The Clever DJ

How To Keep Your Clients Happy? Ensuring Return Business - Ep #30

• Ilia & Nino • Episode 30

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Ever wondered how to make sure your clients are always thrilled with your DJing services? Join us for an enlightening episode where we promise you'll learn the secrets to stellar client satisfaction, directly from two DJs at different stages in their careers. Ilia, with two years of experience, and Nino, a seasoned pro with over 20 years in the industry, share their personal experiences and best practices for respecting client wishes, particularly at unplugged events. We emphasize the crucial need for client approval before sharing content on social media and maintaining professionalism by avoiding eating, drinking, or partying while on duty.

Discover why having a well-trained assistant can be a game-changer for your DJ business. From handling complex setups involving dry ice and uplights to managing crowd interactions and requests, assistants play a pivotal role in seamless event execution. Through entertaining anecdotes and practical tips, we highlight the importance of clear communication with clients about the benefits of additional help. You'll also hear stories about the challenges of being left without a meal at events and how a prepared assistant can save the day. Tune in for an insider’s guide to elevate your DJing service and ensure your clients are always eager to book you again.

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Ilia:

Welcome back to another episode of the Clever DJing. A quick intro about this podcast and ourselves for those who are just tuning in for the first time, whether you're watching on YouTube or listening on any of the other platforms out there. My name is Elia and I've been DJing for just about two years. I've done a variety of events and I met this guy right beside me about two years ago where the journey started.

Nino:

Yeah, my name is Nino and I'm a professional DJ. I've been DJing a bit over 20 plus years and I've started off with bars and clubs and now I'm doing more private events and especially weddings. Now I have a well-established company and I have 15 DJs under my roster.

Ilia:

Yeah, so this podcast is a banter style podcast. We're bringing a bunch of topics which are trending in the DJ world, or it's just something that happened to us personally, just personal experiences, and we do it from the point of view of a beginner and a professional. Yes, so it's just. It's just something that happened to us personally, just personal experiences, and we do it from the point of view of a beginner and a professional.

Ilia:

Yes, so it's interesting to go over the topics and see what I would do different in those situations and just how I would see it versus how Nina would see it. And this is pretty much what this is all about. Yes, sir, it came up, I think, on one of our drives to To one of my gigs. Yeah, yeah, we're talking about it and and you said you, you saw things differently than than you did. Yeah, of course, of course. And I was like, why is this not a podcast? This is interesting.

Nino:

Other people would like to listen to this. You guys are watching it.

Ilia:

Yeah, thank you to all our listeners and viewers. We were really hoping that people would like it and yeah, it's doing well, so thanks a lot to everyone. Today we have a topic that is actually really important. Every episode we say it's special, every episode is important. This is how to keep your clients happy and ensure returning business. So, even if it's just a wedding and we all know that sometimes people marry more than once but even if they didn't.

Ilia:

you want to bring business from that wedding, Other people who enjoyed the way you DJ, the way you kind of ran that event.

Nino:

Yeah, and it's not even for the clients, it's for everybody, all the guests too.

Ilia:

Exactly, prospective clients how many times? One event specifically I'm talking about, yeah, where they were doing the video editing on the spot same day, same day edit, yeah, yeah there's. There were three or four couples who approached you one you already did their wedding, one you're doing it like next week, and then one is like next year, yeah, and I'm like, wow, I wish I had that much business hey, just do a good job, man kill it yeah, so let's start with the first point. That's something that I actually personally dealt with.

Nino:

Two two, three weeks ago. Uh, yeah okay, yeah.

Ilia:

So I was with another dj um and, uh, I was supporting her at that event. She needed my help with something and it said unplugged event usually does.

Nino:

Uh, right at the beginning of the ceremony, yes, there's a big sign, sign that says with flowers on it.

