What have you got planned for 2015?

[funkymook]

Sort of a ‘news years resolutions’ question.

Reflecting back on 2014 anything you’re going to do differently in 2015 and why?

[Excalibur]

Get my accounts done before January! :o:o:o

[yourdj]

1: Get my book printed. Its at the copy righters as of today so one step in the right direction. :)

2: Perfect my all day hosting and have a set plan for each one. All a bit add lib at the moment, with the announcements.

3: work on the private function side of the business as its not very busy.

4: get fit and healthy + spend more time on buying nicer clothes / looking more presentable.

5: On the same note - spend less money!! A ban on logging in to Ebay would be a good idea.

[Imagine]

Already started on mine :)

1. Spend less (well I was starting up again last year so shouldn't be too hard)
2. Charge more (I've increased my prices already :) )
3. Develop the kids party side of things. It's easy money, I have a tried and tested formula and I'm in the process of launching a dedicated web site for that side of things
4. Double my turnover from last year :) (should actually be achievable)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

More of the same really. Hopefully to be loan free by end of the wedding season and then it's working towards a new van fund!

[theoloyla]

Collect my Old Age Pension!

[Benny Smyth]

Seriously restrict the outgoings. Over the last two years, I have spent nearly £30k to upgrade everything and while it has been more than worthwhile, I am now going to say no more (with the exception of replacements and repairs). Also going to look at ways to save money on the little things like refraining from having a can of monster before every gig, carrying bottles of tap water, or at least try to blag better at the bar. It's all small stuff, but it will add up.

Work better on promoting myself. The website has bought in a fair few bookings but I need to add to that by doing more wedding fayres and advertising in more places.

Get myself a home gym and sort myself out. It's really strange, but I have ether been built like a brick outside convenience, or fat. Have never been thin. So I need to get working out again.

[yourdj]

having a can of monster before every gig

I hope your not too busy. god knows what they put in that stuff, Only ever had one can and it was like sugar poison. :)
54 grams of sugar, 13 teaspoons. 360 milligrams of sodium, 160 milligrams of caffeine. 220 calories.
I tend to bring 2 litres of mineral water and apple juice. With 1/4 apple juice its amazing how many time i will drink all 2litres.

how do you spend £30 on equipment - you must have tons of stuff. Either really expensive kit or lots of kit you don't need now lol.
The best thing i did was buy a zafira - I can only take a certain amount of kit with me to any one gig.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Also going to look at ways to save money on the little things like refraining from having a can of monster before every gig, carrying bottles of tap water, or at least try to blag better at the bar. It's all small stuff, but it will add up.



I use to live off two cans of rockstar or similar a day and it does have an effect on you long term. I switched over to coffee which is much healthier for you and drink purely water at gigs rather than soft drinks and feel more energetic (though there will be a few days in the summer where I'll have no choice but to grab a can or two).

[yourdj]

I use to live off two cans of rockstar or similar a day and it does have an effect on you long term. I switched over to coffee which is much healthier for you and drink purely water at gigs rather than soft drinks and feel more energetic (though there will be a few days in the summer where I'll have no choice but to grab a can or two).

My osteopath said one coffee a day is not too bad, but leave it at that. I have one in my hand now LOL.
I often have the cold ones in the fridge on route, as it does wake you up a bit when you arrive, especially on an all day wedding.
What happened to you with the sugar drinks? Not good I would guess?

i drink lots of coffee when out in Spain, Canaries etc. and tend to drink decent sparkling mineral water, which seems to help as its quite alkaline. i call it devinchy catalan, but its something like that. :)

[Benny Smyth]

how do you spend £30 on equipment - you must have tons of stuff. Either really expensive kit or lots of kit you don't need now lol.

From memory:

Van
2x 1.5m plinths
2x 2m plinths
4x ADJ QAD38 Pars
3x Cameo RGBA LED Bars & flightcase
4x Chauvet Intimidator Spot 400 IRC & flightcase
Flightcase for LiteConsle
3x 1.5m Duratruss Tri gantry
2x Goliath stands
2x RCF 905 & bags
2x RCF 408 & bags
2x RCF 712 & bags
Traktor Kontrol S4 w/flightcase & new laptop
Laptop for DMX'ing
AKG Wireless Mic
Pioneer HDJ 2000
Chauvet Haze 2D
Leads...lot of 'em
Misc items like tool box, tools etc.

