From DJWiki

original text excerpted from Spinnin 2000 - 1997 Edition

Operating a Mobile DJ service can be anything you want it to be. It can be a full-time pursuit, a fabulous part time, weekend business or something in between. The important thing is that it’s no longer just a hobby, it’s a business that demands a high degree of professionalism from those who desire to succeed.

Being a MDJ is not a “males only” business. Females are quickly proving this to be an opportunity where the sexes are equal. Couples are also taking up DJing as a way to spend time together and supplement their income, while working to reach common goals.

Contents 1 Entre to Entertaining 2 Opportunities for DJs 3 A Case of Butterflies 4 Eight Days a Week

Entre to Entertaining

Mobile DJs are entertainment entrepreneurs. They enjoy getting up in front of a crowd and having fun. They are right at home joking, offhandedly, with their audiences between tunes. Every DJ has developed a style that he’s comfortable with and that works for him. No two DJs are exactly alike. If they were, they wouldn’t be so competitive.

In simple terms, there are two ingredients to a DJ’s show: the music and the DJ. The music should always be in the foreground. When the DJ gets right on track with what the audience wants musically, something magical happens. Everyone has a great time and, for the DJ, it doesn’t even begin to feel like work.

Opportunities for DJs

The demand for DJs who entertain at private parties is growing rapidly. Many people who previously hired live bands were first attracted to DJs to keep their costs down. Although DJs have a price advantage on bands, avoid the temptation to promote your service as an inexpensive alternative to live music. Good bands offer a certain energy that a single DJ just can’t duplicate. Stay on good terms with the musicians in your area, they can be a great source of referrals.

Aside from price, DJs are also more flexible than bands. Good DJs play all types of music. Regardless of what the crowd may request, whether it be big bands, waltzes, polkas, country, rock, oldies or Top 40 dance hits, the DJ has something to fill the bill. Only a few bands can competently cover such a range and those that can have no shortage of jobs.

A third plus for MDJs is their ability to play almost anywhere, indoors or out, with very little preparation and setup.

The Basic Necessities

The three rudimentary requirements for you to have a successful Mobile DJ business are:

1. Being able to relax and be yourself in front of a group of people. To be a good Mobile DJ, one doesn’t necessarily have to have a great voice. In this business, it’s more important to be able to communicate enthusiastically with the audience.

2. A sound reinforcement or public address (PA) system. A good sound system that can cover an area approximately the size of a tennis court will be more than adequate for most jobs.

3. A properly complete music library. Be it on record, tape or CD, music is the backbone of the industry. Regardless of what you might encounter, any situation (short of total equipment failure) can be overcome if you have the right music!

4. A “lightshow.” Lighting effects and theatrics are becoming just as important as good sound.

Your Options:

There are 3 ways to get into the Mobile DJ business:

1. Do It Yourself: Many DJs learned the business strictly by trial and error. Armed with a simple sound system and a music library based mainly on their own tastes, they set out enthusiastically to play their first gig. By the time the party was over, they realize there is much more to being a DJ than just “spinnin’ tunes.” DJ training has become so important that those without it are finding it harder and harder to get established.

2. Apprenticeship: A popular way to get DJ “field training” without investing any money is to work for an existing DJ service. Go about this much the same way as you would apply for any type of job. Look through the yellow pages and talk to the owners of the services in your area. Hook up with someone who needs a DJ and is willing to train. You won’t make as much money as you would on your own, but good training is extremely valuable.

“The first thing I suggest to someone exploring the Mobile DJ profession is to learn the business. I’m a believer in the axiom that, in order to receive, it is imperative to give. To get the information you need to succeed in the potentially lucrative DJ business, identify “business role models” in your area. Be choosy who you give your time to. Find out who’s who. Look for people who are highly accomplished so that, in return for the time you give, you’re getting the valuable advice of experienced mentors. You can’t purchase the experience and knowledge you will obtain from highly motivated and competent individuals. There are plenty rags to riches tales telling how the presidents of major companies worked their way from the mailroom to the top of their industry with the help of others more experienced. When you volunteer your time to an established professional in your business, you are clearly making an investment and commitment in your future.” —Sheldon Starke, Attorney (specializing in entertainment law)

3. Buying a DJ Franchise: Some entrepreneurs savor the challenges and risks that come with nurturing a new business. Others just don’t have the patience to wait for their business to mature into a profitable enterprise, they want it now! If your interest in running a Mobile DJ service is primarily “profit motivated,” then consider purchasing a DJ service franchise.

