The Power of Lists – By Michael Edwards

For most DJs, the relatively slower winter months provide an excellent opportunity to work on improving your DJ equipment, stage setup, lighting and even fine-tuning the way you run your office. With so many important things to work on, we often neglect to allot sufficient time to improve the way we organize and access our music. When you stop to think about it, as a DJ, your music should actually be your top priority, because without it, everything else is useless.

Most of you now use hard drives to store your music collections and software that allows you to create playlists. This provides a unique opportunity to create—in advance—hundreds of new playlists, music sets and sub-sets that will really come in handy in the “heat of battle” when you have a packed dance floor in front of you.

Traditionally, the most basic way to separate different types of music has been by genre, similar to the organization of the music we purchase from subscription services. It’s convenient to simply follow their lead and set up comfortable, familiar categories for Rock, Top 40/CHR, Country, Hip Hop/Urban, Dance/Remix, Adult Contemporary, Reggae etc. Back when we used records or CDs, most of us would organize them by Genre and then by Artist, within that Genre. You’d know right where to look for Alan Jackson in the “Country” genre, or Donna Summer in the “Disco/Dance” genre.

MAKING THE LISTS

If the only way you still organize your music is by Genre, Artist and Title, there’s a whole new world of micro-organization just begging to elevate your game to a whole new level. The old, familiar format will still be there for you, but the “go to” songs and “can’t miss” dance floor packers should also be separated out into well-thought out subsets without any weaker non-hits or filler songs that can always still be found in the main collection.

If you do weddings, you should have massive sub-sets of all the most popular songs needed for ceremony music (sets for prelude, processional, recessional etc), cocktail hour music (sets of smooth jazz, rat pack, contemporary etc), introduction music (a list of pre-made intro loops and instrumental versions of the most requested, popular intro songs), dinner music (younger crowd, older crowd and mixed audience sub-sets), cake cutting favorites, centerpiece giveaway set, garter/bouquets favorites, a ton of dance sets and a set of good-bye/exit music. You can subtract or add to each set as new material comes out and use them not just “on the fly” at the event, but to draw from, in advance, when creating a unique new playlist based on your future clients’ preferences.

Ever research the music for a class reunion? If you are booked for the class of ’92, you’d better know that “Jump” by Kris Kross held number one on the charts for eight weeks in a row, right smack dab in the middle of their prom and graduation time from 4/25/92 to 6/20/92…probably a big hit when played at their senior prom. You wouldn’t have to think about it if you pre-organize all major hits in advance by the month and year they came out. That class would also love hearing music from all four of the years they were in high school, not just the year they graduated.

A “#1 Hits Only” list sorted by year and month is also very handy when playing for an anniversary. Imagine the response you’ll get by saying, “This song was #1 on the charts the day you were married in 1977.” Billboard currently publishes a useful book of all #1s from 1955 to 2009.

What about top hits organized by both Type AND by Decade? I found that merely dumping all the ‘70s or ‘80s hits into their own huge list wasn’t specific enough. Fine-tuning larger Decade lists into smaller sub-sets from that decade will make finding the right song in a hurry a lot easier. Instead of just ‘80s, how about ‘80s Dance Music, ‘80s Slow R&B, ‘80s Hair Band hits and ‘80s Hip-Hop hits. Same holds true for ‘80s-’90s Boy Bands, ‘80s Female Artists, ‘80s Movie Themes, ‘80s Line Dances/Novelty, etc.

Once you have an organized music collection, smaller sub-sets can easily be combined so that you can instantly glance at over 60 years worth of a specific type of music. For example: All Line Dances or just “#1 Country hits by female artists.”

How about cross-genre dance sets based on similar BPM? We all use certain songs that mix very well together, but sometimes browsing a longer list of dance songs that are all close to 120 BPM or close to 128 BPM will spark an idea for a brand new mix or set that is perfect for that evening’s audience. This type of dance tempo list is not necessarily limited to any particular decade or genre, thus providing an ideal source for transition songs that will keep the dancers on the floor as you smoothly switch genres or decades as needed.

Needless to say, a good DJ is always watching the crowd and selecting which songs to play next to satisfy the entire audience… including those who might get up and dance if you’d just play their type of dance music too. Having a great list of similar tempo songs at your fingertips is a valuable tool, especially if you’ve already been playing for four or five hours and may be starting to get a bit fatigued.

