DJS Pro Audio and Lighting Joins Pioneer ProDJ Mobile Beat Tour 2009

“DJS Pro Audio and Lighting is getting on the bus with Mobile Beat Magazine and visiting as many cities as we can. For the ones we can’t make, we will make sure we send the swag and good deals in our absence. We invite you to look around our web site at http://www.djsprosales.com, and have confidence when you purchase equipment from us, knowing that you are purchasing from real people with real store fronts. We will be here to service you if you have a problem. We will be here for years to come for all of your Pro audio and lighting, DJ, VJ and KJ needs. As we continue to grow, the customer will always be our first priority.” Rob Kuron - President DJS Pro Audio and Lighting

DJS Pro Audio and Lighting joins Pioneer ProDJ and all the sponsors of the tour. Check out http://www.mobilebeat.com/mb-tour for more information on the dates of these events.

Tweet This Post 

ProDJ Files: Ken Millen

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Good morning. My name is Andy Powell. I’m with Pro DJ Publishing and Mobile Beat Magazine. I’m here today interviewing Mr. Ken Millen. Ken, tell us the name of your DJ company.

Ken Millen: It’s called GotMusic.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: And how and when did you get into the mobile DJ business?

Ken Millen: Well, many, many years I was — and still am — a musician and I was trying to figure out different ways to combine commerce and art; and a friend of mine knew a guy that was also a warmup man in television; and we joined forces, and that’s how I began my business.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Fantastic. Ken, what geographical areas do you serve?

Ken Millen: Southern California, but primarily West Los Angeles, parts of the Valley — let’s see, how can I be more specific? The South Bay area of Los Angeles, Venice, Santa Monica, Westwood, West L.A., Beverly Hills; those kind of regions. But being that I’m mobile, I’ll go out - I’ve gone as far as — which isn’t out of state — Disneyland to do things and parts toward Northern California as well.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: What are some of your favorite receptions? Would you rather do receptions or bar mitzvahs? What do you like to do?

Ken Millen: I like to do weddings, and I like to do basically surprise parties, birthday parties, and karaoke parties.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Describe what is unique about your service and your market niche.

Ken Millen: Well, what’s unique about my service is being that I have musical skills in playing piano, besides being a mobile DJ, I can perform live at the cocktail hour. And by doing that, there’s that extra little novelty, if you will, that people feel that they’re in, at that moment, the moment of the intimacy of first meeting up with everybody, having a cocktail or an hors d’oeuvres, hello, how are you, and then I can graduate or gradually go into anything from light jazz and dinner music or a little bit of light rock, anything that they want; and then elevate to eventually the evening of dancing and whatever they decide they want as part of their party, wedding, etc.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Now Ken, I met you at the Mobile Beat show in Vegas, and you do a little niche job on the side there that’s very, very interesting that a lot of mobile DJs might not realize that there’s opportunities for that’s kind of different. Why don’t you tell us a little bit what you do on Tuesday and Friday nights?

Ken Millen: Well, on Tuesday and Friday nights I DJ for the audience for some major television sitcoms that have become household names. One especially is “Two and a Half Men;” another one currently is “The Big Bang Theory.” And why it is Tuesday and Friday nights is because in spite of what others might think from being out of state, it’s difficult to get audiences. So on Friday nights — I don’t know why they picked Tuesday, but they feel that Tuesday is also a good night to get people out and to a show. It shouldn’t be difficult; all the tickets are free.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Walk us through a little bit of that. I’ve had the pleasure of going to one of these. It’s unique to watch you work and watch how the cast interacts and how you’re able to pump them up with your music and keep them energized. Tell us how you got into that and some of the favorite songs that you like to play for the cast members.

We’ll start with The Big Bang Theory. Is there anything that the cast likes to hear?

Ken Millen: Believe it or not, their current favorite is “We Want The Funk” — if I’m saying that right; it’s a little early in the morning — or “Bring On The Funk” by Funkadelic — Parliament. The lead, Johnny Galecki, said, “Would you play that at the beginning of the show? It’ll get us into a mood.”

Part of my philosophy, especially on these shows, is besides the audience, which is of course very important, my telltale that I’m getting through to the cast and crew, because they’re doing their jobs, is if I see somebody’s shoulders shaking or a head nod, I know that my music is going across the footlights and into their heads and ears, and I’m pumping them up. But the bottom line is you can’t have a ballad at all throughout the evening. It’s got to be up music; otherwise you’re defeating the purpose of the whole thing.

It’s going to sound silly, but I have an accountant friend who had a guy who was a client of his who was in the warm-up world, and this guy went on to do “Friends” and other shows. But he said, “Would you meet, the two of you?” And I said, sure. And I started with my double-tray Denon at that time, and he got me introduced. Eventually we parted ways because he went on to shows where they didn’t want a DJ, but I had already by that time after a year or so established myself and created, thanks to the help of him and the accountant friend, a niche where people were going, “You’ve got to get this guy because besides the funniness of the warm-up guy, he just also extends the energy to a level that is just, dare I say, magnificent.”

So that’s how that got started. And then you get to know some of the producers. And over the years — and I won’t be so egocentric that I started it — but I was one of the early pioneers, if you will, that was one of the first doing this and creating this niche in the business. I created the name just because it was unique and they were all used to the years gone by of anybody from David Letterman on down warming up audiences.

And, “Music? We’re a fun show; a funny show; what would we need music for?” I sold them on the fact that after a while, people want to hear something other than the spoken word or something that’s familiar to them and want to kind of move a little bit and not feel intimidated in their seat. So that’s how that got going and I’ve been doing it for over 12, 13 years.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Moving on to Two and a Half Men, which is a huge hit, currently in syndication, what are some of the funny anecdotes that you might have over the years that you’ve worked on that show, or Charlie Sheen’s or Jon Cryer’s favorite songs?

