In Search of Spinning Platters by Jay Maxwell

Web search and purchase options have given DJs a deeper musical reachIt’s rare these days to find someone without a phone either attached to his belt or handily tucked away inside her purse. My wife will sometimes phone me even when we are in the same store to see if I am still in the music section or if I have finished my portion of the shopping list. Why they can’t put the dairy section closer to the entertainment department is a universal question that has never been clearly answered for me. If ever there is a store that has milk just one aisle from music, I’ll be a fan of that store forever.
Growing up on a farm in rural Southwest Georgia (where milk was just on the other side of the fence), I recall being taught how to use the telephone. First, we were on a “party line,” which meant that ten other homes were on the same line that we were on. In order to use the phone, you first had to pick up the phone to make sure that no one else was on the line. If someone was already talking you had to wait to use the phone. Of course you could also either listen to their conversation (the original electronic grapevine) or join in if you wanted. There was many a time I recall hearing my mother tell someone to “put the phone down,” or “we’ll be through in just a few minutes and then you can use the phone.” When a family finally was able to afford a private line, you could consider yourself part of the snooty crowd. The same year that we put a man on the moon, my family finally upgraded to a private line. We still talked to the same people, but waiting to use the phone had become a thing of the past. To call Johnny or Steve, I no longer had to listen first to see who else might be on the line, now I could just instantly let my fingers spin through the rotary dial. I realized then that more progress meant less waiting.

Musical Treasure Hunting
During my career as a mobile DJ, one of the rewarding accomplishments has been to find all the songs requested ahead of time by a client for her event. Typically we already had the vast majority of songs, but often there were a few that we had to track down. From an early age, I’ve enjoyed the thrill of hunting for a rare item. The farm that my family owned was also a site with a plethora of American Indian artifacts including arrowheads. It was a lifelong pastime of my father to search for these treasures of the past, and a favorite memory of mine was when he would let me help him search the freshly plowed fields for these treasures from the past. As a DJ, the treasure became finding the musical gem requested by a client. Often the client would state that for several years he had been trying unsuccessfully to find the song, yet was expecting me (the DJ/music expert) to miraculously be able to locate the tune. For me it was often as time consuming as trying to find an ancient relic in the sand, but when the wait was rewarded with the requested song, there was an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

Gathering Treasure with the ‘Net
Just a few years ago, the search for specific music was made much easier and quicker with the internet. When the opportunity was first offered through the Web to download music, I didn’t jump on board. The reason for my hesitancy was my doubts about the legality and ethicality of getting music for free. My personal conviction was that not rewarding those in the entertainment industry for their artistry was illegal and this was eventually verified by the courts. Shortly thereafter, the virtual stores began charging for their music making the online sale of music legal. This is when I began to get excited, because I realized that this made the music store-thus the selection of music-vastly larger than the traditional brick and mortar location. Once again, technological progress meant less waiting to find the desired gems.
There have been numerous times when internet music stores helped save the day for me. I like to call these stores my “online party line.” In honor of this fact, this issue’s music list has a sampling of some of the songs that we’ve purchased online-for a party.
At a recent youth event I was helping one of my DJs set up, and before I left we had a dozen requests for one song that we didn’t have in the library, which had just begun receiving airplay on the radio. By the time I got home, the DJ had phoned me to say he had received another two pages of requests for this same song-”Crank That” by Soulja Boy, a song that was to become one of the top sellers of 2007. After immediately downloading the song via the internet, I returned to the event to satisfy 300 screaming adolescent dancers.
Another example of the Web making the impossible a reality happened for a wedding reception. We were helping a couple in planning the music for their wedding reception, and the bride’s mother wanted to hear a song called “The Voyage” for their anniversary song. She had heard the song only once, and that was when they were in Ireland at a pub. After telling her that it shouldn’t be any problem, it turned out to be a major challenge to discover. We finally located it using the Web, but several searches were needed before we finally located it.

What’s the Good Word?
One of the past joys of collecting music was pulling out the album from its jacket and reading the lyrics on the inside cover as the record was spinning on the platter. Now that we are often getting our music instantly from the internet, the question of knowing whether or not the lyrics are appropriate must still be answered, but requires a little bit more effort. Even if the music is bought from a traditional store or is supplied through a service, it rarely comes with the lyrics to the songs. Once again the internet has become a valuable tool, a quick search usually supplying us with the lyrical content. If it is too objectionable for our audience we will know ahead of time not to play the song.

Digging the Deep Cuts
From the DJ’s perspective the Web has made the finding of the necessary music much easier. Rather than having to walk the fields of the city to find an artifact, we now type in the song we want and instantly have the matter in hand. However, the Web has given everyone the accessibility to this immense array of music. Clients are now asking for music not played on traditional radio stations, but heard through the computer or satellite radio. The challenge to keep up with client’s requests is what keeps this job interesting and exciting. Finding all the client’s requests is like searching for arrowheads. Looking for requests locally in a store is like looking on the surface of the earth-you’re bound to find some. Or you can instantly dig several feet into the ground-by searching the internet stores-and find most everything you need. As much as I enjoyed finding most client requests before the party by using the older method, it is much more satisfying to know that through the internet we are able to find ALL the songs a client wants, in less time, so we’ll be ready when they shout, “Play Something We Can Dance To!”

Mobile Beat’s resident musicologist since 1992 (issue #11 and every one since), Jay Maxell runs the multi-unit, multi-talent entertainment company, Jay Maxwell’s Music by Request, LLC, in Charleston, South Carolina. He is also a professor of Mathematics and Business at Charleston Southern University. His passion for detail and continuous research of clients’ requests can be found not only in this column, but also in his annually updated music guide, Play Something We Can Dance To.
For an extended version of this article, including Jay’s song lists, get MOBILE BEAT #112, JANUARY 2008.

