How to get gigs?

[Arnold_disco]

Hi guys.
I get about 6 gigs per year and want to do more but i dont how to advertise? I am also unsure about what to charge.
Thanks

[super-hero]

Hi Arnold,
I have found the best way to get gigs is to tell everone you know that you do discos. And get some business cards printed up. You can get some free from (vista print).
You will also probably find there are a bunch of other dj's in your local area, have a look at their websites or phone them to get an idea of prices etc.

[Arnold_disco]

Hi Arnold,
I have found the best way to get gigs is to tell everone you know that you do discos. And get some business cards printed up. You can get some free from (vista print).
You will also probably find there are a bunch of other dj's in your local area, have a look at their websites or phone them to get an idea of prices etc.

Thanks for that. I will try emailing other DJs tommorow and hopefully sort out buisness cards:)

[Cj_The_Dj]

if i was you i would put cards in your local chippy or take -ways and try to get your disco in the local news paper this can be done cheap.

or even donate your services to school summer fairs or even youth clubs but not for ever.

I don't work every weekend. but i get lots of some of my gig from www.sheffieldfrom.co.uk

your area might have a site and post things on it

also have your email signature with your name and number.

drop it in to convo with everyone you see lol.


times have canged i use to get gigs just from word of mouth and giving cards out at gig.

[Jiggles]

Long time no see on the forum there Joe!

Posters and that, is what i do. Just sell your self really.

[Cj_The_Dj]

Hi guys.
I get about 6 gigs per year and want to do more but i dont how to advertise? I am also unsure about what to charge.
Thanks

wheres arnold come from if your names joe lol????

[Jiggles]

Arnold is a part of Nottingham.... Its where the 'hicks' live :D

[Arnold_disco]

Long time no see on the forum there Joe!

Posters and that, is what i do. Just sell your self really.
Yes. Ever since i switched to Ubuntu i have not bothered to find my password!


wheres arnold come from if your names joe lol????
I live in Arnold ;)

[Jiggles]

Yes. Ever since i switched to Ubuntu i have not bothered to find my password!


Aint you a great supporter to the site! :banghead:

[Arnold_disco]

Aint you a great supporter to the site! :banghead:

I have been reading the site, just not posting!

[Jiggles]

Yeh Yeh...

[Cj_The_Dj]

Joe ring up 3 -5 disco with a fake gig and just get quote don't book them thou lol.

and add the prices up and divide them by how many you tyred.

and that will give you the average price and something to work from.

[nigelwright7557]

Hi guys.
I get about 6 gigs per year and want to do more but i dont how to advertise? I am also unsure about what to charge.
Thanks

1/ Yellow Pages (but there is a time lag until the next one comes out)
2/ Website, dont forget to submit your website to as many search engines as possible.
3/ There are numerous DJ directories (see my website for the links)
4/ Go out to local pubs/clubs and drop your card off.
5/ Ring up all the local disco agencies.

I have refused 4 gigs this week so it obviously works for me......

[DazzyD]

Yellow Pages may have a delay til the next book comes out but you can get your ad (either free or paid for) on Yell.com straight away.

Depends on what your target market is to how you need to advertise. I've done a mailshot before to venues in the area. As I specialise in weddings, I once created a reward scheme that local wedding-type businesses (wedding shops, florists, stationers, etc) took part in. They all got a batch of my flyers/brochures and each business had their own unique reference on. When a customer booked my from one of these flyers/brochures I asked for the reference number on it. I recorded this then, every three months, I would add up the results and the businesses would receive £5 for each booking they referred to us. For us it was more work. For the other businesses in the scheme is was pretty much something for nothing and some of them actively endorsed us while other just had our literature on display. You could tell the ones that tried the hardest as they got paid more!

Oh, and a decent, easy-to-navigate and read website is essential in todays business world. But make sure you get your own domain name. www.freewebspace.com/er87ed8a7y3k9 is not an easy web address to remember!

[Charlie Brown]

On any of the search engines, I would like to add myself so I'm in the list of mobile disco's in my area. Instead I pay around 50pounds a month to be on the side or be advertised around the web via Google Adwords. I have been on msn and even myspace and seen my add on the left hand side, but I want to be in the long list. I think this is where people look the most so does anybody know how I can add myself.

Many thanks, Charlie Brown

[rob1963]

1/ Yellow Pages (but there is a time lag until the next one comes out)

I wouldn't bother with YP.

