How do you spend your business time during the day?

[charlie]

Hey guys,

Since going full time around 6 months ago im finding it really hard to keep a structure of my day time, regarding the business.

I was just wondering how people use their time effectively?

Do you have a set structure to your day? Or just deal with things as and when?

Also any tips on getting a good structure to my "day at the office!"

Cheers

[DJWilson]

Maybe set invoices for so many hours each day then, downloads for x amount of hours etc etc?

[JDB Entertainment]

Glad you posted a thread Charlie, i feel this is a very important topic that may be of interest to people full time or those of thinking of going full time.

As I discussed with you, myself personally i spend the "day at the office" updating the website, checking emails, researching my competitors and also ways of getting in more clients & checking the MDD Forums :) (which my fiancee says is not work! :P )

[yourdj]

Get up at a set time. 8am etc.

write lists the night before.

don't drink too much (which is my downfall) as you wont get up in the right mood.

basically keep a routine.

Also - remember what's important such as your wife and kids (if you have them) as thats what matters.
So stick to that time period of work such as 9-6 or something and ignore business after that.

- keep a diary - i use entourage.
- get an 0844 number as it can ring home and mobile at same time.
- balckberry/iphone good as you can have email on the move.

[charlie]

i currently have emails come straight through to my blackberry so that cuts out alot of time, although i do still spend alot of time on the net researching, sorting music, making visuals etc.

Will be good to see which things work best for people

[JDB Entertainment]

I think Charlie's OP is more aimed at what people do during the day.

"correct me if i am wrong charlie"

[rob1963]

Hey guys,

Since going full time around 6 months ago im finding it really hard to keep a structure of my day time, regarding the business.

I was just wondering how people use their time effectively?

Do you have a set structure to your day? Or just deal with things as and when?

Also any tips on getting a good structure to my "day at the office!"

Cheers

Monday is my music sorting out day, which means printing off the new top 40, downloading most of the new stuff from itunes & updating my current music playlist. I also make up a playlist of all the requests of the next weekend's disco(s) then sync my ipods, update them with the Numark librarian software & charge them.

I don't have set times for anything else, though. I spend the business part of my day doing paperwork, answering enquiries, checking webstats, looking at my website for things that I can improve, looking at my template business letters & email enquiry for improvements I can make there as well as spending a fair few hours reading & posting on this forum.

[JDB Entertainment]

i currently have emails come straight through to my blackberry so that cuts out alot of time,

I have just been informed by the fiancee I will soon be the owner of a Blackberry for Christmas & my Birthday! :D

Looks like life will become easier.

[charlie]

spot on james :)

my blackberry makes it so much easier having all your emails and diary at your fingertips alll the time

[Charlie Brown]

......go to school :sofa:

Every night I reply to any emails/enquires that have come through the old iphone.

I always like to contact the clients who have booked me for the weekend so I can discuss any last minute enquires.

I don't really have that much to do...apart from send out invoices etc. I bet I only send out (on average) one a week?

Music is brought directly off iTunes... occasionly back that up.

[yourdj]

I think Charlie's OP is more aimed at what people do during the day.

His post was about structure and using time efficiently?
The main problem with working from home is becoming lethargic.

There is a million things to do and a variety of bits and bobs to start getting on with - but without structure things can slowly go downhill.
Im a good multitasker and motivated person but i still need it. I have a diary which alerts me each day to what i have to do etc.

I would add that networking meetings are good as it gets you out the house and you meet like minded people.

Been working from home for seven years and have fallen for all the traps - hence the advice. :)

- actually what rob said is good about setting different days for different tasks. such as music research, invoicing, marketing, chilling, etc.

[charlie]

His post was about structure and using time efficiently?
The main problem with working from home is becoming lethargic.

There is a million things to do and a variety of bits and bobs to start getting on with - but without structure things can slowly go downhill.
Im a good multitasker and motivated person but i still need it. I have a diary which alerts me each day to what i have to do etc.

I would add that networking meetings are good as it gets you out the house and you meet like minded people.

Been working from home for seven years and have fallen for all the traps - hence the advice. :)

Great advice thank you very much.

