Getting a simple quote! Did you know?

Why can't I get a simple quote?

"Why can't I get a quick quote?" is by far the most asked question by potential clients. As DJ's we hear this all the time and are often caught between a rock and a hard place. We want to be able to offer the best service as a low cost, but often what clients seek is much more than a "Basic Package Price." Our future clients are expecting much more than speakers. As a result, we become educators of sound, light and service.

What clients often don't understand is the complexity of variables in making a quote. Granted we all want to offer something at a discount or free, but even with incentives, we still have to make a profit. Often my clients are amazed at the number of variables involved with quoting an event. The basic variables are of course sound and lighting. Many never factor for layout, time, travel, expenses, location and most importantly, the date. Why do these factors matter?

The sound variable is the most critical factor. Many people don't understand venue sound and how it affects the volume and clarity of music. As you add people to a venue, each body absorbs sound. I explain this with a bucket of water. If fill a buck of water and drop in a couple sponges and they float around, it's the same as a room with an adequate sound system. If I keep adding sponges (people to a room) eventually, I'll run out of water and not all the sponges will be equally wet. Just like sound, if you over fill a room or under drive the sound, you're left with some who hear the music and some who don't. Similar to sound is lighting.

Have you ever seen an event with one light? What happens when a guest walks in front? Ever try cooking in a kitchen with just one over head lamp? That's right, the number of people and type of lighting greatly affect the room. Sure, plain white light is crisp and clean, but it doesn't announce "Party." What is the really point of a reception? You want to have people dancing and laughing. This said, the placement of the lights chosen is also critical. 

The placement of lights with a well though out layout also affects the cost of an event. If you need to run speaker or lights to multiple locations or even rooms, then the time and expenses will increase. Careful layout will help to maximize lighting and sound, with keeping cost down. If specific layouts are needed, then it takes time to calculate, setup and add for the changes.

We DJ's enjoy what we do. I've personally DJ'd some events that were booked at 3 hours and I work 3 hours and 30 minutes. But, I've also DJ'd events with a contract of 3  hours and the event resulted in 12 plus hours. (Hard lesson learned) Our time to complete our job defiantly affects the quote. I remember a client who asked for 3 hours of service and was more than willing to pay the going rate. But, she wanted me to set up at 9:00 AM and be gone (leaving my equipment) until noon time and then begin spinning at 1:00 pm! Again, I don't mind donating some time, but waiting 4 hours is not reasonable for anyone! Personally, I charge less per hour for waiting or breaking the play time up. I'm not driving around and wasting gas, so I charge a different rate for waiting than traveling.

The cost of gas today affects every business. Gone are the days where DJ's will travel hundreds of miles at no cost for a client. Trucks, to haul the gear, not good on gas. Driving a hundred miles could cost a DJ $60 plus dollars for the trip. No charge for excessive travel could gobble up the funds. 

Traveling also can result in other expenses, tolls, food, lodging. Often these expenses are never considered when calculating an event. If I DJ past 11 PM and I'm more than one hour from my home, I require lodging. Driving a truck after working 6-12 hours at 1 in the morning is just plain dangerous. Local jobs are always preferred when they're accessible. 

 The clients location greatly affects the cost. I took on a client at a school on a local island to help some kids have a fun dance. The kids had a great time and the 3 hours of work was fun. The location was not fun. First, I had to drive across town and park in a garage. I then asked to roll all my gear to a loading dock, load it on a boat, ride to the island, unload the boat, load into another truck and then into the building. The best part was the return trip in the rain. Needless-to-say, that 3 hour job became close to 10 hours and it was only 10 miles from my home. Location also impacts access to the load in time. If your event location is on the top floor of a hotel or down a long winding unpaved path, this all takes more time.

Finally the day a client chooses for his or her event will drastically impact the cost through supply and demand. Obviously, many people want a DJ during the holidays or New Year's Eve. Looking at the date alone is not enough. We also have to look at events occurring during that time. There are many times when my services were requested during events such as festivals or fairs. The previously mentioned variables and date, add up to cost.

