Disc Jockey News January 2021 Printable Edition FINAL ISSUE

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • This is not page one.. Mike is on page one

It is time to say Thank You!!

Thank you for over 16 years of allowing us to bring the Disc Jockey Newsprint and printable editions to you each month!

Thank you to our current and past writers! We have been blessed with an amazingly passionate and talented group of friends who have poured their passion into DJs’ lives from around the world with the monthly contributions!

Thank you to our sponsors from over the years! Their support has allowed us to keep mailing the paper and having it available to subscribers each month!

It is now time to close this chapter of the Disc Jockey News media world and turn our focus to our video DJNTV side of our efforts.

While the monthly printable edition will end with the January 1, 2021 issue, we will continue to produce our weekly DJNTV shows, cover industry events, look at new gear, and share tips on being a more effective and profitable mobile DJ. One addition to 2021.. instead of one longer Virtual Expo, we are doing a monthly ‘Expo Night’ of a convention seminar and great information! Our tentative schedule is as follows for the year: January 18, 2021: Kristin Wilson February 15, 2021: Alan Berg and Ron Ruth March 15, 2021: Mike Walter April 19, 2021: Mitch Taylor May 17, 2021: Jim Cerone June 21, 2021: Randy Bartlett July 19, 2021: Jeremy Brech August 16, 2021: Stephanie Rivkin September 20, 2021: Brandon Havrilla October 18, 2021: Dave Ternier November 15, 2021: Ben Stowe December 13, 2021: Bill Hermann So, as many of the writers have said in this month’s edition, it isn’t goodbye; it is a ‘we will see you soon’ -in a different way at a different time! ... Over 16 years.. 195 issues.. yeah, it was a pretty good run! :) Thanks!

John

January 2021 • Issue 195

The Monthly DJ Newspaper

This Is It: Closing Time

By Mike Walter

I got the call from John Young last month. He told me that he was going to have to stop publishing the Disc Jockey News. I know nothing about the finances of running an industry trade paper, but when I hear the words “hemorrhaging money,” I get it.

I’ve been asked by many people in the industry how I became a “household name” among Mobile DJs. I always site two things: Producing and MCing the DJ of the Year competition for 15 years and writing for this fine publication for 16 years. And once I muscled my way onto page one, I never let go!

In that phone call with John, I urged him to publish one more issue, this one. I wanted a chance to say goodbye, and I think all the other writers deserve the same. We’ve done our best through the years to share knowledge and insight to help our industry peers improve, and the feedback we’ve received has often been very rewarding. I, for one, didn’t want to miss out on the chance to write a final article.

And in doing so, I found myself thinking of some last pearl of wisdom to share. What could possibly be left that I haven’t written about these past 16 years? Indeed, I’ve talked about everything from finding talent to marketing to selling. I’ve shared lessons from books I’ve read, places I’ve visited, and events I’ve DJed. One could

say my mind has been fairly well picked clean for you, dear reader, and there aren’t many nuggets left.

But then I realized the answer is right there in the second paragraph.

There’s a cliche about there being no shortcut to success, and I believe it’s true. When I signed up to write for this publication, one of my goals was to get my name out into the industry. I was already speaking at conventions, but I wanted a higher profile. I wanted to be a speaker in demand. Someone who you’d see on the lineup of seminars and think, “I gotta see that guy!”

I thought that writing a regular column could help me achieve that. And it has. But it didn’t do that after two months. Or even six. Or even a year.

Writing for this publication helped bring me a larger audience for my seminars and books and videos after a while of consistent contribution. And that’s the part I think some people don’t understand. I think some people want instant, overnight success, and they aren’t willing to put in more than just a little bit of time. I think of how many people I know who have started blogs or podcasts or video platforms, and they have fizzled after just a few entries. Maybe they died on the vine because of a lack of ideas, but more likely, they were abandoned because they didn’t bring the producer of those platforms instant recognition or success. If I’d had the same expectations and quit writing for this paper after a few months because it didn’t

The DJNTV Insider Edition instantly double my speaking rate, I would have missed out on all the exposure that eventually came my way.

Have patience, dear reader. And do the work. As Woody Allen once said, 80% of success is just showing up. I know some people hate that philosophy, and I agree it can definitely be misinterpreted. Allen wasn’t saying just show up, do nothing, and you’ll be successful. I think what he was saying is so few people are willing to do the work consistently that if you are, you are well on your way to success.

I’d like to continue to contribute and share with my industry peers, so this article is less of a goodbye than it is a “see you soon.” When John told me he had to pull the plug on this awesome publication, he didn’t say I had to stop writing. It was kind of like Semisonic singing, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”

So if you follow me on my socials, stay tuned. I may find some other outlet crazy enough to accept my monthly, inane ramblings. Till then, I’d like to publicly thank John Young for providing a platform that allowed me to share with so many of my industry peers. It’s been a fun ride since 2014, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

Stay safe and healthy, dear reader!

All the best in 2021 and beyond.

Mike Walter is the owner of Elite Entertainment of New Jersey and a nationally recognized expert in the area of multisystem company development and staff training. You can contact Mike at mikewalter@discjockeynews.com.

In This Issue: Page 1: Mike Walter Page 2: Mitch Taylor Page 3: Dean Carlson Page 4: Alan Berg Page 6: Ron Ruth Page 7: John Maxwell

Page 8: Michael Lenstra Page 9: Brian Kelm Page 10: Harvey Mackay Page 11: Kristin Wilson Page 12: Music Charts

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 2

From Humble Beginnings To Changing An Industry

By Mitch Taylor

It was the summer of 2006, and I was three-ring client presentation binders rants with Dustin Reichert, teaching his at a crossroads. I had struck out on my at the table that day. Scott and I have team the basics of mixing, late-night hoown in an area where no one knew my gone on to learn a lot from each other, tel room conversations with fellow DJs name and had opened up Taylored Enter- and I’ve had the pleasure of receiving like Steve Beck and Jim Cerone, taking tainment a short three years prior. Part the Michael Butler Humanitarian Award a rented Camaro over a curb with Ken of the business didn’t seem that fun any- the same year Scott won the Peter Merry Day, or early morning breakfasts with more. Do I get a “real job”? I stumbled Leadership Award from ADJA, along thinker Brian Kelm. upon start.prodj.com while searching with presenting to groups of his in Without Disc Jockfor inspiration and remembered a past Phoenix a few times now. ey News and John speaker at Mobile Beat Cleveland in the That first and Lori Young, I summer of 2000 who changed the game N o r t h wouldn’t have heard for my company in Metro Detroit, Mark the beautiful quote Ferrell. From there, I found Mark from fellow writer Ferrell’s DJA Radio, Jake Palmer “It’s a wth. nal gro io then the Forums at s conversation, not s fe pro ta d in personal and o Disc Jockey Americe. s a confrontation” v e r e n s r in ste of you ke, Ms who are intener!e a ica, and it was there keting I wouldn’t have L r a r m o li r d m do an ri ino, Pional weddingeavseinn g your bkoetttinog, and sales that I first saw the s known Mike a C s e r profes ard incr site mar b c Lak w avatar of a man leaning Anderson, a Mystils Conferencersisafore geareod ptoroduction, we e a na id in v io m s d on a post made of his e beautiful soul s n s rofe ch day’s n photo a ding P Ea & Wed used o c y name, John Young. e who sadly fo k : s c o ar Disc J semin turing a rthern e ack of o F N tr John and something isn’t really e m h o T ort se fr ael P n choo rok Mich onfe n called Disc Jockey News involved You ca g bo ls C w sellinn.com n siona nally kno put s n s a e o fe rm Pro ternatio very po e 1 b Amaz e # H g l were holding a Northern in the inon Bil eddin of the in nting his he will b W hern e return be prese inar and ns From an l Nort o lanag The features th . Carr wil aining semtled Less 5 Disc Jockey Conference dustry r 7 an F an hy’ tr inar ti e y e t k r c a rm s 1 n e .’

