Dec. 17, 2025

When DJs Should Raise Their Rates (And When They Shouldn’t)

When DJs Should Raise Their Rates (And When They Shouldn’t)

Send us a message Raising your rates isn’t about confidence — it’s about capability. In this episode, Brian B and Joe break down exactly what it takes for a DJ to step into a higher price tier and stay there.Using a real New Year’s Eve wedding that booked at $26,000, we pull apart every ingredient behind a premium fee: travel costs, gear decisions, prep time, performance structure, and the expectations that come with working at that level. We start with the numbers behind the headline. Firs...

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Season 5

Send us a message

Raising your rates isn’t about confidence — it’s about capability.

In this episode, Brian B and Joe break down exactly what it takes for a DJ to step into a higher price tier and stay there.Using a real New Year’s Eve wedding that booked at $26,000, we pull apart every ingredient behind a premium fee: travel costs, gear decisions, prep time, performance structure, and the expectations that come with working at that level.

We start with the numbers behind the headline. First-class flights for a family of three, extended lodging, car rental, meals, and local rentals: your net rate only makes sense once you understand the true COGS. But the real value isn’t logistics. It’s the show. Brian breaks down his “mini-set” strategy: prebuilt, 60-minute routines across genres that can be sliced, stacked, and rearranged so the dance floor never dips. That’s how a DJ turns four hours into a controlled surge rather than a slow fade.

We also get honest about pricing psychology. Small bumps keep you in the same client sphere. A true leap requires a different circle entirely: new planners, new expectations, and a more sophisticated discovery, communication, and contract process. When your prep is deeper, your sequencing sharper, and your delivery consistent, the rate starts to make sense to you first…and then to your clients.

On the wellness side, we share a simple recovery tool every DJ (especially the traveling ones) should carry: a non-elastic stretch strap that undoes flight stiffness and load-in fatigue in minutes. Your body is part of the rig so you should maintain it like one.

If you’re a private event DJ ready to charge more or trying to decide if you should, this episode gives you the blueprint: upgrade the work, articulate the value, understand the math, and build a performance that earns the tier you want.

Follow the show, share it with a DJ friend, and leave a review so more Booth Heads can level up alongside you.

Support the show

RESOURCES & LINKS

Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/
To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/
To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/
Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn
Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial
DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php
Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

01:43 - Welcome And Patreon Launch

03:36 - December Giveaway: Soundboks Lightbox

05:02 - Holiday Plans And New Year’s Eve Gigs

06:15 - Venue Noise Limits And Neighbor Wars

07:46 - The New Year’s Eve Wedding Dilemma

10:25 - Public Party Concept And TV Rants

12:21 - Travel To Napa And Family Logistics

15:07 - Why Family Travel Shapes Pricing

16:46 - Announcing The Patreon Tiers And Perks

18:22 - Should New Year’s Eve Cost More

20:20 - Breaking Price Ceilings With Strategy

22:15 - Building Mini Sets That Punch For Hours

24:13 - Moving To A New Client Sphere

25:28 - Hitting 26K On New Year’s Eve

27:10 - What The Big Fee Actually Includes

29:05 - Less Shows, More Prep, Better Show

31:10 - Stop Incremental Jumps, Make A Leap

33:28 - Gear Corner: Stretch Strap For DJs

WEBVTT

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What's up, everybody?

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Welcome back to Beyond the DJ Booth Podcast.

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And we are coming to you from Raleigh, North Carolina.

00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:33.520
And this is the podcast for private event DJs.

00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:34.719
My name is Joe Bunn.

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That right there is my boy Brian B.

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And welcome.

00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:39.039
Thanks, Boothheads.

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So we call our super fans.

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Yeah, welcome to you guys.

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If you want to be even more of a fan of the show, support the show, get all of the goodies that we don't get to on the show, which I'm super proud of.

00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:55.359
You want to be a member of our Patreon, patreon.com slash beyond the DJ Booth Podcast.

00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:57.679
And shout out to some of our new people back there.

00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:59.520
We call them the back room members.

00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:00.880
Yeah, there's two tiers.

00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:05.439
So if you're looking just to dip your toe in the experience, it's like$5.99.

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Yeah, I mean, low risk.

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Low risk.

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Low risk.

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Low commitment.

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$19.99 gets you in the back room, though.

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Okay.

00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:12.879
And so we want to shout those folks.

00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:14.719
Uh, we got Michael Copen.

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Yeah.

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Is that right?

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Why are you talking sexy?

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You were kind of talking sexy, like talking about going in the back room.

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It sounded like strip club or something.

00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:26.799
I don't know.

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Michael Copen, yeah.

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Shout out Michael Copen.

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Baxter.

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He's out in isn't he in North Carolina?

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Baxter DJ services.

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I think so, yeah.

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I think he's in Carolina.

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I think you're coming.

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Well, he will have come to the collective.

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Right, okay.

00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:40.079
What about DJ B?

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Do we know?

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No idea.

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No idea.

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DJ B.

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Keep it real simple.

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One letter.

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I love that.

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Yeah, these guys have all joined.

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I'm just assuming DJ B and Baxter are males here, but and Michael.

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But anyway, they've all joined the Patreon recently.

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So shout out to them.

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Yeah.

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Thank you guys.

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Appreciate it.

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Yeah.

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Everybody should be on the Patreon.

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Oh, a thousand percent.

00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:00.719
So many goodies there.

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Unlike some Patreons I've been a member of, we are never ghosting you.

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We are always on there.

00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:12.479
At least a couple of things a week go inside, whether it is lists or maybe something else.

00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:14.960
Maybe other tasty treats that you could play.

00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:18.479
So our giveaway for the month of December, which will be done on the 31st.

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So this is from a company called Soundbox, S-O-U-N-D-B-O-K-S.

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They call this the light box.

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And this thing is basically a battery-powered house party light.