Ilia:

This is an unplugged event. You can miss it, so respect unplugged events. That means all the guests and sometimes even the vendors other than the other than the videographers and photographers, are not supposed to take videos, photos, let alone post anything on social media. Now, usually the djs are not included in that. Videos photos, let alone post anything on social media. Now, usually the DJs are not included in that. They know that we like to take our content, but you would know when they book you, you would know if you have someone who is very meticulous, they'll probably also tell you right, yeah, they'll tell you, hey, we don't want you to take any videos or photos Now between us I mean, as DJs, we need our social media content.

Nino:

Social media is very, very important nowadays, especially.

Ilia:

So if you're going to just risk it and just sneak in a few shots, videos, don't post it.

Nino:

Yeah, just don't post it. Don't post it Especially before the bride or groom right? Yeah?

Ilia:

Because they ask you not to. They're not going to like it. We posted something on social media, but that's after. I showed the bride the shots I took. Yeah, she loved them. Okay, I was telling her this is going on Instagram and she said that's cool. And then the DJ I was with got an email that she was livid.

Nino:

Why is?

Ilia:

this on Instagram, so sometimes they don't even realize what they're saying. They're in the in the moment and just just be careful with that. I've I've experienced that recently. Um, she was very grateful that we removed it right away. She still gave us a five-star rating, uh, but you know, it could end very differently. It's all about customer service, but better to just ask them, right, just ask them ask them right away.

Nino:

Respect their wishes too. You have to right. It's all about their day. What they want. You're trying to make them happy. It might be their only wedding Knock on wood.

Ilia:

There, their only wedding. Knock on wood. There's no wood around your hand, it's okay I'll get us, I'll get on the floor.

Nino:

There we go. I got hardwood man.

Ilia:

Hey, hardwood there you go, I'll get us a better table this is a good table that's good man, costco job.

Nino:

Thank you, costco uh.

Ilia:

We need some uh sponsorship does costco want to sponsor us? Okay, so uh.

Nino:

Second point, uh don't eat, drink or party when you're supposed to work.

Ilia:

Yeah now, um, yeah, I know you have something to say because I've mentioned this so I, when we just first started, first of in the first few events, I was very professional. You were very good. I didn't know who you were.

Nino:

You were very careful, very careful, but then I realized that we're very alike.

Ilia:

We're both jokers and like jokesters, like we. Just we clicked and I became very comfortable A little too comfortable, a little too comfortable sometimes and I would yeah, I would do my job, I would help you set up and everything. I would help you throughout the event. But I would also really enjoy the food and the late nights and the desserts and the drinks, because you're driving.

Ilia:

I can do whatever I want, and while I always knew how to kind of manage the crowd and like, not bug anyone's, it could always backfire. Yeah, it's not your event. Yeah, you're welcome. They know that there's a place setting for you and you're part of the of the party as well technically, and they're always telling you hey, get some food. But it's way more professional when you mostly focus on your job and then you focus five percent on, like you know, getting something. Yeah, to eat or drink. I never got drunk at events. No, you never got drunk. That wasn't my thing.

Nino:

I love the food it showed I love the food. It came to a point where you were like feeding me too. I was like, okay, well, hold on man you were enjoying it.

Ilia:

Yeah, you were so like, oh, you're bringing me food and everything. But then we realized that maybe, uh too much, maybe this needs to be revised. Nobody said anything, nobody, like we kept getting five-star reviews, but we're just thinking about it like, maybe this it's just a little too much, right don't?

Nino:

overindulge. You're just there to work, right, and especially at the bar and stuff. Don't drink too much. Maybe get a cocktail right at the beginning, but that's about it. I wouldn't drink, even throughout the wedding. Unless it's a friend's wedding, then I make an exception, but other than that, try to stay professional water for me all night.

Ilia:

The main part that I was doing was not even the food, let alone the drinks. I didn't drink much, um, and I would always wait for everyone to get their food first and everything. But, like, the main part was me taking videos of everything, cause I like taking videos and photos and I do your social media and everything, um, but if you later I learned that if you really want to do all of that, come earlier, right, because you want to get all that footage.