I even store pre-formatted five-hour playlists for “types of functions,” organized and saved in advance, so that if a call comes in for a last-minute retirement, Sweet 16 or holiday party, I already have a basic music template handy to provide the typical music for that type of event. Such “template” lists do not limit spontaneous musical decisions, since you still have the needed flexibility to replace any number of songs that may not fit the specific needs or requests of that crowd.

I’ll sometimes save the songlist from a particularly successful “specialized” event and rename it as “Country 50th B’Day,” or “Latin/Reggaeton Wedding” so that a similar future event doesn’t take quite as long to format in advance.

I invite you to comment and share ideas on how you organize your music collections. Working together, we can learn from each other and all become better at what we do.

Here’s looking forward to another great year of staying “Ahead of the Curve”!

 

Michael Edwards is the owner of AllStar Entertainment & UpLighting, located in Andover, MA. He can be contacted at 978-470-4700 or emailed at info@getadj.com. A Member of the American Disc Jockey Assoc. and the Mobile Beat Advisory Board. His company websites include: www.GetaDJ.com and www.GetUplights.com.

 

Your Best Source of Referrals – By John Stiernberg

In the July 2010 issue of Mobile Beat, we talked about generating referrals, and making sure that you and your mobile entertainment business are referable. The fundamentals haven’t changed: 1) Show up on time, 2) do what you say you are going to do, 3) finish what you start, and 4) say “please” and “thank you.” Doing those things consistently make you referable, but do not necessarily assure that your clients will refer you. What do you need to do to generate referrals?

Will past clients take initiative? Are you optimizing online tools? This article addresses these issues and recommends three action tips for success.

WHY REFERRALS ANYWAY?

You know the expression, “The best advertising is word of mouth.” When someone says good things about you, they are providing “third-party credibility.” It’s not you bragging or paying for promotion. Instead, a happy client recommends your service. Prospective clients are far more comfortable approaching and hiring someone that one of their peers has hired successfully. Peer groups are not limited to people who know each other. They can be “friends and followers” in the 21st-century sense.

The relevance of this is at the heart of social media today. Your peers have more street cred than the business that is offering virtually anything for sale. That applies to reviewing and sourcing services (like mobile entertainment) in addition to goods.

So why work at generating referrals? Because they eliminate (or at least minimize) cold call selling. Say that a couple is getting married and needs to hire a DJ. You hear about it or see the engagement announcement in your local media. You could contact them directly, introduce yourself, and ask if you could meet with them to discuss their wedding entertainment plans. Or, you can seed the market with referral sources so that the couple or their wedding planner is aware of your good work and calls you. That ringing phone (or text or e-mail) is a beautiful thing!

PUT YOURSELF IN THE CLIENT’S PLACE

Want to go out for dinner and you’re eager to try a new place? It’s possible that you would ask friends, co-workers, or family for a recommendation before you would Google “restaurants” and take a chance. But sometimes it isn’t practical to make phone calls or chat with trusted advisors. In those circumstances, the next best thing is to check out reviews online. Angie’s List, Google Reviews, YouTube, and Facebook (among many others) all feature reviews of virtually everything. The level of detail ranges from the simple thumbs up “Likes” to lengthy reviews or blog entries with plenty of details.

There are two levels of client involvement in terms of driving referrals to you.

Passive. The client agrees to be a reference when you ask them. They will say good things about you if anyone contacts them, but they don’t otherwise take action.

Active. The client agrees to post a positive review on your website or Facebook page. There are degrees of this. For example, they may simply click a like button or post multiple positive reviews and encourages their friends, family, and co-workers to hire you. This is active promotion vs. waiting for someone to contact them.

HOW TO HELP YOUR CLIENTS PROMOTE YOU

Why would a happy client refer actively vs. passively? It boils down to asking them for their help. Here are three suggestions for how to make it easy for your clients to promote you.

Action Tip 1. Set up your website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, LinkedIn profile, and any other online outlet with places where clients can easily talk about you. This means making your website interactive, which may cost a little time and money, but is worth it.

Action Tip 2. Contact your past clients and invite them to post reviews. They won’t necessarily know about it until you tell them, so take the time to reach out. E-mail blasts and Twitter tweets may get a few random replies. Personal phone calls yield two things: 1) a higher positive response rate and 2) the opportunity to ask them if they know anyone planning an event.

