Mobile Beat Issue #114 - May is on the Way!

Mobile Beat Issue #114 is on the way to you (as a subscriber!!!) 

Music Madness:
    Mobile Beat Top 200 - 2008
    Music Madness
    Disney Music Phenomenon
    Pumpin’ Up the Party
    Keys to better Mixing
    Re:making tracks

Mobile Beat Chicagland Preview

ADJA Newsletter

Departments:
   Track One
   Juice
   It’s Hot
   E -Beat
   Transport Authority - TOYOTA SEQUOIA
   Guerilla Marketing - The Truth About Creativity
   Prodj files - CHARLIE PETRACH
   Diary of A Mad DJ
   Pswcdt - CHARTING THE HITS
   Crowd pleaser - Dancing with the stars
   Changing Public Perception
   New Steps to Better Marketing: How To Fight Price
   NEW: More Play, More Pay - Midweek Money
   Sound Advice - DJs and EQ’s
   The Scoop - PIONEER CDJ-400, STANTON
   Wireless Revolution - Are You Ready
   Eye Candy - Dymo DiscPainter
   Weisz on the Web: Master The Basics
   Business Chops - Doing The Numbers
   Reality Check - Whose Mix Is It
   Showcase Classifieds
   Advertiser Index
   DJ Coach - Are You Using The 3 C’s

Fantasy Entertainment Announces Advance Sales of Portable Photo Booth

Fantasy Entertainment Announces Advance Sales of
Portable Photo Booth and 0% Financing through Firestone Financial
New product is latest entry in growing line of photo booths designed
exclusively for the event rental industry.

SALEM, NH - April 18, 2008 - Fantasy Entertainment, the largest owner/operator of electronic self-service photo imaging systems in North America, has announced a new entry to its product line - a multi-product portable photo booth designed with new features of special interest to rental companies. Advance orders are now being accepted for shipment in July, 2008 and customers can get 0% financing through Firestone Financial. The addition of the portable booth compliments the Vintage photo booth which was introduced in January, 2008.

“Our portable photo booth is an exciting new design with features that makes it unique in the industry,” says Dale Valvo, Fantasy Entertainment’s President and CEO. “Now, the fun, spontaneous photo booth experience can be offered by a host of new service providers at locations where a full-sized photo booth may not be practical,” says Valvo, who mentions disk jockeys, photographers, and event facilities as target markets.

According to Valvo, the initial response to the product has been positive. “We’re very pleased with the final design and how well it’s been received. It was important that we have a look and feel that works in both formal and informal settings, as well as a road-worthy product that’s easy and fast to set-up and tear-down. Because of its unique design, no tools are required and assembly takes approximately 20 minutes.”

Another important aspect is the product’s capabilities. “We want to provide maximum value to our customers, so the portable booth will include three of our most popular outputs at no additional cost,” says Casey Cammann, Vice-President of Business Development. “Depending on the needs of their clientele, our rental partners can offer traditional Foto Fun® Strips, our unique 3-dimensional Foto Cube®, or an artist rendering using Portrait Studio. With this mix of outputs, the portable booth will be as appealing for weddings and corporate events as it is for children’s parties.”

Like the Vintage booth, the portable booth’s outputs will be customizable through the use of Fantasy’s exclusive web-based Graphic Design Tool. “This tool provides tremendous flexibility so that our rental partners can customize each photo output to their customer’s exact specifications,” says Cammann.
Professionally designed graphics from our extensive library can be personalized with a text overlay, or customer-supplied graphic design or logo can be used. Then, the finished design is saved and imported into the booth using USB flash memory.”

Cammann explains that a suite of new operator tools improves the functionality of the product for the rental market. “Traditional, coin-operated photo booths are not optimized for use as rental items, as is our product line. Both our Vintage booth and new portable booth include tools that enable graphic importing, file management, photo exporting, and CD-burning at the push of a button.”