Ken Millen: They’re all, whether it’s because of their age or not, Charlie Sheen loves classic rock. And he is a guy that keeps the cards close to his chest. So whenever I get him to move to something, whether it’s Creedence Clearwater [Revival] or The Doors or something of that nature; if it’s Hendrix even — which is not to put down to Mr. Jimi Hendrix — it’s a thrill. He is one of those shy, kind of quiet guys.

Jon Cryer, on the other hand, he looks like he is the dance hall rat of all time. He is a fabulous dancer, and on occasion he forgets that there’s an audience there, and a song — I can’t even think of it, but it’s more probably along the lines of disco or a current hip-hop song, that type of a thing, he’ll lose himself to the music and he’ll just start dancing up a storm. And let me tell you something: this guy can dance.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Now, you do work on a third show during the summer. Can you tell us a little about that show?

Ken Millen: That show is The Bill Engvall Show, and that one’s on the TBS Network. The other two are on CBS. That is with comedian Bill Engvall, obviously, and he plays a therapist who can solve everybody else’s lives with his practice but his family life is a little bit in upheaval all the time. And it’s really a clever show. He clearly is into — I mean, he likes as his theme song, I think, you talk about energy — he loves Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking On Sunshine.”

He loves to come out to that song. So we’re not talking current for some of these guys. They’re used to what they were coming up in the clubs with and stuff like that. But it’s a fun group. They’re very grateful to be on the air, and they’re going into, I believe, their third season starting March-April this year. And it’s unique to the people in television because there’s rarely summer shows. I mean, I know school systems can be year-round; at least it is here in Los Angeles, besides summer school. But TV usually stops in March-April, and this starts in March-April and goes through until late July-August. And the reason for that I feel is because he has figured out his schedule and he comes off the road to do this.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: I see. Now, you said you pioneered this. Are there any shows that you’ve worked in the past — these are three hit shows that you’re currently working on — but are there any shows in the past that you’ve worked on that some of our listeners and readers might remember?

Ken Millen: Let me see. What would entice the reader or listener that I worked on in the past? I worked on “The War At Home,” which was a big hit for the Fox Network. I also did a show for CBS, “Still Standing.” I did a very short stint on the show, “Joey,” which was a spin-off from “Friends.” I also worked on “King of Queens.” Am I forgetting anything?

There was a show that I truly loved that didn’t last very long called “Rodney,” which was Rodney Carrington, who’s a very funny man who combines comedy and music.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Oh, yeah. Rodney’s one of my favorites.

Ken Millen: And he was fantastic and user-friendly; all the above. It was, again, about a guy who wants to go into show business who has a typical 8-to-5 job and a homestyle life. But this guy was just a gem to work with.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Now, working within the industry, has that provided any additional leads for you in your wedding industry or some of the parties that you’ve done?

Ken Millen: Yes. It leads to — there’s always the wrap party, which is the end of the year. So I’ve done many of those for the various shows. There’s the Christmas party. And as you’re questioning here, I’ve done a couple of weddings for people; private parties as far as summer parties, that kind of thing. In fact, the Engvalls have said that we’re going to do a party and I’m always ready with my equipment; just give me the call. I think they want to do a karaoke party in the near future.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Oh, that could be scary.

Ken Millen: Yes, it can.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: So with all the business that you have, do you currently advertise? How do you promote your business within the L.A. area?

Ken Millen: In the L.A. area, it’s usually nowadays more word of mouth. I don’t take out any ads. And of course I carry cards with me. And one of the things I learned at Mobile Beat is to keep a picture of yourself that’s not too silly on the card. It’s straightforward, and I have my logo. But as far as advertising goes, that card speaks reams for me. People in the TV business have been helpful. I grew up in the Los Angeles area, so people know what I do. And I also have been able to network with other DJs that are members of — I’m blanking at the moment, but out here it’s the Pacific DJ Association, which is connected to –

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: The American Disc Jockey Association?

Ken Millen: Thank you, thank you. So stepping into that has been a plus for me, too.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Where do you see GotMusic go in the next five to ten years?

Ken Millen: I would like to see GotMusic going more to the point of where the private sector were as strong as the television sector is for me. I know that seems cart-before-the-horse for most people that are reading this article, but I have a stronger television business or entertainment business than I do with weddings and other kinds of parties like that. I have all the applications that you would need to put on these parties and know how to do them in my sleep — but to the point where I could expand my crew and have two or three DJs working underneath me and with me and growing this mobile corporation.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Ken, I know you did a lot of things on TV, but is there anything on the big screen that you’ve moved on to? I know you sing, and piano, and play a little guitar. What else? Have you done anything on the big screen at all?

Ken Millen: Well, funny you should ask. Two years ago I got the opportunity to work with Sir Anthony Hopkins, who was “Tony” to everybody that’s worked with him. And I played a doctor in a very small budgeted film called “Slipstream” that he wrote, directed, and produced, and starred in, and it was a thrill and a dream come true. That can be had probably at a rental at most Blockbusters across the country. So I still keep a toe into that part of the world, besides writing songs and playing piano and arranging music for singers, and occasionally putting scores to small little films here or there, wherever I can; doing my DJ business.

I really try to make the occupation, which I would hope all of us out there do — it’s fun. And if you know me, I don’t have much more hair to pull out, but it can be more fun, but it can also be pulling out a lot of hair with some of the personalities you come in contact with. But I’ve always wanted to be in an occupation that’s got fun elements to it, and those are the kinds of things I seek out at all times. Life’s too short.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Well, you kind of led into my last question. If someone was to remember something about you, what would you want them to remember you by, or what your mantra is? What would you want that to be?