A franchise is a system for doing business that includes valuable secrets and information that would take you months, maybe years, to discover on your own. Buying a franchise is like investing in an existing, established business where you immediately assume a management role. There is a fee involved because the franchiser (them) is selling the franchisee (you) the sum total of their knowledge and experience in running a Mobile DJ service.

As a franchise owner, you are entitled to some guarantee that the people behind the franchise will educate and train you properly. Before you consider buying, scrutinize the person selling you the franchise. What have they accomplished? Is their knowledge and experience worth the franchise fee? Has their particular mode of operation been successful? How do they substantiate their claims? 10 things to look for in a DJ franchise:

1. An exceptional track record with a proven business plan.

2. An established and promotable trademark or logo.

3. An exclusive territory.

4. A complete and concise training program that explains every operational detail that helped the franchiser build his own successful Mobile DJ business.

5. A toll-free “help-line.”

6. Three to five different sound (and lighting) equipment packages at discounted prices.

7. A complete and legal music library or playlist specifying the music your library must contain.

8. Simple and effective bookkeeping, accounting, booking and scheduling systems.

9. A complete marketing program with radio, television and print advertisements adaptable to your local needs.

10. A national advertising program that gets you exposure you couldn’t afford on your own. For example, it would not be cost effective for you to advertise your DJ service in bride’s magazine; however, as part of your franchise agreement, ads could be run by the franchiser that promote franchises across the country.

A Case of Butterflies

It’s a safe guess that right about now you’re thinking “this sounds great . . . but, I could never get up in front of a group of people!” Relax, you are not alone. The number one fear among human beings is that, at some time, they will have to step up in front of a crowd of people and “say a few words.” The sheer terror of addressing a group of fellow earthlings can make some people’s palms sweat, their heart pound and, in some cases, cause them to freeze totally. This final extreme is known as “Mic Fright” and is characterized by the individual muttering “a-humma-hummahumma” over the PA system.

Ask a hundred experienced MDJs if they ever get “butterflies” (a feeling of nervousness in the stomach) while entertaining and ninety will say yes. The other ten are liars. DJs fear being in front of people just like everyone else, they’ve just developed ways to deal with it. It’s a skill that comes through experience and self-motivation.

The reason people fear being the center of attention is they’re afraid of saying or doing something that will embarrass them. They are not prepared and don’t know what to expect. They lack confidence. Therefore, the most important thing to remember when going in front of a group of people is: Be prepared. Know what you are going to say and try to think ten to fifteen minutes ahead. It’s no crime to make notes and use them during a gig. If you stay ahead of the game, unexpected situations won’t throw you so far off course that you’ll need a compass and a map to finish your gig.

Eight Days a Week

There’s not a Mobile DJ alive (or dead) who succeeded just on talent or because they had the best sound system, lighting rig or music collection. Persistence, tenacity and drive are what get the work done. Success will come to all who refuse to quit.

To keep this business from totally taking over your life, it’s important you set aside “off times” to allow you to get away from the business long enough to catch your breath and keep some perspective. If you’re in this full time, you’ll find it’s almost impossible to take a full day off each week, consider taking a couple of half days. Determine what parts of the week are least demanding and schedule your time off accordingly.

To be a success in the MDJ business demands:

1. An honest love of all kinds of music.

2. The ambition and desire to succeed.

3. A genuine desire to serve the public.

The people who succeed in this business are the ones who love their work, and that love shines at every performance. Good performances bring the referrals that keep your business growing. Combine this with a solid advertising and marketing program, and your business will take off even faster. As your business increases, so does the paperwork. Keeping track of half-a-dozen bookings each weekend is easy. As your workload and staff expands, however, you’ll need to develop systems that will keep you on top of your bookings and help you account for your time, money and expenses. Program for Success

Working long, hard hours in front of a crowd of people who want to be entertained can be very demanding. Regardless of what’s happening in your personal life, when it’s time to entertain, you have to put everything else out of your mind and give it your best. This is challenging at times, but gets easier as performing becomes “second nature.”

Becoming a positive person takes a considerable effort. After all, there are a lot of not-so-positive influences in this world. If you start each day determined to keep things in a positive perspective, you’ll become better able to deal with problems that arise. You’ll also find yourself getting greater respect and cooperation from the people who can help you the most with your business. Before you prejudge the outcome of any situation, remember: It will probably turn out just fine, so why not assume that in the first place.

To achieve success, first decide just what success means to you. What do you want from life? Make a list of the things you want to accomplish. Decide what actions you’ll take to accomplish each one.

Each and every weekend, more and more people are discovering that Mobile DJs are a terrific source of entertainment. As the demand for DJs grows, so does the number of Mobile DJs. This increases the competition. Competition makes us work harder and hard work makes us better at what we do. The best get the biggest share of the market, so be the best.