Fantasy Entertainment has teamed up with Firestone Financial, a leading equipment financing company, to offer a 12 month, 0% financing program for companies wishing to add photo booth rentals to their service portfolio. Firestone Sales Executive Sal Cifala says: “Firestone Financial is happy to partner with Fantasy Entertainment and provide an exciting finance promotion. We feel that this is a product that is established and will continue to help the operator with a strong ROI.”

About Fantasy Entertainment
Fantasy Entertainment is a privately held company and North America’s largest owner/operator of electronic self-service photo imaging kiosks. Started in 1995, Fantasy Entertainment now operates nearly 3,000 photo, portrait and sticker kiosks within marquis destinations, major malls, zoos, museums, aquariums, casinos, and hundreds of other high traffic outlets and tourist locations. Fantasy Entertainment is also an international supplier to distributors and operators in over 30 countries. The company is headquartered in Salem, NH.
About Firestone Financial Corp.
Firestone Financial Corp. has been the leading independent provider of financing to the coin-op industry since 1965. Firestone has gained a specialized knowledge and understanding of the amusement and vending trades, as well as equipment financing for small businesses. The company prides itself on building long-term relationships; over 75% of its business is from repeat borrowers. For more information on Firestone Financial, please call (800) 851-1001 or visit www.firestonefinancial.com.

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Scott Cavanagh at (603) 459-1707 or send email to scavanagh@efotobooth.com.

A Call To Arms - In Eastern Tennessee

Nearly every type of business, at one time or another needs a good shot in the arm. The Appalachian area of Eastern Tennessee is about to “ARM” DJs with the knowledge they need to take their business to the next level. On June 23rd, the historic General Morgan Inn located in Greenville Tennessee will host
“The Appalachian Regional Mobile DJ Symposium” . . . A.R.M.D.J.S.
This one-day event is sure to be a day that will change your DJ business forever! An incredible line-up of “nationally recognized” seminar speakers has been assembled to cover a wide variety of talent and business related topics.
Scheduled presenters (in order of appearance) . . .
• Larry Williams - Changing Public Perception
• DJ Dr. Drax - National ADJA President
• Scott Faver - The Game Master
• Jim Cerone - Being The Perfect Host
• Mark Ferrell - Getting What You’re Worth . . . Reloaded!!! 

Festivities will begin on Sunday evening, June 22nd, with a FREE pre-event networking party. Seminars are scheduled to begin Monday morning at 9am and last into the early evening. A sponsored lunch will be provided “free of charge” to all attendees. In addition to the tremendous line-up of educational content . . . attendees will also enjoy; special room rates at the host hotel, prize giveaways, national DJ industry sponsors, special show prices on educational books, CD’s, DVD’s and much, much more!
This incredible one-day event will also include fantastic show prices. Your full event pass is only $50 (if pre-registered), ADJA members pay only $30. “Day Of” passes will be $75.
For more information, visit www.armdjs.com or contact show producer Robbie Britton at “Funville” at 423-638-9818.

Now Hiring: Industry Sales Professional

Now Hiring: Industry Sales Professional

Since 1999, Digital 1 DJ/PCDJ has been recognized as the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of DJ performance software and hardware. More than 80,000 professional DJ’s around the world now spin with their computer using one of the company’s digital audio file mixers. Digital 1 DJ/PCDJ is a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital 1 Media, Inc
We are currently seeking a bright, energetic, and experienced sales professional to be a part of our team.Job responsibilities:
1. Identify and close new dealer/distributor accounts.
2. Develop and cultivate new sales leads.
3. Document and manage customer contacts.
4. Research potential opportunities within accounts, which will include referrals within an existing customer base.
5. Develop a sales strategy that achieves set sales targets.
6. Prepare and maintain prospect and sales reports.
A minimum of 5 years sales experience is a must. We are looking for someone self motivated that will not require micro-managing.

This position comes with a base salary plus commissions. We offer a great opportunity to personally grow and contribute to operations in a stimulating, fast-paced environment within the music industry.

