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Thread: Training funding opportunity

  1. #1
    Pazz's Avatar
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    Default Training funding opportunity

    I am continually making my preparations for a return and one thing I am keen to do is get more familiar with the software and dj controller (ddj800 and rekordbox) I've recently purchased. I'm learning all the time and I can do a lot of practising myself (youtube reading practical etc) but I want to develop my skills further and I'm interested in getting training with a nearby provider.

    I am able to get funding for this but one of the criteria I will need is to prove how much business I can get once I am back up and running. Looking for suggestions of what information I can provide to prove that this is a good regular form of employment and income. I not only want to go back doing the mobile stuff but if I can be proficient and confident enough using the gear / skills (a lot of this gear wasn't around the 10+ years ago when I was last taking bookings) then I would also like to give it a go in a music or club venue in the future. Just looking for ideas of obtaining evidence I can provide that the life of mobile DJ'ing is a good career move.

    PS. Initially I am looking to supplement it with another small part time job.
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  2. #2

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    You might be asking this question at the wrong time. Right now, a lot of business will be questioning if they can survive the next few months.

    I guess there's two approaches to this. You could either look up some of the medium sized operations in your area who are Ltd companies and find their public accounts on Companies House and use that as the basis of evidence, or you could basically create a business plan - working out your capital investment, running and marketing costs, looking at your competition to see how much you're likely to be able to earn per gig and then doing the math to see if that leaves you with a sustainable income. If you google around and search some of the forums like this one and MDJN's FB group you should be able to find a good starting point for thinking about the types of expenses you're likely to walk into.

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    Disco Dude! DeckstarDeluxe's Avatar
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    Without sounding like a ******** if you've DJ'ed before then surely you don't need paid training to learn a new DJing software? Money would be spent more wisely on marketing than training to do the easy part of DJing (pressing buttons and loading songs).

    As Jules just said, tons of business are going to really struggle for the next 12 months. I dont think funds for this sort of thing would be a wise investment by anyone.
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by DeckstarDeluxe View Post
    Without sounding like a ******** if you've DJ'ed before then surely you don't need paid training to learn a new DJing software? Money would be spent more wisely on marketing than training to do the easy part of DJing (pressing buttons and loading songs).

    As Jules just said, tons of business are going to really struggle for the next 12 months. I dont think funds for this sort of thing would be a wise investment by anyone.
    The funding isn't a personal investment it's there anyway as it's there to help people get back into employment. Due to personal circumstances I'm in a situation of needing to move forward and look to the future. My main focus needs to be getting back out there doing something I enjoy and had success with which is the Djing.

    I can see I could be facing the same issues as many with what's happening in the World right now but I'm not planning to start just yet so hope we can get some resemblance of normality in a few months when I hopefully will be more ready then.

    Djing is a little bit more than "pressing buttons and loading songs" depending on what you are doing. Yes I did it before and I did keep it fairly basic then but if you get 21st or 18th birthdays, chance to play a club, specialist events I'd say you'd need a bit more. Besides the equipment has advanced since I was taking bookings 10 years and more ago. There's definitely skills to be learnt and I want to be able to improve on the basics I had from before.
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by DJ Jules View Post
    You might be asking this question at the wrong time. Right now, a lot of business will be questioning if they can survive the next few months.

    I guess there's two approaches to this. You could either look up some of the medium sized operations in your area who are Ltd companies and find their public accounts on Companies House and use that as the basis of evidence, or you could basically create a business plan - working out your capital investment, running and marketing costs, looking at your competition to see how much you're likely to be able to earn per gig and then doing the math to see if that leaves you with a sustainable income. If you google around and search some of the forums like this one and MDJN's FB group you should be able to find a good starting point for thinking about the types of expenses you're likely to walk into.

    Julian
    Thanks for the info. I had started looking up the competition in the area and will see if I can delve a little deeper into them via Companies House etc.

