The next 6 months....

[Charlie Brown]

I have been in the "business" for nearly 2 years now. I have always been very fortunate and worked most weekends, especially the last 6/7 months.

After stopping my Google adwords, I have had zilch enquires.

Next year is looking dead apart from my regular contract, school and the Masons. I'm in two minds to make the move Tom has by selling the gear and calling it a day. I love the job but is there any point in hoarding a load of gear when it's just sitting their collecting dust?

I reckon I could put my time and effort into other areas - but I do love the idea of running my own business. I would like to dabble in a few areas when I'm older.

---------------------------------

I'm willing to spend around £400 in advertising. Rob has kindly sent me a list of websites he uses to advertise but I think the first job is to get rid of the Vista Print website.

http://osc.template-help.com/wordpress_23224/


http://www.templatehelp.com/preset/pr_preview.php?i=23618&pr_code=92Nlgy0N39kr3ym1Q0s2KbAU4Z93rH
I like a template like this? I need to somehow transfer my website to this. Maybe Marc you could help?

A I have a list of venues whereby I have heard reports that the ressident DJ isn't up to much! Mum went to a lovely venue last night, for a staff xmas doo. She said the DJ was terrible and didn't even use lighting - the venue had their own. The presentation wasn't up to much...he draped a grey cloth over a table. He played Single Ladies three times! She paid £49 for this...meal and disco.

I need to somehow approach venues and offer my services. I'm not quite sure how to go about this - most event co ordinators will prefer to stick with their resident DJ even if he isn't great, it's less hassle on their behalf.

Any other ideas from you folks?

This will be my last shot and if it doesn't pick up then I will call it a day. I can always come back to the game when I'm older.

Cheers :)

[DJWilson]

I wouldnt use the flash template as some browsers and search engines dont like them.


Also get your website on a website where YOU can use a FTP and have 100% control of your site to get better search engine results rather then a vistaprint site.

Thats my 2p mate.

[Charlie Brown]

Also get your website on a website where YOU can use a FTP and have 100% control of your site to get better search engine results rather then a vistaprint site.


Cheers, mate. I don't really understand the terminology. Can you explain? :)

[DJWilson]

FTP basically allows you to upload your web files, images etc giving you complete control of whats on your site and if you had a host like one.com, marcs hosting etc etc you have admin panels etc where as vistaprint is limited control restricting your control of the site.

[Charlie Brown]

Ahhhh I see I see..

I used to be with one.com but the web design was limited...

[DJWilson]

Theres 1000's of free templates out there or you can get a custom one made and uploaded to your site via FTP.


Im also with one.com

[Charlie Brown]

Hmmmm, I want something that is really going to stand out.

I bet it's very pricey...

[DJWilson]

im more then happy with mine and it was free, all I pay for is the domain and hosting.

[Jonathan Ford]

Charlie, if I exclude December, and average it out over the year, I probably work one night every two weeks, and I'm a 35 year old man who has been doing this for 15 years.

It seems somewhat melodramatic to talk of quitting because you're not out EVERY weekend at your age and with your experience. Jesus, when I was your age I was stacking shelves for £3 and hour! Perspective....

[Charlie Brown]

Yes I understand your point but I'm just used to working.

November was literally every Friday and Saturday night.

Next year I have zilch. Nothing even in the wedding season!

This is the only thing in my life I aim high at and take seriously, unlike most 16 year olds it's school etc or relationships etc.

Edit:

Jonathan did you do our school prom? Nottingham High School? You had 4 moving heads on a truss with par cans? Back in June?

[DJ Jules]

Next year I have zilch. Nothing even in the wedding season!

This is the only thing in my life I aim high at and take seriously, unlike most 16 year olds it's school etc or relationships etc.

Charlie - patience!!! As I said before, people don't typically think beyond the next holiday. Next year I currently have the 9th Jan, and that came in last three days ago, and I've literally just had an enquiry for Feb which may or may not come off. I was in exactly the same position last year in Dec, and have done 62 gigs in the last 12 months (i.e. averaging slightly over one a week throughout the year).

