From The DJ's Table

Almost everyone has been to some sort of themed event in their life. Whether it was the company holiday party, or just your best friends annual Halloween bash. Regardless of what type you’ve been to, what is the one thing that “sticks” in your head? That’s right, the theme! Planning an event with a theme is a sure way to keep people talking about it for years to come. And, themes are not just for the holidays either. Virtually any type of event can benefit from using a theme. But, don’t just draw one out of a hat and run with it. Try to come up with a theme that can really peak the interest of majority of your guests. Now, I say majority because we all know that you can’t please everyone. Just be supportive of those who don’t necessarily want to participate and continue to encourage them to come to the event anyway. With that said, here are a few ideas that I hope get your brain juices flowing…

• A Current  Event – It’s an Olympic year…How about an Olympic Theme?
• A Popular Movie – I know someone who had a Star Wars Themed wedding! (* A note about themed weddings below)
• A Popular Destination – Who wouldn’t love a taste of Hawaii in the winter time?
• A Popular Decade – How about an “I Love the 80’s” flashback theme?
• A Red Carpet Gala – Great theme for any type of awards banquet.

This is just a few ideas to get you thinking about themed events and how they can work for you. They are fun, and usually easy to plan. If you have any comments or questions, please post them in the comment section. Thanks and enjoy!

A Quick Note About Themed Weddings - Themed weddings and/or receptions are a lot of fun, just be sure that you both are in agreement on the importance of the theme. If it is something that you both enjoy and are passionate about, then it becomes something special to share. I did a wedding  in the past that was just themed for show, and it really distracted guest from the bride and groom who weren’t really into it. Needless to say, they regretted having a theme. Oh, and the couple who had the Star Wars themed wedding were fanatics! They loved every minute of their special day, as did their friends and family…

Well, tax season is upon us again, and I thought this would be good subject to cover for all of my working DJ brothers and sisters out there. I would like to talk a little bit about Write Offs. These can help you lower your taxable income so that you can save some of that hard earned cash come tax time. This is also one of the biggest reasons I suggest working with a tax professional when preparing your paperwork. They can really help you find things that maybe you didn’t even know you could write off. Things like…

• Mileage (to and from each gig)
• Some vehicle repairs (only for the vehicle you use to transport to and from each gig)
• Meals while working (including to and from each gig)
• Music (if purchased for business use – this includes music subscription services like Promo Only)
• New DJ Equipment
• DJ Equipment Repairs
• Dry Cleaning (for clothing you wear while working a gig)
• Phone (if used for business)
• Internet (if used for business)
• Web Hosting
• Computer Equipment (if used for business)
• Computer Repairs and Upgrades (if used for business)
• Clothing (purchased to wear while working a gig)
• Office Supplies (if used for business)

These are just a few of the items that you may be able to write off. A tax professional really can clarify what works for your situation, and point out other items that aren’t listed here.

Hopefully this gets you thinking about ways to save a little of that hard earned cash at tax time. Thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions you may have as well.

Interviewing a potential DJ can be a little overwhelming for some. When most people are at this stage in their planning, they tend to have a lot going on and forget to ask a few important questions. My advice is to write down all of your questions beforehand and bring them to the interview with you. Here are Five things you should know before hiring a DJ.

1. Do they use a written contract?

Contracts are for your protection, as well as the DJ’s. It should explain some things in detail. Things like: The date and time of your event. The price he or she is offering their services to you for.  How long those services are to be rendered. Any terms for client cancellations. etc.

2. Is the person your meeting with going to be the DJ at your event?

Sometimes when dealing with larger DJ companies, you will meet with the person in charge of bookings. Make sure you get an opportunity to meet with the DJ before signing on that dotted line. He or she may have the best track record for the company, but you need to make sure they have the right personality for your audience.

3. Do they offer a wide variety of music?

You want to make sure they have the right type of music for you event. A DJ should give you access to a music list that you can look through and select the types of songs you want played at your function.

4. Will they take requests from your guests?

If the DJ takes requests, it makes your event more interactive for your guests. The more interactive it is, the more memorable and fun it will be for them.

5. What kind of sound system do they use?

You want a DJ that uses professional sound equipment. Home audio systems are not really designed for rooms bigger than say a living room. You are probably familiar with some of the home brands, so here is a short list of professional brands that he or she may mention. Gemini, Pioneer, QSC, Peavey, EV, Denon, Stanton, JBL, American Audio, Numark, Mackie, Yamaha, Crown, Behringer, Vestax, and Rane to name a few.

These are just 5 of the things you should know before making your decision on a DJ. Hopefully, these will get your thought processes firing, and you can come up with more questions that are more suited to your event.