Best Buy is getting into the DJ Industry (Updated 6/2/08)
I opened my Best Buy Sunday add to see that they have a half page dedicated to their entering the DJ industry.
The title of the half page add is:
"Cue, Mix and Scratch your Music. Our staff of Professional Musicians will help you unleash your inner DJ."
Then they have for sale in this add:
Yamaha Stedepas 300 Portable PA System, 8 Channel powered mixer and cables. $549.99
Shure SM58 Vocal Microphones. $99.99
Sennheiser HD280 Pro Closed-back Headphones. $99.99
Numark Battle Pak DJ System. $399.99
This is Best Buys attempt to get a portion of the market away from the Guitar Center who also caters to DJs.
Two of the Best Buy stores in the cities area now have a complete section of Musical Instruments and DJ equipment available.
It seems to me that Best Buy is just trying hard to get into a field that they don't know enough about. Very few DJs these days are still using "turntables" and have moved into compact discs, MP3 players or a computer system to handle their musical needs.
My question to Best Buy would be: What do "Professional Musicians" know about being a Disc Jockey?...and how can they help anyone "Unleash your inner DJ" ?
This equipment is fine for a high school kid wanting to have a little fun in their basement but not the best in quality for those who want to do this as a profession.
Unfortunately I can see some young people getting this equipment and without any training, experience or talents/skills they will then post on places like Craigslist that they are “Professional” Disc Jockeys and offer Wedding Receptions for a few hundred dollars.
Jeff Richards: Party Time Productions
http://www.PartyTimeProductions.biz
So here's an update on the battle between Best Buy and the Guitar Center.
Guitar Center is now running commercials appealing to musicians stating that "Musical Instruments" is what they do and have been for since opening their doors so many years ago.
You can't buy a fax machine, or dish washer at Guitar centers, just Musical Instruments from actual trained musicians.
If you hear the commercial it is a well made, a well defining commercial for Guitar Center trying to educate a Musician "Wanna be" not to fall for their "Big Name - Low Price" ads when Guitar Center can meet and beat any of Best Buys prices and give you the service that you really need.
I'm not a musician but it makes perfect sense to me. If I want a phone I go to Best Buy but if I want a Guitar or other band equipment the place to go would be The Guitar Center.