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ARTICLE
For many, the DJ journey starts with a deep-seated passion for music. If you read my profile in Issue 127 (Sep/Oct 2024), you’ll already know I had an interest in music from around 10 years old and that my dad was a massive influence on my journey. Learning from other DJs in a bar in Balham, Southwest London, which I frequented from the age of 15 before finally being let loose on the decks, I eventually moved on to getting my own kit and started a ‘business’ in 2005.
I said ‘business’ because I had zero idea of what I was doing in terms of charging, where to buy music, the technicalities of running a business and paying tax. I probably shouldn’t say that it didn’t seem to matter at the beginning but, as you grow, you become an entrepreneur and that then demands more than just honing your DJ skills.
For me, it was about networking. I love sharing ideas, meeting DJs for coffee and just chatting through things, be that music, setups, brand awareness, social media – some of the best golden nuggets to help your business come from getting out there!
From 2005 through 2016, my DJ business grew slowly and steadily. Some 90% of bookings were via recommendations or agents that I worked alongside, and that suited my business model. I had a job in the veterinary industry and I could be very picky with what bookings I wanted to take on. I grew my kit inventory from storage in my bedroom, to an office area at my dad’s joinery business, then on to a garage, and I now have enough kit to fill a warehouse, having morphed into a small production company working on bigger events.
That said, I always look back at where I started and, even now, I cringe at some of my original setups. Yes, I know it’s not about the kit – but we still need a basic rig that ultimately consists of PA, lights, controller, laptop and music. Recent years have shown that ‘less is more’. One of my original setups had lasers, movers, LED spots and pixel bars – some 11 lighting fixtures that I thought looked ‘cool’.
I would never put that type of show out now but, for the fun of this article, very much a then and now situation, and it’s amazing to see the progression that we sell to our clients in both kit, setup, professionalism and extra upsell options – something I am immensely proud of now!
Joining the National Association of DJs in Chester, when I lived in the Midlands, was a key change in the way I approached the business, and I started looking at the ‘upsell’ and how to make more money from each booking. If you read my profile, it gives the details behind me traveling around the UK a lot for the day job, driving some 30,000 miles a year, which meant, thanks to Paul Arnett and John Forbes, that I got involved at national level within NADJ and helped set up the London branch with Tony Winyard, Fabio Capozzi, Ed Bereton, Keith Elwood and Matt Hayden-Baker.
I also regularly visited the South Central branch and discovered the South-Eastern Discotheque Association (SEDA) where I formed strong friendships with other DJs that I still meet regularly now. Sadly, since the pandemic, those NADJ branch meetings haven’t come back. As you often hear – use it or lose it.
Actually, that can be said for not just associations, but retailers and educational events that are put on for the benefit of you and your business – like Pro Mobile Conference. I first discovered that in 2015 and it’s always been a highlight of my DJ calendar, although, since 2018, I kind of couldn’t miss one after being on the organising team with both Eddie Short and my now partner in crime Peter Holding.
In 2013, I moved back to London before settling in Surrey in 2015. I was made redundant from the day-job during the pandemic in 2021 and I made the jump to full-time DJ and production company with a side hustle veterinary job. With four years of freedom under my belt, I don’t think I could work for anyone again. I choose when I work or when I go on holiday so, if you’re a mobile DJ that wants to go full-time then my advice is ‘just do it’. It’s scary at first when you realise that no one is paying you at the end of the month but that is the drive I needed to be in charge of my own destiny!
Here are a few things to consider before taking that jump: ...
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
I said ‘business’ because I had zero idea of what I was doing in terms of charging, where to buy music, the technicalities of running a business and paying tax. I probably shouldn’t say that it didn’t seem to matter at the beginning but, as you grow, you become an entrepreneur and that then demands more than just honing your DJ skills.
For me, it was about networking. I love sharing ideas, meeting DJs for coffee and just chatting through things, be that music, setups, brand awareness, social media – some of the best golden nuggets to help your business come from getting out there!
From 2005 through 2016, my DJ business grew slowly and steadily. Some 90% of bookings were via recommendations or agents that I worked alongside, and that suited my business model. I had a job in the veterinary industry and I could be very picky with what bookings I wanted to take on. I grew my kit inventory from storage in my bedroom, to an office area at my dad’s joinery business, then on to a garage, and I now have enough kit to fill a warehouse, having morphed into a small production company working on bigger events.
That said, I always look back at where I started and, even now, I cringe at some of my original setups. Yes, I know it’s not about the kit – but we still need a basic rig that ultimately consists of PA, lights, controller, laptop and music. Recent years have shown that ‘less is more’. One of my original setups had lasers, movers, LED spots and pixel bars – some 11 lighting fixtures that I thought looked ‘cool’.
I would never put that type of show out now but, for the fun of this article, very much a then and now situation, and it’s amazing to see the progression that we sell to our clients in both kit, setup, professionalism and extra upsell options – something I am immensely proud of now!
Joining the National Association of DJs in Chester, when I lived in the Midlands, was a key change in the way I approached the business, and I started looking at the ‘upsell’ and how to make more money from each booking. If you read my profile, it gives the details behind me traveling around the UK a lot for the day job, driving some 30,000 miles a year, which meant, thanks to Paul Arnett and John Forbes, that I got involved at national level within NADJ and helped set up the London branch with Tony Winyard, Fabio Capozzi, Ed Bereton, Keith Elwood and Matt Hayden-Baker.
I also regularly visited the South Central branch and discovered the South-Eastern Discotheque Association (SEDA) where I formed strong friendships with other DJs that I still meet regularly now. Sadly, since the pandemic, those NADJ branch meetings haven’t come back. As you often hear – use it or lose it.
Actually, that can be said for not just associations, but retailers and educational events that are put on for the benefit of you and your business – like Pro Mobile Conference. I first discovered that in 2015 and it’s always been a highlight of my DJ calendar, although, since 2018, I kind of couldn’t miss one after being on the organising team with both Eddie Short and my now partner in crime Peter Holding.
In 2013, I moved back to London before settling in Surrey in 2015. I was made redundant from the day-job during the pandemic in 2021 and I made the jump to full-time DJ and production company with a side hustle veterinary job. With four years of freedom under my belt, I don’t think I could work for anyone again. I choose when I work or when I go on holiday so, if you’re a mobile DJ that wants to go full-time then my advice is ‘just do it’. It’s scary at first when you realise that no one is paying you at the end of the month but that is the drive I needed to be in charge of my own destiny!
Here are a few things to consider before taking that jump: ...
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
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 134, Pages 48-53.