The general opinion appears to be that it's pretty useless these days, as most people seem to go online to search for discos.

Therefore, I'd suggest a professional looking website & listings on the online directories, many of which are free.

I've reluctantly had a YP advert for 6 months now (as this was automatically done when I arranged a free ad on Yell.com).

How many bookings have I had from it so far? None. How many enquiries have I had? None again.

I rest my case.

I also know that any YP enquiries I DO get will probably say goodbye as soon as they hear my quote.

:bang:

[theoloyla]

I wouldn't bother with YP.

The general opinion appears to be that it's pretty useless these days, as most people seem to go online to search for discos.

Therefore, I'd suggest a professional looking website & listings on the online directories, many of which are free.

I've reluctantly had a YP advert for 6 months now (as this was automatically done when I arranged a free ad on Yell.com).

How many bookings have I had from it so far? None. How many enquiries have I had? None again.

I rest my case.

I also know that any YP enquiries I DO get will probably say goodbye as soon as they hear my quote.

:bang:
Yeah but dont forget that Joe is only 13 and a newcomer: so I wouldnt expect he would be asking the same sort of fees that you or I get Rob.

[Shaun]

Joe ring up 3 -5 disco with a fake gig and just get quote don't book them thou lol.


I know many do this, but it's a practice I personally despise, and have never done.

If someone like yourself lived locally to me and wanted to get an idea of how much I charged, I'd rather they phoned me for an informal chat...I'd be more than happy to chat to them and offer them advice. It would also open up networking possibilities for you instead of going about things in a deceitful way.

[Spirits High]

I know many do this, but it's a practice I personally despise, and have never done.

If someone like yourself lived locally to me and wanted to get an idea of how much I charged, I'd rather they phoned me for an informal chat...I'd be more than happy to chat to them and offer them advice. It would also open up networking possibilities for you instead of going about things in a deceitful way.


Agree with you there Shaun,

When I moved across from Belfast I didn't how things were here in sunny Derbyshire so I pm'd Dave (Dragonfly) gave him a bell, we chatted and the rest is history :D

Moral of the story is honesty and manners never hurt and it makes good business sense.

However on the downside I did get to meet Tony through Dave :D

Oh well, can't have everything :p

[Shaun]

However on the downside I did get to meet Tony through Dave :D

Oh well, can't have everything :p

:lol:

[rob1963]

Yeah but dont forget that Joe is only 13 and a newcomer: so I wouldnt expect he would be asking the same sort of fees that you or I get Rob.

That's fair comment, Theo...and something I'd overlooked.


I know many do this, but it's a practice I personally despise, and have never done.

If someone like yourself lived locally to me and wanted to get an idea of how much I charged, I'd rather they phoned me for an informal chat...I'd be more than happy to chat to them and offer them advice. It would also open up networking possibilities for you instead of going about things in a deceitful way.

The trouble is, if you pose as a potential client & ask a disco how much they charge, you will always get an answer to your question.

However, if you phone a number of local discos & explain that you're just starting out in competition with them & want their advice on how to get bookings which THEY might otherwise have got & also want to know what they charge to help you set your prices, I can imagine a number of them would not want to give you the information...for reasons which are fairly obvious!

Therefore, posing as a client is more likely to get you the information you want.

[Dragonfly]

Yeah but dont forget that Joe is only 13 and a newcomer: so I wouldnt expect he would be asking the same sort of fees that you or I get Rob.

I'm sure you're very right Theo it will be a fair few years before Joe commands the fees thay you do ............


but surely he is able to match Robs £60??? :D :D :D :D :D :beer1: :beer1:


to strengthen what Paul has said honesty plays a huge part dont sell someone something that they don't need or want thats how i've always worked , listen to what people say to you and try to match what you offer to what they require , if you can't then refer them on never just wing it.

[rob1963]

I'm sure you're very right Theo it will be a fair few years before Joe commands the fees thay you do ............


but surely he is able to match Robs £60??? :D :D :D :D :D :beer1: :beer1:



£60?

You must be joking!

I don't get out of bed for less than £65!

:D

[Cheesey 1975]

I wish i got that much lol !!!

[Shaun]

However, if you phone a number of local discos & explain that you're just starting out in competition with them & want their advice on how to get bookings which THEY might otherwise have got & also want to know what they charge to help you set your prices, I can imagine a number of them would not want to give you the information...for reasons which are fairly obvious!

Therefore, posing as a client is more likely to get you the information you want.