Ken Millen: You’ve got to have Ken. He also brings fun and life to anything he does. He’s a joy to be around. He always takes it up a step.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: As an attendee of a Mobile Beat conference, would you say that helped you grow your business? I know this year you can’t attend because the writers are not on strike.

Ken Millen: That’s absolutely true.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Tell us about your Mobile Beat experience, at a Mobile Beat show.

Ken Millen: I had a really great experience going to the Mobile Beat Las Vegas last year, ‘08. I tried to attend just about every lecture that there was and got plenty out of every one of them. I met a lot of interesting people. Everybody was high energy, and not in the sense where, please, get away from me. They were enthusiastic and positive and very conscientious about wanting to advance, wanting to increase their business. And it’s the networking, and that was the beauty of this thing.

I mean, a guy from Arkansas can say, well, I do this in my business. You go, geez, I never thought of that. And little techniques as far as computers now that are coming into play big time as far as mp3s and all that stuff. And you can get technologically crazy, but people broke it down. You made your own decisions as to what would work for you or what works best. Besides that, you could see at — what is it, the last day, usually, or close to it; all the different product lines that are sponsoring the event, what’s coming out in the future, what’s current now, and talks with the reps and get a first-hand look as well as education on how things work and why you might want to consider it to make your job easier.

So from soup to nuts, from how to make a presentation and try and close the deal, be it weddings or bar mitzvah, private party, corporate events; how to employ start-ups for getting people to dance or different games and strategies. I found it just so helpful and so eye-opening. I really am regretful that I can’t go back this year. This’ll sound bad, but I long for another writer’s strike, though it’d kill my pocketbook, because I’m going to miss all the great knowledge that one can get from it.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Well, Ken, I appreciate you getting up early this morning to speak with us here at Mobile Beat. We want to tell our listeners to listen up; we’re going to do more mobile Pro DJ profiles. I want to thank today Ken Millen from GotMusic, and the neat job that he does. Watch Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men on Monday nights on CBS as well.

Ken Millen: Thank you very much as well. Thank you.

Andy “Cubbie” Powell: Thank you, Ken.

Ken Millen: My pleasure.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tweet This Post 

ProDJ Files: Mark Evans

Ryan Burger: This is Ryan Burger, the publisher of Mobile Beat Magazine. We are here with another one of our Pro DJ Files, this time centering on the Detroit, Michigan area, with Mark Evans DJ Entertainment.
Mark is known for being a disc jockey for more than a couple years but also because of all his involvement in the work he does for Mobile Beat and for pro DJ, especially at the conventions. So let’s tell everybody all about you.

Mark Evans: What do you want me to say now? You just said it all. That’s it. Interview done.

Ryan Burger: Pretty much. Tell us how you got into this whole mess, with business going on, what, 30 years now, from what I understand.

Mark Evans: Yeah. This is my 30th year. I started in 1979. I was actually a dancer back in my teen days, and we used to go to the teen discos and I thought it was so cool to watch the DJs spin the discs up there, and I started watching them and one guy decided to pull me aside and teach me how to do it. Then from there, I started working in roller rinks; got into the club business in the ’80s; started into the weddings in about the mid-’80s, and kind of never slowed down from there.
Ryan Burger: Thirty years. I didn’t know that dancer stuff; okay. I thought I really knew you.

Mark Evans: Oh, you thought you did. I actually have a trophy somewhere buried in the basement fro a dance contest back probably about that timeframe, ‘79-’80 or something like that. Nowadays, I dance more like Michael Jackson. I think I was a little tough on the knees back in the day.
Ryan Burger: You’re in mobile DJ service currently. What kind of events do you do? What do you consider your target as to where you stick out in the big market that is Detroit?

Mark Evans: My area of expertise, I guess — I do family parties. That would be weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties. I really don’t do a lot of corporate events other than maybe a holiday party here or there. But I really focus on the family events; my primary market being weddings.
Ryan Burger: Okay. And you enjoy doing weddings? When it comes down to it, it sounds like you really want to be kind of involved with the group. You’re not just there to play tunes and disappear.

Mark Evans: Oh, absolutely. I am there to make sure people have a good time. I’m pretty interactive; not interactive as much as Scott Favor –
Ryan Burger: You’re not out there spinning on the dance floor. I got you.
Mark Evans: I don’t wear the flashy coats and spin around on the dance floor, no. But it’s whatever it takes to get people out in the dance floor, make sure they’re having a good time, make sure you acknowledge. One of the first things I learned actually back in the disco days was getting to know your people. You know, when you walk into an event you don’t have a lot of time to do that. You have to react fast to your clients, your crowd. Of course, when you have meetings with your clients, that also helps to get to know them a little bit. But when you can start kind of not really picking on people, but pick out people and have fun with them, they have a good time. They like to be acknowledged that they’re doing something fun on the dance floor. You can kind of say something about it. You don’t have to draw attention to them if they’re being dumb, but you want to make sure that they’re looking good, they’re dancing, doing something. If a guy’s out there trying to breakdance, say, “Here’s a piece of cardboard I’m going to throw out to you,” that kind of stuff.
Ryan Burger: Yeah, just little — it’s the job of the DJ not to be the center of attention, but to direct the attention to somebody. It sounds like that fits with you perfectly.

Mark Evans: You want to make them feel involved.

Ryan Burger: How far — I mean, Detroit’s got plenty of people so you probably don’t have to travel a ton, but where’s somewhere that you have traveled that’s a good distance from there?

