Broke DJ Rehab Part 1 - Economy, iPods, & New DJs

[MFPDJ1]

Well said about the iPod. I have a 32GB iPod touch and it holds most of my music but not all of it. I can mix on that if I need to [with the correct apps]. But I ONLY use it for backup. The rest of my music that is backed up is on CD's and I always have my CD players ready and plugged in. I have the iPod touch and CD players hooked up to another mixer already hooked up to another channel on my amp. If my amp blows, I have that backed up too, speakers blow, also backed up. Just come prepared.

[123scottsdj]

I was just watchin this and i kinda feel like shit ! djing seems to be the only thing im decent at and i just love it. I spend a lot of time with real mobile djs and i try to learn from and yourself ! Im not gona go out and do a wedding ontill im older anyways but i see where your gettin at. Thanks

[Donwunkhyron]

SMART GUY

[djdejannesic]

i am working as a plumber the week along,

but i have my fun @ the club!!

i have my dj equipment fo 6000 euro or something,but what the crap !!!!!

this is my hobby and my passion and i am gonna work for my fun!!!!

[SouthernAngel540]

I am somewhere between an upstart and an established DJ. I have done the big weddings and the VFW weddings. Brian is right when it comes to people starting out. Do the VFW weddings; type up a nice letter about yourself and take it to the different halls. Do your best to talk to the person in charge of hall rental not just handing it to the bar tender. I have done many weddings and the "VFW" weddings can be a blast.

[PrymeTymeEnter]

It is important to be smart withyour money... Don't buy what you can't afford and if you don't have it, don't spend it. Have an equipment maintenance and development fund strictly for upkeeping and purchasing equipment...

[DJSoundDog]

lol Nice one about ego:

"If you did not have an ego, you'd just be like the rest"... "and if I did not have an ego, I might just use the gun"

from 'Ego is not a dirty word' by Skyhooks

[TTench6]

the best part about a recession is that the businesses usually have a lot of sales, and because dj equipment is expensive, it might be a better time to make a purchase than one might think

[djstevieent]

hey man you ROCK, you are a great DJ, i can tell, even though i have never really seen you, youre really knowledgeable

[patrickman123]

i hate using ipods at gigs

but i use an ipod as backup only

[stankwho]

We'll all be replaced by programs one day. I'm not just talking about Djs, I mean EVERYONE!

[lokylok204]

You got thumbs downs from people cos they're scared of the truth.

[musecolletto]

i use my flute to dj

[gabegeforce]

hi brian,you're my idol,your a very great DJ and I support you!! I'm a broke DJ, no gears,no equipment but just the talent,I'm using PCDJ as my gear and pc but ofcourse not as independent as a cd player controller and mixers and amplifiers. that was a very great video,very uplifting. by the way do you have a copy of the song feel like dance by globe?

i'm looking for 3 versions the club mix,under the belt remix maybe you have a copy, thanks alot, you rock,you mix! you sync! DJ Gabe Here

[bahamasfinies]

I AGREE WITH YOU SOME WHAT

In the begin most dj take this as a hobby.

But as years go by they tend to notice how much money is in this and its not just a hobby any more, its a business

[abdallah3]

young play for young, old play for old. no 40 year old DJs playing at middle school dances, no 15 year old DJs playing weddings. just my op ;)

[CityStreetsDJs]

This Is why DJs are broke. I Found this ad on Craigslist in Chicago.

DJ Avaliable for weddings and parties $350 for up to 5hours

DJ with 10 years exerience looking for local gigs. Lowest prices in the industry over 50,000 songs all music genres all new equipment and lighting. Let me add the soundtrack to your next event. Platinum Star DJ

[BTape]

this is the case everywhere. how can anyone even hope to compete when there are so many people like that willing to undercut to extremes. they claim great experience/value and charge like a newcomer, that makes it really hard for any newcomers to get any work at all.