I just have a completely opposite mindset. I don't think of other DJs as "the competition". I have a healthy diary and there's more than enough work to go around for everyone. I'd much rather people we're up front when they call me. Instead of them receiving a quote through deceit, they could be missing out on a fantastic chance to network. Just ask any of the companies local to me that could be classed as my competition...I regularly pass work their way, and class many of them as friends rather than competition.

Maybe some will think that my mindset is naive, but I disagree. Rather than thinking of the DJs local to me as "competition", I think of them more as colleagues. Good networking is essential for me and my business.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

I just have a completely opposite mindset. I don't think of other DJs as "the competition". I have a healthy diary and there's more than enough work to go around for everyone. I'd much rather people we're up front when they call me. Instead of them receiving a quote through deceit, they could be missing out on a fantastic chance to network. Just ask any of the companies local to me that could be classed as my competition...I regularly pass work their way, and class many of them as friends rather than competition.

Maybe some will think that my mindset is naive, but I disagree. Rather than thinking of the DJs local to me as "competition", I think of them more as colleagues. Good networking is essential for me and my business.


Well said Shaun,Its good to know that we all feel the same way in our area

[rob1963]

I'd much rather people were up front when they call me. Instead of them receiving a quote through deceit, they could be missing out on a fantastic chance to network.

I guess it depends on what they say when they call you.

If someone simply rings up & says "I'm just after an idea of how much you'd charge for a 4 hour wedding disco on a saturday night" then where is the deceit?


Maybe some will think that my mindset is naive

Correct! :p


Rather than thinking of the DJs local to me as "competition", I think of them more as colleagues.

That's an interesting take on things, but in my book colleagues & competition are two very different things!

I never could work you out, Shaun...but now I'm even MORE confused!

:shrug:

[blitz]

The thing is if you are already book would you not rather that the work went to someone who you new would do a good job, keep the client happy and return the chance of work to you when they are booked in the future. it's a win win win situation.

[rob1963]

The thing is if you are already book would you not rather that the work went to someone who you new would do a good job, keep the client happy and return the chance of work to you when they are booked in the future. it's a win win win situation.

I agree.

That's why when I can't take on a booking, I will recommend a couple of my best friends who also do what I do.

In return, they will recommend me when they can't take on a booking.

However, I certainly wouldn't recommend the competition, as in other people who do what I do but who I don't know...and therefore have no idea about the quality of their service.

How can you recommend someone you don't know?

:shrug:

[Shaun]

I actually spent a while putting together an in-depth post to help Rob understand my way of thinking. In the end I thought "What's the point". He'll never "get me", just as I'll never understand him.

During that 'epiphany' I came to the conclusion that it's a scenario I'm really at ease with, so I deleted the post and smiled contentedly. :d

[Excalibur]

I actually spent a while putting together an in-depth post to help Rob understand my way of thinking. In the end I thought "What's the point". He'll never "get me", just as I'll never understand him.

During that 'epiphany' I came to the conclusion that it's a scenario I'm really at ease with, so I deleted the post and smiled contentedly. :d

I'm not sure he'll ever understand anybody on here! :(
Rob, price checking other DJ's while posing as a punter IS deceitful. All Discos in my area are treated as colleagues first, unless they actively try to pinch work, eg undercutting residencies. I reckon it must be a Southern thing this mistrust. ;) :D :D Further North we like to work together. :D

[soundtracker]

I'm not sure he'll ever understand anybody on here! :(
Rob, price checking other DJ's while posing as a punter IS deceitful. All Discos in my area are treated as colleagues first, unless they actively try to pinch work, eg undercutting residencies. I reckon it must be a Southern thing this mistrust. ;) :D :D Further North we like to work together. :D

and the thing is, you can always spot them a mile off, i then either give them a massively over inflated figure, or £60 ish to mess up their research, mind you if I told them the proper price I'd get "You'll never get that much around here!"

[rob1963]

I actually spent a while putting together an in-depth post to help Rob understand my way of thinking. In the end I thought "What's the point". He'll never "get me", just as I'll never understand him.

During that 'epiphany' I came to the conclusion that it's a scenario I'm really at ease with, so I deleted the post and smiled contentedly. :d

That's fair enough, Shaun.

The bottom line is that although different, both our ways of thinking & operating work well for us, as we both manage to make a living from the entertainment business.


Rob, price checking other DJ's while posing as a punter IS deceitful.

