The Importance of a Mentor (in Business or in Life)

It is the end of the year so folks start making their New Years Resolutions. Unfortunately most resolutions are not completed.  People are so gung ho with joining a gym and losing weight. Or the resolution maybe saving a percentage of the income to go on a trip somewhere. If one can only have one resolution s/he want to accomplish getting a mentor should be the only one that s/he needs. A mentor is someone who has been where you want to go. They have failed and succeeded.  Why make the same mistakes they have?

When I started to learn to dj, at the time I bought top of the line gear. I felt that I had to go all in.  I started off with some Technic 1200s with a mixer and an amp with one speaker. While spending hours learning how to match beats, I did not know how to throw the next song on the first beat. I did not know how to manipulate the record accurately. One day my business partner brought over his brother who was playing at nightclubs and really good at his craft. With a quick tutorial I was able to mix at the right time.  He showed me how to hold on to the first beat and throw it in at the beginning of the chorus. Back then there was no YouTube, so dj skills had to be taught or learned solo. Once I was able to do that, then I could play publicly. No more bedroom dj status.

Often at  times we are afraid to ask for help. Pride gets in the way and progress will not be made.

Find a skill that one wants to improve on and then find someone who has experience in it.  Mentors are out there but they have to be found and asked. No need for pride but the rewards outweighs any embarrassment of asking. Often times, mentors are honored that that are asked to help out. It shows that they are appreciated. Find someone that one looks up to in your field and ask for their assistance. If they say no, then ask another person who has experience. At the end, one becomes better with a mentor.

Best business tip (life tip) from Black and White Affair Dj Services (A Life Hack)

Life is about balance.   Well- balanced folks can not be all work and no play. Therefore one cannot be all play and no work. Some folks work to live while others live to work. There must be a balance to be truly happy. Goals that are written become the plan to follow.

Books provide oodles of useful information.  Learning is an ongoing process and does not stop with a degree or certificate. I read a book that mentioned going after goals in business.  The typical person sets yearly goals and tries to get them done. The goal is written and they have 365 days to get the goal accomplished.  It also mentioned when deadlines are due then the go getters finish their goal.  Why wait for 12 months when one can have quarterly goals that only go for 3 months.  More goals can be accomplished.

In business, everything is tracked from receipts of purchases to how many postcards were sent out. Some months end up being busier than others and that is recorded.  

One of my most prize possessions right now is a black notebook. In the back of the book, I write my quarterly goals (for example for October, November, and December). I just do not just write my business goals, but my work out goals, plus my big chores I want to do around the house. In the front of the book I do my weekly write out where I put down what I did toward my quarterly goals.

For example, one of my quarterly goals is to create content for my blog and in my weekly goal for Wednesday I  created a new post.  Also I want to run 30 to 40 miles a month, and I ran 2 miles in my weekly write out for that one day. True that it is nice to go after business goals, but at times the only one that holds us accountable is ourselves and it’s best to write it out. It is rewarding to actually see what we have done written out.

Every day I try to do a few activities for business and health. I may have created a new mix or made a funky playlist. Maybe I played basketball for a few hours. One can not live on bread alone. There must be a balance of other activities outside of work. 

DJ Myth Busters

1. It is just music and anyone can be a dj.

Music does have the a small part for Djs. A pro dj goes beyond the fact that they are playing music but works as the MC and planner for the event. Music is just one tool in their arsenal to make your event that much better.

2. DJ will play cheesy music.

A good dj is prepared and plans the playlist for each event. The client has sent a list for the DJ to follow. If the client wants cheesy music then cheesy music will be played. The client can also request that certain songs not be played.

3. I have a band at the event so a dj is not needed.

Having a band at a function can be exciting. There are more members of a band thus can be more expensive than a dj. Dj can play in between  the bands breaks and also can be the emcee of the event.

4. Set up takes only 15 to 20 minutes.

Just to take the equipment out of the vehicle may take 10 to 15 minutes. Then everything needs to be uncased and cables need to be unwound.  For myself the longest part of the set up is lifting the heavy speakers on the stand and put in the power cord and speaker cable.  What also takes a long time is setting up the lights which are individual lights attached to the light tripods. There has to be microphone checks and sound checks to see how loud one can go.

5. All djs are the same.

No two djs are the same. Everyone has their own style and own music collection. No two collections are the same with some many different remixes.

6. Everyone needs to be dancing the whole time.

Sometimes the music masestro needs to play background music while people eat. Loud dance music makes it hard to talk to neighbors at the table. 

7. The Dj will not take requests.

Best way to ask for them.  A dj is not a juke box. They have a mind of their own.  Some people demand songs and it makes it awkward for the dj. It is good to have two or three songs you can suggest to ensure the dj has it.  Best way to ask for it: Hi DJ, you are doing great. If you get a chance can you play this song?