So why can't I just throw out a quote? In order for DJ's to make a living, we have to account for all these factors. Tell us the specific details of your plan through a free consultation and we'll give you the most accurate and reasonable quote we can.

iPhone App for Wedding Music Selections

During the consultations in planning a wedding many of my clients ask for suggestions for music. Believe me, I know the difficulty in just thinking of "That Great Song" with little notice. Add the stress of planning a wedding and all of a sudden, you can't remember any songs that you want played at your event. Now, my friends at DJ Intelligence (a disc jockey software company), has created an application to help you with this.

"Fun Wedding" is an application designed to show you the most requested songs for various types of dances. You can search the "Tops" list, decades tops, specialty dance tops, make favorites, email them to your DJ and even find a DJ. You don't have to worry about the latter, you're already here!

As an experienced DJ, I can contest that this applications Top or Most Requested list are quite accurate. Granted, its almost impossible for one company to create the "Perfect" list since you're competing with reqest from around the country, from different generations and cultures. But, knowing these list are a mix and every song listed shouldn't necessarily be played at your event is valuble information. If you see AC/DC, DMX, or Wagner on one list, don't worry they won't be and shouldn't be played in seccession.

On the the Parts of the the program:

TOP 200

The Top 200 is a vast list that calculates the top 200 played songs. As previously mentioned, there is an eclectic mix of music here. This is a great place to start looking for a mixtue of rock, dance, rap, classics in one location. As you can see, "I Gotta Feeling" has a Gold Star. This is a way to favorite songs you like as you move through the various songs. More about this latter.

Decades List

Next up is the "Decades List." This list is helpful for narrowing down your search of a particular decade. It ranges from the 1950's to today. I'm starting to use this application with guest at weddings and dances. I turn it on my iPad and visit tables introducing myself. When guest say, "Play something from the 60's" I can show them this list and I can quickly compile a list of songs by marking them as favorites. Then when I go back to the DJ table, I can load them into the request list. I'm finding more guest are interested in picking a song from a list, rather than trying to recall a song.

Specialty Dances

Now we have the Top 50 Songs for each Specialty Dance for weddings. This tool is great to allow a couple to sit down and review songs without being at at computer. If you're at a coffee shop or out to dinner, you can review these songs. You can also favorite multiple songs because some songs you just want to hear at some point during the event.

FAVORITES

Now we get to the good part. As I mentioned earlier, as you move through the various list, you can favorite songs that you want to hear. From this point, you can email those songs directly to your DJ! That address would be DJ@MRKE.biz

Emailing Favorites

YOU CAN ADD YOUR WEDDING DATE

Finally, you can even find a DJ if you need one through the program. But remember, the DJ you're looking for is DJ Michael at www.mrke.biz! If he can't perform at your event, he'll help you find a DJ who can meet your needs and be availble for your date. 

Find a DJ

What don't I like about the application? Prelistening to songs can be a little clumbsy. 

I'd like to see a song, genre, and advance search.

Add DJ Reviews to the "Find A DJ"

Since this is part of a DJ Software Company, I'd like to see direct integration to your request list. At this time, you have to email yourself the list and then go to your DJ's online request list and type them in. 

Add a "Client Log-in" for users to access their time lines, guest list and such.

All and all, I'll give this 3.5 Stars out of 4. Add the above and I'll raise my rating. I will say it's a nice application to have at $.99 Given the low cost, I'd suggest, if you need help finding songs, to purchase this application. If you're a DJ with DJ Intelligence, then absolutely purchase it for your event and consultations. You can find the application here: Fun Wedding

To Cancel School Dances or Not?

This blog post is written with teachers, administration and staff of schools in mind. 

