I've had a ton of conversations with DJ company owners recently and unlike previous years where we all were tracking in somewhat the same direction, this year (2023) I'm hearing a lot of companies that are in "feast" mode while a considerable amount of others are in "famine" mode. Why is this? And if your inquiries are minimal, how can you change that? In this episode, I give you 3 reasons that I believe are causing the famine and I also share how you can get to the other side. This is a line in...
Feb 09, 2023•17 min•Season 5Ep. 5
I talk a lot about loyalty to an airline or two (or three). But if travel DJ life is more of a "one off" than the norm, loyalty to a specific airline might not always be possible. I also talk a lot about the need to be well rested and at your most optimal peak-performance self at travel gigs. Without a first class ticket, this might be tough when you're sitting in the back or in the middle seat (or worse, both) with limited or zero recline options (yes, I realize these are first world problems)....
Feb 08, 2023•6 min•Season 5Ep. 4
With my music episodes, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you from the month of January 2023. 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 u...
Feb 07, 2023•24 min•Season 5Ep. 3
This is a listener requested topic. An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) is seen often in the nightlife world. But is it necessary in the private event space? The answer is - it depends. Unfortunately, this is not a black or white answer here. In this episode, I break down not only when it could be advantageous for you but also what I feel should be included and how to get one made. Check out my podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Are you not using VIBO, the music reque...
Feb 06, 2023•12 min•Season 5Ep. 2
I've been pretty vocal about the need for me to get a 75% deposit from clients upon booking. This isn't about a money grab - in fact, far from it. In this episode, I break it down to help a DJ who tried to make the shift to this 75% with a client and it caused some pushback from said client. The DJ was looking for advice to counter this and book them. Context is everything. Listen to this episode for clarity here. Check out my podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: ...
Feb 03, 2023•20 min•Season 5Ep. 1
It's been a badge of honor for so long in our industry to not only book events in bulk but to book them as far out as possible. It shows you are in demand. It proves that your marketing is paying off. It puts you in a rare class of the elite DJ. Or does it? In this episode, I give you the other side of the coin as well as food for thought to consider pausing booking for 2024. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool...
Jan 12, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 52
With my music episodes, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. In this episode, I share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds for the month of December 2022 with you. 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 ...
Jan 01, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 51
On the heels of the last episode, I share a tremendous failure of the business this year. There's no doubt this has given me some character stripes - that is for sure. In this episode, I share what happened, how I handled it and where things stand currently. This one is a doozy. 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 yo...
Jan 01, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 50
What would you attempt to do if you knew you would fail? But in failing, you knew there would be a positive return from it. The reality is that failure is always possible. In fact, it's more than likely probable. In this episode, I talk through this idea of developing the leadership skill of anticipating failure and leveraging it for a positive. 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/ ...
Dec 31, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 49
I have found that part of preparing for a new year is deciding whether or not to implement changes to your business or stay the course. That requires a decision to be made. But what should guide your decision making with this or anything for that matter? I believe it boils down to 2 things. In this episode, I break it down for you. Give it a listen. I think you'll be better positioned to make decisions moving forward. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page...
Dec 30, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 48
As we get ready to launch into 2023, it's important to get things re-aligned before we jump back into the day to day. In the last episode we talked about clarity around the vision. This episode is sort of a Part 2 on that idea in talking through vision casting and vision carrying. Who does what role? Why is this so important to understand? Listen to this episode and let me unpack this important subject that could transform your company culture today. Check out my new podcast website and my premi...
Dec 29, 2022•18 min•Season 4Ep. 47
As we get ready to launch into 2023, I felt this was a timely topic. Clarity around the vision of an organization is mission critical to one's success. In this episode, I give you six questions to answer which will not only help define a vision, but have everyone who works for or with you singing the same tune. 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...
Dec 28, 2022•14 min•Season 4Ep. 46
I just finished the Engage Conference (#4 of 4 that I attended in 2022). For this last one in Arizona, I was the general sessions DJ and I also did a pool set...in 42 degree weather. Yes, I had to re-think my set going in as I knew this would be different. In this episode, I talk through my strategy for DJ'ing a non-rager pool set, share some tracks, and at the conclusion of this episode, I give you a special downloadable bonus of the entire setlist for the holidays as a "thank you" for your sup...
Dec 26, 2022•25 min•Season 4Ep. 45
I just finished the Engage Conference (#4 of 4 that I attended in 2022). For this last one in Arizona, I was the general sessions DJ. In this episode, I talk through my strategy for DJ'ing a multi-day general session event and go into detail on how to program for Day 2 (which is different than Day 1) At the conclusion of this episode, I even give you a special downloadable bonus for the holidays as a "thank you" for your support. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content co...