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It goes along with the music.

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Have you used it at a gig?

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No, it's not gig worthy.

00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:32.960
It's not gig worthy.

00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:36.879
This is straight up like that was like 1995 Joe Button.

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No.

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No, like set it on the table though.

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And like when you play the music, it you know, it kind of goes off.

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It looks cool.

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It's cool for like a house party.

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Wasn't there the place called Claire's?

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Spencer's.

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Spencer's.

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Anyway, shout out to Soundbox.

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And looks like you could charge a phone on the side of USB C this shit's got multiple uses.

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These things are like$300.

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Jeez.

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Yeah.

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That's insane.

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Anyway, I made a video on it.

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Does it have a place to put it on a stand, or how do you hook it up?

00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:09.360
Oh, you just kind of set it on the table, man.

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You can see it's like that.

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Okay.

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Wow.

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Okay.

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Oh, there.

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That's I think that's a yeah, that's right up your alley.

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Yeah.

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Give it to your kids.

00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:21.439
But that's still a quite a quality giveaway.

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$300?

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I thought so.

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Jeeze.

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Okay.

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Check it out, Saquon.

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See what it was.

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So we lightbox L-I-G-H-T-B-O-K-S.

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We throw all the names of our back room members into uh the Wheel of Names and we do it live, so you know it's not rigged.

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That's true.

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That's true.

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And check it out.

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Yeah.

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Okay.

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We're getting close to the holidays.

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It's like gonna be in a Christmas will.

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This will come out on the 17th.

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So we're still about a week out.

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Okay.

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What's your holiday plans?

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You got anything for Christmas?

00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:48.319
You guys going to the beach?

00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:48.960
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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We are going to the beach.

00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:51.120
My sister's coming from Montana.

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We're going to the beach the week before Christmas.

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Be back, I think, the 24th soiree at my house.

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Boys are coming down, obviously.

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Boys will be here.

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Ashley will be here.

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Her girls will be here.

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My mom.

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Little Christmas Eve dinner, presents on Christmas Day.

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I think my sister leaves the 26th.

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No gigs.

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Nah.

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That week.

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Got the New Year's Eve, though.

00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:11.759
Oh.

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Where it's New Year's wedding?

00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:14.960
I've been I've been off for a few New Year's Eve.

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Same as I.

00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:16.160
Yeah.

00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:17.360
Uh it's a wedding.

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Where at?

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Merriman Wynn House.

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Oh.

00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:21.600
Quality control on the on the volume, huh?

00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.360
It can't be like that hardcore on New Year's Eve, though, I wouldn't think.

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To be fair to them, the entire reason they are getting complaints now is literally the historic home next door has filed a petition with the city to become a venue as well.

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When that happens, all neighbors are notified.

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This venue has folly petition.

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They don't want two venues side by side going three, four, or five nights a week, blasting their heads off.

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And so now they're revolting against it.

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And therefore calling the police on Merriman Wynn and like making them have a guy walk around with a sound meter and blah blah blah.

00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:08.800
I think that once this other place gets shot down and doesn't get permitted to be a venue, they're gonna be just fine.

00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:09.439
You think?

00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:09.920
I do.

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I've been playing there for 10 years.

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Yeah.

00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:16.000
And the only time it was a problem was at the very beginning, there was no carriage house, right?

00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:16.879
Which was a tent.

00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:17.839
Was a tent.

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And that was problematic.

00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:20.879
Have you talked to this couple uh yet?

00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.759
As far as I'm sure you did at the sales call, but like we haven't done our like our final planning or anything like that.

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I'm not sure where it's gonna go yet.

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Why?

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It's just interesting.

00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:31.519
I think New Year's Eve weddings are interesting in general.

00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:35.360
I would rather play a New Year's Eve wedding though than something open to the public.

00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:36.399
You interesting.

00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.759
No, I think I'd be the other way.

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Interesting.

00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:46.240
Well, and most of my weddings that are on New Year's Eve are destination, so they're wanting to get the photos done early before the sun goes down.

00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:46.720
Okay.

00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:54.480
That's how long set to make it to midnight because people aren't going to want to turn down, they want to bridge the two together and not have people driving or whatever.

00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:55.120
You're right.

00:05:55.279 --> 00:06:00.639
So there's just this weird energy of like people waiting till midnight and they feel like obligated to stay till midnight.

00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.959
Like they may have left before or whatever.

00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:08.879
And you're just talking about, like, for me, in a lot of my cases, I'm dealing with guest counts of 100, 150.

00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:11.279
We're starting at five o'clock, bro.

00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:12.959
Like we're going seven hours.

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You know what I mean?

00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:15.920
Like it's just a long night to get to midnight.

00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:17.040
I see what you're saying.

00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:19.839
So I've always felt like the dance set is too long or just too long.

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Way too long.

00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:21.600
Well, and the whole day.

00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.959
I would think it would be better if they just said, okay, the ceremony's at four to get the pictures.

00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.199
Then there's a long break, like we did at Jani's wedding.

00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:30.560
You know, go to a bar, come back, we'll see you at seven o'clock or eight.

00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:31.680
Yeah, we did do that.

00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:40.319
That to me would be the way to do it because then you're you're hyped up, you're ready to go, you haven't been at a place and stuck in a room all day for five or six hours.

00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:41.040
I don't know.

00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:47.120
I just I've never been able to really take that whole energy for a extended period of time because we always start so early.

00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:48.959
So, what time are you starting there?

00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.720
Are you Oh, it's probably around the same.

00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.399
I just didn't even think about it like that.

00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:53.439
I mean, it's been a while.

00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.319
Like, I don't intentionally take New Year's Eve off.

00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.199
I just haven't gotten booked in the last probably three years.

00:06:59.360 --> 00:06:59.680
Yeah.

00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.639
I think the last time I was on it was probably a wedding.