As we think back about dances and schools, we can all remember a time where teachers were not happy about attending a dance as a chaperone. Personally, I don't blame you! This is boring job. But, when we think of the alternative options, the options become increasing scary! Imagine kids in a basement or worse a night club that allows students in after hours. I've seen and even worked in clubs that did this. I can contest, it's a truly dangerous situation for any minor. Drunk people dancing with minors is never a good solution for entertainment. To get back to the reminiscing, we had options that allowed kids to dance and have fun in a safe environment. What do the kids have now? Those places are now littered with drug dealers and perverts looking to prey upon a young teen.

So, going back to not wanting to hold dances, the reality is we need too. Hosting a dance provides a safe place for kids to let loose and have fun. We (as adults) do this all the time; ever been to a wedding? What is the best part? Dancing? Yes, dancing is a natural part of our expression and it gets kids moving! This brings us to the dreaded grind.

Why do kids grind up on each other? Well, the dance technique (yes it is a dance technique) was adopted from Latin Dance into Hip Hop; like many dance moves are. Since Hip Hop durived in the underground movement of the inner-city club districts. These clubs were often crowded, dark and loud with bass. So, dancing with a partner, you had to be close. Giving that and the beverages, you can see how this would become successful. 

Now, Hip Hop has become Mainstream Music. That previously night club music has exploded and your students are addicted to it. I'm not suggesting changing their musical taste, only being aware of it. When the kids come to a dance, you can bet they want to hear Hip Hop and Dance Music. Being aware of you environment and music selection can help with calming the grinding. 

Kids are dancing this way for a few reasons, 1) It's normalized. Kids see it as appropriate dance for their age group. This turns into peer pressure that forces kids to dance this way. 2) They see it on T.V. Watch 10 minutes of MTV or BET and you'll see grinding. College kids, stage dancers and the like all do it. 3) It's easy to do! Duhh! It's true. Grinding takes no skill at all. In fact, I think some kids do it to hide fact they can't dance. 4) How many school dances are lighted properly? That's right, most schools choose not to have adequate lighting and the result is a nice dark dance floor. 5) Kids love bass. Any DJ will tell you at school dance every other student will ask you to turn it up, in other words, "Pump up the Bass!" Do you see the pattern yet?

When you talk to kids they'll tell you that it doesn't hurt anyone. This isn't true. If you ask the same kid, "Would you dance this way at a wedding or with your parents here?" They'll say "no!" So, that opens the door for all of us. Kids identify that the behavior is not appropriate and they can see the difference. Now we have something to work with. 

There are many ways to get kids to dance appropriately. The Venue, music, lighting, theme, music, and BPM's (Beats Per Minute) are just a few. Book Now with DJ Michael and allow him to help you create a fun safe dance for all your students. 

Don't send out kids to the basements or after hour clubs to dance and have a good time, when you can create a better atmosphere at your school while making money for a club or good cause. Don't get discouraged. Seek out support from DJ Michael. DJ Michael is a State of Maine Certified Teacher who works in the puplic education sector. He understands these complexities and can help you create a safe and fun atmosphere. 

School Dance Planning Primer

So you've decided to plan a school dance. That's Great! First comes the planning, then you get to party and let loose. Planning a dance can be overwhelming for all that are involved. Students want to get wild, Teachers are scared about the behavior that students exhibit and Administrators worry about the publicity of the event. It doesn't have to be this way. It can be a great event for all!

The planning process begins with coordinating with your co-curricular office and/or school principal (assistants too). It's best to talk to everyone that has a stake in planning a dance. Often times, this includes the following people:

1. Administration
2. Co-Curricular Directors/Admin
3. Class or Club Advisor
4. Supportin Teachers
5. Supporting Parents
6. Custodians and Maintainance Personel
7. Class Officers.

Below is a basic outline of how to plan a school dance. See my School Dance Planning Guide (coming soon) Here!

Talk it Out:
You'll want to let your club advisor or coordinator know that you're planning a dance. Most schools have a process for these to occur, some schools have a limit to how many dances the school will have in a given year. Ask your advisor/cooperating teacher for the specific process of your school. You might find that this process is simpliar to my outlined suggestions in this post.

