It's Great to hear from you!
Many of the Disc Jockey News readers have been calling to ask me questions about their business and to thank me for sharing all the information in my monthly articles.
I just want to thank all of you who over the last few years have taken time out from your busy schedules to give me a call to chat about your business and have me try to answer your questions.
It is a real honor to have DJs from all across America call me and let me know how much the Disc Jockey News and my Starting from Scratch articles have helped you with your business.
Over the last few months I have received many more calls then I normally do. Most of the calls have a few common threads that I would like to address here.
1) Rates: How can I charge more then what I am presently charging?
2) The slowing economy and the huge lack in bookings for the year. What can I do?
3) Should I and how do I leave the Multi-Op DJ service I’m presently work for and start my own service?
1) To answer question one is a long and complicated process. I would suggest starting out with what you are comfortable with and build from there. If your clients are very happy with your work and they consistently give you a tip, then raise your rates to include what your average tip is. If your average tip is $100 then raise your rates by $100.
Your clients are already telling you that they believe you are worth that much, why should you not charge that much? If you continue to receive tips then again raise your rates to include your average tip rate.
When the tips stop coming, then you must improve upon your service, talents and skills until you again start getting a consistent tip from your clients. Continue this process until you reach a plateau. At some point you may reach a point that the economy and/or clientele will say that is the best you can do but you will never know that point unless you try.
2) The economy is slowing down; people are tightening their budgets and are looking for the lowest priced DJ they can find. With the increasing numbers of DJs available for events and the decreasing numbers of events available for those DJs the only way to combat this situation is to rise above the competition and be a better entertainer. There is nothing any of us can do about the economy, but we all can do something about our quality and service to clients. It will get even more difficult in the next few years to convince potential clients that you are worth more then the average “Button Pusher” but that’s all that you really can do. There will always be those untrained, unknowledgeable and unprofessional DJs out there who are willing to work for pennies and sometimes for profit loss.
3) Leaving an established DJ service to go off on your own is a very difficult decision and there are so many factors to consider before taking that step. Before you do make sure that you’re not only a “Great Entertainer” but also a “Great Business Person”.
It won’t matter how good of a DJ you are if you do not have the skills necessary to operate a profitable business. Learn everything you can about the operations of a DJ business from your present employer, read any and all books you can about running a business and speak to other full time DJs who are qualified to give you the help you are searching for.
I hope this will help those who have called or those of you who are thinking and asking yourself the same questions.
Please continue to phone me with your questions or concerns. I enjoy speaking with DJs from all across America. I learn something new from every DJ I speak with.
Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions