The DJ
Universe: Bigger Than You Think!
(An Introduction
to “The Complete Disc Jockey”)
by Stu Chisholm
You can’t force inspiration. You never know when it will hit you or
where it will lead.
Like most things in life, I was inspired by a specific event at a very
specific point in time; a small seed planted in fertile soil. That
proverbial soil didn’t seem so fertile at the time! I was researching an
article about the impact that our faltering economy was having on the DJ
industry (“The Frill Is Gone,” MB, May 2007). Since I live in Michigan
where the U.S. economic recession began, I focused on Michigan DJs,
calling dozens of colleagues from across the state. The biggest surprise
didn’t come from how hard our industry has been hit, but by how many
former full-time DJs were forced to take a dreaded day job. Some I’ve
known for decades. “I can’t fool around,” a female colleagues told me,
“I’ve got kids and need to have health care coverage and money for their
college fund.” She’d been full-time for about as long as I could
remember.
Even more surprising, though, was the kind of jobs these DJs were
taking! One somehow managed to land a job at Ford, which isn’t easy
these days. Others got involved in the computer field. Another was
managing a local steak house restaurant, and yet another was selling
insurance. Story after story of DJs working in retail, office, fast food
and factory jobs revealed a trend that would become the foundation for
what was to come.
ACT II, SCENE I
When working on my own DJ business, I tend to look at how others have
handled similar problems or situations before going off on my own. One
day I had a particular problem on my mind (I forget exactly what it was
now), and I’d scoured several online forums with no luck. It was time to
hit my bookshelf.
Looking over all the titles, I realized something beyond my immediate
concern: there were a lot of books about radio on my shelf. There were
also a good number of books on mobile DJ work. Yet in all those volumes,
there was little to nothing beyond! I began to think of all of the other
types of DJ work I’ve done over the years; all of the bar and nightclub
work; the car cruises I’ve ran; the roller skating rink; the beauty
pageant I provided sound and emcee duties for; the cruise ship where my
friend worked; the ice arena where I’ve presided over both hockey games
and figure skating competitions; karaoke nights; the voiceover jobs
running the gamut from radio commercials to on-hold telephone messages;
working the “gentlemen’s” clubs; recording and remixing; hospital radio
and on and on! Where were the books on those?
AHA!
That’s when I had my own “light bulb moment,” as Oprah likes to call
them. That little seed of observation – looking at my bookshelf and the
gap in material on the wider world of DJ work – dropped into the “soil”
of our soft economy and how many DJs had gone into non-industry related
jobs. Suddenly I was filled with questions: Why wasn’t there a book that
detailed these other areas of the DJ world? Why did so many of the DJs I
spoke with turn to non-DJ types of jobs? Did they even know about or
consider them? And why hadn’t someone tied all of it together in a
single book? After a quick session with Google, I realized that there
was no such volume. If I wanted one, I would simply have to write it
myself!
ONE-STOP SHOPPING
Back in those ancient, long-ago days when I was in elementary school, we
had “general” textbooks. Rather than having separate English, Math,
Social Studies/History and Science books, we would have a single volume
that covered everything we’d need to learn of those fields in the
semester we had before us. I always liked that idea, because each
subject was in concise, easily digested chunks that weren’t
overwhelming. They were far from exhaustive, but usually had the
essentials along with references to other books and materials if we
wanted to get more in-depth later on. Since every DJ shares at least
some techniques with all others, I decided that this would be an ideal
format for a book on the wider realm of the DJ.
So the spine of my book became those shared skills: public speaking,
verbal technique, writing and personality development. (Yes, you CAN
develop your personality!) Overcoming fear and stage fright, mic
techniques and interaction would be the springboard for everything else.
From this spine would hang all of the various paths that a DJ may take,
along with those things that differentiate them from other entertainers.
To a DJ, this is the equivalent of specialization in the medical
profession; you have your general practitioners, and then there are the
specialists. They have a different focus, audience or circumstance that
requires a different skill set, disciplines and even tools to accomplish
their goals. Each deserves a detailed treatment.
As I gathered together all of this information, it triggered memories of
my own career and the various twists and turns it has taken. I soon
decided that my book would need a more human touch; some stories from
personal experience that relates directly to the more “dry” facts n’
figures. As a result, at the end of each chapter I’ve included what I
call “Musical Memoirs – Tales from the Trenches.” They run the range
from horrible to humorous, and are all 100% true. Even if you’re not a
DJ and never intend to be one, you’ll find these an entertaining read.
CHECK PLEASE!
Writing this book turned out to be one of the most fun and rewarding
experiences of my life. I had the opportunity and privilege of speaking
with an incredible range of talented people from all over the country
and added even more to this ol’ dog’s bag of DJ tricks!
As I was wrapping-up my little project, the icing on the cake came in
the form of an almost casual e-mail reply from one such talented person;
the one and only Mark Ferrell, the west coast DJ who is most famous for
his “Getting What You’re Worth” presentations and a regular contributor
to DJA Radio, the internet radio hotspot for mobile DJs. He graciously
agreed to use part of his Thanksgiving Day holiday to write the forward!
My anticipation (and a deadline!) made those few days waiting for it to
arrive seem like an eternity. When it did finally appear, it was well
worth the wait. Mark gave a picturesque, detailed insight into his own
early experiences that lead him to be a DJ and his jump from one segment
of the industry to many others over the years. Simply put, it’s the
perfect start for the book I had in mind; the book now entitled, “The
Complete Disc Jockey.”
It is now available directly from the Mobile Beat bookstore at
http://www.mobilebeat.com/xcart/product.php?productid=54 . In these tough economic
times, having the “big picture” outlook on the DJ industry may be just
what you need to guide you to that essential second job without
resorting to non-industry pursuits. It can just as easily be the way for
a bored DJ in a dead-end position to put all of his/her skills, talent
and learning to their best use with new challenges and situations!
Wherever you are in your career path, you’ll find this information
invaluable. Also, look for the Mobile Beat Seminar series that will be
touring the country near the end of summer! Stu will be offering an
encore presentation of his seminar, based on The Complete Disc Jockey,
at one or more locations! Check in at the Mobile Beat website for dates,
cities and locations.