In the dj world we have many things to think about! One of the most important is how we are viewed & building relationships. I would like to say first that we all have fans & critics. The saying that “you can’t please everyone” is a very true statement. You should think about how people size you up while preforming & how they do the same when meeting you for the first time. People who walk into a room & hearing you for the first time will draw their conclusions based on the experience you & the atmosphere with in the room. They will not know anything about you at this point and most of the time will compare you to other dj’s they like or hate in the market. It is true you won’t get a fair shake with them unless they make an effort to talk with you. Remember to do what you were hired to do and do the best with the information provided. The thing to think about is most people think your a great dj when the party is rocking. They are not going to think about your mix or even if the song that is rocking the room is something they like. What they will take a way is people were having fun. This opens up the door to the idea that style & if you can mix comes into play. To the person in the party, they could careless as long as it keeps the excitement up. Before saying any more you do have to have some idea of song placement & reading a crowd. You may not be the best but if you have those tools building you will be on your way. Getting to the point of the review and word of mouth in this case, People will give a good review to friends around them & even to you & on line if they had fun. The same can be said if a bad review is given.
Let’s talk about this as in a professional relationship. Dj’s will refer other solid dj’s when they see they can be trusted & know their craft. Not all dj’s can dj anywhere nore in most cases would they want too. The important part is like know trust. It is much easier for a dj to get business when many companies in the area have worked with them. The pay may never be that great but you would be doing this for credibility and resources. This also can work with the wedding & event planners plus other related services that might refer you. Don’t let your ego stop you from working. Build your foundation & these services will only build you up!
We have not talked about reviews as we would see them, good or bad they either will get you business or push it away. It is all in the action you take. Remember you will never get a 100% all the time. Some will not like your style & some clients may not convey what they truly want. The point is how you deal with the aftermath. Don’t over publicize the crap! If you do then you maybe reinforcing their complaint. You need to learn from what is said, ask yourself did you do everything requested if it a wedding? In a club ask yourself was the problem beyond your control? Maybe you were not the best fit for the gig? These are many ideas to think about. The thing is if you take every gig then you better be a jack of all trades and master of none. Not every dj can do a super job in every situation, be realistic and from all this you will have better reviews.
The client is your boss and they set the rules but that dose not mean their guests will feel the same. Yes it is not an easy idea to think about but it is a true statement. So to end this blog: think about the gigs you take, remember not everyone will be your greatest fan & kill them with kindness. Blow your great review & depress your bad ones!
Hope this helped!
Dj Dave