Action Tip 3: Send a thank you note to everyone that posts (referability skill #4—say “please” and “thank you”). Wow, those fans will become your diehard advocates when you simply say “thanks.”

And if for any reason a client refuses to cooperate or posts a bad review, you are immediately presented with the opportunity to do preemptive damage control (hope that doesn’t happen…).

HERE’S THE POINT…

Passive references are better than nothing, but active referral sources and online buzz are competitive advantages. While you need to work at it, there is a big payoff: more gigs and more happy clients. Be sure to implement the Action Tips in sequence: 1) set up your online tools, 2) invite past clients to post reviews, and 3) thank them for their efforts.

 

John Stiernberg is founder of Stiernberg Consulting (www.stiernberg.com). His book Succeeding In Music: Business Chops for Performers and Songwriters is published by Hal Leonard Books. Contact John via e-mail at john@stiernberg.com. You can find John on LinkedIn, Plaxo, and Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

EDJ Workshop: Rackmount vs. Laptop – By Richard McCoy

Electronic DJing (EDJ) has evolved into an integral part of the modern DJ performance. The technology is developing at the speed of light; new hardware with advance capabilities is being introduced by all the major manufacturers on a regular basis. Software companies are constantly updating their products to keep pace with the new hardware. Almost all new EDJ products now have a computer interface to increased functionality. My 45 years as a disc jockey and electronics engineer have taught me much about our industry and its technology. I hope to share this knowledge with you.

Take USB 2.0 as an example of change. It has become the standard EDJ hardware to computer interface. However the limitations of USB 2.0 have been reached, and a new USB 3.0 is available for use. Faster and with higher power ability, USB 3.0 is just one example of the continually advancing computer industry. There is also a SATA600 for faster disk access. Are you going to be ready for the new technology?
Portability at What Price?

The majority of EDJ’s use a Laptop for all their entertainment and control applications. Laptops are small, very portable and self-contained. Just plug-and-play. Unfortunately, laptops have an inherent problem limiting their flexibility when it’s time to advance the technology. It is very difficult to “upgrade” a laptop and many come with a lot of bundled software that can interfere with EDJ functions and operation.

Common upgrades are adding more memory or the installation of externally USB devices. All this puts additional stress on the power supply by increasing the thermal properties of the unit. Laptop cooling pads are now becoming a required piece of equipment to maintain operation. Most low to medium-priced laptop have a slower, 500GB hard drives and “shared” video memory for limited external screen resolution. Laptop CPUs are designed for minimum power usage and not performance. Just remember that loading on more functions, memory, video, HD speed and USB devices requires more power. Power also produces more heat. In addition, different audio, video and karaoke formats require various amounts of computing power to translate and convert.

NOT LOCKED IN A TOWER

There is no question that the portability, along with ease of use and set up are the main reasons why most EDJ’s prefer a laptop computer, seeing the only alternative being a typical tower-style home PC, which would never make it on the road.

But wait, there is a more powerful alternative! Rackmount computers can be configured and modified to adapt to any performance requirement, while maintaining an upgrade path as technology develops. I’ve been using a 2U rackmount computer for six years. Each year I may “rebuild” the entire system to keep current. I can changes motherboards, CPU, memory, video card, disk storage and other functions as newer and better components become available. I keep the case and change the components.

This level of workmanship does require more than basic computer knowledge, but it’s not beyond the capability of many EDJs. I currently have 4TB of removable RAID* One disk storage, two 1-GB video cards, DVD burner/player, wi-fi, 12 GB of RAM (64 Bit OS), 500W power supply, illuminated wireless keyboard/mouse, USB 3.0, fans and a shock mount chassis. All of this is prewired in a single case that also includes a mixer, CD/DVD/CD+G player (backup), Hercules RMX controller, two wireless microphones, power conditioner and monitor holder. I can reconfigure my system any time I wish. And the best part is that no one can pick it up and walk away with it!

