The Travel DJ Blend with DJ Brian B

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 p...

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 owne...

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...

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 D...

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 dinne...

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 bu...

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...

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...

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: Intereste...

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...

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....

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,...

It takes a minute for me to get there but the crux of this episode is about transparency (especially with our social media). Do our clients really need to see everything? I think there is a line and at some point, transparency has some diminishing returns if you don't hold it in check.  Here's my take on the subject. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast list...

One thing I feel like I'm really good at is multi-tasking and getting things done. I DJ and sell my own events,  run a DJ Experience called the DJC, record this podcast, run a coaching group and do individual coaching, am in 3 masterminds myself, have a mid-level DJ brand I own, handle my own social media and that's just my "work" life. Add in a wife, a kiddo, my own hobbies and interests and you...

Is there a difference between being thirsty and hungry? Absolutely there it is. In this episode, I break down the nuances between the two and talk through why I feel it's imperative that you get this right. This could literally make or break certain opportunities that are presented to you. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code...

As you move into higher end events, you will inevitably be working with a planner. So it makes sense to ask, what are planners looking for in DJ Set-ups? This may influence what you invest money into. I don't think it's as complicated as it may seem. Communication is key. In this episode, I talk through what is truly important here and share a few of the things that have worked well for me. DJs: I...

Getting a little deep in the weeds on this one. Once you move from hobby/amateur creative to professional, can you measure quality? Unless it's a specific metric, I think it becomes more of a stylistic question, then one of quality. In this episode, we dissect this further. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it ge...

In the last episode, I ran out of time to give an in depth Engage Summits overview. So in this episode, I hit the highlights of what to expect should you ever decide to go. I wish something like this was around before I had attended.  Enjoy.   DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it gets you a 30 day trial for $5. T...

As someone who has had a podcast for the last 3 years, I take seriously the responsibility to deliver episodes that have content where I have done the work to study the issue at hand. When I see others not doing the same, I get triggered. Engage Summits is something that has changed my life in a lot of ways and so it's important that the story that is told about it is accurate. After hearing a You...

I used to think that event attire didn't REALLY matter as an entertainer at private event functions. If the skills were on point, fashion was just an after thought. Maybe I was right when I first started. However, these days it's just as important as your DJ Set-Up. In this episode, I talk with my good friend and colleague, Rob Ferre from Life of The Party out of Salt Lake City, Utah. We talk thro...

For a lot of DJs, 2020 was a bad year. As COVID has started to get behind us and the world is opening up more and more, inquires for private events have been coming in hot! So the temptation is to raise your rates and make up for last year. In this episode, I make the case for why that's a terrible idea. DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, e...

In this episode, I interview one of my favorite DJs I've met in my DJ journey - DJ Hapa.  This dude is next level on so many fronts. He is a former recording artist, runs a DJ school, hosts the podcast, A Tribe Called Dad, and still DJs himself while also raising his 3 kids alongside his wife, T Lopez. We talk about the transition from no kids to kids as a DJ, the scarcity mindset of losing gigs,...

In this episode, I share a few stories from some of my latest events - DJ'ing with (almost ) no pants, some epic toasts and a revelation about getting older.   DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it gets you a 30 day trial for $5. Try it now. Have a topic you want covered? Drop me a DM at @thetraveldjblend. Has thi...

In this episode, I share some revelations from traveling in a post-COVID world - from limited flights options, to rental car shortages and ride sharing gouging. I also give you some travel hacks to get around these things as well as contract and selling advice.   DJs: Interested in Heavy Hits Music Pool? Go to heavyhits.com For my podcast listeners only, enter promo code: BRIANB - it gets you a 30...

This is a once a month re-occurring series where Joe Bunn and myself talk marketing tips that are pertinent to the working DJ. Whether you are a single op, established multi-op owner or veteran DJ company, we do our best to cover it for all the DJ categories. In this episode, we talk about physical vs digital marketing collateral. What physical ones should you keep? What digital ones should you co...