Week #2 - Sponsored by DJS Pro Audio and Lighting - October 6th thru October 12th (winner to be drawn on October 13th)

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. It’s a simple principle, yet not always easy to find in the business world. We started DJS Pro Audio and Lighting (AKA DJ Supply) nearly 3 decades ago with that principle in mind. Disc Jockeys had few precious outlets to learn about and purchase equipment. As working entertainers ourselves, we knew that there was a need for a place where the sales staff understood the specific requirements of a mobile performer. There was a need for a retail showroom, with knowledgeable sales staff, cutting edge equipment, and a hands-on approach to dealing with customers. DJS Pro Audio and Lighting is that store.

Our brick and mortar locations in Metro Detroit have become a destination spot for entertainers all over the US and Canada. Our website, with the new, easy to remember www.DJSPAL.com is servicing customers all over the globe and we enjoy a tremendous amount of repeat business. Our customers realize we are people just like them. We have something in common, we too go out weekends and earn a living entertaining other people. We try and get our hands on almost every single piece of the gear we sell, so we can be confident when we tell you honestly how it works. From multi-channel mixers to custom gobos, down to a simple C-clamp to cutting edge LED fixtures, we make sure we know about the product so we can give you the best information available. It’s part and parcel to treating you with the respect you deserve, that is why we will always treat you like a person, not an invoice number. We invite you to experience our show room or website at www.djspal.com. If you should have any questions, feel free to call us at 888 DJS PAL-1, we hope you feel confident with our knowledgeable sales staff and dedicated customer service.

To celebrate the new look of the start.prodj.com chat board, DJS Pro Audio and Lighting is happy to offer a complete prize lighting package from many of the major lighting manufactures we stock and have on display. We are including lighting from American DJ and Chauvet, a DMX controller and wireless DMX system from Irradiant, a fogger and stand from Eliminator, a gift certificate good towards Martin lighting and accessories from Rosco, Accu-cable, and Arriba Cases. All you need to do is add people and music.
Good LUCK!

Here is the complete list*
Irradiant DMX Wireless SRC-260
Irradiant Club 12 SRC 145 controller
2 ADJ LED Spectrums
Chauvet DJ Squeeze II
4 Accucable AC3PDMX10
Eliminator Tri-33 Stand
Eliminator Fog it fogger
Ariba AC-140
Arriba AC-125
Rosco 1 gallon of Clear Fog Fluid
Martin $25 dollar gift certificate good towards any Martin fixture
*winner is responsible for freight charges

And make sure to check out http://www.djspal.com for all your equipment needs.

Runner Up Prize

From Promo Only (1) 3 month DVD subscription ($150 value), (1) 3 month CD subscription ($50 value),  and (1) Specialty disc ($40 value) - More information on Promo Only’s service options can be found at http://www.promoonly.com

More Prizes Next Week From

Check out http://www.mobilebeat.com/startprodjcom-remodeling-contest/

Why Workers Comp Insurance is a necessity for Wedding DJs

Since your business provides service, on-location, before, during or after a wedding or reception, you should revisit the importance (and requirement) of Workers Compensation Insurance, if you don’t already have it.

There are plenty of misconceptions about what the Internal Revenue Service requires of your business. The IRS regulations that differentiate between independent contractors and employees were updated almost 20 years ago. So it’s odd that there is any question about the requirements.

The purpose of this post is to raise the major business and marketing issues for you to consider.. Ultimately, these are accounting and insurance issues, and you should consult your agents in those professions to get specific advice for your business.

Ancient History: About twenty years ago, and earlier, you could hire a worker occasionally, or part time, and they would generally be classified as an independent contractor. You paid them in full, no tax withholdings were required, and they were responsible for their own tax obligations.

This worked particularly well if you wanted to try someone out for one or two events, or just use them occasionally. One did not have to put them on the payroll. No big deal, from an accounting standpoint.

Today’s World: The rules are radically different. The IRS has a set of 20 guidelines (SS-8 form) that they use to determine whether or not a person should be classified as an employee (or not).

