7/31/2009 - Fear Not the I Pod     [back]

A reminder that DJs bring more to the gig than songs and sound systems In recent issues of Mobile Beat I’ve read that mobile DJs have run into instances of the client considering utilizing an iPod® and a stereo system in lieu of hiring a professional DJ. This is not a new problem. Ever since music has been recorded there always has been the threat of a client or guest being able to assemble a decent collection of music and a decent sound system and avoiding the cost and bother of hiring a DJ. We don’t create the records, tapes, CDs, mini-discs or any other media that holds the music. And that includes the iPod or any other contemporary playback devices. We don’t have an exclusive on the equipment either. Many of our clients may have a suitable home audio system, with possibly better fidelity. Sure, our equipment is considered professional, with advanced features and durability. But we all know of regular people who have sound systems in their living rooms that rival the best DJ equipment. And we don’t perform the actual songs, practicing the vocals and instruments and mixing it together into a tolerable form. Virtually 100% of our songs are hits in their own form, with no help from us mobile DJs. So what do we bring to the table? Many, many of our clients could simply write a check and have the exact equipment that we have. Plus, in a short period, they or their kids could download into an iPod the songs that exactly match our portable, core music collection. Full-Featured DJs Actually, we bring a whole lot to the table. First and foremost is our experience in entertaining and managing 100, 200 or more people for a period of 3-4 hours or more. There is a reason that many DJs refer to themselves more often as Masters of Ceremonies. This is not just a title given to someone who can talk on a microphone. This title is awarded to someone who knows how to say the right thing at the right time. Second is the music. Sure, everyone will soon walk around with over 5,000 songs in their pocket, DJs, grandmas and anyone with an MP3 device. We all know that having 5,000 songs simply does not help you decide which songs to play. Since roughly 20 songs can be played in an hour, a 4 hour event will only need 80 of those 5,000 songs, with the other 4,920 songs being clutter. Our ability to sort through 5000, 10,000 or more songs to present the best 80 songs that match both the client’s desires and those of the guests is not to be taken lightly. There is a genuine craft to sequencing these songs in an appealing fashion, entertaining the maximum people at any one time, yet managing a degree of creativity from one event to another. Even a client who is very well versed in pop music and has accumulated tens of thousands of songs on a laptop or iPod still doesn’t have that intangible quality of being able to choose songs for an audience beyond him or herself. Songs like “Electric Boogie” (a.k.a. The Electric Slide), “YMCA,”“Macarena” and other DJ standards rarely show up on personal MP3 players, as they are not great “listening” songs. But they’re great party songs. We all know that there’s a big difference between listening songs and party songs. Broadcasting the Message I am reminded of a few phrases that can be applied to cultivate in potential clients the good sense to hire a professional DJ instead of dragging out one’s own stereo system. The first phrase was used by the Greyhound Bus company: “Leave the driving to us.” Most everyone has a car but on certain occasions being able to sit back, relax and let someone else drive makes a lot of sense. Another phrase I believe offered by Mark Twain is “He who has himself as a lawyer has a fool for a client.” A court of law is not the place for an amateur lawyer wannabe trying to plea his or her own case. Sure, lawyers are the butt of many jo