale. It's a slow decline from here on out.
-The DJ Community will notice this because manufacturers will be coming out with fewer new controllers in the coming years as sales drop.
-More choosing to stream music off the net at events. ...ESPECIALLY if the 5G grid actually takes off....Actually, I think it will be very popular in 2022 .

Controllers of sorts wont go anywhere, because you still need a way to control the music, regardless of it's source. There always existed something that controlled the music... turntables, cdj's, controllers, etc. Even with streaming, a way of controlling the songs is necessary.... Unless you pressed play and had autofade... but i tend to think people expect more than that in a dj's performance. Perhaps the improvements to controllers will be more minimal, but not so much their use.
 
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How do I see myself as a DJ in 3 years???... That’s a tough one... Maybe as a DJ with a walker, or a DJ with a hearing aid... maybe a DJ who can’t remember what songs to play... maybe a DJ who forgets to bring some of his gear and has to go purchase cr@ppy gear in an EMERGENCY!!![emoji1] I dunno. I know I’ll be even MORE handsome, because I keep getting better looking EVERY year, but it seems my eyesight gets worse every year.[emoji1] I’ll probably be using a re-re-re-re-worked Small System, and my Large System will be SO Large, there won’t be a venue that can facilitate it.[emoji1]
 
Personally, I don't see much being different. Price increases as I see needed, new options as they come to the market and are items that clients are willing to pay extra on, etc. The only thing I'm still not sure about is whether I will have a physical office, and whether or not I will offer other dj's. I still believe in exclusivity and charging a premium for it.

I tried for a few months "offering" another dj I know as an "option" (he would contract them himself in the end, but it would appear as if they worked for me... this part isn't the point though). First thing I noticed, was that every person had wanted to speak to the dj... I guess this is a representation of the clientele I get... they care. Secondly... I then noticed that only 25% of those clients actually contacted him. Every person whose info of his I gave, I told him about and followed up with to see where it would lead. I can recall at one point I had mentioned his name to about 9 people in a week, and only 1 had contacted him... and they didn't book. Anyways, of those 25% that did contact him... only a handful of those actually contracted with him. In the end, I think people willing to spend money just want someone that they have either seen and trust, or others have used and trust. A vendors reccommendation carries the same amount of skepticism as one from a random search result on google.

Many companies I know that used to pay for google leads, now no longer do, and instead are working on building their client relationships by offering gift cards for referrals, or contests for getting the most people to like an instagram or facebook page. A website is your officefront... but people are no longer using google to find it.
 
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I agree with most of your post. Controllers are going to be less important because of apps in the very near future. The software improves and removes the hardware it's been happening and will keep happening

This I disagree with

-The Decline of the $250 and less mobile DJs. I have no evidence to back this up. I just firmly believe that the availability of real cheap DJs will be lower than today, and in the past. I feel there will be less new comers to the industry as time marches on, and real cheap DJs will be much harder to find.

When I started in the 80's the consensus was the cheap DJ's ($100 and less) will fade away...They became the$150 and 200 and now 250 DJ's. Some will go some will replace them but they will always be there. The last time I really worried about it was the late 80's when I realized they don't do what I do
 
Less DJs using Controllers out at events:

The new hardware coming out is intended to keep the controller and lose the laptop. DJs that move further toward getting rid of mixing live are going to be moving closer to being replaced by a Spotify playlist.
 
I agree with most of your post. Controllers are going to be less important because of apps in the very near future. The software improves and removes the hardware it's been happening and will keep happening

This I disagree with



When I started in the 80's the consensus was the cheap DJ's ($100 and less) will fade away...They became the$150 and 200 and now 250 DJ's. Some will go some will replace them but they will always be there. The last time I really worried about it was the late 80's when I realized they don't do what I do

I agree that SOME will always be around in some fashion. ...I am saying there will be fewer of them around. They will also be harder to find. ...Especially available.

If I compare the offerings on the internet now for cheap DJs in my area compared to 5 years ago. The offering is smaller.

I also see less, and less new comers getting into the moble DJ field. We had a lot of new DJs entering the market during the recession, and for a few years after. However, that has seemed to cool down big time since 2013. I am also noticing that the older guys who have always had real low prices are slowing down a lot. I feel the bulk of these guys are on the cusp of retiring. Many already have over the past few years.

