| Often you will run into a DJ that wants to tell you how | | | | a DJ problem... yet. |
| great they are and how bad you are. These "pests" | | | | During the evening he continued to make requests. |
| can usually be handled with ease. Unless they are | | | | Often returning to ask when they would be played. At |
| actually disturbing your performance or hindering you, | | | | one point he began to tell me about his "DJ |
| simply let them talk. Don't turn it into a DJ problem by | | | | business,"...how he's got a bunch of Sub-woofers and |
| getting into a spitting contest with them. | | | | stuff like that. Here comes the DJ problem: he asked |
| If you let them tell you what they know, it | | | | for a wireless mic so he could "do a little show" for the |
| accomplishes 2 things: | | | | crowd to "Grease Megamix." I didn't give him the mic, |
| 1). It disarms them; they are less likely to be on the | | | | he got mad and called me a few names, then left. He |
| attack. | | | | didn't bother me again. |
| 2). It may be hard to accept, but you may actually | | | | The key is, never give up the mic. If the pestering |
| learn something. | | | | continues, let him know he's bothering you. Tell him you |
| I ran into a guy like that who told me what he charges, | | | | are working and you need to concentrate. Hopefully |
| when and how much he charges for "extras," how | | | | that will work. If it doesn't, you may have to have a |
| much he charges for travel, how he handles certain | | | | bartender or someone from security talk to him. |
| crowd activities, how he sets up his lights, and he gave | | | | (That's if the venue you are at actually has security!) If |
| me some tips on hiding my power cords on my lights. I | | | | you give someone you don't know your microphone, |
| learned a lot. He wasn't interested in anything I was | | | | you then have a DJ problem. |
| doing, except to tell me what I was doing wrong. But, | | | | One thing to remember: a lot of the people that come |
| by letting him talk, I disarmed him, and I picked up a few | | | | up and tell you they are a DJ are probably not DJs; at |
| things. That's turning a "DJ problem" into a "DJ solution." | | | | least not in the sense that they are working and |
| The worst DJ you can run into however is the guy | | | | making money. They are probably someone who |
| who wants to take over the show; your show. There | | | | hangs around a DJ business "helping." First of all, why |
| are few things more annoying. It happened to me this | | | | aren't they working? After all, they aren't booked! |
| past week. Everything was set up. I was playing dinner | | | | Second, why didn't the bride hire this guy to do the |
| music when a guy who looked like he was part of the | | | | wedding? He certainly has an "in!" |
| wedding party asked me for a mic so he could make | | | | If you think it through in advance, it's usually easy to |
| an announcement. Without thinking, I handed him the | | | | deal with someone like this and not lose your cool. |
| mic. The announcement was something along the lines | | | | In fact, anticipating problems and coming up with |
| of: "Ron and Eddy, please check in with the bridal | | | | solutions BEFORE they happen is one of the best |
| party, we're getting ready to do the Grand Entrance." I | | | | things you can do to insure a smooth evening. Just |
| got the mic back and never gave it up again. Not really | | | | remember: always be calm and cool! |