Disc Jockey News

The holidays are upon us and the New Year is just around the corner. Have you made any plans on how your business will be successful in 2008?

Now is the time to visualize and then put into action plans for your future. If you had a good 2007 do you want to do even better next year?

If you had a fair to poor 2007 what can you do to ensure successful 2008?

Here is a list of items that you should look at to see where you may need to improve upon to help you continue and prosper.

Marketing: I spoke at the Northern DJ conference about the importance of your image and how the images in your brochures, business cards and web site will determine everything from who your clients are to how much you can charge for rates.

A simple change to the pictures, text and over all feel of your marketing materials can lead to a major change in your bottom line.

Skills & Talents: When was the last time you took a class or some DJ training to help improve your skills & talents? Have you tried going to a convention, taking an improv class, taking a seminar offered by DJ industry leaders or joining a speaking group like toastmasters?

Networking: Joining a networking group like a Chamber of Commerce, can help get your name out to potential clients. Joining a DJ Association can really help you learn and grow your business. If you presently belong to a DJ Association, make a pledge to yourself to attend every meeting possible. Some people like networking groups like B.N.I. Do something to help spread the information of your business.

Rates: Every year the cost of living goes up anywhere from 1 to 3 percent. With the last year of volatile gas prices, have you taken into account your costs of living and the increase you will need to maintain and even prosper?

They are talking the highest home heating rates ever for this winter, they are talking highest gasoline prices ever and because of things like this the price of everything you buy, rent or own (home) will continue to rise.

If you continue to charge the next year (2008) same rate as you did this year (2007) you will slowly be eating away at all of your profit you may have earned. There are DJs still charging the same price as they did in 2006. The price of gas in 2006 was more then a dollar a gallon less then it is right now (2007) what kind of difference will it be in 2008?

I know of one national company that is still charging the same price as they did almost ten years ago. They are working on the Quantity over Quality theory of business but because of this they can’t afford to pay their employees even an “average” salary so they don’t stay long with the company.

They can’t afford to purchase new, updated equipment and are using broken down, less then quality pieces to perform. They can’t afford to advertise as they once did due to the breakup of the phone company and now the numerous numbers of phone books, phone page web sites and the internet.

Every year you must look back at what you are doing, find what has worked and what hasn’t and then plan a new way to reach out and find the clients you need to be successful.

“People fail to plan, but they never plan to fail”

Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions

http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz

Posted by Jeff Richards at 12:28 PM | Permalink

I was watching one of those wedding shows when the host/planner wanted to drop the DJ because he charged too much (in his opinion) and use the money on decorations!

I won’t name the show, but it was one of those wedding planning shows where the host/planner helps couples on a limited budget, plan and put together their wedding for them.

On this show the twist was that the groom and two friends were planning the whole thing without any help or any knowledge of what was to happen by the Bride.

The other item was that the Bride & Groom only had $10,000 in the budget and the show won’t let them spend a dime more.

Of course the first thing they selected was the location. They spent one third of the budget on the location alone. That doesn’t include anything else, no food, nothing, just the location.

Then they selected the Brides dress and the costumes (A Renaissance Theme) The Brides dress ate up a huge portion of the budget followed by the costumes for the bridal party.

The third thing they picked was……THE FLOWERS!
This host thinks that flowers were the next most important item to the wedding planning! The groom didn't want to spend much if anything on flowers but the host/planner insisted on it. He then kept pushing to spend more on flowers. "You can't have a wedding without flowers"

Next on the list was the food. They went with a “Fast Food” style restaurant to serve the food because the budget was low.

Unannounced to the host/planner, the Groom & friends bought BOOZE and a DJ.

This really angered the host/planner because of the little amount that was in the budget they spent on a DJ and they didn’t have any decorations yet.

He asked the groom how much for the DJ? The groom said it was a friend of his who normally would charge $1500 but was going to do it for only $700. (Helping them stay in budget)

That’s more then half off the normal price but the host wasn’t happy at all. This ate up the budget and left nothing for decorations, and according to him, “You can’t have a wedding without decorations”

He wanted to get rid of the DJ completely and spend the remaining budget ($700+) on decorations. The best man told him that the DJ is supplying the ceremony music, the dance music and also microphones for the event & toasts.

The host/planner was really angry and didn’t care. He refused to allow them to go even a penny over the budget so something would have to be cut for decorations and the only thing they could cut at this point was the DJ. (He must not have had a signed agreement)

The two friends then said that they would pay for the DJ as a “Gift” to the couple. He agreed to allow this as long as the money saved would be used on the decorations.

He then spent the $700 and more on the decorations. For some reason it was alright with the host/planner if they went a little over budget on the decorations but not on a DJ.

I was so angry I wanted to throw something at the TV!

The Groom and the friends knew the importance of entertainment at the wedding but the host/planner just wanted the wedding to look pretty for TV. A pretty wedding would look good on TV and help make him look good, where the entertainment can't be used because of the music copy writes and wouldn't do anything to help this host/planner image and possibly get more work.

They only showed about five seconds of the reception where the DJ was introducing the group. The TV show didn’t use the Audio, just the video as the host talked over the intros.

I really couldn’t believe this guy and that the TV show would promote dumping a DJ for balloons and crape paper!

Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions

http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz

Posted by Jeff Richards at 06:56 PM | Permalink

Are you and your vehicles ready for the winter months?

November is here and the cold weather has begun to blow. Here in Minnesota it can be 70 degrees on day and Snow the next so you always have to have your vehicles ready for the weather.

The last thing that you want is to be late, or miss an event because of car problems.

He is some common sense items to have done to your business vehicles to keep them running through out the winter months.

1) Oil Change
2) Transmission Fluids changed.
3) Tires rotated and inflated to proper settings.
4) Battery checked and replaced if necessary or over five years old.
5) All headlights and signal lights checked and replaced if necessary.
6) Windshield washer fluid filled with the “Winter” fluid.
9) Lock deicer ready.
10) Have a can of the windshield spray on deicer ready.
11) A pale with sand and/or cat litter to get tire traction when needed.
12) Brakes checked and repaired if needed.
12) Have axel and tires greased on trailers. Old grease has a tendency to get dirty/rusty and cause wheels not to turn properly and possibly completely stop.
13) Antifreeze changed every year.
14) Heating element check and repaired if needed.
15) Have a snow shovel in vehicle in case of emergency.
16) Always keep your gas tank as full as possible; you don’t want to get stuck in a ditch and run out of gas waiting for help to arrive.

Other items you should have in the vehicle in case of emergency.

1) Extra blankets to keep warm.
2) Those foot & hand warmer packages that will help keep you warm.
3) Extra set of gloves.
4) Winter Hat.
5) Flashlight & spare batteries.
6) A large bucket with a top that can hold the following items.

A) Canned food that has a pull off top and can be eaten without cooking.
B) Candles, lighters & matches and a small can to place lit candles into for safety.
C) Bottled water.
D) Snacks, Candy, Granola bars.
E) Plastic spoons, forks, knives to eat the food.
F) Glow sticks.
G) First Aid kit.
H) Note Pad and pencils. (Pens may freeze in cold)

On a typical winter day I will add on an extra fifteen to thirty minutes to my drive time to ensure proper arrival time. The worse the weather the more drive time I will add on. It is much better to arrive one hour early than ten minutes late.

Be prepared to shovel the walk to load your equipment in and out. It is also good to keep the sidewalks clear of snow and ice for the guests arriving so that no one gets hurt before the party even begins. A fall of an elderly family member can really hurt the mood and make your job even tougher to handle.

Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions

http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz

Posted by Jeff Richards at 10:52 PM | Permalink