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ISSUE 202 JANUARY 2019 WWW.MOBILEBEAT.COM GETGETGETGETGETGETGET IT IT IT IT IT IT IT STARTEDSTARTEDSTARTEDSTARTEDSTARTEDSTARTEDSTARTED Mobile Beat Las Vegas www.mobilebeatlasvegas.com eAcoustics www.eacoustics.com GET IT STARTED PLAYLIST

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT...... 6 Getting Started By Joe Bunn

MBLV23...... 8 So It’s Your First Time Going to MBLV… By Mike Cordeiro

FEATURE...... 12 Prepping a Set for the Ultimate Fete By Staci Nichols

MBLV23...... 16 Why People Dance By Mike Walter

BOOKSHELF...... 18 Review: On This Date In Music by Mike Walter By Michael Cordiero ADVERTISERS MBLV23...... 19

Being Customer Centric: The Apple Secret Audio-Technica www.audio-technica.com 15 By Mitch Taylor DigiGames www.digigames.com 11 SPINNING ON THE HIGH SEAS...... 20 DJ Trivia www.djtrivia.com 19 Waves of Musical Connections eAcoustics www.eacoustics.com 3 By DJ Dayna iDJPool www.idjpool.com 21 PRODJFILES...... 22 Troy Adams of Carolina DJ Professionals Innovative LED www.innovativeledsales.com 7 By Kevin Freese Mobile Beat Las Vegas www.mobilebeatlasvegas.com 2

MOBILE MATTERS...... 24 PCDJ www.pcdj.com 13 DJ Price Quotes: A Guide for Brides QSC www.qsc.com 17 By Matt Martindale Releventful www.releventful.com 5 A DIFFERENT BEAT...... 26 Wedding Word Search Call/text 970-302-0747 27 Getting There: DJ Vehicles By Stu Chisholm

E-BEAT...... 28 Move Your Business with Animoto By Mark Evans

Publisher Events Director Editorial Assistant / Ryan Burger Jake Feldman Writer Mobile Beat Circulation Manager Rebecca Burger Editor-in-Chief Kitty Harr Events Director Emeritus Dan Walsh Michael Buonaccorso

TO ADVERTISE IN MOBILE BEAT OR EXHIBIT AT A MOBILE BEAT EVENT, CALL 515-986-3344 x300 OR EMAIL [email protected]

4 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 Releventful...... www.releventful.com THIS IS HOW WE DO IT Getting Started

By Joe Bunn

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT Getting Started KEY IDEAS FOR THE ASPIRING DJ By Joe Bunn

priced DJ. Take those gigs early on and it will pay off in the long bout once a week, someone slides into my DMs run. A on Instagram and says, “Hey man, I’ve been PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE following you for a while now and really love how You know that cliché “Practice makes perfect?” It’s something you do things. I would love some advice on getting like your mom would say to you when she would send you to started.” Wow! Talk about a broad question. In this piano lessons. However, it turns out she was right. If you are new article, I’ll touch on a few things that I would do if to the game, don’t do an event and then leave your stuff in the I was starting over and know all that I know now. case until the next show. Set that stuff up in your basement or bedroom or kitchen the very next day and practice, practice, GET GEAR practice! The software these days has made it so easy to record First off, only buy what you need to rock a party. You don’t need your mixes. Hit record, make a 30-60 minute mix, and then play it every bell and whistle and widget that the DJ gear companies back. What did you do well? What could you have improved on? put out every quarter. First on the list, get yourself a nice set of Once you get confident enough, start posting your mixes on sites powered speakers. Make sure they are powered, as in the amps like Mixcloud. Share the link on your socials and ask for honest are built into the speaker. Companies like EV and QSC make some feedback. Send the mix links to other DJs and ask for their honest amazing sounding 12” cabinets. Next, go into your local Guitar feedback. Most of them will be brutally honest, but it will make Center or Sam Ash and check out all of the controllers. They have you a better DJ in the end. most of them set up with Macbooks so you can even demo them. HUMBLE YOURSELF Pick the one that is right for you and your budget. Add a nice set of tripods, a really good wireless mic and a bunch of XLR cables As Kendrick Lamar says, “Sit down, be humble.” You have to and black extension cords, and you’re in business. And remember, understand and realize that there are countless DJs that have cable management is important! come before you with more experience, more skills and more knowledge about what to play and when to play it. They are not MARKET YOURSELF your competition, they are your mentors. Take the time to follow If you’re just getting started, you’re probably of the age that then on social media or YouTube or Mixcloud and see what they grew up always having a cell phone and social media. That’s a are doing. Learn from them. I’m positive that there are thousands huge plus. That phone and all of the social media channels are of DJs out there that could DJ me under a bus, but they are free marketing. Use them to your advantage. Also, you have to still living in their mom’s basement because they don’t want to educate themselves.

GET EDUCATED Get Your DJ “Degree” Speaking of education, you are going to Mobile Beat Las Vegas If you want to check out www.phdjworkshop.com right? If you want a crash course in DJing, gear, business, which is my workshop that I do with Mike Walter, I marketing, social media -- all of it -- it’s going to be there in March won’t be mad. You might as well start listening to our pod- 2019. I personally never miss the show. There are other regional cast as well—it’s free! Look for The PhDJ Podcast on iTunes, DJ conferences and workshops too. It doesn’t matter how long Spotify or Soundcloud. you’ve been in the game, you can always continue to learn. I promise you’ll see me sitting in the back of the room in almost every seminar. I’ll see you there! have a website. You don’t need to go crazy and have someone build you a custom one. Buy a theme or template and use Wix or Squarespace to design it yourself. If the budget allows it, just turn the theme over to a designer. I promise you they can change it so that it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

WORK FOR FREE Yep, you are going to have to cut your teeth somewhere. You Joe Bunn started his DJ career over 30 years ago. His company might as well do some free shows up front to get your name has four offices and now does over 1000 weddings a year and out there. This is important: Make sure you have a good looking, another 400 private, corporate and charity events. He still DJs well designed business card with you before booking those gigs. almost every weekend, but also helps other DJs grow their businesses as a consultant, writer, and speaker. Visit www. Hand them to anyone and everyone that even comes near your djjoebunn.com to learn more or purchase any of his products. DJ booth! I promise you, there are always organizations, charities, retail stores, even house parties that are looking for a free or low-

6 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 Innovative LED www.innovativeledsales.com MBLV23 So It’s Your First Time Going to MBLV…

By Mike Cordeiro

MBLV23 So It’s Your First Time Going to MBLV… A GUIDE FOR THOSE NEW TO THE MOBILE BEAT EXPERIENCE By Mike Cordeiro

the Tropicana or in an adjacent casino. If you do rent a car here oward the end of 2018, we here at Mobile Beat are a few tips. Take the car rental shuttle bus from the airport to T noticed a steadily increasing stream of threads on the car rental building. All pickups and drop offs are there. Bring DJ forums concerning attending the MBLV conference a copy of your insurance binder from your home state (Nevada rental laws are a little different). Schedule your vehicle drop off in March 11-15, 2019 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino time at least three hours before your flight leaves to have enough in Las Vegas. The majority of the questions were time for check-in and TSA. from DJs thinking about attending for the first time. I was assigned to research the threads, come up with the What should I wear at MBLV23? best answers to the questions from DJs, and put together this The weather in March in Las Vegas is like springtime in New guide for maximizing the MBLV attendee experience. MBLV23 England, where I’m from. Daytime temperatures average in the will be my eighth time attending Mobile Beat Las Vegas since 60s and low 70s. Evenings can occasionally dip down into the 2010 (I only missed out on 2014). Since attending that first event, 50s. From my male perspective, it’s business casual; slacks or I’ve spent a lot of time in the Las Vegas area, visiting landmarks, jeans, polos and a few sweatshirts should cover your wardrobe exploring the surrounding towns and experiencing all the major needs. It would help to bring a few dress shirts and at least one tourist attractions. pair of dress pants. Be comfortable, but dress to impress. (Ladies, I’ve taken questions from DJs all over the country and have please interpret that last bit of advice as you see fit.) But go ahead tracked the most important issues and concerns. Several dozen and wear suits or dresses everyday if that is what you are most DJs took time to reach out to me and ask for direction and comfortable in! advice. Their questions covered a variety of topics from attendance to accommodations to tourism, networking, note taking, budgeting, attire, and more. I’ve collected the most popular Should I wear shirts with my company logo? queries below. Here we go... Some do, most do not. Entirely up to you.

Where should I stay for the Mobile Beat conference? Is it better to arrive Sunday, Monday or Tuesday? The best place to stay is at the Tropicana, where MBLV23 is being The Welcome Party starts Sunday evening at 6:00; this is a great held. Staying on property allows the Mobile Beat staff to keep the way to meet new friends and start networking right away, as conference price as low as possible and still provide you great well as your first opportunity to pick up your pre-registered pass. content. Many attendees share rooms. Staying at the Tropicana Registration is Monday morning with seminars starting around gives you the convenience of just heading down from your room lunch time. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are full seminar straight to the show. You also avoid having to navigate around days. Each day is packed with great content and learning oppor- Las Vegas or worry about getting lost in the huge casinos trying tunities. Why miss any of it? Personally, I always arrive on Sunday. to find your way back and forth. Mathematically, you can’t beat This gives me a day to relax from traveling, adjust to the time staying on property. zone and start out refreshed and pumped on Monday morning. I leave late Thursday or early Friday morning. How do I get from the airport to the Tropicana? The cheapest way to go from the airport to the Tropicana is by How will I know where the seminars are and what the taking a shuttle bus located outside the arrivals area. Uber and schedule is? Lyft are now available at McCarran International. For a quick The schedule for MBLV23 is available on the MBLV23 website guide to locations, rules, etc. click here. here: https://www.mobilebeatlasvegas.com/schedule/ Taxicabs in Las Vegas can be expensive unless you are The new show app will be released soon. Download it. The sharing the ride. The Tropicana is about a ten minute bus ride new, streamlined MBLV23 Companion will keep you up to date from the airport. on show news and happenings. You can also ask questions and network with other DJs in the app’s forum. Should I rent a car while in Las Vegas? Where do I rent one from? Are there any seminars I can’t attend? If this is your first time at Mobile Beat I would advise not renting Your Full Program Pass gives you access to all Mobile Beat- a car. All the major activities of MBLV23 are located either within produced seminars and parties and the trade show floor. There

8 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 will be extra workshops (MB-approved) happening immediately tor; buy a case of water. All the main seminar spaces have water before and after MBLV23 at the Tropicana. You must register and coolers. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! pay for those separately. Are we allowed to touch and operate any of the gear Are there other options beside the Full Program Pass? in the trade show hall? An MBLV Platinum Pass gets you front row seating at all the main Yes. Most of the booths will be hands on. You can work with stage seminars (and a few other great benefits). There are also vendors to try new controllers, operate lighting fixtures, test Expo passes available for spouses and others who may not need speakers and play with new photo booth technology. The trade to attend seminars, but who want to enter the trade show floor show floor is very interactive. Budget your time; it’s easy to get and attend the parties. Check out all the options here. lost for hours in there. The booth reps are very busy, so have your gear questions ready. Can we ask questions at the seminars? Yes and no. Many of the seminars do allow for some Q&A but to Are the gear deals only good at the show? stay on schedule this may be limited due to time and content. Many deals are only good during the show. Some vendors may extend a deal if you put down a deposit or if you contact Can I get a copy of the presentations? them right after the show. The deals offered at the show are for attendees. If you are interested in a specific piece of gear but With a few key exceptions, Mobile Beat makes most seminars can’t pay for it at the show just let the vendor know. Be honest available through its Digital Plus service, which is an annual sub- with them and they will most likely take care of you. scription. (Check it out here.) This service also provides access to all available materials from previous MBLV events. The major exceptions to this involve speakers (usually “big-name,” keynote Should I bring my wife and family? Is Vegas kid- presenters) who impose contracted limits on distribution of their friendly? productions. Some speakers who are also exhibitors may offer, Las Vegas is an amazing city with a very storied past. There for sale, recordings of seminar material similar to their MBLV are many great family activities to do and Las Vegas is a great presentations. place for a romantic getaway. As a first-time attendee I would recommend going solo unless your wife is a part of your business Is it OK to talk to and meet with the presenters? and will attend the seminars with you. There are plenty of things Of course. The presenters are there for you. However, due to the for them to do while you are in the seminars though. Remember large attendance at MB conferences, I recommend booking con- all attendees must have a pass to get into the expo floor. I’ve sultations in advance. Many times I’ve simply scheduled a time brought my wife and daughter four times already and they to meet with a presenter for lunch or coffee. Be flexible and work are coming again this year. We’ve made some amazing family around their schedules. Read over the seminar list, figure out memories. which presenters have the info that can best help your business and have your questions ready. Be courteous; don’t corner them What are some of the most popular tourist in a hall or interrupt a conversation. It’s not too early to reach out attractions? now, introduce yourself and set a time to meet up in Vegas. There are too many to list, but my personal favorites are the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, which can best be viewed from What should I bring to take notes with? Can I take the top of the Eiffel tower across the street at Paris Casino. The video of seminars? view from Bar 107 at the top of the Stratosphere at sunset is the As with most professional conferences, recording of entire best place to see the sun go down and the Vegas strip light up. seminars strictly forbidden. Video clips and pictures of certain You get a 360-degree view of the valley. The Hoover Dam tour slides may be allowed, based upon permission from the presenter. is simply amazing. You can take a bus out there and back. Red This varies from seminar to seminar. Ask a staff member if you are Rock Canyon is absolutely breathtaking at sunset. (You can drive not sure. Bring whichever note taking device you are most com- through this piece of the National Park System on a convenient fortable with. I usually bring a notebook and my iPad. circle road.) The Fremont Street Experience offers a ton of fun stuff in the middle of the older, “classic” Las Vegas, north of the Strip. Zip line 50 feet over the crowd, the length of three football Where can I eat? Is there a good variety of food fields; watch a rock concert on the world’s largest overhead LED choices? screen; or take a picture with a million dollars at Binions Casino The Tropicana has a café and several restaurants and bars. Take while you’re there. a short walk (across Las Vegas Blvd) to the Excalibur Hotel and you will find a grand buffet and a huge food court. A longer walk Can I walk from the Tropicana to the end of the Strip? (across Tropicana Blvd) into the depths of the MGM Grand will Theoretically yes; realistically, no. The casinos are huge. You can also lead you to a large food court. All casinos have unique res- spend over two hours just walking through MGM Grand to see taurants and cafés to suit any taste. everything. Caesar’s Palace is even bigger. I’ve been to Las Vegas On a special note, remember to start hydrating yourself over a dozen times and still haven’t thoroughly explored every about three days before you head to Vegas. Drink at least eight casino. There is just too much to see and do in each one. Vegas glasses of water per day while in town. The climate is very dry; Las is like a giant rear view mirror. Objects appear closer than they Vegas is in a desert, after all. If you have a room with a refrigera- really are!

MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 9 MBLV23

How much money should I budget for expenses each Can’t I get all the same content on the DJ forums? day? No, you can’t. Forums are a great resource for good information... If you are traveling solo, then plan on at least $100 per day for and also havens for misinformation. Most threads are laden with food and fun. Meals are around $40-$50 per day. All the casinos more opinion than fact. Mobile Beat Las Vegas is a true learning are free to enter, but certain activities and shows you have to pay experience with curated content presented by proven profes- for. Show experiences can run $50 to $150 or more. A 24-hour sionals and experts. city bus ticket is around $10. The number one question I received was this one:

Is Las Vegas safe? What about the tragic shooting Will attending Mobile Beat Las Vegas really make a that happened there? difference in my business? Las Vegas is no different from any other big city. Just be smart. Avoid getting intoxicated in public. Travel around town with Unequivocally...YES! Very simply, if you learn ONE thing at MBLV23 a few friends and watch each other’s backs. As far as the mass that helps you book several more events back home, then the shooting is concerned, you shouldn’t let the remote possibility of tickets paid for themselves. But you are not going to learn just a major tragedy stop you from attending MBLV23 and bettering one thing to help your business -- you will learn many things. your business. You’ll learn about yourself, what holds you back, and the best ways to move your business forward. You will learn what your talent and time is truly worth. You are going to meet people that Why is Mobile Beat Las Vegas always held in March will change your life forever. You will create new friendships that around Spring Break? become just as strong as any others in your life. You are going to March is one of the slowest DJ months nationally. Holiday season see that our DJ industry is much bigger and more diverse than is over, prom season hasn’t begun and traditionally March has the you could ever imagine. Most of all, you will become part of a lowest number of weddings, next to November. The weather in family of professionals like yourself, one that you won’t want to Vegas during March is very comfortable no matter which part of wait a whole year to connect with again! the country you are coming from. Plus having the show in March gives us great new content to apply to our businesses before the busy summer season hits.

10 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 DigiGames...... www.digigames.com FEATURE Prepping a Set for the Ultimate Fete

By Staci Nichols

FEATURE Prepping a Set for the Ultimate Fête By Staci Nichols

Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, salsa, Top 40, etc. e on the center of a stage in I was aiming for about 60% English, 40% M front of 500 people for two Spanish and wanted to include some hours! An opening act! People were Mexico-Mexican songs for the locals like “La Chona” and “Vamonos de Fiesta” as buying tickets to see me perform! well. One thing I knew before I DJ’d in Once I got a tentative song order Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for New figured out, I rolled up my sleeves and Year's Eve, was that I needed to started working on transitions and cue prepare a set. Transitions needed points. I wanted to keep the set fast- paced but not too club-y, so I planned to be rehearsed. Cue points to transition the song about every needed to be tested. A high- 1.5-2 minutes. Once I got the first 40 energy opener and meaningful songs ready, I did a “dress rehearsal” and closer needed to be mapped out. recorded it. I needed to know how much time a set of 40 songs was going to take I've always been of the camp that a and how the transitions sounded “live.” About half of the transi- set should never be 100% concrete before getting a chance tions ended up getting adjusted after listening to the trial run to read the crowd, but I also knew I needed to be ready to recording. Once the full two hours was prepped, I did another go before I got on the airplane. What to do? Because I had a recording and continued to tighten the set. wedding on December 28th, I did not have much time to get to Cabo early and scope things out. I would be playing at a joint While having a detailed road map of the set was helpful, I New Year's Eve party for three adjacent resorts all owned by also knew I did not want to have three stapled pages of notes Grand Solmar. So I did as much as I could from home, thinking sitting on my controller during the set and would not be able back on my last time in a resort in Cabo 2 years previously. to memorize such a long set. Ultimately, I used the song tag fields to put in abbreviated notes. I love cue points, and it's not AT HOME: PRIMING THE PARTY PUMP uncommon for me to have eight cue points set on a song. So First, I created a crate of songs that seemed appropriate for I used the album field to note which cue point I was entering a fairly American audience in Mexico; stuff like “Suavemente” with and which one I was exiting with (i.e. “in 2, out 5”). Then (Elvis Crespo), “Danza Kuduro” (Don Omar), “Mi Gente” (J in the “remix” field, I wrote my transition notes. I had to think Balvin / Willy William), “La Bamba,” Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, of names for my different transitions so I could just glance at it and know what needed to get done (so “gradual,” “filter fade,” “silent drop & pop,” “looped gradual,” “pitch up,” “slam,” etc). I then set my crate to display only the song title, album, & remix fields. It worked flawlessly!

ON SITE: GETTING READY TO ROCK Once I arrived in Cabo, I was given a tour of the properties where I was going to be performing three 20-minute mini-sets the next day, to promote ticket sales. OMG: Where were the Mexican people I remembered from the resort I had stayed at two years before? The crowd at the Grand Solmar resorts was almost exclusively American, so my first night in Cabo was spent planning English backups for about half of my planned Spanish songs. I also felt my set needed more older music than what I had prepped so I planned alternates for some of the newer English music as well. A separate crate called “Cabo Back-Ups” took shape. The next day I performed my 20-minute sets at the pools of each of the three resorts during the afternoon rush. This led to a few more modifications. One was to have some sort of

12 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 PCDJ www.pcdj.com FEATURE

How to Get the Fete?ˆ To all those dying to know how I got this gig...it’s actually pretty simple: GigMasters.com. A lot of people in the mobile DJ community look down on sites like GigMasters or Thumb Tack because their bidding process can attract price-shoppers (vs. quality-shoppers). However, they also attract plenty of people who simply don’t know where to go to a hire a DJ. Because of Thumb Tack, I’ve been able to add clients like Home Depot and New York & Co. to my resume. GigMasters has led to international travel and gigs with Boost Mobile, Baskin Robbins, Cinepolis, and Marriott. “time cushion” songs ready in case I found myself needing to cut more Spanish songs, for example, during the real performance. My last few songs of the set were around 128 BPM, so AT THE GIG: PAYOFF FOR THE PREP what I did for my “cushion” songs was gather a ton of songs On the 31st, I practiced the harder transitions in my room and (Top 40, oldies, Spanish) around 128 BPM, made sure they went over the set again in the morning. Around 11:00 PM that were all cued so I could get in and out in under 2 minutes, night, I headed down to the stage ready to rock & roll. As soon and place them in a separate crate. If I needed to fill in some as I arrived, the entertainment director asked me if I could time at the end, I was ready! I now had a very curated set that start DJing ASAP. He was worried that people were getting was still flexible enough to allow for some crowd reading and tired already. I was instantly glad I had 45 minutes of cushion acts of God. at the end of the set already prepped! I ended up using the English and oldies backups and removing the original planned Bottom L & R, Spanish. So all of my last minute scrambling to make the set photo credit: flexible paid for itself tenfold! Josafat de la Toba - josafatdelatoba.com Now that the gig is finished, looking back, I would have prepared even more “cushion music.” Ideally I would like to get to the point where I have enough “signature transitions” in my repertoire to not need as much structure for a set like this, but I'm not there yet! Overall, this gig helped me add quite a bit to that repertoire and definitely made me a better DJ.

Listen to Staci’s first set (pre-midnight) on Mixcloud: Versatile https://www.mixcloud.com/staci-nichols/ DJ Staci, the Track Star, has been a full- time mobile DJ for 10 years. She has performed internationally, on the Vegas High-Fidelity Wireless strip, at festivals, celebrity weddings, 3000 Series expands the possibilities of performance and for companies like Lamborghini and Reebok. Staci has spoken at industry • Class-leading, extremely wide 60 MHz UHF tuning bandwidth for maximum versatility conferences and been featured on DJ • True Diversity operation reduces dropouts News TV, ADJA and BookMoreBrides.com webinars, the Wedding MBA podcast, and • Unique multifunction button on the handheld and body-pack transmitters can a BPM Supreme Female DJ Forum. Staci be used to switch to a backup frequency should interference be encountered is represented by both Scratch Events & Interchangeable • Automatically adjusts squelch setting to maximize range Purim Agency. capsule options while minimizing potential interference • Frequency scan and IR sync for ease of setup • Handheld transmitter o ers industry-standard thread mount for use with six interchangeable A-T microphone capsules, as well as other compatible capsules

14 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 audio-technica.com • New rugged cH-style screw-down 4-pin connector on body-pack transmitter Versatile High-Fidelity Wireless 3000 Series expands the possibilities of performance

