How Do We Compete?

[digitaldistortion 0]

Where am I going Tuesday? West Ham ,away?

 

Could there be anything else next Tuesday evening?

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Could there be anything else next Tuesday evening?

 

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm!! not than I can think of... No, Im not going bit to far for a midweek game..My derby ticket (Everton) came Yesterday. Looking forward to that one....Do you support the Hammers?

[stevemarshall 0]

DD my point is that you get what you pay for, and of course Pete Tong started off as a mobile dj many years ago.

 

If you go for the cheap option you always get a worse deal than employing someone who has put time and effort and experience into their business, that goes for most things.

 

I remember a couple of years ago someone booked me for a wedding and then decided to cancel at the last moment(at 5 in the afternoon of the wedding) basically because they had got someone to do the disco for 40 pounds, didn't bother me as I already had 30 percent deposit(i always ask for that to confirm a booking) and I ended up working in a nightclub that night, so I got paid twice:)

 

I heard afterwards that Mr 40 quid DJ didn't turn up until an hour before the disco was supposed to finish..so as I said in my experience Forty Quid Fred is dead in the water, of course in many other places he's probably working every weekend....

 

Also I was doing a wedding disco one night in a large hotel, when halfway through the night, the hotel manager came in saying do you have a wedding mix CD as the band and dj who were booked for the other function room hadn't turned up.

 

Needless to say they never worked for the hotel again, and I got the lion's share of future wedding bookings, we are talking 51 Saturdays in the year....

 

To be competitive in business you have to offer at least one USP, and many people in the dj world get more on the strength of reputation and of course refferals.

[digitaldistortion 0]

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm!! not than I can think of... No, Im not going bit to far for a midweek game..My derby ticket (Everton) came Yesterday. Looking forward to that one....Do you support the Hammers?

 

This subject has been open before, but in answer to the question....COMAHHHN U IRONS !!!!

 

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Is forty quid fred sixty quid sids brother?

 

Not sure Tommy, I don`t know them.. Ian???

 

This subject has been open before, but in answer to the question....COMAHHHN U IRONS !!!!

 

Who?

[digitaldistortion 0]

DD my point is that you get what you pay for, and of course Pete Tong started off as a mobile dj many years ago.

 

If you go for the cheap option you always get a worse deal than employing someone who has put time and effort and experience into their business, that goes for most things.

 

I remember a couple of years ago someone booked me for a wedding and then decided to cancel at the last moment(at 5 in the afternoon of the wedding) basically because they had got someone to do the disco for 40 pounds, didn't bother me as I already had 30 percent deposit(i always ask for that to confirm a booking) and I ended up working in a nightclub that night, so I got paid twice:)

 

I heard afterwards that Mr 40 quid DJ didn't turn up until an hour before the disco was supposed to finish..so as I said in my experience Forty Quid Fred is dead in the water, of course in many other places he's probably working every weekend....

 

Also I was doing a wedding disco one night in a large hotel, when halfway through the night, the hotel manager came in saying do you have a wedding mix CD as the band and dj who were booked for the other function room hadn't turned up.

 

Needless to say they never worked for the hotel again, and I got the lion's share of future wedding bookings, we are talking 51 Saturdays in the year....

 

To be competitive in business you have to offer at least one USP, and many people in the dj world get more on the strength of reputation and of course refferals.

 

You are 100% correct in what you say.....its just not that simple....you can charge £500/£1000, have all the 'experience' in the world.....AND STILL BE A FULLY PAID UP MEMBER OF THE JOHN WAYNE APPRECIATION SOCIETY!

 

(Even if you have a spare wedding music cd)

 

 

Edited January 26, 2007 by stevemitchell

[ian . 0]

If you go for the cheap option you always get a worse deal than employing someone who has put time and effort and experience into their business, that goes for most things.

 

 

I'd say 'yes and no' really to that.

Of course there are levels of effort to which the Sids of this game won't go to, but there are some that will and are quite sucessful.

True, reliability is a major major factor in the service we offer over Sids, but the way things are going at the moment, the general public are thinking more and more about price before anything else. That is the killer - that is what we're up against more than anything, that alongside the fact that there are hundreds of Sids around and more and more popping up everyday.

 

Do you know what the worst thing is that has happened to our profession?

 

Answer = Maplins.

 

Why?

Years ago before Maplins existed in it's present form, the general public wouldn't walk into a disco/karaoke suppliers.

Maplins come along, and entice the public in offering scart leads for their tv's, bits for their computers etc...

