The Mobile DJ Handbook

How to Start & Run a Profitable Mobile Disc Jockey Service

Stacy Zemon

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9780240804897
• eBook ISBN: 9781136117336
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Acoustical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The Mobile DJ Handbook, Second Edition continues to be an excellent guide for novice and experienced DJs looking to build a successful career as the owner-operator of a mobile disc jockey service. Complete with practical tips, expert advice, and creative strategies, this book serves as the perfect guide on how to market and sell your services as well as develop and expand your business.



This book contains information on becoming a professional, securing bookings, buying equipment and music, and running party dances, contests, and games. Included within the text are sample contracts, an advertisement and brochure, and resource information. The Mobile DJ Handbook is an essential reference guide which offers readers all the knowledge and inspiration needed to run a profitable enterprise.

1

Your 21st Century Mobile DJ Service

Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

NAPOLEON HILL

Honesty, integrity, and communication are the three most important words to remember when starting your DJ business. By being honest with yourself and with your clients you will create an atmosphere of trust. By demonstrating integrity you will earn respect. Clear communication will help you to avoid misunderstandings. Be willing to ask questions when you are unsure and to inform others when an unforeseen problem arises.

MARK THOMAS, OWNER Awesome Entertainment Pasadena, California 2001/2002 American Disc Jockey Association President

Creating Prosperity and Success

Success can be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals. Successful people understand that there is no such thing as failure, only mistakes from which they can learn. They are persistent, dedicated risk takers who have an unwavering belief in themselves and what they are doing. They aim high, learn quickly from their experiences, are action oriented, and love challenges.

To attain success, you must learn to focus on the journey and not just on the destination. Before you set out on your journey, you ought to know something about where you want to go and when you expect to arrive.

A necessary ingredient in any formula for success is vision— your underlying, driving, desire-filled concept of what you value most in life. To convert a vision into a goal, break it down into a workable action plan of daily, weekly, and monthly steps. First, write out a vision statement. Detail for yourself what you want from your business and what will motivate you to take action to achieve it. You can be as specific as you want and should include questions relevant to all of your hopes and dreams. If the sky were the limit, what would you want? Write a list of your emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, and monetary goals. A mission statement reflects your vision of your ideal company.

When your list is complete, eliminate all of the items you wrote down because you thought you should, not because you really want or need them. Ask yourself if you are willing to make a plan to attain or achieve each of the remaining items on your list. To be successful you must act as if you are already a success. You must believe that you can succeed. If this is not your perception, you may sabotage your own efforts. At first, acting like a successful person may feel as though you are simply an actor playing a part. Eventually, the “acting” will translate into “being.” Demonstrate an attitude of success in every area of your life, such as your manner of dress, the way in which you speak with people, and how you conduct yourself and your affairs.

Be enthusiastic! Verbalize your excitement about your business to everyone you speak with. Stay in contact with mentors who have what you want and are willing to talk with you about how they got it. Whatever your level of success, be willing to share it with others. To keep something, you must be willing to give it away!

Learn to attain and keep a positive attitude by reading motivational books or by listening to tapes of positive affirmations. Positive thinking is seeing something good in every situation. Successful people have the ability to focus on the positive and have faith that their goals will manifest themselves. Faith is very different from hope. Faith is the inner knowledge of things unseen. Your goals can be manifested through the use of prayer, meditation, affirmations, and action. Here are some ideas to assist you:

• As often as possible, focus your attention on exactly what you want from your business and your life.

• Commit to your success.

• Do the work required.

• Remove all obstacles that stand in your way.

• Visualize having what you desire.

• Believe you deserve what you are visualizing.

• Act as if you already have these things.

• Love your work and constantly strive for improvement.

• Be honest and keep your commitments.

• Have faith and let go of fear and resentments.

• Be patient and persistent.

• Find ways to “recharge your batteries.”

• Help others to have what you want for yourself.

• Be truly thankful for what you receive.

If you love being a mobile DJ and focus on service, financial rewards will naturally follow. The focus must be on the service, not on the money. Financial rewards are always the secondary outcome of serving others well.

Becoming a Professional

Professional mobile DJs come from all walks of life. They are men and women from every ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic background and age group. Mobile DJs travel to various functions and locations to be emcees and to entertain guests through music and motivating speech. The DJ, or the company for which he or she works, owns the equipment and music brought to the event. Experienced mobile disc jockeys are highly skilled professionals. Those who own their own businesses have made a major investment of their finances, time, and reputation. It is necessary to have the proper experience and resources in place before starting your own business.

In the mobile DJ business your performance is your product. When your product is excellent, you will receive referrals that lead to bookings. Consistent bookings will create the cash flow that is necessary to promote, improve, and expand your business. The Mobile DJ Handbook attempts to illustrate the aspects of the profession that can be taught. As a general rule, the best mobile DJs are outgoing individuals with a high energy level and a commanding presence. They usually have pleasant speaking voices and are able to think quickly, communicate clearly, and motivate others. They enjoy a wide variety of music and have a passion for entertaining a crowd. These people desire to continue to learn and grow as performers.