Getting On The Web

A quick scroll through the options for building and maintaining your web presenceJust as DJs recommend that brides hire a DJ versus using an iPod for their wedding, it’s in your best interest to hire a website designer to create a website for your business. However, there is now a wide variety of options you can use, either to launch your first website or improve on your current website quickly and easily, even if you don’t know HTML or website design.

Getting Started
Unless you’re a graphic designer, the first step will be determining where the design for your website will come from. You can hire a designer to create the design; use a template from within your website building software; or buy a template from somewhere online. Finally, you need to decide if you want to utilize a web-based editing tool or traditional website building and editing software.
If you decide to use traditional website editing software you’ll need to either find a designer or choose to go with a template. If you’re not familiar with website templates, they’re simply the basic design or shell of the site. If you buy a template you can do all the editing yourself to customize it for your needs. Templates are good for advanced users who don’t mind the possibility of another website having the same basic design as their website. If you’re looking for DJ-specific website templates check out Disc Jockey Templates (www.discjockeytemplates.com). There are also probably thousands of other websites that sell templates. You can do a search on your preferred search engine for either “website templates” or something more specific like “wedding vendor website templates” to find something that suits your taste.

Traditional Website-Building/Editing Software
If you’ve chosen this route, you’re either buying a template you’ll be editing or you have a designer creating a site that you’ll be maintaining. Your goal is to find software that’s easy for you to use, so maintaining your website isn’t a challenge. The following are some of the more popular choices:

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 ($389)
One of the most popular WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors. I think there’s a bit of a learning curve to Dreamweaver but most people who use it swear by it. If this is your first venture into working with websites, I would not recommend starting with Dreamweaver.

Adobe GoLive
While still available for purchase, Adobe isn’t promoting this software as much as they promote Dreamweaver (they inherited Dreamweaver when they bought Macromedia a few years ago). The GoLive page on the Adobe site does offer an electronic download of the software but also recommends checking out Dreamweaver before buying GoLive. It is believed that there are no plans to release a new version of GoLive.

Microsoft FrontPage 2003
Despite FrontPage being discontinued I still mention it because it is a very easy to use WYSIWYG editor. I learned how to edit websites using FrontPage and it was easier to use other website software after knowing FrontPage first. This last version of FrontPage was by far the best version of the software. I checked the websites of several big-box stores to buy FrontPage but came up empty. I did find some smaller, lesser known software websites still selling it but be sure to exercise caution when buying from a site you’ve never heard of before. I personally still use FrontPage and know many other people who maintain their sites with this software.

Microsoft Expression Web Designer ($229)
This is Microsoft’s replacement for FrontPage. I personally haven’t used it but I’ve read that it is pretty similar to FrontPage. If that’s the case it’s probably worth checking out. There is a demo version of it on the Microsoft website.

Notepad (free)
Most people reading this probably won’t be able to build or maintain their site with Notepad (I know I can’t!) but I wanted to mention it because it’s the simplest form of creating and editing websites. Believe it or not, even with all the website building software out there, some people still prefer using a basic text editor like Notepad to edit their website. I wouldn’t recommend this option unless you’re an expert with HTML.

Yahoo! Sitebuilder (free, plus paid hosting)
This is somewhat of a hybrid between traditional and web-based. Sitebuilder is downloadable software that you run on your computer but it includes a lot of features similar to the web-based solutions (more on that below). The software includes 380+ templates to help you create your website. It features easy to use drag and drop capabilities, making it like the web-based tools. The Sitebuilder software is free but it is $11.95 per month to have your website hosted with Yahoo, which is the only place you can have your website hosted if it’s made with Sitebuilder.

Other options
There are probably hundreds of website/HTML editors available for purchase and even some available for free. (A great source for completely free software is http://sourceforge.net-a quick search for “WYSIWYG HTML editor” came up with over 6,000 results, with at least a percentage of those being programs that would be useful to non-computer geeks.) Your best bet is always to download a demo before making a purchase.

Web-Based Solutions
Web-based options are probably the easiest to use and usually include free use of templates/designs, so you don’t need a designer. You can also save some upfront costs by eliminating the need to buy software if you choose a web-based solution.
While web-based solutions are appealing they do have some negatives. Usually you can’t move your web-based design from one host to another, so if you’re unhappy with the host/company you’re stuck unless you want to build a new website from scratch. Also, web-based solutions work in such a way that sometimes doesn’t give you as much flexibility with the design and layout of your website as traditional software does. Finally, web-based solutions are completely stored on the website hosts servers. Since you always want to have a back-up of your website, find out if there’s a way to back-up a copy on your computer in case there’s ever a problem on their end.
The following are a few of the more popular web-based solutions:

EZDJWebsites (www.ezdjwebsites.com)
Ranges in cost from $99-$199 a year, depending on how many pages you’d like for your website. The Bronze ($99 a year for 5 pages) or the Gold ($119 a year for 12 pages) would probably be sufficient for most DJ companies. You can choose from 12 different templates as well as a variety of pictures to use on your site.
A nice feature of EZDJWebsites is the ability to easily integrate DJ Intelligence tools. (DJ Intelligence, at www.djintelligence.com, provides modules you can seamlessly plug in, to add booking, scheduling, event planning and many more interactive features to your website.)
Sample site made with EZDJ Websites: www.jbsentertainment.com

Website Tonight (www.godaddy.com)
Features over 800 templates and 8000 pictures you can use to build your website. Prices range from $4.99-$12.99 a month (they do also offer discounted rates when paying yearly). Includes the ability to add a Flash (animated) intro, forums, RSS news feeds and more.
Sample site made with Website Tonight: www.hailmarysonline.com

Homestead (www.homestead.com)
Offers a free 30-day trial that includes website hosting, 5 web pages, site stats and more. Choose from over 2000 templates to help you create your site. They have 3 different packages from $4.99 to $49.99 a month. The $4.99 option would work for some DJ companies who want a very simple web presence. The $19.99 is probably what most DJ companies would want. They also have an option where you can have a website designed for you and then you can maintain it with their online tools; this way you’re not just using a template.
Sample site made with Homestead: www.nzadventureco.com

As you can see, you can make a very nice looking website with web-based tools but while they are easier to use than traditional software (in most cases), still takes a fair amount of work on your end to make the site look clean and professional.

