BusinessHABDisc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide: What have you done lately to grow your business?
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Have you tried to develop warm leads?
Have you gone into your “uncomfortable” zone and tried to attempt using a new technology, like vlogging?
Have you mined through past clients and said hello?
In this economy, we can use all the help we can get.
But we still need to create our own opportunities.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
It is not often you get financial rewards for pursuing your passion.
However, in the disc jockey business passion, swag and smart business acumen equate cash money in the bank.
Today DJs are finding their niche market not only highly exciting but financially rewarding.
The reasons are not far-fetched from improvement in sound technology and integration of computer software into their art form.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Working as a DJ like any skilled profession is hard work, long hours and sleepless nights.
The thespian has two business formats in this industry that complement each other.
The musician could run a mobile operation or locate his craft at a dedicated studio.
The for-bearers were limited to recorded mixed tapes for sale to music enthusiast.
They hardly featured in outside gigs but were sometimes engaged in children’s parties.
Today the jockey has so many business opportunities to make regular income.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
The jobs cut across the corporate industry, shows, anniversaries and recording gigs.
The person behind the console needs to be hard working, talented and have an energetic personality.
Although the world of entertainment is exciting and glamorous the job is highly tasking.
To succeed in this business you need to maintain a high standard of expertise and branding.
Before starting your journey into sound there are a few things you need to know about the disc jockey business.
So, here are things you can do today to take advantage of your non-performing time and grow your referral base, increase inbound leads and position yourself as the thought leader you are:
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Why Start a Mobile DJ Business?
Music is one thing that brings delight to the heart of people and that is exactly why there are a lot of DJs doing their thing and making people really happy.
The disc jockey business has existed from time immemorial and it is such that have continued to rake in money to those who know how to play the business game.
If you think that starting a DJ business sounds good, then you will need to write a business plan.
Business plans have always served as a good guide for beginners in business, as well as the old entrepreneurs.
You will have to undertake some research.
After that is done, you will have to go for some good training on the job.
A thorough and exhaustive research is advised. Here below is a sample disc jockey business plan;
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Disc Jockey (DJ) Responsibilitie
- Helping our client handle the whole musical cum entertainment aspect of the their events (corporate events, wedding parties, rallies / road shows, birthday parties, graduation parties, night clubs and bars et al).
- Ensures that customers are entertained with the best of music per time
- Manage the sound system for the nightclub
- In charge of music collections
- Responsible for providing music at events.
- Responsible for developing music playlists.
- Interacting with public at parties.
- Responsible for mixing music tracks.
Mobile DJ Business Plan
Disc Jockey and musical equipment entertainment services business is one of the many businesses that can easily generate business deals with little stress as long as they are well positioned and equipped to carry out their services.
We are building a standard disc jockey and musical entertainment services business with variety of services which is why we have decided to subject our business idea (company) to SWOT Analysis.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Ordinarily we can successfully run a normal disc jockey and musical equipment rental services business without the stress of going through the required protocol of setting up a new business including writing a detailed business plan, but because of the nature of the kind of disc jockey and musical equipment rental business we want to establish, we don’t have any option other than to follow due process.
We hired the services of a HR and Business consultant with bias in startups to help us conduct SWOT analysis for our company and she did a pretty job for us. Here is a preview of the result we got from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Mickey & May DJ® Services, LLC
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Strength:
Mickey & May DJ® Services, LLC is centrally located in-between a densely populated residential estate and business district in the heart of Baton Rouge – Louisiana; our location is in fact one of our major strength. We are also one of the very few disc jockeys and musical equipment rental services companies in the whole of Baton Rouge – Louisiana that is well equipped to carry out a wide range of services as it relates to the line of business we are into.
Another strength that counts for us is the power of our team; our workforce and management. We have a team that are considered experts in the entertainment industry cum disc jockey line of business, a team of hardworking and dedicated individuals.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Weakness:
Mickey & May DJ® Services, LLC is a new business which is down by an individual (family), and we may not have the financial muscle to sustain the kind of publicity we want to give our business and also to attract some of the well – experienced hands (DJs) in the entertainment industry.
Opportunities:
We are centrally located in one of the busiest area in Baton Rouge – Louisiana and we are open to all the available opportunities that the city has to offer. Our business concept also positioned us to be a one stop shop in the disc jockey and musical entertainment rental services line of business.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
The truth is that there are no standard and well – equipped disc jockey and musical equipment rental services business within the area where ours is going to be located; the closest to our proposed location is about 6 miles away. In a nutshell, we do not have any direct competition within our target market area.
