The little things...

[Steve the DJ]

We all have a very different approach to our work including how we refer to ourselves, how much we charge, the size of show etc. yet prinicpally we all deliver the same thing (i.e. music and entertainment),

I know we have had the "everything matters" conversations before but considering that we are all (at a very basic level) offering the same service, what are the little details that help your business stand out from the crowd and make you memorable?

I'm not talking about kit, experience or mixing ability but the little things you regularly do, for example:

1. I always find out what the colour scheme is and where possible wear a matching shirt and tie.

2. I send out a "client friendly" copy of the OtsAV play log from their event with the feedback form.

3. If I take any pictures or short video I always send a copy to the clients to add to their collection.

So what are the little things that you do?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Point 1 - Colour Scheme.
That's something I have been doing since I started and it's funny but it means a lot to the customer when I have mentioned it. I just say that I want to blend in and they like the idea.

[rob1963]

I encourage clients to give me a decent sized list of requests (usually at least 50), and usually play every single one.

The only thing that sometimes stops me from doing this is a lack of time.

Although this seems to me like an obvious thing to do, it's clear from reading the forum that it's not.

[Steve the DJ]

Point 1 - Colour Scheme.
That's something I have been doing since I started and it's funny but it means a lot to the customer when I have mentioned it. I just say that I want to blend in and they like the idea.

It just feels right doesn't it? :)


Although this seems to me like an obvious thing to do, it's clear from reading the forum that it's not.

Totally agree and it is clear from the feedback that I get how important this is to many clients.

I've lost count of the amount of times I have received or read feedback that said something like "...and he played all of our requests...".

If it wasn't important they wouldn't mention it!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I think sending the feedback form alone is a little 'must do' because it shows that what the customer thought actually means something and it's not just a case of getting the gig over and done with and then never seeing them again.

It's something I like to do and it's interesting reading the comments. As you said Steve, it's important and it shows what's important to the customer.

[Steve the DJ]

Agreed.

I remember another DJ telling me he always sent out a feedback form with some vouchers to cover the cost of getting some photos developed as the clients would most likely pick up it up when they returned from honeymoon, a great little touch.

Obviously printing pictures is a little different these days! :D

[rob1963]

Totally agree and it is clear from the feedback that I get how important this is to many clients.

I've lost count of the amount of times I have received or read feedback that said something like "...and he played all of our requests...".

Exactly the same here, Steve.

:thumbsup:

[Charlie Brown]

Smashing thread!

I love the idea of the colour scheme and music log at the end of the night. :approve:

Like Rob, I issue the music request form.

[deltic]

not sure how to explain all the little thing i do,the feedback from saturday night which arrived on sunday morning via e-mail maybe briefly sums it up.

Hi Andy
Just to say thank you so much for the disco on Saturday. The music was spot on and I appreciated your professionalism and correspondance in the lead up to it too. All the best.
Kate and Malcolm Judge

my advice would be,be honest with people and treat everybody the same.

[rob1963]

Following on from playing all clients advance requests, there's another little thing I do which links in with this.

If my client (who is usually the bride) comes up on the night & gives me a request, I'll virtually always play it as the next song.

This is something else I've been complimented on by a number of clients, so it's obviously something which is important to many of them.

[Jonathan Ford]

2. I send out a "client friendly" copy of the OtsAV play log from their event with the feedback forms


Strange you should mention that. I had an email a couple of weeks ago, asking for details of what I played at a wedding in April, because the couple wanted to send CD's out with thank you cards. I couldn't help them, because I had absolutely no idea what I played on the night, or what there requests were. I felt bad because I couldn't help them....so might have to nick that idea!

[Steve the DJ]

If my client (who is usually the bride) comes up on the night & gives me a request, I'll virtually always play it as the next song.

I think this is one of the major benefits of being a digital DJ, the ability to drop in a requested track in seconds.


Strange you should mention that. I had an email a couple of weeks ago, asking for details of what I played at a wedding in April, because the couple wanted to send CD's out with thank you cards. I couldn't help them, because I had absolutely no idea what I played on the night, or what there requests were. I felt bad because I couldn't help them....so might have to nick that idea!

Help yourself, I guess most popular systems will do this?

If I enable Logging in OtsAV it automatically keeps a record for every day.

[rob1963]

I think this is one of the major benefits of being a digital DJ, the ability to drop in a requested track in seconds.

Completely agree.

I've often changed the next track (for various reasons) with less than 10 seconds left on the track that was playing, something which was completely impossible with CDs.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

It's funny you should say that....It's what I do aswell as I think that THEY (B&G) are the ones that really matter. I'm not talking playing something like 'Speak No Americano' straight after The Blues Brothers or anything as you have to think of the dancefloor too but....

On Saturday I was coming to the end of a Motown / 60's set. I was playing 'Build Me Up Buttercup' (I hate the horrible quick fade out at the end of that track)...Anyway, I originally had 'Get Up Offa That Thing' cue'd up next when the Bride came over and asked if I could play 'It's Raining Men' for her. As I had played around 6 or 7 Motown / 60's tracks I decided to cue up 'It's Raining Men'. I didn't realise I had 10 seconds left so began to rush about. It's not something that usually bothers me but this was cutting it fine. My fingers wouldn't go where I wanted them to on the keyboard and everytime I pressed ENTER, nothing came up because of my spelling. 'Build Me Up Buttercup' finished and there I was still trying to find The Weather Girls. There must have been 5 seconds of silence and it felt like ages but as soon as 'It's Raining Men' started, there was a massive scream from the Bride and a load of her mates and it was as if there wasn't a problem.