Mark Evans: Oh, the other side of the state. Two years ago in May of ‘07 I drove to the home of Gerald R. Ford, as a matter of fact, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the other side of the state, to do a country wedding out in a park. It was a beautiful day, beautiful setting; it was about a three and a half hour drive, but it was well worth it.

Ryan Burger: How did they hear about you? Had they been to a local wedding? Is that how people hear about your company or do they hear about you on the Web? How do they find you?

Mark Evans: Actually both. A lot of it has to do with — well, with your help, learning how to do websites and Web marketing over the years. But word of mouth is still the most important. That wedding came because I had DJ’d his two other brothers’ weddings on this side of the state.
Ryan Burger: Okay. Your tools of your disc jockey biz — we’ll get into all the stuff you do for Mobile Beat and Pro DJ in a second, but your DJ tool set; what kind of equipment do you like to use? Do you get into lights? Tell me a little bit about that side of things.

Mark Evans: You know, it’s funny about lights, is that I have not done a show in years without lights. I’ve always had lights. I think your market will determine that. I know a lot of guys and gals that say they don’t use lights, they don’t need them, they never needed them; but in our market it’s always been there. For some reason, people assume you will have a lightshow there. Of course, we’re getting lighter and lighter lights with the LEDs, lightbars, uplighting, that kind of thing.
I also like to do video. I love to of video, as a matter of fact. I haven’t done a lot of it, but I love to put together photo montages for people, and that is a real seller, especially in this area right now.
Ryan Burger: Fantastic. Moving into what you’ve done on the national industry. You’ve been around it; how long has it been that you’ve been around ProDJ.com? You started as just a regular on the site, then we kind of pulled you into the mess of things that go on, and start to take over increasingly more and more of your time. How did you find your way to the national disc jockey industry, I guess?

Mark Evans: Well, there’s a funny story about that, actually, because I had gotten out of the DJ business in 1995. And then in ‘99, I believe it was, just out of the woodwork I just started getting a lot of calls; people wanting me to DJ whatever event. And I did like 10 that year, but it was also the year that I had nose surgery done. And I was sitting around for a couple weeks and I was on the Internet, and I found a site called Pro DJ. So I signed up and I kind of liked what it was, and I got a special e-mail from a gentleman by the name of Ken Heath. And he made me feel all nice and warm. Then it was probably 2001, was the first time we went to the Las Vegas show for Mobile Beat, and been hooked ever since. That’s kind of how that all started.
Ryan Burger: Well, I know your graphical work, your video work, which a lot of people see at the Vegas show in some of the commercials, some of the different bit stuff that we’ve done has just been fantastic for our usage. I imagine that your stuff’s just growing with what you’re doing for your own local service with getting into the montages and all that kind of stuff. Where do you see yourself going? Where do you see yourself, your business in the next, say, five or 10 years?

Mark Evans: I would love to do more of the video stuff; something more visual. I think — you know, everybody knows that a disc jockey can play music, can mix music; they can read a crowd. It’s the extra little things that you’re going to start being able to do for the client, video being one of them that I like; probably some different type of lighting effects; got that Wow factor.

When you first — you know, I started out with 45’s and albums –
Ryan Burger: And 8-track, right?

Mark Evans: I’ll ignore that remark. Actually, I never owned an 8-track.
Ryan Burger: Except for the one in your truck, yeah, okay.

Mark Evans: Except for the one in my truck. My sister did, and I loved the fact, in the middle of a song that it would switch tracks on you. Or you hit the wrong button and you’d have to wait 20 minutes to hear your song. It’s amazing, the difference technology — now we’re all computerized, of course, after going from CDs. It’s becoming more instant. It’s going to get to the point where you’re at a show and you will never have to turn down a request. You’ll never have to forget a song because you’ll be able to access it right online and be ready to go in a matter of a minute.

Ryan Burger: Definitely. I guess to wrap this up, describe what you’re like, for someone that’s not met you; of course, welcome them to come and meet you at one of the conferences soon.

Mark Evans: Oh, absolutely.

Ryan Burger: And then, what should someone remember if they met Mark Evans of Detroit, Michigan?

Mark Evans: I think a lot of people — my enthusiasm; a lot of people say my enthusiasm is contagious. I have fun in everything I do. I believe in a positive, spirited lifestyle. I love to help other people, as evident being a moderator on Pro DJ. This past November I was elected the president of the Michigan chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association, so that’s going to be another chapter in my life that I’ve got to learn how to do. I just hope that people remember me as somebody that’s fun to be around, and I’m actually pretty laid back most of the time. And I have a good time.

Ryan Burger: Very cool. Thank you for joining me on this, and see you in a couple weeks at Mobile Beat Vegas.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tweet This Post 

Should you consider advertising on Facebook?

Tweet This Post 

DenonDJ.Com relaunched!

– Site’s new “Denon DJ Club” will provide direct access to news, information and upgrades to customers; features include artist pages, continually updated news pages and more –

ITASCA, IL, March 18, 2009 — Denon DJ, a leading manufacturer of reliable, premium-grade DJ equipment, announces that it has completely revamped its website, www.denondj.com, launching a brand new interactive platform that offers professional and aspiring DJs a unique and informative online environment for learning about their craft, exploring the company’s cutting-edge products and more. Among the site’s many new features is an innovative new “Denon DJ Club” service that will allow all Denon DJ customers to register their products and enjoy direct access to news and information relating to these specific products, as well as firmware updates, instructional videos, manuals and more.

