You are on the Desktop website, Click here to go back to our mobile website
ARTICLE
My first experience of Pro Mobile Conference was back in 2015. A few months earlier I had quit my day job and was taking my DJ business seriously. During prior years I had seen the conference advertised, but felt like I wasn’t ready, wasn’t professional enough.
Could I really justify the cost?
I now know the error of my ways. The year following my first conference I doubled my wedding DJ business. This was due to a combination of factors, but I have no doubt that a big part of this increase was a result of my learning from seminars and other attendees at the conference. If only I had attended years earlier, where would I be now?
Eyes wide, mind blown; after that first experience I was hooked and I’ve never missed one since.
Fast forward to 2023 and this year’s conference, with the theme ‘Level Up Your DJ Business’, didn’t fail to deliver even more lessons – not just from the main stage, but from networking with other like-minded DJs throughout the event.
Day 1 began with the usual intros and welcome from our seasoned Magical Host, Paul Martin, and Pro Mobile’s Editor, Peter Holding. If, unlike me, you’d managed to keep the night before clear, you could start your conference a little earlier with a breakfast roll and coffee while getting a head start on the networking (a missed opportunity on my part).
The keynote presentations were kicked off by a welcome guest from across the pond, Mitch Taylor, who offered his wisdom to help ‘Accelerate & Level Up Your Business’ – from managing your time to improving cash flow.
Mitch also introduced us to text replacement. If you’ve not used it before, text replacement is a game changer for messaging clients via your phone. Just Google ‘text replacement’ and ‘Android’ or ‘iPhone’ and thank Mitch later.
At this point, I feel like I’ve already made back my investment and we’ve only just made it to lunch.
Following a generous buffet lunch, we heard from Tony Winyard. Tony is an award-wining wedding DJ, but he’s spent the last few years training as a behaviour change coach. When he kicked off his seminar with the words “a lot of you aren’t going to like me after this,” I knew we were in for an enlightening time!
Tony took us though some basic ways we could all improve the way we sleep. As DJs, we all know this part of our life suffers all too often, and with Tony’s tips, anyone can improve their sleep.
Our next keynote was from David Abbott with the aptly titled 'How to Price Your Platypus', which is also the name of his book. David offered a wealth of tips on pricing and his seminar was definitely food for thought for anyone who feels they’re not charging enough! By the end of his presentation we understood the value of a good pricing strategy and how anyone can sell a cuddly platypus for just £60 instead of £10.
For the final keynote of the day, Andy Pickles shared an inspirational and entertaining look back at his career in the music industry. Starting out as a tea boy in the Mastermix studios, Andy’s career took off when he produced the Jive Bunny records, and his life since then has seen many twists and turns. Andy provided a lot of insight into how he has built a career in the music industry, and also asked of the audience, what kind of life do you want to lead?
Then it was on to the evening with the Gala Dinner and Pro Mobile Awards (covered on page 24). But first, the bar! Some of the best lessons can be learned during a good ‘networking’ session. Just make sure you stay the right side of midnight if you want to make any sense of it all. And of course, make sure to be up the next morning, ripe and ready for a packed day two!
The after-dinner entertainment never fails to surprise. This year’s eye-opening performance came in the form of Drag Queen Bingo – and what a show they put on! Some of the less outgoing members of the audience decided to retire to the bar, but needless to say, for those who remained it was hilariously good fun.
On day two, the programme began at 9:00am, or actually, more like 9:15, as I believe the ‘networking’ went on into the early hours, meaning a few were running a bit late! The first order of business, announcing Pro Mobile’s plans for 2024, was a surprise twist. The conference will actually be taking a break in 2024 and instead we have Pro Mobile Focus & Retreat, with a brand-new awesome line-up of speakers (wink wink!).
The first keynote of the day was delivered by our magical host Paul Martin, who shared his strategy, 'The Easy Way to £100k'. Paul gave us six steps any DJ can implement to change their business in order to reach that lofty goal of a six-figure income, concluding with ‘Invest in yourself’ and ‘Take action’. I’m sure all the delegates learnt some valuable steps.