Yes i find working from home is very difficult, im currently sorting out some office space at my grandparents house which will really help i think.

Also, people presume because your at home that your not really doing anything important!

[christoph]

I do all these things in my spare time as I have a full time day job. You guys must take an absolute age to download you new stuff from itunes and reply to queries if that's all your doing during the day.

'monday is spent downloading and sorting music'

I do that on a Monday too, from 7pm 'till 8pm, after I've been at work all day.........

If you are stuggling to fill your day, get another job would be my suggestion, don't just look for more work to do unless it translates directly into increased revenue for you.

[Vectis]

I have lots of projects "on the go" at any one time, with a couple of long-running slow movers that I can fall back to if I'm not tied up elsewhere.

As a general rule I try to stick to 'normal' hours on non-gig days, getting up around 8 when Mrs VV leaves for work (no point getting up any earlier I'd just be in the way :p ) and once I've had a cuppa I'll make sure there's no jobs that need doing around the house, let the chickens out to roam in the garden, and crack on.

Over lunch I'll plan dinner - quite often in the winter it's a slow-cooker casserole-y jobbie so I'll sling it all in; other days I'll make up some pizza dough to rise during the afternoon or prep some veggies to go with whatever.

Another session in the afternoon and then wind things down for when wifey gets home, maybe spending a couple of hours online in the evening if she's busy with homework or whatever.

Most of the business activities have already been covered but I also spend a reasonable amount of time out of the house meeting up with customers either for the disco work or for my other projects. Some weeks it seems like I'm never home, and that's where the iPhone is an absolute godsend as I can do everything I need from there. Other weeks it seems like I never leave the house. Most weeks have a nice mix.

[yourdj]

Great advice thank you very much.

Yes i find working from home is very difficult, im currently sorting out some office space at my grandparents house which will really help i think.

Also, people presume because your at home that your not really doing anything important!

There is always something to do. remember to ignore everything else in a set period of time. ie: 9-5.



If you are stuggling to fill your day, get another job would be my suggestion, don't just look for more work to do unless it translates directly into increased revenue for you.

We dont need to as we are probably earning more than you do
sitting on the toilet for one hour reading pro mobile.

I forgot about walking the dogs having a pint in the pub after and watching my fish when i get home :D

post a stupid comment and get a stupid answer :o

The whole point of this is how to structure your day as you would in an office or other full time job!
- I spend my spare time on things that are important like seeing my girlfriend and enjoying life.

[Booche]

I do all these things in my spare time as I have a full time day job. You guys must take an absolute age to download you new stuff from itunes and reply to queries if that's all your doing during the day.

'monday is spent downloading and sorting music'

I do that on a Monday too, from 7pm 'till 8pm, after I've been at work all day.........

If you are stuggling to fill your day, get another job would be my suggestion, don't just look for more work to do unless it translates directly into increased revenue for you.

Hmmm i think that falls under the TROLL issue, so you just assume that we all spend our days doing nothing basically, and for you to say you spend 1hr downloading then surely you cant be that busy doing disco work as im sure im not the only one that if i spent 1hr getting music for gigs then i wouldnt have anything near enough for my next booking and how do you know whats bookings are going to happen on the rest of the week.....

Sorry but i feel your post is a waste of time and is just a post to try and get attention....

Dave :)

[yourdj]

Sorry but i feel your post is a waste of time and is just a post to try and get attention....

Dave :)

:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:

[rob1963]

'monday is spent downloading and sorting music'

I do that on a Monday too, from 7pm 'till 8pm, after I've been at work all day.........

I'm able to do it at my leisure in the daytime, as I don't have a daytime job.

I'm not able to do it between 7pm & 8pm, as I'm usually on the way to work then.

[simonp]

I'm really really surprised that no-one has put down allotted 'practice time';

i.e. time spent behind your weapons of choice (decks) having a play. I always make sure there's time allocated to DJ to myself, look and play around with new and pre-releases, revisit playlists/setlists, look for new mixes, practice my mixing, throw tunes together that shouldn't really happen (sometimes you come up with some right gems), also messing around with combinations of effects etc etc.

