My partner is something else.

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Personally my 2 favorites is deep underground house music and oldies but goodies. The deep underground house music is about being able to play stuff you've already played 5000 times like Follow Me
Probably why you're not well known for djing general public events, as the music you play doesn't appeal to 99% of the clientele that exists around here. That music works in clubs... but not private events.
 
Personally my 2 favorites is deep underground house music and oldies but goodies. The deep underground house music is about being able to play stuff you've already played 5000 times like Follow Me
Yea, I played Uncle Kracker - "Follow Me" a lot too, years ago ...
 
Mix does not play the same type of music that most of the people here play. Now, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market for it, just you are unware of the market since it is a market you don’t cater to it. You do know that there are many successful working DJ that do play the same type of music, they don’t go to the boards & DJ shows. For over ten years I supplied the equipment for a couple of the DJs in that market. Also, I catered to Latin & West Indian clients before DJs who specialize in those genres took hold. House music is played at private events, I play done of the music too if I'm playing to that crowd. Since most of the music is from the 80s & ’90s with some going all the way back to the music played at the Garage. Most those into that type of music are older and don’t go to clubs at least the way you think of clubs. There are plenty of private parties where it’s played but also private parties given by entertainment groups, they may be held at a nightclub, venues, lounges or boats. One of the latest things started recently is day parties and multi-day events with DJs & Artists in the Caribbean.

So in short Mix’s problem isn’t necessarily the types of music which he plays in that genre but finding & connecting with the correct clientele. Now whether he can wow that crowd and actually DJ, I don’t know. I do know I never bragged or told anyone I was a great DJ, I usually let my clients make that determination.
 
Mix does not play the same type of music that most of the people here play. Now, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market for it, just you are unware of the market since it is a market you don’t cater to it. You do know that there are many successful working DJ that do play the same type of music, they don’t go to the boards & DJ shows. For over ten years I supplied the equipment for a couple of the DJs in that market. Also, I catered to Latin & West Indian clients before DJs who specialize in those genres took hold. House music is played at private events, I play done of the music too if I'm playing to that crowd. Since most of the music is from the 80s & ’90s with some going all the way back to the music played at the Garage. Most those into that type of music are older and don’t go to clubs at least the way you think of clubs. There are plenty of private parties where it’s played but also private parties given by entertainment groups, they may be held at a nightclub, venues, lounges or boats. One of the latest things started recently is day parties and multi-day events with DJs & Artists in the Caribbean.

So in short Mix’s problem isn’t necessarily the types of music which he plays in that genre but finding & connecting with the correct clientele. Now whether he can wow that crowd and actually DJ, I don’t know. I do know I never bragged or told anyone I was a great DJ, I usually let my clients make that determination.
I agree that there are private events where house music, the kind that mix likes in particular, is played... I used to work for a company where one of the djs specialized in this and was an extremely well known DJ in nj for house music. But as the crowd got older, and house faded, the demand for a DJ that specializes in just this music faded. Most of these clients are older and are no longer throwing parties, or they are throwing parties with a diverse aged crowd and a DJ that can handle a variety of music is more important. The client probably is ok with just a handful of anthems from their time going out, and can probably even just lost them for the DJ, so no special knowledge is needed.
 
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Well, I call BS because I like said you don’t really know that market. You know one DJ with one company. While I am not going to getting into who I know and worked with. It suffices to say I know more than one or two DJs and what/where my friends in my age & demographic go & listen to. There are at least 10 different events going on this month featuring multiple DJs and artists that came across my Facebook feed playing house and R&B. Currently many of the parties are going on weekly and rotating locations between, LI, Queens & Manhattan.
 
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Don't know which market in particular? My background is in the club industry, specifically house music like mix mentions, prior to focusing strictly on the private event market. My experience may be from a different generation, but similarities of each generations trends seem to follow. And while I have said I worked with one dj... I know many "house" dj's personally who aimed to do maximize both private and nightlife events. This gave me exposure first hand to seeing what the difference was between those who adapted and survived compared to those that tried to hang on as long as they could to what they loved and were known for during their peak, and just seeing them slowly fading (or at least scaling back big time to how much they work or the amount they work for).

To be fair, I'm focusing on the private event aspect (you are totally right about public events and nightlife, which I'll mention). The private event industry is the industry where being known for ONLY a certain style of music (or event) can potentially be a negative. For example, the house dj's in the 2000's up till 2013 were all in demand, and many were doing guest appearances at private events, or running a private event company and being the company that people wanted to hire. But with the majority of that generation now entering their late 40's and 50's, the private events that they throw are becoming less and less, and therefore the niche that these dj's specialized in is in less demand. If they didn't rebrand as djs they would be disregarded as a dj that "only" knows a certain type of music... one that is no longer in style. Many of course adapted and now play open format or are more wedding friendly or whatever was needed to keep themselves busy.

You are correct in saying that this particular demographic that you reference is absolutely still relevant to the nightlife and public event industry. There are MANY events consistently going on, and there is still some work to be had for dj's that want to still be known for this music. Mix would in fact be in a much better position to keep himself busy if he decided to spread his wings a little and look at different parts of the state for work for the music he likes. Areas such as newark, elizabeth, linden, perth amboy, etc have many small spots that welcome the music he likes. But again to be clear... I am focusing on the private events.