Following the first breakout session of the day our next keynote speaker was Chris Dillon of Two Thirds Different. His presentation, titled ‘Automation & Ghosting Within Your Business’ was an eye opener for many.
Chris told us that 82% of people expect a response within 10 minutes of contacting you, and he went on to show how you can achieve a 391% increase in the likelihood of achieving a sale when you respond within one minute. Automation definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. I’ve booked myself a call with their team to find out what they can do for me!
After a wonderful carvery-style lunch break, we saw the return of Mitch Taylor to the stage, with his second keynote, ‘The HELP Strategies’. Mitch has a comprehensive understanding of the DJ industry, and he really drilled down into how you can improve your approach to client interactions in a strategic way. I really enjoyed both of his presentations and learnt a few simple things to take forward in my own business.
The final session was from Richard Lee, who along with good friend and DJ legend, Pete Sherriff, showed us all a brand-new way of interacting with an audience. The thing that stuck out for me was Richard’s use of video and audio – really clever and a lot of fun.
It’s hard to explain to anyone who wasn’t there, but a couple of things come to mind. The final seminar encompassed entertainment we could all do, with a bit of upskilling and thought. But you really did need to be there to understand what Richard was doing! It was very clever indeed.
In addition to all of this, across the two days there were break-out workshops on a range of topics, including sleep habits by Tony Winyard, mixing skills by DJ tutor and all-round legend Terry Ryan, and a focused session from Paul Martin based on his specialist workshops for emcees.
Plus, we had demonstrations from Terry Ryan (On The Rise DJ Academy), FBT, who provided all sound for the conference, ADJ, who provided all of the staging and lighting, and the break-out room sponsor, Red Panda Lighting.
So, a huge amount of activity all crammed into two short days! Although the conference will be missed in 2024, I’m sure the change of format will be refreshing for many and I have no doubt when the conference returns in 2025 (fingers crossed!) it will be full of returning delegates, myself included. There’s no way I would miss this.
If you haven’t been before, what are you waiting for?
John Batten - For Celebrations
First time attendee
I attended Pro Mobile because I was ready to invest in the development of my business, and myself! The key notes were all really inspiring and I took so many notes which resulted in a long to-do list!
The best thing about the conference was the networking, I made some great contacts, everyone was keen to share their ideas, with a strong passion for collaboration and sharing in the DJ community.
Adam Carr
Veteran attendee
I’ve been to each conference except the first, which clashed with St Patrick’s Day. Also, I’ve been to the smaller ‘Focus’ version, which means I’m very excited for next year.
I’d say people should try it. Come with an open mind and a willingness to get stuck in. If you pick up one thing which leads to a sale this year, then it’s surely paid for itself. And you can carry that knowledge forward.
I speak to a lot of clients for quite a long time, not just quick chats. So it’s useful for me to have new ideas, fresh perspectives, and great prompts to find out more from them. And to listen out for how couples respond, which has created moments and improved their wedding day experience.
Phill Makepeace - Celebration Roadshow
Veteran attendee
The Pro Mobile Conference is a no brainer in my eyes; you get to meet up and network with so many of the UK’s industry leaders and trend setters – that in itself is worth the ticket price. Of course, you need an open mind to hear the advice; you can only learn if you understand your own short comings.
I have attended all except the very first conference and they have all delivered great value for money. The range of speakers each year is phenomenal, covering many facets of your business and personal journeys. Over the years there have been so many stand-out moments, and this year was David Abbots’ ‘How To Price Your Platypus’. I shall never look at pricing, or numbers for that matter, the same again. Mitch Taylor’s passion and enthusiasm for sales was great to see.
I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t want to attend (other than logistical calendar clashes), as you get to immerse yourself for two whole days in self-improvement, business and performance advancement, not to mention a great atmosphere, fun camaraderie, oh and a few beers with like-minded people (who get the weirdness of being a DJ!).