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Another “game-changer” for me that sacrificed their time and lost money in While the platforms may have evolved first year was having Breakfast with the supporting this industry with different over the years, they are still tirelessly Game Master himself, Scott Faver. Scott endeavors. They’ve also been giving of working to help their fellow DJ. They first introduced me to personalization to their hearts to grow DJs through various are a shining example for all of us in our your clients by generously sharing his vehicles over the years, one being this lives of how to live and give. Thank very publication. Without their tireless you, John and Lori, and thank YOU for dedication to give back to an industry reading my columns here in Disc Jockey and providing a platform to their writers, News over the last decade-plus that I’ve DJs today wouldn’t know who Bill Her- been blessed to be on page 2 of the pubmann, Mike Walter, Ron Ruth, Michael lication. I’ll see you around on DJNTV Lenstra, Dean Carlson, Rob Peters, Jer- in the future. emy Brech, yours truly, and many of the Mitch Taylor is an 18 year veteran of other speakers and great writers who the mobile disc jockey industry, starting have been a part of Disc Jockey News out on the cruise ships of Carnival Cruise over the years. If you’ve ever written an Lines. He is a member of the American article for this great publication, I thank Disc Jockey Association. Mitch owns you for being a part of it. and operates Taylored Entertainment in I have SUCH fond memories of my the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and times spent in Minnesota at retreats, can be reached at 906.786.6967 or via conclaves, conferences, and Electro- email at mitchtaylor@discjockeynews.

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Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 3

Like Sand Through An Hour Glass…

By Dean Carlson

Here I am again, at my computer, attempting to put down on virtual paper all the thoughts that are flowing through my brain.

It’s the theme for the way I’ve tackled projects for years. Some would say ‘not healthy’ while others seem to flourish in this deadline workstyle. Just two weeks ago, John Young came to us and let us know that the final issue of Disc Jockey News would be January 2021. A very sad day for our DJ industry, yet also so telling of not only the new ‘Covid normal’ but the DJ world in general.

I met John Young at my first ever DJ conference, the MAPDJ (Midwest Association of Professional DJs) 2004 show. At that point in my DJ career, I had no idea that there was a greater DJ collective. When I first heard DJs had conferences, I was pretty cocky; “What can they teach me? I am already the best DJ in the Midwest.” After all, I’d had such an illustrious career in nightclubs so far.

It took less than three conference presenters for my jaw to hit the floor, and by the time Mark Ferrell’s keynote finished the next day, I was hungry to learn more. Suddenly I felt like an infant being thrown into the deep end of the pool for the first time. Before I left, I had booked a plane to Vegas for Mobile Beat at the Stardust Hotel, and found an interesting new monthly publication that had just started the month before; Disc Jockey News.

Over the next three years, John and I got to know each other better as I attended every learning experience possible. There are two qualities that people will notice about me right away. The first one should be, hopefully, the biggest takeaway anyone gets from this article today - I am unafraid to insert myself into conversation with people if I want something. After that first DJ conference, I said to myself, “Someday, I want to be a public speaker and help this industry grow.”

Another lesson I learned from a non-DJ conference was that your circle of peers will determine the elevation to which you will rise. People tend to feel more comfortable

hanging out with their own little niche of like-minded friends who never disagree with them or challenge them. So, if you want to speak nationally and no one you personally know has done that, your chances of making that happen aren’t very good. Sometimes your current ‘besties’ are actually holding you back. Still, if you are willing to take a risk, life can change faster than you think.

Since I had no spheres of influence, I interjected myself into conversations with everyone I could. It’s how I became friends with the likes of Jim Cerone, Peter Merry, Mike Walter, Ron Ruth, Bill Hermann, Randy Bartlett, Mark and Rebecca Ferrell, and of course, John Young. It’s really rather simple - just go stand by them, don’t interrupt them, and fanboy out, and when you hear something like a lunch is about to happen, ask if you can come along. Sooner or later, the conversation will come around to “Who the heck are you?”

The second quality people notice about me is how open I am about my past. On December 11th of this year, I celebrated 17 years of victory over meth and drug addiction. Although my addictive behavior is mostly to blame, being a very successful nightclub, DJ didn’t help. At one point, I went from being this very unpopular dorky, D&D-playing geek to “The Man” seemingly overnight. And with that came access to all the drugs I ever wanted. By December 10th, 2003, I was homeless, jobless, carless, with no cash, and a family with which I had burned every bridge.

Why am I so open about this? Well, a couple of reasons. First, you never know who out there might be still in that very dark space, and frankly, I want – no, have a responsibility - to help by being a beacon of light to them. More DJs than you know have come to me after I have spoken at a conference, or written an article, and opened up to me about similar problems. Second, I also want people to know that there is no situation that you can not climb out of and regain some form of normality and success. It may take some time and hard work, but no one said owning a business would be easy. This message is even more important at this moment after a frankly cataclysmic 2020. I am starting to lose track of the number of DJs that won’t make it through this. This paper is another fatality from this, in one sort of way.

No gigs also means DJs aren’t buying gear, and companies can’t advertise until there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sharing my past so openly has also opened many doors for me, and when John heard my story, he had an idea. He asked me to speak at a conference he was putting on

in 2008, I believe. I was so ecstatic. One of the things I learned very well as a night club DJ was how to play games and interact. So instantly, I began running ideas through my head about what I would share about interaction. John calmly listened as I spitballed, and soon stopped me and said, “No, I want you to share about your past.” Sharing my past mano-a-mano was one thing, but this was in front of 150 to 200 of my peers. I agreed but was overwhelmed.

On the day of the conference, Bill Hermann was the Master of Ceremonies and asked how I was doing just before going on.

Clearly, I was uncomfortable. He turned to me and shared some of the greatest wisdom ever. He said, “Dean, see all those people out there? Not one of them is here to see you fail today.” I took a deep breath and headed onto the stage. Apparently, it went very well, because as you all know, Mike Walter does a seminar recap, and he mentioned how brave, open, and honest that speech was in his conference review article. This opened the door to the Mobile Beat Vegas show for me.

In 2009 John decided to expand the paper and bring on some new “Talent.” Somehow, I managed to get asked with almost no writing experience, horrible spelling, and even worse grammar. (Thank the Lord for my friend, Barb Allee, whose editing experience she shared with the Disc Jockey News for a short time, and without whom I might look like a complete idiot.) Then in August of that year, my first article appeared, Sophomore Slump Over the past 11 years, I believe I have written around 100 articles. I never had a set topic or direction, except for the year I did ten months on the Anatomy of Interaction.

Which I thought was great… but in hindsight, a bit wordy. Okay - my articles are always wordy; they say 700-800 words are typical for most good articles, mine almost always pushed 1200, and this is probably 2000. I also needed so much space to write this because I went back and read about five years’ worth of articles, which has turned out to be far too much to recap here.

My favorite article title was Burt Reynolds Mustache, which was about Talent vs.

Packages in pricing. My favorite thing to talk about was always interaction and selfworth. Also, I loved to recommend books to read, and here are the three I think every DJ should read once a year; “Mastery” by George Leonard. Want to be a master of your craft? Well, this book shows how you get the mindset to do that. The second one is simply the best interaction road map book ever written, “Top Performer” by Carr Hagerman Dean Carlson Continued On Page 9

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 4

Lessons To Remember In A Year To Forget!

By Alan Berg

Saying that 2020 is a year that most of us would like to forget is a statement of the obvious. It’s always easier to look at the negative that’s in front of us, but there have been some bright spots. I’ll agree that finding those bright spots is sometimes hard when the dark cloud looms large. There are always things to be grateful for, if you’ll focus your attention on them. I’m grateful to speak with my 90-year old Dad every morning.