Nino:

So we started coming a little earlier, and if we don't, we find you can get it early, but then there are moments where there are windows where you can take it.

Ilia:

Yeah, windows of opportunity.

Nino:

Windows of opportunity. Don't do it like when people are going up to get food and everybody's like lining up and you're there behind everybody, yeah, taking video. Everybody's like lining up and you're there behind everybody like taking video. Do it when everybody's done already uh, like they have their food and they're eating already and then just take a quick video, right?

Ilia:

yeah, so it's a lot of trial and error and, um, before I showed up, you didn't have somebody who does all that for you, right? So you never even thought about it probably no, I didn't.

Nino:

but but this guy showed value and I saw the value in it when he actually did it and I was like, oh, I liked it.

Ilia:

All that stuff that I did when I wasn't really supposed to do it. Somehow all the guests always loved it, yeah, but it can really backfire. It can. Somebody could say why are you always in front of the shot, like, why are you always around my guests, right? So this is something we realized later on but and we thought it's very important to mention we stopped doing it. We're very careful when we're getting in the shot, there taking the video, taking a photo. But, yeah, luckily, everyone really liked it. Everyone always said, oh, I can't believe you got all this footage.

Nino:

I got all this footage, I forgot to take a photo of the food, or oh, thank you for taking the photo or a video of my guests eating.

Ilia:

Some people don't even have video. Yeah, some people just have photographers. Yeah, it's true, so we five stars could come from that too, but just be mindful of that stuff. Uh, you're there to work and you weren't hired as a social media content unless you were hired specifically for social media yeah, yeah, not by you, though by the client, yeah, by the client.

Ilia:

um, point three uh, don't mingle with the guests and try to be people's friend unless you read the room and you know who you're dealing with. So that's another thing that, again, is fun to do. You like to get on the dance floor with them and dance with them?

Nino:

And this is your thing right you like to get people. I like to get personal. Get personal with them and it's good. It's a good thing, right? But you never know if the client is okay with that.

Ilia:

Yeah like you're making yourself a part of their event and they may not want that. So while I was a little careful with that stuff, I believe in the beginning I wasn't careful enough and again, luckily it never backfired. Luckily, yeah, it actually always gave us good feedback. But we got lucky. We never really checked with them right. Every DJ has their own kind of thing. My thing is that I get personal with the clients. I'm just very good with the clients. This is easy for me to get on stage, get on the dance floor like I just I always liked it uh. But again, some cultures it's very unacceptable and I could tell.

Ilia:

Luckily I could tell yeah but yeah, it can really backfire, just like the previous point. Right exactly, yeah, all right.

Nino:

Next point make sure you didn't forget anything you were originally supposed to bring. So be organized. That includes gear, uh, anything like anything else that you like social media stuff, uh, food for yourself, snacks, if you, if you're not going to be fed and a lot of times you are going to be fed but um, music right.

Nino:

Organizations playlists be organized with that to make sure you have the client's wishes, what they want to hear, included with all the stuff that you're going to play all your have everything written down If they handed you the document where it lists the entire event, the program. Yes, the program.

Ilia:

And you know it lists the do not play and the must play songs Like have it all prepared and don't wander around thinking maybe the coordinator can give you their copy. Or sometimes there's no coordinator, sometimes you have to do it yourself. And yeah, and just have all your gear because you might be remote and even if you have a helper and assistant, there's nowhere to go. There's nowhere to get that cable or, you know, an extra laptop if something just stopped working.

Nino:

Have a checklist before you leave your house. Double check, triple check, even before you actually leave, and make sure you have everything. It's very important that you're not running around last minute for a cable.

Ilia:

Yeah, don't make any moment about yourself unless you think the client will appreciate it. That's a kind of what we were saying earlier. Uh, I just kind of mentioned it all in the same point. But uh, what if you're a good singer? What if you are a great dancer? Uh, you play an instrument. First of all, probably not good to do it for free, because you could literally add it to your package. But if you, you know you're just a beginner, you're trying to impress people. They may have not, they may not want that as part of their event. Maybe that doesn't really add in with everything else they planned With their vision or their style.