Here are some typical laptop and rackmount configurations and their cost.  [ Ed. Note: See the January 2012 issue of MB for the full comparison chart. ]

The rackmount system is custom-built and designed for maximum performance, but it can be configured at a reduced cost by using more economical components. A less expensive version may cost about $600 to build (no keyboard or monitor). The main advantage of a rack system is the ability to change and upgrade as technology advances. The case itself can be used again while the boards and card are replaced.
comparison

Using Virtual DJ (Ver. 7.0.5b) software as a test bed in Four Player mode, for the Rackmount High Performance system, I discovered that there is no noticeable performance impact decoding any audio, video or karaoke formats, or while loading VERY large video files from disk. On the other hand, the Performance Laptop did show signs of slow video and MP3 loading but continued to output quality audio and video signals. The Low Cost Laptop did not perform well in the Four Player Mode and was limited in the two player mode. There was “stoppage” in the video output due to the slow disk and CPU speed, but none with the audio. Large files will always cause slower loading time.

IN CONCLUSION

If you are a serious EDJ who insists on providing your clients with the best performance and reliability for Music, video and karaoke, then a rackmount system is the way to go. The higher capabilities of a top-quality system will only enhance your show. You will be able to add games, graphics, PowerPoint, internet music/video search, audio/video recordings, cameras and DMX lighting controls, not to mention a full-size keyboard and monitor to your system without impacting your show. And I’ll mention it again: This system is NOT something that a person can pick up and walk away with.

If a rackmount system is beyond your budget or personal capabilities, make sure to purchase a high-end laptop that will serve you for a long time. A good one should work well for 3-4 years before advancements make it “outdated.”I STRONGLY RECOMMEDND that all EDJs stay away from the low cost laptops just to save a dollar. It is not worth the problems.

There is a lot more that can be said about EDJing and the systems we use. In future articles, I will be addressing many issues confronting computer music users and how to make systems run better and easier.

* RAID = “redundant array of independent disks”
With his company A Sound Spectrum, Richard McCoy has been providing pro DJ services to the California Bay Area since 1966. He has served as a national officer of the ADJA, was a founder and officer of the ADJA’s Northern California chapter, and is the founder and past president of the Bay Area Mobile Music Association (BAMMA). Rich is also a member and major contributor to the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

MOBILE BEAT, #140 – JANUARY 2012

MOBILE BEAT, #140 – JANUARY 2012
NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

In this issue of Mobile Beat, we offer a variety of ways to rev up your DJ engine for the new year….Mike Ficher talks about making a new investment in your primary asset–yourself–in INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE. The need for BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS with others, in order to build more business, is on Rob Johnson’s mind as we start another year full of mid-week money opportunities. Steve “The Hitman” Brazell, who will be sharing his branding secrets at February’s Mobile Beat Vegas show, asks WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE YOU? and provides some ways to answer the question. Publisher Ryan Burger chronicles, in WRESTLING WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT, one way MB’s production arm has revved things up, by joining with a regional wrestling group for mutual benefit.

In the realm of music, Michael Edwards points out the latent POWER OF LISTS in your DJ software–creating playlists that will make you more efficient and make gigging more fun. Jay Maxwell looks at the relationship between MOVIES AND MUSIC and offers a key tip for staying ahead of the hits. In the category of “getting on the right side of the law”—always good way to improve your business—industry legal expert and featured Vegas speaker Moses Avalon lays down the truth on GIFTING MUSIC to clients. We also feature a great interview with a Top 200 resident, MARCIA GRIFITHS. The positive vibes you’ll feel coming of the page just might be enough to brighten up and power up a dark, dreary winter day.
All this is an a lot more is on tap to help you move with power into 2012. Rock on!

Other interviews include industry leaders ALFRED GONZALEZ (American DJ’s National Sales Manager) and DJ/MC/PR expert TOM HAIBECK, along with Hawaii DJ DAVID LOUIS and his unique networking/marketing ideas.

With some very practical ideas for optimizing the power of your business, Arnoldo Offerman shares the real deal on”swag” in HYPIN’!; Mike “Dr. Frankenstand” Ryan exhorts DO YOUR HOMEWORK; and Jim Weisz runs down how to EMAIL YOUR WAY TO MORE BUSINESS.

On the technology front, we roll out a new column from digital DJ sage Richard McCoy, EDJ WORKSHOP. In his first installment, Rich lays down the gauntlet in RACKMOUNT VS. LAPTOP. His choice for the victor of that contest may surprise you.

Also reviewed in this issue are: the fresh RANE MP26 mixer, STANTON’S SCS.4DJ controller, with computer included(!), the CHAUVET CUBIX, GEMINI UHF-5200 and AKG WMS 470 wireless mic systems, and the new CRANE STAND PRO.