For more info contact:

Ryan Sherr
Sales Director
727-799-3828 ext 105
Rsherr@pcdj.com

To Serve and Protect…Your Gear

Our gear is the tool that allows us to perform and do what we love, and most of us care for it accordingly. Still, we wonder why it needs to be replaced seemingly every couple of years, even though we think we are being extra careful and cautious. And it only takes once, however, for that mistake to happen-just one hurried load-out that means hundreds of dollars of repair expense.On the Case
The first step to properly protecting your investment, whether it’s a simple piece or the most important aspect of your rig, is to properly guard it from the rigors of the road. Protecting your gear from the road means storing and transporting it in some sort of case or bag. I guarantee you that no professional audio/video company will ever transport their hardware (other than speaker cabinets) without some sort of additional casing. It not only shields the gear from bumps, nicks, and in some cases drops.
There are many casing options available at reasonable prices. Amongst most mobile DJs, the traditional choice has been carpeted cases. Most find that they do less damage to seats in passenger vehicles and that they provide adequate protection. Carpeted cases are also often beneficial to those in colder climates, as the carpet on the exterior of the case can provide some insulation. Years of heavy use, however, will make most carpeted cases look shabby and worn. The carpet will then look like your old letterman jacket with a few years’ accumulation of fuzz.
More recently, the dip in price in flight-style cases (smooth sided, with heavy-duty panels) has made them more attractive financially as well as visibly. These cases have been the standard among touring production companies for decades. Everyone from TV to exhibition companies use this style of case, due their durability, their easy load-ability with forklifts, and also their ability to be tagged for easy identification. Flight cases-unlike carpeted cases-can be painted with stencils to ensure that contents are not lost and can be easily discernable from similar cases.
As I already hinted, one downside of flight-style cases is that they are typically a little more expensive than carpeted cases. Although flight cases will wear and become scuffed, they tend to do so at a less rapid pace then carpet cases deteriorate, meaning the added investment will equal more usable time.
Another style available for consideration is the molded case. These heavy-duty plastic cases tend to come in much smaller sizes than either carpeted of flight style, but the protection offered is still pretty good. Molded cases gained their popularity, ironically, in the airline industry, as they are lighter than flight-style cases, therefore allowing more cases to be loaded. A slight downside of molded cases is their inability to take as much pressure as either flight or carpeted cases. For normal DJ uses, though, they work great for consoles, mixers, and amplifiers.

Bad Weather Warning
An often overlooked factor in protection among mobile entertainers is the effect that weather has on gear. For anything that has any sort of microchip inside (controllers, computers, CD players, some mixers), extreme cold or heat is not advisable. Most other types of gear, including lighting, and PA equipment (amplifiers, speakers, mics, etc.) also have low tolerances to both hot and cold temperatures; not properly storing or transporting your gear in a climate-controlled environment can lead to early failure due to condensation or silicon-melting heat. Almost everywhere in the country has, at certain points in the year, extreme heat or cold that is responsible for gear failure, or at least temporary downtime.
It is advisable to keep your sensitive gear in a climate controlled location that does not reach less than freezing or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Also important are fans and cooling devices when performing outdoor events in extreme heat (not only for your equipment but also for your most important piece of gear: yourself).

Appearance Ticket
There is nothing worse than having an event at an upscale venue and showing up with shabby equipment. Even with careful care of your gear, wear will become evident after a few years. Options such as patching (for carpeted cabinets) or painting (for textured cabinets) may sustain your equipment for a little while longer. Painting is relatively easy and may be as simple as removing a grille and spraying or touching up scuffed corners. I would recommend covering every internal component, no matter if it is in the spraying area or not, with plastic or newspaper. Paint splatters can be not only annoying but damaging to gear functionality when in an undesired location.
When painting and patching aren’t enough, spray-on bed liner (the kind seen on vehicles) is a valid choice. Cases and speaker cabinets are perfect candidates for this procedure, as it adds about 1/4″ inch of textured protection to the outside of a surface. Besides providing a classy and sparkling finish to your gear, spray-on bed liner doesn’t wear and doesn’t affect sound quality when used on speakers. (See the Mobile Beat Gear Book, issue #111, December 2007, for an article detailing this process.)
And don’t forget the original purpose of spray-on bed liner. For those with trucks or vans, spray-on bed liner wards off dings and scrapes to your box and bed paint from metal corners and sharp edges. If you want any sort of resale value from your heavily used touring vehicle, spray-on bed liner is the way to go.