I think in a few more years, $450 to $500 will be bottom dollar in most markets to book a DJ where $200 to $300 has been bottom dollar for like the last 15+ years, lol.
 
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DJs that move further toward getting rid of mixing live are going to be moving closer to being replaced by a Spotify playlist.

Depends on your market I suppose....I would say 6/10 wedding clients ask if I "Cut songs off or let them play out". seems weddings don't want hard mixing at least around here
 
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The new hardware coming out is intended to keep the controller and lose the laptop. DJs that move further toward getting rid of mixing live are going to be moving closer to being replaced by a Spotify playlist.

I'm not so sure about that. DJs out lasted the IPOD wedding. The Spotify playlist still requires a lot of work on the bride and groom's part to make happen. I have not heard of any sweet 16 or quinceanera parties utilizing DIY music in the last few years.

The other thread talking about the DJ in South Carolina disappearing for an hour and coming back kinda proves it. People still danced and had fun regardless the gripes of the DJ who attended it and gave his critique. ....I think most brides and grooms will still seek out DJ services, and will be fine with a DJ who is not mixing on a controller all night. I dont see why this would change any time soon.
 
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I think in a few more years, $450 to $500 will be bottom dollar in most markets to book a DJ where $200 to $300 has been bottom dollar for like the last 15+ years, lol.

You might be right but do that as a percentage and the $250 DJ is the same as the $450 DJ. It's up and down about every 4 or 5 years a new crop arrives most last a year or so some 2 or 3 years the odd one stays around. By the time most of them have vanished there's a new crop again going to make their millions $300 at a time
 
Depends on your market I suppose....I would say 6/wedding clients ask me if I "cut songs off or let them play out" It seems weddings don't want hard mixing at least around here
I don't think it's a market thing... I also don't think it's a wedding thing... I think it's just the results of what we each attract. I ONLY get clients that want actual mixing and to not let songs drag. Why do I say Only... because I tell them that's how I do it, and over the years, that's become my reputation. Clearly there are enough couples out there that want that too, as well as clients that don't care for it, since our calendars are filled. Yes some songs are meant to be played in full... but the majority of them for me are mixed and cut. You're mostly word of mouth I believe, and If you're recommended by someone, chances are it's because they liked how YOU did it, and will generally not like or care for how I do it. But one thing is true... that client will probably never contact me, and my typical client may never contact you, and as a result we'll never hear the opposing view. Just like I hardly get price shoppers since I post my prices online, and just like I get no weddings that want no add-ons (literally zero).
 
I'm not so sure about that. DJs out lasted the IPOD wedding. The Spotify playlist still requires a lot of work on the bride and groom's part to make happen. I have not heard of any sweet 16 or quinceanera parties utilizing DIY music in the last few years.

The other thread talking about the DJ in South Carolina disappearing for an hour and coming back kinda proves it. People still danced and had fun regardless the gripes of the DJ who attended it and gave his critique. ....I think most brides and grooms will still seek out DJ services, and will be fine with a DJ who is not mixing on a controller all night. I dont see why this would change any time soon.
There will always be cheap dj's... doesn't matter the number... selling by being cheaper will never disappear. Wedding Dj's in new jersey range from $50/hr with lights included, to $3000+ just to show up. The bottom number has never changed since as long as I can remember, and I'm sure it was the same back in the 80's... the only number I see changing is the top number.
 
You might be right but do that as a percentage and the $250 DJ is the same as the $450 DJ. It's up and down about every 4 or 5 years a new crop arrives most last a year or so some 2 or 3 years the odd one stays around. By the time most of them have vanished there's a new crop again going to make their millions $300 at a time

Well...That has pretty much held true thus far since the beginning of Mobile DJ...BUT I think we might be had a turning point of sorts. In the past there were always a fair amount of individuals interested in getting into the business. ...I REALLY don't see that influx of individuals this past few years. Maybe somehow in the next 2 or 3 years there is another wave of young individuals who somehow are interested in Mobile DJ, BUT...I really see the amount of DJs coming onto the scene being very low compared to the past. ...This younger generation is just different.