Hearing his voice and knowing he’s safe and healthy is a good start to our day.

I wish you 1 problem Collectively we’ve lost too many friends and family, and others are still suffering the health effects, not to mention the financial impact. My good friend, Andy Ebon, who is battling Covid as we speak, once told me: “When you’re healthy you have 100 problems.

And when you’re not, you have 1!” I’m sorry that he’s living that axiom right now and hope he gets better, soon.

Back to my original reason for writing this article Even in a year with a dark shadow hanging over it, there are some lessons that we can carry forward with us to improve the future outlook. Things aren’t going back to the way they were. They never do. They just move forward to the next reality, and I know that many of you can’t wait for the next reality… because this one stinks!

Here are some business lessons learned: Selling doesn’t have to be faceto-face – I think this is one of the best

lessons from 2020. So many wedding and event pros were insistent upon getting your customers to meet with you in-person. While I’m sure your closing ratio had certainly been better when you can sit across the desk or table from a couple, those of you who’ve learned how to make the sale without doing that have an edge going forward. How much time have you saved by not meeting in person? How many remote/virtual meetings have you had where the customers weren’t in the same place? You can continue to do sales remotely, even after it’s safe to meet in-person. Maybe not every customer, but many more than you did before.

Conversion is the key – when the number of inquiries drops, conversion becomes that much more important.

Each lead has always been valuable.

When you’re swamped with leads, you focus more on the ones who respond than the ones that don’t. If you can fill your calendar that way, great! But when fewer leads are coming in, each of them is that much more important to convert.

A small increase in your conversion from lead to conversation means more opportunities for sales calls/Zooms/meetings.

Referrals and relationships can dry up – Many businesses relied on referrals from other wedding and event pros as well as the relationships with people at other companies. When businesses closed their doors, either temporarily or permanently, a lot of those referrals dried up. People do business with people, not companies, and some of those relationships are with people who were laid off or furloughed. When you’re not going to networking meetings (ILEA, NACE, WIPA, AfWPI, etc.), you’re not seeing your industry friends. When you’re not doing as many, or any weddings and events, you’re not seeing the industry contacts that you might otherwise run into. Out of sight often means out of mind. And when they’re not doing as many weddings and events, they don’t have as many customers to refer back to you.

Advertising is about access to an audience – The first of the 4 steps to getting more sales is getting someone’s attention (the others are getting an inquiry, having a conversation and making the sale). When referrals dry up, and wedding shows can’t happen, how do you

get the attention of potential clients? I’ve been saying for years that you never buy an ad you buy access to their audience.

Each media company has a unique audience. Even in the depths of the pandemic, there was still traffic to sites like The Knot, WeddingWire, Weddingsonline, Easy Weddings and Guides for Brides.

Was it down? Yes, of course. Did it go away? No.I’ve already written an article about why advertising and looking for opportunities are important during a crisis, click here if you want to read it. Being consistent with your advertising is critical to your long-term success.

Yes, even now with 2021 being pretty full for many of you, you need to keep investing in staying in front of the audience who will need you in 2022 and beyond. Don’t shut off the engines because you’re busy now. You want to stay busy.

And the more leads you get, the more pricing power you gain when supply and demand are in your favor.

Weddings will endure (with some scars and bruises) – We’ve always been told that weddings are recession-resistant, but we’ve never been through a recession like this. I’ve been in the industry over 25 years, and I’ve seen financial ups and downs, housing crises, soaring and crashing economies, and natural and other disasters. And yet, weddings chugged along. This is the first time we’ve been told that you can’t do your job, period.

We’ve been prepared for a lot, but not this..

The silver lining, of course, is that for many wedding businesses, most of the weddings have been postponed until later this year or next. Yes, it stinks that you had so many cancellations. And for the postponed ones you have to wait until next year to see that income. But, considering that so many other industries are forever losing income from this year, that they’ll never recoup, the long-term outlook for the wedding industry is better than many. (Yes, my glass is always half-full) Bigger isn’t always better – Many businesses that had been growing in the prior years have had to scale back. Some of you may be realizing that you don’t want to try to re-grow quite as large.

Bigger businesses can mean more sales, but often profits don’t grow as much.

Expenses for overhead, staff, insurance, Alan Berg Continued On Page 5

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 5

Alan Berg Continued From Page 4 marketing, etc., also grow as you do, and they can eat up much, or sometimes most of the additional net income. The key is to right-size your business. Don’t copy your competitors. Their needs, wants, costs and future are theirs, not yours.

Know what your competitors are doing and charging, but chart your own course.

I’ll bet that many of you will stay smaller than you were last year and be quite OK with that.

Here are some personal lessons learned: You need a rainy-day fund – Heck, you needed a monsoon-day fund this year. Many of us have been hearing, since we were kids, that you need to be saving for a rainy day, even when it’s sunny outside. Well, this year was the test, for sure. Those who had one probably would have preferred not to have to tap it, but it was good that it was there.

Those who didn’t, for whatever reason, now see the value in having one. If you have one, replenish it as you can. If you didn’t, start one as soon as you can. One relatively painless way I save is with the Acorns app, which rounds up everyday purchases to the next dollar. We paid off our son’s student loans and our cars this way – we had them save a fixed amount per day on top of the round-ups. (Click this link to find out more, and we each get $5 if you sign up)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

We can live with less – If this year has taught us anything, it’s the difference between what you want and what you need. Wow, has that become so much clearer. When your business and finances were humming along, I’m sure some ‘wants’ looked like ‘needs.’ We all ‘need’ our health, a roof over our heads, food on our table and to be surrounded by people who love and care about us.

Pretty much everything else is a want.

Well, maybe good Bourbon can stay on my ‘needs’ list!

We need our personal connections – There a lot of people in our industry who rarely went to the networking events, or conferences. There are others who attended almost every one. I’ll bet that both groups would love to be able to get together with your personal and/ or industry friends again, the way you used to. No masks. No social-distancing.

Just laughing, eating and drinking with friends. We all took for granted things like going to a bar or restaurant, or just having friends over. I hope that we’ve learned to appreciate those times, and when it becomes the next normal, we’ll continue to value and savor them. But please wait until it’s prudent to do so.

We all have a ‘Victim-card’, but we don’t need to show it – This is not a competition for who’s got it worse. Every one of us has a reason to feel like a

victim, whether it’s financial, health-related, family, or something else. I can’t think of anyone I know that hasn’t been affected in some way. However, there are those who continue to feel victimized (and remind us all about how they are the victim) and those who look for the silver linings and opportunities. I try to live by this: “It’s OK to acknowledge how people and things make you feel. It’s up to you how long you feel that way.” Learning to let it go, or at least to push it back in your consciousness and priorities is a choice.

By no means is this intended to be all of the lessons we’ve learned this year, but it’s a start. Make your own list of things you’ve learned that you’re going to carry forward. Make your own list of needs and wants. Acknowledge your victimcard and choose to stow it away. And I hope that we can get together some time next year at an in-person industry event, rekindling old friendships and making new ones. Stay safe, stay healthy, and have a very Happy New Year.

Alan Berg has been called “North America’s Leading Expert and Speaker on the Business of Weddings and Events”. Find out more about his speaking, website reviews, consulting, books, DVDs and audio presentations at http:// www.AlanBerg.com - email or call Alan, 732.422.6362

were required to have one (1) phone conversation with a client no later than Tuesday before the event. I was always amazed at the number of young, cocky, DJs that would never call, or call at the last possible minute. They would spend 10-15 minutes on the phone discussing the dance with the client, then, they were upset when things didn’t go smoothly and they didn’t get a tip. How many pieces of “flair” do you wear? Are you doing the bare minimum, and then letting your talent carry you through the event? What I am talking about is follow through!