Surely I'm not the only full time DJ on here who actually likes to practice their trade as well, as surely practice goes a long way to making perfect :o

[Mark Wild]

I'm really really surprised that no-one has put down allotted 'practice time';


I do this quite alot, but I think you'll find some don't practice at all as they seem to think they don't need to, some don't even work with headphones ! :eek: I spent 5 hours of my day today putting together a set for a wedding, although 3 hours of this wedding will be house music (beat mixing in key)

[rob1963]

Surely I'm not the only full time DJ on here who actually likes to practice their trade as well, as surely practice goes a long way to making perfect :o

If I still had to practice after 25 years in this game, something would be seriously wrong!

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I'm really really surprised that no-one has put down allotted 'practice time';

i.e. time spent behind your weapons of choice (decks) having a play. I always make sure there's time allocated to DJ to myself, look and play around with new and pre-releases, revisit playlists/setlists, look for new mixes, practice my mixing, throw tunes together that shouldn't really happen (sometimes you come up with some right gems), also messing around with combinations of effects etc etc.

Surely I'm not the only full time DJ on here who actually likes to practice their trade as well, as surely practice goes a long way to making perfect :o

Worm...cans...mixing...mobile dj...no real need <------Rearange and add words to suit :D

In all seriousness though...i rarely practice mixing at home. Polish up my scratching as you cant really do that at a wedding, but thats about it. Most of my new stuff gets its first play in the pub on a thursday night which is when i work out what goes and what doesnt.

[Mark Wild]

Worm...cans...mixing...mobile dj...no real need <------Rearange and add words to suit :D

Indeed



If I still had to practice after 25 years in this game, something would be seriously wrong!

Things change all the time though surely, are you really that good?

[rob1963]

What things change?

I'm out doing discos nearly every weekend, so what would setting up my gear at home & doing an imaginary gig achieve?

[Mark Wild]

What things change?

In 25 years? come on now, you need me to answer that?


I'm out doing discos nearly every weekend, so what would setting up my gear at home & doing an imaginary gig achieve?

No need to set all your gear up is there?

[simonp]

If I still had to practice after 25 years in this game, something would be seriously wrong!

arrogance personified - I've been in it 22, and you never stop learning ;)


Worm...cans...mixing...mobile dj...no real need <------Rearange and add words to suit :D


Can......open..... Absolute rubbish mate - I'm booked for a mobile nightclub experience on Saturday and will be spending a couple of hours 'in the mix' as requested :D

[Mark Wild]

arrogance personified

Indeed

[rob1963]

In 25 years? come on now, you need me to answer that?

Yes, because I'm not really sure what you mean.

Obviously my music formats & playout systems have changed over the years, but apart from trying out a new bit of kit when I first get it to make sure it works, what would be achieved by me setting up my gear at home & going a pretend disco?

Why would I need to do that when I do a REAL disco every week anyway?

[simonp]

What things change?

I'm out doing discos nearly every weekend, so what would setting up my gear at home & doing an imaginary gig achieve?

Not an imaginary gig :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: - read the post - Practice - Practice - nothing to do with setting up gear - it's playing around with music, tweaking playlists for future events etc etc

[Mark Wild]

Yes, because I'm not really sure what you mean.

Obviously my music formats & playout systems have changed over the years, but apart from trying out a new bit of kit when I first get it to make sure it works, what would be achieved by me setting up my gear at home & going a pretend disco?

Why would I need to do that when I do a REAL disco every week anyway?

I suppose you don't need much practice when all you do is bang the slider up & down/left to right without headphones, so yeah you're probably right ;)

[rob1963]

arrogance personified - I've been in it 22, and you never stop learning ;)

I didn't say I've stopped learning...because I AM still learning.

I said that I don't see the point of setting up my gear at home, pressing the buttons on my D2, pushing the faders up & down or talking on the mic.

It wouldn't achieve anything.

As for arrogance, you clearly don't know me at all.

[Mark Wild]

As for arrogance, you clearly don't know me at all.

Maybe not Rob but the whole "Me? Practice? After 25 years in the business? ha !" just reeks of it for some reason.

[simonp]

I didn't say I've stopped learning...because I AM still learning.