Threat:
Some of the threats that are likely going to confront Mickey & May DJ® Services, LLC are unfavorable government policies, seasonal fluctuations, demographic / social factors, downturn in the economy which is likely going to affect consumers spending and of course emergence of new competitors within the same location where ours is located.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Publicity and Advertising Strategy
Mickey & May DJ® Services, LLC is set to create a standard for disc jockey and musical equipment rental services business in Baton Rouge – Louisiana and throughout the United States which is why we will go all the way to adopt and apply best practices to promote our business. Good enough there is no hard and fast rule on how to advertise or promote a disc jockey and musical equipment rental services business. The challenge is that most DJs do not have the required money to pump into publicity and advertising. The cash they have will be reserved to take care of overhead and operational cost.
We will ensure that we leverage on all conventional and non – conventional publicity and advertising technique to promote our business. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Mickey & May DJ® Services, LLC;
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Encourage our loyal customers to help us use Word of Mouth mode of advertisement (referrals)
- Advertise our business in relevant entertainment magazines, local newspaper, local TV stations and local radio station
- Promote our business online via our official website
- List our business on local directories (yellow pages)
- Sponsor relevant community programs
- Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, et al to promote our brand
- Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations
- Direct coupon mailing approach
- Engage in road show from time to time in target communities
- Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
- Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes, and all our official cars and trucks are customized and well branded.
Network with new people. Extend beyond your usual group, and join online and offline meetups through such avenues as meetup.com. These meetups involve a variety of interests, take place in most major metropolitan areas, and are a good source of networking. Look for meetups that appeal to you while benefiting your DJ business.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Look for people with similar interests or complementary businesses. Focus on specific niches for networking. The way you network might dictate the type of gigs you find and vice versa. Finding a niche isn’t limiting. It can actually expand your bookings and might even result in specific business proposals.
- For example, look for meetups attended by venue owners and managers, including club and bar managers, and small-business owners.
- Club and bar DJ gigs are a good way to gain experience. If you want to DJ in clubs, network with club promoters, bar owners, bartenders, and servers.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Join local business clubs. Don’t forget that your DJing is a business. An entrepreneurs’ meetup, small-business club, or chamber of commerce could be a great source of potential clients and referrals.
For wedding gigs, network with bridal shops, videographers, florists, and caterers. Think of vendors that someone planning a wedding would use, and tap into those networks.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Find other DJs. Fellow DJs can be a good source of leads, referrals, or musical ideas. Experienced DJs might have good advice for you or maybe even referrals to events they’re too busy to DJ themselves.
- On certain nights and holidays there is high demand for DJs, so one who’s already booked might be able to refer you to an event s/he can’t work.
- You may very well encounter naysayers and discouraging DJs, particularly online, but it’s best to ignore them. Others, however, can provide helpful tips on business development, networking, and musical improvement. Follow their examples.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Learn the Trade
The quickest way to gain experience is to become an apprentice to an established brand. Most DJs started out learning from turntable maestros.
Other ways of improving your skill are through regular practice, books and informal training. You need to build up your confidence and know your music.
It takes endless hours of experimentation and practice to gain enough experience for public outings. Having a love for music and in-depth understanding of different music genre and sounds is a good advantage.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Develop a Plan
It is risky to just jump into the enterprise without a proper plan. You need to understand the business end of the job if you want to achieve success.
The business aspects include price for your service, transportation cost, and labor. Create a unique identity and brand including a signature sound.
Other considerations are target market, operational costs and start-up capital. The start-up cost for a Disk Jockey service is about$ 5000-$20,000 depending on the scope of operation.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
You can start the operation from home or an office environment. There is availability for franchising and you can market your skills through a website or blog. Your business plan should include promotional, recurrent costs, and marketing.
Others are growth expectations, branding and sourcing finance. You need to develop your own technique, unique identity and project earnings for the next five years.
Without reaching potential clients you will not make money. To build on your reputation and brand do a few free gigs for NGOs and voluntary organizations.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
More Considerations
Are you interested in working only part-time then you have found the best business opportunity. Although day gigs are highly favored jockeys work mostly on weekends or at night.
The job is highly competitive and lucrative and there are many players. The demand is high because of the crucial role they play in providing music at events.
