Disc Jockey News

It happened again; a DJ is taken to the Peoples Court and gives all of us a big Black eye!

A young couple met with this one particular DJ and arranged to book him for their wedding that was only a few weeks away. The Bride had seen him perform at a bar where he was the DJ and really like his style and personality. This particular DJ did not have any kind of written contract (mistake #1) and only used a verbal commitment with the clients.

When he spoke with the couple they expressed to him the importance of not playing songs that had any bad language or sexual references because the groom’s family was very religious and they did not want this music played.

He was booked to come to the rehearsal two nights before the wedding to help with the planning and to get a plan of the room and help this couple handle the details. He failed to show up at the scheduled meeting. (Mistake #2)

The groom then contacted him by phone after he missed the meeting at which point the DJ told the groom that his DAY JOB is making him work and that he could not DJ the wedding. (Mistake #3)

He then informed the groom that his business partner (owner) of the company would take his place and he would do just as well as he would. It was the old “Bait & Switch” routine. (Mistake #4)

The new DJ did show up but was completely unprepared for the event. (Mistake #5) The new DJ did not have a schedule or any idea of what was to take place. He did not do any of the important special moment’s introductions but instead had the groom’s sister make all announcements, introductions and handled all the microphone work. (Mistake #6)

During the course of the event he did not have the songs that were being requested so he instantly went on line and “Down Loaded” the necessary songs. I would have to guess that this was done illegally through one of those “Free” download sites. The songs he downloaded were not edited and had the exact bad language that they had asked him not to play. (Mistake #7)

The Bridal couple was suing the DJ & his company for the entire cost that he charged. Guess how much this DJ was charging for the wedding……. $500.00

The judge wanted to reward them the entire amount because this DJ did the old “Bait & Switch” trick on this unknowing couple but said that she could and would reward them for half the amount. As she walked away the judge came back and made an announcement.

She clarified that the $250 was to come from the DJ who originally agreed to perform the wedding and not the business or the other DJ who did take his place at the wedding. They paid him with a check written out to his name and not the "Company". She wanted to punish him for his pour business handlings and trying to cheat this couple.

When the case was done they interviewed the DJ and his flunky partner who did show up and you could tell that this “business partner” was not trained or skilled at all. He referred to items that are done at every wedding in an incorrect manner calling them the wrong things. It was almost like it was his first time ever doing this.

Needless to say, it is unfortunate, that this couple got exactly what they paid for…a $250 really bad DJ.

http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz

Posted by Jeff Richards at 08:25 PM | Permalink

How important is your image to your bottom line? Is your image everything? What does your image say to potential clients?

I am presently working on a seminar for the Northern Disc Jockey Conference in October about a DJ’s image and how it can affect your bottom line.

I have been asked to speak with other DJ’s about what you think about the DJ Image.

1) How do you use your image as a promotional tool?

2) What are your feelings about what influence if any, does image have on things like:

A. Your rates
B. Booking percentages
C. Selling your service.

3) Do you think image has no affect on your bottom line?

4) What kinds of things have you done to change/improve your image?

5) How did it help or hurt your business?

If you could answer these five questions or have any comments, thoughts or ideas about A DJ’s image please let me know.

E-mail your answers to

info@partytimeproductions.biz

Thank you in advance.

Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions

http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz

Posted by Jeff Richards at 07:07 PM | Permalink

Here we go again... Can a DJ in a small town earn as much as a comparable Big City DJ?

I don't want to keep beating the Big City vs. Small Town issue to death, and I am not here to say “Look at me” but today I went to meet with a potential client who is having a three hour graduation party for her daughter.

The party is on a Sunday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. No lights, no extras, and no interaction to speak of, just me and the music the kids want to hear.

When I was on the way to her house, the sign to her city read a population of 4113 people. (Small Town?)

For this short Sunday event I will be receiving my standard higher rate along with a mileage fee.

I know some of those DJ's who complain about the Small Town vs. Big City thing sometimes don't charge this much for a much longer wedding reception.