It is truly amazing how many vendors simply do not follow through on the little details that seem so important to the bride and groom. You take the time to sit with your clients, talk with them about the image of their event. Coordinate with the caters, hall, photographer, ect… but if you don’t follow through with the details, it’s just time wasted.

Last month I mentioned that details are the little things that most peo-

It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye

By Ron Ruth

It’s hard to believe that this will be the last issue of Disc Jockey News. As I’m fairly sure it is with most of the staff writers, writing this month’s article is a bittersweet task. It’s been one heck of a journey.

I wrote my first article for Disc Jockey News 11 years ago this past October.

My friend, Dude Walker, who was also a DJN writer at the time, asked if I’d like to go to the 2009 Wedding MBA in Vegas. He added that John Young, the illustrious Disc Jockey News publisher, had received press passes to the event.

If I wanted to take advantage of complimentary admission, I’d have to return the favor by writing an article about my experience at the conference. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. It seemed like a fair and equitable trade, one conference for one article.

When I returned from the conference and sat down at my computer to fulfill my end of the bargain, I experienced an unwelcome epiphany. I didn’t know anything---nothing, nada, zilch---about writing a news article or any article for that matter. And, with the weight of that anxiety on my shoulders, I also realized that whatever I wrote was going to be distributed to a very large audience of my peers. I was overcome with feelings of intimidation and fear. A full day went by with me starring at a blank page, cursing under my breath at my friend Dude, and trying to figure out some other way I might be able to pay back John. At the time, I would have gladly made a deal with the devil to get out of writing. Never thinking that the task would be as difficult as it was, I had also procrastinated, and the due date was looming like a large sledgehammer over my head. (Much as it

building value or creating value. What makes those little, unseen details so valuable, is making sure the client knows you are doing them. Cover all the bases so the client knows you are going to take care of more than just the music, then DO IT. I like to joke with my DJ friends, that if the limo driver is late picking up the Bride and Groom at the church, the DJ catches hell all night. It’s because we are the last contact they have with a vendor. We also spend the most time with them that day, imagine how difficult it would be if they are mad at YOU, because YOU dropped the ball. It’s up to you to create the image of yourself, and the image your client want for their event. The average bride and groom spend almost a full year planning their wedding day… how much time do you spend to make it happen?

Jake Palmer can be reached at jakepalmer@discjockeynews.com.

with. That’s a stage and sound rig that grew from a 30-year relationship between Joe O’Herlihy and U2. That stage was a design concept, an idea, was thought up during the Joshua Tree tour. That album was released March 9, 1987. It took 22 years to see that monster spaceship take form. 26 years ago U2 made history playing in a freezing rain at Red Rocks.

O’Herlihy was there for that.

Any “big thing” started by being a little thing. Every big name started by being just a name. Sure, someone with limitless financial resources can throw countless dollars into marketing to become “seen.” But, that product being marketed is still nothing until it is felt.

How we interact with people is how we are felt. In just a couple interactions, the people you network with can get a feel for you, as well as you getting a feel for them. By keeping them in mind, you are keeping yourself in their minds. Help them to help you.

You have your company operating in your market. That’s all the bigger it really needs to be. But are you the biggest thing sought after? How “hot” are you?

Water isn’t hot until it has an outside energy introduced to it. Networking is the outside energy that can be applied to you. Adding one new person to your networking loop can make a huge difference in how you feel about your business overnight. Having one person say one thing new about you can revitalize you for months. But, you have to go out and get them.

In the last issue, I spoke of many of the opportunities that attending a bridal show/fair. The other event professionals at the bridal show are some of the basic folks you should be connected with.

company, a Facebook logo, and a copy of the “Become a Fan” button. I told the folks in their booths to look me up, become a fan, and label their pictures.

I didn’t go to market directly, I went to expand my circle of connections with everyone else’s circle of connections.

I’ve even offered my cargo trailer to a gal I met at the expo to help her move.

She chats to her customers and mentions me and the offer I extended her.

For some strange reason, networking is being touted as direct reciprocity – you do for me/ I do for you. That is sad that DJs see networking that shallowly when all you need to do is talk favorably about those people.

Remember, you are only as big as the people that know who you are and talk about you.

Ken Petersen can be reached at kenpetersen@discjockeynews.com.

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 6

has been every month since. Some things never change.)

The next morning, I decided that I had no other choice but to write. I gave it my best effort, and even though I knew that my best was less than sub-par, I for-

mendous respect and care. I believe his persuasiveness comes from the lessons he and Lori have learned from raising 15 children. I don’t know. Regardless, the man has the patience of a rock, and when he asks you to do something, it’s a Become virtually impossible to say “no.” fan of John has always encouraged me, the as Don’t Be Left Behind I’m sure he has every other writer here,

By Ron Ruth Jockey in write about things thatDisc I attended the Wedding MBA Confer- time when I heard Mark Ferrell speak to excite me and ence last month in Las Vegas along with Vegas a few years back about “Getting that I enjoy. He’s never stoppedNews me from a little over 1000 other wedding profes- What Your Worth,” I’ve rarely felt the sionals from across W the country. Now, same personal, immediate call to action sharing my love of Disney, customer overcome me since the Wedding I’ve been going to DJ industry edconferdmost-i thatMBAhasConference ended. ences for at least the last 15 years, experience, creativity, or complained ly National but I’ve also supported angNo. It has nothing to do with raising on 20There’s M Although, at the time I heard number of regional conferences, BAto make 0as9well.noR myMarkrates. when I get fired up about something and wanted that leap, I remember feeling somewhat overwhelmed doubt that e camany prompts me to write facebook an article that to I’ve always with the p steps I’d have to take that found in- accomplish that goal. In short, for me at far exceeds his word limit. I’ve come to spiration in least, the question was always, “Where day and in the future. But its not enough what I’ve do I begin?” know that hisheard maximum are visit: just to be seen and in cyberspace, word counts At the Wedding MBA Conference, learned from the various a great many of the presentations were you’ve got to know how to “dress the more of a guideline than a hard and fast discjockeynews.com speakers at devoted to the surge in on-line social part” and what to say that will make you out from all others. Having a web to standHe these func- networking and how important it is rule. also knows to disregard my first tions and any wedding related business to not only site is no longer enough if you want to for thethey fan compete effectively. And, assuming you I’ve often increase their on-line presence but to be two monthly submissions because come back active participants on the multitude of have a web site, how easily can it be opened and read on a cell phone? to Kansas sites from Facebook to Twitter to Linkewill I’malways be followed by at link!! least one no more technically savvy than I City with dIn to Blogger, Word Press, You Tube am a writer and I’veedits got to tellthat you, I’minclude any numan eager- and the list goes on and on. These are or two more ness to improve my talent, skill and just a few of the new ways my clients, overwhelmed by how much work I’ve business practices. But other than the your clients, will be finding all of us toRon Ruth continued on page 8the article better. ber of tweaks to make I believe it is because of John’s enwarded it to John. I probably included couragement and never-give-up attitude a self-deprecating note that said that it that I’ve been given opportunities to do wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he chose things I would have never been able to not to print it. Advertising revenue must do on my own, like speaking to DJs on a have been down that month because he national stage. I’m hard-pressed to come didn’t hesitate to include it in the Octo- up with just the right words to let John ber 2009 Disc Jockey News. Although I know how much I appreciate all that he’s wasn’t necessarily proud of my accom- done for me, the opportunities he’s givplishment, my debt had been paid. I was en me, and for the doors he has opened. I relieved to put the excruciating experi- doubt that I would have as many friends ence behind me. as I do without my monthly presence in As the November Disc Jockey News this publication. You, the reader, are also deadline approached, I was happy that my friends and I thank you for whatmy obligation was behind me. Even so, I ever time or consideration you give my was somehow (I still believe mistakenly) monthly musings. included in a reminder email John sent Thank you, John, for being a Hall of to all the staff writers. “I need all articles Fame leader of the DJ industry, for beby Tuesday,” John wrote. I immediately ing an unselfish visionary, and for your picked up the phone and called Dude and extraordinary, unwavering commitment vigorously protested. “Another article? to promote education as the greatest Are you kidding me? I’ve paid my debt!” resource for success in any field. Your If I recall correctly, he laughed and said, voice and influence has filled a void that “You’re one of us, now!” How was that was much needed when you first began possible? I’d proven I wasn’t a writer. to speak out and will be sorely missed in My only remaining option was to call the future.

