I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you this month. Bonus: I'll give you the source on where to find the tracks I talk about. Not only do I hope to save you time in finding gems but I also give you my take on how/where I use them within my sets. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy...
Jun 21, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 27
I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you this month. Bonus: I'll give you the source on where to find the tracks I talk about. Not only do I hope to save you time in finding gems but I also give you my take on how/where I use them within my sets. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy...
Jun 14, 2022•24 min•Season 4Ep. 26
PREMIUM CONTENT PODCAST EPISODE: There's a saying that goes, "leaders are readers". I stand behind that 100%. In this particular episode, I give you my top 3 out of 10 books that need to be on your reading list if you're running a DJ business. SPOILER: While I know we have some incredible authors within our industry (shoutout to Mike Walter, Joe Bunn, Mitch Taylor, Alan Berg and Andrea Eppolito to mention a few), I pull from outside our industry on this list. I explain why on the episode. If you...
Jun 11, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 25
I think the saying goes, "Father time is undefeated". That being said, in this day and age, we have all the tools and resources to DJ much longer than ever before. So how do you have longevity in the DJ game? In this episode, I share 6 tips which I believe give you the biggest chance for staying a DJ long-term. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners only, ente...
Jun 02, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 24
I don't typically do DJ gear product reviews on this podcast but felt as a traveling DJ, this would be helpful for those that are doing travel gigs and wondering if these products would be viable. In this episode, I review the Pioneer DDJ-Rev 7, the Pioneer XDJ-XZ and the AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio Wireless Headphones. None of these things were on my wish list when they first came out but after playing with them, my tune has changed slightly. Products Reviewed Pioneer DDJ-Rev7 Pioneer XDJ-XZ AIAIAI TMA...
May 28, 2022•18 min•Season 4Ep. 23
I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you this month. Bonus: I'll give you the source on where to find the tracks I talk about. Not only do I hope to save you time in finding gems but I also give you my take on how/where I use them within my sets. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy...
May 17, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 22
We're in the midst of industry convention season. Do you have a strategy in not only deciding which ones to attend but also how to maximize your investment at them? What's a true win? In this episode, I sit down with one of my really good friends and photographer extraordinaire, Phillip Van Nostrand. He's based out of NYC and has nailed ROI in attending industry shows. He shares so many nuggets that your next show experience is guaranteed to be better just by listening to this. Check out my new ...
May 10, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 21
Ever dealt with a parent of the bride or groom who is almost sabotaging the wedding by being on a power trip? How do you balance your allegiance to the person signing the contract with the person(s) who could be paying for the wedding? In this episode, I give you my take on how I would handle something of this nature. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners onl...
Apr 29, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 20
Often we think of leadership as only being needed for companies with a lot of employees and generally, you're thrust into the role as the company grows without any training whatsoever. That can lead to some costly mistakes if you aren't careful. In this episode, I sit down with Broc Barton owner of Elevate Entertainment. He realized early on that the best leaders tend to work on themselves first. Once that is in order, it flows down to the rest of the organization. He's doing some incredible thi...
Apr 22, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 19
Upon looking at the title, you might think to yourself, "This guy sure is full of himself! A rider? For a private event DJ?" The answer is 'no' to the full of himself part but 'yes' to the need for it as a private event DJ. In this episode, I talk through why I feel it's important to have one and some of the things you should include. At the end, I share where you can download my personal DJ rider in full. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Inte...
Apr 18, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Even though we've mentioned some of it in our DJ Collective recap videos, I haven't ever shared The DJ Collective Origin Story except from the DJC stage (and even then, you'd only know if you were at a DJC). There's been a lot of chatter about DJ learning opportunities as we're in the midst of “DJ Industry Show Season”. If you're looking for something that is truly a career game changer (some attendees have even used the phrase “ life changing ”), then this episode is for you. We've never cared ...
Apr 07, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 17
As a full-time destination event DJ, I'm booking all my travel right now for events up through May. As I did a search last week for some flights, I was shocked to find ticket prices were in some cases THREE TIMES more than the typical price. So how do you handle this? Especially when you're quoting prices 6-12 months out, how do you protect yourself without knowing something like a gas surge is on the horizon? In this episode, I give you 2 strategies to consider which will limit your risk of pro...
Mar 30, 2022•15 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Sometimes pop culture gives us moments (both good and bad) that we can learn from. Last night was one of them, especially as entertainers, at one of the world's premiere events. In this episode, I give you 5 things we can learn as entertainers from the Will Smith and Chris Rock Oscar moment. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB...
Mar 28, 2022•9 min•Season 4Ep. 15
In this episode, I share why I think a negative can actually be a positive. We start out saying "no" as a child but at some point, we're told we should always say "yes". As entrepreneurs, I believe we need to get back to our child-like roots. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it gets you a 30 day trial for $5. Try it now. ...
Mar 24, 2022•9 min•Season 4Ep. 14
I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you this month. Bonus: I'll give you the source on where to find the tracks I talk about. Not only do I hope to save you time in finding gems but I also give you my take on how/where I use them within my events. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Hea...
Mar 22, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 13
This might be one of the most valuable episodes I've ever recorded and not for the reason you think. Getting 5 star reviews is important no doubt, but building a foundation for your business that allows you to get them for 'a process that is certain' rather than 'an outcome that is not' is a game changing philosophy. This is where I think creatives in our industry need to go. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool...