Let’s Build a Site!
If you don’t have a website yet (living in the Stone Age, eh?) now you have no excuse to not have a website. The best advice I can give is don’t make your sole decision on which route to go with your website just based on cost. If you know nothing about websites and don’t plan to learn, hire a professional to design and maintain yours, or check out one of the web-based solutions.
I designed my first website and now look back and laugh at it. (If you want a good laugh too go to www.archive.org and type in www.discoverydjs.com to check out my site from back in 2000). Despite having website design and maintenance experience for 7+ years, I hired a designer to design my current website and I do all the maintenance. I also recently launched a new website using Website Tonight. Within a matter of hours I had a very nice looking website just for weddings.
When a potential client visits your website for the first time, it is a lot like meeting you for the first time; it becomes their first impression of your company. Would you show up to a consultation looking like you haven’t bathed in a week? Probably not. So why would you let your website look like a mess? Take the same pride in your website as you do your appearance and performance and you’ll be on your way to having a successful presence on the Internet

*All prices taken from NewEgg.com and are for Windows versions. Check with your preferred software retailer for their prices.

Jim Weisz has been a DJ since 1999, working on-air and as sole performer for his company, Discovery DJs. A regular MB contributor, Jim has also spoken about websites at Mobile Beat and other national DJ conferences. He is a moderator at the ProDJ.com forums, and provides a regular online column on websites, “Weisz on the Web,” at www.mobilebeat.com. Jim can be reached at jim@discoverydjs.com.

Destination: Entertainment by Mike Ryan

Working with DMCs; are you ready for the cream of the corporate gig crop?When corporate groups, especially the larger ones, bring hundreds and even thousands of their employees to a city for a convention, they often need “local help” with transportation and coordination of a variety of special events. This service is often provided by a Destination Management Company or DMC for short. Conventioneers also like to party and DMCs have entertainment connections too. That’s where DJs comes in. During the holiday season, when DJs are busy, DMCs are dormant. However, when the holiday season drops off, the DMCs are busy again with conventions, and that translates into more parties and potential business for DJs who are connected with this kind of organization!

The Big Leagues: Making the Team
Imagine you’re a meeting planner and you are responsible for organizing your company’s upcoming convention. You’ve got plenty to do and the last things you want to worry about are the ins and outs of an unfamiliar city that you’re only going to be in for a short while. If you’re a seasoned planner, you’ve already hooked up with a local DMC who has all of the contacts you need-including entertainment!
There are challenges for DJs who find themselves working for a DMC, however. The biggest one is just getting a DMC to hire you in the first place. This is truly the big leagues for DJs; the whole attitude changes at this level. PRA Inc., with 19 franchised offices across the America, is one of the biggest DMCs in the country. Dante Mancinelli of PRA’s home office in San Diego says there’s a big difference between regular parties and DJing for a DMC: “Weddings and birthdays tend to be more formula driven. A corporate DJ needs to know what the team is trying to accomplish. The DJ must understand the importance of the partnership we are trying to build. DJs also need to be familiar with the different players that might be on site: Incentive Houses, Production Companies, Entertainment agencies, Travel staff, the end client and the venue contacts.” And, in this setting, he stresses, “Under no circumstances should a DJ ever hand out business cards.”
Where do DJs fit into the entertainment needs at the corporate level? Mancinelli says, “Depending on the program and budget, there are times where a DJ is used as part of a larger party or in between big acts. The DJ can also be the main entertainment! Ideally, the DJ should be able to adjust as needed. Play lists are always helpful, and if a song is ever requested ahead of time, make sure you have it!”
DMCs can afford high quality DJs. So says Roger Devenyns, a sales manager with Star Destination at Starwood properties (Sheraton, “W”): “A DMC brings a higher end client to the table. In general, because DMCs cost money to use, their clients are prepared to spend more money.”
“But with more money comes more expectations,” he adds. “DMCs look for DJs who are professional at all times. Some DMC programs may involve awards or ceremonies requiring the use of the DJ sound system or require the DJ to act as the MC.” Devenyns continues with some important recommendations: “When in doubt, overdress and be overly nice. A DMC’s biggest concern when hiring a DJ is uncertainty. Does the DJ understand the market? DJs need to remember that the event is not a networking opportunity, they (DJs) are there as agents of the DMC and everything they do is a reflection upon the DMC. They cannot drink alcohol, eat the client’s food, give out phone numbers or hand out cards (are you seeing the trend here?).”

Get with the Program; Roll with the Punches
A typical chain of command for an incoming corporate group starts with the corporate meeting planner who contacts the DMC. The DMC then contacts a Talent Agency, which then contacts the entertainment, for example, a DJ. Devenyns says by the time the talent (DJ) gets the contract it becomes a matter of expediency: “Having a discussion about (any) decisions on the day of the event, or on-site, is the VERY LAST thing a Sales/Ops Manager wants to deal with on site. If the DJ is booked through an agency, any and all instructions should have already taken place. The agent should pass that information on to the DJ as thoroughly as possible. That is why the agent is being used to book talent. On-site really becomes: “just do it.”
Last minute changes do happen, however. Devenyns explains: “Sometimes the client decides they need a DJ as a last minute addition. Occasionally everything is arranged through a third party and the DMC contact is meeting the client for the first time at the event. In this case the DMC may simply be unprepared. But that is why they hired you, the DJ, to be professional and to provide good quality service in spite of having minimal information up-front. The DJ who can handle last minutes changes will be the one who get called for more business!”
As you can see, a DMC plays an important role in the convention industry, helping coordinate hospitality and entertainment for the huge conference industry. And because conventioneers like to party, DJs should be very hospitable to DMCs.