The IRS information page, on this issue. describes the nature of the employer-employee relationship (behavioral, financial, & relationship). The 20 guidelines (available in PDF) give the specific tests that you should use to understand how the IRS might rule, in your situation.

Misconception #1: “My company relationship with a particular individual complies with 12 of the 20 guidelines, so I’m certain I can classify them a a contractor.”

Not exactly. In fact, if even one or two tests indicate that your worker should be classified an employee, then the IRS will likely rule against you. For example, if a worker carries a business card, with their name and your business name on it, then a reasonable person would likely conclude the worker is your employee.

Misconception #2: “I have a written contract with the worker that states that they are an independent contractor and must take care of their own taxes.”

Your agreement does not matter. Agreements and contracts that are contrary to law or regulation or unenforceable.

Essence of the IRS Regulation: The concept is really pretty simple. If you provide control and direction over the execution of the task, if you tell people where to go, what to do, and how to do it, then (in most cases), they are an employee.

Misconception (and argument) #3: “But they provide their own ‘tools of the trade’ and their own vehicle.”

That’s nice, and it’s an argument in favor of independent contractor status, but it does not trump the essence of the IRS guidelines.

The purpose of Worker’s Compensation Insurance: To protect the worker, your company, and the clients you serve, in case of injury. If a worker injures themselves, during the course of work, medical coverage for their injuries is covered, and liability is mitigated (this is the plain English version).

Without Workers Comp, your business, the worker, the venue, and the client are ALL potentially at risk:

Case in point: A worker, representing your company, arrives at a venue, and for the sake of argument, slips, falls, and breaks their wrist.

Aside from the chaos that may be created at the event, it is possible that they will sue the venue and/or the client for a hazardous situation that led to their injury (Oddly enough, if they realize that they should have been an employee, rather than a contractor, they might elect to sue you).

Who wins: No predictions. The court decides or an out-of-court agreement is reached.

Marketing Matters: In this scenario, your relationship with the venue is probably toast. Your contact probably didn’t ask if you only use employees and have them covered by Workers Comp. They assumed that you do. Now, their General Manager has come down on them with full force.

They don’t care if your company provides the most talented and competent people on the planet. They are being sued.

Yet another misconception: “I have Liability Coverage. Won’t that cover it?”

Not likely. Wrong kind of coverage. Your Liability carrier will likely deny coverage because what you SHOULD have is Workers Compensation Insurance.

Do I really have to go through this hassle, and how much will it cost me?: Probably yes, and it will cost you several percent on top of your existing payroll. If you have not set up payroll, until now, you will also have to account for the fact that you have to make a contribution for Unemployment (that is a fund that both the worker and the company contribute to.

But that’s going to raise my expense for workers by 10-15%: Gee, now you have to bear the expense that other legitimate businesses do.

CREATE A MARKETING ADVANTAGE: If, after getting the proper professional advice, you reach the reasonable conclusion that you are not in compliance, and putting your entire business at risk, you will elect to get your employees properly classified.

Now you have bragging rights (so to speak) against your non-compliant low-life competitors (forgetting the fact that you were a non-compliant low-life until this point).

Be proactively in touch with your contacts a venues. Write them a diplomatic letter detailing how your company carries Workers Compensation Insurance to protect not only your workers, but the venue and client, as well. Include a copy of your current coverage.

The key is to clearly communicate that while every company SHOULD do this, many DON’T. Suggest that they ask ALL the vendors to supply a copy of their current coverage, so they can be certain. Since most people who you deal with (particularly at larger companies) are employees, they never deal with these ownership issues. So, usually, they never give it a thought, or assume all businesses are in proper compliance. It’s your job to educate them and make them appropriately uncomfortable.

It’s only a small task for them to send a form letter to all their vendors, asking for documentation. It could save their job.

FINAL THOUGHT: Is this a pain? Somewhat. Is it costly? Sure.

But here’s the deal. You cannot afford to risk your business by sticking your head in the sand. You need to be 100% in compliance, and then turn it into a wedding marketing advantage.

POST SCRIPT: Don’t get sloppy!

