We discussed last week how simply caring can help you go from 4 stars to 5 stars, and continue with the article this week.  Another Uber driver in the evening figured out a way to ensure he ALWAYS got 5 star reviews. When we got in the Uber he pulled around the corner and offered each of us a small bottle of ice water. GENIUS! When you are an out-of-town traveller in a place like Vegas and not accustomed to the dry heat, this one small gesture can be seen as a lifesaver. The Uber driver not only proved he cared, but he went above and beyond by providing us with something that he knew most out of town people needed in a... [read more]

Recently I attended and presented at a conference, as I naturally do a few times a year. As you can imagine, my schedule for speaking and seeing so many different seminars was awesome and a whirlwind in its own right. Combine that with nightly dinners, gatherings and just plain being overtired can wreak havoc on a body. Technology is ever-changing and it appears that the taxi alternative services Uber and Lyft are here to stay.  When you have to be somewhere fast and don’t want to pay the higher prices of the taxi services (I heard one individual say his taxi to an airport was $65, vs. my Uber to the airport from my hotel... [read more]

We're back this week with the 2nd half of the article - Extroverts have feelings too part 2. Given that I blew up at my friends, many people would blame that on just being an extrovert and think I can get away with it.  If your friend is a true friend they will forgive you for an occasional blow up. It’s only human, and hopefully they’ll forgive you and move on.  I’m thankful that our true friends had a conversation with me and we were able to move on from that situation.   Truth is...all personality types can blow up.  They just have different triggers. In order to avoid the trigger, it’s important to take a step... [read more]

Extroverts have feelings too. If you’ve followed me for any length of time you may know that Vickie Musni, a certified Personality Trainer and I produced a podcast together.  I’ve learned A TON from Vickie over the years regarding personalities, how to handle them both internally and externally, and how to understand what makes you tick, and the most important people in your life so you can communicate with them more effectively. You also may classify me in a very basic way as an extrovert.  Now just because someone is an extrovert doesn’t mean that they don’t have feelings too.  People with strong personalities that ... [read more]

Two ways and Two words to be more Able When one hears that question, they may think immediately to if they are "able-bodied"?  Or they may think of someone asking them to do something and if they can fit it into their busy schedule or not.  Those are true thoughts but I would encourage you to start thinking of "able" in a different context. Personable Are you personable?  Do your actions or words resonate with people?  How do you move people emotionally? How can you ensure you are more personable to those you come into contact with on a daily basis? Let's get down to the nitty gritty of how to connect with someone... [read more]

This is our final of the 5 Musts of Business from Jon Taffer and it's called Safety. I learned LONG ago that safety is important as any aspect in our line of work. Oftentimes you are the only sober person in a room full of celebratory individuals in a mind-altered state. You HAVE to put guest safety at the TOP of your priority list. After chatting with my good friend Ben Stowe we decided as a company we didn’t want the liability of rigging, tents and the like. I’m not condemning anyone who does these things; someone has to, but PLEASE…take the necessary steps to provide these options the RIGHT way. Consult your insurance... [read more]

This week we finish off our article of 3 Must Do's for Video Marketing.  Here's #2. Be Presentable - Dirty little secret in the DJ world is attractiveness.  No one wants to have a slovenly looking person on a microphone in front of their family and friends or sweating profusely behind turntables when you’re just standing there.  Everything about you from your clothes to your hair to your setup speaks. Be sure it’s conveying the right message. The Length.  Don’t go for long shots that last for :05 or more.  Don’t go for videos that are over 2:00. Keep it short so that your clients will view it.  ... [read more]

This is the 4th part of our series of Taffer's Teachings, exploring the 5 Musts of Business.  We continue with Great Value. Great Value. Value is a buzzword that is OFTEN thrown out willy-nilly. In the book Jon discusses the difference between “absolute value” vs “perceived value”.  Absolute value is the simple price comparison between two products or services deemed the same. Perceived value, according to Jon, is the result of your quality, experience and business dynamics. Your pricing has a great deal to do with your perceived value. To increase your perceived value you MUST cause not just an emotional CONNECT... [read more]

This is Part 3 of Taffer's Teachings focused on the 3rd of the 5 Musts For Business with Quality Service. Quality Service:  Do you send reviews out about your service? What is the feedback like? What’s your success ratio? If you have 1 or 2 negative reviews out of 100 events…you can probably live with that. Do you want it? No. Look at those areas of constructive feedback and see how they can be improved. I would STRONGLY recommend not just waiting until the end of the sales cycle with that specific client however. You need to have touch points with your client throughout their sales cycle with you to determine if you are... [read more]

We continue this week with the follow up to Be Flexible.  One time I showed up at an event to perform a speaking engagement and we were moved to a completely different room, it snowed the night before so everyone coming in for the event was delayed due to the weather and traffic.  I quickly realized that we would NOT be starting on time and that we’d just have to roll with it. If I had stayed in my head regarding everything working against me then I wouldn’t be able to live in the moment and truly deliver my presentation and content for that audience.   What’s a key for living in the moment and practicing patience?  Bei... [read more]