I can't think of anything else but I'm sure there is more. Long/short of it, it's pretty much everything I use these days.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B54wQfnCEAAzy3z.jpg
http://hbaphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Rachel__Chris_wedding_photos_at_Shustoke_Farm_Barn s_by_HBA_Photography_0035.jpg
http://hbaphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Rachel__Chris_wedding_photos_at_Shustoke_Farm_Barn s_by_HBA_Photography_0037.jpg
http://hbaphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Rachel__Chris_wedding_photos_at_Shustoke_Farm_Barn s_by_HBA_Photography_0038.jpg
http://www.bsentertainments.co.uk/sites/bsentertainments.co.uk/files/field/image/20140920-Andrew_and_Mel-Edited-868.jpg
http://www.bsentertainments.co.uk/sites/bsentertainments.co.uk/files/field/image/20140920-Andrew_and_Mel-Edited-871.jpg

[DJColsie]

As a part time DJ who has a full time job and did 78 gigs last calender year as well, I need to get my life back in balance and pay the Mrs and my hobbies some attention!

I did 4 gigs in 8 days before Christmas on top the full time job, just too much.

So this years resolution, to turn over the same amount of money but across fewer gigs.

[DazzyD]

how do you spend £30 on equipment - you must have tons of stuff. Either really expensive kit or lots of kit you don't need now lol...


From memory:

Van
2x 1.5m plinths
2x 2m plinths
4x ADJ QAD38 Pars
3x Cameo RGBA LED Bars & flightcase
4x Chauvet Intimidator Spot 400 IRC & flightcase
Flightcase for LiteConsle
3x 1.5m Duratruss Tri gantry
2x Goliath stands
2x RCF 905 & bags
2x RCF 408 & bags
2x RCF 712 & bags
Traktor Kontrol S4 w/flightcase & new laptop
Laptop for DMX'ing
AKG Wireless Mic
Pioneer HDJ 2000
Chauvet Haze 2D
Leads...lot of 'em
Misc items like tool box, tools etc.

I can't think of anything else but I'm sure there is more. Long/short of it, it's pretty much everything I use these days.


That's a hell of a lot of kit for £30! I didn't realise there were so many bargains to be had out there!! ;)

[funkymook]

That's a hell of a lot of kit for £30! I didn't realise there were so many bargains to be had out there!! ;)

That’s what he paid the getaway driver....

[Benny Smyth]

That's a hell of a lot of kit for £30! I didn't realise there were so many bargains to be had out there!! ;)

Turns out that it's a lot cheaper of you have the underpaid Chinese labour working for you in the basement.

[ukpartydj]

This year is going to be a busy one for me getting things done -

Home:

Carpet Stairs, Vynil Kitchen Floor and Bathroom, Complete cupboard in kitchen, level concrete floor in kitchen, finish making desk, tile splashback in kitchen, take off old tiles and re-tile entire bathroom, insulate the first floor, plumb in downstairs bathroom and decorate, buy and install all my second bedroom / cinema equipment.

Work:

Buy one of them twinkly white dancefloors, buy new uplights, launch new website, advertise new photobooth / make website and hopefully this year get some contracts with hotels. Meet this years target of £5k extra turnover after failing miserably to meet last years 5k extra target :(

[yourdj]

Buy one of them twinkly white dancefloors, buy new uplights, launch new website, advertise new photobooth / make website and hopefully this year get some contracts with hotels. Meet this years target of £5k extra turnover after failing miserably to meet last years 5k extra target :(

Never bothered with targets at all and always manage to beat it by 7-10k :p
Considering i don't pay much attention to finances I don't do too badly.


