How much do you charge? - The million dollar question!!!

99.9%, I can guarantee this is the first question that comes to your head when you contact a DJ to hire their services, right? From my experience nearly all enquiries start like this.

How much does a DJ charge?

OK here's a simple answer, DJs charge from less than a $100 to thousands of dollars. That is probably not the answer you wanted to hear, so I will go into a bit of detail of what's the difference between a $100 DJ and a more 'expensive' DJ service. I suggest you continue reading.

Now before I go further, I am NOT the best DJ on the planet and I don't pretend to be but I DO KNOW that I love what I do. I know my limitations and how far I can go. I've got a tremendous respect for every single Disc Jockey out there, I'm willing to share ideas with everyone and help wherever I can. I see other DJs as my colleagues and NOT my competition. I only compete with one person and that is myself, to better my services.

I started DJing as a hobby, my bedroom was loaded with records and cassette tapes - Do you remember them? and a load of speakers, turntables & tape decks. Then I DJed on a Radio Station and got a few gigs from there too. After a few years I went on to Nightclubs and a few Mobile Gigs as a part time, this time it was records and CDs. Now I am a full time Disc Jockey. After my family, this is what I live, breathe and focus on, on a daily basis. Oh!!! and I carry mp3s and fewer CDs nowadays.

What am I trying to say?

Would you have trusted me with your Wedding over 20 years ago when I was still a Bedroom DJ at a $100? Probably NOT. I couldn't even get a small Pub or Club gig back then, let alone MC or DJ a Wedding.

There's probably nothing wrong with a $100 DJ and you can probably find a $400 Wedding DJ who does an excellent job. So what is the difference?

From years of experience, networking and courses I've done all over the years, this is what I can tell about myself. I've always charged for the value I offer. When I started years ago, the value I offered was only worth a $100 - $200. 5 years ago I charged $500 - $600 for a Wedding when today $500 is my minimum deposit. Why? Because I could only offer $500 - $600 worth of value. Because I did not know what I know today. I did not know how to care. I did not know how to fulfil someone's dream and create a special memorable day for them. I did not know how to give my clients peace of mind and STRESS FREE entertainment. I did not offer customer care 24 hours a day. I did not sit down listen and discuss and go into a great detail of what the client want to achieve on their special day.

Today I get excited when I have meetings with my clients. It feels like they draw a sketch of their ideas and then together we paint and colour it on canvas.

I CARE, I really do and all the DJs I know who charge more than average is because they feel the same way as I do. We want to build friendship and TRUST with our clients.

So next time you need a DJ's service, ask yourself a few questions about how you envision your special day or event. Is a cheaper DJ going to fulfil your dreams or do you need the services of someone who will give you peace of mind? Nothing wrong with either. It's your choice.

Choose wisely!!!

Genuine vs fake emotion.

The only thing worse than going to buy something and the person behind the counter doesn't even say "Hi" is a person behind the counter trying to sell you something you don't want to buy or even worse when they're telling you that the dress or suit you're trying on is perfect for you when you can see for yourself it's not.

How many times does that happen to you? I can guarantee that you will never go back to that shop or store not because of their product but the customer care and service.

Are you getting the right customer care when planning your wedding or special event? Are you 'clicking' with the person you're dealing with? Are you going out of a planning meeting with peace of mind or are you still questioning whether you made the right decisions or not? Is your supplier keeping contact with you during your wedding preparations to update you with progress on the planning of your Special Day? Is he/she ready to listen to your concerns? Is their emotion fake or genuine?

Fortunately a lot of wedding suppliers are genuine and passionate about what they do. They're the REAL professionals in the industry. They're the ones who wake up happy every morning because they're happy to go to work and help their clients fulfil their dreams. Go with your instinct and hire wedding suppliers who you really like to be around, the ones who want to work for you, the ones who understand you and most importantly the ones who REALLY care for you.

Choose wisely!!!

Aviophobia - Fear of flying!!!

On Monday I flew to Brisbane for a two day workshop and networking with other professional mobile & wedding DJ/MCs. I must admit, for me, someone who does not like flying, this had to mean something, especially when I knew that 3 days later I had to jump back on a plane to Melbourne. I was not sure what to expect even though this was not my first DJ/MC workshop.

I took the plunge, booked my flights and jumped up on that plane because for some reason I knew that I had to be there. If you ask me what did I get from being there or what do you think the others got from it, I can't give a straight answer because I haven't got one BUT it felt like the other 10 DJs in that room and over dinner, were there just to guide me. I do not know if they experienced the same feeling but I sure did.

Why I chose to become a DJ?

What made me choose to become a DJ is very different from why I choose to keep DJing. Why? Unlike when I started, today it's not just about the music or how I mixed it that makes me happy but the emotions of people at consultations, event planning, events and even after the event. The joy and memories I create, are the biggest satisfaction. It's hard to explain unless you're experiencing it but take my word for it, it's an awesome feeling.

Why am I saying this?

I experienced the same feeling you, our client, will from being around these people in the last couple of days and now that I'm back home it made me think, if that is what you feel when we're around you, guiding you and helping you, I've got the best 'job' in the world. Not just because we play music but because of that feeling. Our industry have an unfortunate reputation of DJs being just a jukebox but I think that is about to change. There are DJs who really care out there and if they care about me, their colleague, imagine how much more they're going to care about our clients, about YOU.

I feel that I went to Brisbane to catch up with some good friends but when it was time to come back home it felt like I was leaving a family behind. If that is what you, my client, think about me after I leave, it makes me realize why I did jump up on that plane to improve what I do and meet other industry professionals even though I don't like flying.

It makes me understand why I care about what I do and why I feel that your event is the most SPECIAL ONE to me.