Mar 14, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 12
One of my podcast premium content subscribers asked me to cover how I create and present my custom proposals. It's morphed over the years and I feel like I have it in the best place I possibly can (at the moment). In this episode, I talk through what I include in the proposal, the tools I use to create the various pieces and finally how I send them out. Check out my new podcast website and my patreon . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listener...
Mar 11, 2022•9 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Whether we realize it or not, we all have a red line - that is, a place where we won't let a client or a creative partner (i.e. a planner, photographer, etc.) cross. If they go beyond that line, it threatens the quality of the work or at the very least, sets a terrible precedent for the remainder of the working relationship. In this episode, I talk about my red line and why I think it's important for every creative to establish one. Check out my new podcast website and my patreon . DJs: Interest...
Mar 08, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Ghosting - it’s just a part of what we have to deal with as an industry…or is it? In this episode, I make a case for how we can stop it all together. It takes a commitment to not be swayed by the almighty dollar and to stand in your truth. If we do this, we’ll finally be able to get rid of not only the negative buzz word itself but the action all together. Check out my new podcast website and my patreon . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast liste...
Mar 02, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 9
I've always been a fan of rewarding yourself (if you sell yourself) or your salespeople for a sale. There are exceptions but by and large sales is not easy - time and money spent to market for the client you want, the sales consult, the proposal, the signing of the contract and the payment. That's a lot of steps. So when you get that sale, you should enjoy the spoils, whether it's you as the owner/salesperson or your sales team. In this episode, I walk through how to set up a sales commission st...
Feb 25, 2022•18 min•Season 4Ep. 8
I've heard a lot of DJ podcasts recently reference the benefit of short formality song edits and NY/NJ Mini Dance Sets. I want to give the other side of that argument. Simply put, I'm not a fan of either. I think both hurt the reception more than they help. In this episode, I give you my take on both and leave you with some food for thought. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it gets you a 30 day trial ...
Feb 22, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Part 2 of 2 wedding music "left turns" - songs that you didn't see coming; where the DJ takes things in a different direction than the norm or what the crowd was expecting. Joining me as guest contributors are Drew Pierce from Long Beach, CA and Stylus Chris from Washington DC. In this episode, we cover opening dance sets and peak hour dance sets. View the songs discussed on our Spotify Playlist DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners only,...
Feb 16, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 6
My music episodes are back. In this episode, I talk through wedding music "left turns" - songs that you didn't see coming; where the DJ takes things in a different direction than the norm or what the crowd was expecting. Joining me as guest contributors are Drew Pierce from Long Beach, CA and Stylus Chris from Washington DC. Specifically in this part 1, we cover cocktail hour, doors open and dinner. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my podcast listeners o...
Feb 14, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Have you ever had to articulate to a client what your deposit is for? To me, the answer to this question is just one in a line of questions that tells the story of your business. In this episode, I talk through the most commons answers to this question that I hear from DJ companies. Then, I try and give a perspective on it that I think could really change the trajectory of how you approach your business in general. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https://heavyhits.com/ For my pod...
Feb 10, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Are you tired of constantly dealing with customers or clients who say you're too expensive or they've found a cheaper DJ? I know I was. I'd be told it was all about things like being more persuasive, responding quickly, or showing value. The reality is that it goes much deeper than that. In this episode, I give you a few different things to think about and some tips so you can avoid wasting your time with people that just aren't your client. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to https:...
Jan 28, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Don't you hate it when advertisers call you and want you to advertise or marketers ping you wanting you to to participate in something you have no interest in doing? You don't want to say yes but you also might not have the heart to say no. How can you word something professionally that stops them in the tracks? Here's one of my go to lines. This is a fail safe. There is no way they can rebuttal you on this type of answer...it stops them dead in their tracks and you put the onus on them to remem...
Jan 18, 2022•8 min•Season 4Ep. 2
It's a New Year...but man did this last one (2021) kick my butt; to the point that I ran out of gas and am just now finally getting well. I talk through how to have your family or significant others support you when things get crazy then share 2 things that radically changed my year in 2021. Links to programs mentioned: https://thinkcoresmart.com http://www.thegeraldisaacstudio.com DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIA...
Jan 17, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Rant...Errr...DJ Dad Talk Time. From the inception of this podcast, the goals have been to #1 - have conversations that others in our industry aren't having; ones that go deeper than surface level and #2 - push our industry forward. So when I see something that runs contrary to that, I feel it's my duty to share my take on the subject in a way that may run counter to what the rest of our industry is doing. I don't do it to change you mind necessarily but to help us not become blind sheep followi...
Dec 10, 2021•10 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Another story from the gig log. I share the story (a first for me as a DJ as it pertains to this particular issue) but the greater point of the episode is to ponder when is enough enough as far as the private event DJ always being looked to save the day when there's an emergency? Where's the line? What has happened to competent professionals? I hope this is not the post COVID norm but maybe it is. Anyway, here's a call to the greater private event DJ community - the more we enable others by bail...
Dec 10, 2021•17 min•Season 3Ep. 31
I worked an ungodly amount of events this past Fall. With that, comes a ton of stories. In this episode, I share 3 of them - the faulty power box, lost luggage, and one about a broken elevator. These are just the tip of the iceberg of things I've experienced over the last few months. More stories to come. But with each one, there's an opportunity to learn from them and not only get perspective, but get better at my craft. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podca...
Dec 02, 2021•12 min•Season 3Ep. 30
