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ARTICLE
Are you onboard with the digital revolution or are you still sending out paper contracts for your bookings? When I first started my business, I used to print out two copies of the booking form and post them out to the client. I included a return envelope for a signed copy of the form to be returned. Back in 2003 that felt normal but now that seems like a lifetime ago and I can’t remember the last time I posted a physical copy of the booking form.
After a few years I switched over to sending my contract using PDFs and many clients would print, sign and scan them in. Occasionally they’d even pop one in the post. In the last year I have gone completely digital with my clients now signing online. I was really nervous about this having read a lot of myths about whether these are watertight or not.
The turning point for me was after listening to one of Alan Berg’s podcast episodes. He was talking about how he has handled bookings via texts. No forms, no signatures. Just two people agreeing. Wow, this felt like the lightbulb moment I needed. Like all business decisions, you need to decide what you need in place as a contract between yourself and your clients.
I’m currently going through the process of moving house and there are endless forms needed to satisfy the lawyers. Now, I get this level of paperwork given the potential for things to go wrong. Yet for the average work that we do as DJs, do we really need paper signatures (and witnesses)? The definition of a contract comes back as an agreement between two parties. How you agree is between you and your client.
Back to 2003, when I was setting up my business, I remember creating my booking system. Having done AS Level Computing, I designed a Microsoft Access database to manage my bookings. I was proud of it at the time. Everything was digital and I could easily keep track of my bookings.
Well, I could if I was on my computer. If I was out and about – or even downstairs – I couldn’t. Then there was the issue of backups. After a year or two, I realised I needed to rethink this.
I had been learning website coding and decided to embark on creating an online solution. This led to the creation of what became DJ Admin.
Now I have access to my booking information on any device connected to the internet. I can process tasks without having to wait until I get back to my computer, meaning my clients can get responses faster.
There is a lot of talk about the use of AI and automated processes and how they can streamline businesses.
For some DJs, the thought of handing over admin to a system scares them and for others it’s a dream come true. I’m a great believer that not every option is best for everyone and that you need to find a solution that works best for you.
If the thought of a CRM system that automates everything scares you and you prefer to keep control of your business then perhaps take a look at DJ Admin as I’ve designed this to leave you in control. Rather than automatically trigger a quote follow-up, the system will remind you after a week and you make the decision to follow up or not. I like to refer to this as semi-automated.
If you really want to hand the admin process over to a fully automated system then the likes of DJ Event Planner would be better suited to you. You can easily set up automatic reminders for quotes and bookings so everything is taken care of.
Back in issue 114, I wrote about the lean process and looked at how you could cut down on wastage and become more efficient. If you think about any business, they are always looking to cut down on wastage.
Train designs have changed over the years to reduce the wind resistance to both increase their speed and reduce operating costs. Using automated...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
After a few years I switched over to sending my contract using PDFs and many clients would print, sign and scan them in. Occasionally they’d even pop one in the post. In the last year I have gone completely digital with my clients now signing online. I was really nervous about this having read a lot of myths about whether these are watertight or not.
The turning point for me was after listening to one of Alan Berg’s podcast episodes. He was talking about how he has handled bookings via texts. No forms, no signatures. Just two people agreeing. Wow, this felt like the lightbulb moment I needed. Like all business decisions, you need to decide what you need in place as a contract between yourself and your clients.
I’m currently going through the process of moving house and there are endless forms needed to satisfy the lawyers. Now, I get this level of paperwork given the potential for things to go wrong. Yet for the average work that we do as DJs, do we really need paper signatures (and witnesses)? The definition of a contract comes back as an agreement between two parties. How you agree is between you and your client.
Back to 2003, when I was setting up my business, I remember creating my booking system. Having done AS Level Computing, I designed a Microsoft Access database to manage my bookings. I was proud of it at the time. Everything was digital and I could easily keep track of my bookings.
Well, I could if I was on my computer. If I was out and about – or even downstairs – I couldn’t. Then there was the issue of backups. After a year or two, I realised I needed to rethink this.
I had been learning website coding and decided to embark on creating an online solution. This led to the creation of what became DJ Admin.
Now I have access to my booking information on any device connected to the internet. I can process tasks without having to wait until I get back to my computer, meaning my clients can get responses faster.
There is a lot of talk about the use of AI and automated processes and how they can streamline businesses.
For some DJs, the thought of handing over admin to a system scares them and for others it’s a dream come true. I’m a great believer that not every option is best for everyone and that you need to find a solution that works best for you.
If the thought of a CRM system that automates everything scares you and you prefer to keep control of your business then perhaps take a look at DJ Admin as I’ve designed this to leave you in control. Rather than automatically trigger a quote follow-up, the system will remind you after a week and you make the decision to follow up or not. I like to refer to this as semi-automated.
If you really want to hand the admin process over to a fully automated system then the likes of DJ Event Planner would be better suited to you. You can easily set up automatic reminders for quotes and bookings so everything is taken care of.
Back in issue 114, I wrote about the lean process and looked at how you could cut down on wastage and become more efficient. If you think about any business, they are always looking to cut down on wastage.
Train designs have changed over the years to reduce the wind resistance to both increase their speed and reduce operating costs. Using automated...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 132, Pages 50-52.
