►Temecula's Best DJ Welcome Video

►►►"YELP!"◄◄◄ •••► See lyrics and disclaimer below

Hiring a DJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ceAQVO5xk

Temecula's Most Experienced DJ

Another private winery photo while performing here in Temecula.

Question: (From Several) Is there any way to increase or guarantee tips or gratuities?

A: 

Although many people may think that there is a magic recipe for getting gratuities many times the best bet for a possible reward is to always do your job 100% no matter what the circumstances are.  Yes, there are sometimes some things that you can do that create an opportunity for the customer to offer a gratuity but when all is said and done, sometimes it just depends upon the customer.

Several times I will conduct what I believe to be a spectacular performance and have (in my opinion) saved the day for the customers or covered for mistakes or shortcomings of other vendors. Unfortunately, most times there is no way that the customer will recognize what you have done since the day is usually a frantic endeavor on their part and they just don't notice.  The bottom line is that if you are a true professional, you must know in your heart that you have done your best.

Sometimes there is no telling when a gratuity will be passed on and many times it is impossible to read what the customer is thinking.  Many times they work in an industry that itself depends upon tips as part of their income and they truly believe that it is warranted.  Other times customers are on a budget and have already over-extended themselves in trying to create a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Still other times I have even delivered an excellent performance and vendors are voicing their praise, thanks and giving me congratulations only to find that there was some small, slight thing that may have occurred (most times without knowing about it) that the customer did not agree with.  This calls to mind the importance of thorough preparation and and complete planning to insure success.  At one event, I performed where the customer also hired a jazz saxophonist to play live.  This musician allowed for "dead air" or "silence" in between tracks that you would think most professional musicians and broadcasters would understand to be taboo.  I saw it as very unprofessional and uncomfortable for the guests but the customer ended up defending the saxophonist when I tried to place quiet snippets of instrumental music within his periods of silence.  It goes along with what I have known for years: In my opinion, about 95% of musicians are flakes and "wanna-bes."  I can say this because I have spent decades as a professional musician, stage manager, concert promoter, engineer and producer and have experienced this phenomenon first hand.  Just like with DJs, these non-professional make it that much more difficult for us professionals who try to be professional and to try to escape the stigma of these amateurs.

As is common in all service industries, you take the good customers with the bad and maintain your composure and professionalism by delivering performances that are always those that you are proud of.  It all evens out in the end. 

Question: (From: many, various) My son/daughter is interested in a career in the music industry. Do you have any recommendations?

A: 

I am often asked this question and will probably delve into the topic further as time goes on since it can be a confusing topic.

First and foremost: The music industry can be very attractive to many individuals.  However, it can literally chew you up and spit you out.  A "true musician" is born with their brain wired for music.  When it is right, it is right and there is no reprogramming the brain to not think in the terms of a musician.  Still, the vast majority of those in the industry do not have "what it takes" and are usually chasing the dream or the desire for fame.  The industry not only wants the natural gift of musicianship but the marketability of the individuals outward looks and physical attraction.  It's sad to say but true.  If you have torturously exposed yourself to television programs such as "American Idol" or "X-Factor" you will see that the vast majority of people attempting to enter the industry do not have what it takes.

Unfortunately, many of these individuals continue to attempt to enter the industry as they are  "masking" or avoiding the "talent handicaps" that they possess.  Again, it is a gift to be able to understand and manipulate tempo, verse and music.  It is math that your brain is literally juggling creatively.  Many people go through life never fully understanding their language, tempo, upbeats, triplets, backbeats, harmonics, timbres, etc.  or cannot engage in the cerebral "multitasking" that is needed to write, author, play and/or conduct music. Many may also not possess the dexterity involved in playing the musical instrument of their choice or not able to use their voice as a vocalist either from lack of learning through repetition and practice or because their many mechanisms that make up hearing and brain functions cannot translate what they are attempting to interpret and manipulate. 

That being said, many times the industry seeks out unique singing voices with unique characteristics.  Very often if you hear your favorite vocalist talk in every day conversation (if you have a keen ear) you can hear very unique and sometimes quirky aspects to the tonal characteristics of their speech.  This can translate into a unique and attractive singing vocal quality.

Probably the best advice that I can give is that I highly recommend getting assessed and trained/instructed by qualified academic educators.  Many musicians who do not themselves possess the necessary equations of talent and inherent gifts spend their lives "masking" their shortcomings.  If you are assessed or instructed by these individuals, they are merely passing on their handicaps and misconceptions of music or it's understanding.

Again, I look forward to addressing these topics at length more in the future.