Mike Ryan started out writing for news radio, and has DJ’d on KGB and KSDS. He mobiles as Mike on the Mike, and also works part-time as a DMC tour guide. Mike is the inventor/owner of Frankenstand Powered Speaker Stands. He has been the president of the San Diego Professional Tour Guide Association, a board member of his local NACE chapter, and is a member of the San Diego Chapter of the ADJA.

For an extended version of this article get MOBILE BEAT #112, JANUARY 2008.

Remix, Part 2 (But Not The Remix)

This week, I’ll highlight more of the best of the current group of American remix labels - remixes made by DJs for DJs: a great way to perform better beat mixes, and enhance your performance!

Full Tilt

The newest of the services in this discussion, Full Tilt remix was founded by members of the original Select Mix team, including T.J. Hess, and Ben McMillan. The formula of what gets the Full Tilt remix treatment is similar to which tracks make it to Select Mix - danceable songs (at least when they’re done with it) that you might hear on the radio: be they clubby, or top 40ish, or even rock. Sometimes there is duplication in track selections among the services (and not just between Select and Full Tilt). Best bet: visit the websites of the services you’re interested in, and listen to samples before ordering. The competition between services only heats up the creative process, and results in better mixes for all of us. Some of my favorite Full Tilt remixes are Ben’s treatment of rock songs. Extending beats or breaks to hip hop songs is not as challenging as turning a staid rock song into a dance floor hit. It takes more skill to pull this off.

Ultimix (and Funkymix)

I believe Ultimix is the longest continuously-running remix services in the U.S. Ultimix was founded by remixer Brad Hinkle (who previously worked for Hot Tracks - which would have beat out Ultimix in the longevity department if it hadn’t gone dormant and been resurrected in the past few months). Ultimix distinguished itself early on with higher quality standards than their competitors. This standard of quality exists to this day, but is less noteworthy now, as the spread of quality audio technology has made the differences in attention to detail harder to discern between services. Unlike Select and Full Tilt (which primarily have the “all in one” approach), Ultimix has historically had many different offshoots (satellite services) over the years, specializing in more specific genres. Today, Jeff Richards runs Ultimix with their primary two services: the signature Ultimix service, which is primarily club/house based, often with club versions of popular hits remixed and/or restructured, and a sprinkling of radio mixshow hits, at their original tempos, and Funkymix, which is hip-hop/urban in nature, but always radio-friendly (clean edits). Their consistent quality and brand longevity add to their popularity to this day.

Xmix has been around for a long time as well, and gone through many changes, over the years. They have several regular current “product lines” as well as some that seem to appear “from time to time”. Xmix Dance focuses on dance mixes, sometimes of current hits from other genres, and sometimes of songs that are natively “house”. If you use mainstream club and/or house, the specific song selections on this series are well chosen, and the mixes are easy to program. Xmix Urban is hip-hop & r&b, all radio-friendly. Xmix Chartbusters focuses squarely on radio music that doesn’t otherwise fit neatly into the other two categories, and may have a reggaeton song remixed, right next to a pop/rock song, right next to a country song. Xmix Club Classics remixes a rotatating stable of the songs most mobile DJs might use at an event. As much as I like this last series, especially based on my mobile business, I must say that I find the results to be spotty, at best. If you take a song from 1978 (for example) and make it sound more like 2007 is that a good thing? Sometimes yes, often times no. But, it depends on your personal tastes and who your audience is. If you’re playing an overly souped-up remix (of a “classic” song) in a club it’s different than playing that same song at a 40th Birthday party. Other services in the Xmix arsenal include Dancehall Devastation (reggae and reggaeton), Short Cutz, and Essential Megamixes.

Spice up your music library with great remixes!

For more information on these services, listen to samples, and buy their services go to:

www.ultimix.com

www.fulltiltremix.com

www.xmix.comUntil next week!

Steve Sharp is a DJ in Southern California who has been spinning since 1981. In addition to running his own successful single-op business, Signature Entertainment, he also creates a weekly radio remix show for Bo’s Saturday Night Party on B95.1 FM. Steve is one of the few people who can not only play the hits, but gets involved in the story behind them and can often tell you who produced, directed and published the song and how their actions affect the music industry.

If you would like to contact Steve, he can be reached at thatdj@aol.com

The Kids Are Alright by Mike Ryan

Expert advice for making youth entertainment seem like child’s playIf you’ve seen the movie Son In Law, starring Pauly Shore, you probably remember the roly-poly, freckle-faced little brother Zack, played by Patrick Renna. I did a wedding recently where the bride’s son was a spitting image of Zack. Towards the end of the reception the Zack-a-like started watching me work. I’m a sucker for any kid who takes an interest in DJing, so I invited him to help me with some of the announcements. I was surprised to discover he was great on the mic! I took out one of my business cards and wrote on the back: “(his name) has fulfilled the requirements to become a Junior DJ. Then I signed it. Some kids might have thought that was a silly thing, but not him. His face lit up and off he went to show the card to his mother (the bride) who caught my attention and mouthed “Thank you”! The point of this story is that sometimes kids at parties can be a pain, but other times they can be a great opportunity to endear yourself to your client. Certainly that little boy will remember the time he became a “Junior DJ.” Maybe he’ll grow up to be a full-fledged DJ.