[TrashinCans]

k i gave everybody a thumbs up

[DavidL1967]

Brian, I totally agree with you and thank you for taking the time to help educate.

Dr.M

[gardnerbm]

Can you see Brian being replaced with an Ipod? lol "healthy pruning" couldn't resist!

[PitBias]

Brian. I completly agree with you! I also like the word you youse: "service" It is a grreat message for all people who start they adventure with "playing music".

First come into a being, show what you can do, how you play, how you act. Try to make people remember you (positive).

[SNU16]

I was at a party not to long ago in which this guy called himself a dj because he had a PA system?? man that is sad. no beat matching, didn't know how to read the crowd, i mean absolutely horrible. I, personally, was that hobbyist with hip-hop vinyls. And if it helps you any I've stopped! lol. not that I had any live gigs but I must say, under my breath I often tell myself at a party I coulda done better than this, how the hell are you guys getting payed?

[jiblethead88]

Couldn't agree more on iPod DJs. I'm a laptop DJ, and before you throw me under the bus, I use professional DJ software (MegaSeg) and never preview music in iTunes when I meet one-on-one with the bride. I tell them, "if you want me to just play a list in the order you want, then buy an iPod and rent sound equipment, you don't need me." It's easy to leverage experience against any iPod, or somebody who says they "know a lot about music." Confidence wins over price every day.

[youmancl]

Part of the reason this ipod thing looks so attractive to consumers i think is the bad dj's making us good ones look bad, and they don't want to take the risk of getting a bad one.

[brietzmann]

great video, you spoke out of my mind...self-sonfidence is 90% of your performance

[frank0p99]

I loved it man! You are 100% right on.

[divineclown]

lmfao @ the ipod shit

[duneberry666]

Well i have a complete system. I had no intentions of being a dj, i just wanted to play my sound at home. I have a rediculously large set up, but playing music at over 150 db in my living room, it doesnt take long for angry neighbors to show up. Now im training to dj, just so i can use the equipment. I would even do it for free, just for the love of it.

[wickedsounz]

Excellent Brian.

I get some very large paying gigs, but I also take the low cost gigs. Why? Because I choose to do that. The thing is, I give both types of client the same service and that is why I do this job. I get pleasure from it and no matter what the client is paying, they all deserve good service. I may not earn too much from the budget gig, but in the end, I win because they remember the service they receive. This alone is worth more that money.

Paul

[VXxSaNdMaNxXV]

Yes. You also win with getting referrals, leads and return clients because of a great job you did. This is what being a great DJ is all about.

[briansredd]

Oh I don't just take the cream off the top either.

The lower end gigs I do get just as much energy put into the performance, even more at times, as the higher paying gigs do.

The difference is that the higher paying gigs get a lot more customer service & maybe a few extras thrown into the mix.

To take a gig at, say $400 when nothing else pops up is very much worth my time. To spend a lot of time planning for low end gigs and giving thoes clients a lot of extra attention isn't.

[DJTomTee]

I'm the same on this. I work in a club with regular pay, but would easily do a gig for pennys. Every gig is experience so maybe not getting much money but gaining something else instead.

[supremebeing1212]

@wickedsounz hey well said dude! i love DJing i do the same!

[SlyOneEntertainment]

I guess I'm being a little bit of an advocate in saying hang in there new DJ's, what you lack in experience you have to make up for in enthusiasm. When you're new you have to impress everybody that much more and as long as you're doing that everything else will come in time. Regardless, great video Brian.

[SlyOneEntertainment]

He was constantly telling people to back up toward the middle of the room and he just looked funny playing lil wayne. He had all halogen lights that were less than thrilling, and probably just didn't understand the technology of updating his rig. He had made 20 people up dancing at a time at the high point and 0 at the low and he was making over $100/hour. The other young DJ & I (24 y/o)were shocked. I guess there's sometyhing to be said for an established name but it was very dissapointing.