• Class-leading, extremely wide 60 MHz UHF tuning bandwidth for maximum versatility • True Diversity operation reduces dropouts • Unique multifunction button on the handheld and body-pack transmitters can be used to switch to a backup frequency should interference be encountered Interchangeable • Automatically adjusts squelch setting to maximize range capsule options while minimizing potential interference • Frequency scan and IR sync for ease of setup • Handheld transmitter o ers industry-standard thread mount for use with six interchangeable A-T microphone capsules, as well as other compatible capsules audio-technica.com • New rugged cH-styleMOBILEBEAT.COM screw-down 4-pin connector ▷ JANUARY on body-pack 2019 transmitter 15

Audio-Technica www.audio-technica.com MBLV23 Why People Dance

By Mike Walter

MBLV23

hen someone asks you what you do for a living, what W do you tell them? I know the question can be hard for us. If we say “DJ” we inevitably get asked, “What radio station?” And if we say “Wedding DJ,” we immediately feel the need to follow that up with, “but not the cheesy kind.” Which is why I often answer: “I help people dance.” I obviously do a lot more than that. I MC and coordinate. I set up gear. I help with event planning. Etc., etc. But if you asked me what the single most important thing I do is, I’d say, “I help people dance.” Because when everything is said and done at an event, and the guests are driving home Why discussing the night, how much they danced and partied will be probably be the number one thing they talk about as far as the entertainment goes (right up there with how the bride looked and how the food tasted). People You’re free to agree or disagree with my assessment, of course. You can argue that the introductions are more important. That the love story you craft and deliver is the highlight. Or your technical skills, combining Dance amazing lighting and video with the music, is what makes you stand out. And you may be right. But for me, I feel I am always judged on how well A DEEPER LOOK AT A (or how poorly) I rocked the dance floor. Which is why understanding the DJ’S CORE CONCERN psychology of dancing is so important to me. It’s a topic I’ve studied and read about and interviewed people about and it’s a subject I have a lot By Mike Walter of opinions about. I’m going to share some here and I have even more to deliver in my seminar “Why People Dance,” which I’ll be delivering in March at Mobile Beat’s Las Vegas show.

SAFE DANCING ZONE Do you know there are three main categories of people when it comes to dancing? There are three attitudes towards dancing. And while people aren’t locked into one, they have a tendency to be one of the three at every party. These categories are, simply: Dancers, Non-Dancers and what I call Skeptics. And, as you can imagine, the true art of DJing is getting the Skeptics on the floor. Anybody can get the Dancers up (heck, an iPod with a good playlist can get the Dancers up) and nobody should force the Non-Dancers up. But to be really successful at our craft, we need to identify the Skeptics at our events and create the right environment that will get them on the floor. This is probably something you are already doing with some measure of success. But you may not be aware of it and you may not focus on it. But once you think about it and become aware of it, hopefully it’ll become your area of expertise and something you truly excel in. There are many factors that Skeptics need to get on the floor and stay on the floor. I am going to identify many them at my seminar, but in the space remaining here let me focus on one: Your dance floor needs to be a non-judgmental zone. Skeptics, at some point in their lives, probably loved dancing. What child doesn’t? We can all think of videos we’ve seen of children frolicking and dancing with no care or concern about how they look. Children don’t have that voice in the back of their heads that says, “Stop doing that, you look stupid.” At some point we develop that (some of us do, anyway) and it stops us from doing childish things like dancing in the aisles of the supermarket or grabbing crayons and drawing to our hearts content. And that’s a shame really. It’s a shame that “growing up” means we start thinking about what other people are thinking about us. And that’s one of the big factors that stop Skeptics from really cutting loose and having a great time on your dance floor. They are held back by that gnawing thought and don’t want to be the center of attention. That’s why darkness and alcohol are probably the two biggest factors that help us get people dancing. The dimmer the room the better, right? And how often do you introduce yourself to the bartenders at an event and tell them, “I need your help tonight!” (Oh,

16 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 17

QSC...... www.qsc.com BOOKSHELF Review: On This Date In Music by Mike Walter

By Michael Cordiero

BOOKSHELF Why People Dance

that’s just me? Really?) Start Your Day with So once you’ve created that atmosphere and gotten the Skeptics up, your only comments ever on the microphone should be compliments. Musical Brainfood I don’t care if the most un-rhythmic A REVIEW OF ON THIS DATE IN MUSIC BY MIKE WALTER dancer in the world is gyrating on the floor to a beat that is only in their By Michael Cordiero head (think Elaine from Seinfeld -- but worse!) we as MCs can NEVER criticize a dancer. Ever. Not only will we chase re you looking for a gift for a music maven in your life? Or do want that person from the floor but anyone A something to satisfy your own daily craving for music knowledge? else who is afraid that they are next to Then let me recommend On This Date in Music by Mike Walter. This labor be evaluated will never get out there. of love covers some of the most unique and interesting stories from If you want to comment on the quality the early days of rock & roll to present day hip hop and pop. On This of dancing at your events, use three simple words: “You look great,” and any Date In Music takes the reader on a journey into the history of some variation of that you can think of. of the most beloved bands, songs and artists of the last 60+ years. With the exception of a few specific stories, the essays are not really assigned to a DANCEFLOOR MENU specific date for a historical reason. Rather, as Michael writes in the foreword, “Most of I know a lot of chefs. My brother-in-law the stories could have been told on any date. The vast majority of these stories simply is a chef and my sister has worked her landed where they did by chance. These were the stories that needed to be told (in my whole career in the restaurant business humble opinion); which day they were told on was rarely important.” in New York City. So I’ve had the oppor- At well over 400 pages, this tome is not meant to be read in a tunity to hang out with a lot of chefs. day or a plane ride. It’s meant to be read one essay per day so the You know what chefs study? What reader can fully digest the story and retell it. My only quibble with people eat. Why people eat it. What On This Date In Music is the lack of pictures to go with each essay. time of year people eat certain foods. But I understand it would have made the book even thicker! What ethnicities prefer what spices. The beauty of On This Date In Music is that with each essay What sides pair with what main courses. read, I had a strong desire to look up more information about that These are the things chefs are fascinat- story or go put on the album or track referenced and take a listen. ed by. We too need to have similar fas- Michael Walter’s style of writing makes it easy for the reader to cinations. We need to study why people feel a little bit smarter after finishing each essay. As a DJ, this is dance. And why they don’t. What makes knowledge that I can directly use to better program my sets, them sit down and what makes them by playing music that will spark emotion in the guests and add stay up. My seminar in Las Vegas will energy to my events. Isn’t that our goal, to play great music? focus on this subject and offer many The essay that is most representative of how musical different strategies for you to maximize knowledge can better your events is the one that covers February participation on your dance floor. I 3, 1959. Every DJ over the age of 40 should know that date in music history, the story hope to see you there! behind it and what it means. Was it really “the day the music died?” How many under-40 wedding DJs play Buddy Holly’s “True Love Ways” in their cocktail or dinner sets? Do you understand why it defined a whole generation of newlyweds? Read this essay and you CLICK ON THESE LINKS to find out will know why you should put that song into rotation. In my opinion, this is the whole more about Mike Walter and his point of On This Date In Music. MBLV23 presentation, Why People Dance and How to Maximize Way too often I see DJs asking for songs to play on forums without understanding . where the music comes from or why it is important to a certain demographic. Music is Their Experience so much more than just the BPM count or the genre into which it is categorized. Music is about evoking emotion and taking us out of our everyday lives to a place where we can be free for a while. The music we play helps our guests to relive golden the times in their lives. The best compliment we can get as DJs is having a guest come up and say that we played some great music for them. On This Date In Music begins with a quote from Plato; “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” To do that effectively at your events, you need a solid personal knowledge base to draw from. On This Date In Music is exactly that. Michael Walter did more than just write a book about cool music stuff. He created a collection of musical knowledge that will make you a smarter DJ and help take your events to the next level. Get it now!