Controlled Chaos
Children present a unique element at any event in which they are involved. The following are some expert views from two DJs who specialize in children’s events: Joe Kahwaty of DJ Entertainers, Freehold, New Jersey and Eric Sands of Sundance Productions in San Diego, California, Bar and Bat Mitzvah specialists.

Kawaty says because children have short attention spans, “you must keep activities as upbeat as possible.” He agrees with the idea of letting certain kids on the mic: “…you might invite the children to be a guest DJ…the children love it, [and it] makes great photo opportunities and lasting memories for your clients, their family and friends.” Sands says, “It’s all about control. If you give kids the opportunity to create chaos, they will. However, if you keep them continuously surprised and challenged, they will respect you for it, and respond to your show…They only act crazy because they need attention. You can give them the attention that they are demanding without being negative.”

However, some DJs feel they have to be the star of the show with kids present; we’ve all seen it-they can and often do steal the limelight. Kahwaty says: “In many cases children are the life of the party but sometimes they need to be invited to participate in activities or dances. It has been my experience that If you ask them they will listen. Often the other guests will help you get the children involved.”

Tips and Tricks for Kids

KEEP ‘EM BUSY. Kahwaty says “you need to keep the activities going around all the other things happening at your parties. When you are done with activities try group dances. Some adults will actually enjoy doing the same activities provide to the children.” Sands suggests giving “kids a role, maybe make them judges for an activity.”

PROP ‘EM UP. Kahwaty uses “hula hoops, limbo stick and sometimes Buddy Walkers® for out door parties. Sands is really into props: “Yes-plenty of props. Those illuminated squeezy balls are very popular right now. Also, glow-in-the-dark items will always win their favor (no pun intended). Air instruments are always fun, and using props for contests makes a great impact (example: jumbo inflatable microphones, sunglasses, and various wigs for lip sync contests).”

HOW LONG? HOW MANY? What’s the ideal timeframe for kid’s parties and how many is too many kids? Kahwaty has a “three hour minimum with no max.” He charges an additional fee for over 25 children. Sands says four hours is “maxed out” and at his Bar/Bat Mitzvahs the number of kids ranges from 30 to 80.

HELPERS AND/OR DANCERS. Kahwaty doesn’t use dancers but does require additional assistance for each group of 25 children.” Sands likes a helping hands: “Absolutely! Although you can call them dancers, or pumpers, or motivators…you need to have staff there to help execute your commands. One dancer for every 30 to 40 guests (kids and adults) is my rule of thumb.”

ARE DJS GLORIFIED BABYSITTERS? Kahwaty says, “If the shoe fits wear it. I’m not ashamed to say I am a glorified baby sitter. Money talks!” Regarding parents he recommends: they “should know beforehand what they are getting into. Explain some of the activities you plan to do at their event. You will not have any problems unless you don’t have the command of the activities you are planning to perform. If customers have any unreasonable demands, there are plenty of DJs they can call.” Sands feel “parents don’t really care how you get the job done. As long as you keep them occupied and entertained at the opportune times during the party.”

WHEN GOOD KIDS GO BAD. Have you had to deal with out of control kids? Sands relates one incident: “In the early ‘90s, we got a bit rough with one kid who was trying to steal our CDs. Parents got mad and threatened to hire an attorney in response to our mishandling of this kid. We were forced to write a letter of apology to the family.”
“There will always be troublemakers,” he adds. “Don’t alienate them…but embrace them into the party.

KID PARTIES ARE WORTH MORE. Exclusively child-attended parties require a lot more effort on the part of an entertainer. Are they worth charging more? Kahwaty says absolutely and recommends adding “a prize package (with) fun inflatables, leis, hats, sunglasses, etc. The prize packages you sell will generate much more business for you; you can take that to the bank.” Sands agrees, he charges “almost twice as much for Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties than for all other parties.” He feels that “to the hosts of the party, it’s worth every penny.”

Mike Ryan started out writing for news radio. He also DJ’d on KGB and KSDS. He mobiles as Mike on the Mike and is also the inventor owner of Frankenstand Powered Speaker Stands! Mike also works part time as a DMC tour guide. He has been the President of the San Diego Professional Tour Guide Association, a board member of his local NACE chapter and is currently the secretary of the San Diego Chapter of the ADJA.
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Speaking of Junior DJs…
While researching this I came across an interesting school program in England called “Make Me a DJ!” Directed towards 12 to 14-year-old students, this interesting approach to education is being sponsored by Pioneer, with the expected assistance of UK “Garage Guru” DJ Spoony, winner of Britain’s prestigious “MOBO” award for the Best DJ 2001. Pioneer, the company of “sound, vision and soul” is touting “Make Me a DJ” as “the training of a new generation of world class DJs!” According to PR spokesperson Philippa Streets, “This unique program was launched last April (2007) in the UK and the response has been amazing! The kids love the alternative way to express themselves in music lessons through an ‘instrument’ they can actually relate to!” Students get to practice DJing on PCs with Pioneer’s DJS software and get to compete in Mix-Offs for DJ related prizes.

I remember my first Junior DJ classroom. It was in my Uncle’s living room on his “state of the art” stereo equipment, using 45 RPM records with those little plastic spindle inserts. Upon reflection, it must have been the fact that my relative was into “high tech” audio that pushed me over the edge-he also had a microphone! And you know I still feel like a kid every time I use one. - M.R.

Do You Kick by Paul Kida

In other words, does any aspect of your business life need shining up?KICK stands for “Keep it Clean, Kiddo!” It might seem like just another cute acronym, but let’s consider the power behind “keeping it clean.” Keep what clean? Why? Does it really matter?

