Strategy Episodes

One of my podcast premium content subscribers asked me to cover how I create and present my custom proposals. It's morphed over the years and I feel like I have it in the best place I possibly can (at the moment). In this episode, I talk through what I include in the proposal, the tools I use to cr…

Whether we realize it or not, we all have a red line - that is, a place where we won't let a client or a creative partner (i.e. a planner, photographer, etc.) cross. If they go beyond that line, it threatens the quality of the work or at the very least, sets a terrible precedent for the remainder o…

Ghosting - it’s just a part of what we have to deal with as an industry…or is it? In this episode, I make a case for how we can stop it all together. It takes a commitment to not be swayed by the almighty dollar and to stand in your truth. If we do this, we’ll finally be able to get rid of not only…

I've always been a fan of rewarding yourself (if you sell yourself) or your salespeople for a sale. There are exceptions but by and large sales is not easy - time and money spent to market for the client you want, the sales consult, the proposal, the signing of the contract and the payment. That's…

I've heard a lot of DJ podcasts recently reference the benefit of short formality song edits and NY/NJ Mini Dance Sets. I want to give the other side of that argument. Simply put, I'm not a fan of either. I think both hurt the reception more than they help. In this episode, I give you my take on …

Have you ever had to articulate to a client what your deposit is for? To me, the answer to this question is just one in a line of questions that tells the story of your business. In this episode, I talk through the most commons answers to this question that I hear from DJ companies. Then, I try and…

Are you tired of constantly dealing with customers or clients who say you're too expensive or they've found a cheaper DJ? I know I was. I'd be told it was all about things like being more persuasive, responding quickly, or showing value. The reality is that it goes much deeper than that. In this …

Don't you hate it when advertisers call you and want you to advertise or marketers ping you wanting you to to participate in something you have no interest in doing? You don't want to say yes but you also might not have the heart to say no. How can you word something professionally that stops them…

It's a New Year...but man did this last one (2021) kick my butt; to the point that I ran out of gas and am just now finally getting well. I talk through how to have your family or significant others support you when things get crazy then share 2 things that radically changed my year in 2021. Lin…

Rant...Errr...DJ Dad Talk Time. From the inception of this podcast, the goals have been to #1 - have conversations that others in our industry aren't having; ones that go deeper than surface level and #2 - push our industry forward. So when I see something that runs contrary to that, I feel it's m…

It takes a minute for me to get there but the crux of this episode is about transparency (especially with our social media). Do our clients really need to see everything? I think there is a line and at some point, transparency has some diminishing returns if you don't hold it in check. Here's my t…

One thing I feel like I'm really good at is multi-tasking and getting things done. I DJ and sell my own events, run a DJ Experience called the DJC, record this podcast, run a coaching group and do individual coaching, am in 3 masterminds myself, have a mid-level DJ brand I own, handle my own socia…

Is there a difference between being thirsty and hungry? Absolutely there it is. In this episode, I break down the nuances between the two and talk through why I feel it's imperative that you get this right. This could literally make or break certain opportunities that are presented to you. DJs: I…

As you move into higher end events, you will inevitably be working with a planner. So it makes sense to ask, what are planners looking for in DJ Set-ups? This may influence what you invest money into. I don't think it's as complicated as it may seem. Communication is key. In this episode, I talk th…

Getting a little deep in the weeds on this one. Once you move from hobby/amateur creative to professional, can you measure quality? Unless it's a specific metric, I think it becomes more of a stylistic question, then one of quality. In this episode, we dissect this further. DJs: Interested in Hea…

In the last episode, I ran out of time to give an in depth Engage Summits overview. So in this episode, I hit the highlights of what to expect should you ever decide to go. I wish something like this was around before I had attended. Enjoy. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyh…

As someone who has had a podcast for the last 3 years, I take seriously the responsibility to deliver episodes that have content where I have done the work to study the issue at hand. When I see others not doing the same, I get triggered. Engage Summits is something that has changed my life in a lo…

I used to think that event attire didn't REALLY matter as an entertainer at private event functions. If the skills were on point, fashion was just an after thought. Maybe I was right when I first started. However, these days it's just as important as your DJ Set-Up. In this episode, I talk with my …

For a lot of DJs, 2020 was a bad year. As COVID has started to get behind us and the world is opening up more and more, inquires for private events have been coming in hot! So the temptation is to raise your rates and make up for last year. In this episode, I make the case for why that's a terrible…

In this episode, I interview one of my favorite DJs I've met in my DJ journey - DJ Hapa. This dude is next level on so many fronts. He is a former recording artist, runs a DJ school, hosts the podcast, A Tribe Called Dad, and still DJs himself while also raising his 3 kids alongside his wife, T Lo…

In this episode, I share some revelations from traveling in a post-COViD world - from limited flights options, to rental car shortages and ride sharing gouging. I also give you some travel hacks to get around these things as well as contract and selling advice. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music…

This is a once a month re-occurring series where Joe Bunn and myself talk marketing tips that are pertinent to the working DJ. Whether you are a single op, established multi-op owner or veteran DJ company, we do our best to cover it for all the DJ categories. In this episode, we talk about physical…

The travel DJ life isn't all roses people (at least it's not for me). I learned a valuable lesson this past weekend in booking a flight with a budget airline. In this episode, I share the story and also give you a travel hack. SPECIAL SALSA PHOTO BOOTH PROMO THROUGH APRIL 30TH. Go to photoboothsu…

I often get asked about my sales follow up process. I wish I could tell you it's some elaborate formula but honestly, it's rather straightforward. That said, there are a lot of nuances. I break it all down. Be sure to have your notepad out to take some notes. SPECIAL SALSA PHOTO BOOTH PROMO THROU…