Again .. it's not WHO I LIKE, it's who the client or the guests like. I play Usher (occasionally) because THEY like him, not because he is MY favorite .. YOU seem to want to play YOUR favorites, foolishly assuming the guests will like it too.
Besides a packed dance floor what makes the job fun to you?
- Thread starter MIXMASTERMACHOM
- Start date
Interesting choices of artists:
Jaheim....first signed in 2000....last noteable recognition is a grammy nomination in 2011
Mary J Blige....started as a backing singer in 1989....most recent recognition being ranked #9 on VH1 100 greatest Women in Music list though her last hit was probably 2006
Usher...debut album in 1994...though he does have some recent singles from 2014 & 2016 that did ok.
Still waiting for your list of 'recent'
I'm turning this into a suggested reading thread:
He only knows Jaheim because he's a local r&b artist about 20 min away from Mix's town... and he's really not famous outside of the local tristate market... and even within the local general market, he's only known amongst certain geographic locations as r&b isn't all that popular to most people. He doesn't do tours like Usher or anything like that, but is more of an opening act for a bigger artist, or plays at smaller local clubs and venues.
First off let me straighten a few things out. Mix is in a totally different market than you. He will not ever be playing country, Top-40 and Majority of the current stuff. He will never be marketing to the same clients you do. And I have never ever seen him said he wanted to. Since it is painfully obvious that he doesn't venture very far from home. From the way I see it he only wants to try to increase business (although he doesn't listen to advice) which maybe going from two to four events in his market. One the thing I notice is some don't have a clue exactly who he plays for and are trying to put their spin on what he should play or try to move him to a totally different market where we know he won't succeed. I am familiar with his market although I don't sell to or cater to that market anymore. But he doesn't have to have the latest music because old school has popular for the least 20 years now. Music selection in that market ís Not determined by charts, youTube & by overall popularity on radio. In fact I pulled my playlists from 20 years ago and over 60% I could play or still are playing now. What amazed me how old some of the songs were when they were added to the list. There are many of us out there who don't play the current music, so telling Mix to is just plain wrong. I am in my 50's and when I am out socially with friends I know I am not looking to hear anything new & I am in the college market where I still play the current music. Crap, look at the Mobilebeat Top 100 most of those songs are not current.
What I am seeing is he maybe playing the wrong music & basing his selections on personal tastes. Jaheim, Mary J Blige, Usher, Aly-us & etc are some of artists he should be playing and the fact he dislikes them maybe effecting his processes. You need to really make a connection with your audience first before venturing out to lesser know club music.
What I am seeing is he maybe playing the wrong music & basing his selections on personal tastes. Jaheim, Mary J Blige, Usher, Aly-us & etc are some of artists he should be playing and the fact he dislikes them maybe effecting his processes. You need to really make a connection with your audience first before venturing out to lesser know club music.
I know exactly the market hes selling to. It's a market that doesn't pay much... and his knowledge of music only attracts older aged clients... not younger ones getting married willing to pay more. I said it before... hes gotta either adapt to get more and higher paying events... or stick to what he's doing and stop complaining about how much they pay.
There we go in the assumption based on what you think. Since you know so much about his market. How come you haven't mentioned, Black Unions & associations, Masons, Fraternities and sororities, Family reunions, picnics, NAACP, I could go because those are some the clients I worked playing Classic RB, Club & House. Not much current music, very heavy on the oldies. Since he doesn't charge much any of these would pay much more than he is getting now. Of course he will have to play the correct music but it would be a hell of lot closer to his comfort level than thinking some young person will ever pay him big bucks to do their wedding and play the current stuff. Especially considering he has no long standing reputation. Now since you know so about market why haven't you recommend any of these? How comes you aren't giving him baby steps in a direction he could move realistically move toward? Could it be in your eyes everything connected to Mix isn't deemed worthy in your eyes?
Mix hasn't asked for baby steps, nor does he seem to want to do the little things he probably needs to do. We've advocated him sticking with his "niche", but he seems to want to move "up".
I agree with you, Mix should focus on what he knows, advertise the heck out of it, and move up the ladder in small increments. BUUUTTT, Mix needs to think about it from a business perspective first and start with a plan ...
I think many have given him advice and suggestions. The ideas you mentioned are valid, but they don’t pay “more” as mix is now demanding and making his “goal”, especially since in those circles of events they all know someone who does it as a hobby for free or even cheaper than mix already charges. It’s not like he brings any sort of professionalism to the table. Also many of these associations have aged to the point that they don’t throw events like they used to or as frequently. Just like holiday parties have now faded, so have smaller events such as these.
An older dj I know used to get all the events and weddings of clubgoers from back in the 90’s and 2000’s, but now they’ve aged and their events are less frequent. He never adapted and his event total has shrunk in half in the last few years. If you don’t adapt the events you specialized in will shrink in number.
