Breaking in to new avenues of income

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
F

Flyingdjdan

New DJ
Feb 11, 2007
492
0
62
Waterman, IL
www.yourdj1.com
The common theme around chat boards of late is that the wedding market sucks. Reasons to why are as varied as the dj's that are commenting.

Just wondering...



If one wishes to expand options into other "venues" of income, such as karaoke, audio support etc,.

How does one successfully go into it without refrences??? How can one learn to be "successful" in an avenue were our expertise isn't??

Especially, with out cutting into the "average" pricing for such events??

Not looking for "trade secrets", (unless willing to share via pm.) Where can one get started, or a good direction for getting knowlege??
 
Flyingdjdan said:
expand options into other "venues" of income
Click to expand...
logo-revised4.jpg

You all just knew I was going to say that, didn't you :)
 
Precisionpower said:
Live Sound is an option, If you should happen to win the LOTTERY.
Click to expand...

Well, all we lack are a pro soundboard and multiple mics. We could do that. We have the FOH system already. The cabs ain't what I'd call touring grade but they'd do until we could afford some TRX and individual C/L/gate channels for miced stages. :D

Agreed ~ juke systems and PA rentals are promising. This is nothing new... rental companies have been cashing in on PA system rentals for years. Coin-op amusement companies used to rent jukes back in the day... load it on the truck, set it to free play and deliver. Pick it up the next day. Yup, I did that.

John is right. The Bubbles are making headway in this business.

And if you're really adventurous (and a lot younger than Wolfie), you can do like Pat and start managing bands on the road. :)
 
Working on putting together an 'ipod' rental package together. I "think I can scrape up" an extra mixing board, speakers, amp... lol

Juke box rentals does sound interresting. Rick do you have a thread or pages of you website set up for such info?

Still debating the bubble party thing. I am not the greatest with kids. I might be able to "fake it" for a few hours?

Other than the bubble parties and Cap doing well with "p.a. sound" reinforcement.

Any one else having luck with any of these off shoots?? Or is it just occasional side income?
 
Rick do you have a thread or pages of you website set up for such info?
Click to expand...

I have a web page for everything under the Sun (gotta pay these bills on the farm) :sqlaugh:


http://rockbox.softjock.com/

I don't build the boxes, just the software, although I may in the near future. I do have a guy who can help out with designing and finding reasonably priced suppliers though...

He's a great guy, and the pics on the page are one of his boxes. PM or email me, and I can put you in touch with him. He doesn't charge just to chat and brainstorm. He's retired and enjoys the whole music scene.
 
Flyingdjdan said:
Any one else having luck with any of these off shoots?? Or is it just occasional side income?
Click to expand...

I'd say a good 50% of my income comes from sound reinforcement.

I much prefer hearing 4 or 5 musicians piss and moan all night, rather than deal with bridezillas.

I'm rather picky as to the weddings i take on, (almost no advertisement, word of mouth) usually friends of friends, etc...

Nothing rocks the house like 12,000 watts of tri-amped goodness.......
 
DJ JohnThe1 said:
This is a good topic. I really want to leave my day job so bad. I have a few ideas in the pipeline that I hope I could to turn into gold.
Click to expand...

The way i look at it, if i can make a comfortable living doing the things that i truely love, This sucess in my book..
 
Precisionpower said:
I'd say a good 50% of my income comes from sound reinforcement.

I much prefer hearing 4 or 5 musicians piss and moan all night, rather than deal with bridezillas.

I'm rather picky as to the weddings i take on, (almost no advertisement, word of mouth) usually friends of friends, etc...

Nothing rocks the house like 12,000 watts of tri-amped goodness.......
Click to expand...
You got me doubled, man... I can only claim 6KW RMS tri-amped, lol.

Musicians versus bridezillas... well, there's a topic for discussion. The bridezillas can get the heck outta the venue in decent time, at least. Bands, well, you have a guy who takes a cab off the stack, sets it on the floor and stops to BS with someone. Another sets a case in the truck and stops to BS around. They can take forever to get loaded out.