Something Smells Funny in Here
Years of abuse on the road not only leaves scuffs and scars on equipment, it also may leave an unpleasant odor. Entertainers who use the same rigs in bars that they use for weddings in non-smoking venues may not notice the odor of cigarettes due to familiarity, but non-smoking guests do. Some may even change their perception of your services if they have a close table or if they venture over to request and are offended by the aroma of your equipment (or you!).
One of the most important thins to remember, especially when masking cigarette smoke odor, is not overdoing the masking smell. Too much “pine-tree perfume” could make you and your area of the room smell like a streetwalker. A subtly smelling product not normally used in the entertainment market is Febreeze. It can be applied to almost anything, including cases, curtains, skirts, vehicles, and speaker cabinets. After rentals at frat houses, Febreeze is often the only thing that keeps me from throwing away perfectly good speakers that end up smelling like the inside of a keg.
Cabinets and cases covered in carpet can also develop lint and debris that can be hard to get off without damaging the carpet. For this, I recommend either a heavy duty lint roller or a vacuum cleaner with a hand brush attachment. Doing this every weekend, especially with rental and outdoor gear, greatly enhances the visual appearance of your gear to potential renters or audio-visual clients.

Concluding Arguments
Think about it: Your gear is the second biggest investment that you’ll make as an entertainer. Behind music, nothing is more expensive-and important-than quality equipment. Long-term reliability is something that ultimately cannot be bought, but can only be achieved through taking care of your investments.
Emotional attachment is also a big reason to take care of your equipment. I have pieces of gear that I absolutely love, like my computer rack, which I will do all that I can to make sure it is in top working order. I am sure I could get by without it, but after so many events it’s become like a good luck charm-so why mess with success?
Although some of these tips may seem a bit basic, they are cost and stress-saving and we all need a reminder now and then. Have you gotten a bit lax in your maintenance routine? Following these tips will definitely save you some headaches down the road. And even in the here-and-now, for a long string of back-to-back events you need to be at your best-and that includes your well-groomed equipment.
Jake Feldman is Mobile Beat’s Gearbook Coordinator and Equipment Manager for BC Productions in Des Moines, Iowa.

The DJ Industry’s Perfect Storm by Michael Edwards

Stormy weather…With the following report, I didn’t set out to write a foreboding “doom & gloom” downer predicting the end of the DJ world as we know it! Instead, I simply hope to increase awareness and start widespread discussion about the impact of the combined circumstances that are currently hitting the DJ industry hard and simultaneously, like so-called “the perfect storm.” These elements are the economy, iPod® technology and the Internet.The Economy: “Let’s just have a small party at home.”
In January 2008, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams reported that “Economic recession may be upon us,” citing factors like rising unemployment, which had recently hit 5%; oil prices that topped $100 a barrel for the first time ever; a weak dollar worldwide; a “down” stock market; and an all-time high number of home mortgage foreclosures creating a ripple effect that saw home prices plunging throughout the real estate market. The overall result was an increasing economic caution across America. The year 2007 saw the loss of 49,000 construction jobs, 31,000 manufacturing jobs and 24,000 retail jobs, according to news report. Holiday hiring last December was termed “anemic.” The general public is not spending like they used to because they’re simply afraid!
To the DJ industry, this means two things: There will be fewer functions planned and less money being spent on those events that are held. If you’re a DJ in the running for any type of gig, anywhere, the competition will be much greater and the DJ price war far more aggressive than ever before. That’s only the first part of the perfect storm…