1977 40 year Reunion Playlist

I love doing all sorts of events. Sometimes the events that are different make us grow as djs. I had the opportunity to do a 40 year reunion. I loved every minute of it. It was more a rock themed event. I spoke with a graduate that day and she said there were the rock kids and the disco kids. Apparently most of the rock kids were there.

Below is the playlist:

Eagles:  Hotel California,Take it Easy, Heartache Tonight

America:  Ventura Highway, Tinman, Sister Golden Hair

Bad Company:  Can't Get Enough, Feel like Makin' Love

Earth, Wind, and Fire:  September, Boogie Wonderland

Boston:  More than a Feeling

Pablo Cruise: Love Will Find a Way, Whatcha Gonna Do

Marshall Tucker Band:  Fire on the Mountain, Desert Skies, Heard it in a Love Song

Frankie Valli: Grease is the Word

Star Wars Theme

Elvis:  Burnin' Love

Chicago:  Colour My World

Pointer Sisters:  We are Family, I'm so Excited

Rolling Stones:  Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Women, Start Me Up

Linda Ronstadt:  You're No Good, It's So Easy

Lynyard Skynyrd:  Free Bird (short version), Sweet Home Alabama

Loggins and Messina:  We May Never Pass This Way Again, (Loggins) Danger Zone, Foot Loose

Willie and Waylon:  Don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys

Doobie Brothers:  Takin it to the Streets, China Grove 

Cool and the Gang:  Celebrate, Ladies Night

Commadores: Brick House

Bee Gees:  You Should be Dancing, Stayin' Alive

James Taylor:  Carolina, How Sweet it is, Fire and Rain, Mexico

Gordon Lightfoot:  Sundown

The Who:  Summertime Blues, My Generation

Elton John:  Crocodile Rock, Philadelphia Freedom

Fleetwood Mac:  Rhiannon, Go your own way, Don't Stop

Led Zeplin:  Stairway to Heaven (short version) Whole Lotta Love (short version)

Donna Summer:  Last Dance

Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville

Peter Frampton:  Baby I love your Way

Steve Miller Band:  Jet Airliner

Supertramp:  Give a Little Bit

Crosby, Stills and Nash:  Just a song before I go, Southern Cross

Heart:  Barracuda

Jefferson Starship:  Miracles

Wild Cherry:  Play that Funky Music

Paul McCartney:  Live and Let Die

Bellamy Brothers:  Let Your love Flow

Thin Lizzy:  The Boys are Back in Town

BTO:  Takin' Care of Business

Rod Stewart:  Tonight's the Night

KC and the Sunshine Band:  Shake your Booty

ABBA:  Dancing Queen

David Bowie:  Golden Years

Beach Boys:  California Girls, Little Deuce Coop, Surfin' Safari

Hamilton, Joe, Frank, & Reynolds:  Fallin' in Love

10cc:  I'm not in Love

Gerry Raferty: Baker Street, Right Down the Line

Foreigner:  Hot Blooded

Jerry Reed:  East Bound and Down

Kenny Rogers:  The Gambler

Deep Purple:  Smoke on the Water

Three Dog Night:  Shambala

Cool and the Gang: Celebration, Ladies Night, Jungle Boogie

Stevie Wonder:  Superstition

Aretha Frankin:  Respect

The Brothers Johnson: Strawberry Letter 23

LTD:  Everytime I turn around Back in Love Again

Rose Royce: Carwash

Aerosmith:  Walk this Way

Daryl Hall and John Oates:  Rich Girl

Barry Manilow:  Looks Like we Made it

The Emotions: Best of My Love

Firefall:  Just Remember I Love, You are the Woman

The Evolution of DJ Wingman to BWADJ:

Changing with the times

When I was 21 I had my first taste of spinning records. Of course I did not know what I was doing but I enjoyed having the power of selecting the songs at a social gathering.  I did not know what it meant to beat match or anything about playing the same genre together. All I knew what how to put a record on a technic turntable and use the mixer to pick which record would be heard aloud. That is when I started collecting vinyl. Just In case, vinyl maybe a foreign word, it was what djs would play on their turntables. For one record, it would cost 6 dollars to 12 for one song. So it was quite an expensive hobby.

Half the fun was scouring record crates to find a hidden gem.  Eventually with the accumulation of these gems I felt confident enough to play in public again. No longer did I not know what to do but I had the skill and confidence to play in public.

With a high school buddy, we formed Dj Wingman. It had a nice ring to it.  A buddy of mine created a Wingman shirt and the name stuck. Our philosophy is “We are Wingman because we always have your back.” We designed Wingman T-shirts and people would love them.  The first few years we played the mobile circuit playing private parties and weddings. We carried  heavy records in cases to our events. In 2008, we started playing at night clubs in downtown San Jose.  Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were playing the top hits of the day. At Midnight, we would play the midnight mix which would be the heavy hitters of the day such asBlow the Whistle, Goodies, and Yeah.  One song would feed into another song to keep the vibe up. At 1:25 we would go with a song like Lets Stay Together

At that time there were two of us so we could do multiple events at one time. Then my dj partner moved to Florida so I had to do all the events solo.

