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Should all DJ companies accept credit cards?

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-written by Andy Sussman, owner of TSG Weddings

Depending on the structure of your mobile entertainment company and the area you cater to, accepting credit cards can affect your business differently. For instance, a single operator must decide if the cost of the credit card fees (usually 3-6 percent) is worth losing money on the total cost of event services rendered.   The multi-op owner has more factors to consider when it comes to the credit card debate.  If a client pays with a credit card, they must decide who will absorb the fees — should the owner, the performer or both parties? In some areas of the country, it seems every event company accepts credit cards, and in others, they seem to be few and far between.
There are half a dozen online credit card processing sources. With the boom in the iPhone and Android market, your smartphone can double as a credit card machine. Companies have programs ideal for the average small business where you simply charge the client, and within 48 hours (in most situations), the funds are in your account.

My company is a small, multi-op DJ service that employs five DJs. We offer lighting designs complete with intelligent lighting, custom gobos, wireless uplighting and trussing.  We also offer LCD TVs, photo booths and favors.

A lot of our clients want everything we offer, but realize they don’t necessarily need it all. Before we began accepting credit cards, our clients would stick to what they need because the cost came directly out of their checking account.  At that time, the average sale per event ranged between $1,000 and $1,800 — which is very respectable. Once we started accepting credit cards, we found that people shopped for the services they wanted because it was easier to put the services on plastic. Now, our average sale per event ranges between $2,000 and $4,000.

So ask yourself, is it really worth giving up the extra event money just for credit card processing fees? Our average sale per event has increased significantly since we made the change, our clients are happier because they can get the services they want and all of our cool toys and offerings are being used more than ever.

Make the Switch to LEDs

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-written by Jim Layton, owner of Quakertown Concerts

As a concert producer I want my shows to be memorable. Lighting has always been the best way to create a unique event that people will enjoy and remember. A good light show can improve any band’s performance. In the past, I used a lot of incandescent PAR can-style lights. They are bulky, use a lot of electricity and require dimmer packs to control them. Worst of all, my light shows were limited to whatever color gels I already had loaded into fixtures. Since I have to bring my gear to the venue, I always worried if there was going to be enough circuits to run the lights and provide power to the band. The last thing anyone wants to do is trip breakers, especially during a live band performance.

I was excited when LED PAR lights were introduced to the mobile industry. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm quickly faded when I saw the low output emitted by the fixture.  Early LED PAR can-style wash lights were way too dim and entirely way too expensive. Thankfully, all that changed when CHAUVET® released LED PAR can-style lights. I chose CHAUVET® fixtures   because the build quality is consistent throughout the product line. Currently, I use CHAUVET® DJ LED Par 64 Tri-B wash lights in place of my old traditional PARS. LED Par 64 Tri-B is bright, rugged and affordable. Instead of wasting time messing around with color gels, tripping breakers and running extension cords across the floor, I can simply plug my lights in and let them go. I have a limitless color palette that enables me to design different light shows for each band. With the LED PARS, I can focus on putting on a good show instead of wrestling with my lighting rig.

The drummer in the picture is illuminated by four CHAUVET® DJ LED PAR 64 Tri-B wash lights that draw about 200 watts. CHAUVET® DJ has useful manuals, which seem to improve with the addition of each new product, and they have made it easy for me to move up to the next level of lighting. Bands, fans and guests will notice the difference and see how much beauty LED lighting brings to the event. Make the switch and start having fun with your lights.

Top 12 DJ Essentials

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-written by Rob of The DJ Circle

A lot of preparation goes into DJing major events such as weddings, school dances, corporate parties, you name it. Most professional DJs are only paid for the 2 – 5 hours of actual DJing. However, people don’t realize how many hours are spent behind-the-scenes. We have to pack the gear, drive to the event, unpack the gear, set up, DJ, breakdown, pack the gear back up, clean up, more driving, eat an unhealthy meal on the road and then sleep. In other words, a 2 – 4 hour gig is really a 6 – 8 hour day. To keep up with the grind and maximize performance and focus, I always have my essential items that accompany me to every gig. Check it out:

1. Water
This is crucial for me. When you are DJing nonstop for 4 – 6 hours, you’re going to get thirsty and it’s important to stay hydrated. DJing for 4 – 6 hours, setting up and packing for 1 – 2 hours, plus 4- 6 hours of driving, all within 24 hours, takes its toll.

2. Headphones
Pretty obvious, right? I use Shure America’s SRH750 DJ headphones and always carry them around with me.

3. Cell Phone
It is surprising how often DJs lose their cell phones. Remember to keep it in a safe place because it can easily get lost in the shuffle. If you have a smart phone, download the app that gives you a wireless internet connection anywhere you go as long as your phone has reception.

4. Wallet
Same as above. The last thing you want to lose is your cell phone and/or wallet, especially when you are DJing hours away from home.

5. Old Spice Body Spray
Seriously. Like I said, DJs put in long hours and it’s not as easy as standing at a laptop and pressing buttons. Driving, setting up and DJing for multiple hours will definitely make you sweat and stink.  Nobody likes a sweaty and stinky DJ, right?  I use the Swagger scent and highly recommend it.

