Hello all. Im fairly new in the DJ Business. Heres the story. I was a musician for many years and had alot of equipment lying around so i decided to put it to use. I also DJ on an internet radio station so I have very good software and a purpose built pc. I started building the stuff up to do this at the request of a friend who needed a DJ for a wedding.

Heres what i have...
Audio:
16 channel yamaha mixer
Juice Goose power conditioner
Behringer DEQ-2496 EQ (eq, expander, dynamics processor)
BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer
Behringer EP1500 amp
2 Peavey PV215 speaker cabs 2X15 drivers and horns

The eq has a pink noise generator and real time display so my sound is pretty good in any venu.

Lights
all mounted on a t-50 truss system
2 ADJ par56 led cans
4 ADJ par38 cans (single color with gels)
1 ADJ Vertigo Tri LED
1 ADJ Light Copilot III controller system

i also have 2 ADJ LED beacons on order should be here this week.

My delima is where do i get the best bang for the buck. Adding another amp and Subs or adding to my lights.

I also have assorted mikes stands and cables and a couple of wireless handheld mikes as well so thats not an issue.

Any advice would be appreciated...
THANKS

Well, that depends. How loud are you now? Clients can tell you are loud because they can hear it. Lights are something a client looks at all night long. Of course a ton of speakers and/or big stacks are something to look at too.

I would ask your clients. Would they like to see more of a 'light show' or more feel the bass in their chest more? At the end of the day, the ones you have to please are your clients, so don't be afraid to get feedback. Just take it with a grain of salt however, since most clients aren't 'professionals'. Everyone has a stereo at home and in their car and thinks they are a sound guy.

Well, I'm not a fan of Behringer amps and Peavy speakers. But if you have an EQ that does real time display and pink noise generation, are you using the RTA function(and the RTA mic) in the Behringer DEQ-2496? Hopefully you are.

I would say first off, I don't like the sound of 2-way with 15"s, regardless of brand. A true three-way design with 15's has been better. I find if you're going to add subs, you're going to need a second amp(at least) and cross-overs. You can cross-over your subs lower if you want to.

My advise would be to start researching the gear you want to need. The better sound systems are going to have subs, just to ensure that low end is properly supported.

Your lights aren't anything amazing, I've got more than that and I'm barely using it.

It's hard to say. Me, I'm a sound guy, I say add the amp(s), cross-over and subs.

Then invest in some more hi-tech FX units or true DMX fixutres.

Regarding what SerraAva says about car stereo people: I find it to be true. My idiot neighbors are blasting their crap-systems all day and night long, and it all sounds like crap. They aren't into "quality", they are into quantity. And as such, my voice-over clients and small recording client base has had to vanish because of the constant noise violations coming from next door. Trust me, I've tried talking to them, and it doesn't work. I call the cops, that doesn't "stick". Now they block my truck so I can't leave to do events, which s a mistake they will soon learn to regret.

thanks for the replies so far. I realize my lights arent anything spectacular nor is my sound. Heres the problem. I am in rual southern indiana and the clubs here are very small. Most of them have cance floors around 20 x 20 or smaller. Often they are moving pool tables to make room for dancers. I often have to use the "T"bars on my tripods instead of the truss just to save space. Big light shows are a waste most of the time. But i would like to have them available when i need them.
Subs a crossover and a second amp are in the works but since im just starting out they are a way down the road right now. As I said i am using equipment I already had. Aside from a new road case for the audio equipment I havent spent any money except for the 4 par38 cans. About 90 bucks. Im doing the best I can with very limited resources. Ive been laid off from my regular job so the DJ business is my only income right now. Spending as little as possible and getting the most bang for the buck is a priority above all others right now.

If you're doing dance, invest in the sub, X-over and amps first. People want bump, so give it to them. If your lighting isn't totally sucking hard, don't sweat it. Give good sound, this means less tired ears at the end of the night and less headaches. (yes, you can run CLEANER sound LONGER with less ill effects, but at the same time, don't kill them with it!) Pick up lights here and there after SEEING them first. Even the ADJ promo videos work good for this functionality. Order the DVD, they'll send it and a catalog free of charge. It is a major time saver.

Thanks Chris that seems like "sound" advice pardon the pun...

Since you're dedicating real time to this new endeavor, think about what you can do that will set you apart, without costing a lot of money. As a lighting and sound designer, my first thought is, of course, to encourage you to invest in equipment that will set your rig apart from others. However, as a business owner, I encourage you to use other resources to build your long-term business.