John and plead for an out.

Writing for me, is still a struggle. But John listened to me rant and to my I’ve finally forgiven Dude. I’d like to dismay at being asked to write another think, though, that I’ve gotten at least a article. In a quiet, calm, friendly, and little better over time. I’m thankful for persuasive tone, he told me to write the home I had on page six, and for the about something I know, something that countless support I received from so would make me happy. What you as a many individuals in our industry over reader don’t know about John is that he the years, not just as a writer but as an doesn’t give up on his writing staff. He’s entertainer and businessman. I’m also always positive and treats us all with treRon Ruth Continued On Page 7

Ron Ruth Continued From Page 6 extremely gratified to have been included in the Disc Jockey News journey and to have been associated with such an incredibly talented and dedicated writing staff. These professionals have generously given of their knowledge to help others grow their business. They are due a tremendous amount of gratitude. If it were possible, I submit that they are worthy of a standing ovation.

After you’ve finished reading the articles in this edition of Disc Jockey News, I invite you to remember that nothing lasts forever. Don’t wait until the last minute to acknowledge those who have helped you succeed or have contributed an idea that has made you a better performer or businessperson. Let them know how much you respect them as a trusted advi-

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 7 sor and friend before you find yourself forced to move on.

To everyone who has hung with me and this publication as a reader over the past decade, thank you again. In the words of Boyz II Men, “It’s so hard to say goodbye:” How do I say goodbye to what we had?

The good times that made us laugh Outweigh the bad I thought we’d get to see forever But forever’s gone away It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday I don’t know where this road Is going to lead All I know is where we’ve been And what we’ve been through

And if we get to see tomorrow I hope it’s worth all the wait It’s hard to say goodbye to yesterday And I’ll take with me the memories To be my sunshine after the rain It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday And I’ll take with me the memories To be my sunshine after the rain It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday To learn more about “How To Speak Fluent ‘WOW!:’ The Language Of High-Spending, Loyal Raving Customers.”---the customers you want to attract most to your business, please visit my website at http://RonRuth.com or email me at RonRuth@DiscJockeyNews.com

Connectors Keep It Simple

By John C. Maxwell

William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural address of any U.S. President, taking two hours to plod through a whopping 8,445-word speech. Even though the speech was delivered outdoors on a frigid and rainy day, the President stubbornly refused to wear an overcoat or hat. As a result, he caught a cold that developed into pneumonia, and he died a month later. The leadership lesson: it pays to simplify.

Two Myths about Simplicity Myth #1 Simplicity Lacks Depth A few years ago, I was being interviewed on a television talk show. “John,” the host said, “I’ve read several of your books, and they are all so simple.” His mocking tone made it clear to the audience and to me that the comment was not intended as a compli-

ment.

My response was direct: “That’s true.

The principles in my books are simple to understand, but they are not always simple to apply.” The audience applauded, and the talk show host conceded that what I said was true.

We often associate simplicity with a lack of depth or shortage of intelligence. Conversely, we ascribe intelligence to people who communicate using big words or hardto-grasp concepts. Somehow, we assume that anyone speaking in a dense, academic style must be smart.

The issues we face in life can be complex, with all sorts of intricacies. However, as leaders and communicators, our job is to bring clarity to a subject, reducing rather than adding to its complexity. The measure of a great teacher isn’t what he knows; it’s what his students know. Simplicity is a skill, and it’s a necessary one if you want to connect with people when you communicate.

Myth #2 Simplicity Is Easy When we encounter something simple, we assume it has been hastily thrown together or not fully thought out. To us, simplicity means taking shortcuts and denying the complex reality of life. However, in a society flooded with information, simplicity has never been more difficult to achieve.

Nor has it ever been as important.

Perhaps nobody understands simplicity better than Apple, Inc. The company put its computers back on the map by touting their user-friendly interfaces. Then, Apple leapfrogged the competition by pioneering devices that simplified the way we access, store, and share information.

Despite his success in bringing about simplicity, Apple CEO Steve Jobs attests to

the difficulty of doing so.

If you read the Apple’s first brochure, the headline was “Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication.” What we meant by that was that when you first attack a problem it seems really simple because you don’t understand it. Then when you start to really understand it, you come up with these very complicated solutions because it’s really hairy. Most people stop there. But a few people keep burning the midnight oil and finally understand the underlying principles of the problem and come up with an elegantly simple solution for it. But very few people go the distance to get there.

A leader’s initial attempts to resolve a problem raise a host of questions that make the problem appear bigger than it did at first.

However, as leaders persevere through the haze of complexity and wade through the maze of possible remedies, they often arrive at a simple solution. Once they have the solution, and can state it plainly, leaders are in position to connect with their customers.

Summary It may seem counterintuitive, but if you want to take your communication to the next level, don’t try to dazzle people with your intellect or overpower them with information. Give them clarity and simplicity.

People will relate to you, and they’ll want to invite you back to communicate with them again.

Also, don’t expect simplicity to come easily. At first, your attempts to find clarity may seem to backfire. Nevertheless, press on and maintain focus. Eventually, you’ll reduce your problems to a manageable size, and you’ll uncover simple principles that will aid your ability to connect with those you serve.

The Way I See It: The Finale

By Michael J. Lenstra

“To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season.” The Byrds once famously sang this line—and now, autumn has come for the Disc Jockey News. This will be the last issue of our publication.

Another casualty of 2020?

Another sign of the times?

Maybe a combination of both. This past year’s challenges have caused many in our industry to move on, pivot (a word that has become quite popular recently), or just go into survival mode. And when you’re in survival mode you tend to focus on other things, such as keeping the lights on and paying your rent, rather than reading a digital newspaper on what may make you better in your business and craft.

Even without the pandemic, though, the tide was shifting to a generation that consumes their information through other means, such as social media groups, podcasts, or video channels. Flipping through a newspaper or magazine—even in a digital format—has gotten as out-of-date as using a phone book. Of course, then, without readers there are no sponsors/ advertisers. You can pretty well draw the conclusion from there.

The Disc Jockey News was started in 2004 by our publisher, John Young, making 2021 the 18th year that there has been an issue. I’m in my 10th year as a staff writer, which makes my time with the publication just over half of its existence. It’s been a great ride. In these

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 8

nine-plus years, I’ve gotten to share my views on such things as why social media creeping is good for business, why I’m against taking requests via texts, and who I believe is your biggest competitor (I’ll give you a hint. You see her/him in the mirror).

I’ve talked about the importance of a follow-up program and back-up plans.

I’ve related to you some of the business principles I learned from reading about “the oldest profession” and oth-

ers I picked up from watching the reality TV series “Celebrity Apprentice.” Who knew its host would go on to be elected president? And on another political note, I even mused in one column on why I thought Bernie Sanders would make a great mobile DJ. He certainly was a hit with the younger generation. But then I guess most anyone who was telling our youth they should never have to pay for college or medical care would have been a big hit.