6. Breath Mints
Invest in ICE BREAKERS. It’s the same as body spray, but it’s for your mouth. The DJ’s on-the-road diet isn’t glamorous. You don’t want chicken nugget or bacon cheeseburger breath as you arrive to the party.

7. 5-hour ENERGY®
This is very necessary.  DJs expend a lot of energy and sometimes need more to keep up. I prefer 5-hour ENERGY® over ROCKSTAR or Red Bull Energy Drink. With zero sugar and only four calories, it’s quick and helps me watch my figure.

8. Tool Kit
Always have a handy tool kit with you. It has become my best friend on the road and is very helpful in the most random situations that DJs find themselves in.

9. Beef Jerky
Trader Joe’s Beef Jerky – Teriyaki is the best and it’s my go-to snack for long days. It is high in protein, tastes good and makes me look manly. There’s always a win when you have beef jerky.

10. Flashlight
Another random, but very handy and helpful tool to have at your disposal, is a flashlight. Most of the time it’s pretty dark when you’re DJing and the last thing you want to be doing is looking around for something half blind.

11. Car keys
Self-explanatory.

12. Hair Gel
Seriously. Not all DJs were born with DJ Pauly D’s amazing hair.

What are the key essentials and necessities you always carry with you or must have when your DJing an event or gig?  I’m curious to know and would love to always add key and valuable items to my arsenal of DJ essentials.

Expose Yourself!

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-written by David Pickett, owner of A 2 Z DJ Service in Memphis, Tenn.

Be Visible
I knew I couldn’t stop at only 3 rules on how to be a professional DJ. Being visible is more about building relationships than just advertising you’re ‘out there’ in front of customers. Being visible not only builds direct sales, but also word-of-mouth, which accounts for a small but loyal part of my business. Read on for helpful tips that will increase your visibility.

Volunteer
Volunteer your services at local schools, fundraisers, charity events and anywhere else you can get music going and pass out business cards or flyers. For example, I DJ my local Neighborhood Watch block party — the crowd loves it, I love it, it’s a win/win situation. Be sure and get a nice looking banner or sign to have on display and get some business cards (more on this in a moment).

Your Website
Don’t use a free program on the web — do it right.  If you want to stand out, you have to look less like the cookie-cutter DJ websites out there. Everyone, especially brides (who are the highest paying customers), loves a well-designed website. The website should match your image: clean, professional, and confident.

Business Cards and Flyers
If you want to save money, VistaPrint is the way to go. However, their style can look a bit “cookie cutter.” They are my business card provider, but I’m starting to see a lot of people with cards like mine so I will probably move to a local printer very shortly. Whatever you do, if you must do it yourself, please don’t use perforated inkjet cards because they look cheap and unprofessional.

Leave Information at Vendor Businesses
Don’t leave them without getting face time with the manager first. Try and build a relationship with them if you can because they’ll remember that. Leave about 10 or so and stay in touch with them every month.

Get a Google Ad
I could do a whole post on Google alone. If you have allotted money in your budget, consider taking out an ad on Google. It puts you in front of a lot potential customers. Sure, there are a lot of folks wanting a five-hour kid’s birthday party for $150, but there’s also savvy, well-paying clientele that will hire a true pro (and they use Google).

Free DJ Search Engines
WeddingWire is the bridal leader and WeDJ.com is the leader for every other kind of event, though I’ve gotten a lot of weddings from there too. If you can afford it, buy at least a bronze membership for wedj.com. It’s cheap and makes you even more visible, which is what this is all about, right? There’s a lot of other sites — try to get on them all. It’s free and you never know.

Bridal Shows
Get a table at a bridal show. The ROI on a bridal show is half luck and half chance. However, you’re getting your name out to a lot of potential customers packed into a small area. I’ll do a whole post on bridal shows later – but seriously consider investing the capital ($250-$1000) to do a show regularly if you can. Chances are you’ll book a bride (or two) to cover the investment. It’s good experience, helps you find how who your competition is, and helps you sharpen your people skills as well as dealing with customers face-to-face.

Join a Club
Not a fitness one. Find your local chapter of the ADJA (or other DJ group committed to professionalism) and join. It helps build relationships with other DJs (referrals!) and helps advertise to your customers that you are striving to be a competent professional. One of my buddies is an officer in his ADJA chapter and it’s a great feather in his cap when advertising his services. If DJ groups aren’t your thing, then get involved in a public group about anything that you’re passionate about.

Keep Your Business Facebook Page Regularly Updated
Yes, you need one. Keep the content coming on about a weekly basis – even if nobody is “liking” your page or single post. Facebook is starting to be a steady source of business for me so I feed that garden well with content about various things that I get geeky about as well as event photos and the occasional review. Have a look for yourself. The jury is still out on whether doing ads on Facebook is a good ROI. Personally, I haven’t got much luck with it — lots of “likes”, but no luck.

Now get out there and “expose” yourself!