Denon DJ Brand Manager Silvio Zeppieri stated, “The professional DJ arena is an incredibly fast-moving and fast-changing world in which working DJs really need to stay up-to-date on all the latest technology and artistic developments. Our new site will help give our customers the edge by literally plugging them into what’s really important in the DJ universe, including the latest news in product development and innovation. Most importantly, it will give working DJs a unique resource for learning how to perfect their DJ skills and improve as creative artists.”

In addition to the “Denon DJ Club,” the new website will feature its own music player on each page, offering visitors the opportunity to hear the latest hits from artists on a wide variety of record labels. Other key areas of the site will include a dedicated Artist page, Support page, “What’s Hot” page, Products page and News and Events page.

About D&M Professional
D&M Professional, through its Denon® Professional, Marantz® Professional and Denon DJ brands, manufactures and distributes a leading line of professional audio and video equipment for the broadcast, commercial, corporate, DJ, education, government, audio/visual, education, houses of worship, security and related industries.
Visit D&M Professional at www.d-mpro.com or Denon DJ at: www.denondj.com.

Tweet This Post 

DENON DJ Now Shipping NEW DN-S3700 Digital Media Turntable

“Best of Both Worlds”: nine-inch real vinyl Spinning Platter Design offers today’s most advanced digital features and music access capabilities with classic turntable touch-feel –

ITASCA, IL, March 16, 2009 — Denon DJ, a leading manufacturer of reliable, premium-grade DJ equipment, is now shipping its new DN-S3700 Digital Media Turntable. The Direct Drive Turntable Media Player & Controller is a leading-edge single-deck portable DJ instrument that provides working DJs with a host of useful features for enhanced creative flexibility. Most notably, thanks to its large 9″ spinning platter design, the DN-S3700 offers DJ’s the best of both worlds from both digital and analog realms. In addition to a host of advanced digital features, including USB and MIDI control, the sleek and elegant unit includes a built-in authentic vinyl record for surface control driven by Denon DJ’s High Torque Direct Drive Motor, providing users with the classic and unmistakable feel of true vinyl.

Denon DJ Brand Manager Silvio Zeppieri stated, “The DN-S3700 is exactly what many professional DJs have dreamed about - a hybrid digital/analog design with a larger platter that not only affords access to all types of media playback styles, including MP3 disc access, but lets users express themselves creatively using classic vinyl tricks of the trade, with the original touch-feel design of vinyl that many DJs grew up with - and that really started it all! With the addition of the new DN-S3700 to our lineup, Denon DJ is giving working DJs an even more comprehensive range of every kind of tool and solution they need to succeed and grow their creative talents.”

Sleek New Design, Innovative New Features
In addition to its new 9″ Spinning Platter Design and real vinyl record included, driven by a powerful Direct Drive Motor with torque adjustments, the DN-S3700 features a new sleek stylish and intuitive design with brushed aluminum corners and solid aluminum feet that will appeal to working DJs who want to look as good as they sound. Innovative new features include three Auto loops with real-time loop length adjust and loop trim capabilities. In addition, the attractive and easy-to-read new display adds visual waveform data to the mix, providing information on hot start, auto loop, and break point data.

The DN-S3700’s 9″ platter mounted with real vinyl is constructed with an ultra high-resolution pulse sensor mechanism to accurately reproduce the subtlest or swiftest scratching movements made by the human hand. The platter can perform other vital functions too, such as pitch bending, frame searching and quick file navigation from external USB devices. For added creative flexibility, three “hot starts” can be made on the fly, which also double as auto loops. In addition to auto loops, traditional A-B loops can be manually executed on the opposite side of the player. And thanks to its built-in crystal clear DSP Effects, building the mood of the dance floor and remixing live has never been easier. DJs can easily activate and have full parameter control with a Dry/Wet mix control of the effects: Flanger, Filter (High-Mid-Low), Echo and Echo/Loop, as well as 3 Platter Effects, including Brake (adjustable in real-time), Dump (reverse sound without losing true forward time, like a radio edit) and Reverse (plays your music backwards). For those DJs who perform long mix transitions and require high pitch resolution, the S3700 offers pitch control via a 100-mm pitch slider with 0.02% for the ±6% pitch range and 0.05% for the ±10/16% pitch range. Wide ±100% range is also available.

Innovative “Spinning” Turntable-Style MIDI Controller with Control of DJ Software
The innovative Denon DN-S3700 is also a “spinning” turntable-style MIDI Controller with Sound Card that gives users the advanced capability of controlling various DJ Mac®/PC application software. The super-versatile and sophisticated DJ instrument lets users bring together and enjoy access to huge music libraries from virtually all-existing storage media, including Apple® iPods® and USB Flash Drives. For total flexibility, it features an illuminated Slot-In CD Player, a quick-loading and fast data reading mechanism that offers a variety of audio compact disc support, including CD, CD-R, CD-RW and CD-TEXT. Thanks to its advanced External USB Device Support, users have access to vast portable music collections stored on external USB media and may connect their iPod, Thumb Drive, and large Hard Drives for easy access to small or extensive MP3/WAV libraries of up to 50,000 files. Users must simply plug these devices into the DN-S3700 to obtain the powerful on-board features, such as Instant Start, Seamless Looping, Effects, Scratching and easy File Searching, to name a few.

Notably, with its MIDI Interface Controller (PC/Mac), the DN-S3700 is also designed to interface and control a variety of popular DJ programs that support USB MIDI in/out interface, either by user custom mapping or direct native support by the software vendor. Users can easily control their favorite DJ software all from a single advanced compact player. Unlike most dedicated DJ MIDI controllers that are only USB bus powered, the DN-S3700 encompasses its own internal power supply to achieve the highest electrical specifications, resulting in best possible performance. The DN-S3700 features industry leading Burr Brown (a product of Texas Instruments) 24-bit DAC processing for superior output audio fidelity.