But you don't necessarily have to pose as a punter.

If you look a few posts back, you'll see I said this:


If someone simply rings up & says "I'm just after an idea of how much you'd charge for a 4 hour wedding disco on a saturday night" then where is the deceit?

Nothing there about posing as a client, just asking someone for an idea of what they charge...without saying who you are, so I don't see how this can be called deceit.


All Discos in my area are treated as colleagues first, unless they actively try to pinch work, eg undercutting residencies.

According to Shaun's post, he sees all local competition as "colleagues" full stop.

To refresh your memory, this was the relevant part of his post:


Rather than thinking of the DJs local to me as "competition", I think of them more as colleagues.

Presumably, it makes no difference whether they try to steal his work or not, as he made no mention of this.

There will always be SOME local DJs who DO try to steal work from others...including from Sean.

If he wants to look upon these people as colleagues, that's up to him, but it's extremely naive.


I reckon it must be a Southern thing this mistrust. ;) :D :D Further North we like to work together. :D

Nothing to do with mistrust or not working together.

Let me try & explain.

My two best friends also do what I do full time.

At the moment, if I can't cover a booking, I will recommend them, and in return they recommend me when THEY can't cover a booking.

Are you seriously suggesting this is wrong & I should actually be recommending the competition, as in other local discos who I'm aware of but dont actually know & whos service I know nothing about?

Would it REALLY be better to find out more about the competition & to start passing work I can't cover to them instead of my friends?

To quote a tennis player, you cannot be serious?

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

According to Shaun's post, he sees all local competition as "colleagues" full stop.

To refresh your memory, this was the relevant part of his post:



Presumably, it makes no difference whether they try to steal his work or not, as he made no mention of this.

There will always be SOME local DJs who DO try to steal work from others...including from Sean.

If he wants to look upon these people as colleagues, that's up to him, but it's extremely naive.

Do you go out of your way to wind people up, or does it just come naturally?

[rob1963]

Do you go out of your way to wind people up, or does it just come naturally?

I had lessons from someone in Barnet!

4098

[Shaun]

Peter, Steve. Having a discussion with Rob is like urinating against the wind. It's a futile effort, and quite frankly not worth the effort. ;)

[Excalibur]

You're either not fully awake this morning Rob, or you have a funny way of doing things in that strange area called "The South". Surely you can see what we're all saying? In essence, don't ring other DJ's for prices, unless you say you're a DJ first. Honesty would be rewarded by having work passed on if you were found to be any good. ( And even if you weren't sometimes, with the customer being told of your misgivings). Deceit, and it IS deceit, believe me, is not the way to go about it. If you get into a network, then it's all good news. If you go sneaking and skulking round the outside, it leads to mistrust and scepticism.


Peter, Steve. Having a discussion with Rob is like urinating against the wind. It's a futile effort, and quite frankly not worth the effort. ;)
Probably is, but I awaken each day in the hope that the scales will fall from his eyes, and Hallelujah, he will see the light! :D Come on mate, we've got to help the poor deluded soul, it can't be easy being Rob!

[PropellerHeadCase]

I have to say I think calling price checking deceitful is odd - your pricing shouldn't be a big company secret (as witness those who have quote generators on their sites) - especially as almost every post asking how to set one's price is answered, at some point, by "ring around some local suppliers and see what they're charging".

Would it be deceitful to go to the websites of your local competition and get prices from there? Are all " How much?" enquiries from the Yellow Pages?

All of that said, pricing should be down to the cost/expenditure of - and desired income from - the service provided, so anyone ringing around like that is probably doing themselves as disservice anyway.

[Shaun]

I have to say I think calling price checking deceitful is odd - your pricing shouldn't be a big company secret .

Who mentioned keeping secrets?. I would much rather if a local DJ called me up for a chat about prices in a forthright an open manner. I have nothing to hide, and I'm always willing to chat about the business. The whole point we're making is that by "pretending" to be a customer they are losing out on potentially lucrative networking. I don't "lie". What I find odd is people phoning up hiding behind a lie to gain information.

I used to pass work onto a young DJ in the area. That was until he called up pretending to be a customer to check out my prices. The caller I.D showed who he was right away and I played along and quoted him my usual price. To date I've never passed anymore work his way. Deceit is deceit, and I don't play that game.