As a staff writer for the Disc Jockey News, I’ve been able to pick up the phone and have conversations with some of our community’s biggest icons, such as Mobile Beat Show founder Michael Buonaccorso, The Game Master Scott Faver, The Perfect Host Jim Cerone, and Entertainment Experience creator Bill Hermann. I’ve gotten to know some of them on a more personal level, such as Ron Ruth, Peter Merry, and John Young himself. And it’s been an honor to share these pages with other industry stalwarts such as Michael Walter, Mitch Taylor, Dean Carlson, and several others along the way.

My biggest regret is that I never got to meet Mark Johnson. You see, Mark was

a columnist for Mobile Beat Magazine several years ago. His column was titled “Reality Check.” It was always the first thing I would read when my latest issue would arrive via snail mail. He, without a doubt, has been the biggest influence on me as a writer. When conferences became a thing in our profession I would constantly survey the speaker line-up in hopes that his name would pop up. It never did. When social media exploded ten years ago I began to search feverishly there for a Mark Johnson that would fit the profile. Still nothing. I finally came to the conclusion that ‘Mark Johnson’ was a pseudonym and, though I suspect I know who the real writer was, I’ll never know for sure.

Before I hit Save and Close and file this into the DJNews folder one final time, it would not be fair if I did not say thank you to John for all the opportunities he has bestowed upon me: to write for this awesome publication, to gather some of those articles and publish a book, and to make my first ever (and only?) presentation at the 2020 Photo Booth Expo. I’ll always be grateful. Finally, a huge thank you to you, the Disc Jockey News readers, for being part of the journey.

The way I see it, as a wedding DJ I’ve been blessed to have a job that I love that also allows me to make a living. I’ve also been truly fortunate to be able to fulfill my passion for writing as a staff writer for this periodical. However, everything comes to an end, unfortunately not in as grand of a fashion as we most often envision. But with each ending, there is a new beginning. John has invited me to step in and host some of our events in our most current educational platform: DJNTV. Who will I get to see there?

Until we meet again, Michael Michael J. Lenstra is a self-described Wedding DJ and is celebrating over 25 years in the Mobile DJ industry. He is a full-time DJ/Entertainer, and is owner of Alexxus Entertainment in Dubuque, Iowa.He can be reached at mikelenstra@discjockeynews.com

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 9

Look In The Mirror And Confront Yourself

By Brian Kelm

Nothing happens unless you make it happen. Our entire industry and environment exists by our performance in making things happen. This is ONLY due through our actions.

Serious Question: Are you willing to do what it takes in 2021 to be unstoppable in your thoughts and actions? The choice will always be yours. Be the small percentage who will go all-in on themselves and what they can do to transform their lives & businesses.

Are you willing to take a deep look inside about where you’ve been letting yourself off the hook? Where can you self-educate? How bad do you want to be at the top of your talent/skillsets? Remember, nothing happens until you do the work. Being fully transparent and vulnerable with yourself is what it takes.

What can you learn? Answer: EVERYTHING. There is no excuse for not honing your skills and taking ownership anywhere you’ve wanted to improve.

Only you can disrupt your self-limiting beliefs and do the work necessary on a daily basis. There has never been an opportunity more abundant to take a virtual class, subscribe to a learning platform, and do it all for free or a nominal fee. All without any travel or plane tickets needed. This is the future and our opportunity is present if we choose it.

Be selfish in a good way and do this for yourself. Get clarity and set yourself up for the next decade. If you are serious,

this is something you do for yourself and not for others. It’s a discipline and commitment you make to yourself, your performance, and what you are capable of delivery to your customers. Set aside conformity, groupthink, and what others are doing because they are not you and vice versa.

So… Are you willing to do what it Dean Carlson Continued From Page 3 and Stephen Lundin. If you can learn how to ‘Juice the Jam,’ you will elevate your performance over anyone else you know. And finally, a book my Canadian friend, Dave Ternier, turned me onto a few years ago; “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John Mann. They teach just how a tiny shift in where you are coming from can change what you get back in return.

I want to end with how I started in Sophomore Slump and recapping the 3 points I made there. It is fun to see how relevant they are after 11 years, although I will reverse their order. Number one; Make It Feel Like Family. Back then, I said the best reviews I ever received were the ones that said I felt like part of their family. This concept is simple. Stop being something – or someone - on stage that you are not naturally. People can smell fake a mile away. In 2020 I had to literally be family due to a desperate bride whose venue shut down because of Covid… on Tuesday, the week of her wedding! I listened, calmed her down, and did everything in my power to help. In the end, we pulled it off, and her wedding went on, although 200 miles away from the original location.

This brings me to number two; The Show Must Go On. Originally, I wrote about the Broadway show Cats and how it had done 6138 consecutive shows, proving that even if we think it’s the same show every weekend, the one thing that changes and makes it all new again is the audience. This changed me. In 2013 my mother passed away at 3 am on a Saturday morning. Later that same day, I had to DJ a wedding, and it was the first time I was ever to officiate a wedding.

One couple at the wedding knew me, and word had finally spread to them at 11 pm, at which point they told the Bride and Groom about my mom. They were shocked I was there, and even more so that I had given them no clue about what was going on with me. But this day was about them and had I brought that information out earlier, it would have lessened their day. (This doesn’t mean going without support, however - Barb Allee rode along with me that day and was a rock when I needed it.)

Finally, my first point ever was, This Is It.

takes in 2021? The answer is Yes or No. What do you choose?

Brian Kelm, CWEP, CGWP, WED Guild is a 25+ year wedding entertainment and planning professional that has been all over the United States. Based in Wisconsin. Serving Anywhere. He can be reached at briankelm@discjockeynews. com I rarely repeated ideas when writing for this publication. It’s one of the reasons my writing has tapered off over the last couple of years. I didn’t want to just rehash stuff I had already said. But this thought did earn a second article in February 2018, and going into 2021; I think it might be the most relevant thing I can leave you with. There are distractions all around us. A 30-minute TV show might actually be just 20 minutes of content while the rest is trying to pull us away. Not to get too political, but in this past year, that seems to be the norm. Look at apps like Tik Tok, to which people can unwittingly give away enormous amounts of time.

I wrote in 2009 that a friend had noticed this about me, that I was always distracted.

Thinking about the future or past. He said, “Dean, you are missing it.” “It” being the right now. Time is the most precious thing we have - we can never get back yesterday.

Look around at any concert and see how many people are trying to “save” the memory of being at the show in pictures or video, while not being really ‘at the show’ in the moment—what a waste. Living in the now can be amazing, even in a Covid-lock-down world. Live WITH your family. Live WITH the world around you. You would be amazed at the things you can do if you just stop fixating on the things others are telling you can’t do. Take back the now and start living, not whining about what can’t be. Become a part of your own solutions and stop fixating on the negative narrative others want to distract you with, and almost instantly, you can live in a happier place.

Although this is goodbye for Disc Jockey News, it is an opportunity for something greater to begin afresh. My question to you is, are you going to be part of it? Will you be the one to create it? There are 16 years of great articles to look back upon, but the future looks bright. Good Luck and Great Shows.

Good Luck and Great Shows.

Dean Carlson can be reached at deancarlson@discjockeynews.com.

Getting a Job is a Job

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 10

By Harvey Mackay

A recruiter asked a job candidate, “Why did you leave your last job?”

The job applicant replied, “It was something my boss said.”

“What did he say?”

“You’re fired.”

This person definitely needs a copy of my new book – “Getting a Job is a Job” – which comes out Jan. 5. In it, I focus on bouncing back after being fired, dealing with rejection and the emotions people feel. And I explain why you can’t take it personally.

The book is chockful of helpful hints on not only getting a job but landing the job you want. Job hunting is a contact sport. You might have to work eight days a week. Networking is so important, and it’s even harder during a pandemic. But there are still effective ways to get out there.