When you think of clean, what comes to your mind? What comes to my mind is sparkling, like a brilliant diamond, or fresh smells, and an overall feeling of just feeling good. Imagine starting every day with that kind of feeling. Your mind is functioning clearly, openly accepting a new day’s work and ideas. You have a vibrant attitude as you speak to, meet and persuade new clients. You have an uncluttered, open mindset that allows you to focus on providing exceptional service, while personalizing your clients’ events with new and exciting ideas.

Let’s Get Physical
Let’s start at the beginning (a good place to start!) and that is simply…yourself! What exactly do you want to keep clean? The answer is you, which means your body, dress and grooming, your mind and, just as importantly, your working environment.
First, it means your basic hygiene and clothing. It might sound ridiculous, but the basis of most of your success (and ability to book gigs) comes down to how other people, or clients, perceive you. Close your eyes for a moment and envision what you would consider a successful person would look like. No doubt most of us would be thinking of someone well-dressed, perhaps in a clean business suit, and most likely he/she would be clean shaven (if a guy!) and well-groomed.

Isn’t that the perception that you want clients to have of you? Then you must make sure that you do all of the necessary things to present that image. Start with the small and most obvious things, such as bathing, shaving, combing your hair and brushing your teeth. You should also dress in a presentable manner. This has a positive effect on your entire outlook. You want to look good and feel good about yourself. It will reflect in your attitude, confidence and demeanor. This is especially true if you are working from home, as many of us do. Don’t fall into the trap of not shaving or working in your PJs. That doesn’t mean you have to pull out the tuxedo and work in that, but just a nice casual dress shirt and clean, pressed pants should do. When you look good, you will feel good and it will show in your voice when you are making phone calls. You will work much more efficiently.

Cultivating Positive Consciousness
Let’s move on to keeping a clean mental state and outlook. Since you are already feeling good because of your physical state, you are already on the right path. Keep that positive physical outlook growing and adjusting your mental outlook.

Make a daily mental checklist for yourself. How is your thinking today? Look for any possible negativity or complacency. These are things that are causing mental clutter, so get rid of them! Negativity can only do one thing if left unchecked, and that is to bring you down and hold you back. Again, it will show in your voice on the telephone and, if that is what you give out, that is also what will return to you.

The same is true of complacency, or being satisfied with the status quo. You must clean out your mind by replacing negativity with good, positive thoughts. Adjust your thinking so it is constantly in line with your personal business vision. Don’t let the dust settle, but strive to keep your thoughts bright, focused and moving forward.

Have you ever had a friend or family member that was constantly negative about everything, every day, no matter what the subject was? How long did you want to stay around that kind of person? I don’t know about you, but my feeling is not very long! In fact, I would go out of my way to avoid them! If that is the impression that you give off to clients, how many jobs do you think you will book?

Instead, try a little positive affirmation each morning as a good way to get into a great mindset. After getting yourself ready in the morning, take a good look at yourself in the mirror and talk to yourself. Yes, I said talk to yourself! Tell yourself aloud that you will have a beautiful day, that you will be productive, and that you will treat other people even better than you wish to be treated yourself. Think of some specific positive things that you want to see accomplished during this day, and then repeat them to yourself, again out loud as if they had already been done successfully. It may seem very strange at first, but such positive vocal and visual affirmations will help keep your mind clean and focused. It will form the beginning of your day and help remove any negativity that might hinder your 100% success. Just try it. You’ll like it!

Environmental Protection
Let’s touch briefly on your working environment. One definition of clean is “uncluttered.” Is your office space neat and uncluttered? Do you have papers, business cards and sticky notes scattered throughout? Do you have a daily schedule to make calls, follow up on arrangements, and keep appointments, or do you just jump into work and hope things work out?

Once again, get rid of the clutter! Keep it clean. This doesn’t mean to throw everything out, but to have a place for it. Keeping a good filing system is an essential start. Write a list the day before of all the things that need to be done the next day, in order of importance, then cross them off the list as you complete them. Any papers that you work with, such as lead sheets, phone call records, vendor references, etc. can be separated and filed in any system that works well for you. Personally, I keep a three-ring binder along with a yearly calendar. I divide my lead sheets into those I need to call (or new leads), those I have spoken to and will follow up on, and those to whom I have sent my marketing package. The calendar allows me to note any special calls I need to make on any specific day. By having everything in one book, it eliminates the pile of loose papers that used to drive my wife crazy. It also keeps things from getting lost, so that if someone calls you back, you know exactly where to find their information. It makes you look (and feel) much more professional and on top of things. Others may be more comfortable with a computer/electronic organizer-based system. Whatever you decide, just find a system that works well for you and that you personally feel comfortable with.

As far as your on-site work environment, ask yourself: “Do I have cords, wires, CDs, etc. hanging out all over the place?” “Is my attire appropriate for this event, and is it clean, neat and clean?” “Is my shirt clean, pressed and my tuxedo in good repair?” After you set up for an event, stand back and try to take an unbiased view your area. If you were not the DJ today and just walked in for this event, what would you think of the setup and system? As mentioned earlier in this article, you want others to perceive you as the consummate professional. Remember, perception IS reality.

Clearing the Air
I will end with a quick note about keeping performances clean. Without preaching morality, I simply suggest you keep in mind that even though your client may give you great leeway in kinds of music you can play, you’ll still want to check out the lyrics to see if they are appropriate for your audience and the kind of event you are playing. Only each individual or company can set their own boundaries as to the content of the songs they play. I have found that by keeping this part of my performance clean and in good taste, I have gained respect and return business from my clients and their guests, and, just as importantly, I can respect myself for having clear standards.

