The Part-time DJ’s Perspective

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DJCraziAce said:
The pricing is not an issue to me. Everyone knows that their time and skill is worth. However, the statement that part timers can be just as dedicated as FTers is completely ludicrous to me.
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So because I am a Part Timer/Hobbyist I am not dedicated........I care to differ with you......I can do what I need to do in the time I have allocated for that chore......I learned to do that in the "real business world", a skill called "Time Management".....ever heard of it??

Also Intelligence and Experience have a great impact on my results......
 
I never said you're not dedicated. I said that the statement that a PT can be just as dedicated as a FT is ludicrous. An FT has more time since that IS their business.

Yes, proper time management skills can help a PT run a business effectively... but a FT has the luxury of 100% dedication.
 
DJCraziAce said:
The pricing is not an issue to me. Everyone knows that their time and skill is worth. However, the statement that part timers can be just as dedicated as FTers is completely ludicrous to me.
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NEVER accuse me of being "less dedicated" because I am Part Time.

So, since MY market doesn't pay what MY time and product is worth now (AKA it undervalues me - because of competition, "bottom feeders," regional market value, etc.), I should just accept that fact that the IRS (and "FT professionals") will label me as a "hobbiest" (and less valuable) because I can't show a livable profit?

CAPITAL-B-AS-IN-B, S-AS-IN-S. I have pride in MY business, my ability, and the product I supply. Just because Full Timers don't value me what I think I'm worth (and what I need to live on), doesn't mean I should be FT and scrape by, just to take pride in being "FT." I prove my ability at every show I do. (Take that as ego, bragging... whatever you want. I serve my clientèle.)

I will take pride in serving those who choose me the best I can and I build my business on that. (And better than, I think, others in my market can.) In doing that, I hope to build my business into a FT, "livable," going business concern.

If I never want my business to be a FT "going" concern (if it's just supplemental income or just dong what I love to do), I NEVER want to hear anyone accuse me of being less than them. I NEVER want to hear that being the reason your business doesn't succeed. My business failure is mine. YOUR business failure is YOURS.
 
kayleigh said:
NEVER accuse me of being "less dedicated" because I am Part Time.

So, since MY market doesn't pay what MY time and product is worth now (AKA it undervalues me - because of competition, "bottom feeders," regional market value, etc.), I should just accept that fact that the IRS (and "FT professionals") will label me as a "hobbiest" (and less valuable) because I can't show a livable profit?

CAPITAL-B-AS-IN-B, S-AS-IN-S. I have pride in MY business, my ability, and the product I supply. Just because Full Timers don't value me what I think I'm worth (and what I need to live on), doesn't mean I should be FT and scrape by, just to take pride in being "FT." I prove my ability at every show I do. (Take that as ego, bragging... whatever you want. I serve my clientèle.)

I will take pride in serving those who choose me the best I can and I build my business on that. (And better than, I think, others in my market can.) In doing that, I hope to build my business into a FT, "livable," going business concern.

If I never want my business to be a FT "going" concern (if it's just supplemental income or just dong what I love to do), I NEVER want to hear anyone accuse me of being less than them. I NEVER want to hear that being the reason your business doesn't succeed. My business failure is mine. YOUR business failure is YOURS.
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So you're saying that you're able to get as much accomplished for your business than someone who does 8 hours a day for 5 days a week? That's what my schedule is.

You're telling me that you have a second career and your DJ business is just as effective as someone who puts ALL their effort into it?
 
i think gray put it perfectly....it's all about time management...not full time/ part time.....i'm sure there are full timers with bad time management skills.

Also, I did not mean to imply that ALL hobbyists are a bad deal....just suggested that a bride be careful about booking someone that has a hobby vs someone with a business.

Sure, someone with good skills could run a more productive DJ business by spending more hours doing it....but a good dj with good business skills that does this part time can be a very good DJ with a productive business.....THAT FITS THEIR NEEDS.
 
Tyrone Blue said:
I gotta say this folks... too many DJ's are way too full of themselves. We're only DJ's for goodness sakes. We are at the bottom rung of the entertainment ladder. If you're not having fun and making a buck or two, then it's time to get out. No one here is going to change the world.
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Well, I couldn't say that better. Thanks Ty.
 
groovielou said:
IMO I can be MORE dedicated as a Part-Time professional Disc Jockey due to the fact that my workload is not driven by my bottom line.
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Groovielou,

More or less curious about this theory.