www.onthisdateinmusic.com

18 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 MBLV23 Being Customer Centric: The Apple Secret

By Mitch Taylor

MBLV23 Being Customer Centric: The Apple Secret TECH GIANT TEACHES CLIENT CONNECTION-MAKING By Mitch Taylor

n my upcoming MBLV23 seminar, “The Help StrATEgy,” we’re Apple’s arsenal of procedures and scripting have been honed Igoing to break down different ways you can differentiate, and crafted over the years; it is diligently put together so that most create and appreciate in your business while maintaining a focus everything is scripted with nothing left to chance. A few years on being more customer centric in your business. back, one of their secret Genius Bar training manuals was revealed. Customer centric is the future of business. For too long, busi- Let’s look at what “Apple” REALLY stands for in their process. nesses have relied on advertising, cheap prices and gimmicks to sell. A - Approach customers with a personalized, warm welcome. No longer. Social media has given transparency to business. Those P - Probe politely to understand all the customer’s needs. that fully embrace customer centric business practices will thrive... P - Present a solution for the customer to take home today. and those that rely on old school tactics will struggle to stay alive. L - Listen for and resolve any issues or concerns. How can your company be customer centric? Let’s look how E - End with a fond farewell and an invitation to return. a company—not in our niche but a wildly successful one—does it: Apple. Now Apple has certainly created its fanboys over the How can you add or improve to be more customer centric in years, but they have done so to the tune of creating over $5,000 your own business? Join me at MBLV23 and together we’ll cover in sales PER SQUARE FOOT of their offices. How does your office ways you can implement customer centric solutions in your compare? Apple does this by hiring those with a deep-seated business during my seminar. See you there! belief in their company. Your employees must LOVE WHAT THEY DO and WHO THEY SERVE. Do you hire just anyone with a pulse CLICK ON THESE LINKS to find out more about Mitch Taylor and or do you look for specific characteristics when hiring? And how his MBLV23 presentation, The Help StrATEgy . do those you hire connect with your ideal client?

MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 19

DJ Trivia www.djtrivia.com SPINNING ON THE HIGH SEAS Waves of Musical Connections

By DJ Dayna

SPINNING ON THE HIGH SEAS Waves of Musical Connections REFLECTING ON THE EMOTIONAL POWER OF MUSIC By DJ Dayna

could have been uplifting, or maybe a down both of our faces. I told her that was sitting in the backseat of somber experience, depending on what something from within my heart moved I an Uber that had just picked memory was being evoked. me to play it, and how glad I was that she me up from the Orlando airport As a DJ, it brings me joy to have an had come to share with me the special meaning the song had for her. I have tears with only three hours of sleep; influence on people with the power of music. On a cruise ship, most guests are in my eyes as I am writing this now! It was but I was wide awake and excited on board for a vacation or to celebrate. such a memorable music experience—for because I was on my way to the They want to escape their daily lives, put me, as well as for her—and a blessing that hotel to meet up with my family the worries back home behind them, I was "selected" as the one who gave her the sign she needed, through music. for a vacation at Walt Disney and practice being in the present. I love that I get to be a part of enhancing their As I wrap up this series in which I've World! Then it happened: I heard shipboard experience. shared my cruise ship DJing experiences it...Jon Secada’s melodious voice There was one particular moment with you, I'm feeling a bit reflective. The singing "Just Another Day"—I, I that will be forever ingrained in my power that music has on human beings don't wanna say it, I don't wanna memory. It was an early pre-dinner dance truly amazes me. It is a universal language find another way to make it set, and it was also formal night, so guests that connects people and is understood were dressed to impress. There is always by all. Songs do so much for us: They bring through the day without you... a special air on the ship when it’s formal back memories, influence our moods, heal I jumped up in my seat as far as the night. The energy is vibrant and full of brokenness, lift spirits, provide comfort, seat belt would let me and shouted to the love and the smiles are bigger as people help us celebrate special moments, and driver, “Can you please turn that up!?” He are anticipating a wonderful night ahead. are even used in therapy. Music impacts laughed and did so willingly. The driver, As I was looking through my music, I our bodies in such deep way that when who happened to be a Cuban-American wanted to select songs that reflected the we hear our favorite music or song we like the singer, was also a fan. I couldn’t evening and helped set the tone. I was led experience a "good vibration," which is believe my ears; It was one of our “family to “Moon River” by Andy Williams. I wasn’t the release of dopamine, the neurotrans- songs” and it’s not a song that comes on sure why; it wasn’t something I would mitter associated with feelings such as the radio frequently. How cool is THAT for normally start a set with, but I went ahead euphoria, bliss and motivation. a feel-good experience? I'm on my way and played it. You may not have had an experience to meet my family and one of our family A minute later, one of the guests, exactly like the "Moon River" moment I songs comes on the radio! The driver then Carol, who I had gotten to know and just described above, but I have no doubt pulled up a personal Jon Secada playlist really like, came around the corner teary- you will make musical connections with on his phone and we jammed to some eyed and said, “Dayna you have no idea your audience that will touch them deeply. more Secada songs the rest of the way. what you just did for me. You made my You may not know until afterward, or you Now it's your turn: Think about a night.” She then explained to me that her may never even know about it at all; but moment a song came on the car radio, husband had passed away and that this you can be sure that what you play will or popped up in your Spotify playlist, or was a song of theirs. She had said a prayer touch someone in your audience—and you heard playing in a store where you to him to show her a sign that he was with sometimes it will be on a deeper, more- were shopping. Instantly you were taken her that night. Then she heard me play than-superficial level. As DJs, whether or to a moment in your life or reminded of "Moon River." I gave her a big, comforting not we're on cruise ships, we're always gen- someone. How did it make you feel? It hug and just held her while tears streamed erating waves of musical connections!

DJ Dayna, a.k.a. “Ms. Sunshine,” a nationally recognized DJ, event host and entertainer, has been taking the world for a spin with her innovative mixology and energetic performances at nightlife, corporate, wedding and fashion events across the globe, and on major cruise lines for more than 15 years. She has built a highly successful solo operation, working at high- profile venues and with notable organizations in Ohio and across the US. Recent highlights include: MCing a local TEDx talk; endorsement by a global speaker brand and Floyd Rose Audio headphones; DJing for FitRadio (No. 1 rated workout music app).

20 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 iDJPool www.idjpool.com PRODJFILES Troy Adams of Carolina DJ Professionals

By Kevin Freese

PRODJFILES

Community

& Craft he first thing Troy Adams does when I meet T him is apologize for the glitter on his sport coat. He’s just come from a networking event for in the wedding professionals where the festivities were capped off by a demonstration of glitter cannons. Carolinas As the owner of Carolina DJ Professionals based in Charlotte, NC, Troy is accustomed to professional RELATIONSHIPS AND occasions such as this—glitter cannons and all. His EDUCATION ARE ESSENTIAL involvement, however, goes beyond attending them. TO SUCCESS FOR TROY Troy also hosts his own series of Lunch & Learn ADAMS AND CAROLINA DJ events designed to engage DJs and other vendors PROFESSIONALS with expert speakers and lively conversation. The By Kevin Freese Lunch & Learn series is just one example of the many ways that Troy seeks to highlight the importance of community within the wedding and events industry. Troy started as a mobile DJ at the age of sixteen. After spending a few years getting his feet wet in the business, he booked his first wedding when he was twenty. Over the next two and a half decades, Troy gained more experience as a DJ and small business owner. Today, Carolina DJ Professionals is comprised of 15 mobile disc jockeys, 10 photo booth staff members, and 4 live musicians providing services at hundreds of events per year in Charlotte alone. The company recently expanded, adding local teams of staff members in other major cities throughout the Carolinas including Asheville, Greenville, and Charleston.

