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how to start a DJ service
1. Get some lights and speakers.
I use a Mackie SM 650. It works for crowds of up to 300 people. The lights don't have to be fancy. I recommend some Chauvet uplights for starters. If you need more gear it's best to rent it for now.
2. Get Music
Some clients will give you strict playlists, some will offer suggestion songs. Others won't have a clue what they want to hear. At any rate, those playlists often go out the window completely. When that happens you need to go back on your library. I have a hard drive of over 30,000 songs.
The best way to get a base library is to borrow it from another DJ. Afterwords get a subscription to a record pool. I use Promo Only. You could just get everything from the torrents, but record pools are relatively cheap, the music is properly tagged and you can get a lot of alternate versions of songs that are hard to find. It also saves you from getting burned by bad copies that record companies sometimes put up to discourage bootlegging.
2. Learn to beat match.
You don't have to be the next DJ Q-Bert. In fact, for most parties excessive turntabalism can work against you. However, you should master blending one song into another on beat. It's a good way to keep your dance floor motivated
3. Contact people you know.
Everyone has a friend or relative that's throwing either a birthday, wedding, company Christmas party etc. Offer them your services. At first you might have to work for free or close to it to get known. Whatever you do though NEVER WORK FOR A LOSS. Even charity gigs should pay you enough to at least cover your parking, food, and gas.
4. Expand your reach
The best way to get business is through word of mouth. If someone has a good time at the party they will want you to DJ theirs. As a rule I give discounts to family and close friends. They are the ones that are going to have your name on their lips the most. Once you have relative strangers asking for you that's when you can start charging real money... with that said
5. Figure out what your fees are
As a rule I charge set rates for bars, clubs, parties and events. Then I add to that rate if a client wants me to drive far, rent special equipment and so forth. For clubs you want to charge by the hour. For events it's best to charge for the night.
If the party goes extra hours the worst thing you can do is pull a client off the dance floor and ask him for a check. 9 times out of 10 he will hit you off with a tip that more than makes up for it. If he doesn't at least you get the reputation of throwing a party so good nobody wanted to leave.
Whether you charge a couple thousand or a couple hundred keep your prices simple and straightforward. Unless you get beat or don't provide what you promised there's no need to fight about money.
6. Cover your ass
There are a million things that can go wrong during a gig. Laptops freeze, speakers blow, drunks spill beer on mixers. Fights break out, police shut down parties... sometimes before they even start. Your car could break down, or you could get the flu and be too sick to move. What do you do in those cases?
At the very least you need to have backup ipods and extra cables. That way even if your computer freezes you have something to keep you going until you fix it. 90% of your other equipment issues involve broken cables.
7. Be professional
Even if your shtick is to sport a green mohawk and cuss every other word you say you still have to show up on time. In general you need to have the same good work habits as any other job or business. IMO you should also stay sober, a DUI can fuck you up, also you don't want people blaming any of your failing on being drunk.
8. Let the women come to you
Yes, she's fine as fuck in a bridesmaid dress. She just caught the bouquet, she's completely wasted and needs a ride home. DON'T MAKE A MOVE. Even the easiest slut doesn't want their closest friends and family to see them leave with a complete stranger.
If she does come on to you ask for her number and call her after the gig. Remember your first priority is the party.
9. Understand that YOU are the brand.
If you get sick, tough shit. Show up anyway. hire someone to help out if necessary, but be there. The client didn't just book your service they booked YOU!
10. Have fun
You control the party. If you're checking your phone every five minutes so will the people. If you sit down the party sits down. If you're counting the minutes until you can leave so will everyone else.
If you're not into what you're doing find a way to get into it. Even if the crowd and music is completely alien to you figure out some kind of common ground. Even if your a hip hop head playing a country crowd dig deep inside until you find that inner Garth Brooks.
1. Get some lights and speakers.
I use a Mackie SM 650. It works for crowds of up to 300 people. The lights don't have to be fancy. I recommend some Chauvet uplights for starters. If you need more gear it's best to rent it for now.
2. Get Music
Some clients will give you strict playlists, some will offer suggestion songs. Others won't have a clue what they want to hear. At any rate, those playlists often go out the window completely. When that happens you need to go back on your library. I have a hard drive of over 30,000 songs.
