partypop = suck

gigmasters = ok, provides search engine placement but is set up to go to low bid.

wedj = ok, provides search engine placement, still set up for low bid, not as much as gigmasters but these leads only stay hot for a sec due to all the bottom feeders...lol!

I think these are good options for you now. When you start charging top dollar you will have to go directly through the major search engines as well.

Thanks for the input Supernatural!

no one i know who books mobile gigs, use any website to search for djs to hire. they use word of mouth. still the best advertising in my opinion. hook yourself up directly with people who frequently hire, book and manage events.

Flyers all over the place and word of mouth does the trick.

I see them relentlessly onCL

www.craiglist.com <-- try that link at work!! lol

here is the correct link: www.craigslist.com

I know a few event managers (two) who keep lists of dj's that they use. The last couple of times they called me, both mentioned that I am out of the price range. The price I am quoting them is what I'm making from people who are hireing me from the internet.

I would love not to have to advertise and be booked every weekend at top dollar. Internet advertising (for me) provides several inquiries for each available date so I can pick and choose and hold out for proper pay.

Although, I know it does pay to know the right people and I don't know Jack...Yet. lol! The wife and I were just talking about how to get some high profile (high paying) clientele on a more consistant basis so we are working on those ideas.

Where are you leaving the flyers? This has never done much for me.

Craigslist is a waste of time. Anything activity generated from there is BUDGET.

I have done a handful of REAL gigs and i got all but one from CL and the peeps paid me 400 for 4 hours.

How do compete with this guy:

I am a mostly hip-hop, Rap, Top40 style DJ with 8,000+ great songs library

Since I'm looking to get some more experience, I am offering a few nights of just $130 for the whole night. (music only.. lights and fog $200 but still for the whole night)

Graduations and summer parties are around the corner, take advantage.

I have very reliable equipment with great disco lighting (reputable names like American DJ, Chauvet), fog machine, Speaker/lighting stands, and 1,000 watts of brand-name Yamaha quality speakers and amps to rock your party

Here we goooo...lol! My point with CL is that most people searching on CL are looking for the meal deal. If you advertise in a magazine/website that specializes in weddings, sweet 16, etc... you have focused on a different type of target clientele and chances are you will be able to command a higher dollar.

400 for 4 hours is not bad but those are def CL prices.

In this case (and simular), CL is perfect. Works for both parties (dj and customer). Customer gets a great deal and dj gets more experience. Even if you mess up a little, they probably won't get too bent at $130 a night.

yeah one person that contacted me said they'd give me 125 and i have to bring all my own ish. I dont go speakers and it cost 120 to rent em so that was a no go. You jus gotta get lucky on CL, i guess. The other gigs i did i got paid 400 and they rented the speakers for me..cant beat that

damn you got me i was rushing and didnt read, thanks now im gonna get fired!

At records stores, give other DJ's spinning at different joints, gym, the local chinese food joints, ymca, family, friends, friends of friends, sometimes even enemies :)

Yeah, def don't click on link if you are at work...not cool.
My virus bells and whistles starting going off also.

im pissed.

This just hasn't worked for me as I have gone that route. Probably spent more cash on having the flyers designed and printed than the return on it. After some thought, it made sense to me why this didn't work. What are the chances of someone being in a chinese resturant or a gym looking for a dj??
Looking back...I feel like a begger when I gave them to friends and family. You know, like that friend or family member that sells Amway products...lol!

If I was a work, I could expect the man in a dark suit to walk in any minute and say, "come with me". Damn it!!!

ok ok - my bad. I apoligize. I discovered that little typo in getting to that website would get you to that 'other' site. I thought it was funny when I did that at work, missing the 's' can easily be explained as an unintentional accident.

craiglist.com --> bad
craigslist.com -- > correct site

I'd be like "honest mistake... forgot the s."

Or they'd just say "why are you looking at scratchlive.net forums or craigslist on company time anyway?"

A few years ago, that is how I discovered the other whitehouse website ... in front of family ... "it's dot gov you idiot" my brother yelled at me.

yeah, i only look at lunch, break & @home

LOL ... they are not looking for a DJ in those places, you are kind of promoting a gig. Really this is what the promoter should be doing, but in those cases where you say screw the promoter, I will do this myself ... you will feel like that relentless Amway dude.

Gotcha...for a club gig I could see dropping off flyers at the local hot spots. I was thinking more in terms of "mobile dj" selling his or her service (weddings and such).

Damn man...I can't even talk to my cousin anymore because he is so brain washed by Amway/Amway type company. Always tryin to come at me with something that is going to help/increase/boost my dj biz...WTF! Not sure how a new vacuum and pasta maker is gonna help my biz...hahaha! It's just embarrassing.