From memory:

Van
2x 1.5m plinths
2x 2m plinths
4x ADJ QAD38 Pars
3x Cameo RGBA LED Bars & flightcase
4x Chauvet Intimidator Spot 400 IRC & flightcase
Flightcase for LiteConsle
3x 1.5m Duratruss Tri gantry
2x Goliath stands
2x RCF 905 & bags
2x RCF 408 & bags
2x RCF 712 & bags
Traktor Kontrol S4 w/flightcase & new laptop
Laptop for DMX'ing
AKG Wireless Mic
Pioneer HDJ 2000
Chauvet Haze 2D
Leads...lot of 'em
Misc items like tool box, tools etc.

I can't think of anything else but I'm sure there is more. Long/short of it, it's pretty much everything I use these days.


i only asked you about you 30k worth not a photo gig-log of 2014 :lol:
I assume you started from scratch which explains that amount then. :)
How long will it take you to break even on all that?

I must say if I started again with a limited level of trade i would probably budget in at a quarter that amount (second hand kit) until I really stared to rake in the trade, but thats just me. Never added my stuff up but it would not be much more than £10k.

i had a friend who was flogged (mislead perhaps) a load of kit like that and just did not need it.
He now works in Mc Donalds to pay for it all. :)

[ukpartydj]

Never bothered with targets at all and always manage to beat it by 7-10k :p
Considering i don't pay much attention to finances I don't do too badly.

I hate to nitpick here (lies, I love it) but how could one beat a target if one never bothered with a target?
A lot of people don't and that's fine but it's very hard to know if you've actually done very well or not!

[yourdj]

I hate to nitpick here (lies, I love it) but how could one beat a target if one never bothered with a target?
A lot of people don't and that's fine but it's very hard to know if you've actually done very well or not!

Good point. :) My target is as per the above £5-10k more than the last year.

I have an accountant (my wife works for him as an assistant bookkeeper) so know what my gross and net profit is as well as number of gigs. I need to make it more specific this year, by getting some decent statistic data of gig info. its increased by the same amount each year pretty much. As per my first post on this thread good expenditure management is on the list.

[Benny Smyth]

i only asked you about you 30k worth not a photo gig-log of 2014 :lol:
I assume you started from scratch which explains that amount then. :)
How long will it take you to break even on all that?

I must say if I started again with a limited level of trade i would probably budget in at a quarter that amount (second hand kit) until I really stared to rake in the trade, but thats just me. Never added my stuff up but it would not be much more than £10k.

i had a friend who was flogged (mislead perhaps) a load of kit like that and just did not need it.
He now works in Mc Donalds to pay for it all. :)

I put some pics up to show you where the money went, Toby. I know how you struggle without visuals. ;)

And it depends on your perspective on 'breaking even'. Having been doing this for nearly 15 years, I already had the money to make the purchases without the need of a loan, for example. I just saved up for a couple of years because I felt that while I had decent kit, I wanted a lot more quality - I was lacking the 'wow' factor. So the old kit 'bought' the new kit, as it were.

[yourdj]

I put some pics up to show you where the money went, Toby. I know how you struggle without visuals. ;)

And it depends on your perspective on 'breaking even'. Having been doing this for nearly 15 years, I already had the money to make the purchases without the need of a loan, for example. I just saved up for a couple of years because I felt that while I had decent kit, I wanted a lot more quality - I was lacking the 'wow' factor. So the old kit 'bought' the new kit, as it were.

:lol: Nice photos btw.

Ah so you must have sold the old kit to pay for the new. That makes sense. :)

[Benny Smyth]

Ah so you must have sold the old kit to pay for the new. That makes sense. :)

You'd think that. Most of it is still in the garage acting as my fall back plan, just in case. Lol

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Apart from relaunching the website I just want to keep on keeping on as the going is good.

[surround sounds]

I think now I do not really need to advertise much now because I get plenty through my websites etc. Never really bothered with wedding fares etc.
Looking to buy some more dancefloors because its out most weeks now and need to expand.
Also looking to get a brand new Photo booth and finally a brand new van

[Daryll]

Ease back a bit, full time job and disco at my age is beginning to show, other interests seem to be on the up , start another Degree, this one in Quantum physics, the other was on Astro physics.
Do a lot more travelling , prepare for retirement , spend more time with family and friends.