If a higher priced FT DJ is less busy...and the lower priced PT DJ is more busy...how is does the workload allow for more dedication?

Or are you simply assuming that all FT DJs are multi-ops that have not figured out a process to delegate responsibilities to their talent, accordingly?
 
No, and No...

My theory is rooted in the fact that I can choose a workload that allows me to provide my customers with service that meets or exceeds that of a full-time service without the fear of meeting monthly capital requirements.

My theory applies mainly to single-op FT/PT operations.

Personally, I would find it difficult to delegate client contact if I was a multi-op. I like my hands in everything.

Groovielou
 
So, I ask you, where are these full-timers spending their time? Sitting in the office twiddling their thumbs and waiting for the phone to ring? Keeping up with the soaps? Sleeping? Working weekday events? Chatting on boards like this?
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I'm a FT and I find this insulting.
 
DJCraziAce said:
I consider full time when running your DJ business is your only source bread and butter. You don't have a primary and secondary career.
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So a DJ who has expanded into SR (as a business entity completely separate from his DJ business) is no longer a FT DJ? Or Peter Merry with his book venture and consultation venture is no longer a FT DJ? How about the DJ who branches into bubble parties (as a business entity completely separate form his DJ business?) He's no longer a FT DJ?

I'm betting there are many who would disagree with that assessment...
 
Johnny Dee said:
I'm a FT and I find this insulting.
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Johnny and Arnoldo:

Sorry. I did not mean to imply this of all F/T DJs and I certainly did not want to insult either of you.

There are full-timers in my own back yard that make the claims of all the things that they are doing while I am at the other job and yet I have called on them during the day and they were watching TV, sleeping, or other things not related to their business.

For them I say, don't pee on my back and tell me it is raining.
 
Tyrone Wrote:
I gotta say this folks... too many DJ's are way too full of themselves. We're only DJ's for goodness sakes. We are at the bottom rung of the entertainment ladder. If you're not having fun and making a buck or two, then it's time to get out. No one here is going to change the world.
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Oh, my! WRONG! SO WRONG

Tyrone.
Come on. We are so much more than just that.

Way too full of themselves? yes, that I can buy.

But, We are not important? Gimme a break.

Don't show up to your next wedding... You find out just how "unimportant" you really are.
 
Dan:

Ty did not say that DJs weren't important.

I don't remeber who said it or where, but it was said that we are the cheap alternative to bands.

What will happen if we keep pricing ourselves closer and closer to bands? Simple, the bands will have the advantage again.

Yes, we bring the original music by the original artists, but most people are looking for a bang for their buck and who's going to win?
 
DJCraziAce said:
I consider full time when running your DJ business is your only source bread and butter. You don't have a primary and secondary career.
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I have several business interests. Last week I spent 45 Hours with the DJ business and an additional 25 with other interests what does that make me?
 
DJCraziAce said:
I never said you're not dedicated. I said that the statement that a PT can be just as dedicated as a FT is ludicrous. An FT has more time since that IS their business.

Yes, proper time management skills can help a PT run a business effectively... but a FT has the luxury of 100% dedication.
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Ace I hope you know that I am only making a very obvious point, A full time DJ could have all the time available in a lifetime, but if they don't work smart, work right, and have the level of intelligence to accomplish the task......it's a moot point,.... my good buddy.

How much time you dedicate to a task is irrelevant......I would venture to say, and I don't know your background, that I could handle the Cost and revenue side of a business, with proper analysis in a shorter period of time then most on this board. I'm not bragging but; that's where my college degree is and, 40 years as a business owner of a multi-million dollar corporation, these qualities are part of my skill set.

In addition when it comes equipment, computers, etc... I'm sure you and good many on this board, are far superior to me in these skill area's, and that's a very relevant difference, since these are core concepts in our business.

What I do as a Part Time/Hobbyist, is through the use of the concept of "Economies of Scale", I acknowledge this deficiency, and Subcontract these needs, to those with the knowledge to complete the task.........And again not every Part timer can afford to do this but; I think you would be surprised how many can, especially those Part timers with dual Incomes in the family........

So in this case my having less time than you to accomplish a given task is......................irrelevant.......Agreed??

I just don't think that the Statement "....Full timers are more dedicated than Part Timers....", has any substance to it, that would allow it to be a generalized statement as to the abilities, qualities of the various sectors in our industry..............there are too many unknowns.

I also agree that you are not trying to say one is better than the other, but too many in our industry try to make these invalid generalizations, as truths.......

Gray Out........
 
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