General public sees the pretty flashing lights over in the corner, and the big speakers with the red carpet on them and the powerful amplifiers. (You know what I mean).

This then gets them thinking, 'I'm gonna be a DJ'.... and Sid is born.

 

I know that example may seem a bit over the top, but you get my gist.

[digitaldistortion 0]

 

Do you know what the worst thing is that has happened to our profession?

 

Answer = Maplins.

 

Why?

Years ago before Maplins existed in it's present form, the general public wouldn't walk into a disco/karaoke suppliers.

Maplins come along, and entice the public in offering scart leads for their tv's, bits for their computers etc...

General public sees the pretty flashing lights over in the corner, and the big speakers with the red carpet on them and the powerful amplifiers. (You know what I mean).

 

 

Then again, you could turn that statement on its head.....many years ago there weren't that many suppliers and therefore prices were in tune with that. The prices nowadays are (by comparison) much cheaper.....because of people like Maplins. And no, I don't own any gear from them.....just a few cables

 

[Kingy 0]

 

 

Do you know what the worst thing is that has happened to our profession?

 

Answer = Maplins.

 

 

Surely worse than Maplin's is the internet? I have painstakingly collected music for years, spent a fortune, yet some wide-boy can have all of it for next to nothing off the net...???

 

[digitaldistortion 0]

Surely worse than Maplin's is the internet? I have painstakingly collected music for years, spent a fortune, yet some wide-boy can have all of it for next to nothing off the net...???

 

I take it you're talking about P2P free networks rather than legit dload sites??????

[Eskie 0]

Surely worse than Maplin's is the internet? I have painstakingly collected music for years, spent a fortune, yet some wide-boy can have all of it for next to nothing off the net...???

Very true. Up till the late 90's I was immensly proud of the huge vinyl/cd collection which i had built up since the age of 9 and I had many unusual and rare tracks, but now some of these tracks are easy to find on p2p

[bluejools 0]

i still own a couple of bits from maplin - and i quite like my spinmaster 1's... they serve a purpose for me.

 

i charge more than fred or sid

[digitaldistortion 0]

Very true. Up till the late 90's I was immensly proud of the huge vinyl/cd collection which i had built up since the age of 9 and I had many unusual and rare tracks, but now some of these tracks are easy to find on p2p

 

I'm sorry, Tony....don't agree with that.....So time has moved on. Because you or Kingy (or countless others) have a massive vinyl collection (as I had), and those same tracks are available electronically today for whatever price you have to pay, does that make them any less worthy. Does it in any way belittle the collection that you have (and I know you don't use vinyl at work)?

 

I use a mixture of dloads and ripped. I pay for both. Some of the tracks are old 12" tracks that have been digitized. So?. I would also say that I probably have access to mixes on dload that the average vinyl/cd buyer doesn't......So?

 

 

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Sorry to spoil the party but;;;;; The bloke wants to know how he can get more business than the £60 disco.

:rant:

[digitaldistortion 0]

Sorry to spoil the party but;;;;; The bloke wants to know how he can get more business than the £60 disco.

:rant:

 

It will always be difficult, because even with government regulation (PLI/PAT/Licensing etc.) there will always be businesses that will use Sid or his cousin Fred (probably Fred coz he's even cheaper). I personally point out the deficiencies in using Sid/Fred, and will even use words like reliabilty, professional. But whether that push of 'common sense'/budget works is no better than 50/50.

So, no golden nuggets from me, I'm afraid. However, you're not alone, I (and I'm sure many others) worry about this....

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

Sid will always get work because of his price, but he won't always be asked back.

 

Offer a better show, and some customers will notice a difference, which is how we keep working.

 

Actually, I have a booking coming up for which I've charged less than Sid does, so how can Sid compete with that??

[stevemarshall 0]

Andy that's basically true....

 

It's like I run my own media business, given the choice of employing someone with a degree in art and a tiny bit of call centre experience, or someone with over 10 years International Media sales experience....

 

The person with experience would win everytime....

[Andy Westcott 0]

I don't think I have a unique selling point......

 

Actually I do, and that is based on making sure the customer knows exactly what they are getting, DJ-wise, equipment-wise and music-wise.

 

I'm a firm believer that people will choose the 'known' over 'The Unknown' more often than not.

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

 

I'm a firm believer that people will choose the 'known' over 'The Unknown' more often than not.

 

Thats a bloody good point..Am finding these days a customer asks for a price, I give it them tell them what sort of a service they will get..They are impressed with the service but still want to meet me before committing themselves.