[wickedsounz]

Hey man, don't dis balding white guy DJ's nearing 50. I'm 42, balding white with a bit of a gut but I'm also a damn good function DJ with Club and radio experience. I can give any young DJ a damn good run for their money. :)

Regards,

Paul.

[briansredd]

Paul ROCKS!  A-MEN!

[wickedsounz]

With a little stagger....:}

[SlyOneEntertainment]

As long as you can have a good understanding of current music, and keep your setup somewhat updated then good I hope you do. I meant no offense in the older balding white guy comment. Only that if you're nerdy and trying to be hip, you're going to look kinda akward. But yeah, nothing but love for the 50 year old bald guys... I'll probably be one someday myself. :)

[wickedsounz]

No Offence. I was being a little sarcastic.

Cheers,

Paul.

[VXxSaNdMaNxXV]

Well with everything in life. There are young guys that are really good and young guys that are really really bad. It's the same with the older guys too. Some are professionals that take care of business, and some, just need to retire -BUT if they charge 100 to 200 or more per hour than credit to them for knowing how to sell their business.

[portnoyfan521]

absolutely brian, i agree 100 percent. people have to get used to talking in front of an audience, before buying a crap load of gear. Just because people have the ipod Mixer, and an iPod, does not mean you can dj. It is a little more complicated than that.

[SlyOneEntertainment]

So I gotta say something. Brian mentioned

trimming the fat with some of the new DJ's. I kinda am one, and not that I took offense to the comment b/c he's right but I'd also like to say trimming can be done accross the board. I'd much rather listen to a 14 y/o trying than a 50 y/o not. I went to a wedding the other guy and the guys setup was straight 1990. 50 year old balding white guy with CD players that skipped.

[DJBlaze2008]

I agree with you. But i also think a major cause has been forgotten or not mentioned. To me i think the ipod thing is retarded if your worried about an ipod then you have no clue what your doing. My big thing here in canada is BANDS. More people are hiring live bands. There are lots of pros and cons of a dj and a band. Does anyone esle agree with me?

[grafxnrg]

You touched on a great topic and I endorse these series of videos. Some of the type of DJs mentioned in this video may not like it BUT they can learn from it. No need for DJs to get mad, just take it as a constructive video. WELL DONE BRIAN.

[traxonwax]

The gospel according to Brian and I BELIEVE!!!!:) Great points. Looking forward to viewiing part 2 now.

[ellaskins]

Good work!

 j

[julesmusicproduction]

DJ's arent broke are they? i do a few weddings a week and i dont go short on money, the main problem i find is spending all of my money on gear every week...

[DjTRex08]

I think you've just open a fat can of worms my friend lol. You bring up so many good points upstarts/nubbies is a sore point for me at the moment we have one in my local area under cutting everyone & killing the game. I'm so have dealing "not for much longer" with a veteran dj not paying up he should know better. But one thing I do know under cutting upstarts & stupid veteran djs come & go & a pro dj is in it for the long haull...

[onstagedjkj]

I agree with everyone else on this being a great video. I was older "startup" DJ, and I got my start at the VFW actually. I realized how much fun it was, watched every mobile DJ video I can on here, and go talk to other DJ's to learn and get to the point I'm at now. I just want to say Thanks because 3/4 of what I learned, and improvements i've made are due to you and Johnathan's videos. THUMBS UP!

[shamamster]

right on man!

[Djfritzer]

But I can agree with "the ipod dj" If you just plug in an I pod and lett it run YOU ARE NOT DJ'ING! you are renting your Pa and I-pod with an Ipod unless you are running 2 in a special set up but IDK but the ones who lett it run do not move the crowd they do not entertain you just lett work other people have done just sit and make money and take jobs from the DJ's who are good with music and can move a crowd and make the night a blast for every one...

[Djfritzer]

adding to my other coment I worked for a local company for 2 years before i even bought my own pa system...