Use your computer to create marketing materials. They don't have to be crazy-fancy; but spend the time to make something that sets you apart. Print products that look good, and express your level of professionalism and specialties. I find that the most effective marketing materials I use are not our 8 page brochures (which hotels and architects seem to love), but the card stock single page bi-fold (a piece of heavy paper, folded in half. This gives you a cover, a back and 2 pages in the middle). It's clear, has a few photos, outlines what we do. Simple. If you don't have a knack for this, ask your friends and family. I find that someone I know is always willing to help out with these types of things. It makes them feel connected to your 'very cool job' and you may find that your sister/best friend/aunt has artistic talents that no one knows about because they've never been asked before. (I've seen this in my own family. My wife now provides portraits and scenic painting for my company. She started drawing in college, on a whim taking a beginning art class. It's now 10% of our gross revenues.)

Use the best marketing tool you have; yourself. Go to your clients instead of just calling. Be friendly, to the point, and enthusiastic (without being over-the-top). Show them that they are hiring YOU, not just some audio company.

Most importantly, LISTEN. Be attentive, ask questions about their business- what kind of shows they do, and what they might like to do. Then really listen to their answers. You will learn everything you need to know about each individual client simply by listening to what they actually say, and paying attention to what they don't say.

One way to begin is to make a list of all the possible contacts, then go see them. Keep notes of who you were successful in seeing, and who you need to work on. Take notes of the names of the people with whom you speak, and any unique notes about the meeting. This way, when you call back to make an appointment, you will already have a personal connection with someone. They may not be the person who will ultimately hire you, but they may be the first rung on the ladder to the person who is making the decisions.

When you're "meeting and greeting" with potential clients, show up in appropriate garb. I don't mean put on a suit and tie if you're not that guy. I do mean be clean, no tee-shirts, tame the 'hawk, and remove any piercings that you can for the meeting. I'm not saying show up looking like someone you're not. I am saying be respectful of the whole. Think about the gamut of people you are meeting, and be approachable and presentable to the widest range of people. I guarantee you, this is one of the most overlooked aspects of marketing yourself to others. I know many guys who've lost jobs because they were not willing to acknowledge that the people who write the checks may not find you as attractive as your buddies. Just be respectful of others. It shows.

Then, follow up - follow up - follow up. Contact them again, be friendly, but focused on the job at hand; getting the gig. The entertainment industry, as a whole, is quite small. It's amazing how many jobs I've been offered by people I don't know. People talk. Making the connections is the bread and butter of this work. It sounds like your market is small, so be impressive, in small ways, all the time. Quietly showing that you are a stand-up guy makes much more of an impression than the loud-mouth who makes all sorts of claims about how great they WILL be. Show 'em you're the right choice NOW.

It sounds like your lighting rig is fine for now, because it compliments the types of shows you are currently doing. There is nothing wrong with small venues and one-nighters- especially if they turn in to repeat business. Your audio rig sounds adequate as well for these types of shows. It is more important to extract the most potential from all of your gear right now, and then add as you can afford it. So many guys don't really understand all of their equipment, or the full capabilities of each piece of gear, so they end up with average shows when they could provide a better all-around experience for their clients if they simply mastered the gear.

In other words, take advantage of the time you have right now by really getting to know exactly how your equipment can work best for you, and the work you can be doing Right Now. Practice set up and teardown so you know exactly how long it takes. Practice the problems, like lamps burning out, or amps going down. Practice the things that might go wrong, so when they do (and at some point, they will) you will show the clients how well you deal with it. They'll talk. You'll get gigs you didn't know were out there.

If you can produce a level of reliable excellence with each show you do (even the $50 gig at someone's street party) you will be building the foundation of success over the long haul. Don't over-promise; over-deliver. This will prove to be the single best investment you can make. More amps, crossovers, and lights will come once you've established yourself as the 'go to' guy. Your relationship with each client is based on YOU as much as your gear, so work on being the best at what you are doing, and the clients will rely on it.

Case in point:
We have a perpetual client that asked us to provide a piece of gear we didn't have (a karaoke machine)for a corporate gig they were hosting. I have worked with this hotel before, and really wanted to make them happy, but I didn't want to purchase the gear for one show. Based on the relationship we have built with this client over a year or so, I proposed that the hotel pay for 75% of the gear and I would put up the other 25%, then give them a 25% discount of that gear rental for the next 4 times they rented it, and I would retain ownership. They agreed, and the gear was paid for in less than 6 months, because the hotel added it to their menu of available gear for rental to prospective clients. In fact, they are making money on it at this point.

Now, I'm not saying that this is a way to get all sorts of new stuff. However, because we spent time building an honest relationship with these folks, they trusted us enough to listen to a compromise, and it ended up creating another niche for us that didn't exist before. A win-win scenario.

Tenacity will pay off. Be focused on what you do well, then go out and make sure everyone in you market knows you're willing and able to do the show.

