Often you will run into a DJ that wants to tell you how great they are and how bad you are. These "pests" can usually be handled with ease. Unless they are actually disturbing your performance or hindering you, simply let them talk. Don't turn it into a DJ problem by getting into a spitting contest with them.
If you let them tell you what they know, it accomplishes 2 things:
1). It disarms them; they are less likely to be on the attack.
2). It may be hard to accept, but you may actually learn something.
I ran into a guy like that who told me what he charges, when and how much he charges for "extras," how much he charges for travel, how he handles certain crowd activities, how he sets up his lights, and he gave me some tips on hiding my power cords on my lights. I learned a lot. He wasn't interested in anything I was doing, except to tell me what I was doing wrong. But, by letting him talk, I disarmed him, and I picked up a few things. That's turning a "DJ problem" into a "DJ solution."
The worst DJ you can run into however is the guy who wants to take over the show; your show. There are few things more annoying. It happened to me this past week. Everything was set up. I was playing dinner music when a guy who looked like he was part of the wedding party asked me for a mic so he could make an announcement. Without thinking, I handed him the mic. The announcement was something along the lines of: "Ron and Eddy, please check in with the bridal party, we're getting ready to do the Grand Entrance." I got the mic back and never gave it up again. Not really a DJ problem... yet.
During the evening he continued to make requests. Often returning to ask when they would be played. At one point he began to tell me about his "DJ business,"...how he's got a bunch of Sub-woofers and stuff like that. Here comes the DJ problem: he asked for a wireless mic so he could "do a little show" for the crowd to "Grease Megamix." I didn't give him the mic, he got mad and called me a few names, then left. He didn't bother me again.
The key is, never give up the mic. If the pestering continues, let him know he's bothering you. Tell him you are working and you need to concentrate. Hopefully that will work. If it doesn't, you may have to have a bartender or someone from security talk to him. (That's if the venue you are at actually has security!) If you give someone you don't know your microphone, you then have a DJ problem.
One thing to remember: a lot of the people that come up and tell you they are a DJ are probably not DJs; at least not in the sense that they are working and making money. They are probably someone who hangs around a DJ business "helping." First of all, why aren't they working? After all, they aren't booked! Second, why didn't the bride hire this guy to do the wedding? He certainly has an "in!"
If you think it through in advance, it's usually easy to deal with someone like this and not lose your cool.
In fact, anticipating problems and coming up with solutions BEFORE they happen is one of the best things you can do to insure a smooth evening. Just remember: always be calm and cool!
About this Author
Jack Hicks has been a DJ for over 30 years, working at some of America's largest radio stations, including KQRS, KSTP and KDWB. He's also a serious mobile DJ and operates http://www.djgradschool.com a website dedicated to providing free DJ tips and DJ equipment reviews for professional mobile DJs.
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