Here's another way I relate it. Many people know me as a greek dj because I'm greek and have probably seen me dj greek events... but to the general population I am not presented that way, but rather a dj that just focuses on upscale production Weddings and Sweet 16s with quality music and attention to detail. There are other dj's in NJ who branded themselves as "greek american dj's" and focused 90-100% on filling their schedules with such events, whether weddings, christenings, community events, festivals, etc. 20-30 yrs ago, off the boat greeks and first generation greeks were plentiful, and marketing strictly as that kind of dj was sustainable. However, as time went by, the greeks got older, the newer generations weren't as cultured or the marriages became mixed, and the need for a "greek dj" wasn't as in demand, and a bride and groom or client could get by with any dj and just give them a couple of greek songs and that would be fine. Likewise, the heavy greeks that were more off the boat got older, they threw less events, and community events started becoming fewer, or were done by dj's doing it for free as a hobby or really cheap for side money. The one's that are full time or relied on this market are now hurting, especially since they never made any effort to change their image of a "greek american dj". Now they're also older and learning how to rebrand and market to a new market from scratch is tough. It's the same story with Mix... just different music. The greek american dj didnt ever focus on the general everyday american crowd and now doesn't have their business and is older and struggling to reinvent themselves... while fighting for significantly less greek focused events. Mix was focused on his very small niche style, that while prominent back in the day, is appealing to a small number of people who are ACTUALLY THROWING EVENTS. To make matters worst, the market of which this music appeals to locally is a very low paying market, and will never pay more than what it already is paying. You've seen the events mix posts... that's as good as it gets for the music he wants to play. I'm certain if he was able to accommodate more styles of music, he'd have the possibility (albeit a small one with his presentation) to at least book more events in general, and an even smaller chance, yet more possible, to book one's that pay more.
I will say this. Taso you mentioned you mix certain types of music very quickly and that's what the crowd who want that kind of music want the DJ to do. You're talking about mixing songs in 2 minutes or less. My brain can't think that fast. Not to mention finding a song that will work well that quickly. That's the honest truth. So I more than likely wouldn't do a good job for a crowd like that.
Now for the DJ that talked about me not playing songs that I don't like. That's not true. I said I will play them. Just regret having to play them and as I stated it's not just the newer stuff but stuff from many years ago as well.
Now for the DJ that talked about me not playing songs that I don't like. That's not true. I said I will play them. Just regret having to play them and as I stated it's not just the newer stuff but stuff from many years ago as well.
That’s more so for a sweet 16 and SOME weddings. But that’s also because that’s what people expect nowadays since the radio does the same thing. They have djs mixing during the rush hour drive home and getting in as many songs as possible during that hour.
The issue isn’t just about you playing songs you don’t like... the issue is that you don’t know the songs that people want to hear.
I guess its my club background bleeding thru... but when i hit my groove and the floor is packed i do about 40 seconds a song...if that... i struggle waiting to mix...but thats something im working on... though i havent had any complaints... i know people think they need to hear 3 full chorus'...
i try and strike a balance on certain songs....and give em a couple chorus'
cc
i try and strike a balance on certain songs....and give em a couple chorus'
cc
I do the same thing at about 90% of my sweet 16's and 2/3 of my wedding. However, once in a while I get an older crowd, or a crowd where more music in a shorter amount of time isn't a good thing if they're not exposed to a lot of the current music. For example when I was in PA last week in stroudsburg... that crowd didn't know much top 40 and was mostly older, so I didn't quickmix as much. Whereas one week later... older couple again (groom was 40 bride was early 30's), most guests were 30 and older, but they were major partiers, and being that I was splitting time with a band too, I quickmixed just about every song. and must've avg'd less than 90 seconds a song. In that crowd I had 4 past weddings and 2 future weddings in attendance, so clearly that's a style that this circle of people appreciate and are comfortable with. In fact, I just had a meeting with a couple last night who's in the same circle of friends (they weren't at the wedding due to other commitments), and they said to make sure I don't let the songs drag out and that although they know I don't usually do it, they want it to be clear that they don't like that in case I wasn't sure.
In mix's case I'm not focusing on the quickmixing though... im simply emphasising the knowledge of current music. Adj2ent rightfully said that there are events that exist where knowledge of current music isn't necessary, but if mix wants more events and/or higher paying events, something has to change, and it will most certainly start with expanding his knowledge of music.
Taso you said something very interesting and funny. Older couple. Groom 40 and bride early 30's. That's what you call older? Well at 60 I must be ancient. LOL.
Well being that the avg bride is around 28 and groom is around 30, then yes that is considered older by most wedding standards. 60 isn’t ancient, unless you allow it to be.
I was just having fun with you. I knew what you meant. We did 2 receptions where the couples were over 50. I believe one couple had been married to different people and now were getting married to each other.