00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:06.720
And I think you and I had even talked about doing something in public.

00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:07.439
Yeah.

00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.040
And it just didn't work out.

00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:12.000
I think we probably could have made something successful.

00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:20.800
I think if you and I had done something like 9 to 12, 30 with heavy hors d'oeuvres, literally advertise it as like grown and sexy party.

00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:24.959
Like this is like a 40 and up, you know, come dance.

00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:38.319
We're gonna play your music, the shit that you know, right, that you're gonna enjoy, and maybe do some desserts or something around 11, a couple of you know, heavy hors d'oeuvres, yeah, champagne toast, and it was whatever,$100,$150 a ticket.

00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:39.759
I think we could have done something with that.

00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.160
I do feel like it's one of the most overhyped holidays.

00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:43.199
Well, a thousand percent.

00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:43.439
Right.

00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:46.000
I I I don't I think the last three I've sat at home.

00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:46.959
I'm not even kidding.

00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:52.399
Like and even that is because you know what you know what really fucks it up on the TV?

00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:53.279
They're off.

00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:55.519
Well, there's three broadcasts.

00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:55.759
Right.

00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:04.480
There's a country one, Dick Clark, there's there's Secrets, yeah, and then there's um those idiots, uh Andy Cohen, and and what's the name?

00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:05.680
Which is probably the funniest one.

00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.199
But then they made them stop drinking.

00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:07.600
Right.

00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:08.800
Well, I thought they brought it back.

00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:09.279
Really?

00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.279
I they they definitely made them stop one year.

00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:14.959
Then they started letting them like take one shot an hour at the top of every hour.

00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.160
Anderson Cooper.

00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:17.519
Anderson Cooper, that's right.

00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.000
But then it goes off the air at 11.

00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:20.480
Oh.

00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.319
The news has to come on.

00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:22.959
That's weird.

00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:25.600
I never and then it comes back at 11:30.

00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:32.960
So you're sitting there watching and you're enjoying, you know, and you're flipping through the three or four different broadcasts, yeah, and then all of a sudden they all go to the news.

00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:36.320
You know, uh war, death, president.

00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:39.279
Uh I'm like, what the fuck is that?

00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:40.879
This is no good.

00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:43.840
Like there's nothing positive about that.

00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:44.720
You know what I mean?

00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:46.000
Like, I hate the news.

00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.639
Well, I also hate the fact that like they cut it off.

00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.120
As soon as it's over, it's like it's over.

00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:57.919
And you're like, that was the biggest inflating, yeah, you know, hyped up thing, and then it's like, oh, we're done.

00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:00.480
And it's and also the performance are always bad too.

00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:01.600
I've like the micing.

00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:04.159
I don't know if it's the sound or whatever, but they're just it's not great.

00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.080
Yeah, it's not too many people out there.

00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:09.759
Yeah, like I heard like Times Square is disgusting.

00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:10.159
It is.

00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:10.799
You get to get there.

00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:12.559
They don't go to the bathroom.

00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:14.639
Yeah, no, they wear diapers, they wear diapers, yeah.

00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:15.759
What is going on?

00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:17.039
They shit himself.

00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:18.159
Piss himself.

00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.120
Yeah, not good.

00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:19.759
It's crazy.

00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:20.639
You never did that, did you?

00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:21.840
I didn't know it was like that.

00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:22.799
I didn't know it was like that.

00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:24.080
We didn't, oh yeah.

00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.159
We did do Macy's, but we never were on the street.

00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:27.679
The Thanksgiving parade.

00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:28.080
Yeah, we would.

00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:30.240
Oh, yeah, because your wife's office was above all the house.

00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:32.480
So they had the catered like a whole deal.

00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.360
That's dope.

00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.080
That's the move.

00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:35.039
I like the parade.

00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:37.200
I mean, I wouldn't want to stand out there in the cold and watch it.

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:37.519
No.

00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:39.120
But New Year's, you gotta get there so early.

00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:40.639
Little John's gonna be on there this year.

00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.039
Is he?

00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:41.279
Yeah.

00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.960
T Pain was on last year and killed.

00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:43.440
Right.

00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.639
I do remember you saying that.

00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:47.519
Anyway, okay, so let's talk about New Year's.

00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:47.840
Yeah.

00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.039
So you're going to Napa.

00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:51.279
Going to Napa, bringing the family.

00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:52.960
So leave it on the 26th.

00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:53.519
Yeah.

00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:56.159
We are doing four days.

00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:56.480
Okay.

00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.759
Sixth, seventh, eighth.

00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:58.720
Well, no, longer than that.

00:09:58.799 --> 00:09:59.600
All the way till the second.

00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:00.080
Why?

00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:00.720
Why there?

00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:02.720
And why the family on this trip?

00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:04.320
So you've been all around the world.

00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:04.799
Yeah.

00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:06.720
Left them behind thousands of times.

00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:07.679
Yeah.

00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.919
Um, the man has literally seen like six of the seven wonders.

00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.240
Yeah.

00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.840
His wife's just sitting.

00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:19.679
Well, and to be fair, like, you know, this isn't really a vacation, right?

00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:26.720
Like it's I do a anybody that's dumb enough to call a trip with a child a vacation, you're using the wrong word.

00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:26.960
Right.

00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.240
It's not a vacation.

00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:32.159
But my wife wanted to do like an all-inclusive thing, you know, beach.

00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.759
And I'm like, Wait, what beach?

00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:34.639
Like just in general.

00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:37.039
Like, oh, I'm like, there ain't a beach out there.

00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:37.360
No.

00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:39.519
And I'm like, I can't do that right now.

00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.879
Like, I like if we want to go in the next two months, it's gonna have to be tied to an event.

00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:43.679
Yeah, right.

00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:46.639
And, you know, lately I've been trying to stay home for these holidays.