...And older DJs entering the market seem to be occuring less because today there are just so many more other income opportunities for people to get involved in compared to what was around 10+ years ago. ...So many ways to make money with the "gig economy" and all the apps readily available today. ...Those opportunities are only going to grow as more apps are designed and enter the market as well.
 
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I don't think it's a market thing... I also don't think it's a wedding thing... I think it's just the results of what we each attract. I ONLY get clients that want actual mixing and to not let songs drag. Why do I say Only... because I tell them that's how I do it, and over the years, that's become my reputation. Clearly there are enough couples out there that want that too, as well as clients that don't care for it, since our calendars are filled. Yes some songs are meant to be played in full... but the majority of them for me are mixed and cut. You're mostly word of mouth I believe, and If you're recommended by someone, chances are it's because they liked how YOU did it, and will generally not like or care for how I do it. But one thing is true... that client will probably never contact me, and my typical client may never contact you, and as a result we'll never hear the opposing view. Just like I hardly get price shoppers since I post my prices online, and just like I get no weddings that want no add-ons (literally zero).

You have a point there Taso. I can mix and I'm pretty good at it, probably not as good as you, but I can hold my own. I learned to do it before controllers and software I'm probably better that way than with modern gear lol.

You're right I am mainly referral and yes even if we were in the same market I suspect our clients wouldn't be the same very often. We do have one guy that exclusively mixes for weddings he gets a few here and there but if he was only doing weddings he would be pretty hungry. Most of the mix guys and girls are doing bar shows or when they do weddings it's more my style
 
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Well...That has pretty much held true thus far since the beginning of Mobile DJ...BUT I think we might be had a turning point of sorts. In the past there were always a fair amount of individuals interested in getting into the business. ...I REALLY don't see that influx of individuals this past few years. Maybe somehow in the next 2 or 3 years there is another wave of young individuals who somehow are interested in Mobile DJ, BUT...I really see the amount of DJs coming onto the scene being very low compared to the past. ...This younger generation is just different.

...And older DJs entering the market seem to be occuring less because today there are just so many more other income opportunities for people to get involved in compared to what was around 10+ years ago. ...So many ways to make money with the "gig economy" and all the apps readily available today. ...Those opportunities are only going to grow as more apps are designed and enter the market as well.
the influx of dj's in the mid 2000's till around 2015 was 2 part. 1 with the transition to mp3's and laptops, it was easier than ever to build a library. 2) With the growth of edm, the dj was seen as something cool... cooler than ever in fact... and everyone wanted to be that. Now it's a trend that has faded. Now people want to be rappers/producers... instagram "influencers"... and "youtube famous". I believe the number of dj's entering the industry for mobile purposes will revert back to the levels of right around when serato/virtualdj was becoming the gamechanger (so like 2007 or 2008).
 
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Well...That has pretty much held true thus far since the beginning of Mobile DJ...BUT I think we might be had a turning point of sorts. In the past there were always a fair amount of individuals interested in getting into the business. ...I REALLY don't see that influx of individuals this past few years. Maybe somehow in the next 2 or 3 years there is another wave of young individuals who somehow are interested in Mobile DJ, BUT...I really see the amount of DJs coming onto the scene being very low compared to the past. ...This younger generation is just different.

...And older DJs entering the market seem to be occuring less because today there are just so many more other income opportunities for people to get involved in compared to what was around 10+ years ago. ...So many ways to make money with the "gig economy" and all the apps readily available today. ...Those opportunities are only going to grow as more apps are designed and enter the market as well.

I don't know it seems everyone I talk to is a DJ these days in some way shape or form. Year before last the guy at the local gear store said he sold between 10 and 15 systems in the previous few months to new people getting in. I don't know how many of them survived but at any given time theres a load of gear for sale on the buy and sells around here

They come and go. You'll lose a gig or two to them and the next year they are calling you back because the other guy is gone or messed it up

In the run of a year I'll get a half dozen calls from people looking to get in the business. I've been around pretty much longer than anyone in the business here that's probably why they call me. I always try to give solid advice but I always tell them go work for someone for a while first it will savce you a bunch on gear that you will be selling in a year lol