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Managing your Mobile Disc Jockey, (MDJ) calendar is paramount to success. Without proper management your company will suffer economic loss.

Most Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) ventures fail for simply lack of planning.

There is the saying: Failing to plan is planning to fail!

4. Poor Calendar Management and Date Speculation

We can attribute a calendar on the wall to Ancient Egyptians. Ancient Egyptians were profound thinkers. Around 4000 B.C. they added 5 days to the end of the then current 12 month - 30 day per month, 360 day calendar for a total 365 days. The only mistake they made was allowing the 1/4 day to accrue for 4 - 365 year cycles placing summer in winter. It wasn’t until 1752 that the current Gregorian calendar came into use by the American colonies.

There are many components to operating a Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) business. Eventually it all comes down to your calendar. Dates on a Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) calendar are inventory just like products on a shelf. When a date becomes booked a metaphorical SOLD sign is placed on that date. While it is possible to book multiple events (time allowing) on any given date. The same DJ and system cannot be in 2 places at once. That physical limitation is the at the basis of value.

Ascertaining or anticipating when your peak season and dates will fall is paramount to success. The dates where you are in your highest demand are the dates that your Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) services is most valuable. Commanding any given fee comes down to the intestinal fortitude of you. Do you have what it takes to create a value and then hold out for your asking price?

Mobile Disc Jockeys (MDJ) will use every excuse in the book to justify why they cut and run on price at the last minute. The economic pressure to command a premium rate is power. Lack of business knowledge, production costs and sales ability are key to commanding the situation. Don't worry about the one that got away! That just means that there is one less dance that your competitor can handle on that date. Use this to your advantage and as a war of attrition. The more low paying events that you can make a competitor take on... increases their overall costs and exposure to liabilities. The busier you are, the more things that can go wrong. It's a simple law of averages. The more events that you take on brings you closer to the one that will go south. Increase your capacity exponentially, increase your risk exponentially.

In the mid to late 80s, many bridal planners would need to move their wedding dates due to availability of services. Today, increased competition creates a buyers market. Careful date speculation is needed to garner the financial successes of yesterday.

With regards to multi-op companies: This has created a desire for many Mobile Disc Jockeys (MDJ) to exceed staffing capabilities. The Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) industry is risky enough. Taking on superfluous bookings beyond staffing capabilities is hedging a bad bet in the long run. This breeds contempt between companies, lowers the perceived street value of Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) services and fosters an environment to "steal" away talent. Eventually, someone ends up paying for the lack of business maturity with regards to value.

Suggestions:

1.) Keep multiple calendars. I personally use five.
a: One wall calendar.
b: One calendar style wall graph.
c: One computer printout listing dates (paper backup).
d: One physical copy of contracts sorted by dates with pre-printed date labels.
e. One calendar denoting staff availability and vacation requests.

2.) Routinely reconcile your calendar(s). Any anomalies should be addressed immediately. Make sure that all dates, bookings and availabilities, are clearly noted. If one calendar does not match, FIND OUT WHY!

3.) Schedule time off for yourself! If you receive a call when you plan on taking a weekend off, the date becomes more valuable. You can then make a choice as to whether or not you're willing to perform on your day off.

While there may be underlying truths to the saying: Make hay when the sun shines.
There is also the saying: The family that plays together, stays together.

The Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) industry is hostile to relationships. Social lives and family lives are sacrificed in many cases for a competitively lower dollar amount.

Handling your calendar in a mature and business-like manner can be a profound way to excel in the Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) industry.

Posted by Dude Walker at 10:56 AM | Permalink

"DJ 101" - "MDJ 101" Get your checkbook out. How much will it cost to start a Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) business? Ideally your initial investment to open a Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) company could be around $75,000. Most Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) ventures fail for simply lack of planning.

There is the saying: Failing to plan is planning to fail!

3. Insufficient Startup Capital. This is possibly the single most damaging catalyst to the Mobile Disc Jockey (MD) industry. Entering a Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) business with little to no startup capital. In many cases people are in an unstable work situation. Little to no savings and nothing to fall back on. In many cases the Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) venture is an attempt to fill in the deficit(s) of other employment. The temptation to purchase starter gear and low cost promotional materials is born out of necessity due to being under funded. This is also the point where most contempt is fostered. An under funded Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) is proud of their system, even though it may lack professional and commercial appeal. I've seen Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) systems literally duct taped together. Think about the image being displayed. How can you justify your value if your tools do not present a professional or commercial image.

Example: For several years I chose to build the lighting products that we used in shows. Largely due to economic factors. Lighting was costly to acquire and costly to maintain. I was able to build solid music libraries and sound systems at the expense of lighting because I was underfunded. Looking back, I would most definitely do things differently. It seems very superficial, however, the industry has changed. If you do not have the tools of the trade up front your credibility is suspect. Why? Too many Mobile Disc Jockeys (MDJ) selling the gear rather than their talents.

What's a good rule of thumb? That depends on your business plan. You can choose what level you want to compete on. This choice is critical. What you RUN affects where you'll have FUN. If you're happy playing VFWs and Legion Halls a basic run of the mill system will do. If you are attempting to play high dollar venues buying gear that is conducive is prudent.

While it is possible that a Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) can enter the industry for as little as $1,500 the truth of the matter is that audio, lighting, music libraries and office supplies should cost you around a minimum of $20,000 to adequately compete as a legitimate business. Transportation (Gig Rig) adds another $15,000. Proper startup promotional marketing adds another $15,000. Factor in at least one year of payroll for you or a staff and you add another $25,000.

Let's do the math:

$20,000 Gear, Music & Office
$15,000 Vehicle
$15,000 Advertising
$25,000 Payroll
-------
$75,000 Basic Mobile Disc Jockey Startup Capital

This is a first glimpse as to WHY the Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) is undervalued. The entry level philosophy to do it yourself on the cheap with little to no training. That is a huge white elephant to hide. This is why so many Mobile Disc Jockeys (MDJ) justify why they are worth less, not more.

Posted by Dude Walker at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Get mentally prepared. Most Mobile Disc Jockey (MDJ) ventures fail for simply lack of planning.

There is the saying: Failing to plan is planning to fail!

2. Failure to properly analyze your target market. The major mistake is not understanding how much potential there is in your market. I've spent considerable time researching CDC reports that collect the 4 statistics that are tied to virtually every aspect of the economy. Births, Deaths, Marriages & Divorces. These numbers provide a statistical glipse into future potential, for instance, births from 1975-1980 are directly affecting the marriage numbers today. For instance, if it is anticipated that weddings will be flat one year, capital purchases might be put on hold. If an upswing in wedding numbers is expected, perhaps a rate increase would be in order.

How can one tell? Simple math.

http://www.cdc.gov/
The most recent NSVR report Volume 54, Number 18 statistics show that the 12 month marriage ending in November 2005 was 7.2 per 1,000 in population.

www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
U.S. Population 299,205,005 as of 06:54 GMT (EST+5) Jul 13, 2006

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html
U.S. Population 298,444,215 July 2006 est.

Let's round the US Population to 299,000,000 for ease of calculation.

There are 299,000 groups of 1,000 people in the US as if July 13, 2006

The most current 12 month average wedding rate is 7.2 per thousand.

299,000 x 7.2 = 2,152,800 estimated wedding potential.

Sounds like alot of weddings! However, competition takes it's toll.

Posted by Dude Walker at 03:02 AM | Permalink