I don't think the look/feel of the Vistaprint website is a massive barrier to be honest. It's not amazing and it doesn't stand out, but it's also not unprofessional or messy and it does generally do the job (though I would stop using the photo on this page (http://www.charliebrownsdisco.co.uk/MobileDiscos.html) where you can clearly see down a couple of young ladies tops). What I would spend the time/money looking at is how you're marketing it and what your target markets are. If I search for "Wedding disco Nottingham" in Google, you're on page 4. If I search for "Disco Hire Nottingham", well, I got a few pages in and didn't see you at all. This probably explains why stopping adwords has resulted in nil enquiries.

On your website, your keywords on every page are:

"Charlie Browns Disco, Mobile Disco, Nottingham, DJ Hire, Music, Disco, Wedding, Entertainment"

You need to work on that - what keywords did you used to pay for in Adwords? Are they in this list already? Why are the keywords the same on every page - is every page targeted at the same audience (I don't think so?) If not, then your keywords and description on each page should be amended to reflect the content and the target audience (because Google is probably penalising you for this). Also look at where else your website is linked from, as the websites that refer to you will influence your Google PageRank and therefore which page of results your website turns up on when people search for you.

In the meantime, I'd really advise either looking at how you advertise your website and your services elsewhere (i.e. in printed publications, posters, word of mouth, etc) or going back to paying a bit for adwords (amend your budget so you're still paying, but just not as much) until you sort out your website's pagerank to get you into the top listings.

Julian

[DJWilson]

PS also recomend adding google analytics to your site, very helpful and FREE :D

[Charlie Brown]

Julian thank you very much mate. :)

People like Darren don't pay anything with Google adwords...it was just too expensive. Were talking £110 a month?

I couldn't afford it as it wasn't great.

I don't have a clue about keywords or google rankings which is where I need my help. I wish I could pay somebody just to sort it out for me or to teach me so I know for the future.

I think if I can get myself into the first few pages of google, I would be sorted. I advertise on UK disco but that's all. I paid for a silver listing and got nothing in return.

It's just rather frustrating because people won't/can't fine me or my website.

[SC Events]

Charlie, good things come to those who wait ;)

I haven't had as many bookings as I would have liked (Approx 40) but it's been my best year. However 2010 isn't looking very busy for me yet, but I'm not majorly concerned yet - Why you may ask? :D

1.) I have listened to advice from the people on this forum and so I have managed to appear more professional, which has resulted in...(see 2)

2.) Getting higher paying gigs through putting the advice in to practice.

3.) Getting that little bit more 'Bonus' money for offering extras e.g. LED Uplighting (I don't own any Par Cans yet, but I'm going to be hiring them off Danno)


Charlie, don't give up. I have seen your gig logs and your pictures and you certainly know what you are doing and you know how to make people enjoy themselves. I read a few of your early posts and you have come so far since then it would be a shame.

Like I said at the start of this post, Good things come to those who wait (Well, they better do :D), things'll pick up. You're not the only one struggling for work next year, I am too, as I'm sure others are as well - you just have to make the most of the gigs you get.


A friend of ine said this to me the other day (I'm sure they're song lyrics lol):

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it!

Sorry for the long post :D

Scotty!

[DJWilson]

Charlie where are you on google rankings (what page, and how high)?

If you get a google account and use webmaster tools submit a sitemap and your'll ranking will gain and show you what your strongest search results are.

[Booche]

Charlie it would be a shame to just throw the towel in mate, as i keep saying to my misses im not giving up till its over ive got nothing booked for next year nor this NYE, BUT im thinking positive aftr a wise guy spoke to me the other day ( well it was Paul ;) ) lol who said it does take time so i say bare with it mate i know its frustrating when you feel like youve done everything but like Scott said "all good things come to them who wait"

Keep at it lad :)

Cheers Dave :)

[Charlie Brown]

Thanks Scott :approve: Appreciate it mate.

Erm, I really have no idea! How do I setup this google account!? :)

[DJWilson]

Thanks Scott :approve: Appreciate it mate.