So, do you KICK? When you Keep It Clean Kiddo you will do nothing but benefit in your personal life, your business, and your performance. You will look, feel and act like the excellent professional that you know you are. You will stand out as a brilliant, shiny diamond, heads above your competition. You will have clients that are saying, “Wow, I am so glad that I hired you. You are awesome! By the way, do you have any business cards?”

Please send any comments on this article, suggestions for future articles or questions to djcoach@mobilebeat.com.

Paul Kida, The DJ Coach, is a founding member and the current president of the Colorado Disc Jockey Association. He owns JAMMCATTS DJ Entertainment (www.jammcattsdj.com), and is a regular speaker at the Mobile Beat DJ Show.

School House Rock

How to rock the house, in high (school) styleOften in life, the most rewarding experiences come with the most work. It seems the more a person works; the more they are rewarded with pay, satisfaction, and piece of mind. As many businessmen will note, there is really is nothing more soul-satisfying than a job well done. In the DJ world, large school dances are the closest some of us get to being rock stars and playing in front of thousands-all the while living out our life-long dreams. The feeling of 3,000-plus people singing the song, swaying and dancing to the music, and thousands of watts of sound rippling through the room is, in my humble opinion, unmatched by any pharmaceutical or recreational drug available.

Professional Production Process
Disc jockeys have been filling up their off nights with school functions since the inception of the industry. Few, however, give the school market the respect and time that it deserves to make each event a success, particularly the large ones. There are some who really take the time to create the production values (sound/stage/video/lights), and there are some who treat these shows as a way to make a quick buck without all of the planning involved in a wedding or mitzvah. If you are wondering why your school client list and return bookings are lagging, its because your competition realized a long time ago that the days of simply showing up and playing at major school dances were over.
To start with, any entertainment company that does not have a solid relationship with all the sponsors (students, faculty and parents) probably will not last for long. Little things ARE big things in the school market just as in the wedding market. Confirmation calls, edited music, timeliness, and general courtesy will go a long way to building your reputation with a school.

Secondly, being prepared is key. For all of my major events, I request meetings at the venue with students, faculty and venue staff to go over our plans for the evening. It is also important (if not in person) to at least meet by phone with the photographer and designer for the evening, to try to anticipate any and all “bugs” that may arise during the event. It is also important that if there is an event theme, that you coordinate with each entity to stay true to the vision of your ultimate bosses-the students.
Once you have met with your students, faculty and staff, you have developed a relationship that reassures everyone involved that you are a professional and will do everything in your power to make the occasion a success. After all, that is the reason why you were hired.

In addition, viewing the venue also helps you determine the amount of production that is necessary for your event. It’s wise to ask your students what their vision of the production is-from “low key” to “high tech.” For those of you playing the home game, this is the perfect opportunity to up-sell your client (on production and interactive features, such as video and textlive) while they are at the venue and excited about the prospect of something new and exciting.

Thirdly, it is important to allow as much direct input as possible into the music that will be played. For all of my school events, I allow direct access to all students via the DJ Intelligence online system-allowing pre-event requests in a neat format. At my events, I then play the danceable requests, leaving off selections that will “tank” or be too vulgar. It is imperative to purchase and become familiar with any new music that has been requested. The students are counting on you to be their entertainment “tour guide” for the evening, and if you don’t know the way, the party can get lost rather quickly.

Next, you must call and confirm all of your plans and keep a lookout for anything that may have changed since your last conversation or meeting. Open communication will alleviate most of the pressure you may have put on yourself by confirming your role in the event. Talking with your sponsors a week or two before your event will also clear up any miscommunications that may have occurred since the first meeting.
Additionally, one or two weeks may be needed to kick start the process of getting paid from the schools. Different school districts have different processes and some may require a physical signature on not only an invoice, but an “independent contractor’s form.” Whatever the case, just make sure no one forgot about you.

Fully Equipped to Rock
When your clients expect professional services, they also expect professional equipment. All equipment that is used should be attractive-sonically and aesthetically. All speakers should be aimed, calibrated, and elevated if necessary, and should be properly amplified, not overdriven. A good concept to embrace is the idea that if it needs to be overdriven, then you need more. No matter how good they are, or what brand of speakers you’re using, a single pair will not do for a large group of people. Sound, in its finest form, embraces the philosophy of even distribution. Distribution entails careful planning and a slight fringe overlapping of signals designed to increase quality and decrease distortion and destruction of equipment. In other words, your system, at show volume, should be peaked at about 60% of its total capabilities to be able to handle the variance of signals.

Sound is the key technical aspect of a show. Without sound, there is no show-no reason for you to be there and get paid. As a result of this, your setup time should be dependent on getting your sound right first. From there, you can work on the window dressing of lights and the wow factor of video.

Lighting can make or break a show, but is not as system-critical as sound is, and should be viewed as an art form that compliments the science of sound. A basic light show may seem better for your budget, but a large, innovative light show will get you referrals.
The new norm in lights is, without question, DMX fixtures. If you’re not rocking DMX, you may be rocking the house, but you’re not rocking the future, as your light show will remain basic and become stale. With DMX, preset patterns and chases can be crafted before each “run” or “tour” of schools and changed for the next run, making your production seem more like a traveling rock show than a discount bin at your local DJ supply store.

Keeping It Real
Finally, and most importantly…your performance. Without question, this area is what every show depends on, and on which return business is based. It is important that you feel the energy of the room, amplify it and channel it back into your show. Have enthusiasm for what you do, but DO NOT be phony. There are few people in this world that can do what we do and be truly successful at it; if you’re faking it, it will be felt by the audience. Real professionals NEVER have off nights. The show must go on; the crowds of young people do not care about your personal life. They came to have a good time and escape their regular lives for a few hours.