iPod Technology: “Everyone’s a DJ”
A lot has been written about the impact of the iPod and other MP3 players on the DJ industry. I was one of the majority of DJs who didn’t raise a hand when we were all asked “How many here are worried about being replaced by iPods at weddings” at a Mobile Beat DJ convention in Las Vegas. Very few were worried because we all understand the vital role a pro DJ actually plays in the success of a wedding reception, and that fact has not changed at all. What HAS changed over the last 3 years is the public’s perception of the importance of the DJ’s role.
The average person’s image of a DJ is now much lower thanks to continual damage done by countless amateur DJs now being used at so many functions. Our value to potential clients and the importance of our service, beyond just the music, is also being distorted by infuriating, ill-informed articles on major wedding websites and in magazine articles being written by truly clueless wedding “experts.” Some are actually now recommending iPods as a viable alternative to a DJ at a wedding!!
“What could be easier?” wrote Lori Leibovich, the editor of IndieBride.com, a Web site for brides. “You bring it, you program it, it sounds great. It doesn’t surprise me at all that more people are doing it.” In an internet article entitled “Would You Trust an iPod to DJ Your Wedding,” by Jacqui Cheng, summed up her article like this: “…it seems like the trend of young people (particularly young professionals and techies such as ourselves, who likely already have access to iPods and tons of digital music) using iPods and other self-operated technologies to provide music for the greatest day of your life will only continue to grow. I know that if I were to ever have a wedding, I would definitely opt the money-saving route and throw together my own playlist on an iPod (or better yet, on my laptop and more easily be able to entertain requests) without hesitation.”
Reader comments were posted on the subject and these two stuck out: “Our caterer told us that the iPod as replacement for a DJ is now super-common.” And, “Back in the day, portrait painters were an important field, with lots of work to be had. Now, we have cameras. Manufacturers of buggy whips used to be busy, with so many horses and buggies and all. Now, we have cars. See a pattern?”
Kathleen Murray, senior editor for online wedding publisher TheKnot.com from New York wrote: “Many of our brides and grooms are catching on to this trend. It also gives them the chance to put their own personal spin on it. They can have so much fun putting together the ultimate play list, getting suggestions from friends and family members.”
Do you advertise on TheKnot.com like I do? I wonder what national photographer associations would do if the very magazines they advertised in told brides to stick with disposable cameras to save a buck?
Yet still, the unassuming and innocent-looking iPod is just a small part of the “perfect storm”…

The Internet: “Why don’t you all just post your prices?”
What may be the final component to our “perfect storm” of converging factors for the climate change of the DJ industry is the way most clients now find us, contact us and book us: the Internet. Clients now have millions of DJs to choose from in long scrolling lists that make us all look pretty much the same. In the minds of many clients, a DJ is a DJ. And when incorrectly perceived and lumped together as being basically all the same “product” (just someone standing there pushing the play button on a laptop or iPod) then the cheapest price “must” be my best choice.
We must also “thank” the internet for the ease and availability of illegal music file sharing and downloading. I’ve spent well over $25,000 for my music collection since going full time in 1979. Where becoming a DJ once required a large initial expenditure, it’s now a career choice available “free” to anyone with a $300 iPod and a cheap pair of powered speakers, who’s willing to ignore copyright laws and download an entire collection.
Annoyed clients ask why we don’t have our prices posted on our website…so they can instantly rule out the “overpriced” DJs right away. The days of personal contact and developing a rapport with every potential client are dwindling. If you answer email pricing inquiries that haven’t left you a contact phone number, a location or any details by politely thanking them and suggesting that they call you to discuss their function and their entertainment needs in detail, you may have already learned: That’s not what they want to hear. They often don’t even reply to our response at all; they’ve glanced at our website, they don’t want to talk to us for fear of a “sales pitch,” and they don’t want to learn about our services since “all DJs are alike,”-they just want the price. Makes you wonder: Just what is the price…of progress?

Umbrella?
What can we do to navigate through the torrent of combined elements that make up this “perfect storm” battering the DJ world? Perhaps the economy will improve with a new administration in Washington next year. Maybe enough bad iPod weddings will open the public’s eyes to that ridiculous non-option (like the excellent example now offered on the ADJA website-Dr. Drax: Please send a copy to The Knot to help educate their “experts” before they dispense any more advice). Perhaps, after enough web-based mistaken, impersonal decisions on entertainment, the personal services that quality DJs try to offer clients will be valued once again and make a comeback. And by the way, maybe the soaring price of gasoline will force us to find new modes of transportation? Anyone need a buggy whip?