The major investment in the business involves buying of the equipment, fuel and transportation costs. Once you have the proper equipment the only recurring cost are purchases of records.
Disc jockey business is not capital expensive and with moderate savings you can buy your console.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
A list of performance gigs you can do as a disc jockey
1 Your services are needed at red carpet events, musical concerts and bachelor’s parties. Get regular gigs in clubs, music stores and dance bars.
2 You can record your own music using established stars for vocals and make cool cash.
3 Do forget the old ways of recording mixed tapes for customers.
4 Weddings and marriage ceremonies are incomplete without either a live band or a DJ.
5 Children’s parties, birthdays, television shows and theme parks use them to create a lively atmosphere.
6 You can even sell special sound compositions to recording artists
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Financing your Gig
Once you have the basic equipment the rest is just show business. You don’t need bank loans to start a DJ enterprise.
Try target savings with a commercial bank, loan money from family and friends. The good part about the business is that you can loan equipment when you have gigs.
Although you don’t need to have your own equipment to start earning money it is better to own them.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide Equipment
The disc jockey has an array of tool to enhance his performance. The equipment include Audio DJ controller with virtual DJ 8LE Software, Bubbletron bubble machine and media operator mp3 Bluetooth media player.
The jockey might include micro galaxian laser, vertical fog machines and crossfader and channel fader. Other equipment used is turntables, cartridges, mixers, monitors, slip-mats, headphones, vinyl records and cables.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
List of equipment’s used by DJs
1 Computer monitors
2 Turntable equipment
3 Mobile Table stands
4 Cartridges
5 Mixers and amplifiers
6 Slipmats
7 Records and cables
8 Audio controller
9 Interactive software
10 Bluetooth media player
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
11 Mp3
12 Headphones
13 Microphones
14 Different music selection
15 Lighting and fog machines
16 Public address system
17 Karaoke machine
18 Have a comprehensive song list
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Collect Different Genre of Music
You need to have a comprehensive list of old, new and trending sounds. Apart from buying CDs and discs you can store music on digital files like mp3 or other software applications.
There are so many genre of music a jockey can select such as calypso, reggae, R&B and disco among others.
It depends on the laws of your resident country regarding registration. Another important consideration is insurance because of your equipment.
You can also join a performing musician association in your country of residence. This will give legitimacy and recognition as a musician in your country.
A major advantage of such organizations is networking and having inside knowledge of trending events. You might need the services of a paralegal to settle disputes on payments and remunerations.
Other functions of your lawyer are to study contracts, endorsements and performance deals.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Marketing and Branding
The disc jockey is only as good as his brand name. Create a unique brand and showcase your immense talent to your clients. Try newspaper advertisement to reach a wider customer base.
Other advertisement options include billboards, handbills, complementary cards and posters. You can use classified websites to attract patronage.
Use multimedia channels including television advertisements, radio and YouTube. You might need a manger or management services to book events.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
Launch a Website
A website is a good place to showcase your talent and drum up new clients. Make your website unique and Identical to your personality.
Things to include in your website are free downloads of mixed recordings, about me page and contact information. Other things are photographs of your show and concerts including celebrity selfies.
The more comprehensive and exciting your website the more clients you will get and fan base.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide in Nigeria
Thinking of starting a Disc jockey business there are a few steps to actualize your goals.
1 The job is highly technical so you need to learn certain skills. Learn the rudiments of handling the turntable and mixing sounds.
2 The next step is to develop a business plan that covers all the modalities of the venture.
3 Get adequate financing to buy the equipment, rent space, registration and transportation costs.
4 Hire a manager to oversee your jobs and endorsements.
5 Buy high quality equipment for better sound quality.
6 Build a formidable collection of records, CDs and mp3 recordings.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide in Nigeria
7 Develop your own swag, style and branding.
8 Register your business with the appropriate authorities.
9 Marketing is very important to reach potential clients.
10 Set a competitive price for your appearance and performance fees.
If you have the talent starting a DJ business is not that difficult. You need to generate hype and create a buzz around your performances.
Top players earn from regular gigs in night clubs, drinking joints, guest appearances and concerts. Another highly lucrative avenue is supporting a recognized record label or rap artist.
