Beyond the DJ Booth

Send us a message What if Spotify’s Auto Mix feature could actually hold its own against a live DJ? We put it to the test (sorta)...and the results might surprise you. In this episode, Brian B and Joe Bunn break down how Spotify’s newest Premium feature blends transitions, keys, and BPM alignment in ways that feel surprisingly natural. From bar-length filter sweeps to smooth key-matched intros, Au...

Send us a message The dance floor is finally open and the planner vanishes. In this episode of Beyond the DJ Booth , Brian B and Joe Bunn pull back the curtain on a trend that can make or break an event: vendors leaving before peak moments hit. Joe vents, Brian offers fixes, and together they build a simple system for smoother weddings and private events - clear pre-dance expectations, quick text...

Send us a message A purple suit, a mansion party, and one question every DJ faces: how much does the room layout actually matter? Brian B and Joe Bunn open this week’s episode with full Halloween energy — yes, a Heath Ledger Joker outfit — to explore smart seasonal programming that stays fun without slipping into novelty. From candy experiments on the porch to dance-floor reads inside, it’s a stud...

Send us a message An email can change your month...and your mindset. Joe's arrived with a “pursuant to your lease” assessment that nearly doubled the rent on a 600-square-foot office in a 100-year-old building. We unpack what that clause really means, how to demand transparent line-item accounting, and why negotiating caps on pass-through costs might be the most valuable sentence in your next...

Send us a message Weddings in triple-digit heat, iPads overheating, and handheld fans aimed straight at the DJ’s face: sometimes the smallest tools make the biggest difference. In this episode, Brian B and Joe Bunn share real stories from the road, starting with outdoor summer weddings where even your tech needs shade. You’ll hear practical, field-tested ways to keep your setup cool, your sound co...

Send us a message A perfect set can’t save a broken signal path.. and that’s exactly where our night in Peru began. After a marathon climb to Cusco and a day at Machu Picchu, the after-party kicked off with the wrong rig, a cryptic “In Use” input, and five minutes on the clock. We walk through the split-second choices that kept music on and panic off: deploying a tiny travel controller, rethinking...

Send us a message What’s the hardest event you’ve ever played?  And how did your body feel the next day? In this episode, we unpack the reality of five-hour dance sets : why they happen, how to design them smarter, and the recovery hacks that keep you in the game. Along the way we cover everything from music strategy (yes, even September), gear hacks, a Patreon announcement and a $69 foot massager...

Send us a message What’s the secret sauce that keeps your wedding DJ sets unforgettable and your podcast thriving? Join hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B as they dive deep into the vibrant world of DJs in this engaging episode of Beyond the DJ Booth . From the nuances of maintaining momentum in podcasting to the excitement surrounding the upcoming DJ Collective event, this episode is packed with insights...

Send us a message What do K-pop, wedding DJs, and stylish suits have in common? They're all part of the vibrant tapestry that makes up the DJ life, and in this season finale of Beyond the DJ Booth , hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B. dive deep into the nuances of the private event DJ industry. As they wrap up Season Four, they reflect on their journey, the challenges they've faced in podcasting...

Send us a message What would you save if your DJ gear was engulfed in flames? This episode of Beyond the DJ Booth dives deep into the heart of the wedding DJ experience, where hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B. share their own personal anecdotes and invaluable DJ tips and tricks that every DJ should know. We kick things off by urging our listeners to spread the word about the podcast, highlighting the un...

Send us a message What happens when the dance floor is threatened by family drama and a gatekeeping wedding planner? Join hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B. as they navigate the often tumultuous waters of the wedding DJ experience in this riveting episode of Beyond the DJ Booth. With a focus on wedding DJs, they share invaluable DJ tips and tricks that can help you thrive in the private event DJ industry...

Send us a message Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at weddings when traditions take unexpected turns? Brian B and Joseph Bunn pull back the curtain on some of the most bizarre wedding rituals they've witnessed throughout their careers as private event DJs. The episode kicks off with a jaw-dropping story about fitness enthusiasts who skipped the traditional beach wedding sand cerem...