Good luck.

Jason DeCunzo
Riverhaus Productions
Missoula, MT

Thanks Jason

You really put alot of thought into that reply and I appreciate it. I will take your suggestions to heart and see what i can do. Thanks again and feel free to send any other ideas you may have.

Intruder, These guys are right on the money. Chris is the definetley the authority on sound and right with his advice. Jason's business advice is also concrete right down to his promo package ideas. Now alittle from a old mobile DJ. Go mobile DJ. You already know what it's like to be on the road..being your own boss etc. The house DJs I've known are only making $100-200 a night and only working 2-3 days a week. Yes there's probably guys doing more then that but far and few between. Mobile DJs as you know work as often as they want. For most we're busy during Christmas/New Years and wedding season (late spring to late fall). Alot of us stay busy the rest of the year doing high schools, corporate events etc. The big bucks is weddings. Cheap wedding $500.00 and some guys for their full blown treatment can run over $1800. Do a little googling and you'll see. Personally I've never gone over $1000.00. How? It's all about what services you offer for what price. Reception; DJ service 4 hrs with 4 pars = $400-500. Add 2 more intelligent lights and make it 5 hrs music =$650. Extra hour DJing is $100.00 per hour. But wait they want a MC. No problem thats another $100.00. So for 5 hrs, 4 pars, 2 intelligent lights and MC that'll be $750.00. They look at you and ask why should we pay you to MC. One because of your vast band experience you don't studder on the mic, won't mispronounce the bride's mothers' name and unlike uncle Charlie your teeth won't fly out. Just kidding about charlie. You explain that such embarassing moments won't happen because you an experienced professional. Playing at the church = more money. Playing back ground music for dinner maybe throw that in as a freebie.

Now DJ pointers. I like to play sets. I start off with a set of 3 fast of one genre then 1 slow to act as a transition for the next set of a different genre. 3 club mix, 1 R&B then 3 Hip Hop. I do that for the first hour then start doing the sets in 5. The genres depend on what type of gig and the people there. Of course you already know to keep an eye on the dance floor. What are they reacting to? When you look, really look. Is it the same hand full all the time. What are the rest doing. Be able to switch up your music/ genre. I always type out a master play list containing the name, length, genre and Beats per minute all in order of play. Sticking to the play list usually go out the window about an hour into it. Why? You find out they're reacting to a different genre then you planned or bombed by request etc. Bring all your music. Take request personaly..avoid having them just writing it on some sheet. Or atleast talk to them and explain you can't hear them and please write it down. I've interviewed club goers and they stated they find DJs who just use paper/pen for request a real turn off. Always let them know if you have it you'll play it for them. One girl request a song... you tell her no or blow her off...she goes back her table..guess what? You know she's telling her 4-6 friends you suck. It translate into multiple lost future customers. You can't satisfy all of them but if you have it play it. Oh, never play alot of remixes. Serious dude, this stuff comes from years of experience and feedback from customers etc. For weddings you ask what kind of music does she want. She replies "dance" music. Wow that's only 50 different genres. You find out most of them don't know the genres. So directly ask what songs and bands do they like. I usually find most weddings like top 40, alittle old school, maybe alittle hip hop and some club. I always ask what is the age range of the wedding guest (19-55 years say. How many are between 20-30 years? How many people are older then that? So, most are in the 20-30 range I'll play everything for the first part but as the night goes on and the older bunch leaves I end up playing top 40/club, hip hop etc. I also like to figure out when the bride was a teen and play a few tunes from that time. You always hear an "OMG I haven't heard that in years ". Anyways, you'll figure out your style in time. Now, you mentioned software...I guess that means .MP3? Chris is puking about now over that ugly word. OK, so start with that but plan for a back up system. A CD player or something. Then read Chris's post about MP3s and look up MP3 on wikipedia. You'll understand afterwards. Finally look the part and act the part. Get into your music and they will to. Good Luck

Wow. That last post by Sgtdude762mm was fantastic. Thanks for the "Cliff's Notes" version of how to structure the evening's play list Sgtdude762mm. I'm actually printing this and giving it to my 2 DJ's and we are going to meet to discuss it.

cheers-
Jason DeCunzo
Riverhaus Productions
Missoula, MT

Thanks Jason. I don't mind sharing a few trade secrets. Our industry has grown by leaps and it's only because our peers are just now sharing this type of info. I see here in Canada that Toronto has opened a DJ school. I hope that this will bring the standard up as well. There's alot knowledge out there that when combined can and will change the industry. I enjoy feedback...keeps me on target.

I'm actually thinking about training DJs and maybe start probing the country & Western DJ market as well. I haven't heard of any around here and thought might be worth a peek.

Have a good one,
Sgtdude