Michael Edwards is the owner of AllStar Entertainment, a licensed, bonded musical entertainment agency in Andover, MA. Full-time since 1979, Mike is one of 20 AllStar DJs at his agency. A member of the Mobile Beat Advisory Board and the American Disc Jockey Association, Michael’s company was recently voted “Best of Boston” wedding DJs in The Knot Magazine’s “Best of Weddings 2007.” Mike can be contacted at 978-470-4700, BostonsBestDJs@aol.com. Check out the agency at www.getadj.com

BPM - Europe’s biggest event dedicated to DJs, producers and performers

BPM - Europe’s biggest event dedicated to DJs, producers and performers

Following the success of the first event in 2007, organisers Marked Events are pleased to announce that BPM will return to Donington Park Exhibition centre over the weekend of Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October 2008.

The first BPM event attracted 70 exhibiting companies and over 2200 visitors for two days of equipment demonstrations, networking, seminars, workshops, live performances and DJ sets. Visitors and exhibitors alike hailed the event as a resounding success, cementing BPM’s place in the industry calendar.

BPM 2008 promises to be an even bigger and better event, with a larger exhibition area, expanded seminar programme and increased networking opportunities. The organisers have collected feedback from all of last year’s exhibitors and a good sample of visitors and are using the results to ensure that the event matches the needs of all concerned. In particular measures are to be put into place to limit excessive noise levels in the exhibition area, while continuing to provide opportunities for sound systems to be demonstrated and retaining the atmosphere of the event.

Donington Park, one of the UK’s leading motor racing venues, is located at the heart of England, between the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. BPM is staged in the 4500m/sq purpose-built exhibition centre, which is completely transformed into a DJ and performer’s playground of audio and visual stimulation. Donington Park is easily accessible by road, and as it neighbours East Midlands airport, it is also well connected by air to major cities throughout the UK and Europe.

Note to Editors: Please include the website address www.visitbpm.co.uk with any editorial content relating to the event.

For more information please contact the marketing department at Marked Events Ltd:

Email marketing@markedevents.co.uk
Tel / Fax 0845 652 24 29

Win A Free Trip to MBLV09!

WHAT: You’ll win FREE airfare, hotel, and a pass to The Mobile Beat Disc Jockey Conference in Las Vegas in 2009..

HOW: By getting other DJs to subscribe to Mobile Beat:
1. Pick up the phone and call Mobile Beat now: 800-257-7635 ext. 0. We’ll mail you a stack of cards that makes an attractive subscription offer. Hand them out to other DJs in your area. 2. Your name will be entered into a drawing for the Vegas trip for EACH DJ who subscribes thanks to your efforts.
3. Plus … you’ll receive two FREE issues of Mobile Beat Magazine for each DJ who subscribes.

WHEN: Winner to be drawn on 9/15/2008 - For more info check out MobileBeat.com

WHY: Mobile Beat Magazine and trade shows are the driving forces for elevating the professionalism and stature of the industry. you help yourself and the entire industry by working together and introducing your peers to Mobile Beat.

Email: custserv@mobilebeat.com or Call 800-257-7635 ext 0 to get the cards to hand out

The 2008 ADJA Award Recipients

The 2008 ADJA Award Recipients
The National Board of Directors was proud to acknowledge several members at the ADJA National Meeting held on February 12, 2008 in Las Vegas for their tremendous personal efforts to expand professionalism and compassionate service in their communities.

The Michael Butler Humanitarian Award - This year we awarded two members trophies for outstanding humanitarian efforts. Our first recipient was Cain Humphrey. Cain received this award for his leadership in giving service to a town which was nearly wiped off the map by a class five tornado during the past summer.

In May 2007, the town of Greensburg, Kansas, which had already seen its share of industry cutbacks, forcing many residents to seek work elsewhere, was demolished by a storm. Over 80% of the homes and business were destroyed. Members of the association decided to lead an initiative to help the families in Greensburg by putting together a work party to do whatever was needed to help dig families out of their tragedies.