Nino:

Yeah, it's just. It's not in with what they want, exactly right.

Ilia:

So you might be trying to do something nice or something good, something impressive, but again it can really backfire. So don't make it about yourself.

Nino:

It's never, never about yourself. What I always tell DJs, it's always about the client. I always bring it back to the client, right, Because it's always about them. So always make it about and if you're doing a birthday or an anniversary, always bring it back to the celebrant. It's just the way it is. That's why we're getting paid from the person who's hiring us is.

Ilia:

That's why we're getting paid from the person who's hiring us. The only thing that's about you there is to be a good dj.

Nino:

So they can actually, so people will actually hire you again unless you're ts, though, and you're the headliner, and then it's about you, but other than that mean it's never about you exactly um, always advise if you have an assistant helper, uh, and if they need a place setting yeah, I've run across this a few times and, um, sometimes I kind of I've let it slide like I just got brought someone, but a lot of the times I would tell the clients that I need to bring someone, especially because I have to man the dry ice, I have to put on up lights, I have a monogram, I have towers to put up.

Nino:

So there's a lot of things, a lot of moving parts that I I need to get up. So I need some help to to for it to run quicker and for the setup to be proper, right. So I always tell them that I need someone and that the the extra person will just make your event run smoother. Yeah, and they'll never. They'll let me. Oh, okay, if it's gonna, if it's gonna go perfect, and uh, for sure they don't want to there were a couple events where you couldn't bring me remember.

Ilia:

When we just started, I had to tell you that yeah, and I thought does this guy not want to work with me anymore?

Nino:

I'm like no, I don't want this guy today, I don't want this guy to come with me and um, lucky for you, I stayed, uh, but, but.

Ilia:

But here's the thing, like, like they literally don't, don't bring anyone.

Nino:

Yeah sometimes their budget doesn't um, sometimes the the plates are like over 250 dollars, 300 plates yeah, there was one event you went to recently.

Ilia:

You said the food was beyond remember, remember that the balcony one yeah, oh man to order. I had to order a pizza because, there was no food we were there for for like 14, 15 hours. I'm like, I'm hungry, I'm sorry dude, they couldn't afford your plate.

Nino:

My pizza was so late. 300, yeah, wasn't it. Wasn't it like a storm or something?

Ilia:

yeah, it was like an ice storm. Oh my god, it was in the winter, that was fun and I'm like you really don't have another plate. And you know what? Can I tell you something? 99% of the time they always do because? 99% of the time they do because, because and I'll tell you how I know this because I worked in catering, I worked as a waiter, I worked as a bartender there's always tons of food left in the back and you see everyone's eating it. There's always an extra steak or something. Almost never like. Out of like 200 events I've been to, maybe once or twice there was not enough food and even then there was like maybe salad or something like that that event was stushy man.

Nino:

You you saw how there's they always.

Ilia:

They always do, I believe. I'll tell you why. I believe that if you dropped one steak or something now, you don't have it for the other person. So unless they had five steaks or something that they dropped on the floor, okay, that they had to replace them with the extras. All right, you're just complaining now no, I'm just telling you that they don't.

Ilia:

They actually always have extra, I know, I know, I know. So they should, for sure they do, but they always have extra, so don't ever believe that they don't have it. But again, uh, the chef might be eating it. The, the team, the team, yeah, yeah, the team. Right, so you know, because they always, the chef always feeds his team. So, exactly, they get the extra. But I've never seen in like hundreds of events other than once, maybe twice, maybe I remember there was not enough food for all of us.

Nino:

Yeah, yeah, so I ordered a pizza and I'll do it again. The pizza was good, man, I even had some yeah yeah, you ate my food too and then you ate my food.