In our continuing FOCUS ON BUSINESS, Jeffrey Gitomer predicts the future in LOOKING FORWARD, Jay Conrad Levinson reveal’s MARKETING’S GREATEST ALLY, John Stiernberg shows how to access YOUR BEST SOURCE OF REFERRALS, and Jason Weldon talks phone etiquette in RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER?

And finally, Pau Kida, THE DJ COACH is there to encourage anyone who needs to refuel before revving up for greater success with GETTING A FRESH START.

Simple Math: Filling the Dance Floor a Year Ahead of Time

The equation really is simple math:

Focus on Guests + Delivery of Great Guest Experience = Desired Behavior (Dancing)

But not everyone is good at math, so class begins now – a year before the test.

There are so many factors that can contribute to (or take away from) a full dance floor at a wedding reception or other special event.  Many of these factors have nothing to do with the DJ.  Time and location of the actual ceremony, venue of the reception, weather, parking, traffic all have an influence on the guest experience and therefore on the dance floor itself.  Obviously, we can’t control all of these things, but as entertainment consultants we have to help clients become aware of these factors, control whatever can be controlled and adapt them to contribute to a full dance floor.  This takes careful planning from the very beginning of the planning process.  The actual event may be a year from now, but because there are so many things – let’s call them “dance floor factors” – that can be controlled and need to be planned far in advance, our team’s job is to start filling the dance floor…now.

Great parties don’t just happen. They have to be meticulously planned.  Actually, great parties can “just happen”, but that’s usually coincidence.  When planning the entertainment for an event on the scale of a wedding reception, nothing should be left to coincidence.   One of the very first things I try to do when helping new clients plan entertainment at Jerry Bruno Productions here in Cleveland is to try and get them to see a much bigger picture than just what songs will be on their playlist (which is often the first thing they want to talk about followed closely with concerns over “cheesy DJs”).  My first goal is to get them thinking about all the different elements that can contribute to or take away from a full dance floor, many of which they may not have considered before. Then I can incorporate their vision, personalities and creativity into a plan for their party that is focused on achieving a full dance floor.

I try to get them to think of themselves not so much as bride and groom, but as objective members of an entertainment committee.  This committee often starts with just three members – me and them.  I think it’s important that they be able to step outside of their roles as Bride and Groom and really take an objective look at their event.  From where brides and grooms sit at the Centers of the Reception Universe, everything seems like a good idea, because they are the center of attention.  But what about guest #40 and #41, for example?  Not many brides and grooms consider the correlation between seemingly little things like the hassle of an inconvenient parking situation, for example and how that can specifically effect the dance floor.  And why should they?  As the B&G, they never have to worry about driving, parking or any of that.  But their guests – the specific consumer group our committee should be focused on and that we desire certain behavior (dancing) from – do have to worry about how they’re getting from point A to point B.  The last thing we want #40 & #41 thinking about is where their car is or leaving early to find it.  Our committee has to be focused on what the total guest experience will be and how it effects the dance floor.  Isn’t the idea of inviting “honored” guests, to actually honor them?

I love that moment in a client meeting when I can see the light bulbs light up over the heads of Brides and Grooms and their parents when this concept start to make sense to them.  They immediately start taking notes and start applying these concepts to their own plans.  They can see how the ripple effect of everything that happens that day effects the dance floor 8 hours from now. Suddenly discussions about specific songs and music genres fall away as the bigger picture of planning great entertainment takes center stage.  Suddenly, the planning morphs from being about “my day” to actually planning a great dance party for everyone.

DJs and Bands sometimes can get credit for good things that happen at events that they actually had very little to do with.  If the members of the entertainment committee that are responsible for setting up the structure of the day have done a great job of creating an exceptional guest experience, they probably have delivered a crowd of people to the DJ who are ready and willing to dance and probably will despite the fact that the actual DJ might not be the best DJ in the world.  Because the guests had a great all-around experience, they might walk out of that reception saying the DJ was great because the dance floor was full all night!

This goes both ways.  Sometimes we get blamed for things we had nothing to do with.  A DJ could be the greatest MC and Event Host ever.  She carefully planned and rehearsed a creative, personalized Grand Entrance.  She contacted the other vendors in advance to share timelines.  She made professional and eloquent announcements. She played a great mix of music all night.  But if the other members of her committee dropped the ball and only focused on 2 people as opposed to 200, the dance floor may be empty at 10:00.  What do the guests say then?  “That DJ wasn’t very good.  No one danced”.