The best way to get a base library is to borrow it from another DJ. Afterwords get a subscription to a record pool. I use Promo Only. You could just get everything from the torrents, but record pools are relatively cheap, the music is properly tagged and you can get a lot of alternate versions of songs that are hard to find. It also saves you from getting burned by bad copies that record companies sometimes put up to discourage bootlegging.
2. Learn to beat match.
You don't have to be the next DJ Q-Bert. In fact, for most parties excessive turntabalism can work against you. However, you should master blending one song into another on beat. It's a good way to keep your dance floor motivated
3. Contact people you know.
Everyone has a friend or relative that's throwing either a birthday, wedding, company Christmas party etc. Offer them your services. At first you might have to work for free or close to it to get known. Whatever you do though NEVER WORK FOR A LOSS. Even charity gigs should pay you enough to at least cover your parking, food, and gas.
4. Expand your reach
The best way to get business is through word of mouth. If someone has a good time at the party they will want you to DJ theirs. As a rule I give discounts to family and close friends. They are the ones that are going to have your name on their lips the most. Once you have relative strangers asking for you that's when you can start charging real money... with that said
5. Figure out what your fees are
As a rule I charge set rates for bars, clubs, parties and events. Then I add to that rate if a client wants me to drive far, rent special equipment and so forth. For clubs you want to charge by the hour. For events it's best to charge for the night.
If the party goes extra hours the worst thing you can do is pull a client off the dance floor and ask him for a check. 9 times out of 10 he will hit you off with a tip that more than makes up for it. If he doesn't at least you get the reputation of throwing a party so good nobody wanted to leave.
Whether you charge a couple thousand or a couple hundred keep your prices simple and straightforward. Unless you get beat or don't provide what you promised there's no need to fight about money.
6. Cover your ass
There are a million things that can go wrong during a gig. Laptops freeze, speakers blow, drunks spill beer on mixers. Fights break out, police shut down parties... sometimes before they even start. Your car could break down, or you could get the flu and be too sick to move. What do you do in those cases?
At the very least you need to have backup ipods and extra cables. That way even if your computer freezes you have something to keep you going until you fix it. 90% of your other equipment issues involve broken cables.
7. Be professional
Even if your shtick is to sport a green mohawk and cuss every other word you say you still have to show up on time. In general you need to have the same good work habits as any other job or business. IMO you should also stay sober, a DUI can fuck you up, also you don't want people blaming any of your failing on being drunk.
8. Let the women come to you
Yes, she's fine as fuck in a bridesmaid dress. She just caught the bouquet, she's completely wasted and needs a ride home. DON'T MAKE A MOVE. Even the easiest slut doesn't want their closest friends and family to see them leave with a complete stranger.
If she does come on to you ask for her number and call her after the gig. Remember your first priority is the party.
9. Understand that YOU are the brand.
If you get sick, tough shit. Show up anyway. hire someone to help out if necessary, but be there. The client didn't just book your service they booked YOU!
10. Have fun
You control the party. If you're checking your phone every five minutes so will the people. If you sit down the party sits down. If you're counting the minutes until you can leave so will everyone else.
If you're not into what you're doing find a way to get into it. Even if the crowd and music is completely alien to you figure out some kind of common ground. Even if your a hip hop head playing a country crowd dig deep inside until you find that inner Garth Brooks.
This is a great thread! I had to bump it!
be A RHINOCEROS NOT A COW...COWS SIT AND EAT GRASS... RHINOS CHARGE!!!!!
Personal trainer inside tips business
http://m.youtube.com/?#/user/StartFitnessBootCamp
Party promoting business
http://www.partypromoting.com/
http://m.youtube.com/#/user/trentondunn
Start your own college or school as a business
http://melbrown1.hubpages.com/hub/Ho...Online-College
book
read www.crushitbook.com maybe bgol has it here or buy from amazon
http://m.youtube.com/?#/user/StartFitnessBootCamp
Party promoting business
http://www.partypromoting.com/
http://m.youtube.com/#/user/trentondunn
Start your own college or school as a business
http://melbrown1.hubpages.com/hub/Ho...Online-College
book
read www.crushitbook.com maybe bgol has it here or buy from amazon
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