Dec 24, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 44
I just finished the Engage Conference (#4 of 4 that I attended in 2022). For this last one in Arizona, I was the general sessions DJ. In this episode, I talk through my strategy with the conference in general, some tricks and hacks for sourcing tracks and nailing timing and I even give you a special downloadable bonus for the holidays as a "thank you" for your support. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to...
Dec 24, 2022•28 min•Season 4Ep. 43
With my music episodes, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you. 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 o...
Dec 05, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 42
I'm on the road today and I always bring my podcasting gear just in case inspiration strikes. Today is one of those days. I give some updated travel hacks that I'm utilizing - I cover airport lounges, hotels, snacks and sleep aids. All links to the things I talk about are listed below. Airport Lounge Hack (Priority Pass): https://www.prioritypass.com Hotel Booking Sites Hotels.com https://www.hotels.com HotelTonight: https://www.hoteltonight.com Snacks Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Jerky RXBar Cho...
Dec 03, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 41
The lost music episode. Whoops! I forgot to post this one. With my music episodes, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. So although these were my July 2022 Picks, all of these I'm still use at the beginning of December (time of recording). I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you. Bonus: I'll give you t...
Dec 01, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Starting a new series within the podcast called "Inside The DJC". This is like getting a backstage pass into the thinking of an event producer but I will always tie it back into application for your individual business. In this episode, we talk through incremental change and why I believe it can be fool's gold. Foundational change, on the other hand, is not easy or quick but is stuff that moves mountains in one's business. Lean in as I go a little deep here. Check out my new podcast website and ...
Dec 01, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 39
With my music episodes, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. So although these are October 2022 picks, all of these I still use at the end of November (time of recording). I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you. Bonus: I'll give you the source on where to find the tracks I talk about. Not only do I ho...
Nov 29, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 38
This is a listener requested topic - whether it's a planner or a DJ or a venue representative, each (in a lot of cases) feels like they should control the timeline. How do you handle a situation where there is dissension amongst the client and vendor team on this issue? In this episode, I give you the answer within the first 60 seconds then dive into the nuances (of which there are many). I think you can set yourself up to shine but most of the work has to be done on the front end to succeed. Ch...
Nov 28, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 37
With my music episodes, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. So although these are September 2022 picks, all of these I still use in November (time of recording). I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you. Bonus: I'll give you the source on where to find the tracks I talk about. Not only do I hope to sav...
Nov 01, 2022•25 min•Season 4Ep. 36
Yes, it's October 31st. Yes, these picks are from August. But as I explain in the episode, I try to present to you evergreen tracks that will be with you for a while. I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, streaming services, Shazam, and the like. I thought I would share my top 10 most interesting musical track finds with you. 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 al...
Oct 31, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Have you ever thought about DJ'ing internationally? 9 times out of 10 most clients are going to have a planner help them with this. So who better to ask about this than a planner who ONLY does international work but is based in the United States. In today's interview, I talk with Paulina Corvi from Paulina Corvi events. She discusses how she picked the location she serves, how she markets herself, and what her creative bent and processes are. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podca...
Oct 31, 2022•23 min•Season 4Ep. 34
This is a listener requested topic - when to split your company brand in two. In this episode, I share a little of my story and how it came to pass that I created 2 companies with vastly different processes, value offerings, and price points. There's a time and place for making the split but knowing why and when is the key. 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 listene...
Aug 29, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 33
I come from a destination event background where guest counts typically range from 50-150 people. The thought of needing or wanting a booth monitor just seemed unnecessary. Over the years, I've evolved on this issue. I give you some reasons to consider having one at every event as well as share which models I use within this episode. If you use a monitor, what are you using? Inquiring minds would love to know. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: ...
Aug 13, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 32
I subscribe to a ton of record pools beyond digging through blogs, Patreon, 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...
Aug 03, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Has anyone else seen an increase of after party inquiries? I feel like once a week I'm getting a call for this type of event. In this episode, I talk through why I think after parties are on the rise and furthermore why I think they're here to stay. I give you some reasons why I think you should consider doing them and also give you a tip on how to market for them. Check out my new podcast website and my premium podcast content community page . DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to htt...
Jul 28, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 30
As a continuation of my last episode, the question of what clients are paying for is going to be more prevalent than ever. I speak from recent personal experience. This is great news for those that take the time to define what it is they do (beyond the pretty) and spell out where the client's dollars are earmarked. I believe the future of the business will demand us go there in defining uniqueness. This will make it impossible to replicate for every DJ business out there. . Check out my new podc...
Jul 23, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Most people don't want to poke the bear or deal with the elephant in the room. It's uncomfortable, possibly painful, and it's not the most fun thing to talk about. However, like a train coming down the tracks, it's not going to reverse course. It's coming (for some, it's already here) so best to have a game plan in place. What am I talking about? Inflation! Whether you want to believe it or not, it will impact your DJ bookings in some way. In this episode, I talk through the different DJ categor...
Jul 11, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 28