Send us a message Ever wonder why so many DJs open the dance floor with "September"? We're pulling back the curtain on dance floor strategy with a candid conversation about song selection that can make or break your event's momentum. When the photographer co-hosts of The Vendor Table podcast called out DJs for predictable opening tracks, we decided to share our tried-and-tested...

Send us a message What happens when drummers and Whitney Houston collide? In our latest podcast adventure, we dive into the unexpected rhythmic challenge that has swept through social media – hitting the perfect drum beat during "I Will Always Love You." This seemingly simple task proves hilariously difficult even for a seasoned music professional (Joe) who claims he has "perfect ti...

Send us a message Ever wonder if those viral social media "hacks" are actually legitimate? In this eye-opening episode, Joe and Brian put popular online claims to the test with their own hands-on experiment. Using three Starbucks cups and some freshly brewed coffee, they debunk a widely circulated video suggesting you're getting scammed when buying larger sizes. Their real-time expe...

Send us a message What’s worse: a best man belting Creed karaoke for five minutes…or a maid of honor hovering in your booth for an hour, vetoing every song you play? This week, Joe and Brian tackle a real-life “Would You Rather” scenario that no DJ should ever have to face  and somehow come up with a solution that’s actually genius. (Hint: it involves psychology, not power plays.) From there, the...

Send us a message Every DJ lives for that moment: you drop the unexpected track and the crowd loses it. In this episode, Brian and Joe dive into the art of musical left turns ; those surprise selections and clever transitions that flip the energy of a set and burn the moment into people’s memories. Brian shares how he recently cracked an EDM-heavy wedding by dropping a custom edit of Toto’s “Afric...

Send us a message Is it time to hang up your over-ear headphones for good? In this episode, Joe and Brian dive into the growing shift toward in-ear monitoring systems and how it’s changing the way DJs mix, monitor, and show up at events. Joe shares his full switch to custom-molded in-ears ...a $1,000+ investment that’s paid off with better hearing protection, a cleaner look, and no more broken hea...

Send us a message What do you do when the beach wedding you’re DJing turns into a muddy mess… and your booth is now on the dance floor? In this episode, Joe shares a behind-the-scenes story from one of the most weather-challenged weddings he’s ever worked...a rain-soaked celebration that could’ve been a disaster but turned into one of the couple’s most epic memories. From rerouting power cables to...

Send us a message Every DJ knows the struggle of balancing personal comfort with professional standards, especially during those sweltering summer gigs. This candid conversation between Brian B and Joe Bunn tackles this head-on with Joe's controversial hot take: "grown men should only wear shorts at the beach, at the gym, or if they're a child." Whether you agree or vehemently...

Send us a message Welcome to Season 4 of Beyond the DJ Booth ,where the weddings are wild, the carbs are canceled, and we’re just trying to survive both. This week, we open with a musical quiz no one asked for: Is “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” a real song title? (Somehow, yes. Thanks, Conway Twitty.) It spirals from there into a hall-of-fame list of song names that make you question how an...

Send us a message What happens when your DJ equipment completely fails during the peak of a wedding reception? Brian i takes us through his heart-stopping experience when his laptop froze mid-set, forcing him to create what we're now calling the "Oh S*** Playlist" - a collection of carefully selected tracks designed to keep the dance floor moving during technical emergencies. The pe...

Send us a message Would you take a celebrity wedding over your cousin’s…or DJ a full-pay gig at Chuck E. Cheese? This episode kicks off with real DJ dilemmas that blend humor, horror, and hard truths about reputation, branding, and where we draw the line in our careers. Then we flip the script and dive into something every DJ needs to master but few talk about: musical transitions. Those 30–50 sec...

Send us a message Ever wonder how to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry where connecting with younger clients is crucial? In our latest episode, we tackle the language barrier head-on with a fun (and slightly humbling) exploration of current Gen Z slang. From "ratioed" posts to having a "Menty B," these linguistic insights might just save you from awkward miscommunica...

Send us a message What do you do when a dream client reaches out for their big day… but you’re already booked? In this episode, Joe and Brian unpack one of the trickiest solo-op dilemmas: how to make referrals without damaging your brand . When someone hires you for your vibe, voice, and vision — is it even possible to pass the mic without losing trust? Prompted by a smart question from Jesse in C...