What is your niche when it comes to being a DJ?

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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Let's have fun with this all please. Let me give a little background on me first. I have been to the Lincoln Park Festival and people who know me have asked me am I going to be one of the DJs playing on the stage and I tell them no, I'm not that famous. I appreciate the compliment. I've gotten others like I'm glad they finally got you to be the DJ for an event or compared to another famous DJ saying they should have either gotten me to do the event or they should gove me a shot. I know I'm not the best DJ of all times. Yet I won't allow anybody to put me down. I know I'm damn good with what I do.

With that being said my thing is old school disco, house music and classic soul. I know some beat me up because I'm not today's Hip hop and R & B DJ. I'm perfectly fine with that because I'm 62 years old and my personal opinion is a lot of those people producing music today don't have real talent. Just my opion. I don't understand a lot of that stuff and besides I'm not that super fast DJ playing the next song in a minute and a half or less. That's how young people of today listen to the music a DJ plays today.

So have at it and do try to respect one another. If it's something you wouldn't do or how you would do it let it go and be kind please.
 
Having a niche is only beneficial if there's a group within your area to continually support it. You can be the greatest Model T mechanic there ever was .. but it's kind of pointless if there are no Model T's around to repair. As evidence of this, do you see a bunch of shops in your local area that specialize in the Model T? What benefit is having that niche if the Model T only comes around once a year when the Traveling Automobile History show comes to town for 1 weekend? Your friends could tell you that you can repair the Model T in that show as well - but what good comes from them saying it?

Knowledge is great - but unless you've advanced to keep up with what society has and wants, then you're niche is not benefiting you.
 
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I started off specializing in Classic House, but then realized there is no real market for it.
 
My niche - My brother's daughter.
My nephew - My In-laws' sons.

But seriously, delivering Celebrations that my client's cherish, using the music they dance, sing, and celebrate with...narrow genres be damned.

The palette is limited only by the moment and those sharing it.
 
I forgot to mention I'm excellent at mixing music. That's what people expect of me. I call myself master mixologist DJ Macho Man. Much like a bartender who is an expert at mixing drinks.
 
My niche is combining the polish of an experienced event professional with the skills of a DJ that can creatively crush a dance floor with great mixing and song selection.

There are lots of good "event manager" type DJs that can operate a timeline well and act as a good MC. There are lots of great club DJs that can creatively rock the biggest parties in the country. I'm bringing those two skills together for my clients.
 
I forgot to mention I'm excellent at mixing music. That's what people expect of me. I call myself master mixologist DJ Macho Man. Much like a bartender who is an expert at mixing drinks.
Are those the 10 people who came to the Handball Court ?
 
Are those the 10 people who came to the Handball Court ?
You missed the second one. It was threw the roof. A ton of people showed up because the word got out. It was huge success! My happiness came in we could pull it off and I got to do the second one at the Handball Court because we helped out the Wheequeaway Park committee with an event and they gave us a date for free.
 
You missed the second one. It was threw the roof. A ton of people showed up because the word got out. It was huge success! My happiness came in we could pull it off and I got to do the second one at the Handball Court because we helped out the Wheequeaway Park committee with an event and they gave us a date for free.
We didn't see any pictures or videos .. so if there's no evidence .. it didn't happen

.. and a ton of people my size would still be less than 10 .. :)
 
I think we've done this before. My niche is that I can play the piano during your cocktail hour, but depending on where I am, that's mostly irrelevant.

When I'm at the casino, I'm playing music videos. When I'm on the radio, I'm playing country music.

Mostly, I just do what's expected at events - keep people entertained.
 
My niche- understanding what the client is looking for in entertainment and understanding what I can do at an event to provide that value to my client and their guests.
 
When I was in the motorcycle biz 30 years ago the shop I worked for didn't specialize or have a niche...owner wanted to service the 'average' biker.

Well, the average biker is a hobbyist, has kids, wife, etc. If money is tight the bike is parked. He buys average helmet, average tires.

The specialist shops - one was into the touring bikes (ride a lot, buy rainsuits, top end tires, service), another cruisers ( they love their leather and chrome), another sport bike crowd (young and would spend) and another dirt bike racers (always spending money on everything).

There is certainly something to be said if you specialize - Does Khalid, tiesta, guetta do weddings, car cruises, etc? Nope.
I've seen some DJs that specialize in school dances and make bank - can't do that here, well, there's no Model T's here., LOL. NO WAY could I get $2500 for a prom - 3 school districts here have graduating classes under 50. The catholic HS closed - 96 students TOTAL in 4 grades. MAYBE one of the 2 big schools with 400 at a prom/formal dance could fund it. MAYbe. But 2 schools won't generate enough business even if one could get that money out of them.