[Kingy 0]

I take it you're talking about P2P free networks rather than legit dload sites??????

 

Yes, I have no problem with legally downloaded stuff, but all the P2P stuff does create an un-fair advantage to someone entering the industry. People like Eskie, Myself and many many others have spent quite literally a small fortune on getting collections together, then some git comes along with the same material as us yet has paid peanuts for it!!

 

P2P stuff is a fantastic idea if it's just for an individual to listen to but when it's for gain, sorry, thats a no no for me.

 

As for the SQS factor, hey, that will always be around. In don't think the average person organising a party really gives two hoots about you having your PAT & PLI. Which is a shame.

[C.S 0]

I love Maplins and e bay because it gives guys with no money the chance to make a living as a dj and the better they get, the more money they can make, and then they can buy more expensive gear thats not at maplins. Then they can sit back and act all superior to the guys just starting out even though they are just as qualified as the next man,just not as experienced. :nono: :sad: :shrug:

Edited January 26, 2007 by C.S

[shakermaker 0]

In the town I live (Basingstoke) there are a number of Mobile Discos but I wouldn't say that I am competing with any of them. I have seen most of them and in my opinion, there are good ones (not many) and there are bad ones and yes, probably a fair few 'Sixy Quid Sid's' !

 

I'll use Marky Marc as an example (hope you don't mind mate) - He has plenty of work and so do I. I'm out without fail most weekends and I guess Marc is too but I wouldn't say I am competing with him at all. I know Marc could cater for a gig for say 1000 people whereas I couldn't because he is more equipped for it. If I had an enquiry for something like that I would more than often send it his way or use one of my other contacts, maybe in the future I will be able to cater for that sized crowd on my own?

 

The reason I took the decision to do this as a business was because I had seen so many mobile dj's over the years and was convinced I could do a far better job. That's not an ego thing, it's just me being honest ok. I think at the end of the day (and judging by some of the conversations I have had over the phone with people phoning up enquiring), that people (as in potential customers) are gradually working it out for themselves what is good quality and value for money and what isn't. Take my hotel contract for example (no please don't, it's mine ok)...When I went in to see the management a year ago, they already had their own resident DJ but the general manager commented that he wasn't happy with the service he was getting from them. At the time he wanted me to start straight away but I didn't because I wasn't ready but as soon as I was I started and he said to me that he had more positive comments from my first function than he had all year from the previous guy.

 

What I am saying (or trying to) is that quality will get noticed. If I was trying to compete with say Marky Marc or my other mate Mark of MNM equipment wise then they would win hands down, needless to say I don't BUT as far as quality goes and the way I am on the mic and personality etc, well I think I could give anyone (and this is not meant to sound dodgy in any way, shape or form) a run for their money. I have had many people comment that the DJ they have used in the past was not that much cop. I always like to find out WHY they didn't think much of them and 9 times out of 10 they say that it was lack of personality and no interaction with the crowd. That is my main thing so it's not that hard to get a job over the phone or by email etc because if you have a dead pan personality when you are behind the decks and doing something you supposedly love then how are you going to convince someone over the phone?

 

Sorry, I went on a bit...Off out now for a well deserved sherbert or two!

[dj stevie dee 0]

In regards to Sid and his pal Fred

once upon a time even your Pete Tong had to start somewhere

I bet mr Tong didn't start with thousands of pounds worth of gear

no he charged £50 a go got some experience under his belt

paid his dues and worked up the ladder.

What I am getting at is our sid and fred are learning the ropes

and as sure as sure is sure will realise that maplins is not the most reliable

of equipment and buy themself some decent equipment thus making them put

up their prices. and maybe one day being on this forum

moaning about later day Sid and Fred charging £50 for a disco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.djsteviedee.co.uk.

[PEDJ 0]

Do you know what the worst thing is that has happened to our profession?

 

Answer = Maplins.

 

Why not CD Players in cars? Why not Digital Downloads? Why not Apple and the ipod?

I think technology has contributed big time to the profession but Maplins is not the main source for the consumer!

 

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

I want to blame digital downloads.

It's blatant sour grapes on my part, I'm happy to admit. smile icon

 

It's simply that music - both new and old - is so easy and cheap to get hold of now, albeit at a crappy bitrate. I spent a lot of time and money expanding my collection over many years, so I don't like it when 20-quid-Tony can get a usable collection over a weekend, possibly for free.

 

It used to be a case of those longest in the business had the better collections, but that's not necessarily the case anymore.

 

Surely it's OK if I feel a bit bitter about this, isn't it?? Please tell me it is.....