I don't expect to change anyone's mind. I suspect many of the people that post or lurk here have price checked using that method. It's just not something I agree with or would ever partake in. I'll stick to honesty, thank you. :)

[Excalibur]

I have to say I think calling price checking deceitful is odd - your pricing shouldn't be a big company secret (as witness those who have quote generators on their sites) - especially as almost every post asking how to set one's price is answered, at some point, by "ring around some local suppliers and see what they're charging".

Would it be deceitful to go to the websites of your local competition and get prices from there? Are all " How much?" enquiries from the Yellow Pages?

All of that said, pricing should be down to the cost/expenditure of - and desired income from - the service provided, so anyone ringing around like that is probably doing themselves as disservice anyway.

It's deceitful if you DON'T make it clear you're another DJ. Otherwise it could be seen as underhand. I may do a lot of things for money, but last time I looked I still had SOME principles. :D

Edit: Re Shaun's post above, I could have written it word for word. This is what we're trying to explain, be honest and you will be rewarded. Be deceitful and lose out. Mnay of us on here are happy to work together, and have back up/help available when needed.

[Shaun]

Ok. Let's see if we can get back on topic.

"How to get gigs? "

[rob1963]

If you're not charging too much, you could try an ad in the local newspaper...the one which gets delivered free.

However, bear in mind this will generally produce work at the lower end of the quality scale.

[theoloyla]

If you're not charging too much, you could try an ad in the local newspaper...the one which gets delivered free.

However, bear in mind this will generally produce work at the lower end of the quality scale.
That is where young novices usually start.:)

[Shaun]

Try contacting local youth centres. Have some posters made up and place them anywhere that will let you (shops, council buildings, leisure centres etc).

[blitz]

website is a must, majority of people use the web to find services these days, doesnt have to be that expensive to start with. www.mrsite is one that lets you build it yourself with no knowledge of websites and can look pretty good with a little thought, put some nice pics of your gigs on there along with some good text and your away, I'm sure you can pick it up for about £30, thats for your domain name and hosting for a year as well

[ppentertainments]

My personal opinion :

To be honest don't worry too much about a brilliant website just yet - use a basic one (free if poss) to get you up and running. I know you can get a lot from a site but in the short term there are other ways.

I will be honest and say to start with you will be looking at the 'budget' market, and if we are honest we all need to start there - who is going to pay £000's for a dj they have never heard or with little experience.

The best way to get your name about is make sure you speak to the venue management / landlord. Obviously speak to them beforehand but also pop round the next day to talk to them, see if they liked you, explain you are only starting and ask if you can give them some business cards. Get talking to them and you will be suprised at what it can do for you - I always do it still and get a lot of regular work from it. Don't try to engage conversation last thing at night as all they want to do is get to bed - speaking from experience.

Talk to likes of football clubs, dancing schools etc. Most of them will have youths and may enjoy having a youth dj for them.

Don't go for any 'pie in the sky prices'. if you look like getting regular work there is nothing wrong with discounting your prices.

Most importantly don't forget to look after the people who look after you. I have a few local venues / clubs who really helped me start off and I still do the odd 'cheapo' for them as a thank you. If you are doing this make sure they know you are doing it cheap and what your real prices are so they appreciate the fact.

Cards on shop windows are good but many charge for this and can cost a few quid if you have a few on the go.

[Corabar Steve]

I had lessons from someone in Barnet!

4098

Take more lessons, because that one failed big time.

[Excalibur]

:handbag:
Should we not rise above this petty and unseemly bickering lads? :confused: :D :D Steve, you've got to make allowances for Rob. ;) :D :D

[Corabar Steve]

Why should I treat him any differently to anyone else?

I don't suffer fools gladly & I make allowances for no one

[rob1963]

:offtopic:

[Corabar Steve]

:offtopic:

Did I miss the memo about you being made a moderator?

[rob1963]

Did I miss the memo about you being made a moderator?

No...

...and did I miss the memo saying only moderators are allowed to mention that a thread has gone off topic?

...or the memo saying some smileys can only be used by moderators?

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

You can use whatever smilies you choose, as long as they are not deemed offensive or obscene.

BTW, you're off topic (in fact not even close to anything that has been previously mentioned in this thread)http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/scorchio/saroll.gif

[PropellerHeadCase]

Hang on a sec, Rob, I have that memo here, somewhere.

[Corabar Steve]

:offtopic:

[rob1963]

BTW, you're off topic (in fact not even close to anything that has been previously mentioned in this thread)http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/scorchio/saroll.gif

:sorry: