Random thoughts on marketing with partners. Don't forget if you partner with someone they are interested in selling THEIR product or service. Their interest in your company is probably zero. So while partnering with folks is an additional way to market your company, it is by no means the best way to market your company and should not be the only way you market your company. You have to meet the clients to have the best shot at contracting a gig.
Over the years I have tried a number of things to get my name out there. I can tell you this, it does take time. I created a website, www.nonstopsounds.com, a good site if I do say so myself, but without the traffic your business will not take off. So what other ways can you get traffic to your website?
Wedding shows. This is a place where you can hand out information, brochures, that entice a prospective bride and groom to your site. Sure you talk for a bit, but get them a nice brochure, have them take a look at your site and you are bound to increase your business.
Partnerships. This works best when another vendor, in the wedding biz with better marketability than you currently have, will recommend you as a DJ in return you can either pay them a monthly fee, or refer them if you are contacted first. Any way you can think of that is beneficial to both companies.
Brochures. You can pass these out to the various reception halls to put on display. I have not run into a reception hall that isn't happy to just display for you at no cost.
These are just a few ways to market your new company. We will cover each more in depth in our next posts.
It has been a long time since I have put anything on here. With many other things going on daily I have been slackin on my pimpin. We'll get back to it shortly. I've got some good stuff, some re-thought stuff, some old stuff. We'll get to it all. Hang on for the ride.
Why do I need a contract? If I say I will DJ a gig I will DJ a gig. Well that's great and I hope that is true. But for the peace of mind for your customer, creating a contract is the best way to go. A contract will not only protect the customer, but it can also protect you as a DJ. For example, you are DJing a wedding reception and certain members of the crowd get a little too crazy and are threatening you or your equipment. Withing the contract there can be language that will allow you at your discretion to pack up your equipment and leave the gig. While this is an extreme example, I'm sure it does happen. It is better that you are protected than to have your equipment damaged.
So where do I get a contract. I'm sure you can go online and search for a contract, but this is far too important to leave to some random person. Search for a lawyer, discuss your needs for a contract and have it done professionally. Just like someone in need of a DJ, there is a person that can write a contract. Are you going to trust your neighbor to write it for you. Well, only if that person is a lawyer.
So, protect your customers. Give them confidence that you are a serious DJ and will act professionally. But not only that, protect yourself. You will be happy you did.
You've got the gig and wonder now, "Do I need to start to learn how to beat mix music?". The answer to that is no. There is a huge difference between DJing a club and DJing a wedding. When you are in a club it is obvious that knowing how to beat mix will make or break you as a DJ. It is key that there is not a lull in the music or the dance floor will clear. You may even get some folks in the crowd throwing some jeers your way.
But have no fear. You are not DJing a club. You are DJing a reception. And while you may beat mix a few songs here and there, for the most part you will be playing some songs, making some announcements, doing some ceremonial functions.
So what kind of mixing are you going to do. Well it is more important to play a wide variety of music. Remember you are most likely crossing generations while DJing a wedding reception. The entire guest list isn't going to like dance music. You must be prepared to play songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90, 00s, country, Top 40, Rap, dance, pretty much anything and everything.
So are you going to play songs from all of these decades, well no. You have to pay attention to the crowd. Get a feel for the people from the party and the energy of the room. But don't freak out it isn't hard. People are there to have a good time.
Finally, don't forget to ask the bride and groom what kind of music they want to hear and some music they don't want to hear. However, if they say they don't want the chicken dance or the YMCA, remind them that these are very popular and fun songs. While they may think they are totally cheesy, and they are, if a guest requests it, it is likely that there is a good number of people that are waiting to hear it. But in the end it is the bride and grooms call. They are two most important people at this party and they are the ones that will or won't be recommending you to their friends.
Yes, this is an old classic saying. But it couldn't be more true. If you are DJing a club, do you go in wearing a tuxedo,? No. So, if you are DJing a wedding reception you can't wear your favorite polo and call it a day.
A wedding is a formal occassion and hopefully our young couple will only have one of these occassions. So things you need to do to prepare:
That's it. Have respect for the people you are working for. Do the right thing. If you do, you will be noticed and recommended.
Company events are a good source of income. There are huge differences between these events and a wedding reception. First of all, the pressure is nonexistent compared to DJing/emceeing a wedding reception. There are no events that are once in a life time.
So what do you do for these company events? Tasks are pretty much the same, playing music and announcing events. You say well duh. The difference is at a company event things are on the fly much more than the structure of a wedding reception. Not to say that some company events are not coordinated down to the minute, but if the event is a summer company picnic, they probably have an idea of what they would like to do at the event, but not necessarily when they would like to do each event. So the key to a company event is being flexible.
I have done this summer event for this company the last two years. The gig was the same both times. Play music that a wide variety of people would like, announce events, and stay flexible. The one thing that you must remember is you are the employee at this event. Don't try to run the show and do things the way you want. Listen to your customer. If you do, you can never lose.
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