Daryll

[Imagine]

Must confess....a van is on my radar at the moment.

I currently use a Discovery 2 to cart everything about (with a box trailer where needed too)....but it's getting unreliable (it's an auto and has the XYZ switch problem which is going to cost a pretty penny to fix). Any suggestions as to what's cheap and reliable?

[ukpartydj]

Must confess....a van is on my radar at the moment.

I currently use a Discovery 2 to cart everything about (with a box trailer where needed too)....but it's getting unreliable (it's an auto and has the XYZ switch problem which is going to cost a pretty penny to fix). Any suggestions as to what's cheap and reliable?

I've got a vivaro, bought for £3k with 100k miles it's done 30k miles and nothing major gone wrong just the usual brakes, bearings, belts needed renewing well except the handbrake starred freezing on with the cold temp the other day need to sort that out. And it's very economical being 6 gears.

[Benny Smyth]

I've got a vivaro, bought for £3k with 100k miles it's done 30k miles and nothing major gone wrong just the usual brakes, bearings, belts needed renewing well except the handbrake starred freezing on with the cold temp the other day need to sort that out. And it's very economical being 6 gears.

I have a Renault Trafic (which is the exact same van as the Vivaro, along with the Nissan Primstar) and I concur that it is a good van. Mine was an ex-AA jobbie with 84k on the clock. Cost me about £5k.

[Shaun]

Must confess....a van is on my radar at the moment.

Any suggestions as to what's cheap and reliable?

I'd recommend the Trafic, Vivaro & Primastar

I moved to a Renault Trafic a year and a half ago (previous van was a vauxhall vivaro - pretty much the same van with a different badge). Shopping/searching for a van proved to be a complete headache though - it took around 6 months to find a good one with low mileage within my budget. I got lucky and found a 59 plate with 32000 miles on the clock.

[Excalibur]

I'd recommend the Trafic, Vivaro & Primastar
I got lucky and found a 59 plate with 32000 miles on the clock.

Did it come with a CD player installed, or did you have to fit one yourself? :whistle::sofa::sofa:

[Shaun]

Did it come with a CD player installed, or did you have to fit one yourself? :whistle::sofa::sofa:

It came with one installed, but I fitted a DMX controller over the top so that the CD tray is now non-accessible. Much better. :d

[Nakatomi]

Well, I *had* kind of been looking at launching my own disco business again - that is until the owners of the company I work for in my day job decided to announce they're looking to slim down the headcount. Last year's sales figures ended up being 20% down on their forecast so volunteers for the chop have been asked for. If I'd been there long enough I might've considered it (grow a pair, invest a ream of redundancy dosh into good equipment & be my own boss, yes!).. but nah. On one hand, it might be a really good idea to splash a sum out on my own gear (good PA, nice LED lights etc) but on the other.. if the disco end didn't pick up quickly enough.. Meh. The timing couldn't be more wrong.

For now it's just going to have to be keep my head down, earn some more sheckles as Mr Walk-In & hope I still have a day job at the end of Feb.

[Imagine]

Well, I *had* kind of been looking at launching my own disco business again - that is until the owners of the company I work for in my day job decided to announce they're looking to slim down the headcount. Last year's sales figures ended up being 20% down on their forecast so volunteers for the chop have been asked for. If I'd been there long enough I might've considered it (grow a pair, invest a ream of redundancy dosh into good equipment & be my own boss, yes!).. but nah. On one hand, it might be a really good idea to splash a sum out on my own gear (good PA, nice LED lights etc) but on the other.. if the disco end didn't pick up quickly enough.. Meh. The timing couldn't be more wrong.

For now it's just going to have to be keep my head down, earn some more sheckles as Mr Walk-In & hope I still have a day job at the end of Feb.

Funny enough (well not funny actually), I'm in pretty much the same situation at the moment. I'm a software engineer and the company I work for has been dead for the past couple of years, to the point that we've now been warned that we can't keep going much longer (a lot of our customers are in Europe and they're still in recession/not spending money). The few customers we have got left are closing down/going out of business.....it's pretty gloomy at the moment.