    A business plan will be created and I will certainly look at some other groups too. I also have a fair idea of expenditure from the last time I was doing it and also knowing what I need now such as some equipment purchases, maintenance, PLI, PAT, website, marketing, fuel etc etc

    As I replied above the funding is specifically to help people with getting back into employment and not a personal investment. If its available and can only be used for this I think it's too good an opportunity to turn down during this period where I'm not going to be as busy.
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  6. #6

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    Maybe you could outline to us how you think an investment in training would help you get more/better paid work?

    I'm interested to hear, as I believe you can do it all 'at home' just by practising.

    What exactly are you looking to learn?

    Is this a grant or a loan (do you need to pay it back)?

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by rth_discos View Post
    Maybe you could outline to us how you think an investment in training would help you get more/better paid work?

    I'm interested to hear, as I believe you can do it all 'at home' just by practising.

    What exactly are you looking to learn?

    Is this a grant or a loan (do you need to pay it back)?
    It's a training grant related to supporting people in their future employment.

    Well obviously as I'm new to the sophisticated dj software and dj controllers that just weren't around when I was last DJ'ing then you could call it a little bit of a fast track experience to bring me up to speed.

    Even though I have a home setup it's not always easy to practice. I don't see why not or what I've got to lose. My home situation isn't really the best for practice so I would like the training to kickstart things. I've obviously got all my music from before so it should be a case of getting up to date with music I've missed and beefing up some other music types / styles. I'm also keen to see what 'tricks' I could do with some specialist music like EDM.

    The grant would give me more confidence in my skills and using the equipment which will help at different events I do and also give me confidence if I fancied doing a club spot. If I'm better at my game and performance along with my past knowledge and experience then hopefully I can impress to get future bookings.

    You only have to do a search of dj training online to see who is out there + what they can provide and offer. It might not be for everyone but I feel I have the opportunity and it can offer benefits.
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  8. #8

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    Would you mind sharing a link to the grant? It sounds useful for some other people I know.

    If it helps, the best training I've found useful was related to presentation skills - ie making announcements on the microphone.

    However, in terms of getting bookings, it's your website and marketing that is most critical.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by rth_discos View Post
    Would you mind sharing a link to the grant? It sounds useful for some other people I know.

    If it helps, the best training I've found useful was related to presentation skills - ie making announcements on the microphone.

    However, in terms of getting bookings, it's your website and marketing that is most critical.
    The grant is only available in Wales from the Welsh Government and as long as you meet certain criteria. Search for Access Training Funding.

    Presentation training sounds interesting.

    Website and marketing will come. It's all being planned. I had a good website back when I was last Djing and pretty much know what I want there when I get a new one.be good to know a few modern ideas for marketing but I will continue with some I was using before.
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  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pazz View Post
    The grant is only available in Wales from the Welsh Government and as long as you meet certain criteria. Search for Access Training Funding.
    Looking in to it, it does seem to talk a lot about 'employment' - there's no mention of self employment. It might be worth clarifying that.


    Quote Originally Posted by Pazz View Post
    Website and marketing will come. It's all being planned. I had a good website back when I was last Djing and pretty much know what I want there when I get a new one.be good to know a few modern ideas for marketing but I will continue with some I was using before.
    That should be your priority. Quite frankly, regardless of what training you undertake about your performance right now, it's not going to attract any bookings coming in.

    I know that because when I got back in to this game a few years ago, I didn't even own a single piece of equipment whilst I started getting bookings. No point worrying about the DJ'ing if you can't find the work!

    Spend your time and focus on getting the work in.

    To do this full time, at best, this industry is about 4 days a week working on the business, marketing it, dealing with emails and putting in place initiatives to get more bookings, 1 day doing the actual work (eg, Sat night, sometimes Fri and Sat night) and 2 days off (Sun and Mon). Although you'll soon find the paperwork kicks in on Monday too.

    If you spend the time marketing it properly, you've got a chance. But learning how to use a ddj800 isn't going to get you a booking.

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