Weddings Hiring an older DJ?

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Hankedw...thanks for sharing. It's all about perceptions...when I feel that I can no longer maintain the energy level and music selection that the "younger" teens or early 20's enjoy, that's when I will refuse those kinds of gigs. I stay current with today's music...and accept song requests at ALL events unless specifically requested otherwise by the paying client. However, I can't take too much "rap" at one time and that's why I vary the presentation sequence. Works for me...and appears to work for the client.
 
Isn't amazing the number of opinions about age related business from those who have yet to reach the age? Damn know-it-all whiipersnappers, you're clueless. And that tune you're whistling right now will always change depending on your needs, wants, visions, and physical/mental conditioning, not your chronological age.

Hopefully, when the majority of you reach "the age", you'll be successful enough and financially stable enough to pursue the passion on a pick and choose basis limited only by your event preferences/choices and not that of the what some think the market will dictate.

Having a business and marketing strategy for each decade of life experience takes away that behind the curtain fear factor. My good friend Johnny Dee is a prime and class example, being more successful now at over 70 than he was before 60. He had a game plan and it's still working.
 
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I like a lot of current music. I probably listen to more current music than classics. I have no issue playing to mixed younger crowds. Rap and hardcore stuff I'm not so keen on though.
 
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SoftJock Rick said:
No disagreement Mix.

I'm gonna be about 55 in two months (depending on which birth certificate you look at). There's no way in Hell, that I would do a sweet 16 at my age -- that would make me a pedo.

That's why I stick to my age group -- we all know the same songs, most of us were at Woodstock -- I was about 11-12 at the time.
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I'm 58 and we do a lot of schools and I'm far from a pedo. I like todays music not all of it but most , if your young at heart you can party with the best of them
 
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redhotdj said:
I'm 58 and we do a lot of schools and I'm far from a pedo. I like todays music not all of it but most , if your young at heart you can party with the best of them
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My issue is simple -- a grown, almost 60 year old man, should not be playing for 14-16 year old kids. It's kind of weird that you would target that market...

Being "young at heart" -- does not mean you are...
 
I want some of his drugs!!!
 
SoftJock Rick said:
My issue is simple -- a grown, almost 60 year old man, should not be playing for 14-16 year old kids. It's kind of weird that you would target that market...

Being "young at heart" -- does not mean you are...
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I work with kids all the time and I can relate to a 15 year old as easily as I can to a 55 year old. Maybe it takes practice.
 
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I really have no problem dealing with the young kids, young or old i entertain them all. What difference would it make if you were 20 years old and doing a birthday party for someone who was 65 as long as you know your music age doesn't matter
 
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SoftJock Rick said:
Or perhaps desire...
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Possibly. People hit a certain age and they aren't moldable any more, start revisiting the past more often, and see things through jaded eyes. The youngsters want to learn, are adaptable (mostly), look forward to the future and see everything wide eyed.

I prefer that at times.
 
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You old fogies! :cheers:

If I were hiring a DJ tomorrow for a wedding next year I'd want some one with a little experience. My age or older. I don't think it's necessarily age but what kind of party you can put on. The DJ in the OP's video looks like he was having a blast and I'd be the people who hired him knew what they were getting. More power to the guy.
 
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Big Dan said:
You old fogies! :cheers:

If I were hiring a DJ tomorrow for a wedding next year I'd want some one with a little experience. My age or older. I don't think it's necessarily age but what kind of party you can put on. The DJ in the OP's video looks like he was having a blast and I'd be the people who hired him knew what they were getting. More power to the guy.
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I have to agree. In my meetings I'll often use the term "I don't throw college kids at you. All my DJs are 30+". That seems to resonate and seems like that 30-40 range is what's both acceptable and still "cool" in the mind of a bride. Now in the case of a school,50-60 seems almost preferable, as that's often the age of the Principal and is their particular comfort zone.
 
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Shave yer head bald like me, put yer baseball cap on sideways and wear a pair of Jordans and the young ones will go ape over you. With a bald head they can't see no gray hair (Don't forget to pluck yer nostrils, that is where all the hair migrates). :walk:
 
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ahoustondj said:
Shave yer head bald like me, put yer baseball cap on sideways and wear a pair of Jordans and the young ones will go ape over you. With a bald head they can't see no gray hair (Don't forget to pluck yer nostrils, that is where all the hair migrates).
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Geez -- walk on The Farm with a bald head, and yer cap sideways -- how long do you think it will take the bullets to hit yer knee cap and elbow...?
 
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I worried about the age thing ever since I tuned 40.
Especially when it came to school aged events.
Although I think students would feel more comfortable with someone younger,
they really don't care once the music starts.
As for brides, they may initially want a young, handsome DJ...
but are more relaxed when they realize that an older guy has more experience, advice, and knowledge.

As Valerie said, the adults at a teen event are happy to see someone older in charge...
because they feel I won't do something "childish" and inappropriate.
I also believe the parents of the bride and groom feel better about having me at a wedding,
because they know it won't be brand new pumping dance music and rap all night long.
 
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Ausumm said:
As for brides, they may initially want a young, handsome DJ...but are more relaxed when they realize that an older guy has more experience, advice, and knowledge.
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Nah...they'd rather have an odd looking older guy...like...ME!:eek:
 
dunlopj said:
Nah...they'd rather have an odd looking older guy...like...ME!:eek:
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That's funny, Dunlop!
:embarrassed:
But we actually have proof!
I also do work for a multi-op, and the owner posted pics of his "crew" on their website.
All of a sudden, every bride who found us from the internet, was requesting the ONE young, good looking dude we had working for us.
Even tho he had very little DJ experience, and almost none with weddings.
Even the company namesake, and his FATHER, the local DJ legend, were losing gigs.
We took the pics off the site, and now bride's pick their DJ according to their talent, not their looks.
 
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Next month I'll be 55 and I'm glad. I'm happy that when I have a hair cut and a shave I look much younger. People get amazed when I tell them my age.
 
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