The DN-S3700 comes complete with Denon DJ’s acclaimed Music Manager Software. Among its groundbreaking features is a highly refined search system, which lets users navigate and tag edit quickly through any MP3/WAV files connected to the system, with search criteria including Folder, Artist, Album, Title, Genre, Year, BPM and Playlists. The Music Manager will also auto calculate the BPM’s for files as well as create the visual waveform data supported on the DN-S3700’s display.

The Denon DN-S3700 is now shipping with an SRP of $1,099.99.
…ends 919 words

About D&M Professional
D&M Professional, through its Denon® Professional, Marantz® Professional and Denon DJ brands, manufactures and distributes a leading line of professional audio and video equipment for the broadcast, commercial, corporate, DJ, education, government, audio/visual, education, houses of worship, security and related industries.
Visit D&M Professional at www.d-mpro.com or Denon DJ at: www.denondj.com.

About D&M Holdings Inc.
D&M Holdings Inc. is a global operating company providing worldwide management and distribution platforms for premium consumer, automotive, commercial and professional audio and video businesses including Denon®, Marantz®, McIntosh® Laboratory, Boston Acoustics®, Snell Acoustics, Escient®, Calrec Audio, Denon DJ, Allen & Heath, D&M Professional and D&M Premium Sound Solutions. Our technologies improve the quality of any audio and visual experience. All product and brand names with a trademark symbol are trademarks or registered trademarks of D&M Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries. For more information visit www.dm-holdings.com.

Tweet This Post 

Issue #120 - People Skills Upgrade; Plus a Refreshing Mix of DJ Tips

Issue #120 - People Skills Upgrade; Plus a Refreshing Mix of DJ Tips  http://www.mobilebeat.com/category/online-or-magazine-issue/issue-120/

It’s People…
3 Keys to Networking Success (Plus: 5 Practical Trade Show Tips)
Social Networking, DJ Style
Asking For Help: DJs Can Do It Too!
How to Work with Celebrities
Become a Crowd Whisperer

Entertainers
Ken Millen: King of the Sitcom DJs
Mark Evans: Wide-Angle Vision
Promo Only’s Jim Robinson: Music and Video Impresario

Got Game
Spice Up Your Calendar with Variety Shows
10 Tips for Winning at the Game Show Game

Giving You the Business
A Buyer’s Market?
Worth Reconsidered
Connecting Better through Your Website
And Much More…

Musical Melange
Add Flavor with Cajun, Zydeco and More
Rock & Roll Redux: Cover Tunes Considered
Processional Music Primer

Get the Scoop
Tonium - Pacemaker
American DJ - Galaxian Laser
Numark - DDS80 CD/MP3 Player
Denon - DN-HC4500 Media Controller
JBL - EON 515 And 518s
Painting Lightscapes: How to Do Total-Immersion Lighting

Subscribe today and don’t miss another tasty Beat! Subscribers get the hard copy AND the bonus, web-based PDF version.

http://www.mobilebeat.com/category/online-or-magazine-issue/issue-120/

Tweet This Post 

Variety Shows by Mike Ficher

The walls of my entertainment room burst with a montage of photos, amongst the black-and-white visages performers such as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Madonna, Hal Blaine, Little Richard, the Beach Boys, Bill Haley and the Saddlemen, Chubby Checker and Gary “U.S.” Bonds.

In addition to those musicians, reside such artistic luminaries as Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Rita Moreno. While I have incredible admiration for performers who’ve excelled in one field, my deepest respect and respect are reserved for entertainers who can succeed or perform admirably across a broad range of performing arts disciplines.

People like Sinatra-considered by many the greatest singer of all-time who also happened to win an Oscar for best supporting actor for his performance as Private Angelo Maggio in ‘From Here to Eternity’-Moreno-who is the only entertainer to win an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy and an Emmy in her esteemed and varied career-and Harry Shearer-who not provides several voices on the seminal, long-running Simpsons’ television series, but hosts a popular hybrid news-commentary show on public radio, authored books and will be forever linked to ‘This is Spinal Tap’ culminating a prolific career as an actor-prompt fascination and exploration. Yes, variety can be the spice of life.

From the Days of Vaudeville

In the evolving world of events, mobile entertainers are often called upon to provide a multitude of offerings at gigs that are increasing becoming multi-media and multi-talent showcases. Clients want and expect more for their economically-depressed investment. Thus, the variety show, ala the Hollywood Palace and Ed Sullivan, is alive and well in the modern world of the mobile entertainer.

Right Here on Our Really Big Show

What skills does a mobile entertainer need to comfortably execute a variety show? Emcee skills are imperative. While many outside the entertainment field may perceive the role of an emcee as a fairly easy task, the reality is a great emcee is critical to the success of any event featuring multiple acts, speakers, or dialog.

Certainly, the criticism attendant to anyone who hosts the Academy Awards is significant evidence that an emcee’s responsibility bears tremendous import.

An effective emcee demonstrates excellent interaction with the crowd; is informed and well-prepared, gaining knowledge in advance of the audience’s background to support timely and informative interjections; prepares scripts, if necessary; dresses appropriately; establishes eye contact; transitions from awkward moments effortlessly; shows respect to all acts; learns proper pronunciations; displays awareness of supporting physical gestures; and understands that the emcee is not the star of the show.

Dance Contest

Always a popular feature at an event, a dance contest is a skillful way to engage a crowd, particularly if a specific theme is featured that may guide the selection of the preferred dances for the contest.