Cain Humphrey stood out among the rest of their membership and put much of his life on hold, both personally and professionally. His tireless efforts on behalf of the residents of Greensburg were both inspiring and unselfish. The national recognition of these efforts were even recounted on Good Morning America.

Our second recipient was Louie Castillo. Louie received this award for his efforts to raise money and spirits for victims of the devastating fires that burned over 275,000 acres in Southern California. Thousands of San Diego residents returned to little more than ashes. Many residents lost irreplaceable valuables and family memories, with a challenge of rebuilding their homes and their lives.

Louie was the go-to guy who put together the talent and entertainment for the fundraiser, making sure the event ran smoothly. Created and produced in only 2 weeks, Louie served as the co-host and master of ceremonies and secured the services of several well known entertainers, which attracted over 700 guests and raised approximately $80,000.

Following these efforts, Louie also stepped up and was instrumental in the 2007 US Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” campaign for the 2nd year in a row. As a member and officer of the Jamul Tuna Club, he helped the club collect of 100 toys for “Toys for Tots”.

These nominees exemplify the spirit of what “DJ’s Can Do!” for their communities. Please visit www.adja.org for detailed information regarding these incredible efforts.

The Peter Merry Leadership Award - This years winner was Marcello Pedalino. He was chosen for exceeding all reasonable expectations in the areas of service, dedication and commitment to the ADJA during the calendar year 2007.

Marcello Pedalino has worked hard to improve the image and talent of the New Jersey Disc Jockey Industry. He always projects the most positive, business-like image and is noted for always being observed wearing a business suit. He leads by example at all times and shares his success knowledge with his peers, putting on seminars and demonstrations, at no charge.

As one that has won the DJ of the year competition multiple times, he is still found front and center at every seminar he can attend that will help him build his business. He truly desires to improve the image of our industry and goes well and beyond in his quest to accomplish this goal. We want to thank Marcello for all he has done to promote the image of the ADJA.

Chapter Of The Year Award - This years Chapter Of The Year honors went to the Houston Chapter for their exceptional efforts this past summer as they pulled out all the stops to see that ADJA was well represented at the NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) National Educational Conference.

The ADJA Houston Chapter provided music at all the meals and refreshment breaks throughout the day. In the evening they assisted with theme events, including the offering of an energetic nightclub experience for all NACE attendees. They championed the ADJA cause by dedicated effort and tirelessly worked to make sure that the ADJA was always represented in the best light. All efforts resulted in a very smooth flow of events with everyone on the same page. The ADJA logo was prominent at every venue and every opportunity.

We were thanked from the podium at literally every event. That could only happen as a result of the outstanding efforts of the Houston Chapter whose members really stood up and made us all proud, knocking this one out of the park.

In addition to their involvement at the NACE Conference, the Houston Chapter also donated time this year to the “Be An Angel Foundation”, which supplies services for Healthy Kids day with the YMCA and the American Heart Association. They had shirts made with the ADJA logo on the center of the back of the shirt that they passed out to everyone.

Other Winners and Prize Recipients -

Poker Tournament - The winner of the Disc Jockeys.com Poker Tournament, sponsored in part by the ADJA, was Scott Patrick.

Equipment Giveaway - On the final day of the Mobile Beat DJ Show & Conference, we gave away two Denon HD2500 Controllers. These controllers were raffled off to one “new” member who signed up at the booth and one “renewing” member who signed up at the booth during the conference.

New Member Winner - Keith Hawk
Renewing Member Winner - Marcello Pedalino

2008 Mobile Beat DJ Show and Conference for the ADJA

The recently concluded 2008 Mobile Beat DJ Show and Conference represented a phenomenal showing for The American Disc Jockey Association. As a major sponsor for the event, the ADJA was everywhere! DJs started arriving into town days before as they began to get comfortable with the newly remodeled Riviera Hotel and Casino located right on the Las Vegas strip.