Ilia:

That's an extra large, large pizza. It was a lot, though. Did I order something else, wings or something? No, it was just a pizza.

Nino:

It was just a pizza. It was a lot. It was a lot. You were like no, I can't eat this by myself. And I was like oh shit.

Ilia:

Okay, it was really weird to bring it in there because it was like such a nice venue. Was it Uber? No, it was. It was like a pizza company I forget which one it was but like I'm like walking in with with a big, big box of pizza, it's like almost a slap in the face for the people there. I'm like you know what? You didn't feed one of the djs, so I'm gonna feed myself. But again, try to be subtle about it. There wasn't. There wasn't much opportunity for me to be subtle about it in the lobby, but once I got in I could go around and like yeah, behind the scenes, yeah, that was. That was a pretty funny night. That was funny, delicious too. Uh, make sure your assistant is trained to take requests and deal with the crowd and not just with your equipment. And that's usually when you said that sometimes the assistants that are just to set up and tear down yeah, I know.

Nino:

Yeah, I know companies that just hire. They just get someone to help them set up equipment and tear down equipment. So literally they'll help them set up and then they'll leave and then they'll come back at the end of the night and tear down and yeah, and that's it right, and that's it and that's it. That's what they get paid for.

Ilia:

Yeah, but that's usually like av companies for like large events, right yeah yeah it depends, it depends, it depends. Yeah, uh, I know that some djs don't even show up until everything is done, so they just don't want to deal with any of that right, yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly.

Nino:

And then, and then you have the assistants where they actually want to learn, they want to, you want to teach them right on your or you really need an assistant because that the what you're doing on that day is just, it is too much for your workload.

Ilia:

Yeah. So they're either there to learn and they're getting no pay or minimal pay, whatever deal you have with them, or maybe you're literally scouting someone. You're looking for someone that has a certain set of skills because you're going to hire them specifically to take requests, to deal with a crowd. You know they're maybe even they could maybe MC and DJ if you, if you need to step, step aside, right. So let's say you need to go to the bathroom, I get, I take over and I'll DJ, I'll do a few transitions. I take over and I'll DJ, I'll do a few transitions. You know I don't usually MC, but whenever anyone comes up for requests, especially when they're really drunk, I filter them.

Nino:

Like I will. I'll be like, hey, come over here, and this is a must have for DJs, to have an assistant to block, like requests, because it ruins your flow too. You're in the middle of, you're always mixing, you're always thinking about 10 songs, five songs ahead of time.

Ilia:

so you're always thinking, you're always moving and thinking about what to do next especially when they come before, like you have to announce something or you know in between, oh, can you, can we make requests? I'm like no, not right now.

Nino:

Go talk to him.

Ilia:

Talk to him, right, so he's there so, yeah, so that's that's when he you know, when we used to do this a lot together. Yeah, um, I would take requests. Maybe someone just want to talk. They literally walk up and they just want to chat. Oh man, I used to be a dj. Or like I want to be a dj, and then you just like I don't keep them happy, I don't care, man, keep it. Oh, what kind of uh gear do you have there? Oh, okay, well, can you show me how this works? Oh, I'm interested. I'm just there to make conversation and to slowly bring them back to where they came from. Yeah, um, and again, if I need to jump on the on the decks or if I need to maybe help you emcee something, so that helps when that helper is not just there to set up and tear it down, because sometimes you have too much to do on your own to keep it perfect Right, exactly, exactly.

Nino:

And the last point last point always have a plan B and plan C. Right, you never know when something's not gonna uh go as planned.

Ilia:

Um so uh yeah be prepared like, if you don't have a very properly working laptop or something like that, then maybe have another one another laptop, another ipad or a tablet yeah, if let's say it's to do with cables or anything, always have all of that prepared ahead of time, always, anything, whatever it is. So, yeah, I think that's it. Yeah, all right. So thank you very much for joining another episode of the Clever DJ. We'll see you.

Nino:

We'll see you in the next one, guys.