Visibility - Choose Your Platform Wisely

I have had a break from blogging because I had to reassemble things, rethink and take a little break.... a coffeebreak if you must.

The purpose of this article is choosing the right platform for showcasing your music. It is a time investment on putting your work on different websites hoping to get your name out and getting your work recognized. With Soundcloud changing from what it used to be in the good ol' days, many of us have gotten our material flagged as copyright infringment, our mixes and sets taken down from a platform we invested in since the beginning and help build as the most popular website to host your music. The changing of Soundcloud is the purpose behind this article, and what are you going to use next and what to do with Soundcloud.

If you are just like me, you have many mixtapes notified that you are using a copyrighted track and Soundcloud took down your Live set, promo DJ mix or produced remix. So many or all of your mixes that where posted on the site is now taken down, and how are you going to host your music to promote yourself now? Well your in luck because this is what you are going to do and here is where you are going to go.

There are many other platforms to host your music and mixes, here is the next alternative: Mixcloud. With the newest feature of Soundcloud importer (beta), this makes it easy to import your old mixes that are on the site into their site. This is a good way to go because this site is not as popular as Soundcloud because it was developed and released later, however Mixcloud is high up on the Google Search Engine so your mixes will come up high on the results, ot has great features and a large user base. A big reason you may also want to consider to be on this platform that other large companies such as Redbull, Insomniac just to name a few, are on Mixcloud. This is why visibility is very important
.

Mixcrate is a good site to use as well as ThefutureFM.com, both sites are well designed and will host your mix, fingerprint your tracks and make it searchable. Both sites allow you to create followings, share, like and have the options for downloads. However because Mixcrate doesn't have an iPhone or an Android app, I would rank that slightly above Mixcrate because people are streaming music and spending more time on their mobile devices and are living through them, however Mixcrate has a good DJ following so the material has a very unique set of DJs hosting their mixing on the site and Future FM has the larger DJs such as Afrojack, David Guetta, and other EDM DJs.


So what are you going to do with Soundcloud? Once your account is marked, its is frequently checked and the likelihood of any more mixes uploading to the site is slim to none. So now I use Soundcloud to create it as a social network to follow the big name artist to see what the new music is being released, live sets, and what they are mixing. Making and compiling playlists will help you gain followers and also keep a list of all the tracks that you like and will download later. This is far from where it has started, it is now the major music site for big name DJs to put out their tracks, and not so much for other 99% of the Djing world.

Thanks for reading!

Djin is your business, treat it as one?

Let face it here. We are all DJs and since DJing isnt historically a career job, unless you are Deadmau5 or a EDM Producer. Typically we are all local DJs with aspirations of making it big.... a least big in our town...

With the majority of the DJs being younger and inexperiences and the older veteran DJs who been around have different perspective of how to run a DJ business. In my opinion, i think a lot of people do not take this seriously and in result do not grow professionally and also as a DJ. The older DJs have connections and remember how it used to be back in the Vinyl Days and crates, I myslef have never experienced it as I did have to log between CDs... and that was still horrible.

Most of us is on sometime of digital DJ platform either Serato or Traktor, which is the most popular, i recommend Serato because I like the feel of the Record and turntable, or control record and turntable.

Now to the Point. I think DJs get discouraged when people pay them a low rate or a Club stiffs them a fee. Its partly because they feel they can, you took the deal and also the way you do business. I have seen people come with the same set up, the same old speakers and the same tracks. Simply, as a business DJs get complacent and play the same set over and over and nothing really new. As a business they dont have a pool of contacts and just blasting social media posts on Facebook is their way of promoting and didnt make any new connections and meet people.

If this is your business just as a club owner has his business, Djing the the easiest part of the job. All the work behind the scenes is what makes a DJ better or worse, more sucessful than the other. Since this is a business DJs are expected to market, set up a light show, have inventory of lights and also produce.

Also as a business you need employees and the employess need to work, not just freeload off your work. Whereever your real job is that pays you regularly, they expect production and results in sales or productivity, you should too. When you hire people they should market and get jobs because your employer would expect the same too.