Type of Dance:
 You'll want to plan what type of dance you want. CLICK HERE (Coming Soon) for a list of types of dances that are appropriate for schools.  You'll want to estimate how much this will cost. CLICK HERE (Coming Soon) to learn about estimating event cost. For example: You've decided you want a winter dance, but another group is already putting on a Valentine's Day Dance. Well, having a White Dance can get everyone excited. The idea is you'll all wear white (which is cool with the lights and black lights). The music will be House/Techno Remixes. This will clearly set you event apart from other clubs and possiblely give you an annual event that your peers will look forward too.

Getting the Date:
You'll want to consult with the Athletic Coordinator or Custodians to ensure the facility is availible. Many dances happen in Gyms, Cafeterias, Fields, or even a classroom for a smaller dance. You need to be sure the space is availible and you'll want to write down the times that it is availible. Your school may have other events that could interfere with your date selection. So, pick about three dates and plan on eliminating one or two as you meet with "The Powers That Be." Often, there are events like, S.A.T.'s, Field Trips, Testing and specific games or functions. Some schools rent out their venue space and your date might be already booked.

The Powers: 
Once you have some dates, approach your school administration. Often, this is the Principal or Assistant Prinicpals. Ask your school secretary and they'll tell you which administrator to ask. You'll want to have your facts in order before you ask for the permission. Doing the "Leg Work" helps to put administrators at ease. Most likely, they'll request that you get a list of chaperones or at least they'll tell you how many you want.

Collecting Names:
At this point you'll want to start collecting names. For the most part, every school will have approximately 25-30% of all students attending any dance. Given this, if you have 500 students in your school, you'll have approximately 125-150 students attending. This projection often varies depending on the type of dance; Homecoming 40-50% and Proms 70-100%. You've all had math, do the numbers. So, about the names. In a classroom, teachers could have 25-30 students, which is a large number, but manageable. For a dance, you'll want similar numbers So, devided your projected number of students by 25 and this is the number of chaperones you'll want to commit to your event. Let's take the school population of 500 students. If we'll see at least 25-30%, then we'll want to have 4-5 chaperones. Do NOT include the administration or class advisors with this number! The reason is, if anything goes wrong, they will be the adults who will deal with the given issue.

Budget:
Many would think the budget should be mention earlier. Not true, you really need to know that you have the permissions prior to planning what you'll spend on this event. Now that you have the permission and location you have the work the budget. Get a copy of my School Dance Budget Planner Here (Coming Soon). There are a lot of things to think about here I'm going to list a few, but use the planners to get the specifics.