Schools are a significant form of income and even professional enjoyment, but also a serious responsibility. You are providing a lasting impression for potential life-long fans of your work, who may potentially utilize your services at every future milestone event that necessitates them. Above all, you are providing memories that will last a lifetime and a reputation that will define you.

Beside being a youth event specialist and logistics manager for BC Productions in Des Moines, IA, Jake Feldman serves as coordinator for the print and online versions of the Mobile Beat/ProDJ.com gear guide.

Finding Stanley Burrell; The Hunt for MC Hammer

It had been 10 years since U Cant Touch This had topped the charts and packed dancers on the floor, but it was still going to be an exciting event to bring MC Hammer to the 2000 Mobile Beat Show.The plan was that Mobile Beat’s Bob Lindquist and an associate would pick up Hammer at the Las Vegas airport and bring him to the Tropicana Hotel for a speaking engagement to the waiting DJs. Rushing to the gate area, it suddenly occurred to the pair that neither had any idea who the man they were picking up looked like. No problem…they knew the flight number.

Well, the Las Vegas airport has thousands of arrivals daily and a flight number was not going to be much help in finding a stranger. There was only one piece of information left to find Hammer: his real name- Stanley Burrell. Simply ask any individual looking like they were waiting for someone if they were Mr. Burrell. It seemed more proper than “Are you MC Hammer?”

Hundreds of middle-aged men were asked that question that day, as desperation set in. But when a fat, bald man from Chicago claimed to be Stanley Burrell, for a few brief moments the duo thought they had their man. But it turned out to be one Bernie Berle, in town for a chair-counters convention.

Burrell was missing…gone without a trace. The reputation of future shows was on the line…where was MC Hammer?? There was nowhere left to go but to return to the hotel without him.

What a surprise did the would-be chauffeurs find when they got back! The simple truth was Hammer had arrived early and just hopped a cab to the hotel, and was wandering the Exhibit Hall enjoying the toys! And another classic moment was history!

Can Paid RSVPs Improve Attendance?

Poor attendance at one of your December Holiday Parties? Lackluster audience? No prizes to give away due to a limited budget? Here is one solution that is guaranteed to inspire your corporate clients to hire you again this year!Have the H.R. Department send invitations with an R.S.V.P. that explains this year the company will request $5.00 for each R.S.V.P. And then return the $5.00 when they check in at the party.

At the check in they will receive their drink tickets, bonuses, and their $5.00 back. Or, they can choose to put their $5.00 into the evening drawing. Based on the number of employees who attend and the number who say, “Keep the $5.00″, which is most of them, 100 guests equals $500.00. 300 guests equals $1,500.00!

Depending on the amount, the holiday committee will decide to split the amount into even sums and raffle it off to those who did not take their $5.00 back. A little extra work? Yes. But well worth it.

The party I did with a $500.00 kitty gave 5 winners $100.00 each. And the $1,500.00 party gave 3 lucky people $500.00 each. It was inspirational, motivating and exciting for the guests who attended. And rewarding for those who won!

This year offer your clients more than music. Offer them solutions for a successful celebration!

Scott Faver has established himself as the Game Master with DJs from across the country. In addition to entertaining clients whose names are household words, he continually crafts new games for his clients and the DJ industry. Scott is also the moderator of the Interactive DJ Forum at ProdDJ.com and hosts a weekly on line chat, every Monday, discussing games and activities with DJs all over the world. A big part of the reason DJs have come to recognize Scott as the Game Master might be his being in front of hundreds of them at numerous conventions, cruises or in their own living rooms with his Four Game Master DVDs. A seminar with Scott means one thing: standing room only and fun for all! he also writes the Master’s Series in the ADJA Newsletter and can be found right here on Mobile Beat’s On Line Edition on Game Master Mondays. You can also visit Scott’s web site.

“Wetting” Clients’ Appetizer For Your Service - The Drip

This week it’s all about the drip. A marketing drip that is. When a client calls, ideally you want to schedule an appointment. But often clients want to take it one step at a time. So, collect as much contact information as they are willing to share. Then be prepared to send them something via mail, email, fax… And not just one item but lots of stuff. Not all at once of course but a bit, drip, at a time.

Each marketing piece should stand alone, on it’s own merits, but layer ideas about your services and entice them to call back and schedule an appointment with you. Our tagline is - You have the dream… We make it happen! Dream is the emotional word. Facts tell, emotions sell. So we use a D.R.E.A.M. acronym.

Dramatic, Romance, Emotion, Ambiance, Memorable. We have an Email and Mail drip campaign that covers benefits and features of our services based on each of these ideas - How we can make their reception Dramatic, their first dance filled with romance, and so on.

This DREAM drip campaign is separate from, in addition to, our regular welcome package which outlines our rates, references and services. The plan is to touch the client with your company’s name, image, and ideas at least seven times to make an impact that sells.

Lots of work? Yes, but well worth it. While most companies lose interest after the first or second call back, or piece of mail, your clients will recognize your interest in their business and appreciate your follow up and follow through!

Scott Faver has established himself as the Game Master with DJs from across the country. In addition to entertaining clients whose names are household words, he continually crafts new games for his clients and the DJ industry. Scott is also the moderator of the Interactive DJ Forum at ProdDJ.com and hosts a weekly on line chat, every Monday, discussing games and activities with DJs all over the world. A big part of the reason DJs have come to recognize Scott as the Game Master might be his being in front of hundreds of them at numerous conventions, cruises or in their own living rooms with his Four Game Master DVDs. A seminar with Scott means one thing: standing room only and fun for all! he also writes the Master’s Series in the ADJA Newsletter and can be found right here on Mobile Beat’s On Line Edition on Game Master Mondays. You can also visit Scott’s web site.

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