I was not marketing DJ Wingman as before. I did like the brand but realized brides do not want a Wingman to do a wedding so I had rebranded the name to Black and White Affair. Now its Bwadj for short. I still believe in the Wingman mentality that we have your back but now incorporated the Black and White aspect.  

Before while playing at a night spot people would ask for our cards and want us to do their weddings and birthday events. But now since I do not play at the night scene I had to include other types of marketing.  I revamped the website.  Once started paying different companies to do my site but opted to go with a professional template and incorporated Social Media, so I can keep everything current.

Today’s age everything has to be current since the times are changing.The Evolution of DJ Wingman to BWADJ:

Changing with the times

When I was 21 I had my first taste of spinning records. Of course I did not know what I was doing but I enjoyed having the power of selecting the songs at a social gathering.  I did not know what it meant to beat match or anything about playing the same genre together. All I knew what how to put a record on a technic turntable and use the mixer to pick which record would be heard aloud. That is when I started collecting vinyl. Just In case, vinyl maybe a foreign word, it was what djs would play on their turntables. For one record, it would cost 6 dollars to 12 for one song. So it was quite an expensive hobby.

Half the fun was scouring record crates to find a hidden gem.  Eventually with the accumulation of these gems I felt confident enough to play in public again. No longer did I not know what to do but I had the skill and confidence to play in public.

With a high school buddy, we formed Dj Wingman. It had a nice ring to it.  A buddy of mine created a Wingman shirt and the name stuck. Our philosophy is “We are Wingman because we always have your back.” We designed Wingman T-shirts and people would love them.  The first few years we played the mobile circuit playing private parties and weddings. We carried  heavy records in cases to our events. In 2008, we started playing at night clubs in downtown San Jose.  Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were playing the top hits of the day. At Midnight, we would play the midnight mix which would be the heavy hitters of the day such asBlow the Whistle, Goodies, and Yeah.  One song would feed into another song to keep the vibe up. At 1:25 we would go with a song like Lets Stay Together

At that time there were two of us so we could do multiple events at one time. Then my dj partner moved to Florida so I had to do all the events solo.

I was not marketing DJ Wingman as before. I did like the brand but realized brides do not want a Wingman to do a wedding so I had rebranded the name to Black and White Affair. Now its Bwadj for short. I still believe in the Wingman mentality that we have your back but now incorporated the Black and White aspect.  

Before while playing at a night spot people would ask for our cards and want us to do their weddings and birthday events. But now since I do not play at the night scene I had to include other types of marketing.  I revamped the website.  Once started paying different companies to do my site but opted to go with a professional template and incorporated Social Media, so I can keep everything current.

Today’s age everything has to be current since the times are changing.  

DJ Mixes: Mixcrate, Mixcloud and Sound Cloud:

Do not put all your eggs in one basket!!!

The Mecca of dj mixes was on a site called Mixcrate. Started in 2010, anyone could post his or her mixes for anyone to stream or download. One could upload a mix accompanied with an image then the dj was mixcrate famous. People around the world could listen to the mix. Typically one mix could be listened over a hundred times and downloaded just as much.  Fans could download the mix to put it in their music library. Listeners could like the mix, which would drive more plays. Mixcrate had no restrictions on the how many songs per artist could be in the mix. I could dedicate a mix to an artist and make it their greatest hits. It was exciting times since the world was the stage.  What was a curious situation was the people of Nairobi Kenya would be following me. At one point I had 580 fans and about 20 of them came from Nairobi. Shout out to the folks of Nairobi for showing me the love.

At one point I had over 200 mixes on the site.  Anytime I created a mix, I posted it and sometimes I would not back it up. Then one-day mixcrate stated that it has shut down due to a letter from the record industry. From that point on, no one could search for mixes or download anything. Some of my mixes were lost and never to be found. What I learned is not to put all my eggs in one basket and always have a back up to my mixes.

Another option I had to post my mixes was soundcloud. It was a simple website to upload original music and mixes. I never posted anything in soundcloud but alas that site is rumored to be shutting down soon.

After mixcrate went down I had to locate all my mixes and label all the songs. I never had a record of that but I was able to label all my mixes with the songs in the order they appeared.

With Mixcloud, it seems like I get less plays and it is harder to have people follow you. But it is easy to upload and have an image for the mix. One could pay to boost the mix, which advertizes the mix for mixcloud users. Once I month, I post a current top 40 mix which helps me keep in tune with what is hot is there. Current music gets some attention but the old school is what makes people on mixcloud fans.