I said that I don't see the point of setting up my gear at home, pressing the buttons on my D2, pushing the faders up & down or talking on the mic.

It wouldn't achieve anything..

You're missing my point - I only have two decks, mixer & two studio Rokit speakers set up to practice - why would I plug in a mic to speak to myself??!?!?

I play around, practicing - today for example I was working on part of a setlist for a gig in a weeks time. I had one song playing out and put the wrong song, sorry right song, wrong version into the right deck, and mixed it in anyway, it worked even better, from there I went in a different direction, and mixed in something completely different and then thought, hold on I know what song will fit next as it's in the key of Cm and bosh, brilliant. before you know it I had a new (completely different)10 song mix that's going to work on 95% of dancefloors :D
That may not make sense to you you, but it will to others.

[rob1963]

You're missing my point - I only have two decks, mixer & two studio Rokit speakers set up to practice - why would I plug in a mic to speak to myself??!?!?

To practice your mic skills?


I play around, practicing - today for example I was working on part of a setlist for a gig in a weeks time. I had one song playing out and put the wrong song, sorry right song, wrong version into the right deck, and mixed it in anyway, it worked even better, from there I went in a different direction, and mixed in something completely different and then thought, hold on I know what song will fit next as it's in the key of Cm and bosh, brilliant. before you know it I had a new (completely different)10 song mix that's going to work on 95% of dancefloors :D
That may not make sense to you you, but it will to others.

I don't do mixing, as I don't find it necessary at weddings.

However, I do make up a playlist of all the requests for each gig in my itunes, and I listen to any tracks I'm not familiar with.

Maybe some people would call that practicing?

[Excalibur]

I didn't say I've stopped learning...because I AM still learning.

I said that I don't see the point of setting up my gear at home, pressing the buttons on my D2, pushing the faders up & down or talking on the mic.

It wouldn't achieve anything.

As for arrogance, you clearly don't know me at all.


Maybe not Rob but the whole "Me? Practice? After 25 years in the business? ha !" just reeks of it for some reason.

I fear Mr James is not explaining as well as he might. He and I appear to work in a similar manner, and we know full well which buttons do what on the kit, and what happens when you push a fader up. We don't beatmix/beatmatch/scratch whatever, so don't have this skill to practice. :o :o It's not in any way a question of arrogance, simply a different ( not necessarily better or worse, simply fit for purpose) way of working. I knew what he meant.

[rob1963]

I fear Mr James is not explaining as well as he might. He and I appear to work in a similar manner, and we know full well which buttons do what on the kit, and what happens when you push a fader up. We don't beatmix/beatmatch/scratch whatever, so don't have this skill to practice. :o :o It's not in any way a question of arrogance, simply a different (not necessarily better or worse, simply fit for purpose) way of working. I knew what he meant.

Thank you for explaining it better than I could, Peter.

You are 100% spot on with your understanding of what I was trying to say.

:cheers:

[Vectis]

I rarely practice as such; I always have music playing and familiarise myself with new stuff all the time, so when it's time to play it out I've usually got a good grip of it already. After 25 years this comes easily.

I usually only have a practice session if I'm covering an unfamiliar genre or if I have some new gear that I need to put through it's paces.

[charlie]

i think there are two types of Dj here. Im a club/mix DJ first and will mix 95% of my sets be it a wedding or anything.

This is something i often get comments on as alot of DJs dont seem to mix really. I do it for the love of DJing tho, making things different and creating a seamless journey of music is my job.
I think practice is a good use of time, along with all the other things suggested. I dont practice but am always listening to music, producing mash ups, finding samples to try and make my sets different.

I realise that people do what works for them! Theres nothing wrong with that!

Veering slightly off topic though!

More advice for structuring my day :D

[christoph]

Hmmm i think that falls under the TROLL issue, so you just assume that we all spend our days doing nothing basically, and for you to say you spend 1hr downloading then surely you cant be that busy doing disco work as im sure im not the only one that if i spent 1hr getting music for gigs then i wouldnt have anything near enough for my next booking and how do you know whats bookings are going to happen on the rest of the week.....

Sorry but i feel your post is a waste of time and is just a post to try and get attention....