With many years of incorporating dance instruction into events, one recommendation: please, please, please employ the audience or a panel of judges to decide the contest. Not only will you engage more guests in the activity-hopefully, they will pay attention to render a valid judgment-you’ll remove any questions of bias on your part.

In addition, if you demonstrate any period or theme dances, contracting the services of dance partner with exceptional people skills is a valuable asset. A partner can not only help with any dance instruction or demonstrations, he or she can assist with contest judging.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

The success of any multi-act event rests, in large part, on the cooperative relationship that is established between the various entertainers. While the mobile entertainer is undoubtedly a critical element, often serving as emcee and, sometimes, as part of the bill, the stronger the overall quality of the performers and the relationship vibe emanating from the stage, the likelihood the audience’s enjoyment will be greater.

Learn and execute how each act would like to introduced; ensure accurate pronunciations; understand a time limitation, if applicable, and develop a discreet way to support that goal; and smile and have fun! Tension is your adversary and a smile and calm, positive demeanor is your ally.

Embrace the Peacock

Perhaps, you, as the mobile entertainer, wish to offer more to your clients. Organizing a variety show of local talent might be an effective marketing tool, particularly, in an era of closed wallets and heightened expectations. Network with dancers, magicians, hypnotists, musicians, improv groups, singing telegram performers and other entertainers who might provide a value to your clients.

Whether you choose to contract and pay the performers yourself or aggregate the performance agreements for the client is strictly your call. Keep in mind that you assume general and possibly specific responsibility for their performance whether you sign or the client signs the contract.

Vivia Brevis, Ars Lunga

Variety may be the spice of life and, in the mobile entertainment world, if you are prepared, savvy and ready, variety may be the key to riding the current economic tsunami.

Tweet This Post 

Painting Lightscapes: Total Audience Immersion by Stu Chisholm

Using lighting to transport you audience to another world

With no clear end to the sagging economy in sight, more and more mobile DJs are diversifying, offering other goods and services to bolster their income. Even when money isn’t the issue, a savvy DJ will always be on the lookout for that new idea that will give them a creative or competitive edge. If you’re like me, however, then you don’t really have an interest in things like invitations, chair covers, photography or other non-DJ types of “upsells.” I prefer to keep my offerings within the confines of what I know and am passionate about: entertainment, sound and lighting.

It is the latter that has taken on a new role at many of today’s formal events. While we’re all familiar with the “traditional” DJ light show, today’s DJs don’t feel compelled to keep their lighting confined to the dance floor. Instead, they’re placing lights all over the room in strategic locations, literally “painting” the room with light!

Like a mirror ball, this idea is actually an old one. Faced with a venue with bare walls and a stark appearance, couples would hire decorators who found that placing PAR cans along the baseboard could dress-up a room without a lot of heavy props and tooling. Small spotlights were focused on things like the wedding cake and ice sculpture, and might even be fitted with a colored gel, to match the colors of the bridal party.

That Was Then, This Is Now

Until recently, DJs were unconcerned with décor and would leave these details up to the venue or decorator hired by their clients. (Many still do.) Yet technology has presented the forward-thinking DJ with some new possibilities for both income and entertainment. The first step was the advent of DMX lighting control. This gave the single DJ the ability to make their lights work in unison, literally dancing to the tunes he or she played. It’s been in use for years by bands and DJs who run intelligent lighting effects.

What opened the floodgates for total immersion, though, was the introduction of LED lighting technology. At long last, LED lamps were bright enough to replace such old standby fixtures as PAR cans and moving yoke scanners, yet consume far less electricity. More importantly, many can also change color and are dimmable. In short, one can accomplish the same task of decorating, only doing it with light…with the potential to ratchet up the overall effect, taking it to the next level: total audience immersion.

“Surround” lighting?

By taking on the responsibility for lighting décor, not only can the DJ sometimes double their usual fee, but he or she can gain greater or total control over the atmosphere of the room. At first, it might appear exactly as before, but the fun truly begins once the dancing portion of the evening starts.

During the First Dance, some DJs have gotten into the habit of having a custom gobo created with the couple’s names on them, which they can project onto the dance floor or ceiling. These can be made relatively quickly and cheaply and make great after-the-event souvenirs. The Martin Mania PR1 is a great light for this application, and a custom gobo for it runs between $20 and $50 depending on how fast you need it. Your dealer should have details, or check out www.gobosource.com.

When the high-energy dancing begins, those seemingly “in-the-background” PAR cans start grabbing attention as their colors and intensity begin to match the beat, colors and movement of the lights on the stage and dance floor! In effect, the entire room conveys the mood and energy of the moment

As you can imagine, wiring-up an entire room with DMX cable could be difficult, or even impossible, depending on how far away fixtures need to be. Essential, then, is one more new technology: wireless DMX. One specialized supplier is the Wireless Solution (www.wirelessdmx.com). No more trying to hang cables over doorways or carrying around heavy cord tunnels or mats. Plug your fixture into the closest electrical outlet, plug the DMX receiver into the fixture’s input and you’re good to go!

Leave No Surface Unlit

You might recall a previous article in these pages about a new technology called CeeLite (www.ceelite.com). CeeLite, which is both the name of the company and their product, refers to LEC, or Light Emitting Capacitor technology. This results in extremely thin lighting panels that, while none currently change color, are dimmable and DMX controllable. They can also provide custom shapes if ordered in advance. Extremely durable, these panels don’t crush easily and are flexible, which opens up a lot of possibilities. A CeeLite panel under the ice sculpture, or under the chocolate fountain, or on any surface whatsoever could flash and pulsate in time with the music! Keeping round and rectangular panels in popular table sizes on hand would leave you prepared for just about anything, and colored films can be applied to make them match any color your event’s theme might require.