Be visible. Keeping a low profile is for people ducking bullets. With LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media platforms, networking has never been easier.

The key is to use them properly.

For example, you will get great insights from one of the smartest guys I know when it comes to finding information on the Internet’s “Invisible Web.” I would highly recommend you check out Sam Richter, president of SBR Worldwide, at samrichter.com. He has taught me how to take the cold out of cold calling by finding important information on the people you might be interviewing with or the decision-makers at compa-

nies.

The Mackay 66 Customer Profile, which I wrote about in my first book, “Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” has never been more important. You need to learn about interests of people and what turns them on. If you can do this well, your odds of landing a job will go up dramatically. The Mackay 66 is available free on my website, www.

harveymackay.com.

And don’t overlook the importance of gatekeepers, the assistants who control access to the people you need to connect with. They are invaluable. Getting through the fence to the top dog is easy if you know the gatekeeper.

I share helpful information on résumés that help you resume employment, such as what terminology to use to describe your experiences that make sense to both software and human readers.

Because many people have a section in their résumé that is constantly questioned, there’s also a chapter on addressing chinks in your armor because flaws scar you worst when you can’t or won’t explain them.

Do you have an elevator pitch? If not, you need to develop one that sizzles, is dead accurate and is crystal clear. Think of it as 30 seconds that will inform and influence.

I also devote a lot of space to prepping for job interviews, what questions to ask and what to listen for. Be perceptive, not contentious. Read the walls and desks.

Even though you are not interviewing for a sales job, you are always selling yourself.

Second interviews are even more im-

portant. You should prepare rigorously.

Recall topic threads from your earlier conversation to identify themes you can build on. Remember, the closer you get, the harder they’ll look.

If you get a job offer, know what you can and cannot negotiate. Do your homework to get superior information.

Stay calm. Anticipate questions. Learn to be a spin doctor and finesse questions.

The smartest thing you often can do in any negotiation is to keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears wide open.

I conclude the book with a toolkit that includes the Mackay Sweet 16 for acing first impressions, the Mackay 44 Interview Checklist and the Mackay 22 PostInterview Wrap Up. Done right, getting that next job is hard work.

Many people have lost their jobs due to the current pandemic but this situation may present new opportunities. The famous British author Somerset Maugham told this story about the janitor at St. Peter’s Church in London who was fired when it was discovered he was illiterate.

Jobless, the man invested his meager savings in a tiny tobacco shop where he immediately prospered. He then opened another shop and another and soon owned a large chain of tobacco stores all over Britain.

One day he was dining in a fancy club with his banker who observed, “You’ve done quite well for an illiterate man. I wonder where you would be today if you could read and write.”

“That’s easy,” replied the man, “I’d still be the janitor in St. Peter’s Church.”

Mackay’s Moral: It bears repeating, Getting a Job is a Job. Reprinted with permission from nationally syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive,” “We Got Fired!...And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us,” and “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World.

A Legacy Evolves

By Kristin Wilson

We’ve all said 2020 was going to be “the year,” the most successful yet, the one where we finally hit our business goals. But as I speak to so many of you and even look within myself, even with the insanity that was COVID-19 and a global shutdown that many of us are still struggling through, we’ve had so much more time to do the things we’ve always wanted to do.

When I first started my company almost ten years ago, I remember seeing the Disc Jockey News newspaper being passed out at conventions. After reading it and following along for years, it was one of the things that helped me fall in love with our industry. I thought to myself, “I hope I can become a valuable asset to the DJ community so that I can contribute one day.”

John has truly been an inspiration to our community, and it’s an honor to watch this legacy evolve.

While I sit here reflecting on all the changes this year has brought, I want to encourage you to evolve. And as we wrap up this season, I’d like to share a few lessons that I will carry with me.

Recognize Your Assets and Allies: I thought that my team and industry couldn’t be any more close-knit, but I was wrong - 2020 reminded me that teams can feel like family, and those industry partners can be your biggest asset

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 11

and allies in the storm. You definitely don’t have to do it alone. As Jamie Bodie said, “we are all in the same storm, just different boats.”

Remember Your WHY: No matter what you build and how big it gets, it could all be wiped off the calendar in a matter of weeks, so stay focused on your WHY. Find Your Voice and Use It: I’ve learned that we are all in this together, but some of us have a voice of influence bigger than others, so choose and use it wisely. I recognize now that I, too, have a voice to help, but sometimes I’m not sure what to say or where my piece fits in this puzzle, so I’m listening, learning, read-

I’ve enjoyed getting lost in the music and remembering why I started all this in the first place.

We Are All a Work In Progress: At the end of the day, I’m human and only one person. There’s no doubt this year has challenged us all, but it’s okay to be human. It’s okay to make mistakes, so long as you learn from them and grow.

Remember that the end of one thing leads to the beginning of another. Spring comes at the end of Winter. Harvests come from the ended growth of plants.

The Disc Jockey News newspaper’s end brings more opportunities to start a new season of inspiration and education.

It’s not goodbye forever. It’s farewell until I see you on the next platform my friends.

We may not see each other in writing, but through the evolution of innovation to come. Continue to push forward and not rest on your laurels. And may you continue to do all those things you’ve always wanted to do.

Kristin Wilson is the CEO for Our DJ Rocks, an all-female DJ company that she started 10 years ago. She now has 10 DJs on her roster, a team of over 35 employees, and two companies. Kristin is a Wedding Pro Educator and serves on the Deans Advisory Board for the Rosen School of Hospitality at the University of Central Florida. She is well-known in the event industry as someone you ‘have to know’ and continues to expand both businesses through constant recruiting and training, seamless operations, a laser focused sales management and leadership. You can reach Kristin at kristinwilson@discjockeynews.com

It’s Not Goodbye...

It’s See You Later!! ing, and figuring it out. And I’m relying on those that I trust the most to guide me.

Focus On What Matters Most: I have learned that some of the things that used to matter so much, don’t really make a difference in the big picture after all. If you remember the why, you’ll always be able to refocus back on what truly does matter.

Words are Power: When asked, “how are you doing?” my answer can be very complex. I don’t want to offend anyone, so I simply reply, “surviving, yet thriving.” And each time I say it, I actually believe it a little bit more.

Get Lost in the Things You Enjoy: Have you ever heard the phrase, “work hard, play harder?” If you’ve ever met me, you probably know I am a workaholic. I absolutely love working on my business, the systems, and the people in it.

I’ve spent late nights and early mornings and weekends (sorry if I’ve texted you at 2 am!) building. But what I stopped focusing on for a long time was the core of what I do: DJing. With the gift of time that COVID has given me, I am working on my talent and craft, and never thought I could do the things I’ve done this year.

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 12

Year End Charts for 2020

The Weekly Printable Charts are available at http://www.DJNTV.com/charts Sponsored by iDJPool.com 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Pop Recurrents

THE WEEKND Blinding Lights HARRY STYLES Adore You DUA LIPA Don’t Start Now POST MALONE Circles DOJA CAT Say So LEWIS CAPALDI Before You Go DUA LIPA Break My Heart BLACKBEAR Hot Girl Bummer HARRY STYLES Watermelon Sugar JUSTIN BIEBER Intentions f/Quavo CAMILA CABELLO My Oh My f/DaBaby TREVOR DANIEL Falling BILLIE EILISH everything i wanted SAINT JHN Roses THE WEEKND Heartless JAWSH 685 X JASON DERULO X BTS Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat) MAROON 5 Memories GABBY BARRETT I Hope f/Charlie Puth 24KGOLDN Mood f/Iann Dior DABABY Rockstar f/Roddy Ricch ARIZONA ZERVAS Roxanne LEWIS CAPALDI Someone You Loved SURF MESA ily (i love you baby) f/Emilee LIZZO Good As Hell SELENA GOMEZ Lose You To Love Me BLACK EYED PEAS X J BALVIN RITMO (Bad Boys For Life) AVA MAX Kings & Queens JONAS BROTHERS Only Human TONES AND I Dance Monkey BENEE Supalonely f/Gus Dapperton POWFU Coffee For Your Head JP SAXE F/JULIA MICHAELS If The World Was Ending SAM SMITH & NORMANI Dancing With A Stranger KANE BROWN Be Like That f/Khalid,Swae Lee BILLIE EILISH bad guy BTS Dynamite JUSTIN BIEBER Holy f/Chance The Rapper MEGAN THEE STALLION Savage f/Beyonce JONAS BROTHERS Sucker AJR Bang!

