Mentoring other DJ's
- Thread starter Precisionpower
- Start date
For me I say we all had to start somewhere. Nobody started at the top. You had ton learn as you go along and make mistakes along the way. All of us have made mistakes. Nothing wrong with trying to help someone out that is getting their feet wet in this business.
Now you made a comment about her not spending all the money she makes but investing it back into her company. Then you went on to think she is doing weddings for $250.00-$350.00. I say that after it's all said and done with after she pays her expenses there probably isn't a lot of money left over to invest in her company. I agree 100% that she should get a program like VDJ. That's what I use and I love it.
The question I wanted to know if you can find out is why did that light fail? The thing I thought of is that starting out with very little experience, why is she doing weddings? I would try to steer her away from doing weddings right now and have her concentrate on doing other events till she becomes a more polished DJ.
Can you please tell us if you care to here what things she needs to improve on in your eyes while you were watching her do that wedding? Please I'm not asking this question to put her down or anything like that. Like I said we all had to start somewhere and we all had to learn from our mistakes.
Now you made a comment about her not spending all the money she makes but investing it back into her company. Then you went on to think she is doing weddings for $250.00-$350.00. I say that after it's all said and done with after she pays her expenses there probably isn't a lot of money left over to invest in her company. I agree 100% that she should get a program like VDJ. That's what I use and I love it.
The question I wanted to know if you can find out is why did that light fail? The thing I thought of is that starting out with very little experience, why is she doing weddings? I would try to steer her away from doing weddings right now and have her concentrate on doing other events till she becomes a more polished DJ.
Can you please tell us if you care to here what things she needs to improve on in your eyes while you were watching her do that wedding? Please I'm not asking this question to put her down or anything like that. Like I said we all had to start somewhere and we all had to learn from our mistakes.
If I went out on a Saturday night or any night for that matter, to help out a female DJ that was not my payroll my wife would flip-out! You have a flipping Saturday off dude, shouldn't you be taking the wife out to a movie or sushi, or both? Instead you ditch the wife to go help out a woman that you have no vested interest in? Sorry but I just don't get it. The only way I can make sense of this is if you find her attractive and yes, I know you're married.
I mean, why would you want to help her 'polish her show' when she is NOT a part of your company? Are you trying to create competition for yourself? Whether you want to admit it or not, she is hurting your market by selling her services cheap. It sounds to me like she should be working for someone, learning the craft. If she was motivated in any way, she could surf the internet and pick up tips, even join a chat board like this one. Just tell me you find her attractive, at least that I could understand. But then, I would still say, "Walk away."
She asked for help here and there. She is also married and has a couple of kids. I didnt ditch my wife either. She was fine with me being gone for a half an hour to drop off the lights.
I dont really have any motivation behind the mentoring part other than having someone to network with, And possibly pass on overflow gigs to. She has a Bose rig, And that could come in handy for events that call for that look...
I'm a very nice person naturally, And try to help people if they ask for it... (hell i drive a tow truck for a living if that tells you anything) And being from the mid-west, We look at things a lil different than most people on the coasts...
I dont really have any motivation behind the mentoring part other than having someone to network with, And possibly pass on overflow gigs to. She has a Bose rig, And that could come in handy for events that call for that look...
I'm a very nice person naturally, And try to help people if they ask for it... (hell i drive a tow truck for a living if that tells you anything) And being from the mid-west, We look at things a lil different than most people on the coasts...
How many DJ's do you know started at the top of the pay scale? It's easy to say a person should be charging more and that they are a bottom feeder. If you've never seen them in action and see what they deliver to a client, how do you know if what they have to offer is worth more then someone paying them $350.00. They may not even be worth that much.
Now the real question comes in how much will such a DJ improve? Not within the skill level as a DJ at an event but business wise also. I heard one DJ say on the other forum that the first event he did he got paid 1k. I said he was lying! Either that or the person who signed the contract must have been either drunk or high at the time and didn't know what they were signing. I just couldn't believe that. Not their first time. Of course it's possible to build up to that and beyond but who starts at that level first time out.
Now a question to all. Especially to those who are hell bent on he shouldn't help out this fairly new DJ. From the time when you first got into this business how long did it take to become the polished professional you are today?
OK now to the op just maybe you can suggest that she become a member here.
Been spinning records since in the sixties and never called myself a DJ during that time. I did not venture out until 1978 when I went Pro and was on top of my Game then until now as far as the tools and skills available. I treated it as a business and an income from 1978 til present, meaning I bought a full club system which was delivered to the Club where I played because I wanted to be different in looks and sound. So yes there are exceptions. I never said he should not help the gal.