22 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 I first spoke with Troy as a source for a previous Mobile Beat article. Based on our conversation I realized that the tale of his success was a story worth telling, especially for mobile DJs who “The main advice that I’ve are standing at the crossroads of an expanding business. What always lived by and now are the essentials needed to steer your company down the path toward continued success? For Troy, the answer relies heavily on share with others is to get two essentials—embracing community and investing in training. into the community” “The main advice that I’ve always lived by and now share with others is to get into the community,” says Troy. Early on, this meant finding a way into communities by offering his services free of charge or at a discounted rate in order to earn future business and referrals. The meaning of Troy’s advice has expanded as he has established his business over the years. While Troy still values offering discounted rates at certain events, it is now for the sake of helping local charitable and non-profit organizations. Troy’s emphasis on community has naturally extended to his relationship with clients—many of whom he considers friends after their event is over. This is particularly true with wedding couples because Troy spends so much time working with them through the planning process for their special day. Troy first met his own financial advisor when working with him as a client. In another case, one of the grooms that he worked with actually became a disc jockey at Carolina Professional DJs. Troy nurtures his relationship with previous clients by hosting outings for them. “We’ve done a couple of them now, and it’s been really successful,” says Troy. “Not only are we able to stay connected with people that we’ve worked with in the past, but they are also able like solving equipment failure, easing the worries of distressed to connect with each other—so it become a networking event brides, and dealing with contentious guests. After all of this, DJs for them, too.” begin playing their own events, scaling up to weddings after Perhaps Troy’s other essential—investment in training—is several other gigs. Newcomers are accompanied by a veteran actually an extension of his approach towards community. As DJ for support and assistance at their first three wedding perfor- Carolina Professional DJs expands, their family of employees mances, adding a final level of confidence for them and an extra grows. In order to maintain continuity and quality, Troy puts his degree of assurance for customers. “Ultimately, DJs have gained new hires through a rigorous (yet fun) training program. “There over a hundred hours of training before their first wedding, are no do-overs when it comes to events like weddings, so a which makes them extremely prepared,” says Troy. dedicated and well-prepared staff is key to success,” stresses Troy. Before our conversation is over at the local coffee shop He admits that not all trainees make it through the program, but where Troy and I sat down to talk, a woman politely pops over the ones that do begin their career with Carolina Professional DJs to say hello. She’s an event planner, one that Troy has worked with a leg up on other newcomers to the industry. with many times before. They quickly exchange pleasantries and The training program begins with an eight-week workshop then promise to catch up more at another upcoming network- that meets for three hours on a weekly basis. It’s divided into ing event. Like so many other DJs that passionately care for the three portions beginning with several sessions on sales and industry, Troy’s enthusiasm shines through in this exchange just overall operations. DJs at Carolina Professional are paired with like it did during our conversation. Observing the passion that new clients from the initial booking meeting until the day of Troy brings to his role as DJ and small business owner, I think an event, so a strong sense of sales is crucial. The formula has about an unusual question we should all ask ourselves—when worked well for the company, which has a closing rate consis- was the last time we apologized for glitter on the shoulder during tently around 85%. “New employees are often some of our best a weekday morning? sales people because they are good at listening and letting the customer talk,” reveals Troy. The next portion of training focuses on the planning process, before delving into the mechanics and execution of craft— mixing, MCing, and troubleshooting equipment. The workshop concludes with a more than 150-question exam. It’s not neces- Kevin Freese began his career as a mobile DJ at the age of sixteen when he joined sarily a pass/fail test but helps Troy and his management team Chicago’s Bass Control Productions. There he performed at hundreds of elite events in understand what they need to review with trainees. the Chicagoland area, including an opening spot for K.C. & the Sunshine Band at the House of Blues. He later became the owner of Bass Control, operating the company “From there, our new DJs start gaining field experience,” until moving to North Carolina. Kevin continues to stay connected with the mobile DJ explains Troy. “They first shadow one of our veteran DJs at industry while also focusing on his career as a freelance writer. His work appears in several weddings, taking on more responsibility at each event.” Midway Magazine, Hair Trigger, F Magazine, and Carnival Magazine among other Before venturing off on their own, DJs also experience two role publications. With an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago, Kevin playing sessions with Troy, walking through nightmare scenarios also serves as an editorial consultant and writing coach.

MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 23 MOBILE MATTERS DJ Price Quotes: A Guide for Brides

By Matt Martindale

MOBILE MATTERS DJ Price Quotes: A Guide for Brides (and Maybe Some DJs)

THE 24 PIECES OF INFORMATION A DJ NEEDS...TO GIVE YOU A REAL PRICE By Matt Martindale

she continuing to contact them when the DJ doesn’t even ou’re engaged. That’s great! So how much care enough to reply? Y does a DJ charge? Well, it depends on you and When the DJ gets back to you, it’s really important that you your vision. It’s a lot like calling the doctor with a respond quickly with pertinent information about your wedding. stomach ache. It could be a muscle strain, cramps, This opens up the dialog, as the DJ tries to verify the authenticity the stomach flu, serious appendicitis, or just a bad of your inquiry and to start gathering initial information. burrito. The treatment and prognosis is based on Put as much information on the initial inquiry as possible, the process of a thorough diagnosis (discovery). including things like: wedding date, location, number of hours, a paragraph about your vision, and especially your phone number. It’s the same with your wedding. It takes time and effort (NOTE: several scammers are starting to put all of this same info to determine your vision for an accurate price quote according in for “fake” inquiries, local venues, etc for solicitations or scams to that vision. Your wedding will (and should be) different than as well. However, they never seem to put in their phone numbers. anyone else’s. (Unless you want your wedding to be “treated” So, a quick call back by the DJ is very helpful to determine your with a “one cure for all” remedy above like some quack doctor inquiry legitimacy. Your phone number matters. If a DJ offers to might use. Yikes!) meet in person or even via Skype/Facetime if out of state, then, There are 24, yes 24, pieces of critical information that a this is even better. competent and experienced DJ will need in order to provide an accurate price quote…but, before I get to those, let’s briefly MULTI-FACETED INFO-GATHERING explore the “bridal inquiry dance” from the DJ’s perspective. Now that your inquiry has been confirmed as “real,” the DJ will begin gathering critical information about your vision, tastes, A QUICK CHECK BEFORE THE QUESTIONS... cultures, heritage, hopes, dreams, etc. far beyond just music. Yes, your DJ is very excited that you reached out. He wants to Playing music is the easy part of any wedding. It’s really about reply, however…he needs to know you’re actually real. No, understanding all the moving parts that function behind the seriously. scenes—this is what the DJ needs to know. So now we have come Here’s what I mean: When a bride fills out a wedding website to the 24 critical questions that influence the DJ’s price quote... form with her first name only or sends an email with “How (1) Date and day of the week? (To check initial availabil- much do you charge?” or “I need a price quote for my wedding,” ity.) Weekday (Monday-Thursday) events tend to be a little less a DJ hesitates. We need more information. There’s no date. No expensive. Not always, but usually. location. No time. No details at all. All DJs will do some due (2) Is your date in peak wedding season, or out of season? diligence because, believe it or not, wedding vendors (espe- This can be based on geography (i.e. mountains), actual season cially DJs) are at the mercy of several very sophisticated scams, (fall colors, summer, etc.) or popular dates on the calendar. phishing techniques and repeated solicitations on a daily basis. Date demand impacts price. Off-season dates tend to be less These begin with “How much do you charge?” or “Can I get a price expensive. quote?” masqueraing as an inquiring bride, and then go from there. The DJ’s simple reply requesting more information isn’t (3) What is the location of the ceremony? (4) Location of intended to frustrate you, but rather, it’s an attempt to determine the reception? These may influence the DJ’s arrival time, set-up if your inquiry is legitimate, or another daily fake booking scam time, overall logistics, and staffing needs. or deceptive solicitation, So, the first step is to determine if you (5) How far is the venue? Travel time, distance and mileage are “real.” may impact the price. (6) What is the venue’s access time, and (7) load in and load WEDDING WISDOM: If a DJ takes several days to get back out procedure for wedding vendors? These may have an impact to you, move on. It’s a clear sign that this DJ probably isn’t on price due to time necessary, internal vetting or security committed to you or the success of your event. It tends process and staffing needs. to foreshadow the level of non-responsive service you will receive in the weeks and months leading up to your WEDDING WISDOM: Only hire a DJ that can specifically wedding. You’ll constantly be worrying: Is the DJ going to prove they regularly play at your venue. This familiarity will be there? ...be on time? ...be prepared? What if I need to help guarantee the smoothest possible event, based on a change something—how do I know if he got my message? working knowledge of protocols, insurance requirements, Etc. Several brides say they often have five, yes five, emails procedures, parking, etc. A good working relationship with or phone calls over a two week span and yet, never hear back the venue’s event manager is key to a DJ’s repeated bookings from a DJ. Sad. Other than a promise for a low rate, why is at the location.

