Hi guys. Just want to see if anyone has any other ideas on the following:

I`ve bought all my kit. I`ve advertised in every shop, takeaway,school and most function venues within my area and beyond and yet I still havent received any phone calls. Well, actually I received one for a joint 13th party which I quoted and she said she was happy with that but had to get the hall booked 1st! She never got back to me.
I`ve phoned around other mobile discos and got quotes to give me an idea what to charge and i`ve made sure i`m competitive. I`ve asked around to make sure my advertisements are ok and been told they are fine. I know they have been looked at as a couple of my cards go missing! They have now been secured!

The only things I can think of is to email local hotels holding functions etc to advertise.
Also, the local radio station is doing an on air auction near Xmas and are asking for donations (services to sell etc) which I will be contacting to offer my services for donation.

What am I doing wrong? I`ve been advertising now for about 4 weeks. Any other ideas? I have limited funds so yellow pages etc is out of the question. I`ve setup a website to advertise as well as my own email address for the mobile disco.

Help?!

Hi absvicandmark,

I know it can be very difficult to start out in this business.

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you have any experience? Have you worked on shows for other people. If the answer is 'no', perhaps this is your problem.

Luckily, I started off getting on the job training and my mentor had a very good reputation in the area and to a certain extent this rubbed off onto me - but I still needed to prove myself when the time came. I didn't get a free and easy ride just because I was associated with someone with a good rep though!

If you do have experience, have you tried contacting the people who you've worked for? Would they pass on any overspill work?

Speaking of overspill work, have you tried getting in touch with any local disco shops? Would they be willing to pass on work - you may need to prove to them that you're good enough, possibly by asking them to attend a booking (I know you're actually looking for bookings) or by using their shop gear to see if you can put the performance on infront of them - I know this can be very daunting, but they may ask you to do it <eeek>.

The radio freebie-gig might be a good idea, but they don't give out your phone number on the air - like in a proper advert. They may also be conscious that they may never have heard of you before and turn you down - worst case scenario.

I know of two or three people that have bought equipment and they thought they could just jump into the market - boy, did they get a surprise of their life.... now that wasn't meant as a downer on your efforts so far, but starting out is very difficult.

I would suggest you get in touch with the local pubs and ask them if they need anyone as cover or if they'd consider you for their function room work. I know it might sound tempting to ask what they are currently paying and it would be easy for you to undercut. However, other companies could get pretty peeved at you undercutting and you may get a bad rep in the business for these actions - I know of a few people who do the undercutting act and they are all frowned upon by those in the business - at least in my area.

I would never go in and deliberately undercut to get work, if you're good enough to do the job you should set your own price to reflect that.

As for cards going missing - flip the coin and think that they have been taken away so people have the details in their wallet/purse to ring you next time they need someone. Then, just put up a new card... you never know, you might get a call from someone who took your card.

Some people suggest doing charity gigs for free to get some work coming in and to get your business known - in my own personal experience this has never worked for me. Mind you I do at least two charity events a year and will continue to do these free of charge... but these have never helped secure work for me.

Unless you have PAT tested equipment, you may not get any work at hotels. You're usually expected to have a good system to get hotel work. The same applies for council related gigs.

Once the gigs start coming in, as long as you do a good job, the people at the function will tell others and that's how you will get most of your work - word of mouth.

I have to say that Jan/Feb is just around the corner and these are usually very lean times.

However, now is the best time to get work - have you tried local businesses to ask if they have booked their works x-mas party? Don't go to the big places that have hundreds of employees on one site - they usually have hotels and disco's booked by about the middle of the year. Some of the smaller places leave it till the last minute though and you never know you might hit lucky... ask friends if their employer has already booked their x-mas party.

What type of equipment do you have? 1-2k sound rig??? DMX lights or sound to light??? Do you have a vast collection of music for all ages??? Where are you based - out in the sticks or in a town/city???

I hope I've helped in a small way, and if you have any further questions or ideas you'd like info on, leave the message here.

Cheers,

DJJ

Hi

Just a couple of points off the top of my head, haven't given it a massive amount of thought...

Firstly, don't e-mail hotels, and here's why:

firstly, it could be considered as spam, which although is not yet illegal, it's definitely not liked.