I think the biggest problem is we think we can just show up to the party and play a killer set and leave and get paid our full fee. If this what you do, I wont say its wrong but if your calendar is consistently open for gigs, then I guess you should probably reevaluate YOUR BUSINESS and redo the business Model. Dont know what a business model is... SMH... Google it..

As a business, your customers will pay you as much as $2,000 a gig, i have yet to book something that high, but think about it.. how do you get there? Ibet its more than social media blasts and a couple lights and 2 speakers.

In conclusion, the whole point of this blog is to treat your DJ business like a business. this means that if you are booking gigs, hire people to book gigs and help them market your business. You are paying them, hopefully well, they should do more than just show up, help you set up play half the show and leave. I would recommend that you make connections with local businesses for the marketing, build your inventory of lights and sounds and keep growing as a DJ and explore music.

I tell people at the end of the journey, its all about the ride... the money comes and goes but the partys rocked.. they stay with you...


Thanks for reading!

How running a Djing business is Similar to Moneyball

Im back for season 2 of Blogging. I know I didnt post much earlier but I also have another Blog called Charlies Techlist - which is a blog regarding technology and insight for consumers. Now this blog is different. As a DJ who has an event company business, I am not the expert on business as my Educational background is in Civil Engineering, however I have worked and excelled in retail and professional positions.

In my opinion I see this way too much, that DJs are disgruntled that they don't get paid their worth to an event. This is something I struggled with also, as I viewed the fact that I wasn't getting the dollars that I thought I was worth to an event. This is where I see the problem that many DJs run into. Understand that DJing isnt a profession that many people sought out to be, its more than a hobby that turns into something I love doing and making money. As most job should be like this, we hate our 9-5 that pays the bills but we love our 11-2 gigs. Most DJs out there are kids and young adults that see Teisto and Steve Aoki and EDC festivals and how much Calvin Harris is getting paid and think they are like that, so when people approach you to do a party and offer a couple hundred bucks, you galk and say "thanks but no thanks".

Because people that DJ dont go to College and learn business and networking and understand Business Plans and Models that are not smart with the clients and not smart investing. which brings me to this topic at hand.

Moneyball is all about winning games in Baseball with the lowest salary cap. DJs that complain they arent paid enough, open a business, drive in clients and pay DJs on rotation. See as a DJ we are always on the other side, we dont own anything but turntables and a mixer. So you have no real value to a client except the fact that you know music, but dont forget, they also know music as Pandora and Spotify has become the new way to get music.

In Baseball WAR is Wins above Replacement, this measures how valuable a player, how many wins does the team get if his replacement is playing instead of him. Great players who impact the Game, this is not a good number, so average players this is a great number. The same applies to DJing, how uch valuable are you over Streaming Services? this is where your real value is measured. If all you bring is a mixer and a Mac and want $500, to me you have extremely low value because all people need to do is pay 5 bucks and get a Premium Pandora Account or Spotify and you are out of a job, better yet, download a mix off Soundcloud and you are really disposable.

So in closing model your business to be something that give customers high value and need. you cant replace speakers, people need sound for a party and there is no way around that. why as a consumer should I pay you because you use a Rane 68, that is better for you and holds no value to me as a consumer. Dont charge customers because you spent $1,000 bucks and Techniques and also have a Pioneer mixer and a Mac Pro Retina set up, because truthfully a 2 channel mixer by stanton and running Ableton Live, this setup is around 80 bucks. But if you have the Lighting and Sound for a Party, and provide professional customer service with a great price point. Now your VAS (Value aboe Streaming) becomes higher.

Just my opinion, thank for reading!

You Always Need a Backup Plan... or DJ

Well with the Christmas Holiday season coming to an end and only New Year Parties remain until Wedding Season, this is a lesson my partner learned the hard way.. an I got bailed out with this season... Have a back up plan, or multiple back up plans, especially if you are a one man show.

During my DJ career, I have invested a lot of money into a partner/roadie to assist me on all my events, and if you run your own entertainment company this is a must!