It can be done; small town folk do want a quality service and will seek it out outside their area at almost twice the "average" DJ rate of their immediate location.

The only real difference between myself and many of these unhappy DJ’s who believe that they can’t charge a livable wage rate, is that I ASK for this amount and by the means of my web site, my presentation and professionalism; most people don’t hesitate to pay me what I am worth.

Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions

Here is an update to this event.....(6/4/07)

It was originally to be a three our event in their back yard with no light show, no extras and no real interaction. All they really wanted was fun background music to listen to as the celebration went on.

Everyone was having so much fun that the mother of the graduate asked me to stay for an additional hour, so I did.

This four hour event in a “small town” on a Sunday afternoon/early evening had a pay day of $850.00

This is much more then many of the DJ’s who complain about not being able to charge higher rates in a “small town” make for a complete five to six hours or more, wedding reception.

I guess this goes to show them that if you have the quality, the professionalism and the ability to charge a higher rate, then clients will pay for it, but if you don’t then your stuck complaining about charging a low rate.

http://www.PartyTimeproductions.biz

Posted by Jeff Richards at 06:40 PM | Permalink

The debate over the rates a DJ in a big city can charge vs. the rates a similar DJ in a small town can charge is a never ending battle. Here is what I have heard from all around the U.S. from many DJ's and experienced myself.

I was reading on a private forum a new thread by a DJ who in less then two weeks had booked one event for $1800 and two more for $2000. I know this gentleman and believe that he gives a wonderful performance and really offers spectacular service to his clients.

He started this new thread because of a few DJ's who on this site and other sites have been upset with people like myself who believe that they are worth more then the current price that they charge and propose to them to adjust their rate schedule in accordance to their talents, skills, training and the cost of running a successful business.

We would never suggest any particular price to anyone, that would not be ethical and not part of what our group is about. We just want our members to be the best that they can be and charge accordingly. "Charge what you're worth and be worth what you charge"

As I spoke of in one of my articles, this DJ was offended with me suggesting he was worth more (charging a less then average price for a service he said was as good or better then the average DJ)

His argument was that he lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere and he has to compete with multiple other DJ's who undercut and back stab each other for business.

He believed that because he lives in a small town that he can not charge as much as DJ’s who live in the "Big City” because of the economic situation of the small town.

I once explained to him that I had actually performed some years back in his area (small town) and even three years ago was booking those events at double to almost three times his current rate. He didn't believe me.

The DJ who started this new thread who had just booked the three major events ($1800 & $2000) were for events in areas that would also be considered "Small Town" These new clients had never seen his performance but had heard from others and the location site of the work he does.

He really impressed me so I wrote him this

The following is a short excerpt from my posts to him.

This weekend I did a wedding in Owatonna (a fairly small town location) About 40 miles south from Burnsville, the next closest “Big City” on the edge of the Minneapolis, St. Paul Area.

I took the total number of hours from the moment I left my home to the moment I got back and divided it up by the amount I received.

Driving time (1 1/2 hours), set up & tear down (3 hours), sitting, waiting/downtime (1 1/2 hours) performance time (6 hours) and found that I received just over $110 per hour, every hour. (12 hour day)

I guess what I am trying to say is that clients WILL pay higher rates for DJ's no matter where they live, IF you provide them with a service that they feel is a good value and worth the amount you charge.

Maybe I should cut back on my preaching to others to raise their rates to a livable wage standard of life and let them continue to charge pennies on the dollar because maybe just maybe, they are not worth the higher rates.

I apologize to anyone who I might have pushed to be better and to make a living who in the past got offended by my words of praise and suggestions to charge what they are worth.

I now realize, they were charging EXACTLY what they are worth. MY BAD!

Jeff Richards

http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz

The views expressed here are those of only Jeff Richards, and do not reflect the views or opinions of any Chapter or Executive Board Member of MAPDJ or that of the Management of The Disc Jockey News.

Posted by Jeff Richards at 02:16 PM | Permalink