Don’t be in compliance and then send out an independent contractor, even if it’s for one event. Being part-time or a casual hiring does not change anything. Even if they work for you just one time, the worker is an employee.

Don’t do everything else, correctly, and then still put your business at risk with the weakest link in your company, a new employee.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has both practical and wedding marketing implications

As I sit here, in Las Vegas, today’s greatest issue is how effective my air conditioning is. Not exactly a big issue.

In the wake of hurricanes Gustav and Ike, like many people, I have had great concerns for many of my friends, who reside, and do business, in the affected areas.

As someone who ran a mobile DJ business during the Loma Prieta earthquake (a 7.1) of 1989, in San Francisco, I have a pretty good understanding of the fears and actualities that affect businesses in the middle of a disaster. Current events have motivated me to blog about wideranging related issues.

Fortunately, hurricanes, and accompanying floods, generally give advance warning of several days. Earthquakes give no notice. Tornadoes give very short notice. Fires are random events.

There are a whole range of emergencies that can beset you, your clients, your business and community. This will be the first of several posts, detailing the human, business, and ethical situations and choices that confront you.

Here is a quick list of some of the topics that will be addressed in upcoming posts.

• Contractual language
• Back up equipment
• Intra-company communications
• Market area: its risks and ramifications
• Venue and client emergency situations
• Backing up business records
• Insurance Issues
• Life threatening emergencies at an event
• Communicating with clients and venues
• Natural disasters: Before, during and after
• Accidents: People and vehicles
• How all these issues are wedding marketing-related

===

Wishing all of you in the entire Gulf Coast a minimum of challenges, and a speedy return to business, at full speed.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

What DJ’s need to know about cupcakes

Cupcakes, you say. “What do cupcakes have to do with Wedding Marketing?”

Read on, for an outstanding small business success story and a casebook example of public relations wizardry.

The essence of Seth Godin’s book, Purple Cow, is to create a product or service that is “remarkable.” Remarkable, in the sense that something about what you do is unusual, rare, excellent or fill-in-your-adjective-here that people will comment about it, to others. One advantage to ‘conversational referrals’ is that people who become customers tend to be less price sensitive.

One such Purple Cow was the subject of an outstanding business profile in the Las Vegas Sun, this morning. The business is The Cupcakery, and its owner, Pamela Jenkins, Cupcake Queen.

I first met Pamela, ever so briefly, at a bridal show a couple of years ago. She probably doesn’t remember me, but I remember the cupcakes. Like so many bakers at wedding shows, The Cupcakery was offering samples of their wares. In this case, mini-sized versions of a variety of their cupcakes.

Now incredibly delicious cupcakes dangerous for me, because I’m Diabetic. But, I had to try just one. After devouring one, the only problem was limiting myself.

The Southern Belle

Today’s profile really points out several things.

1. When your product or service is markedly superior, people will notice, and tell others.
2. There is nothing like good publicity to create even more awareness and new customers.
3. Blogs, such as this one, amplify the value of publicity from other sources.
4. Your local newspaper, business weekly, and other media outlets are always looking for interesting business profiles. Maybe yours?

Now, back to the cupcakes. If a business in this town really wants to make an impression on someone, they can have a dozen Cupcakery cupcakes delivered. It’s certainly several steps beyond bagels.

I imagine most people that taste one of these cupcakes become addicted rather easily. Addiction is, of course, the highest form of memorability.

What is it that your product or service offers that truly makes it remarkable, addictive, or otherwise memorable?