Erm, I really have no idea! How do I setup this google account!? :)


www.google.co.uk (http://www.google.co.uk) top right, sign up and then select webmaster tools

[ppentertainments]

I have very limited web knowledge, Charlie, but looking at your site the one thing that works for me, but you don't mention much, are venues you have played in.

eg I list venues such as Langley Castle, Beamish Hall, Wynyard Hall etc which I play regular. If people put the name then disco - ie 'Wynyard Hall Disco' I appear on the first page. From my web stats this shows to be one of the main search strings people use.

I had similar problems to you regarding website until about 6 months ago and this was really all I changed. The other thing I done was to 'add' another name (premier wedding dj) which appeals a lot more to the wedding market, I have since followed suit with premier race nights (just 3 weeks ago so not reaping the benefits yet). Don't know if is just me but Charlie Brown Disco's seem like a kiddies DJ - could just be me but an opinion anyway.

The other thing - and don't bite my head off - is your age. I know it should not matter, but truthfully I think it does. At your age I would expect any DJ to be a Club DJ. Personal opinion again. Have you thought about going into clubs at all ???

Also, you go to a 'Posh School', can one of the students not knock you up a website within your budget ??

[DJWilson]

The other thing - and don't bite my head off - is your age. I know it should not matter, but truthfully I think it does. At your age I would expect any DJ to be a Club DJ. Personal opinion again. Have you thought about going into clubs at all ???



Wouldn't Charlie have to be 18 to go into clubs even when DJin'?

[Charlie Brown]

I do know what you mean in regards to the name. Not sure I would want to change it though? People know me as "Charlie Brown"....Not quite sure what I would change it to either.

In regards to my age - Clients don't know this until the night unless I meet them beforehand in which I have never had a problem.

"Posh school" - what do you mean? :eek:

But no, I don't know any of the lads who can knock me up a decent website. :)

Thanks for your help btw :) I appreciate all your inputs.

[andyw]

charlie i cant advise or help you with your website but what i want to tell you is , if you want to be succesfull at anything not just disco's ,then when things ain't going how you want it to go then that is when you have to work a bit harder not talk about packing it in, if you don't have bad times you can't have good times.

[Charlie Brown]

if you don't have bad times you can't have good times.

Very true Sir. :beer1:

[ppentertainments]

I do know what you mean in regards to the name. Not sure I would want to change it though? People know me as "Charlie Brown"....Not quite sure what I would change it to either.



Charlie Brown - Professional DJ ????

[ppentertainments]

Wouldn't Charlie have to be 18 to go into clubs even when DJin'?

No - can't remember the exact ins and outs but under 18's can work in clubs and pubs.

[Charlie Brown]

Charlie Brown - Professional DJ ????

Yes, I like it!

[NKR]

I wouldn't be too hasty chief. Next year looks duff for us too with only one job in Jan, then its April.

Worst recession we have ever seen mate, people are just leaving booking late.

[Creature]

charlie I wish I had seen this post before tonight as i would have invited ya over to a gig i was playing at Notts county football club so you could have a chat and hopefully I could talk you out of current thinking.

Take in what people above have said, they are right. Just because you have no bookings now for next year dont mean they wont come your way.

are you able to get to melton mobray ???

[OllieJames]

Charlie,

Give it time - don't be hasty and make a potentially stupid decision. I think you'll find the enquiries will pick up in the new year. Also - If you're that certain Adwords impacted your enquiries that much, why don't you get it back?

[wensleydale]

A I have a list of venues whereby I have heard reports that the ressident DJ isn't up to much! Mum went to a lovely venue last night, for a staff xmas doo. She said the DJ was terrible and didn't even use lighting - the venue had their own. The presentation wasn't up to much...he draped a grey cloth over a table. He played Single Ladies three times! She paid £49 for this...meal and disco.


A couple of comments from me-

I dont think theres anything wrong with using the venues lighting, or a black cloth over a table, or playing Single Ladies more than once- I did 2 out of the 3 in Wembley this week but it was because the venue/space dictated it or the client wanted it. Nothing wrong with that.

Other ideas- consider tailoring you website a little bit depending on what type of business you are trying to get.
You need to decide what you want to do here but I chose weddings and am more than happy with the decision.