Personally, when I first started, I tried to brand myself as the "greek american" dj... and while it helped me grow within that community, I could not break out of it. I'd often get calls from prospective clients who were given my name and the first thing I'd get asked was do I play american music, because the site and business cards said specializing in greek american music. After I dropped that tag line, I stopped receiving such questions. Now my tag line is Luxury Wedding and Sweet 16 DJ... and that works for me as I want to weed out other events... one day it may not include sweet 16... as I get older and have to scale back I may have to take the Luxury part out since I may be too old to attract the modern bride, but will still need to keep busy.

So my overall point is in saying that Mix's focus on such a specific type of music, and being explicitly known for that, alienates him from the majority of Private events that take place around him.
 
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Probably why you're not well known for djing general public events, as the music you play doesn't appeal to 99% of the clientele that exists around here. That music works in clubs... but not private events.
I said what's my personal taste. When it comes to private events it's about the client and not about me.
 
I said what's my personal taste. When it comes to private events it's about the client and not about me.
But you’ve also said in the past that you’re not really familiar with today’s current hits. So how are you prepared for the majority of the clients out there?
 
Well, I call BS because I like said you don’t really know that market. You know one DJ with one company. While I am not going to getting into who I know and worked with. It suffices to say I know more than one or two DJs and what/where my friends in my age & demographic go & listen to. There are at least 10 different events going on this month featuring multiple DJs and artists that came across my Facebook feed playing house and R&B. Currently many of the parties are going on weekly and rotating locations between, LI, Queens & Manhattan.
We've actually posted on here that he should expand his horizons into those areas and he might perhaps get more work. Do you think it happened? ;)
 
...Im sadly still compelled to offer family discounts... not sure why...
Because you have not decided not to.

The fact that they "seemed to be still uneasy with the price" after you offered a healthy discount is evidence that you value both your craft and the relationship more selflessly than they do.

My pricing policy has served me well for decades and includes discount options (501c entities, Military) and a limited number of individuals who and philanthropic causes that will never be allowed to pay me to provide my craft for their celebrations/events.
 
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I said what's my personal taste. When it comes to private events it's about the client and not about me.

Like the party where "the client" wanted a particular kind of music for dinner?
I know that you DID in fact play the music that was requested...
but you certainly made a stink about it on this board.
And you blamed her for the party not being successful.
 
Like the party where "the client" wanted a particular kind of music for dinner?
I know that you DID in fact play the music that was requested...
but you certainly made a stink about it on this board.
And you blamed her for the party not being successful.
No my partner played the music for that one. I made a stink because I knew what she wanted at the time was not the right music for that time. The music needed to be stuff where people could listen to some music while talking without it blasting. That time wasn't the right time to get people up dancing losing their mind. There was no arguing about what she wanted since she was paying the bill. What happened is quite a few people left because of this. I knew that was going to happen and nothing could be done about it.

The event was a retirement celebration and she wanted to treat it like we were at the club and the whole time was to be people dancing up a storm the whole time. She didn't consider the older guests that were there and making the music about them as well. In other words pleasing both young and old. Quite a bit of the people there since it was a retirement celebration were well over 50.

I was a guest at a surprise 50th birthday celebration and the DJ didn't know what music to play and when. He had some great gear but blew it when it came to the music for the event. He didn't know that you play stuff in the beginning for the older people to enjoy. Later on you play stuff for the younger people to dance to. That's just what I would have done because of my years of experience.
 
No my partner played the music for that one. I made a stink because I knew what she wanted at the time was not the right music for that time. The music needed to be stuff where people could listen to some music while talking without it blasting. That time wasn't the right time to get people up dancing losing their mind. There was no arguing about what she wanted since she was paying the bill. What happened is quite a few people left because of this. I knew that was going to happen and nothing could be done about it.

The event was a retirement celebration and she wanted to treat it like we were at the club and the whole time was to be people dancing up a storm the whole time. She didn't consider the older guests that were there and making the music about them as well. In other words pleasing both young and old. Quite a bit of the people there since it was a retirement celebration were well over 50.

I was a guest at a surprise 50th birthday celebration and the DJ didn't know what music to play and when. He had some great gear but blew it when it came to the music for the event. He didn't know that you play stuff in the beginning for the older people to enjoy. Later on you play stuff for the younger people to dance to. That's just what I would have done because of my years of experience.
Wash and repeat
 
I know you all are having fun at my expense and it's OK. Let me say this. When you've been doing this a long time like me certain events you have a good idea of how things should go and what will or will not work. All you can do is try to get a client to trust that you know what you're doing. The one I mentioned about the surprise 50th birthday celebration would have been tailor made for me. If I was the DJ for that event it would have ROCKED because I would have known what to do.

In the beginning you play stuff for the people over 50 to enjoy so they can feel a part of. Later on you can get into stuff that the younger people will enjoy as well. The event was 5 hours, so that's more than enough time to show people they picked the right DJ for the job leaving people with smiles on their faces after the event is over.

One of my personal favorites that would have gotten that crowd to enjoy themselves is Marvin Gaye Got To Give It Up. For a crowd like that a song like that would have made the crowd happy.