00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:50.559
You know, I haven't been taking holiday gigs, so it has to really be worth it for me to take it.

00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.039
Yeah.

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:58.159
And this planner who I love to work with, I've done many events with, and she always has the right clientele, pairs it perfectly.

00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:01.519
And I told her, I said, listen, if I'm gonna do New Year's Eve, I'm gonna have to bring my family.

00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:05.440
It's gonna have to be part of the equation because I can't leave them on New Year's Eve, come back New Year's Day.

00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.240
It's just not gonna work.

00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:06.639
Yeah.

00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:07.759
So they're coming.

00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:10.879
Yeah, that's gonna have to be part of the price of what we charge to do this.

00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:11.919
You've been out there?

00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.200
Oh, I've been out there many times.

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:15.919
Uh I did one earlier this in in October for an afternoon.

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.000
You're not a you're not a wine guy though, are you?

00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:19.039
I mean, I can do it.

00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.039
I don't really like go hard on it.

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:21.679
Tara?

00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.639
She loves it.

00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:23.279
Yeah, yeah.

00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:23.759
Oh, yeah.

00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.440
She gets not come back.

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.240
We know that.

00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:31.440
So yeah, so I was like, I could bring Tara by myself, get a babysitter, but on New Year's Eve, who's gonna want a babysitter?

00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.000
You know?

00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:32.399
Yeah.

00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:37.279
So I did a Google search, San Francisco, down the coast and around for four days.

00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:37.600
Okay.

00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:40.159
And then the other thing was like, do I really want to leave on the first?

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:45.279
You know, after the gig's over and be on a plane the very next day when there's football on, probably.

00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.159
Premium, yeah.

00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:47.200
You know, it's like, nah.

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:50.720
So I we're staying an extra day and leaving on the second.

00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:55.279
And that way we can enjoy the games, not have to be out of the hotel, yeah, run out of there.

00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:59.759
And that was all part of the equation for me was thinking about all of that when I decided to take it on.

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:09.039
Well, this episode, we'll we'll leave the gear for last on this episode, but we're gonna talk about selfishly, I'm gonna be the question asker this time.

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:09.440
Okay.

00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:13.200
So we don't have questions from the viewers because I have two.

00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:23.279
And one of them I posted yesterday, which this would have been a month ago once you're listening to this, or the day before, and got an overwhelming resounding absolutely.

00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:28.799
And the question was all right, booth heads, we made a move, and it's a bold one.

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:31.200
We officially launched a Patreon.

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:36.159
We've got two tiers, one for$5.99 and one for$19.99.

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:40.000
Basically, the cost of a coffee or a cocktail, depending upon how you roll.

00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:43.360
Listen, this isn't some support us or we disappear kind of thing.

00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:48.720
You actually get some things that are useful that we think that you're gonna need to run your DJ business.

00:12:48.960 --> 00:13:00.399
Like early access to batched episodes, bonus episode that we couldn't post publicly, maybe, and our weekly top 10 banger lists, songs that absolutely crushed at our events this week.

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.519
You know, the stuff that you really want to steal from us anyway.

00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:08.960
But if you want to go deeper, jump into the booth backroom at$19.99 a month.

00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:11.120
That's where the extra love lives.

00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.799
Monthly prize drawings like headphones, merch, coaching calls.

00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:22.000
We've got Serato exports of our history, discounts on exclusive merch, and record pool hookups.

00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:29.759
Backroom members aren't just listening, they're actually shaping what this podcast is going to become and probably making your DJ sets better in the process.

00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:35.440
So stop texting us asking what remix was that and get in the booth for real.

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:40.639
Patreon.com forward slash beyond the DJ Booth Podcast.

00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:44.399
Choose a tier, grab your spot, and let's keep building.

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:46.399
Boothheads, you know where to go.

00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.720
Question of the day.

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.639
So I texted Randy.

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:09.200
I go, if anybody calls for New Year's Eve from this day forward, not necessarily this year, but fuck it.

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.320
Yeah, this year.

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:12.799
Charge them a thousand dollars more or something.

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:16.639
I don't care what it is, but like I think we are in the minority.

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:20.320
Now, I don't know if catering's doing this, I don't know if the limo company's doing this.

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:23.759
I don't know, but you said you do it, right?

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.399
I do.

00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:30.080
I guess my rationale is it's still just another day like any other day.

00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:30.799
Nah.

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.000
No, nah.

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:32.879
It's not, okay.

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:45.200
Because the Lady He stay in his family, like I mean, you may not necessarily do a whole lot, but I feel like majority of the world kind of would rather be home.

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:45.600
Okay.

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.240
You know what I mean?

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.559
Or at a party or a party.

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.000
What is your rationale?

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:54.879
I mean Well, the whole thing was when you posted that question, everybody's answer was yes, charge double.

00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.639
But my whole retort back would be I love that word, retort.

00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.519
That's a great word.

00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.480
Um, is why?

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.600
That's what I'm gonna get.

00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:04.639
So I'm I'm asking you to give me the answer to give a couple.

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:08.399
So most people will say yes because of the fact that, oh, it's just supply and demand.

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.960
You haven't worked the last how many New Year's Eve, right?

00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:11.600
Probably three.

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.799
So it's just kind of like this thing that's out there, like, oh, well, you can do it.

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.320
So let's see what we can get away with.

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.360
It's kind of like the tenor of that, is the way I feel about it.

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:19.919
That's shitty.

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:23.200
And I'll be honest with you, I I um never felt good about it.

00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.120
I would do it, but I never felt good about it.

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.000
What can I get away with?

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:26.960
Yeah, can I go double?

00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.759
Can I go triple?

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.320
I don't know.

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:28.799
Right.

00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:34.320
Over the last two or three years, I've really kind of thought about the holidays as like those are and even the summer.

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:38.879
Summers for me are tough for me to take on gigs because that's when Annie's out of school.