Advertise but not the silly amounts you have been paying in the past- put limits on your google account or use the £75 free spend offers that are all over the place at the moment.

Decide how much you want to work? If you are still at school do you actually want to work every weekend- I know I wouldnt- what about one a month or 2 a month- enough to generate a decent income but also to allow you a social life.

Easiest way to get bookings- repeat business or business from people at your event- how about an email after every event to check the client was happy with the disco and mention that they might want to pass your details on to any friends getting married (even offer a slight discount).

Don't keep updating your rig until you are 100% sure you will keep going- you seem to change lights etc a lot but given you are doing this part time you dont need to spend as much on equipment as some of the other guys on the forum- choose wisely and you can have a compact, great looking rig that will last for a while.

Finally think about why you are doing this and what you want to get out of it- is it for enjoyment, money, because it might lead to a bigger business or a combination of various factors- an observation from various threads (pls dont take this the wrong way) is that you dont always make the best business decisions and sometimes end up with little profit- why not look to do something about this- books, online reading, night school etc etc

Hope this helps,

Rich

[Charlie Brown]

i was playing at Notts county football club so you could have a chat and hopefully I could talk you out of current thinking.
are you able to get to melton mobray ???

Argh! Dam! That would of been great. I'm there next Friday and would of been nice to refresh my memory. Are you the resident DJ there? County suite? or the 1862? - Melton is a long way but I'm sure I could work something out. :) Why?


A couple of comments from me-


Hi Rich,

Yes I know there was is nothing wrong with that - it's just most of the Mum's acquaintances were a tad disappointed with the entertainment.

£75 free spend offers? I'm not sure what this is?

Nah, I like to work most weekends. I feel that if I do it once a month...I loose momentum. I do it because I love entertaining and music BUT I also love making money. Outside of this I'm a bit of a wheeler and dealer. Although I'm very naive I do enjoy the business world. I'm just terrible at saving money. I literally live to survive. Next year my aim is to look after my money a lot better....because I could have a fair bit in the bank, but I don't, I have £8 this week! (I spent a few hundred on some daft clothes, which I seriously regret.

In regards to the rig - I will slow down on my spending now. Just brought Tom's laser, impossibled and a mircarled....that's it now for the time being.

[StarZSoundS]

I have been in the "business" for nearly 2 years now. I have always been very fortunate and worked most weekends, especially the last 6/7 months.

After stopping my Google adwords, I have had zilch enquires.

Next year is looking dead apart from my regular contract, school and the Masons. I'm in two minds to make the move Tom has by selling the gear and calling it a day. I love the job but is there any point in hoarding a load of gear when it's just sitting their collecting dust?

I reckon I could put my time and effort into other areas - but I do love the idea of running my own business. I would like to dabble in a few areas when I'm older.

---------------------------------

I'm willing to spend around £400 in advertising. Rob has kindly sent me a list of websites he uses to advertise but I think the first job is to get rid of the Vista Print website.

http://osc.template-help.com/wordpress_23224/


http://www.templatehelp.com/preset/pr_preview.php?i=23618&pr_code=92Nlgy0N39kr3ym1Q0s2KbAU4Z93rH
I like a template like this? I need to somehow transfer my website to this. Maybe Marc you could help?

A I have a list of venues whereby I have heard reports that the ressident DJ isn't up to much! Mum went to a lovely venue last night, for a staff xmas doo. She said the DJ was terrible and didn't even use lighting - the venue had their own. The presentation wasn't up to much...he draped a grey cloth over a table. He played Single Ladies three times! She paid £49 for this...meal and disco.

I need to somehow approach venues and offer my services. I'm not quite sure how to go about this - most event co ordinators will prefer to stick with their resident DJ even if he isn't great, it's less hassle on their behalf.

Any other ideas from you folks?

This will be my last shot and if it doesn't pick up then I will call it a day. I can always come back to the game when I'm older.

Cheers :)


I think everybody will be dissapointed for you..... and perhaps with you.You had the respect of folk a lot older than you because you were different from other 16 year-olds....but maybe you're not...

These forums are littered with kids of your age selling their gear to buy a moped when the going gets a bit tough....

Prove me wrong Charlie??