I have no ambitions of becoming a multi-op at all. I prefer to have 1 or 2 "trusted" single ops i can trust to send gigs, or cover for me if the need should arise.
She has potential, And i have to work with her more for her to realize it also. She told me she doesnt charge alot because she knows her limitations right now..
I will send her a link to join up here and see if she's interested.
She has potential, And i have to work with her more for her to realize it also. She told me she doesnt charge alot because she knows her limitations right now..
I will send her a link to join up here and see if she's interested.
Canute I meant that statement to who ever it fit. If it's not you then you have nothing to fear.
Also you had a leg up already spinning records since the sixties.
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
Just go read my LAST post to Mix about a Business plan that EVERYONE should have FIRST
http://ourdjtalk.com/threads/40876-...-with-business?p=513793&viewfull=1#post513793
http://ourdjtalk.com/threads/40876-...-with-business?p=513793&viewfull=1#post513793
That's a big part of it to begin with. You still need to have some real talent. Some were just naturally meant to be a DJ and there are those who don't have any talent at all. Talent isn't limited to your mixing skills but you knowing how to read a crowd and having a good clean setup that will get a potential client to want to book you.
Don't let the wife catch you sending e-mails to strange women, it will be kind of difficult to live in a vehicle with a Dog and Gear! :blob8:
I can confidently say that I KNOW PrecisionPower is helping because he's a nice guy. He'd help darn near anyone given a chance. If my husband left for an hour or two, or even more, to help out another woman, I'd be proud that's my man, and I'm pretty sure Brian's wife felt the same. Now if he ditched out in the middle of a date night movie to run to her aid I might be a little more hurt (but I also know if he left at any time, there is a good reason, and helping others is a good reason). But I know Brian, and knowing him, I can tell what kind of relationship he has with his wife and what kind of woman she is. I don't buy that argument for a minute. I totally understand his want to help someone with a similar passion to his own. I've been there myself in various studies; and never once was it based on, or led to, an attraction or sexual relation or even desire. It's just sharing the same passion.
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P.S. I'm just certain Brian's wife is just giggling at that comment...cuz I know Brian will have shown it to her!
I see no harm in helping her out.
But as most have stated, there has to be a limit.
Advice is easy and free...so no big loss there.
You need to have a serious discussion about how far your charity goes.
Just present it as "you're not doing her any favors" by being too helpful,
and the only way she will learn is to venture out and succeed or fail on her own.
But as most have stated, there has to be a limit.
Advice is easy and free...so no big loss there.
You need to have a serious discussion about how far your charity goes.
Just present it as "you're not doing her any favors" by being too helpful,
and the only way she will learn is to venture out and succeed or fail on her own.
Most of my "mentoring" has been with other djs that started working with me. And some have moved on to start their own companies and i wish them well.
i also mentored a women Dj who was the wife of another DJ friend. They just couldn't work well in a teacher student capacity. I sincerely believe in helping others. It will pay you back a lot. And it has. Besides, someone helped me early on.
However, my time is not free. If I'm going to give up my time and mentor someone,we are going to do things my way. Once that person understands why I do things a certain way, THEN they can and should adapt it to their own personality and personal tastes. But trying to do it their way without understanding some basics,everything will fall apart.
The moment someone wasn't willing to invest in themselves, I would have wished them luck and said call me hen you are ready. If they really just didn't have the money but seemed like a hard worker, I'd find work for them.
it may sound like I'm being a hard a$$, but I'm not. I just don't want to waste my or their time.
i also mentored a women Dj who was the wife of another DJ friend. They just couldn't work well in a teacher student capacity. I sincerely believe in helping others. It will pay you back a lot. And it has. Besides, someone helped me early on.
However, my time is not free. If I'm going to give up my time and mentor someone,we are going to do things my way. Once that person understands why I do things a certain way, THEN they can and should adapt it to their own personality and personal tastes. But trying to do it their way without understanding some basics,everything will fall apart.
The moment someone wasn't willing to invest in themselves, I would have wished them luck and said call me hen you are ready. If they really just didn't have the money but seemed like a hard worker, I'd find work for them.
it may sound like I'm being a hard a$$, but I'm not. I just don't want to waste my or their time.
Mentor?? Seriously?
What exactly are you grooming her to be?
All I see is a guy falling over himself to rescue a chick who seems more interested in his effort than in anything DJ related. Around here we call that a "roadie."
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