Book More Gigs (in an Online world)

DJ’s will ask me “How can I get more gigs?” Or “How can I get more Brides to respond back to me?”

It’s an Online world and you have to have your “Tools for Online Promotion” IN PLACE to succeed. I have given this talk to various DJ’s and so I decided to record it on this page, so I can simply refer DJs here when I am asked about how to book more gigs in an Online world. NONE of this is intended to be “preachy”. Some of you don’t need any of my advice, while others do. But for those who are asking or wanting to improve, read on.

 

Building Your DJ Product:

First and foremost, you have to be serious and consistent about your business and Good at being a DJ. You can’t “come and go” with your effort to build your product. Work consistently towards improving everything from “how” to DJ, to your equipment, to “how to talk” to Customers. Practice your customer contact skills. KNOW what you’re going to say if you get them on the phone or at an interview. Practice ! Continue to Improve your DJ product. Read, talk with DJ’s. Be serious and consistent with your efforts. Work a plan to improve.

Get a Good email package and learn to use it. I prefer gmail. Its free and works great. You can also use Gmail with your own domains email such as info@xyzdj.com. But no matter, find one where you can build email templates (gmail calls them canned messages). These emails allow you to build a great email follow up, and pull it in, change the brides name, and send it out to any inquiries. This is important. You do not want to hand build every email you send. Too much time, and too many mistakes. Build One good one, refine it, and use it over and over. 

Pricing is a natural evolution of your efforts. Like most DJ’s, I started doing parties for $275. You build your price up each year as you build your DJ Product, skills, and your Tools.

 

Tools for Online Promotion:

  • Get a nice formal picture of yourself. Bride and Grooms want to “picture” YOU doing their wedding and a formal picture provides this. Weddings aren’t about being cool or hip, but more about classy and fun. 
  • Get more reviews! NOTHING sells a future Bride like words of praise from previous Brides. Trust me, Brides tell me this all the time. Have Clients enter them or enter them yourself onto my website so that they SHOW right next to your DJ page.
  • Get your Canned or Template email ready. Work on it, refine it. Write it and rewrite it. Focus it not on you, but on the Bride. Tell her what you will do for Her. What sets you apart? If you offer a great price say so, Prices start at xx.xx. Lastly, come up with a subject that gets her attention and makes her open your email.
  • Practice what you are going to say to your Clients when you get them on the phone or at an interview. Don’t just “wing it”.
  • Get some video. I bought a $275 small Sharp video camera and take with me on gigs. I have it ready to go so anytime I’m seeing great footage of a crowd dancing and celebrating, I pull up the camera and shoot 30 seconds of it. Easy peazy baby.
  • Still photos. Same as for Video, take some pics of people having fun. Post them on your website or facebook.
  • A very nice website helps a lot, however this is no small task. You DO get instant credibility and professionalism being a part of the Easy DJ website. So this is where I help you. Obviously building and having a good one of your own will help too.
  • Get found online. This is about Marketing and again, where Easy DJ helps you by doing our part to be found everywhere online, so that you are found everywhere online Google, The Knot, Wedding Wire, blah blah blah. 

Follow up with Clients immediately. I know from personal experience that I get much better results if I contact the Client immediately after I see the lead. If a phone number, I call it. Otherwise I email.  This works! You reach the client cause you know they are there, since they just did the inquiry. The Clients are also impressed and tell me so. They say, you are really on top of your business by responding so quickly. This gives them a great felling right off the bat. One of the guys on the DJ team (who actually justed closed 4 gigs in the last 3 week), has told me he has the very same experience.  

Don’t get frustrated. The DJs tell me, and industry stats agree, that clients respond back about 1 out of every 10 tries. There is a lot of competition. Don’t get frustrated or take it personally. Just know this is how it is. And, all the more reason to have a “canned or template” email to make it easier to send those out. Of course, the immediate phone call, as discussed above, I think still greatly increases your chances!

In closing: Build your DJ Product, and get your “Tools for Online Promotion” in place. Then follow up with Clients immediately and don’t get frustrated. You’ll be ready for DJ promotion in the online world, and a more successful and profitable business.

I continue to do My part, by continually working on, improving, and refining every aspect of Easy DJ Productions for both myself, and my DJ Partners. I have lots more ideas to roll out in the future but as always, I have a plan, and I work my plan.

 

Garry Snyder
Easy DJ Productions

 

You and Easy DJ Productions: If you’re serious about moving your DJ business forward and GOOD at being a DJ, then we together can make some things happen! I am interested in putting effort forth to help each DJ to further their craft. My goal and plan is to create successful and lasting partnerships. I’m doing my part by continuing to build the systems and brand name of “Easy DJ Productions”. For working with Easy DJ, be sure you read our How We work page (from the DJ Tools section) so you understand our process. I take the time to write this stuff down so I don’t have to answer everyone’s individual questions over and over.

Opinion or facts? I’m not telling you my opinion, I’m telling you what worked for me personally. I book $1000 plus weddings for myself all the time without ever meeting clients and in many cases without ever even speaking to them on the phone. 8 out of 10 without a meeting. Clients see my professional Website, get my online quote, get my automated repeat emails with links to reviews, video, etc, and then they email me they are “ready to book me”. I email a link to an online contract, they book it, and send me the deposit. I built this Online business in slightly over 3 years so I know it works. (Of course, I have worked like an idiot for 3 years on the website, programming, Google, marketing, and on building a good DJ Team). Prior to 3 Years ago, I was working for Entertainment Unlimited , doing none of the above, and having them take about 37% of the money. Which is why when I started this business, I knew I’d also build it for both myself, and my DJ Partners, and I’d offer them a very good deal.