How can we, as mobile DJs, stay relevant in today’s society of “I don’t need you, I, or my friend, can do it”?
There are already more than 1 billion smartphone users in the world, out of which, well over 95 million are from North America. Nearly over night, this gave each and every person on this planet the entitlement to call themselves a lot of new things because of what they can now “do”. If you own a smart phone, you can be a photographer (and in some cases, rightly so). If you own a smart phone, you can be a DJ (and again, in some cases, rightly so). I’m sure you can think of many other examples.
What makes us of any value anymore? Sure we can read a crowd, but that other person might get lucky and also play music that’s just right. Sure we’ve got tens of thousands of songs, but that other person might have access to iTunes (over 26 million songs).
One of the reasons I’m attending The Business of Weddings conference in Toronto next month is because of the continued inspiration I receive from Sean Low (through his blog) who will be one of the keynote speakers. In response to a question from an interview with Sean (just recently posted on the Business of Weddings website) he states:
“Execution is inevitable and therefore worthless as a differentiator. The only thing that matters today is what happens in between engagement and execution.”
There are many things that matter, but that statement in large part, reflects why some DJs book full calendars, on average, 5 – 6 times the average price of what they’re told “the market can bear”. Those DJs don’t likely sell their entire services, based on what will inevitably be, execution of the event itself. In large part, the reason they’re getting paid more, is because of the service they’re providing from the moment a prospective client initiates contact with them, right up until the start of the event.
I have been surprised by clients twice in the last 14 months, particularly due to the size of wedding fee I already command as a DJ/MC, by getting tipped 3 – 4 weeks before the wedding date itself. I don’t believe there can be any further proof to the statement that Sean Low makes above, than that very fact.
How can we, as mobile DJs, stay relevant in today’s society of “I don’t need you, I, or my friend, can do it”?