[Djfritzer]

every one saying "every 14 year old and there mother is a dj" im 15 and I OWN and OPPERATE a pro Dj buisness 3 djs working for me as well as myself and it is a valid buisness that pays for alot of things like my high school tuition (St. Catheriens Racine)

[sainifabulous]

a "DJ" cant be replaced by a "IPOD"

ipod doesnt have speakers

i also agree with the 14 year old djs

it seems like everyone and there mom is a dj these days

[DJSHAUN901]

excellent video brian ,  you couldn't have said it any better . keep up the great work . i realy enjoy your videos . can't wait for next video .

[TommyTurntables]

Well said Brian! ;-)

[RRollergod]

While ego is needed in this business to much can really hurt someone, and becuase of the vast majority of these upstarts saying their great is stereotyping DJs as lowlifes who need money. So there has to be a fine balance with ego, confidence, and being humble.

[BandanaRepublic]

it just has to be in the...next video.lol. ya killin me brian. still get vid.

[BandanaRepublic]

it just has to be in the...next video.lol. ya killin me brian. still get vid.

[amcevents]

Excellent video Brian. Very well said and thought out.

Look forward to the next installments.

[VTDJResq]

B- Superb advice and thoughts!!!!!!

[goofballjm]

Preach on my brother! People commonly equate all DJ's being the same. This is NOT true! I have seen some really expensive DJ's do terrible and seen some cheap DJ's tear it up. In a saturated market people tend to go with the cheapest act, and they pay for it in the long run.

[gotladdertrucks]

I've been working on DJing since I was 5. My first gig was when I was 13. I'm 14 now. I learned it first and then I went mobile. There is a very good advantage to us 14 year olds. We are the same age as the school dance crowds. We know what they're listening to. We know what they like and don't like.

Lover prices are the key right now. The economy sucks, schools don't have much money for DJ's. I am in the low price range, but because of that, I do alot of gigs.

Feel free to fight my idea.

[djembedrummer]

great point gotladdertrucks. there is use for us 14 and 15 year old "upstarts". Im not trying to hate on Brians use of the word, he has a very VERY valid point. you can still be 15 or 50 and still keep a crowd going. laddertrucks has a good point too, we can easily do school dances as good (or better, no offence) as some of the veterans in the industry because we know the music they want and live the life they do.

great video brian! cheers,

djembedrummer

[firehehe]

Brian,

Your comments regarding the perceived competition with iPod deejays was spot on. Thank you for saying that because it had to be said.

[DJSEvEN72]

This is my motto which i try to live by!

"As a Deejay you never get full on learning, Every new day/gig is a challenge, face it with humility and grace/respect for the arts and you shall succeed"

Take care all

/S

[DJSEvEN72]

This is one of the best vids PERIOD!

Jonathan may be DJ tutor

But you bri are the DJ GURU, no offence, but you have more tips regarding the overall scene

jonathan give great tips regarding the hardware and technical terms.

But you're a great combination!

Competent is one of the best terms when it comes to dj'n, strive not to be the best, be competent.

Aim for the stars, and in a worst case scenario you end up in the trees which is not to bad, if you compare to the ground.

keep it up!

/S

[thefallofexhistince]

lmao better than an ipod

[jasperibe]

Brian, I guess it had to be said about "healthy pruning"...I know that its great to encourage people to DJ...hence the "Practise and Enjoy" motto. And among both yours and J's videos the message about what it takes to become a dj is there (am sure of it). But maybe drowned/over-shadowed among gig logs and product reviews. Its difficult to show all the work behind the scenes, when all that is shown in 10 minutes is people enjoying themselves.

[TheLastDJ007]

You may have a good point there show behind the scenes instead of the glory shots.

Maybe real vids like when Brian had his lights get wet or a DJ friend doesn't show.

[twrea]

Can't wait for the next vid! Great work on this one!

[DJMGM88]

Great video Brian, you hit the nail on the head with both topics you talked about...

