I've always been fascinated by shows like Ancient Aliens, Oak Island and Expedition Unknown. These shows demonstrate that history isn't written in stone and the world is still full of wonder and new discoveries. When I found out that Aliencon was coming to the east coast I just had to go. Luckily, my 50th birthday was in September and my wife got me a Gold Pass as a birthday present (she's a keeper). I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived. Would the convention be about exploring new ideas and learning about new discoveries? Would it be a big tin foil hat parade? Fortunately it was more about the former ... [read more]

No one likes to be taken advantage of, right? Have you ever booked a gig only to have the client want to change what is expected without changing the price? How often have you received these messages: "We're extending the event an hour, you don't mind staying do you?" Or "Do you mind bringing microphones and sound for the musicians?" How do you handle a repeat client that suddenly wants to rearrange their event but pay the same price as last year? Many of us fail miserably in these situations due to one simple error. Lack of ownership. I still get surprised by how many DJ's do not complete an in depth contract with their clients for each event. I re... [read more]

This month I interviewed House legend Sean Spencer (DJ SPEN) about Hip Hop, House, Gospel and his new track "Love Sensation".  Growing up in Baltimore Sean started spinning in the early 1980's at age 13. By the time he was twenty, Sean had already been in several groups, released a few albums and recorded the original version of the hit " Girl You Know it's True". He currently owns several record labels including Spiritually Sound and Quantize. Look for my full interview with Sean in Mobile Beat Magazine and check out his new track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld5sKxIv5y4   Next month ... [read more]

It's no secret that everybody's a DJ, right? Every event we do someone has to come up and tell us that their brother, cousin, dentist, barber, carpenter, mechanic, aunt, lawn care guy or neighbor is a DJ. It's what people do to make some side cash. No training needed, just a Spotify account, disco ball and a system from "DJ in a Box". Being a DJ isn't a "real" job, right? It's not like you need a degree or certificate or something like that. ANY-body can do it. Maybe I'm over generalizing here, but we do have a tendency to shoot ourselves in the microphone. Case in point, about five months ago a video started to make the rounds from a... [read more]

Time has a way of creeping up on you. One day you're out rocking events, living life and "BAM", you're 50. A half century is a blip on the cosmic scale, but for humans it's a milestone. When I was small, my parents had a black and white TV and we used to listen to Wolf Man Jack on AM radio. Car seats were optional and we played with toys instead of video games. Atari came out when I was a in the eighth grade and I learned to drive on a 5 speed.    Reaching a milestone like fifty makes you think and reflect a lot. Not so much on where I've been, but where I still want to go and the things I want to accomplish. The clock is ticking , always ti... [read more]

Mobile Beat Las Vegas has always prided itself on featuring major talent at the evening celebrations that are a key part of each event. Each artist or group that has performed at Mobile Beat has made an indelible mark on the music industry in some way; this year is no different. Making his second appearance at MBLV (the first being in 2009) is Rob Van Winkle—aka Vanilla Ice! Rob’s multi-platinum hit “Ice Ice Baby” not only helped brake down stereotypes of who a “rapper” could be, the song also made a whole new generation fans of Hip Hop, both the music and the style. Kids wanted to dress like him, dance like him and be ice cold co... [read more]

I'm a procrastinator. How do I know? It took me six months to write this blog post. Everyday I wake up, write my to do list and totally do a dozen other things. Sound familiar? I have every intention of getting things done and being super productive. You know, "Carpe Diem" and all that motivational stuff. The fact is most days the only thing I really like seizing is my afternoon nap. I guess it's the benefit or curse of being self employed. I'm the boss, so I can take breaks whenever I want or push things off to the last minute. Hey, as long as everything gets done and I'm prepared for my event - who cares when I do stuff. Right? To quote Jim C... [read more]

Many DJ companies grow their businesses by expanding their service offerings beyond simply providing music. These new  services can add new dimensions to a company, truly benefitting clients while also increasing a DJ’s bottom line. For too many DJ companies expansion equals buying a nifty new controller (with unnecessary bells and whistles), or some shiny new lights (without a plan for how to upsell them). Expansion should be about adding services that accentuate what you already offer. One person who has mastered the art of successful expansion is Ryan Scheller of Sound Extreme in Sonora, California. I got to hang out and chat with Ryan at�... [read more]

Arguably the most important piece of equipment we have is our voice. We use it to lead, guide, inform and coordinate at our events. Knowing what to say and when and how to say it is tantamount to a successful event. Each word choice instantly affects the mood and vibe of the guests and room. Do you always know the right thing to say at the right moment? Do you struggle at your events or second guess yourself on the microphone? What if there was a simple acronym or quick little guide rule you could use when deciding what to say? I'm a fan of Jay Shetty, former monk and internet wisdom guru. He's the quieter version of Gary Vaynerchuk. Jay's vid... [read more]

We are truly blessed to have so many educational resources at our fingertips. Online forums, private groups, networking chapters, Associations and all the major conferences nationwide. There really is no excuse for skipping the vast buffet of information so readily available at our fingertips. DJ education is like the food court at the mall. The choices range from fast and cheap to gourmet and swanky. Sometimes we just need a quick fix and sometimes we want a really great meal. A few major things I've noticed, though. One - everybody loves the nuggets and two - I'm always surprised at how many DJ's try to run and improve their businesses o... [read more]