Could I really justify the cost?
I now know the error of my ways. The year following my first conference I doubled my wedding DJ business. This was due to a combination of factors, but I have no doubt that a big part of this increase was a result of my learning from seminars and other attendees at the conference. If only I had attended years earlier, where would I be now?
Eyes wide, mind blown; after that first experience I was hooked and I’ve never missed one since.
Fast forward to 2023 and this year’s conference, with the theme ‘Level Up Your DJ Business’, didn’t fail to deliver even more lessons – not just from the main stage, but from networking with other like-minded DJs throughout the event.
Day One
Day 1 began with the usual intros and welcome from our seasoned Magical Host, Paul Martin, and Pro Mobile’s Editor, Peter Holding. If, unlike me, you’d managed to keep the night before clear, you could start your conference a little earlier with a breakfast roll and coffee while getting a head start on the networking (a missed opportunity on my part).
The keynote presentations were kicked off by a welcome guest from across the pond, Mitch Taylor, who offered his wisdom to help ‘Accelerate & Level Up Your Business’ – from managing your time to improving cash flow.
Mitch also introduced us to text replacement. If you’ve not used it before, text replacement is a game changer for messaging clients via your phone. Just Google ‘text replacement’ and ‘Android’ or ‘iPhone’ and thank Mitch later.
At this point, I feel like I’ve already made back my investment and we’ve only just made it to lunch.
Following a generous buffet lunch, we heard from Tony Winyard. Tony is an award-wining wedding DJ, but he’s spent the last few years training as a behaviour change coach. When he kicked off his seminar with the words “a lot of you aren’t going to like me after this,” I knew we were in for an enlightening time!
Tony took us though some basic ways we could all improve the way we sleep. As DJs, we all know this part of our life suffers all too often, and with Tony’s tips, anyone can improve their sleep.
Our next keynote was from David Abbott with the aptly titled 'How to Price Your Platypus', which is also the name of his book. David offered a wealth of tips on pricing and his seminar was definitely food for thought for anyone who feels they’re not charging enough! By the end of his presentation we understood the value of a good pricing strategy and how anyone can sell a cuddly platypus for just £60 instead of £10.
For the final keynote of the day, Andy Pickles shared an inspirational and entertaining look back at his career in the music industry. Starting out as a tea boy in the Mastermix studios, Andy’s career took off when he produced the Jive Bunny records, and his life since then has seen many twists and turns. Andy provided a lot of insight into how he has built a career in the music industry, and also asked of the audience, what kind of life do you want to lead?
Then it was on to the evening with the Gala Dinner and Pro Mobile Awards (covered on page 24). But first, the bar! Some of the best lessons can be learned during a good ‘networking’ session. Just make sure you stay the right side of midnight if you want to make any sense of it all. And of course, make sure to be up the next morning, ripe and ready for a packed day two!
The after-dinner entertainment never fails to surprise. This year’s eye-opening performance came in the form of Drag Queen Bingo – and what a show they put on! Some of the less outgoing members of the audience decided to retire to the bar, but needless to say, for those who remained it was hilariously good fun.
Day Two
On day two, the programme began at 9:00am, or actually, more like 9:15, as I believe the ‘networking’ went on into the early hours, meaning a few were running a bit late! The first order of business, announcing Pro Mobile’s plans for 2024, was a surprise twist. The conference will actually be taking a break in 2024 and instead we have Pro Mobile Focus & Retreat, with a brand-new awesome line-up of speakers (wink wink!).
The first keynote of the day was delivered by our magical host Paul Martin, who shared his strategy, 'The Easy Way to £100k'. Paul gave us six steps any DJ can implement to change their business in order to reach that lofty goal of a six-figure income, concluding with ‘Invest in yourself’ and ‘Take action’. I’m sure all the delegates learnt some valuable steps.