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:39.440
You know what I mean?

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.120
And like we need to do family stuff.

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:46.960
So my deal with my couples on the summer is if I'm going out of town, I'm have the option to bring my family.

00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:49.200
So my rates go up in the summer.

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.960
And that's my rationale.

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.399
It's like, listen, this is a holiday.

00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.840
I don't have very many of them with her.

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.559
18, you know, is gonna be here before I know it.

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.679
No, you trust me.

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.080
Right?

00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:02.080
By the time she turns about 14, she's gonna think you're not cool anymore.

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:07.039
I want to have those moments now, and I'm not willing to give it up unless, like, there's uh a cost.

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.480
So, what is that pain point for me?

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.000
You know, would you verbally say that?

00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.000
Yeah, I'd have no problem saying that.

00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:16.240
And this is what it's gonna take for me to get off my couch, you know, to go do it.

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.879
So I asked you if it was okay to ask you this.

00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:19.360
Yeah.

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:27.759
People know you, and people that listen to the show now know you for over a year, and you're not a braggard, you're not uh you don't really have an ego.

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:36.159
You really are kind of against the norm of most DJs or a lot of of some DJs that are just kind of uh the ego, you know, leads before they even walk in the room.

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:36.320
Yeah.

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.919
You told me the other night it was Halloween.

00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:50.320
We were talking about I think you started talking about oh well, I had a seven to eight topos, but we were talking about I guess going forward the next two holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Eve, I guess.

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:52.240
And you know, we were what are we doing?

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:52.799
Blah, blah, blah.

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:59.440
And you told me about the NABA gig, and and you go, I gotta be honest, man, this is the biggest payday I've ever gotten for a gig.

00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.159
So it's this gig coming up this New Year's Eve.

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:05.440
Yeah, and what is it all in, and what does it include?

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.640
Give us the number.

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:09.680
And before you say the number, I want to tell everybody.

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:12.160
I actually I fell off the couch.

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:18.400
Like, I actually like was like, but it made me not being funny, it made me like proud.

00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:23.119
I was like, God damn, man, like think about how we started, even you, right?

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:25.200
Me and you and been doing this so long.

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:31.039
In my wildest dreams, I never thought that a a mobile DJ, which is what we are.

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:35.839
Yeah, somebody that goes, sets up gear, and plays at a party would ever get that kind of money.

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.240
Right.

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.880
What is that number and what does it include?

00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:40.640
Let me give you the backstory first.

00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.920
I'll take the backstory.

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:50.799
So, you know, I think in general, when I was building my multi-op, at the most I was getting like 3,500, you know, average ticket.

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.839
That's still comparable to what's in that market.

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:56.480
I'm not embarrassed by that number,$2,000 more.

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:59.039
Like most people are getting$1,500 on average.

00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.759
On average.

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.240
Wow.

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:04.640
You'd have a couple people who get some pops every now and then, but$3,500 was where I was kind of going.

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.200
Sure.

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:08.559
So I did the my first big jump was to$5,000.

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.599
And I thought I'd made it.

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.160
You know what I mean?

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.279
I'm like$5,000.

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.559
This is I'm doing it.

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.119
I'm doing it.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:16.480
And I and I'm like, I started doing the math, like, you know, I still think that's doing it.

00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.279
I think that's great.

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.680
Okay.

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:23.680
And what that typically included was, you know, standard lights, sound for any space.

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.240
Ceremony.

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.759
Up to three spaces typically.

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.079
Sure.

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.160
Um, if it's an after party, I wouldn't include it in that.

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:32.079
And then time, you know, all the prep, all the it doesn't matter.

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.759
I don't charge overtime, whatever.

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.599
It was all part of that 5k package.

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:38.960
And then I got to a point where it was like I couldn't get over that number.

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:44.480
Anytime I tried to creep up 5,500, 6,000, even it was like, nope.

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.039
Cricket.

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.720
And I'm like, is this the cap?

00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:47.440
Is this it?

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.160
You know?

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:53.119
And that's when I took on a business coach and I was like, I gotta figure out how to like break this ceiling.

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.640
Yeah, Sean.

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.599
Yeah, Sean Lowe.

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.559
Shout out Sean Lowe.

00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:02.880
And he goes, Man, you are at the top end of the clientele that you serve in that market, and you're pissing people off.

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.240
That's why they're revolting.

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.119
Not just the clients, but also these planners who have put you out there, and now you're just like, what else can I get?

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:12.240
Let's add another 250 just to test the water, dip my toe in.

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.839
He's like, You got to get out of that sphere of people and move on.

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:21.200
And the only way you can do that is he encouraged me to double my price, 10K.

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.720
I'm like, my heart like basically fell out of my chest.

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.000
I'm like, there's no way.

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:32.160
At the same time, there was also a guilty part of me that was like, I feel like I'm robbing just to get a money grab.

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:36.000
So, and he's like, Absolutely, if you feel that, then you shouldn't raise it.

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.319
He's like, You need to figure out how to be worth that.

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.599
And I was like, ooh.

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:40.480
All right.

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:42.480
So let me go back and think, rethink this stuff.

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:51.680
And so started rethinking my planning process and also realizing that if I'm charging that much, let's just call it 10K, at the very minimum, half my gigs can go away.

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:56.880
And I can give more to a client because I'm not working two events every weekend or whatever the case may be.

00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.480
So I that kind of went into the calculation of kind of moving to that 10K level.

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:04.240
And for about, I don't know, it's called maybe two or three years, maybe longer.

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:06.720
I was at that number at 10K and I made the jump.

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.920
But I felt like it wasn't a month.

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.359
What great year would that have been?

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.720
Pre-pandemic?

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.640
Yes, just before it 2019.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:12.960
Okay.

00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.720
Or maybe 18, 2018, 19.

