How many of you use demo tape's? And how often do prospective clients actually ask for them?
I find that I very rarely get asked for tapes (about twice a year) and so have never bothered to make one.

Another reason for not making one is that I don't believe that they really give an accurate reflection of how you perform at a gig. As we all know, every gig is different if you're a mobile, and the approach you use for one gig may be completely different than one you would use for a very different crowd/age group etc?. What one person may think is a funny comment will turn off another person and so on.

Additionally, there are many unscrupulous dj's about. What's to stop one of these cowboys getting hold of your demo tape, and them then passing it onto people as being themselves?!
I always talk to the client and try whenever possible to get them to come and see me at a gig. As I have a residency every friday night in a local bar this is easier in many respects, unless the clients live the other side of London.
Intersted to hear other's thoughts on this topic?
Lastly, do many use video demo tapes?

As a mobile Dj I never have made or sent out a demo disc. Nor have I ever been asked for one. You said in another post that you try to get clients to go to your sets, but most of my clients are from past events so know how I perform, Your idea is good if you advertise else were but I've never advertised in yp,local papers etc

80% of my work comes from word of mouth , It think that people trust the recommendation of their Friends / colleagues / family and that sells your business better than any demo tape ever could.

A website is also a good idea, they can see pictures of your roadshow, to ensure that you are not going to turn up with an Argos CD Player, lava lamp and your old Xmas Lights . Add a "FAQ", Customer Refs Area, Details of your experience, gigs covered, online enquiry / booking form etc and you have an entire online portfolio right under people's noses! to browse at their leisure.

I believe that an online presence is a must for any business, certainly the vast majority of the remaining 20% of my bookings comes via the website - popularity of the internet is increasing on a yearly basis and almost every family in the UK has at least limited access to the internet either at home / work / school etc!.

Considering a Website? - Where else can you get unlimited, world wide detailed, advertising 24/7 updated as often as you require it for as little as £10 a year? try to get the yellow pages to compete with that offer!. If you don't know how to go about designing a site, ask around this forum, I know of several people who may be willing to build you a professional looking site for a fraction of the cost of a Yellow Pages ad!.

Don't forget, with some care and imagination, you can also add your Demo Tape as a downloadable file directly from your website in MP3 or WAV file formats. And as for protecting them from being used by other D.J's, just make you Demo Tape as short as possible (It should never run for hours!) and add your roadshow name as often as possible!.

Theres a few good comments you've made here chris, I for one would like a profesional website with all the graphics etc But don/t know how to go about it

Any one got advice??

SBD - Email / P.M Tom on this forum, I know he dabbles in webdesign. Most of the Junior Members are also into Webdesign and have loads of time on their hands . 3G, is another one, he is no longer a member of the Forum, but you can still email him from his Profile.

For hosting try Purplecloud - £10 - £20 per year depending on package

or

Xavia Hosting

I'm using Xavia for the Chat hosting, and they are very competitive for the larger websites. But you need to email them for the best deals.

Chris,

I'm the same as you 80-90% of my work is from reccomendations, or because they have seen me at a soul gig.

so they know exactly what they are getting

Will do-I'll catch up with tom and check the sites,

Cheers

the only demos i use are for radio work. i've never had a customer ask for one. if a customer whats to see me work then i have no problems with them comeing to see another gig.

QUOTE

if a customer whats to see me work then i have no problems with them comeing to see another gig.

I'm VERY wary of doing this. Not because I have something to hide, but because I think that it is very unprofessional to send uninvited guests to gatecrash another clients function in order to promote my business. There is also the privacy aspect to consider, passing details of functions onto another third party is not a good idea.

Once I have explained this to a potential customer they understand, especially when I point out that they possibly wouldn't like me to invite strangers into THEIR Wedding Reception, usually, on this basis alone it has got me many bookings, since it proves to some extent of the way in which I conduct business and treat my clients.

If you have a pub function or any public event then invite them to that, but I wouldn't advise people to invite clients to private family events!.

I have thought about it, but never done. My concern is it could work against you, "Oh I don't like the sound of your voice", "I didn't like the music on the tape" (even if it is topped and tailed). There are to many varibles.

I've never sent a demo disc or tape to a private client - never been asked for one.

However, I have to forward material on CD & Mini-disc when I do production / voice-over links and 'beds' for third party.

I used to gig at a regular venue in Kent a few years ago where many 'Underground' DJ's frequented. Martin C. - Juice FM and other Pirate Radio stations, always had a little chat and passed the time of day, talking about demos, new choons, etc.
A nice guy - but I still wouldn't do any recordings for him!!!!
Asked to record tracks for others? - That, folks, is against the law!!!

QUOTE (Chris_Pointon @ May 20 2003, 07:41 PM)

I'm VERY wary of doing this. Not because I have something to hide, but because I think that it is very unprofessional to send uninvited guests to gatecrash another clients function in order to promote my business. There is also the privacy aspect to consider, passing details of functions onto another third party is not a good idea. Once I have explained this to a potential customer they understand, especially when I point out that they possibly wouldn't like me to invite strangers into THEIR Wedding Reception, usually, on this basis alone it has got me many bookings, since it proves to some extent of the way in which I conduct business and treat my clients. If you have a pub function or any public event then invite them to that, but I wouldn't advise people to invite clients to private family events!.

I agree totally

I used to send out loads of demos on bands and singers at one time but I found it was a total waste of time.
It seems to be the norm for customers to ask for them as a matter of course when they rang around different agencies. I hear that some people collect demos and have a 'Stars in Their Eyes ' night with their friends to pick a band.
Most of my bands can be heard on the website now.

We still get requests to see the bands live but as we are 80% weddings 20% corporate other than at Christmas it is not an option. Our bands tend not to be in the pubs and working mens clubs. Would that be a suitable venue to see a wedding band anyway.

Clients that are serious about booking are refered to our customer comments pages so they can at least see past client comments. They can see playlists & hear demos on site (the bands always sound better live anyway)

Once or twice in recent times I have been asked for demos of Djs but I fail to see how you can represent a dJ on a demo. So many variables of music presentation etc I agree with Chris & Ian.

It is not a route that I would go down.

I find the more information you give some clients the more it delays their decision to book because they cannot make up their minds what to choose.
Its hard enough to get them to specify their 1st dance even though we send reminders.

The questionaire after the event is ok in theory but most clients ignore it. They want instant bookings and comments will soon be made if something is wrong. I encourage this at the time on the night so that things can be put right there and then.
It is no good moaning a week later about volume music or requests.

A phone call or a word at the end of the night is the way I get feed back from most clients.