Read the full Las Vegas Sun Article.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

Pamela Jenkins (right) with Fergie

Jake Records Joins IRIS Distribution’s Elite Roster of Top Independent Labels

Jake Records Joins IRIS Distribution’s Elite Roster of Top Independent Labels
The Independent Record Label Will Gain Distribution In Hundreds Of New Stores And All Major Cell Carriers Worldwide

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) August 21, 2008 — Jake Records, a Seattle-based Independent Record label, today announced the signing of a long-term digital distribution agreement with IRIS Distribution. The deal increases both the visibility and global distribution of releases from the label and partners Jake Records with all of the leading cell phone and digital music stores in the world. Jake Records music will begin appearing in new online stores over the next few weeks. The label expects a significant boost in revenues and overall business as a result of the broad improvements in artist and project visibility.
Jake Records VP Dan Diaz (middle) with multi-platinum artists Montell Jordan (left) and Shock G (right) Photo by: 209clubshots.com

This partnership with IRIS goes a long way to prove that our mission is not only the right one, but one that others can respect and get behind. Jake Records is clearly all about great music and great marketing
“We’re both honored and excited to be partnered with the best in digital distribution. IRIS and Jake Records will make an awesome team,” said Jake Records Founder and CEO Scott Thomas. “Their team has indicated a steadfast belief in what we’re trying to do here, and together I can only tell the world to expect great things,” Thomas added.

IRIS Distribution is also very excited about the relationship. “A fast growing label like Jake Records is the perfect fit for us,” said IRIS Distribution Chief Marketing Officer, Bryn Boughton. “They support both ground-breaking, established artists like Digital Underground as well as emerging acts like Jiggy and The EXBox Boys which enables us to really get creative with our marketing efforts. We’re very excited to welcome Jake to the IRIS family.”

Jake Records plans to utilize the new relationship to continue building and growing the company. “This partnership with IRIS goes a long way to prove that our mission is not only the right one, but one that others can respect and get behind. Jake Records is clearly all about great music and great marketing,” said the label’s VP/Artist Relations, Dan Diaz. “We do things differently than major labels, and most independents for that matter. We take bigger chances, and we’re finding and attracting better talent as a result. IRIS will step up our game a few more notches and make all of this that much bigger, better and brighter,” he added.

About Jake Records: Jake Records is an independent record label, founded in 2008 to bring great music to the world. Headquartered in Seattle, WA and founded by new media and marketing innovator Scott Thomas, the label boasts an already impressive catalog of artists including multi-platinum selling Hip Hop legends Digital Underground, Chicago-based Draztic, and Jiggy.

The company’s web site is www.jakerecords.com

About IRIS Distribution: Founded in 2003, IRIS has emerged as a leader in the digital distribution and marketing of prominent independent music catalogs. IRIS provides a comprehensive suite of technical, marketing, and legal services, helping clients navigate the ever-changing digital marketplace.

IRIS expanded their services in 2007 with the launch of dedicated marketing arm, BlinkerActive. Specializing in brand building, BlinkerActive’s expert team of marketing advocates employ the latest viral marketing and innovative PR tactics using comprehensive, custom-designed campaigns. With a unique, active marketing approach and an unparalleled dedication to customer service, IRIS and BlinkerActive continue to support an impressive lineup of record labels, established artists, and forward-thinking brands.

IRIS currently represents a select list of prominent labels and artists including Big Dada, Burning Spear, Chemikal Underground, Duck Down Records, Gemini Sun, Jake Records, K Records, Kranky, Le Tigre, Lou Reed, Megaforce, NinjaTune, Palmetto Records, Projekt, SCION/Toyota, and She Wants Revenge.

IRIS delivers content to over 450 digital outlets including Amazon MP3, Apple’s iTunes Store, Beatport, eMusic, Kompakt MP3, Last.FM, Napster 2.0, Real/ Rhapsody and We7; mobile channels such as AT&T, Boost, Cingular, GroupieTunes, Jamster, mSpot, MobileStreams, Sprint, Telus and T-Mobile; as well as video outlets including Apple’s iTunes Store, Gotuit Media, and Ruckus Networks.

BlinkerActive boasts a diverse client list including Scion/Toyota (Ghostface Killah, 45 King), Megaforce (Bad Brains, Dressy Bessy), Ninja Tune (Ghislain Portier), Chandon, Surfdog Records (Dave Stewart), Lawson Rollins, FiveOne Records, Chemikal Underground (Mogwai) and Electrolux.

IRIS is based in San Francisco and New York City.

www.irisdistribution.com www.blinkeractive.com

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