00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.119
Okay.

00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.160
I made the jump.

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.440
Crickets, bro.

00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:20.319
But the problem was I hadn't I hadn't moved into the new sphere yet.

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:25.440
I was still dealing with the old sphere of planner, referral sources, same venues, and all this stuff, and I wasn't getting it.

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.039
And I had to move into the new tier.

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.480
And there is a transition that happens when you do that.

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:34.880
And but once you make the jump, you can't go back because then it was like you really weren't serious.

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.240
You were like just thrown out of hello.

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.279
So you guys say this is why it's worth it.

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.599
And I felt like I had the reasons behind it.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.799
And during the pandemic, I even full throttled it.

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:53.759
And I basically said, okay, I'm gonna spend my time putting together not just a 30-minute set where I can feel like I can crush it for 30 minutes and it's just balls to the wall.

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.680
I want it to feel like that for four hours.

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:59.920
So can I put together some mini sets that will have that punch throughout?

00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:04.799
And now I think I told Trago recently that I think I'm up to like 10 of these like mini sets.

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:07.680
And the great part about how long would a mini set be?

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.480
If I were to run it in full, 60 minutes.

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:13.200
Oh, so it's not really a mini set at all.

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:19.039
Well, I the reason why I call it that is because I never play them the whole 60 minutes, number one.

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:25.440
Now that I have so many of these, I jump from like four or five songs of a mini set into another mini-set from a different thing.

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:25.839
Okay.

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.880
So it's constantly moving.

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.240
I never play it the same way twice.

00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:28.640
Yeah, right.

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:31.119
Yeah, they're gonna be the same four or five songs in a row.

00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:31.599
Sure.

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:34.079
But the whole 60 minutes I would never play in its entirety.

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:34.720
I got you.

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.880
And because some songs aren't on their list, you know.

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:43.039
Yeah, the the ones we've w ran through in today's taping of batches uh stuff, we you know, the promiscuous.

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:49.599
I got five different versions of that with something else over it, and I will swap it out if a new song comes in and change that routine around.

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.880
So it still feels fresh.

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.240
Yeah you know what I mean?

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:59.920
And so from the pandemic, I think I got three or four of those routine sets down in that year and a half, or call it two.

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.759
Now, since then, I keep building on it.

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:10.480
So whenever I have downtime, I have weekends off, I'm building these routines so that literally I can walk into space and I feel like for four hours, there's never gonna be a lull.

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:12.799
It's gonna be like, how in the world does this guy keep doing it?

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:20.000
Or I can do three or four parties in specific days with the same couple, and they're gonna be like, dude, you keep crushing it like every night.

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.799
You know what I mean?

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.519
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:27.519
And because of that work and pairing it with the process piece of the planning and all of that, that's huge, yeah.

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.799
I felt like I was worth it.

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.480
You know, and so since then I've jumped another five.

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.559
So I've been at 15 for a while.

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:41.599
And again, that jump was paired with okay, I've gone from four routines to now 10.

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:47.039
I can walk into pretty much any space and like I can hold it down for six or seven hours.

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.000
Other than Latin.

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.119
Yeah, Latin, though.

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.880
Yeah, yeah, that one's that's on the list.

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.480
And so I've been at 15 for a while.

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:56.799
Now, for holidays, and this has only happened two times, I think.

00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:00.240
I've gotten close to or over, actually, over 20K.

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.640
And that was been all in with travel.

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:08.720
So I don't want it to make it sound like it's just the the extra 5k has been like additional bringing my family or whatever.

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:10.559
So this New Year's Eve, I was like, you know what?

00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:12.960
I need to set a new threshold.

00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:20.720
And so uh this one all in is 26 uh for 26,000.

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:25.200
And um that was my first time hitting that number, you know.

00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:28.960
So that's but but okay, but what does that include?

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.160
Yeah, what does it include?

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:32.559
I mean, what do you put in the bank on January 2nd?

00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.640
For clarity, yeah, so everybody listening.

00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:43.680
I mean part of that equation was listen, if I'm bringing a kiddo, we're driving, we're flying six hours direct from Raleigh to San Francisco.

00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.160
Correct.

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.519
Three of us, yep.

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:52.240
It was like about three thousand dollars or maybe a little less, two thousand five hundred something around there because of the time of year.

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:57.359
I was like, listen, I am gonna bump this up to first class.

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.039
That ticket was not cheap.

00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.559
Five years for three of us.

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.240
Annie chilling first class.

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:06.240
And she does that because I she with my status, she gets it anyways, right?

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.920
Okay, Brian B status.

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.720
But like her.

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:13.759
I was telling Jenna the other day, I was like, listen, like I'm a United fan now because I've taken it.

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.960
I did this one in October.

00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:19.519
Yeah, I upgraded my ticket, cost me 700 extra bucks, but I wanted to experience it to see if it was worth it.

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:23.279
Yeah, it was like two meals, like it's just like super solid.

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:26.319
The food's good, they treat you well, it had to lay flat, all that.

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.880
So that cost me 5,000 out of that 26, is just the flights.

00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.359
Okay.

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.759
Okay.

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:34.960
Then I told her, I was like, listen, I want to be able to be there for a couple days.

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.079
I don't want to be in and out.

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:38.319
So we're having an extended hotel stay.

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.400
So that I let's call it a thousand dollars, I think is uh was what it ended up being.

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:42.799
Okay.

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.559
Then rental car.

00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.359
Yeah, right?

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.240
Yeah, meals.

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.839
I'm factoring all this stuff in.

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:51.440
I think we did it like um 200 bucks a day basically in meals.

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:56.559
So and then gear, that's gonna run me probably 2,500.

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.000
Any musicians or anything?

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.319
No.

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:58.720
Okay.

00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:01.200
So the rest is talent, okay, basically.

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:03.039
Which ended up being about 15.