The point is is that this is all show business, even for the Bride and Groom. We all have to work as a team to appeal to the largest possible audience/customers/guests.  Otherwise, why were they invited?

There will be a test.

 

“DJs are the New Rock Stars”

…………..so says Simon Cowell. And he’s planning a DJ talent search reality show to find the worlds greatest DJ.
The new format will be co-produced by SYCO, Cowell’s joint venture with Sony Music, and Overbrook Entertainment, a U.S. entertainment company founded by Hollywood star Will Smith.
As much as I believe that what he say’s is true and I’ll be the first to champion that notion I am a little skeptic of how to package a DJ’s talent in in a concise cameo “mixing” scratching” performance. It seems to me the DJ’s talent is his ability over a night to orchestrate the peaks and valleys of the dance floor energy. How great a DJ is at engaging the crowd and keeping the dance floor full are skills that are hard to capture in a 5 minute talent show segment.
What do you think?

 

 

Read the DJ HOT TALK blog at www.djhottalk.com  

American DJ Presented With MMR Dealer’s Choice Award

American DJ Presented With MMR Dealer’s Choice Award

ANAHEIM. CA – (For Immediate Release) – Consistency is a virtue for American DJ. For the seventh year in a row, the Los Angeles-based company has won the MMR Dealer’s Choice Award as Lighting Line of the Year.

The award, which is based on voting by MMR’s music dealer readers, was presented to American DJ at the NAMM Show in Anaheim. “It’s always very gratifying to be recognized by our retailer-partners,” said Scott Davies, General Manager of American DJ. “Dealers are the ones who interact with our ultimate end-user customers on a day-to-day basis. They’re an instant and accurate barometer of how our products are working out in the ‘real world’ marketplace.”

The fact that music dealers have continually voted for American DJ in the MMR balloting is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the people who work at American DJ, said Davies. “This is a team-oriented company, and this is a team award,” he explained.

For more information, contact American DJ at www.americandj.com.

Pictured in this photo are Brian Dowdle, Toby Velasquez, Alfred Gonzales and Scott Davies of American DJ.

Why be a kids entertainer?

 As a DJ, one market that is generally overlooked is the kid’s entertainment market. If you perform Bar/Bat Mitzvahs or School Events, then you already have the experience to perform for children between the ages of 3 and 7 years old.

There are several pros and cons to providing children’s entertainment that you may want to consider. Among the advantages:

• Kid’s Entertainment can be profitable! If you set up a children’s entertainment program that appeals to the younger audiences, you can book your services for kid’s birthday parties. And parents SPEND MONEY for their kid’s birthdays. (Click this link for a feature from “Good Morning America” that tells more: http://youtu.be/mEH_G9MVqMw
• Potential clients such as Day Care Centers, Camps, Shopping Facilities, Sport Events are ALL looking for entertainment for kids, and will spend money on quality.
• You CAN increase weekday bookings with an entertainment program for kids.
• Performing for kids can open doors to bigger events as a mobile DJ (with the right marketing, networking and follow up.

The cons to performing for kids include:

• Even though your clients will spend money for your services, these events generally do not pay as much as your typical Wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
• Kid’s entertainment is NOT for everyone. If you are unable to be “kid friendly”, or you simply do not like kids, then you will not be successful. It WILL SHOW in your performances!

In considering whether you can or will provide kids entertainment, developing an entertainment program to market these services is important. If you can sing, then a program such as “Kiddie Karaoke” can work for you. A few changes in the library, as well as a kid friendly persona can help make you successful. If you are a Bar/Bat Mitzvah DJ, you probably offer games as part of your services. KIDS LOVE GAMES, and it can be an avenue into entertaining for younger kids. Promo Only offers 2 Music Video discs especially for younger kids which could be integrated into a program.

In developing a kids entertainment program (or becoming involved with one such as Bubble Parties.com or Campardy), there are a few things you need to know:

CLEAN MUSIC: Clean versions of music is a MUST! You will not go far as a kids entertainer with music that has inappropriate lyrics for children.

HAVE A “KID FRIENDLY” PERSONA: Hosting a kid’s birthday party and emceeing a wedding are totally different. You can not be in “Wedding Mode” when you are entertaining young kids. They LOVE entertainment that is funny and fun. In fact, every interactive dance that most brides and grooms hate can be elements to a successful kids party!