SURFACES Sunday Best LIZZO Truth Hurts MAREN MORRIS The Bones ED SHEERAN Beautiful People f/Khalid KHALID Talk ED SHEERAN & JUSTIN BIEBER I Don’t Care JUICE WRLD Come And Go f/Marshmello SHAED Trampoline SHAWN MENDES & CAMILA CABELLO Senorita RODDY RICCH The Box

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Urban Recurrents

RODDY RICCH The Box RODDY RICCH High Fashion f/Mustard CHRIS BROWN X YOUNG THUG Go Crazy FUTURE & DRAKE Life Is Good MUSTARD Ballin’ f/Roddy Ricch ROD WAVE Heart On Ice f/Lil Durk JACK HARLOW What’s Poppin DABABY Bop DABABY Rockstar f/Roddy Ricch DRAKE Laugh Now Cry Later f/Lil Durk POP SMOKE Dior MEGAN THEE STALLION Savage f/Beyonce RUSS & BIA Best On Earth POP SMOKE The Woo f/50 Cent/Roddy Ricch CHRIS BROWN Heat f/Gunna JHENE AIKO P***y Fairy (OTW) SUMMER WALKER Playing Games LIL BABY The Bigger Picture DRAKE Toosie Slide WALE On Chill f/Jeremih SUMMER WALKER Come Thru f/Usher LIL BABY Emotionally Scarred MONEYBAGG YO 123 f/Blac Youngsta H.E.R. Slide f/YG CHRIS BROWN No Guidance f/Drake CHLOE X HALLE Do It LIL BABY Sum 2 Prove LIL BABY Woah DABABY Vibez LIL MOSEY Blueberry Faygo CARDI B WAP f/Megan Thee Stallion YOUNG THUG Hot f/Gunna MONEYBAGG YO Said Sum LIL BABY We Paid f/42 Dugg NE-YO & JEREMIH U 2 Luv SAWEETIE Tap In YOUNG DOLPH RNB f/Megan Thee Stallion JHENE AIKO B.S. f/H.E.R. YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN Make No Sense DJ KHALED Popstar f/Drake DOJA CAT Juicy K CAMP What’s On Your Mind f/Jacquees JACKBOYS Out West f/Young Thug MULATTO B***h From Da Souf YOUNG T & BUGSEY Don’t Rush f/Headie One MEGAN THEE STALLION Girls In The Hood DABABY Suge DABABY Baby Sitter f/Offset ROD WAVE Rags2Riches f/ATR Son Son FLIPP DINERO How I Move f/Lil Baby

Disc Jockey News • January 2021 • Page 13

Year End Charts for 2020

The Weekly Printable Charts are available at http://www.DJNTV.com/charts Sponsored by iDJPool.com 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Hot Adult Contempory Recurrents POST MALONE Circles THE WEEKND Blinding Lights DUA LIPA Don’t Start Now HARRY STYLES Adore You MAROON 5 Memories LEWIS CAPALDI Before You Go MAREN MORRIS The Bones LEWIS CAPALDI Someone You Loved JUSTIN BIEBER Intentions f/Quavo JONAS BROTHERS Only Human GABBY BARRETT I Hope f/Charlie Puth DUA LIPA Break My Heart HARRY STYLES Watermelon Sugar LIZZO Good As Hell JONAS BROTHERS Sucker SHAED Trampoline ED SHEERAN & JUSTIN BIEBER I Don’t Care LADY GAGA & ARIANA GRANDE Rain On Me JP SAXE F/JULIA MICHAELS If The World Was Ending PANIC! AT THE DISCO High Hopes SELENA GOMEZ Lose You To Love Me BILLIE EILISH everything i wanted SHAWN MENDES & CAMILA CABELLO Senorita AJR Bang!

DAN + SHAY & JUSTIN BIEBER 10,000 Hours JAWSH 685 X JASON DERULO X BTS Savage Love (Laxed-Siren Beat) SAM SMITH & NORMANI Dancing With A Stranger DOJA CAT Say So CAMILA CABELLO My Oh My f/DaBaby SHAWN MENDES If I Can’t Have You BENNY BLANCO, HALSEY & KHALID Eastside AVA MAX Sweet But Psycho P!NK Walk Me Home MAROON 5 Girls Like You f/Cardi B AVA MAX Kings & Queens HALSEY Without Me 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER Youngblood MARSHMELLO Happier f/Bastille TAYLOR SWIFT You Need To Calm Down TAYLOR SWIFT cardigan FITZ & THE TANTRUMS I Just Wanna Shine PANIC! AT THE DISCO Hey Look Ma, I Made It KYGO Lose Somebody f/OneRepublic LAUV I Like Me Better BILLIE EILISH bad guy MAROON 5 Nobody’s Love SAM FISCHER This City LOVELYTHEBAND Broken TAYLOR SWIFT Lover KANE BROWN Be Like That f/Khalid,Swae Lee

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Country MORGAN WALLEN Chasin’ You GABBY BARRETT I Hope f/Charlie Puth BLAKE SHELTON Nobody But You w/Gwen Stefani MAREN MORRIS The Bones TRAVIS DENNING After A Few MADDIE & TAE Die From A Broken Heart LUKE COMBS Does To Me f/Eric Church SAM HUNT Kinfolks LEE BRICE One Of Them Girls SAM HUNT Hard To Forget JAKE OWEN Homemade THOMAS RHETT Beer Can’t Fix f/Jon Pardi LUKE BRYAN One Margarita CHRIS JANSON Done CARLY PEARCE & LEE BRICE I Hope You’re Happy Now JAMESON RODGERS Some Girls JUSTIN MOORE Why We Drink JASON ALDEAN Got What I Got LUKE COMBS Even Though I’m Leaving MIRANDA LAMBERT Bluebird LUKE COMBS Lovin’ On You OLD DOMINION One Man Band MATT STELL Everywhere But On BRETT YOUNG Catch HARDY One Beer f/L. Alaina/D. Dawson LOCASH One Big Country Song DUSTIN LYNCH Ridin’ Roads SCOTTY MCCREERY In Between RUSSELL DICKERSON Love You Like I Used To PARKER MCCOLLUM Pretty Heart KANE BROWN Homesick INGRID ANDRESS More Hearts Than Mine KEITH URBAN God Whispered Your Name CHRIS LANE Big, Big Plans KANE BROWN Cool Again JORDAN DAVIS Slow Dance In A Parking Lot FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE I Love My Country BLAKE SHELTON Happy Anywhere f/Gwen Stefani KENNY CHESNEY Here And Now JON PARDI Ain’t Always The Cowboy DAN + SHAY & JUSTIN BIEBER 10,000 Hours THOMAS RHETT Be A Light f/McEntire, Scott..

MORGAN WALLEN Whiskey Glasses MORGAN WALLEN More Than My Hometown JON PARDI Heartache Medication LUKE BRYAN What She Wants Tonight CHASE RICE Lonely If You Are JIMMIE ALLEN Make Me Want To TIM MCGRAW I Called Mama ASHLEY MCBRYDE One Night Standards