24 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 Playing music is the easy part of any wedding. It’s really about understanding all the moving parts that function behind the scenes—this is what the DJ needs to know.

(8) Length of the event? How many hours are you wanting (20) Are there any special effects or elements of produc- the DJ to play for? As you think about this, ponder: Will the party tion needed, either in or out of the office? (i.e. custom song edits, end abruptly, flow naturally, or drag on just so the DJ can fulfill club-style productions, special effects, etc.) These will impact the contracted time? If the DJ has a contracted block of time pricing. (say 5 hours), is there an option for an hourly rate thereafter? (21) Are there any specific permits, licenses or additional If so, great. Is it billed hourly or quarter hour? When is it due? insurance riders needed? If so, these will impact price. (This seems to be fair because it matches the DJ’s motivation to (22) Are there specific equipment needs for your desired do a great job as your specific celebration unfolds, since each outcome? These might include: an additional cocktail hour sound wedding is different. With DJs that do “for the night” or long system; remote electrical power; video projection; separate live hourly contracts (i.e. 7 hours) is there an equitable provision that music gear or musical instrument support or recording needs. you will receive a refund for any un-used time? If so, that’s fair. These will impact price. If not, why not? Will they use contractual language like “up to (23) Is there lighting? If so, how much? What kind? (Dance X hours” or “for the night” then force the your wedding to end floor only lighting, no lighting, minimal lighting, room lighting, earlier than that by intentionally playing bad song selections or up-lighting, custom club lighting, monograms, etc.) These all at a very loud volume “forcing” guests leave? For “for the night” have an impact on pricing.) and “up to x hours” DJs, what is the motivation to do a good job if the DJ is paid regardless of performance time? In the end, you And the bottom line question is... (24) What is your vision could end up paying a lot more for less time actually worked. Be for your unique and personalized wedding celebration? very careful on this one. FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR VALUABLE INSIGHT (9) What time is the event? (10) What time are guests Did the DJ take the time to meet with you and understand that arriving? The replies to both may impact the price. Mornings vision? And a fair question all DJs want to know the answer to is or afternoons may be a little cheaper. Consider booking a DJ “What criteria will you ultimately use to select your DJ?” that guarantees only one wedding per day. Though it may be tempting to save money, it’s not advisable to hire a DJ that The fact is, a quality DJ’s worth is determined by value. Value double books because you don’t want your DJ to “force” the first to you, and, ultimately the DJ’s overall value to the success of wedding to end early so they can get to the next event on time. If your event. If the DJ’s focus is just music, lights, and gear, then your wedding is the second wedding, then is it worth the risk of this has a different value (and price) than a comprehensive DJ / the DJ showing up late, un-prepared or tired? master of ceremonies backed by experience, working through a thorough process, and following a comprehensive plan, offering (11) What time will the DJ start? It is customary to have the lots of personalized ideas and a commitment to delivering a truly DJ start as guests arrive. one-of-a-kind, memorable wedding celebration, beyond music, (12) Is the venue a preferred partner? (13) Are there lights and gear. So, although price is a factor, it should never be discounts, options or fees you aren’t aware of you should the sole consideration when booking a DJ. The fact is, there are now about? There may additional costs to the vendor, such as no unions, no arbitrarily set industry fees, or a simple formula to a requirement to pay the venue a 10% “kickback, commission or multiply an hourly rate times the number of hours planned. A referral fee” in order to be able play there. quality wedding DJ has the mindset of an artist. The beauty of (14) How many guests are you expecting? Guest count may the art is in the eye of the beholder. influence equipment needs, overall set up and layout—which As our patron, we’d love to hear from you. Tell us...how will may impact price. you know when your event is successful? Better yet, think of it (15) What is the DJ’s specific role? (i.e. disc jockey; master of this way: “If the press were here, how would you want them to ceremonies; wedding planner; day-of coordinator; officiant; etc.) prove your wedding was successful?” There are actually 12 roles DJs tend to do, beyond playing music. The more the DJ knows, the more accurate the price quote. So, which of these role(s) fit your vision? This will impact price. In the end, it’s your vision that matters most. (16) What is the talent level and proven experience of the performing DJ/MC? Both experience and talent impact your price. Matt Martindale, a professional DJ and MC since 1989, has performed at more than 1,650 wedding WEDDING WISDOM: Always meet the exact person that will receptions, and still counting. Along with running be performing on your day…and do this before booking. his 18-time award-winning company, Amoré DJ Read reviews. Once you feel comfortable, get their name on Entertainment (www.amoredjentertainment.com), the contract. he is a regular MB contributor and creator of the yearly “State of the Industry Report.” His extensive (17) What is the design complexity (18) and degree of entertainment experience also includes training in planning called for, and (19) what specific prep is needed? (i.e. audio production and sound engineering, lighting and design, improv comedy, voiceover artistry, attending wedding rehearsals, dance choreography sessions, magic, and more. etc.) These will impact pricing.

MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 25 A DIFFERENT BEAT Getting There: DJ Vehicles

By Stu Chisholm

A DIFFERENT BEAT

plan for expansion. Your small wedding receptions at the local community hall might turn into more lavish affairs once your Getting There company hits its stride! The two most often overlooked items are back-up gear WHAT’S THE BEST MOBILE DJ and moving equipment. Getting in and out of a venue effi- VEHICLE...FOR YOU? ciently means keeping the “mobile” in mobile DJ! Hand trucks for speakers, maybe wheeled pallets for heavy sub cabinets, By Stu Chisholm the ubiquitous Rock-N-Roller multi-cart and other similar conveniences need to be in your vehicle. Preferably loaded and ready to go. This means they’ll need to be properly secured as ack in the mid-90s, I caused a bit of a splash well. So things like e-track, D rings, tie-downs and bungee cords B by buying a moving van and submitting photos -- devices used by professional movers -- all need to be in your vehicle. So add it all up, with a comfortable margin for growth. for Mobile Beat’s round-up of DJ rigs. Letters Life may demand that your DJ vehicle also be the family and emails flooded in from as far as Australia! I mini-bus. If so, you may be better off using a trailer. Just be bought the van (actually a box truck) after my cognizant of the learning curve for handling and maneuvering regular van had mechanical trouble and I had to one, as well as the difficulties in securing it against theft. rent a moving van for a busy weekend. Having a Whether you rock a trailer or a dedicated DJ vehicle, you also ramp, enough headroom in which to stand up and have another opportunity: nearly free advertising! Nice graphics that include a logo, your phone number and other information space enough for hand trucks, a CSL Super Table, can not only generate business (my van often outperformed my and other conveniences led me to buy my own. I website, as it is parked next to a busy road) but also lend cred- still consider it the best purchase of my DJ career. ibility to your business.