With technology, a dj does not need to hand out cds and can send out links of the mixes. Nothing is full proof so djs have to back up their mixes so that the music can live forever.  The lesson is always have back up to everything because one never knows when technology lets you down and one has to go old school to save the day.

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Weddings are amongst the few life time memorable events. And to make it truly memorable and fascinating, it is important to plan for an appropriate entertainment. Underestimating the power and effect music on a wedding ceremony and reception is not ideal because music is essential in order to create an appropriate backdrop and the desired tone for your event. Thus, hiring a professional DJ offers you a diverse selection, authentic versions of songs, better volume control and for usually a much lower cost than a band.

Furthermore, the presence of a DJ will tremendously enhance the success of your wedding. The DJ runs the music for the reception, and if the music or announcements were to stop, the reception would come to an awkward halt. The DJ also guides the mood of the event and works with the schedules of all other vendors and staff at the event. However, discussed below are the best reasons why you need to hire a professional DJ for your wedding ceremony:

1. ADAPTABILITY

Event DJs are brilliant at adapting to both the needs of their event coordinators as well as those of the guests in attendance. They are skilled at reading their audiences and easing them out onto the dance floor. Their vast music collections make it possible for them to fulfill most song requests. Also, their fun personalities, language skills and confidence at handling microphone make them terrific emcees for guest introductions, video presentations, contests, etc.

2. DEPENDABILITY

A DJ will always provide their own sound equipment, even lighting and video in some cases, and you can count on the fact that they will have all of the current hits available upon your request. They will provide you with a written quote, ensure all of your song requests are played and avoid any songs that might offend your guests.

3. PRESENTATION

Great DJs are often equipped with sanity, humor and the ability to emcee guest introductions, provide live narration for video or slide presentations, ease the crowd and coax reluctant guests out onto the dance floor, and even offer toasts. To further enhance the visual experience, many can also provide their own LED lighting equipment and  shiny disco balls.

4. THEY ENSURE PEACE OF MIND

Furthermore, the greatest reason for hiring a DJ for your wedding ceremony is the peace of mind you'll get at seeing that your guests are constantly entertained. Unlike a band in need of breaks, a DJ can spin the all through the day without interruption.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HIRING A TIME KEEPER

A designated time keeper ensures that the wedding ceremony goes as smoothly as planned. He does not fasten or delay other events planned in the schedule.

Lastly, your wedding event would only be successful if you and your guests are able to have fun and remain present and in the moment. Hiring a professional DJ will guarantee you just that!

Hiring a dj for a school dance

Each district has their own way to hire a dj. Often times it is easier to be an employee of the district to avoid the red tape. A prospective dj often times will have to be fingerprinted, and fill out paperwork and may need insurance. Especially for middle schools there seems to be more red tape than high schools. More often than not, high schools require a contract and an invoice so the dj can be paid.

Hiring a younger 20 year old dj versus an over 30 dj:

Positives: closer to the age of the dancegoers so very familiar with the music.

Negative: Not as much experience. May bring entourage and those helpers were not fingerprinted.

Over 30 dj: More experience doing big events. Bigger music library. No entourages.  Usually higher end equipment since been working longer. There was a time I was able to do a school dance since their dj did not have working equipment. I was surprised since it is important to have back ups to your back ups.

Negative: Not as familiar with music.

Once a dj is selected for a school that is when it is time to be prepared. Typically schools are into what is playing on the radio. Some schools are hip-hop based or some are pop/ house based. I have seen times where it felt like a (edm)rave then a year or two later it was back to hip-hop. What makes a dance a good one is the playlist. 

Playlist: This is when teamwork is needed. Dj has to contact the activities director (the one who hired you) to get a playlist. Its best to get it from multiple students and make it one list. Best to ask for it a week before so it gives the music man time to set up for it.  I have seen lists derived from one student and everyone would not be happy since they had no part in developing the list and the student has a particular tastes. Especially if the student does not really know what is hip. A good Dj knows his event. If the school population has a high Latin population it would be ideal to put some good Spanish music in the playlist.

Even though a song can be clean (without profanity) the content can be a little provocative. Its good to be familiar with the song before it’s played at the dance.

During the dance itself, it could be distracting to take requests when the dj is trying to beat match. It would be ideal to have a clipboard where students can put artists and the name of the song on an excel sheet or word document. When a song is playing the dj can mark the clipboard if the song is coming and check off the ones s/he already played it.  With a clipboard, it will avoid too many students going behind the dj area. If cabling and plugs, its ideal to have as few people in the dj area.

If a song is requested many times, then dj knows it will be a crowd pleaser. The question is can a song be played twice. When I djed at clubs that was one of my commandments. Thou shall not play a song twice.  But at school dances, then one can get away with it if you play it early then later in the dance. If it’s a real heater then maybe throw it in 3 times. But those songs are rare.