Second, most email received from another company, unless expected is immediately deleted.

An alternative is to get your creative head on a produce an A5 flier and covering letter to send to the local hotels. make it professional, get it proof-read by someone who knows a little about word processing.

Scan your local papers from up coming events and contact the organsiers to see if they need any entertainment.

Contact the DJ's in your area and let them know you exist and you're happy to take on any work they can't handle, most respectable DJ's are happy to lend a hand to the newbie, as long as you have the right attitude.

When you've produced your fliers, hand them out in your local shopping centre, hey it's an orrible job, but you want the gigs right? Alternatively, slip the fliers under wind screen wipers in local car parks.

There's a few things to tink about for you.

Good luck...be patient and persistant, if you're good, it will come.

Darren

what area are you in absvicandmark??
never know someone on here might be in need of someone to help out over christmas!

Do you know other local mobile dj's? , if not, try getting to know them

This could lead to them passing work to you on dates that they are booked if you suggest you will do the same for them.

That may get your foot in the door and get the ball rolling.

In business terms 4 weeks is not a long time so don't get dispondent just yet. You mention in your first post that you have all the gear but not how much, if any, experience which counts for a lot in this profession. If you have experience approach some entertainment agencies to get on their books - if you haven't then try to get some by asking other DJs in your area if you could go along with them or, as many on here have done (including me) do a few freebies for your local youth club.

If you know someone with a camcorder get them to film a gig, edit it down to 3-4 minutes and send copies to the agencies and anywhere else where you think you might fit in with your service.

During the next few weeks there will be a lot of people looking for last minute discos and I expect the gigs will come in - the problem is if you don't have any experience you could end up damaging your reputation before you really get started - jumping in at the deep end is not always the best way to learn to swim!!!

PaulS

Your best form of advertising is word of mouth, and this takes longer than a few weeks to get rolling.

Good advice so far.

I would like to add

1..... add a link from the DJsUnited site to yours.

The DJU site has thousands of hits per week / day / month - and it will go towards increasing your own web sites 'gradual' climb up the 'ladder'.

2.... Have you done any free / charity work yet???
As long as you are allowed to distribute your own 'cards' - why not make yourself available, to 'spread' your name around.
Without trying to make it sound as if you are desperate when you get a phone call enquiry, you need to demonstrait to 'clients' that you know what you are about and are positive - without 'umming' and 'errring' too much!

Apart from hotels, define exactly what sort of venue and client you are prepared to work for....Working Man's Clubs Circuit, Village Hall, Pub, Schools, etc.

3.... If you have a fee per hour or quote a fee - be proud, but try to be to the point.
Get the general details straight before you quote -
Type of Function - (have you experience of this type of gig?)
Date and times of function - (are you available?)
Amount of guests - (what do you supply - a large or small setup/sound system)
Venue Location and access / times - (local or distant location - will you travel, stage, tables available, stairs, lift, trolly required, carpark available, parking meters????)

4.... Like Spindoctor recently posted (else where) - if you are willing to do the footwork and drop a card in to such places - you may get a call, maybe not straight away - but you need to be known - else, no one will contact.

5.... More about Prices - exactly how experienced are you? Do you have experience of Weddings, Birthday, Corporate and Childrens parties?
Do you have the Public Liability Insurance and Portable Appliance Tested equipment?
If you have all this - it's a selling point for you. But if not - life isn't over!!

There are posts on the forum regarding PLI and PAT tests - check them out!

Like the old saying "You can't run before you can walk", and to 'compete' with existing and established Disco services will be harder....they have a portfolio and are more 'established'.
You can't beat word of mouth - but people will need to know of your existance!
It's a longshot - but if you are willing to be shown the 'ropes' by an established agent who is also willing to 'mould' you into their type of DJ...no disrespect to agencies - but they all want quality top DJs to supply to clients - make yourself known to them and show availability for work with a willingness to learn. You will learn all the time, you may even enjoy it!!!

6.... Check the DJU map. Who is the nearest member to you? If you are available for work - ask the DJ if they need any 'roadie' assistance. It's one way of getting a feel for a gig and learning, but always remember, if invited, to respect the working code of conduct of the working DJ - it's their 'patch' and 'reputation'!!!!!!