• Venue Cost: Some schools require you to pay the overtime fees for the custodians.
• Police Officers: You'll be required to have 1-2 police officers at your dance. This varies betwen schools, but usually you'll need one for each locations. (i.e... Dance Floor, Halls/Bathrooms, Outdoor Patios, etc. Consult your advisor for specifics). 
• DJ: Obviously! Read this article about "Booking Your School DJ!" for more spcecifics. The DJ will require a deposit to reserve your date. This is critical to be sure your DJ will be availible for your specific date and type of dance. 
• Food & Beverages: Some clubs elect other clubs to sell food at the dance. Food should be ordered at least a month in advance or get parents to committ to helping out in making refreshments.
• Decorations: Decorations can get expensive to purchase. Use the Budge Planning Tools to consider how much you should spend. These decorations include: Streamers, Flags, Table Cloths, String Lights, Posters, Paper, etc...
• Trinkets/Keepsakes: This is common with Proms. These can be a photo frame, key chain or event a glow stick (Looks really cool when you have hundres of glow sticks in a room.) Some schools elect to rent a photobooth. 
• Printing of Tickets: Some schools require professional printing of tickets to ensure there will be no duplications. See your advisor for more informaiton. 
• Advertising & Marketing: This can be announcements to posters. Remember, poster paper cost money and so do the markers. Hopefully you can get them donated. Don't Steal from the Art Department, you might need them to chaperone!
• Cash Draw/Bank: You'll need some money to make change as you sell tickets. I suggest keeping your ticket prices to the 5 numbers like: $5, $10, $15, $20. This makes making change much faster and easier. Many schools offer discounts for couples like, $10 per person and $15 per couple. 
• Clean Up Fees & Crew: Some schools require groups to pay the custodians for overtime work to clearn up the facility. You want custodians on your side! Assign a few studens to help out at the end of the dance to pick up the big trash and make sure everything is in its' appropriate place. Trust me, your custodians will want to work for you again! Think about another dance!
• Equipment Rental: If you're renting equipment, you'll need to consider the cost. For Example: Extra Lighting, Dishes (glasses or plates), Extra Speakers, Tents, Dance Floors for fields, chairs and etc...)
• Gifts: This one is often overlooked by most students. Your chaperones are donating their time to help you have a good time. It's a nice gesture to purchase a small gift and/or food for them. At my school, we usually setup a mall food bar in an office for all the chaperones. Some dances, we'll give them each a gift card or small gift (like a nice pen or post-its) with a thank you note. Remember, often the chaperones that volunteer will be the ones that will volunteer again. Thank them so they want to help again. 

Assigning Jobs

So now you have your budget, your date, chaperones, approval and DJ. This will be the time to assign students jobs to build decorations if you've decided to do a dance theme. 

Some jobs to assign are: 

Decoration Building

Promotion & Marketing

Ticket Sales

Dance Setup

Tear & Breakdown

If you're building set peices for your dance. find a location where they will be safe and have fun creating them. This can be as fun as the dance. Get creative and go all out. Remember, a gallon of paint is cheaper than those small tubes. Get your primary colors and mix your own to save money. I've seen many schools recycle paneling, cardboard and posters to decorate.

Get that Marketing Crew out there! Make sure you have strong awareness within your school of the dance approaching. Students need 3-5 weeks notice of a dance approaching. Just like most of you, your parents provide for you. If a family cannot afford $10-$20 for one kid, let alone a few! Give the family and students time to earn the money or save up. I also suggest giving tickets away to needy kids who put in many hours helping you put this dance on. I've seen many groups use Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. Don't hesitate to maximize your social networking opportunities. This is also a great place to put photos from the dance to be shared. 

Now it's time to get your tickets printed and/or cut out. It's cheaper to have the tickets printed on one sheet and cut them out yourselves. Get that bank roll (about $50-$100 in $5's & $10's) to make change for student purchasing tickets. At many schools, you'll be required to keep attendance of who has purchased a ticket. This is because schools need to check the roster to students in good standing. 

Confirm with contracted services at least one week prior to your dance. This means talk on the phone directly with your DJ, Catorer or hired people. You don't want students showing up without a DJ! This should take one student 30 minutes to complete.

THE DAY BEFORE/OF:

I strongly suggest decorating the venue the night before the event (if possilble). If you're having a dance on a Friday night, you'll have to decorate that afternoon. If you spent the right about of time planning, buying and building decorations, then this should go quick. If you're having a BIG Sound & Light Show, your DJ may want to arrive to school several hours 4-6 in advance to program the system.

GUYS READ THIS: "The ladies have as much fun getting ready as they do at the dance. DON'T ask them to work on decorating up to 2 hours before the dance. The ladies will want at least 2-3 hours to get ready. Don't be suprised if they want 4-6 hours! Don't Ask, just give it them."

THE DANCE IS ON!

Now is the fun part, PARTY TIME! Get you date, come to the dance and have a good time! Don't forget to thank your chaperones and staff for helping out; you want them to help again!

As you can see, planning a dance is no simple task. Don't hesitate any longer. Contact DJ Michael to get the best support, planning and ideas. You'll be thankful you did!