[OllieJames]

These forums are littered with kids of your age selling their gear to buy a moped when the going gets a bit tough....

Ahem :D

[Jonathan Ford]

Jonathan did you do our school prom? Nottingham High School? You had 4 moving heads on a truss with par cans? Back in June?

Wasn't me chief, though I may have had the enquiry. Nottingham High School rings a bell for some reason.

[Creature]

Charlie - take some extension reals as no of the stage sockets are working ! a 15 mtr one will do as had to use socket by the tv on teh wall by the bar.

No m8 not resident I do all the rock nites there (not many these days due to high costs of booking the hall)

In the County Suit :):)

I am resident rock dj at Tubes in Melton Mobray and thought you might like a chat, hopefully maybe just help you out by giving you someone to talk to... Im next there on Boxing night from about 9.30pm.

People on here have helped me when I was thinking like you are at the moment and wouldnt be a thank you if i ignored someone else in a similar boat.

[DiscoPromotions]

To be straight up here (apologies if appears to be blunt)

Charlie I do think that your age goes against you; nothing you can do about it as it just way a 16 year is perceived in today's society.

To change a person's viewpoint of 16 year old is a challenge itself. You would need to sell yourself a lot more than someone my age (29) or older

I know it is not easy to be perceived to be too young to do a job; I had to work at it and it paid off. For last my last contract role I was selected for was Senior role leading people nearly twice my age (youngest was 45). These people have been in the industry a lot longer I have, who more qualified, and yet did not get the role.

I was selected for the role not because I can do the job, but how I do the job and what I will deliver at the end of the contract.

Over recent years I have found that corporate business do not want someone who has done this and got that under their belt as it is the same from candidate to next. They want someone who hits the ground running, a person who can demonstrate what they can do, rather than sitting in room telling what they have done.

Trick is to take the focus away from your age and apply it to what you can do, but be aware of how a person will perceive your age.

The Template (http://www.templatehelp.com/preset/pr_preview.php?i=23618&pr_code=92Nlgy0N39kr3ym1Q0s2KbAU4Z93rH) you like could disadvantage you. This template as sort of a 70's disco theme. So if I'm a 18 year looking for a party I could assume that you are too old for type of music I want.

So think carefully about how you market your services.

Not having control of your website is not good as how can you update the visitors. I agree you need at least FTP access. Web hosting does not have to be expensive. Web hosting for us is £30.00 per year and spend about £30 per month on Google Analytics.

The way I developed our website was by taking a free template and developing it from there. We use joomla CMS as it so much easier to manage content. Also the website layout remains consistent and only requires me to update one template not separate pages.

Recommend using a CMS (Content Management System) to allow you to add, amend, update or remove content manually or automatically easily.

Agree with DJ Wilson setup Google Analytics to see how well your site is doing. Being number 1 is everyone target on a search engines and can generate lot of traffic to your website. The one thing I find to common in my opinion is the quality of 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions is poor when you get to their site.

Potential clients who call through do say:

"I have been searching for a while on google and found you on page 3 or 4 and, your website a lot better than the other ones I have seen"

One thing that I am very conscious of is the bounce rate of website rather than getting people there. We have healthy number of visits a day and I could potentially increase this; but there is only so many hours in the day I can spend on it.

My opinion is quality over quantity

Marketing

I know Julian mentioned printed publications, but we have found that they do not work for us; but do not be discouraged as what may not work for one could work for another.

Word of mouth is the best source for us.

It is great to have all singing and dancing website; selling it to the client and then comes to the night and it does match what was promoted. This is key for me is what we promote is what we can deliver.

Our Christmas bookings for this year have been majority the same clients from last year. Developing relationships with them is most important and it costs next to nothing. Yes they are only one or two events a year but think of this way:

These 1 or 2 events we have on yearly basis makes up a good percentage of our diary. With this percentage of bookings the cost of advertising is a lot lower as than the cost of advertising for work if we did not have the regular events.

Investment into your service is key, but do it with caution.

Saturday night we were at one of our regular clients and the first thing he said was new speakers, whist we were setting up we telling him about our plans for 2010. Also it good market research; as well as being free; to see what client feedback is about our ideas.

