Sometimes, you make a mistake that might not seem like it has too much of an impact on your DJ business — until it does. This list is full of the most common and dumbest mistakes that most DJs make. What happened to dj paul arm? Learn from these mistakes because for every one of these you avoid, your club will benefit!
Dumb Mistakes That’ll Tank Your DJ Business: How to Avoid Them by Justin Verlander is a blog post about something many DJs need to read. This article could be beneficial to someone who wants to teach themselves what they should do in order to avoid negative consequences while they are working on their own DJ business.
1. Don’t Be a Showoff
You’re a DJ, not a showman. Nothing makes you look more foolish than trying to dance around your backbeat. A DJ is there to entertain, and the best way she can do that is behind four speakers and headphones. She should be focused, not out of her mind dancing in full view of the entire club. Unless you want people to think that you are going crazy, keep your performance on the lowest level possible.
2. Don’t Forget Your Bag
Never leave your bag unattended or at home. You need to wrap your laptop or iPad in a towel, tie it up with a carabiner, or carry it in a case. Never leave your bag where it can be stolen. If you have valuables in there, then bring them with you and keep them out of sight. Also never forget that if you are DJing at a crowded club, there is going to be someone who wants to steal your stuff.
3. Don’t Neglect the Sound
DJs often let their music go stale on their playlist and go through the motions at clubs, but this is one of the most important things you can do as a professional DJ: pay attention to what you are doing. If you don’t pay attention, then you will end up playing the same song over and over again and that is not going to make a club owner, promoter, or client happy.
4. Don’t Keep Playing Songs Just Because You Love Them
Be prepared for more than an hour of repetition if your set list is all the same songs. If you love these songs so much, then make sure they are at least part of a different playlist or rotation. You want to be ahead of your clients by avoiding familiarity so that you can keep their attention and make sure that they keep coming back for more every time.
5. Don’t Suck Up to the DJ
Don’t suck up to other DJs, either. If you are starting out, then you might think that by sucking up to other DJs you can get them to help you. But don’t do it! It will only make you look desperate and the exact opposite of someone who is confident in her DJ skills.
6. Don’t Take Business Calls at Work
If you want to boost your business, then be willing to work on your business at all hours of the day. It is best to not answer calls while you are at work because there are going to be clients that call you while you are at work and they will either be angry or disappointed in your abilities if they get a poor DJ.
7. Don’t Always Call Your Clients Back
This should be a no-brainer, but many DJs will call their clients back during the day if they have been calling them for weeks on end and still have not gotten their performance gigs. Why? Well, sometimes other DJs will call your phone and try to lie to you about who has booked them (that happened to my friend last week!). You want to respect your clients by always letting them know that you will be their DJ, regardless of whether or not you are hired for their next night.
8. Don’t Go For the Cheap Gig
Remember when I said that DJs had to be creative? Well, when you don’t have a lot of money, it is not always easy to make decisions in regards to your DJ business that will benefit it the most. Make sure you stay on top of your clients and take advantage of every opportunity that comes along so that you can capitalize on the things they value most while they are paying you.
9. Don’t Over-Promise to Clients
It is easy to promise a lot to clients, but remember that you are actually accountable for your promises. Don’t offer something that you know you can’t deliver on. Also don’t try to sell your services too hard because it is not going to make you look trustworthy or competent. And lastly, avoid telling clients how much hotter their club will be when they have your DJ spinning the tunes.
Summary:
These are just a few tips that should help you get started as your own DJ. If you follow this advice, you will have an easier time running a successful business as your own DJ. Remember to always stay focused and remember that when it comes to the music and the club, less is more!