What i used to have is an iOS phone with Djay loaded with top 40 and classic tracks already loaded incase something went wrong with my set up, this is great for last resorts, however battery life is limited and also not likely to carry you to the finish line.. i would recommend carrying an iPad because that is more like it. With more room to operate a library and also use the fader and very good response with literally no lag, this is a very good alternative.... plus you get an iPad!!!!

If you haven't collected tech for a long time and you havent reinvested in an upgraded macbook or you ha to slang it to pay for your new one... well having a back up laptop is great because most likely your library you need to tap into is larger than 16GB hard drive on a tablet, so this does the job. but the downside of this alternative is that you have to keep updating both computers on a regular basis plus also the cue points and BPM calc and processing, this is safe but a lot of work because you have to do everything twice and you dont know exactly whats on that computer, unless you back up and restore all the time... which may be the case.

Also an honorable mention is using CDJs and carrying around a hard drive or a thumb drive and using the mp3s on their to carry you through the night. Also you are going to deal with a limited library but since you should have a preferred playlist this can get you by.

And the Backup DJ/Roadie... This is the best option in my opinion because he should be a DJ to back you up should his library should be up to par. He should be a DJ so while "styles make fights" in boxing, having someone play the same type of music you play but differently and different tracks is a plus because he would play what you would play and you sound similar, and the libraries should match too. And the event you forget chargers, cords or even your USB port in your computer doesnt respond that night.. you have someone that can fill in and carry you through the night..

I use a macbook retina as my primary computer and even though its the latest and greatest from Apple, I always have problems with something that goes on, and since we do have do-overs in weddings or rain checks.. we have to be on the ball the entire time and remember... your a professional!!!

unless your not getting paid and you do favors, in that case. say your sorry and go home!

Introductory Podcast!!!! Finally here!!

Good Afternoon...

This is the official first podcast of the DJ community on Google+...

today we discuss, controllers vs decks and why LEDs are the new crates...

Enjoy and thanks for listening!

via sound cloud https://soundcloud.com/charlieseanez/charlies-decklist-episode-1

Enjoy!

Introductory Blog - Are lights the new crates

Welcome to the introductory blog for the DJ community... I had stated this community such as long time ago so people can learn the craft and business of DJin.. I have been slipping with not posting content that is newest and organic. However blogging and podcasting is new for me as I had to learn the ropes on the field.

Throughout the group I post my opinions about certain topics regarding the industry, since I have launched the group I have grown up and have had different experiences DJing, not to say that I some big DJ traveling, however I'm just a tech junkie that is also a DJ.

Im just hoping with some of my business experience I can help the community and also i learn from all the feedback and comments so please do so!!!!

So without further a do...

Are lights the new crates????

back in the day prior to Serato and also Tracktor DJs used to carry crates or records and then Cds.. as that was an upgrade.. So with the invention of the internet and also Napster, Limewire, etc. the DJs Library would be his reputation and collection would mean everything because the availability of records as well as the cost of records discouraged and weeded out recreational DJs and this is what us our money.

With the technology making anybody with an iPod, iPhone, iPad or Macbook with Virtual DJ now everyone is a "so called DJ" because they have an iTunes library they think they have the song selection skills, beat matching, and skills of a DJ (i crack up when people claim this! and actually try and book a wedding). So with the downloading making a lot of aspiring people making the jump to being a mobile DJ, the customers dont understand our value until they book the wrong DJ, and "I told you so" doesnt benefit us as that party has came and went (cant cry over spilled milk) do to book clients, LEDs is something a novice DJis not going to invest in and it is seen with your eyes. So the added value of mood lighting and a LED lightshow is now becoming our modern day crates.

Enjoy!!! Thanks for Reading!!

The initial Podcast will be up this week.. if you want your mixtape featured on the Podcast... hit me up in the comments and send me some good stuff... and if i like it ill put it on the back end of the podcast...

Thanks!

If you enjoyed this Blog, I am trying to get a grant for technology program for schools, can you please support by clicking the link and vote via Facebook... much appriciated!!!!
https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/3046