As for new clients what they see on website to what they see on night is key. We did a corporate christmas event on Friday. and they were amazed to see the difference from a video blog on our website to actually thing. Hopefully this will be another event for next year.

So to sum this up

There will always be winners and losers within this industry. To have a good chance of winning the trick is not to reinvent the wheel, but improve on the overall performance.

[StarZSoundS]

To change a person's viewpoint of 16 year old is a challenge itself.

I think Charlie managed that.....till he started this thread



Word of mouth is the best source for us.

It is great to have all singing and dancing website; selling it to the client and then comes to the night and it does match what was promoted. This is key for me is what we promote is what we can deliver.

Our Christmas bookings for this year have been majority the same clients from last year. Developing relationships with them is most important and it costs next to nothing.

ALERT!!ALERT!!Somebody talking sense!!:beer1: ;) :claphands: :bowdown: :clap:

[Larry B Entertainment]

I have been in the "business" for nearly 2 years now. I have always been very fortunate and worked most weekends, especially the last 6/7 months.

After stopping my Google adwords, I have had zilch enquires.

Next year is looking dead apart from my regular contract, school and the Masons. I'm in two minds to make the move Tom has by selling the gear and calling it a day. I love the job but is there any point in hoarding a load of gear when it's just sitting their collecting dust?

I reckon I could put my time and effort into other areas - but I do love the idea of running my own business. I would like to dabble in a few areas when I'm older.

---------------------------------

I'm willing to spend around £400 in advertising. Rob has kindly sent me a list of websites he uses to advertise but I think the first job is to get rid of the Vista Print website.

http://osc.template-help.com/wordpress_23224/


http://www.templatehelp.com/preset/pr_preview.php?i=23618&pr_code=92Nlgy0N39kr3ym1Q0s2KbAU4Z93rH
I like a template like this? I need to somehow transfer my website to this. Maybe Marc you could help?

A I have a list of venues whereby I have heard reports that the ressident DJ isn't up to much! Mum went to a lovely venue last night, for a staff xmas doo. She said the DJ was terrible and didn't even use lighting - the venue had their own. The presentation wasn't up to much...he draped a grey cloth over a table. He played Single Ladies three times! She paid £49 for this...meal and disco.

I need to somehow approach venues and offer my services. I'm not quite sure how to go about this - most event co ordinators will prefer to stick with their resident DJ even if he isn't great, it's less hassle on their behalf.

Any other ideas from you folks?

This will be my last shot and if it doesn't pick up then I will call it a day. I can always come back to the game when I'm older.

Cheers :)

At your age youve really got to be more positive and rather than thinking about chucking it in, you need to look at ways to get more business and to utilise your gear better. You shouldnt be just passing your life away and saying you will come back to it when you are older. In fact I think you are in a better position at your age to really make the most of it and build on it. I made the mistake of giving it up and coming back to it years later. I am envious of you guys when I see pictures of the rigs you have so young and its light years away to what I had at 16 mainly because the cost of technology has dropped so much in the last 10 years or so.

When your 16, at home with your parents and have a nice looking rig and quality equipment and a decent income, why give all that up just because work is a bit slack ? It is for all of us at the moment. What would you do with the money you would get from selling your gear ? I bet you wouldnt get anywhere as much enjoyment and satisfaction that you must get from doing discos.

Stick at it lad. Put the work in now and you will benefit from it in the long run.

[Penfold42]

2 yrs in not long enough - you have to give it more time.
Some more well established DJ's have had about 5 yrs before they have there name know in the area. :)

[Daryll]

2 yrs in not long enough - you have to give it more time.
Some more well established DJ's have had about 5 yrs before they have there name know in the area. :)

How true is that .
I only have 5 bookings for next year , but its early days , if you are used to being out once or twice a week , then it gets a bit quite , yea sure its a disappointing . but dont give up mate.

Daryll

[Paul The Party Dj]

My two pence worth ...

These are tough times - the DJ's that stick at, it and build their reputation, will be in the best position when the downturn is finally over.

Life's hard, keep going and you will have more fun than any of your mates!