As many early arrivals started to travel about the new multi-million dollar Riviera Conference Center, it became quite apparent very early on that this years conference was about to become something very special. The ADJA was quick to get things started Monday morning by hosting our second annual ADJA Leadership Training Day. Dozens of ADJA Chapter Directors from across the country were represented as a full day of sessions commenced that addressed everything from monthly meeting content to chapter development. The response, training and motivation set the perfect course for the remainder of the week.

Tuesday morning saw more than 1000 DJs converge upon the conference center as the welcome announcement and subsequent dialog surprised industry leader Mark Ferrell with a very deserving Lifetime Achievement Award. The appreciative audience gave Mr. Ferrell a standing ovation. The keynote was given by famed Guerrilla Marketing originator Jay Conrad Levinson. The response to his presentation, along with other first day seminars from Randy Bartlett and Peter Merry, was among the most favorable opening day starts the Mobile Beat DJ Show has ever seen. The buzz was electric.

The ADJA National Meeting wrapped up the days events as a detailed scripted program got underway to an audience of more than 500 DJs. The program included awards, giveaways, the year in review, the announcement of the Mitzvah Guild and strategic alliances with NACE, The Knot and special recognition of sponsors and programs relevent to the progression of the organization. The continuance of programs such as our highly acclaimed “webinars” along with free website templates and hosting for all members were excitedly received by everyone in attendence. So too, did the continual tone that shaped our vision for the future. This seemed to resonate very well with the audience. The inclusion of newly created “success story” testimonials afforded a uniquely personal touch unlike anything ever enjoyed at one of our national meetings. The meeting continued with many unique elements that broke new ground for the ADJA. An unavoidable delayed start combined with some well received off-scripted moments added to what was probably the most lengthy, but most information-packed national meeting our organization has ever enjoyed.

Next, it was time to unwind as the ADJA was represented once again as a contributing sponsor to the Tuesday night concert featuring Freedom Williams and Tone Loc. These two hip hop icons gave an entertaining performance of their hits to a standing room only crowd. It bears mentioning that as a sponsor we were unaware the on-stage verbal tone would become as contentious as it did. Though the excessive use of profanity was unexpected and out-of-our-control . . . we still wish to take this opportunity to apologize to any of our members who may have been offended by this continual use of expletives. Obviously, sponsoring events of this nature is something we will have to look at very closely in the future as it can reflect poorly on any industry sponsor.

Wednesday saw the opening of the exhibit floor. This is where the culmination of being a major show sponsor and having a tremendously informative national meeting came together to elevate our organization to its true potential as the nations leading association for mobile DJs. Our exhibit hall booth was packed for two straight days. Not only was our booth busier than any other trade show we have been at . . . it remained one of the busiest booths of the entire show. The response was phenomenal as we experienced record sign-ups of over 100 DJs. I would like to extend my personal “thanks” on behalf of a greatful organization for the many directors, officers and members who “stepped up” to assist our efforts in our booth.

It bears mentioning that the seminar line-up at this years event was probably the best of all time. Since the inception of the Mobile Beat Conferences we have probably never seen a speaker line-up that so greatly included members within our organization. Yes, we have come a long way from the early days when we were happy to be occasionally mentioned or recognized at a seminar. It really helps demonstrate that the ADJA has been embraced by the overwhelming majority of industry leaders. Seminars from; Randy Bartlett, Lisa and Peter Merry, Larry Williams, Mike Walter, Ken Day, Manny Otero and others set an example to many onlookers of the proud nature and standard that accompanies membership in the ADJA.

I would like to thank Denon for their generous sponsorship of our final day giveaway as two Denon HD2500 units were raffled off to newly signed up members. This was a fantastic way to conclude the best Mobile Beat Conference we have ever participated in. So many members, sponsors, cooperative partners and people discovering the ADJA for the very first time came together to embrace our vision of unity and progression for mobile DJs and our industry. I truly believe we will all look back on this particular event as a milestone inclusion for our organization. I am confident it will be remembered as one that set a significant positive tone of unity in our efforts to become an organization that is known for our sincere efforts to help DJ build and grow their business.

It certainly is testament to our mission statement . . . if we work together, imagine what we can do!

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