I know it was appreciated but I could feel myself burning up with embarassment.

[rob1963]

'Build Me Up Buttercup' finished and there I was still trying to find The Weather Girls. There must have been 5 seconds of silence and it felt like ages but as soon as 'It's Raining Men' started, there was a massive scream from the Bride and a load of her mates and it was as if there wasn't a problem.

In that situation, I'd just do a bit of chat while I finished finding the Weather Girls along the lines that the next song was a special request I'd just received from the bride & I wanted to see all the ladies on the dance floor.

Who said us guys can't multi-task?

:D

[Steve Cheese]

It's not just brides but birthdays too.
If the birthday girl (or boy) asks for a request, It goes straight on. If it is too much of a change of genre then a little announcement goes a long way to ease it in.
Also try and pick out the bride's best friends, parents, and do the same for them too.
It really gets noticed.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

In that situation, I'd just do a bit of chat while I finished finding the Weather Girls along the lines that the next song was a special request I'd just received from the bride & I wanted to see all the ladies on the dance floor.

Who said us guys can't multi-task?

:D

Actually Rob, that's what I did do. The silence was coming from the Denon!
My actual words were "OOPS! Ladies, it's over to you!".

[rob1963]

Actually Rob, that's what I did do. The silence was coming from the Denon!
My actual words were "OOPS! Ladies, it's over to you!".

:thumbsup:

[JTRS]

I always buy 5 lucky dip lottery tickets if it's a birthday and put it in a card for the guest of honour, if it's a wedding I buy a bottle of champagne and put in a bottle gift bag with a congratulations card, if it's a kids party I always let the birthday boy/girl choose something out of my prizes box before the party starts.

The number of thankyou emails I get after the event is nice, but the sheer amount of referrals and recommendations I get more than pays for it.

JTRS

[JTRS]

On Saturday I was coming to the end of a Motown / 60's set. I was playing 'Build Me Up Buttercup' (I hate the horrible quick fade out at the end of that track)...

When I play Build Me Up Buttercup as it starts to fade out I cue in Daydream Believer and let the two run at the same volume for the last 5 or 6 seconds of Buttercup and the first 5 or 6 seconds of Believer, I find it works really well and it saves me mixing or fading anything

JTRS

[Steve the DJ]

...if it's a wedding I buy a bottle of champagne and put in a bottle gift bag with a congratulations card...

Years ago I came across a company that sold Champagne with your choice of label (so you could add a logo and your own message), and I seriously considered getting it done to give clients as a pressie.

[Vectis]

When I play Build Me Up Buttercup as it starts to fade out I cue in Daydream Believer and let the two run at the same volume for the last 5 or 6 seconds of Buttercup and the first 5 or 6 seconds of Believer, I find it works really well and it saves me mixing or fading anything

JTRS

That's a 'legitimate' mix you plonker ;)

It also comes under the general definition of a 'calculated crossfade' :beer1:

[ppentertainments]

I always buy 5 lucky dip lottery tickets if it's a birthday and put it in a card for the guest of honour, if it's a wedding I buy a bottle of champagne and put in a bottle gift bag with a congratulations card, if it's a kids party I always let the birthday boy/girl choose something out of my prizes box before the party starts.

Whenever I get a 'freebie' off a company I always think 'I wish they would knock a tenner off the price instead of buying something I don't really want'.

[JTRS]

That's a 'legitimate' mix you plonker ;)

It also comes under the general definition of a 'calculated crossfade' :beer1:

It does??????????????


Hmmm I thought it was just a case of playing two tracks together at the same time, learn something new every day I guess.

;)

JTRS

[CRAZY K]

It's funny you should say that....It's what I do aswell as I think that THEY (B&G) are the ones that really matter. I'm not talking playing something like 'Speak No Americano' straight after The Blues Brothers or anything as you have to think of the dancefloor too but....

On Saturday I was coming to the end of a Motown / 60's set. I was playing 'Build Me Up Buttercup' (I hate the horrible quick fade out at the end of that track)...Anyway, I originally had 'Get Up Offa That Thing' cue'd up next when the Bride came over and asked if I could play 'It's Raining Men' for her. As I had played around 6 or 7 Motown / 60's tracks I decided to cue up 'It's Raining Men'. I didn't realise I had 10 seconds left so began to rush about. It's not something that usually bothers me but this was cutting it fine. My fingers wouldn't go where I wanted them to on the keyboard and everytime I pressed ENTER, nothing came up because of my spelling. 'Build Me Up Buttercup' finished and there I was still trying to find The Weather Girls. There must have been 5 seconds of silence and it felt like ages but as soon as 'It's Raining Men' started, there was a massive scream from the Bride and a load of her mates and it was as if there wasn't a problem.

I know it was appreciated but I could feel myself burning up with embarassment.

Bit of :BS: over the mike

Brides request I want everyone on the floor now--just make it up;)

Works for me ;)

[JTRS]

Bit of :BS: over the mike

Brides request I want everyone on the floor now--just make it up;)

Works for me ;)

I'm so going to steal that

JTRS