You find them at corporate gatherings, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays and children’s parties. Top talk show celebrities in America even use them in their productions.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide in Nigeria
- Use weekday downtime wisely: One of the great things about being a DJ is that you can plan your weeks to maximize your time. This is the time when you’re working on your business. Prospecting occurs during this time, so in addition to making outreach to past clients, visit facilities, kiss babies, clean your e-mail list. See who’s opening your e-mail blasts and find ways to make them convert.
- Submit information to blogs: If you’ve ever attended a DJ Expo and sat in at a seminar and thought, “I can do this,” then you are a thought leader! And a thought leader is in a position of authority to solve client’s problems. So go searching through a wedding blog and offer useful comments. After a few times doing this, include a link to your site.
- Reward existing customers: Send holiday and birthday cards with a personal message to all past customers, and highlight one of their personal interests that you had learned from working with them. Offer an exclusive incentive to your regular customers. Notify them via e-mail, and direct them to an otherwise inaccessible page on your website where the offer appears. This works best with corporate clients.
- Encourage your customers to bring in new customers: Offer an incentive (like a discount) to customers who refer a new customer. Sound cheesy? It only needs to work once.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Make your website sing: If you haven’t added any new content to your site in six months, chances are the Google gods will think you’re dead. Frequently updated websites demonstrate to potential customers that yours is a vibrant business. Update it at least once a week, and look for ways it can be improved. Too often, small business websites load slowly, are poorly organized, and are difficult to navigate. Fix bottlenecks that discourage customers and look for Calls to Action (“Book Now!” or “Join 10,000 Satisfied Customers Today”). And make sure all links work.
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Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Provide helpful information: If you’re unsure of what kind of content to update your website with, try loading up your site with tips, hints, reviews, and other information that can help drive sales. For example, you’re in the bridal business, you should have a FAQ section that can compete with anything Modern Bride Magazine provides its readers. Be useful, informative, and smart. Customers do all their research before they call any vendors, so be part of their solution.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Increase visibility in your community: Join local organizations that provide business networking opportunities, or start your own. Are there non-profits in your market? See what their needs are. Do volunteer work for a large charity. Sponsor a softball team. If they don’t know you they can’t call you.
- Participate in online marketing groups: Search LinkedIn and other social-networking sites for groups to discuss marketing tactics and techniques. It’s a great way to mine the brains of other small business owners, many of whom, although in a different business than DJing, have similar pain points and solutions. UnderstandingMarketing.com holds a chat and Q&A session on Twitter that focuses on small-business marketing. It’s live each Tuesday from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Search #smbiz on Tweetgrid.com.
- Visit online marketing sites: GoodMarketingIdeas.com is an excellent site, with plenty of useful tips. The suggestions here cost little or nothing to implement, and will likely lead you to resources you might never have thought of on your own.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Get active in the online community: Encourage your employees to do the same. If you’re multi-op all of your employees should be on LinkedIn, thus exponentially increasing your footprint. Be careful not to spam discussion forums, but don’t be afraid to use signature lines containing links to your website. Establish common-sense rules for yourself and your employees on these social-networking and discussion sites, and always strive to be positive and helpful.
- Check out your suppliers’ websites thoroughly: Add links on your site to informative and helpful content on those sites. Many corporate sites offer instructional videos and other material that can inform your customers and lead them back to you, ready to do business.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Get a toll-free phone number: Yeah, it’s cheap and easy, and makes you look like the pro that you are. And it’s not as expensive as you think.
- Launch a blog on your site and update it regularly: Nothing reads “I don’t care” like a blog whose most recent entry is days or months old. Assign this task to an employee who can write and spell—nobody wants to hire an illiterate business owner. Write about your vendors and facilities to help build those relationships. Introduce people to your company and your staff. Highlight your offerings. Run contests and give away company swag. Announce specials and upcoming product-line changes. Establish a “customer-of-the-month.”
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Get on Facebook and Twitter—please!: We’ve written about this a lot. Participating in social media is no longer a choice—it’s where everybody exists and it’s not going away. Having a Facebook page may not earn you any new business, but not having one may cause customers to ask why. Use quality photos of your office and employees to put a more human face on your company identity. For Twitter, let your customers follow you, and implement a strategy similar to what you’re using on your blog.
Top Disc Jockey(DJ) Business Guide
- Keep trucking: Getting new and potential customers to notice you is an ongoing battle. Pick a new idea every week or two and implement it, no matter how small it is. Call a meeting of employees, order a pizza for lunch, and brainstorm; offer an incentive for ideas you implement. Before long, these tactics will pay—in sales and more satisfied customers.
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