Mobile DJs who successfully run their own companies are savvy businesspeople with strong sales abilities. Their businesses are adequately capitalized to finance the marketing and advertising necessary for promotion of the company. They consistently give excellent performances and are highly customer-service oriented.

Not all DJs have the ability to perform equally well at different types of occasions. A high school prom calls for an entirely different kind of music and entertainment style than does a dance for 35- to 60-year-olds at a country club. Ask yourself the following questions: Can I relate equally well to both audiences? Do I enjoy alternative and rap as much as Motown and big band? Your answers to these kinds of questions will determine the types of occasions that you may choose as your specialties. It will also help you determine what kind of music library you will need. You may want to consider only performing at the types of events that will best utilize your talents. As your business develops and you hire other DJs, who may have different talents than yours, you can expand the types of functions performed by your company. Here are some ideas that can help you become a professional mobile disc jockey:

• Set short- and long-term goals. Review these goals daily and visualize yourself achieving them.

• Stay abreast of what is happening in the industry by reading trade publications and attending DJ conventions.

• Constantly strive to improve your entertainment and business skills by learning from successful people.

• Read and watch educational and motivational books and videos.

• Learn from and get involved with successful people through networking organizations.

Honest self-evaluation is crucial when planning for success. Ask yourself the following questions to help you determine if you have “the right stuff” to start your own business:

• Do I have strong leadership abilities?

• Do I consider myself a savvy businessperson?

• Do I possess excellent sales abilities?

• Do I like to make my own decisions?

• Do I enjoy competition?

• Am I self-motivated and self-disciplined?

• Do I plan ahead?

• Do I get along well with people?

• Am I willing to put in both the financial and the time commitments to run my own business?

• Do I have the physical stamina to handle the work required?

• Do I have the emotional strength to withstand the strain?

• Do I possess polished and well-rounded DJ entertainer and emcee skills?

• Am I thoroughly familiar with how to run mixing activities, participation dances, contests, wedding receptions, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs?

There are several books on the market that contain a wealth of musical facts and historical information. Some of these books contain chart toppers and spotlight current events that took place the year a particular song hit the charts. Having this kind of information can be a treasure to a DJ who wants to keep the audience entertained with interesting anecdotes and facts. Check out the music section of your local bookstores and library. These books are also available from DJ-oriented catalogs and Web sites.

There are trade publications and organizations that produce yearly mobile disc jockey expos. The opportunity to learn and grow from attendance at these conventions is incredible. They offer workshops and seminars on a variety of topics, and provide an important chance to network with and learn from many professionals in the field.

“Newbies” versus “Bottom-Feeders”

In the mobile DJ business there is a world of difference between being a “Newbie” and being a “Bottom-Feeder.” In both cases their rates may be discounted but their business conduct and operations are entirely different.

A “Newbie” is someone who is new to the DJ business and simply lacks the experience, references, and connections that benefit the higher priced, established mobile disc jockey. Newbies are willing to continuously reinvest their DJ revenues into professional improvement by adding and updating their equipment, music library, attire, and other tools of the trade. They keep their rates competitive and are always aware that rates can slowly rise as the value of their equipment, performance, and professional expertise increases.

Someone who is new to the mobile business and wishes to be a professional must be willing to learn and share new ideas, get to know the competition, and network with DJs from other geographic areas. Pros carry liability and property insurance, use signed contracts, invest in backup equipment, give their clients personalized attention, and always act with integrity. Over time, these DJs will begin to attract a more discriminating and educated clientele. Referrals from past clients and years of networking will be their main source of business.

Bottom-Feeders only reinvest monies when their equipment stops working. These DJs are not concerned with professionalism, improving their skills, or learning anything new. Their music collection is typically very limited and they obtain clients by underbidding the competition and offering the lowest price. Unfortunately, many uneducated consumers fall prey to the financially attractive sounding sales pitch and do not realize, until the day of their event, that they truly did not get a bargain.

Repeat clients are not the mainstay of the Bottom-Feeder. These DJs do not bother to carry insurance, have little backup equipment, if any, and run their business like a sideline. Some will even make promises to clients that they do not intend to keep. Often they will subcontract the job to an even less expensive and inexperienced disc jockey.

If you plan to be a Newbie, welcome to the fold. If you plan to be a Bottom-Feeder, please stay away from the mobile disc jockey profession. Your actions are detrimental to your hard-working, professional competition and damage the reputation of the industry.

DJ Schools and Apprenticeships

Operating a mobile DJ service can be a part-time job or a fulltime career. Whether you...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• About the Author
• 1. Your 21st Century Mobile DJ Service
• 2. Getting Top Billing
• 3. The Interactive DJ
• 4. Getting Geared Up
• 5. Your Music Collection
• 6. Marketing and Advertising
• 7. Party Possibilities
• 8. Multi-System and Full-Service Operations
• 9. Selling Your Services
• 10. Tech Talk
• 11. How’s Your Form?
• 12. Records of Success
• Appendix
• Index