"Hey soundman! I want more ME in this monitor!"

"Hey DJ! I want my dance song NOW!"

Some days ya just can't win. :D
 
DJ JohnThe1 said:
This is a good topic. I really want to leave my day job so bad. I have a few ideas in the pipeline that I hope I could to turn into gold.
Click to expand...


I so agree, buddy! I wish you and I lived closer; I bet we could make some good noise.
 
I agree, we would create some serious waves. I'll keep you posted Papa Dee.. I am drawing up a business plan with the little lady and I hope to make something happen before Dec 07.
By the way it's awesome to see you back on the board. Also Papa, I head up to PA quite often. Allentown, Macungie and sometimes Reading. One of these days you and I can shoot the breeze.
 
Fred Stewart said:
You got me doubled, man... I can only claim 6KW RMS tri-amped, lol.

Musicians versus bridezillas... well, there's a topic for discussion. The bridezillas can get the heck outta the venue in decent time, at least. Bands, well, you have a guy who takes a cab off the stack, sets it on the floor and stops to BS with someone. Another sets a case in the truck and stops to BS around. They can take forever to get loaded out.

"Hey soundman! I want more ME in this monitor!"

"Hey DJ! I want my dance song NOW!"

Some days ya just can't win. :D
Click to expand...

I hear ya Wolfie!

I have no problem telling an egomaniac guitarist to shut his pie-hole, or i'll unplug his half stack during his solo.........

But telling off a crazy bride on HER big day.......

I just don't want to go there....lol
 
Precisionpower said:
Nothing rocks the house like 12,000 watts of tri-amped goodness.......
Click to expand...

Well, perhaps 30,000 watts of 4-way stereo goodness.... :sqwink:

About 1/2 of our clientele is also sound reinforcement. We don't do a lot of band work, however, mostly more unusual-needs events. We do events that your typical SR company can not handle gracefully....such as the event we just returned from in Estes Park, CO. Sound, lighting, video and then some.


For non-dj work, we do business meetings and conferences (sometimes single room and sometimes multiple rooms--audio, video, lighting), extend PA for large events such as horse shows at a local venue, lighting for high-end fundraisers (both ambient room lighting and targeted lighting for auction items), etc. These events all require specialized equipment and the ability to think outside the box. We designed and built systems to light banquet tables for nearly every application (food tables/islands in the middle of a room or rows of silent auction items on 8'tables). We designed and built light posts (sort of street light looking things) to use for ambient room lighting. Lots of problem-solving things here and there that keep us working and many times, irreplaceable.

I don't necessarily recommend a typical small SR sideline. Your typical local band sound doesn't usually pay very well, and is often a lot more equipment and labor than a DJ event, and less money at the same time. Find a niche that you enjoy and see what the needs and supply are in your area.
 
Precisionpower said:
Most anyone can buy S/R gear, But building light poles???
Wow. That is thinking out of the box!
Click to expand...

It's the unusual things like that which allow us to command our fee (typically $2-4000 per day; more for larger events). We can gracefully address unusual circumstances that typical SR companies can not and will not address. The details matter to us; we aren't put out having to reset some lighting due to sight line issues, and often we will draw little items like this to the event planners attention. Seems they like that we care about their event too.

Now if only we worked a few more days per year! lol
 
Flyingdjdan said:
If one wishes to expand options into other "venues" of income, such as karaoke, audio support etc,.

How does one successfully go into it without refrences??? How can one learn to be "success"
Click to expand...


How did you do it as a DJ? Learn the skills required ( Karaoke and DJ are two very different kettles of fish. You WOULD have to learn it as new), advertise, ( A bar venue is great exposure, and free advertising that you are getting PAID for), and prove your mettle. Same in any biz. That's why they call it "breaking into it"....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back