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:05.920
17, 18,000 you put in the bank.

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.240
Yeah.

00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.599
For New Year's Eve.

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:09.359
So I don't know.

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:12.720
I I'm telling you, man, that it's it is very inspiring.

00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.720
I never feel jealous about it.

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.920
I feel like inspired.

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:17.359
I text you like the next day.

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:17.599
Yeah.

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:28.000
And I was like, man, I I let's have a serious conversation about how I can get a better rate for myself because I do feel like I am worth more than$4,500.

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:28.799
I agree.

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:31.920
And to be fair, like I'm not, that's the first time I've ever hit that number.

00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.319
I know.

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.279
I'm not going out that way.

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:45.519
And you do have to get on a plane and you have been to 20 different engaged conferences and you have parlayed these investments into networking with people that are doing five weddings a year max.

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:45.839
Right.

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:50.160
I taught Andrea Apollito about something the other day, and she was like, Yeah, I only do four weddings a year now.

00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.440
But they're all million dollar plus.

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.240
Yeah, yeah, totally.

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:56.480
She wouldn't, if you say your budget's less than a million dollars, she's gonna tell you to go find somebody else.

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.119
I guarantee it.

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:57.440
Yeah.

00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:59.519
So you're dialed in with these people, right?

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:04.319
And if they say we want a DJ, you're on the very short list of people to call.

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:10.559
Yeah, I'm not saying you're gonna get every one, but you're gonna be on a short list of uh less than five people that they're gonna call.

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:17.440
Yeah, and I think the biggest takeaway from this is like you have to make sure that you're not fishing for what you think you can get.

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.920
You should believe that you are worth this.

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.559
Commit.

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:22.640
And there should be a significant difference.

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:26.400
Your show should totally feel different than anybody else in the local market.

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.559
Like, there should be significant uh differences in that stuff, and that's in everything.

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:36.880
And that's why you know I am so big on like with we've gone through all these music episodes before where we're talking music.

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:39.440
Like, I spend the time to put those things together.

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.079
You know what I mean?

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:57.920
You spend the time on the music, you spend the time on the pre-planning, you spend the time on researching the couple, where you're going, the culture there, like it is uh an art, and it does make sense when you say, okay, I'm doing less shows for more money, so I have more time to spend on your show.

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.240
Right.

00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:04.559
And then the other thing with that too is I think we feel like, oh, we've been doing this for at this rate for so long, we are deserve this.

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:10.400
But if the show doesn't dramatically improve and you've been charging this for the last year, well, why all of a sudden are you gonna go up?

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.359
There's a disconnect there.

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.960
Yeah, and people need to feel the difference.

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:18.319
And my other takeaway would be I think it's a mistake, and you and I have I may have differing opinions on this.

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:23.200
It's an inflection point where the incremental jumps have to stop at some point.

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:23.680
You're right.

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.920
So, like when I hit that 5k, that was for me.

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:28.319
In my local market, I couldn't get above that.

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:31.359
I had to make a clear distinction that we're going way up.

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.680
Now, my business coach told me to go 10K up.

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.200
He wanted me to go to 15 immediately.

00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:37.279
And I'm like, I had to believe it for myself.

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.680
And I said, I don't think I am worth that.

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:42.480
And I'm really was being transparent in saying that.

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:46.960
But I said, I think I can get to 10K and I will feel confident when I get this system in place.

00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:48.720
So my contracts changed.

00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:51.680
When we meet, changes, how we meet, the questions I'm asking.

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:55.440
None of it is anything I did when I was at 3500 or even 5K.

00:27:55.599 --> 00:28:00.240
And I think that's like super important because some people just jump up and then people are like, Well, what are you doing differently?

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:02.319
Well, I've been doing it for 10 years, I've been da-da-da.

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.680
And people are like, It doesn't matter.

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:07.200
Yeah, you're like, Well, yesterday you were 5K where you've been undercharging the whole time.

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.640
Like, it doesn't make any sense, right?

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.599
And you were okay with it.

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:12.240
Right now, all of a sudden I'm taking on the hook for this.

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:20.960
So you really have to spend the time to think about like how can I retool this that it makes me worth that, and I can believe selling it and it doesn't come off as salesy.

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.960
Great shit, man.

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:25.759
Let's hit the gear real quick and and and put a bow on this.

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.160
The gear's here.

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.480
The gear, gear is here.

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.000
What you got over there?

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:36.000
Well, we're completely gonna go lighter.

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:40.640
Being on planes or doing doubles, and again, this is maybe an age thing.

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:42.319
I feel like I'm tight.

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:44.880
Like my body is just like I'm like tore up.

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:47.359
And it's mainly like just the stretching.

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:52.559
Like I didn't realize like I work out all the time, and I know you do too, but like stretching is underrated.

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.359
It is, I agree.

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.319
Super underrated.

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.200
I went to that stretch lab.

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.160
Trash lab place.

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.119
Yeah, you used to love that place.

00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:01.839
I used to go, and and because I was just so tight, like it took me like three or four months to going.

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.359
I don't go uh anymore.

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:06.400
Yeah, and I'm like, I need to figure out a way to do this on my own.

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:10.559
Yeah, and where I noticed is like literally getting on off planes or driving long distances.

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:13.119
When you get out of the car, you just kind of feel like everything's tight.

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.359
Okay.

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:16.559
Then you're standing in a DJ spot for another three or four hours, right?

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.640
Getting back in, you're just like locked up.

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.119
Yeah.

00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:21.599
So I found this strap.

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:21.839
Okay.

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.440
It's kind of a stretching strap.

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:23.839
Okay.

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.799
And what's great about it, I'm gonna have you give us a demo, actually.

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:29.039
This is gonna be, I gotta lighten this episode up somehow.

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.440
Oh, yeah.

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:32.960
I'm I'm I'm enlightened.