Company name & number on shirt during gig..........That way it looks like your a real business person & not just some dj doing it for love...........

I dont get on the mic & say make sure you call me for your next party but what i do is if they have an M.C. I make sure to advertise there number because they always return the favor

If its a referal your doing give props over the mic to the person who refered you....makes them feel good & they want to keep giving you more referals.......Give props to the person that hired you.....

Thanks everyone for your input! I'm just at the point where I will do anything to get more clients. Its kinda hard with being in the military. I have had to turn down two weddings already because I will more than likely be deployed next spring/summer.

Turn in your TT's and sell Amway!

I'm not sure I understand what you saying Supernatural.

Bad joke...lol!

Oh ok. Just wondering does anyone else use SSL with turntables for mobiles?

ejayian reminded me that it would be good to have a few polo shirts made for yourself. I use them for set-up, that way you present yourself to the facility as a pro.

The message of "presenting yourself as a pro" was learned several years ago when I did a private party for a really well-to-do guy. This is a gated community with a huge lake and several high profile people. Anyway, I showed up in shorts and a T...to set up right! This guy pulled my wife to the side and asked if I needed to borrow a shirt...WTF!!

My wife explained that I had a change of clothes but that's what I wore to set up. They both got a laugh out of it but I was kinda pissed...lol!

Never seen a phone number on a shirt though. Personally, I'd leave it off.

What about a website? Plus is there any place to get these polo's done up?

BUSINESS CARDS... have them in your pocket, have them near your setup so that people can grab them at will. I ahve several visors that have my dj name on them. Get your name posted... If they like you 0 they will ask for your info. Especailly at mobile events. Change of clothes - excellent idea. Along with a few freshen up items after you get done luggin the gear and setting up. I might have stepped up the look if I was doing a mobile at very nice place, that first impression you made caused alarm, even if it did have a happy outcome (the look conscious person giving the image of laughter to your wife). Did you ever get a callback from them??

Website was a given... that's a must in my book.

BTW..good job on yours. Get some pics up though!

"In your pocket" or somewhere handy is good. I think it's tacky to put a card holder out on a speaker or some dj's even go put cards on all the tables before dinner. To me, it's just not a good look...appears as if you are begging.

I'm gonna have some visors made this year. I had baseball hats make last year but I think a cool visor is the ish.

Freshen up items are a must...aka ball wipes. lol!

In my mind, I was thinking people should know I'm in a T just to set up...but not the case. Stepped my game up after that experience. Yeah, he called me back tryin to nickel and dime me, can you believe it!!! This guy has money to burn and he is trying to low ball me by saying he knows someone who can do it for less. I'm sure you have heard that one before...lol!

BTW...Ever notice how rich folks don't tip as often as common folk???

the rish aren't rich because they spend their money...

Yeah number not necesary because most people still come up & ask for cards...

You know all of the customers who ask me for a website still end up hiring me even if I dont have one........Ive registered for a myspace but havent gotten around to doing anything on it except for posting 1 picture....I get my shirts made at a local shop here but if you search online you will find a lot of places

Thanks, I have been trying to make it look super pro. I'm getting some of my wife's friends together to come over to my house so I can get some pictures with my setup and lights and fog and all that jazz. Also I'll try to get some when we get the Panhandle meet together. Its just been tough because the last few events I did were dead as hell. I guess in the mean time I should go buy some stock photo's to put on the site.

Interesting... LOL! I can hear you now..."Tell them to dress real sexy because we want to make it look like a hot club. Hahaha!

You gotta do what you gotta do...right?

Nice work! Hahaha!

well, i just booked a gig for next year (client still searching for venue).

i basically had my eaves dropping antennea on & overheard a fellow coworker telling another coworker about blah, blah 'when i GET MARRIED'....man, i jumped on my chair to peek over the cubicle wall and asked when is so and so getting married, then asked if they already booked a DJ and handed him some business cards. we then went over all the details. this'll be the third coworker wedding to date.

its always funny seeing your other coworkers walk up to you while behind your gear at the event, with their surprized expression 'coooool...I didn't know u were a DJ' (while in their head u know they're thinking to themselves "and i thought he was just a NERD"....cause he sure does looks like one :)

Julls, you can get polo shirts done with basic printing, etc at Cordova Mall in Pensacola or buy the $500+ sewing machine and do it yourself (it hooks up to the computer). They can even do company logos and such but charge a set up fee. You can also check with most sports stores that do team jerseys. They usually offer embroidery stitching for clients. Again, a set up fee but they can do them.

Or try posting a message at a sewing store saying you're looking for someone to do something like that. Sometimes you can find a deal with someone that can pull it off.