Good luck - keep us posted on how you get on.

it is a long slow haul..... stick with it - doors will open eventually and you will then be able to prove your worth.... it will take a long time before you are out week in week in but persistance pays!

Not ideal if you want to stay independent but the people that get loads of calls for discos at this time of year are the agencies.
Sometimes they are falling over themselves to try to get someone at the last minute.
Personally, if this is your first time of gigging, I'd ring an agent up, book an appointment with him and sit down to discuss my immediate future.
I know that if I were to starting over that is what I would do.
This may help you get into the doors of places. After that the advantage of the 'word of mouth' advertising will work.
A tip for the future, remember to not to p*$$ the agent off by trying to approach venues on your own, generally they will have dealt with the agent for a long time and know them quite well.
It takes time but as previously mentioned stick with it.
Good luck

starting out in any business is always hard.....

a couple of points off the top of my head....

1/ Everyone wants to be a dj nowadays! I do a couple of club nites during the week, with a real cross section of music and punters...and Saturday is weddings and functions nites....

2/ Whichever you do, you have to learn some basic skills, how to read a crowd, how to motivate that crowd, either by your programming of music, use of microphone with party games etc, or ideally both, and learn what music works with which crowds.....you can teach anyone to mix two dance tunes together(I learnt on a pair of Garrard SP25's with no vari-speed) but go to an average club nite...and the DJ is playing for himself....WRONG! You are there to entertain the people...after all at the end of it thats what you are employed for!

3) I have been asked many times(normally when I am working that nite!) if I can recommend a dj for a wedding or function....in many cases I give people the name of a local DJ agency...there are a few reasons for this


4/ A wedding is someone's special day, they spend 1000's on the wedding etc etc

and a bad disco will ruin their day, and believe me it takes more than a copy of the party animal to do a wedding disco!


in fact a hotel I was working in a couple of years ago, the nite was going great, the crowd were up three songs after the beginning:)

and then around 11.30pm, the hotel manager came rushing in with some bad news...

The band who had been booked and the discoguy who had been booked for a wedding in another part of the hotel, hadn't turned up.....

The manager said to me...do you have a partymix CD, yup I did I always carry one in my CD case........

needless to say, the band and DJ never got booked for another function at that hotel...the Hotel Manager asked for my business card(always useful to carry!) and smiles yup I got 4 years work doing functions of all kinds for that hotel:)

And now you see why I don't recommend anyone I don't know, most work comes from recommendation, get a good mentor..learn the trade...and once people know you can do the job...the work will come:)

and get to know the local mobile DJs, they will show you some insider tips, and pointers:)


Weddings and Functions pay alot better than most club nites in most towns...The DJ business remains a small business... be nice to people:)


a couple of things on getting your name around.....


1/ Get to know the people in your local CD shop, first of all they are likely to give you discount if they know you....and also most people when they are looking for a DJ tend to ask at the local CD/Record Shop...make sure they have plenty of your business cards


2/ The box ad in the yellow Pages works for me...under mobile discos....


a final business pointer.......

1/ when doing weddings, always ask for a third of the booking price, when they book you, that way they are less likely to cancel if they find someone cheaper!

2/ Always check out the nightclub/hotel/function room you are going to be working at, for power points ease of access etc etc..another good tip is to ask other DJs what the management is like etc....it will save you alot of hassle in the long run!

As much money you sepnd on advertisement, the best is word of mouth!!

Cheers guys. Some very kind words out there!

I know I have to persist.

For all those who asked... I have had experience before ,when I was at college, I did loads of school discos. Also, I have been in a band playing at weddings etc so also experience there (working with crowds etc). I`ve also played in the odd small club.

If anyone has any work going spare...(!)... i`m based around the Wiltshire, Gloucestershire area. I live near Cirencester, Glos but work in Swindon, Wilts.

As far as PAT testing etc go, I am a fully qualified electrician and check my own equipemt (does this count?!)

I`m totally commited to this. I`ve wanted to do this properly since school. I`ve even bought a car suitable to carry my equipment. (500W CD Based, Sound 2 Light).

Again, thanks for all the help. I will continue plugging away and keep you guys informed.

Totally agree that the best form of advertising is word of mouth - but when starting out you cant rely on this alone - it takes a good few years before all your work comes via w.o.m