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:36.559
So the cool thing about this is that it's not elastic, like it's hard.

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.279
Okay.

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:37.680
I see.

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:38.400
I thought it was straight.

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.920
It's not gonna be like one of those bands.

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:41.279
Yeah, no, that's what I thought it was.

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.319
That's why it's a strap.

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.119
Okay, right.

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:46.559
So you can see it's numbered if you're watching this on video.

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:50.319
If you're not, it's got levels to the closer it is, the harder it is.

00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.680
That's why that number four is there.

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:51.920
Okay.

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:54.400
And it really stretches out your hamstrings and things like that.

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:56.799
So you actually kind of just grab it on one end, okay.

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.680
Hold it in your hand.

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.279
You probably need to take your shoes off for this, though.

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.720
Yeah, oh yeah.

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.119
Yeah.

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.640
You're gonna be on the floor, buddy.

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.839
Oh yeah.

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.880
We're getting real with it.

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.559
And what you're gonna do, lay on your back.

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:11.119
Put this in one hand, put this in the other hand.

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.440
Okay.

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:16.079
And then I would we can try a three or four, whatever you feel comfortable with.

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.799
All right.

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.720
Just on the actual thing there.

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.039
All right.

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.079
Laying back.

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.039
All right.

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:23.519
And then you'll just pull it back as far as you think you can go.

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.039
And you can feel it in your hammies.

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:26.720
So that's right.

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:28.880
But isn't that like a great stretch?

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:31.599
Everybody's gonna make fun of those on the sock.

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:33.920
Like ballet slippers.

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:34.880
Yeah.

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:37.200
But like, can you feel that?

00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.759
Yeah.

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:45.039
So like every time I get off the plane, I will use this at the hotel room, and I feel so much looser just doing that a little bit at a time.

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:47.839
So I mean well, you gotta get back.

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:51.359
You have to get back on the mic and after a minute, but but try that on the other side.

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:51.680
Okay.

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:54.480
And the closer you get to the middle, the harder it is.

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.240
Joe, you could even try bring it.

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.960
Okay, but go go to a side, maybe with it.

00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:01.039
Pull it to a side or like yeah.

00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:04.960
You can do it with the strap, you can do it better than you can do by yourself without it.

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.680
Does that make sense?

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.319
Absolute.

00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:11.279
Yeah, that's what uh when I had uh all right, so you have to get on the mic.

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:13.519
I want to hear your your uh take on it.

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.640
It's good for your science.

00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:22.400
But if you are over 30 years old, I suggest you get one of these because that's I I literally have this thing called a chirp wheel.

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.359
Do you know what these things are?

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:25.359
No, it looks like um a tire.

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:28.319
It goes under my, there's a drawer that pulls out under my bed.

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:33.359
There's three different sizes, it's just a ring, and you lay back on it in the morning, try and kind of correct your posture.

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.920
Yeah, and I am super, super tight.

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:38.079
Yeah, I mean, I actually can get on it and her head touches the ground.

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:38.799
Oh, geez, of course.

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.279
You know what I mean?

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.319
Like I can see her doing that.

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:47.200
But me and you, like you said, I mean, and guys are just tight in general, especially hamstrings, things like that, hips, hamstrings.

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.839
That thing is a solid piece of equipment.

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:51.359
I'll buy that and just stick it under my bed.

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.480
I put it in my bag, yeah.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.400
It doesn't take up any room, it's like super thin.

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:56.559
Yeah, what do you think it goes for on Amazon?

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:58.720
It's probably$28.99.

00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:00.000
$19.99.

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.480
Okay.

00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.400
I think it's a game changer.

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:02.799
Yeah.

00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:07.920
I feel so loose when I especially, you know, the other time I use it is actually when I get back to the hotel room after the gig.

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.599
I'll do it for five or six minutes afterwards.

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:13.039
And now like I've been doing it so long that like I can go further back with my leg.

00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:18.240
It's not like I will say, in terms of fitness, um, that is my weakest link is stretching.

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:18.720
Same.

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.119
Yeah.

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.000
A hundred percent.

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:24.720
That it that is that is the one probably piece that I'm missing more than anything, right?

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.799
Especially after this post-sugar thing.

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.359
Yeah.

00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:29.920
So anyway, it might be worth grabbing this wrap.

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.839
I'll have the link on the episode.

00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.519
Let's wrap this one up, my boy.

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.960
This is like a marathon marathon.

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:37.920
But I I feel very seriously, I feel inspired, man.

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.960
Thank you for sharing that.

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:42.480
You're gonna look back on this episode and be like, that thing has a lot of gold in it.

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.359
A lot of gold.

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.920
Cool.

00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.960
Wrap it up.

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:52.160
So if you want to get your ticket to the DJ Collective for 2026, we would encourage you to get it before the end of the year.

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:54.000
It's a good tax write-off, number one.

00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.319
Yep.

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:57.519
And most likely the price will be going up, is my guess on January.

00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:00.880
It's gonna go up as we approach uh November 2026.

00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:06.160
So and a lot of this stuff, this candid combo that we're having, like I would never go on a normal.

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:10.319
I mean, I'm doing this because of you asked me, but like this isn't stuff I would just volunteer out there.

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:17.119
This is stuff I would only share at places like the DJ Collective where I feel like safe that it's not gonna be, you know, yeah, yeah, um used against you or something.

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:20.799
Well, and just helping out other DJs who kind of get to know who you are and you can do this stuff.

00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:22.960
So if you haven't thought about going, encourage you to make it.

00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:24.079
It's gonna be right here on Raleigh.

00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:29.039
Go to the DJ CollectiveOfficial dot com and register before the end of the year.

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:30.880
Yep, and then shout out the sponsor one time.

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:32.480
Yeah, DJ Eventplanner.com.

00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:32.960
Thanks, y'all.

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.880
See you next Wednesday