But yes, there IS something to be said to be 'that guy'- best or most memorable for SOMETHING. I mean, why hire YOU over me or mix or steve?
Having a niche is only beneficial if there's a group within your area to continually support it. You can be the greatest Model T mechanic there ever was .. but it's kind of pointless if there are no Model T's around to repair. As evidence of this, do you see a bunch of shops in your local area that specialize in the Model T? What benefit is having that niche if the Model T only comes around once a year when the Traveling Automobile History show comes to town for 1 weekend? Your friends could tell you that you can repair the Model T in that show as well - but what good comes from them saying it?

Knowledge is great - but unless you've advanced to keep up with what society has and wants, then you're niche is not benefiting you.
 
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Let me ask this question then because I remember one member that if you're a mobile DJ you should be able to do any type of event. I personally totally disagree. I have certain events that I will pass up on. Some because the money isn't good enough and sometimes it's more than just the money side of things. Sometimes it could be the type of event and people who will be attending the event or it could be the type of music they want is not a particular thing that we know much about. Yes we can research things and ask questions. I just don't believe in doing an event just because there's money to be made. I wouldn't want to do an event where we look bad and ruin the clients event. Now I know others are going to think and say something else. We all don't have to agree on the same thing and nor should we.

With that being said is there an event that a potential client will contact you to see if you would do their event and you will pass the event up?
 
Let me ask this question then because I remember one member that if you're a mobile DJ you should be able to do any type of event. ...
Actually, it usually goes like "If you wish to have a functioning, profitable, and in-demand mobile DJ business, then you should be able to do most any type of event".
 
When I was in the motorcycle biz 30 years ago the shop I worked for didn't specialize or have a niche...owner wanted to service the 'average' biker.

Well, the average biker is a hobbyist, has kids, wife, etc. If money is tight the bike is parked. He buys average helmet, average tires.

The specialist shops - one was into the touring bikes (ride a lot, buy rainsuits, top end tires, service), another cruisers ( they love their leather and chrome), another sport bike crowd (young and would spend) and another dirt bike racers (always spending money on everything).

There is certainly something to be said if you specialize - Does Khalid, tiesta, guetta do weddings, car cruises, etc? Nope.
I've seen some DJs that specialize in school dances and make bank - can't do that here, well, there's no Model T's here., LOL. NO WAY could I get $2500 for a prom - 3 school districts here have graduating classes under 50. The catholic HS closed - 96 students TOTAL in 4 grades. MAYBE one of the 2 big schools with 400 at a prom/formal dance could fund it. MAYbe. But 2 schools won't generate enough business even if one could get that money out of them.

But yes, there IS something to be said to be 'that guy'- best or most memorable for SOMETHING. I mean, why hire YOU over me or mix or steve?
If you were a client looking to hire someone right now for a birthday party, would you hire someone who can cater to any and all music .. or someone that has a niche for classic house music?
 
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Being versatile and ABLE to do lots of events doesn't always mean you should.

I focus on weddings because it's my highest margin work. Why would I ever do an easy birthday party for $500, if I have the potential to make $2,000-$3,000 with the same date?

If I have a 20% chance or better of booking a wedding on that date, it makes more sense to leave it open for the higher margin business.

Not every market supports a niche. Or it may take some marketing creativity to do it. I continue to be a fan of operating separate brands for separate niches. Simple websites are so easy, and so cheap... you could have a website for bubble parties. And a different one for weddings. And something else for corporate.

People like working with a specialist in what they need. If I have a BMW... sure I can go to any mechanic. But I'd prefer someone that knows the intricacies of my car really well. If I can find that guy versus someone that just "knows cars" I'll do it.
 
Being versatile and ABLE to do lots of events doesn't always mean you should.

I focus on weddings because it's my highest margin work. Why would I ever do an easy birthday party for $500, if I have the potential to make $2,000-$3,000 with the same date?

If I have a 20% chance or better of booking a wedding on that date, it makes more sense to leave it open for the higher margin business.

Not every market supports a niche. Or it may take some marketing creativity to do it. I continue to be a fan of operating separate brands for separate niches. Simple websites are so easy, and so cheap... you could have a website for bubble parties. And a different one for weddings. And something else for corporate.

People like working with a specialist in what they need. If I have a BMW... sure I can go to any mechanic. But I'd prefer someone that knows the intricacies of my car really well. If I can find that guy versus someone that just "knows cars" I'll do it.
All true .. but there are enough BMW vehicles (gawd I miss my 535) to specialize .. Is there enough 60+ year old Deep/Classic House fans with spendable money to focus on ?
 
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All true .. but there are enough BMW vehicles (gawd I miss my 535) to specialize .. Is there enough 60+ year old Deep/Classic House fans with spendable money to focus on ?

If there are, Mixy hasn't found them yet.