We think we've possibly got until about the autumn until it's curtains. At my age, getting into another software job is going to be nigh on impossible (you're considered to be past your sell by date by 40), so I'm doing everything I can to make the disco work for me at the moment (in my case, re-starting it last year appears to have been exactly the right time).

The disco should have paid for everything it owes me by around Easter (could do with a few more bookings though....plenty of enquiries but they're not converting for some reason). So, with possible redundancy after 12 years with the company and hopefully the disco making money by then.....I should hit the ground running (I hope). Plus if/when it does happen, it'll more than likely give me the kick up the backside I need to make it run for me as a proper income because I'll be relying on it (and I've never had the guts so far to make the jump for myself).

Time will tell.


Hope everything pans out OK for you at your end of things Justin....it's not a nice position to be in.

[Nakatomi]

Funny enough (well not funny actually), I'm in pretty much the same situation at the moment. I'm a software engineer and the company I work for has been dead for the past couple of years, to the point that we've now been warned that we can't keep going much longer (a lot of our customers are in Europe and they're still in recession/not spending money). The few customers we have got left are closing down/going out of business.....it's pretty gloomy at the moment.

We think we've possibly got until about the autumn until it's curtains. At my age, getting into another software job is going to be nigh on impossible (you're considered to be past your sell by date by 40), so I'm doing everything I can to make the disco work for me at the moment (in my case, re-starting it last year appears to have been exactly the right time).

The disco should have paid for everything it owes me by around Easter (could do with a few more bookings though....plenty of enquiries but they're not converting for some reason). So, with possible redundancy after 12 years with the company and hopefully the disco making money by then.....I should hit the ground running (I hope). Plus if/when it does happen, it'll more than likely give me the kick up the backside I need to make it run for me as a proper income because I'll be relying on it (and I've never had the guts so far to make the jump for myself).

Time will tell.


Hope everything pans out OK for you at your end of things Justin....it's not a nice position to be in.

Thanks. You're not doing too bad if you hit your break-even point in just over 12 months.. well done that man! :beer1:

I know what you mean about future day job prospects too - I moved up here from Manchester 18 months ago & got quite a hike in pay. Similar jobs around here just don't offer anything like the money I get from this one so I'd *have* to augment my income somehow.

Considering the alternatives I'd much rather be a full-on mobile DJ, even as a 2nd job than try to eke my way into bar DJ work again (shudder!).

That said, my immediate boss reckons our department is 'safe' for now, then all we have to wait for is the price of crude rising again so our customers feel like buying the stuff we make. Never thought I'd be rooting for the price of oil to go up!

Looks like owning my own PA etc is still going to be on the cards this year, but when.. and how, I just don't know yet

[Andy P]

Well for me 2013/2014 was starting up the business and building a customer base. I managed to get 63 jobs in my first year of DJing so was pretty chuffed. I also had a summer karaoke residency and got to perform in 4-5 top venues up this way.

The cash for this period was heavily invested back in to pay off the stating loan and car, and to buy a second rig as a back up and so I can get someone else out working. I bought a ford mondeo estate on an 02 plate with 85k and its amazing. New starter and battery when I got it and never missed a beat since. Gobbles up the equipment nicely.

I got my social media sorted, nice website and some great reviews. I do this part time as I work for the local council during the week so its been quite demanding for an unfit 40 year old.

Next year

I want DJmark sorting. I got my stuff PAT tested from an electrician at work but for this year I'm going to do the course myself and also offer PAT testing as a service to save money in the long run. Everything else is sorted so should have this by end of feb.

Have some bits and bobs I still want for the PA system and a back drop. Some moving heads and to make a second NUC rig for the second DJ. To pay for this I'm sliding the price up around £10-20 (especially where there are stairs involved).

Sort tax return in time. I'd like to go full time with DJ and PAT business but think that's a while off at present and might still need something part time to keep the wife in clothes. I'm looking to compact my set-up and minimise the trips to the car when loading/unloading so getting better cases etc.

been working hard on lots of guff like a business brochure, quote emails and contracts, ive had trading standards at work look through my terms and condition and set up a complaints process and feedback system.