One neat application I found for CeeLite was the easel photo. If you’ve ever been to a wedding where, instead of a guest book, the couple has everyone sign the border of a large photo of themselves that they can then keep as a souvenir, then imagine that photo completely lit! This will take some collaboration between you, the couple and their photographer, but essentially it means making a full-sized photo transparency of the picture and attaching it to the white CeeLite panel (which actually looks pink when turned off). Then the whole thing is attached to a matte backing and framed as usual. A Sharpie® pen works very well for signatures. Also worth mentioning is that CeeLite runs very cool, making it safe for use just about anywhere! At the moment the panels are a bit pricey, but last for an incredibly long time.

Reach for the Sky

Now that you’ve got the entire banquet room covered, there’s one other detail to consider. Every experience begins with anticipation; a sense of something “just over the horizon.” So why not reach out PAST that horizon? For events beginning in the evening, during or just after sunset, then why not ink a deal with your local Sky Tracker rental and offer your clients moving searchlights? You’ve seen these at just about every grand opening, movie premier or superstore sale; a self-contained trailer with a generator and two or four searchlights that are motorized, “scanning” the sky in big, looping circles. These beams are powerful enough to be seen for miles. Imagine the impression that guests will have, following those light beams for miles and realizing that it’s for THEIR party! At about $500.00 on average pre night, this is one effect that is truly “over the top.”

Automatic Interaction

The effective use of lighting technologies both new and old can give your audience a sense that they’re totally immersed and involved in the party, even if they never come anywhere near the dance floor. At the very least it can brighten up a dull room, and when done well, makes an event truly unforgettable. If that is your goal, then don’t think “hall” or “venue.” Think “lightscape.” Until next time, safe spinnin’!

Tweet This Post 

Buyers Market by Larry Williams

Don’t tear down your pricing…build a vision of superior value for your prospects

By nature, DJs spend a great deal of time focusing on how to market their services to their customers. In doing so, they don’t often give great attention to how consumers engage in simple buying practices that affect our profession. In an on-going effort to recognize consumer perceptions, we’ll look at a buying characteristic that can be detrimental to our marketing efforts.

A Buyer’s Advantage

In real estate, as with other professions, a “buyers market” is recognized as a market condition that favors the buyer or consumer. This is often made possible by lower than normal prices due to a supply of commodities that exceed demand. In essence, more people want to sell than want to buy.

In a buyers market, the buyer has the advantage. This is because the overabundance of commodities or product (offered by the sellers) allows the buyer the opportunity to “bid” or “negotiate” a better price. Sellers are motivated because the movement of their product may be slow. In this situation, buyers are in a perfect position to “pick and choose”, “take their time” to find a great price on the product or service they are seeking.

A Seller’s Advantage

In a “seller’s market” the opposite can occur. Sellers have the advantage because they posses a product that is not abundant and therefore, is often in high demand. Buyers realize the need to “act fast,” as negotiation is not often a realistic option. In contrast to a buyer’s market, a seller’s market is indicative of more people who want to buy than want to sell.

Real Estate vs. DJs as Commodities

Nowadays, it is not uncommon for many locales to have an overabundance of DJs for the buying public to choose from. This is evident in the saturation of numerous advertising mediums that are immediately available to customers. With no shortage of DJs to contact, this means there are plenty of DJs to meet with and to book. With so many DJs working diligently at securing these customers and so many viable options for consumers to consider, it is apparent our industry has for some time been a buyer’s market.

Even though the outward appearance of such a condition may favor the consumer, one should not get overly discouraged by this perception. Let’s look at this in the same manner one would as a real estate agent. In a buyer’s market, there may likely be an excessive number of homes available to choose from in a particular area. But let’s say the area is a major new development that boasts a golf course, lake and/or nearby mountains.

Even though this is a desirable area with many new homes for sale, there are only so many properties available with golf course or lake frontage and mountain views. The more desirable properties are likely to be these homes. Basically a seller’s market exists within the larger context, but because of the overall number of choices available, the consumer perception remains one that is in their favor. After all, the customer does not have to “buy up” to the higher priced and more desirable property. This decision is optional.

There is a very similar to the current DJ market situation. There are plenty of DJs (houses) available at first glance. However, there are only so many professionally business-minded DJs (more desirable properties) to choose from. This number can further be narrowed by making your business stand out as more exemplary, by offering unique services or other extra value options.

Once again, customers will believe they have the advantage of a buyer’s market, when in fact the narrowing of the field of professional DJs will create a more realistic seller’s market.

Using this Perception to Your Advantage

You can effectively redirect your potential client’s perspective by separating yourself from the majority of available DJs. By thinking outside the box, marketing your unique characteristics and elevating your level of customer service, you can establish your company as a more desirable commodity in the eyes of your customer.

The starting point for most consumers is one that mirrors a buyer’s market, simply because of the volume of available options. When you have established your company as ethically sound and highly desirable, and communicated that clearly to your potential client base, then you have effectively created a sellers market, giving yourself the advantage of commanding top dollar, generating demand for your services, and providing a greater opportunity for consumers to decisively choose your service.

The beauty of the situation is that the customer feels great about their decision because they have succeeded in finding the perfect company-the jewel in the large haystack of available choices.

Larry Williams is the author of the acclaimed title, Mind Your Own Business, and is a nationally recognized seminar speaker. He serves as a chapter director for the American Disc Jockey Association and has also served with the national organization. In 2006 he was awarded the ADJA’s Michael Butler Humanitarian Award. For more information, please visit www.djlarrywilliams.com.

Tweet This Post 

Next Page »