-Mike-

[djexclusivo131]

You right Brian. I feel that Dj is not a Juke Box or an Ipod.. A real Dj knows how to read a crowd... Some People think Djing is easy when they are straight up wrong.

Dj Xclusivo - NYC Exclusive Sound Productions

[DjLezz]

I think some time will have to go by for brides to realize, that their wedding is something they should not trust to an Ipod...An Ipod cannot introduce your party, or your first dance, or your father/daughter dance..., is just impossible. It is sad, but some bride will have to go through the experience to know better, only then they will make the right choice and hire an actual Dj. Just my 2 cents worth..p.s: Awsome video, Brian.

[CityStreetsDJs]

VFW Weddings. Ah the momories..

[DjLezz]

And I also think, Brian, That some marketing techniques would be extremely helpful...You, know...how to sell ourselves...how to approach a potential client..things like that..

[DjGizzo]

it is getting tougher out there to dj on the mobile side because everyone is listening to different music on there headphones and its hard to bring them all together at once so people see djs struggling and see there ipods as a real alternative its sickening

[DjGizzo]

i really like this guy he's straight!

[djinfrared1]

Great job Bryan.

[MasterDarkarbiter]

Very nice, I was a little tempted to stop my subscription with all the gig logs and reviews of stuff I just wouldn't be interested in, but heres a nice long deep theory video :)

Slightly elitest, but at the same time, when your talking about what your talking about, it'd be hard to not be, and sounds like its true too.

[SlyOneEntertainment]

I just want to clear something up from my last DJ, Brian kinda made me feel bad :). I made te comment that sadly a person can get a decent sound from a piece of equipment that doesn't cost much more than a DJ does for an evening. That's not to say that anyone on here can be replaced by a Ipod only that consumers seem to think that all they need is loud music faded into eachoter to have people up and dancing.

[zmance]

Your right about the IPOD there area couple people I know personlly having events that have asked to use my speakers and amp to use their ipod..Hmmmmph is how the pilots felt when they made a plane that could fky itself lol!

[jasperibe]

Ellaskins did a gig log where he did rent out his system for a party to plug in their ipod...but he taped up and covered all the faders/levels/eq so that the only thing they can adjust is the volume of the line for the ipod input.

[zmance]

He sure did I actually saw that one. Still..people would be willing to rent a PA for 100-200 and just plug an ipod in and YES they are starting to do it more often!

[mcmookie]

Agree on the Ipod. There's value and then there's cheap. The bar I worked for is so cheap that when their CD decks broke (tray loading dual decks) and the manager broke the tray on one side. That was in June and the decks still aren't fixed. Anyone coming in with CDs, song ends, maybe their next song is on another CD, take CD out, put other CD in, push play, meanwhile crowd is waiting 30-45 seconds for the next cut. I heard this week they had someone in taking requests off of 1 CD. That's insane

[SpotlightSound]

Right on Brian. Great DJs make it look easier than it actually is.

[RootGinger]

Great video Brian can't wait for the next instalment.

[djY2Kev]

I totaly agree, I work for a DJ gear shop, and I'm a hobbyist DJ and many people think DJ'ing is easy, the new tendency of Ipod's and downloads make people think a good DJ just needs a big databasse of music... Wrong.... Talent, commitment and hard work makes a good DJ and experience makes agreat one... Cheers Bri, keep up the good work.

[billbagger7]

good work bri :D

[djnpd]

Bryan,

Im sorry for all the typos in my earlier response.

What I was trying to say is could you do some videos in this series regarding MCing Weddings.

These are the sort of functions where you are more than the DJ

[djnpd]

Byan,

One tning we notice in our buisness is prticly wih Weddings, they requremore ha a DJ.

A Weddnig is also an MC.

You should do some vdeos on MCing a wedding

[TaterSalad24]

Sexy video! W00t!

[braydencarss1]

Great Video Man.