Following the first breakout session of the day our next keynote speaker was Chris Dillon of Two Thirds Different. His presentation, titled ‘Automation & Ghosting Within Your Business’ was an eye opener for many.
Chris told us that 82% of people expect a response within 10 minutes of contacting you, and he went on to show how you can achieve a 391% increase in the likelihood of achieving a sale when you respond within one minute. Automation definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. I’ve booked myself a call with their team to find out what they can do for me!
After a wonderful carvery-style lunch break, we saw the return of Mitch Taylor to the stage, with his second keynote, ‘The HELP Strategies’. Mitch has a comprehensive understanding of the DJ industry, and he really drilled down into how you can improve your approach to client interactions in a strategic way. I really enjoyed both of his presentations and learnt a few simple things to take forward in my own business.
The final session was from Richard Lee, who along with good friend and DJ legend, Pete Sherriff, showed us all a brand-new way of interacting with an audience. The thing that stuck out for me was Richard’s use of video and audio – really clever and a lot of fun.
It’s hard to explain to anyone who wasn’t there, but a couple of things come to mind. The final seminar encompassed entertainment we could all do, with a bit of upskilling and thought. But you really did need to be there to understand what Richard was doing! It was very clever indeed.
In addition to all of this, across the two days there were break-out workshops on a range of topics, including sleep habits by Tony Winyard, mixing skills by DJ tutor and all-round legend Terry Ryan, and a focused session from Paul Martin based on his specialist workshops for emcees.
Plus, we had demonstrations from Terry Ryan (On The Rise DJ Academy), FBT, who provided all sound for the conference, ADJ, who provided all of the staging and lighting, and the break-out room sponsor, Red Panda Lighting.
So, a huge amount of activity all crammed into two short days! Although the conference will be missed in 2024, I’m sure the change of format will be refreshing for many and I have no doubt when the conference returns in 2025 (fingers crossed!) it will be full of returning delegates, myself included. There’s no way I would miss this.
If you haven’t been before, what are you waiting for?
QUOTES FROM DELEGATES
John Batten - For Celebrations
First time attendee
I attended Pro Mobile because I was ready to invest in the development of my business, and myself! The key notes were all really inspiring and I took so many notes which resulted in a long to-do list!
The best thing about the conference was the networking, I made some great contacts, everyone was keen to share their ideas, with a strong passion for collaboration and sharing in the DJ community.
Adam Carr
Veteran attendee
I’ve been to each conference except the first, which clashed with St Patrick’s Day. Also, I’ve been to the smaller ‘Focus’ version, which means I’m very excited for next year.
I’d say people should try it. Come with an open mind and a willingness to get stuck in. If you pick up one thing which leads to a sale this year, then it’s surely paid for itself. And you can carry that knowledge forward.
I speak to a lot of clients for quite a long time, not just quick chats. So it’s useful for me to have new ideas, fresh perspectives, and great prompts to find out more from them. And to listen out for how couples respond, which has created moments and improved their wedding day experience.
Phill Makepeace - Celebration Roadshow
Veteran attendee
The Pro Mobile Conference is a no brainer in my eyes; you get to meet up and network with so many of the UK’s industry leaders and trend setters – that in itself is worth the ticket price. Of course, you need an open mind to hear the advice; you can only learn if you understand your own short comings.
I have attended all except the very first conference and they have all delivered great value for money. The range of speakers each year is phenomenal, covering many facets of your business and personal journeys. Over the years there have been so many stand-out moments, and this year was David Abbots’ ‘How To Price Your Platypus’. I shall never look at pricing, or numbers for that matter, the same again. Mitch Taylor’s passion and enthusiasm for sales was great to see.
I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t want to attend (other than logistical calendar clashes), as you get to immerse yourself for two whole days in self-improvement, business and performance advancement, not to mention a great atmosphere, fun camaraderie, oh and a few beers with like-minded people (who get the weirdness of being a DJ!).
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 119, Pages 58-63.