MORE THAN JUST TRANSPORTATION STU’S TOP TEN You can have absolutely the best DJ show on the planet, yet if With all of this in mind, the following is a list of my Top Ten rec- you can’t reliably get it to the party location, it all means nothing. ommendations for the best DJ vehicles for 2019, in no particular As Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing order. The numbers (1-4) indicate the size of the gear/shows that up.” Making transportation a priority is essential. So aside from each one is best suited for. some of the niceties above, what considerations should DJs take 1. Ford E series box truck (3+). These begin life as a into account vs. other professions? “cutaway van” and then have a cargo box attached. They can vary First on your list should be the size of the shows you’re in size (mostly length), and are customizable for your circum- doing. If you’re doing extremely large venues requiring an array stances. Pull-out ramps, roll-up or swing-out doors, and cargo of top and bottom cabinets, then you’re going to need a whole management tracks are all great DJ features. I personally like the lot more room than the DJs doing weddings for groups of less fiberglass Unicell or Aerocell bodies with the E350 engine, which than 500 people. Consider not only the equipment you have, but is the best non-diesel option.

2019 RAM ProMaster 1500

26 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019 9. Honda Element SUV (1). Small and ugly are its drawbacks, but if it suits your size requirements, there are You can have absolutely the few more reliable cars on the road today. Economical to run, extremely safe and great resale value makes this vehicle best DJ show on the planet, worthy of consideration. (I honestly prefer the pre-2019 versions better. Worth looking at if you’re considering yet if you can’t reliably get buying a used vehicle.) 10. Haulmark Trailer (3). Usually available in 7’ x 14’ it to the party location, it and 7’ x 16’ sizes, Haulmark is one of the long-time icons of enclosed trailers. A flip-down door that acts as a ramp is all means nothing. handy, and the low clearance avoids some of the problems taller vans can encounter when pulling into venues with overhangs. You can also have e-track and D ring cargo 2. Ford Transit cargo van (3+). All of the advantages of the control options just like with the larger vans and trucks, but above, often with more “creature comforts” in a slightly roomier in a size that can fit inside a good sized garage. (Other rec- cab. Not to be confused with the non-cutaway variety Transit ommended brands: Wells, Pace.) (below). 3. Freightliner Sprinter van (2+). Also in a variety of BEYOND THE TEN sizes, the basic models will fit into a standard-sized parking No matter how great your vehicle is, it will eventually fail for one space. Tough, commercial diesel power and a world-class reason or another. For the mobile DJ, just as with performance offering of cargo control, ramp and other options make this gear, a back-up plan for this is also a must. While most of us can’t a great option if you have the room in your budget. afford to keep two commercial (or dedicated) vehicles around, I 4. Freightliner MT55 Step Van (4+). This is the suggest contacting a local car rental or moving van company and “big dog” of step vans, resembling a UPS delivery vehicle. getting to know them. See if you can make a contract to have a Available in different sizes, lengths and options, the shelving vehicle available for emergencies. Make sure they’ll be open on options are ideal for storage of back-up gear that isn’t often weekends and are able to bring the vehicle to you. used. Easy to stand in, extremely high-profile and rugged. Next issue: non-DJ items you need in your vehicle. Until next Also quite pricey, but a worthwhile investment that can last time, safe spinnin’ and safe drivin’! for decades. 5. RAM ProMaster Cargo Van (3+). A more traditional van style, the Promaster is a great full-sized van with a tight turning radius for such a vehicle. 6. Ford Transit 350 (3). Available with a high roof, making it a low-profile van that you can still stand up inside. The Ford Transit Connect (See MB’s review of this vehicle in the __ __ issue) [ADD LINK TO MARK’S PIECE ] is a smaller version if you don’t need the headroom. 7. Subaru Forester SUV (2). If your gear runs lean and mean, then an SUV might be more your speed, and this one has the highest quality and safety rating in the business. It will also fit inside of a parking structure! 8. Ford Escape SUV (1+). Another great SUV option, the Escape’s cargo capacity has actually shrunk over the last decade or so from its bigger, boxier forebears. Still a great option for the club DJ or mobile DJ with a tight, light rig. The luggage rack on top may expand your capacity if you have light bars, etc., and cases that can stand up to sun or weather.

Stu Chisholm had been collecting music since he was about age 8 and began his DJ career in 1979. After a stint at the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, he studied the DJ arts with famous Michigan broadcaster Bill Henning, interned at Detroit's rock powerhouse, WRIF, and later added voiceover work and club gigs at Detroit's best venues. He has shared his extensive DJ experience through MB columns, as a seminar speaker and through his book, The Complete Disc Jockey: A Comprehensive Manual for the Professional DJ.

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Wedding Word Search...... Call/text 970-302-0747 E-BEAT Move Your Business with Animoto

By Mark Evans

E-BEAT

such as ratio, text styles, filters, you can trim music and adjust the volume. These Move Your Business templates are easy to use and are great for marketing your business. There is also a “start from scratch” feature which allows with Animoto you to bypass the template method, if you so desire. PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY VIDEO WITHOUT PRICEY They even let you create square TOOLS AND UNPLEASANT LEARNING CURVES videos kind of like what you'd see on an old TV. Why would you want to go back By Mark Evans that? Because social media loves squares. Think about your Facebook timeline and music; simply click Change Song then how it is set up. For social media, you get or over 20 years I’ve been highlight over the song to hear a preview. the most visual real estate from of this F doing video editing and for Going further, you can adjust the format. But of course 16:9 is still available several years I put together photo/ pace of the video and rotate images and for more extensive projects. video montages for my clients, in some styles you can customize fonts, which I discussed in a recent background colors issue of MB. I started out with and transitions. If the traditional photo and video you don't finish the editors, taking classes and going project, then next time you login, through a lot of trial and error click on My Videos to get to the point of putting together consistently high-quality presentations. But now, putting together a creative, professional- looking photo slideshow or video presentation is very simple, with a new tool called Animoto. Animoto is a Animoto is an online video builder subscription-based that is very easy to use and provides a service with various variety of templates to help you quickly pricing plans starting create good-looking videos. One of the at $8 a month if you huge benefits to this program is that is pay on an annual available on all platforms and you can basis. The most access it from your desktop, laptop or any popular plan is the mobile device. and continue editing. When the video is professional plan at complete, you can render it out in various just $22 a month; that gives you the best VISUAL MEMORIES MADE EASY resolutions up to full HD at 1080P. video output at HD1080p, 100+ memory Making montages for clients is one key Animoto provides a lot of tools, so it is styles, over a million Getty professional DJ use you'll see Animoto is great for. The great that the help section is extensive and photos and videos, 2000+ commercially provided templates are flexible enough to thorough. There are also multiple tutorials licensed music tracks and the ability to add let you add both photos and videos. Then and blogs along with the FAQ section. your logo as a corner watermark. choose the music and render it out and Check out the online tutorials to see that’s really it. So let’s see how to make a MARKETING IMAGERY THAT HITS how easy it is to use. Animoto will also be quick video. THE MARK at MBLV23, so if you have further questions Once you login into your account, you Jumping over to the marketing side shows you can see company reps in person. choose a style, Memories or Marketing. a whole new range of categories. You also I’m going to make a photo montage for a get a lot more customization features www.animoto.com client so I’ll start with Memories. Here there is a nice selection of categories to choose from. You can mouse over the template For Mark Evans, it all started in 1979 after catching the Saturday Night Fever dance and it shows a sample of what it looks like. bug. Filling in for a teen disco DJ got him into DJing, and a regular skating rink gig I chose Memory Box, then added my logo provided early experience. He would go on to build the well-respected Mark Evans and uploaded a few pictures and videos. DJ Entertainment in his hometown of Detroit, as well doing some radio work. He is a I then added some text and did a quick founding member of the Michigan Chapter of the ADJA. For the last 15 years, Mark has preview. If I didn’t like the style I could just also been a graphic designer, video editor, writer and all-around utility outfielder for hit Change Style and in a few seconds I'd Mobile Beat Magazine and MBLV. see a preview of the new video. Same with

28 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ JANUARY 2019