I beg to differ. Unless you are a pro music producer, I fail to see how you can spend 5 WHOLE DAYS of sorting music, practicing and replying to queries. I do the queries on my lunch at work, and sort music in the evening whilst watching the telly.

And I think you'll find I'm more than able to download a weeks worth of new music in one hour.

It sounds to me like you are all trying to justify sitting around on your arse all day.


Now if you have a hire business, a lighting/stage management company/or a wedding packages business I take it back entirely.

But a modle DJ needing 5 days to sort music and write letters?? Come off it.

Also, if its about chilling out in the day and enjoying life then I take it back too, as I'd love to do that.

But don't tell me you are working all day solid.

[christoph]

Edit - when I say 'you all' I mean the people in the thread ealier who inferred that I had just posted to rattle someones cage.

I'm not trying to do that, I'm just saying if you are not so busy that your day is dictated to you as you are running from here to there, then why not consider doing something else aswell, rather than spendiong more time doing the same thing 'with a structure'.

[soundtracker]

Structure my day? Haha! That's why I gave up the day job, so that I didn't have to!!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Phew!!!...Anyway, back on topic!

I've got to the point now where I have a routine everyday.
I get up (usually around 9am) and the first thing I do whilst the kettle is boiling for my coffee, is to turn on the mobile and the laptop. I check my emails first thing and reply to any of them. I then listen to any promos that the postman may have delivered and check the rest of the post for booking fees, returned booking forms etc. If I need to make a visit to the bank to pay in stuff etc then I will.

I then check my online banking, have a quick look through this forum and any others that I am on and then update my accounts with any receipts that I have so that everything is updated and logged. It's as simple as that. I am always updating my music and looking for tracks that I may not have. I don't set my working hours as such and keep to them because sometimes I may get an enquiry at 8.00pm and if I said I was only working until 6.00pm then that would be silly. I have a Nokia E63 which is more or the less the same as a Blackberry so I have my emails and internet on that wherever I go.

Like YourDJ says, I try not to go too mad on my night out (Darts on tuesdays) but I find that generally I am waking up on a wednesday with a fuzzy head and that sets me back a few hours. I don't practice my DJing skills whatsoever. Not because I don't need to but because I don't have equipment set up to do it and if I am honest, I don't really feel the need to either. I know my stuff inside out. I am not considering getting new stuff anytime soon and I hardly ever beatmix. If I am doing weddings etc then I will do the odd mix here and there and off the cuff and I haven't had any problems. If I do regular stuff it's either Request Fest stuff where I play anything or Indie/Alternative nights.

The one thing that I could do with updating is my memory! I've noticed that ever since I started using the Denon HD2500, I have forgotten about a number of tracks because they are not physically there infront of me to browse. I have started to use the old CD's more and more alongside the Denon to get the memory working better. I am always updating the system and my CD's but half the time forget what I have downloaded. I have everything in the Top 40 every week including promos etc but I always seem to forget stuff so I back up on CD aswell.

[visualdjmax]

Routine? Never?

Get Up look after my little boy.
Go to work
Come back from work
Look after my little boy
Eat and catch up with Mrs J
Mrs J goes to bed. Edit videos to the early hours
Get up look after my little boy. Repeat to fade.

Oh and then there gigs and events in-between.

[Mark Wild]

Structure my day? Haha! That's why I gave up the day job, so that I didn't have to!!

Amen to that brother :D

[charlie]

cheers for the replies guys.

I must say i do enjoy earning my money on the weekends and am looking into more hire/small event/mid week dj gigs in the new year so that should keep me going!

I have only been full time since march so just like to find out what works for others

Thank you!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I really don't know how anyone can possibly comment on how long it takes for others to do things during the day.

You only know how long it takes you to do certain tasks and jobs, not others.

[visualdjmax]

Mate I can barely look after my self

[Excalibur]

Mate I can barely look after my self

Well that's a mile better than me. I can't look after myself at all! :o :o

[Spirits High]

Structure my day? Haha! That's why I gave up the day job, so that I didn't have to!!

Here here!

I've had structure for the last 24 years :eek:

Time to do things my way ;)