HAVE A PLAN: When developing your program or show, have it formatted out and remember that you need to keep the kids engaged for the entire performance. Planning your format out and spacing out interactive dances and games will allow you to keep your performance at a comfortable pace for kids.

BE ACCESSIBLE, BUT APPROPRIATE: As you begin to do your performances, you may find that kids will become “fans” of your kid friendly persona. As they do, they begin to look at you as a “friend”, which may mean that they may try to get a hug from you at the end of the show. Even though it is harmless, it can be perceived the wrong way. Also, remember you are a kids entertainer and not a parent, teacher or another person in authority. So correcting children at your event, or even disciplining them as if you were in these roles may not be a good idea. Be sure to ask for cooperation from those people in charge to help you with these aspects. They are rare, but they do happen!

As I said before, performing for young children is NOT for everyone. It does take a certain skill to be successful as a kids party entertainer. If you are looking to generate extra revenue for your DJ business, this is just one way…and it CAN BE FUN!

With over 20 years experience in the Mobile DJ industry, Rob Peters is the owner of Rob Peters Entertainment, Inc. located in Braintree, Massachusetts. Rob is an Endorsed Professional Entertainer, author of “The Business Of Mobile DJing” from ProDJ Publishing, and the owner of Bubble Parties.com, which offers a business plan and materials to help DJs make money performing Bubble Parties for children.

Rob is also known as “The Bubble Music Man” throughout the greater Boston area and performed over 180 children’s events in 2010. In 2010, The Bubble Music Man was a finalist for a Parent’s Pick Award from Nickelodeon for Best Kid’s Party Entertainer in Boston

 

Rebecca

This post was was going to be about something completely different. And then I performed with my band The Avenue at a wedding last night and I met Rebecca.

Rebecca was on the dance floor all night although I can’t say she actually danced much.  She was enthralled by the band.  She loved the music and seemed fascinated by all of us performing it.  She literally stood right in front of me all night long.

Rebecca is just a kid.  Probably 14 or 15 and she is autistic.  She was there for the wedding of a relative but all  she wanted to do that night was sing with the band.  She loves music.  She assured me time and time again that she knew all the words to “Baby” by Justin Bieber.  And even though that song isn’t on the band’s playlist, I called her up to join the band a few times during the night to help us sing whatever party dance song we were playing at the time.  She seemed so excited when I handed her the microphone.  Her family loved seeing her have fun and the crowd loved it.

I just kept thinking that I hoped we offered her even the slightest bit of encouragement to follow her musical dreams despite whatever obstacles might be waiting for her.  How little effort it took on my part to make her the center of attention for a few minutes every now and then.

And then I had another thought.  I have been blessed with so many good things.  I don’t do nearly enough to give back to my community or to the world in general.  Like many entertainers I often suffer from an inflated ego and sense of self-importance.  Ironically, this often stems from raging insecurities.  It’s long past time for me to take the focus off myself and my challenges and focus more on others.

I would love to find ways to make music work to help other people & causes (beyond my normal for-profit ventures).  I could donate my DJ services.  I could help encourage others to explore their love of music and develop their talents.  I could help plan a fundraiser.  I could…. I will stop being so self-centered.

Hearts are big in the DJ community and I know many DJs are way ahead of me on this one.  How are you using your DJ/MC talents and experience to make your community a better place?

I’m so glad my band got the chance to jam with Rebecca last night. It would be so cool to see her making her own music some day.

Rock on Rebecca.

Uplight Covers event at MBLV16

UpLightCovers.com & Mobile Beat welcome you to the 2012 Las Vegas Night Club Experience.

UpLightCovers.com is hosting it’s first annual product launch party FREE to ALL Mobile Beat attendee’s before 11:30pm. This Nightclub Experience will take place Wednesday Night, February 8th, 2012 at Gallery Night Club inside Planet Hollywood. Happy hour is 9-11 with fantastic drink specials. To receive your FREE wrist band please visit UpLightCovers.com’s booth inside the trade show. Or, come to the seminar on “Changing Your DJ Company to Production Company”.

Extremely Limited VIP & Sponsorship Opportunities Available For Half Price – Starting at $400
Please contact info@uplightcovers.com for more information.

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