Beyond the DJ Booth
Brian B and Joe Bunn tackle questions about the private event DJ industry, share music, gear/gadgets, and stories from their events.
Beyond the DJ Booth
They Asked for You. You Referred Steve. Now What?
What do you do when a dream client reaches out for their big day… but you’re already booked?
In this episode, Joe and Brian unpack one of the trickiest solo-op dilemmas: how to make referrals without damaging your brand. When someone hires you for your vibe, voice, and vision — is it even possible to pass the mic without losing trust?
Prompted by a smart question from Jesse in Chicago, the guys dig into why referring the wrong DJ can do more harm than good, and how to approach it the right way. From building a trusted network, to sharing the referral with confidence (not apology), to protecting your reputation in the process — this one’s full of real, practical strategy.
They also cover:
- The one thing your referral must match to avoid the awkward handoff.
- Why karma-driven referrals (not commissions) lead to stronger long-term wins.
- What to have ready before you ever say, “Let me recommend someone…”
Sprinkled in are quick hits on Mother’s Day gigs, upcoming events, and a hilarious speed round of DJ dilemmas (Would you rather lose mic audio during the toast or speaker power during the first dance?).
If you’re growing your business, working as a solo op, or navigating the early stages of building a multi-op, this episode will help you make power moves while staying rooted in integrity.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/
To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/
To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/
Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn
Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial
DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php
Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com
what is up everybody and welcome back to the podcast for private djs beyond the dj booth with myself, joe bunn, that's my guy, brian bonus cc. There we go, we're back. We're back. What's up, dude? How's your energy level? Are you doing good? It's still good, dude, I don't want to fight anybody yet. I got a lot of snacks, though, in my drawer.
Speaker 2:In there it's like a lot of almonds and walnuts and random, not good there's no any pistachio yeah, those are on the plan I love it, but it said you can only eat 49 oh salted salted salts. Okay, specifically 49 49.
Speaker 1:Are you counting them out? It said, or a handful, but I mean, I isn't like. I mean because those things are addictive. And it said do not get the unshelled ones, cause they're too easy to just be like right, well, and then do you like overcompensate Cause?
Speaker 2:you're like I got small hands and so you're like I think I should stick to the 49.
Speaker 1:I better count them out.
Speaker 2:It makes them little individual satchels. You know what I?
Speaker 1:mean God. I love pistachios. I Got a little pistachios.
Speaker 2:I was outside this weekend. You know gigging and. I needed a little pick-me-up. So you know, for me I use those Alani's.
Speaker 1:That's right he does like the Alani's Very low-calorie they're not sponsoring us yet, but they should.
Speaker 2:They're purple, they're blue. The colors are super annoying. Anyways, this keeps it cool. So you take off the top, you put it in, put it in there and I can hide it behind a speaker. It's not going to be an eyesore. So highly recommend getting one of these for your gigs. I put it in my backpack.
Speaker 1:I have a little it's gotta be the skinny cans, the 12 ounce skinny.
Speaker 2:So those are good for what do you think of that is going for right now on Amazon?
Speaker 1:I know your wife gave me one for my birthday a couple years ago and I love it. I think they're probably let me feel the quality again with the anti-slip bottom. I think these are $24.99.
Speaker 2:Wow On the nose buddy, yes, sir. On the nose.
Speaker 1:I'm back, I'm back.
Speaker 2:This is a black version. Yeah, if you want it not to be this crappy North Carolina blue, stop it. It's not UCLA brewing blue, it should be. But anyways yes, highly recommend this version of it. I've had it for a year and a half.
Speaker 1:Yeah, these are really good. Definitely recommend getting one of these.
Speaker 2:We'll put the link in the store Amazon store. If you go to my Amazon, you'll find it there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's under the YouTube video every single week guys.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I got a little break the ice, since I haven't seen you in five minutes. This is speed round shit.
Speaker 2:Speed round. Give it to me quick. First thing that comes to mind speed round. I'm ready. I'm going to close my eyes, Close your eyes Serato or record box Serato.
Speaker 1:Wireless mic dies mid-toast or the speaker cuts out mid-first dance. I think we did this one speaker cutout gig with no dinner break or no bathroom.
Speaker 2:Oh gig. With no dinner break, Thousand percent Got to have a restroom.
Speaker 1:Okay, dj for your ex wife's wedding or my game paid or yes, okay, dj for your ex wife's wedding, or the person that left you the worst review you've ever gotten to wedding oh, I think the ex wife okay, spotify playlist on an ipad or, and, and you can use the crossfade, you know, internal menu, or like one of those little bitty kind of dj toy controllers, but it does work it depends on the application, but I'm gonna say spotify.
Speaker 2:I'll say spotify for now.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's it, it was this or that.
Speaker 2:It was a quick yes or that. Let me see Serato or Rekordbox Serato. For me, wireless mic dies mid-toast or the speaker cuts out, because I never have just one speaker, I always have two.
Speaker 1:So I feel like if I I think that's, I should have said both speakers cut out.
Speaker 2:But no, I'm with you.
Speaker 1:I would let one speaker you know die Gig with no dinner break or gig with no bathroom, yeah, no dinner. I've done a million weddings with no dinner. Dj for your ex-wife's wedding or worse. I'm going to have to go with my worst reviewer and just hope I've redeemed myself. That's the only one, I think. I would change Spotify playlist with the crossfade function or the little DJ toy controller, although I've seen Dynamix play on one of those little toy controllers.
Speaker 2:I mean I always bring one. He absolutely destroyed it. It's nice having a pinch, because if something goes wrong with your other stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're great having your bag. You know You're the king of the backup bag. You know you got to have it.
Speaker 2:I've had it happen a few times where I forgot the power or something, and I had to just go off of it, or whatever Off the toy.
Speaker 1:We know Spotify. Well, now they have that DJ app. I love that DJ app. Yeah, that's what we use for ceremonies. Yeah, that's what we use for ceremonies.
Speaker 2:Drew Pierce swears by it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a good app. Hey want to make more money at every single event. Let me put you onto something. It's called S-Start. It's the event platform made by a DJ for DJs. With S-Start, you offer apps like live photo sharing, real-time slideshows, song requests and even seating charts, and you can upsell your clients like a pro. It's simple, plug and play, easy to use and your clients they love it. Join their membership for the best pricing and watch your profits soar. Go to sstarcom right now and book your free demo. Where are you this weekend? I did want to touch base on that real quick. You know's mother's day. It is mother's day, which is traditionally a slow weekend for the, the dj company.
Speaker 2:it's not for us really destination markets, they don't give a shit. Holidays do great screw your mom no holidays do great, because then they like let's take them on vacation, let's do a whole weekend on. So we get slammed with that, because they're like, we're gonna have everybody here anyways.
Speaker 1:Go to the beach. Let's invite all of our friends. Do a wedding.
Speaker 2:So you're back to Florida. Back to Florida, Damn son. So I have Saturday, Sunday. Mother's Day, but not the same client, no different clients, different clients on this one.
Speaker 1:Because you've been doing like double same client. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I did last weekend I did a triple, triple, same client. Same client, and then this weekend was this, past weekend was two.
Speaker 1:Yeah, same client. No, they were separate. Oh, okay, okay, different venues.
Speaker 2:And this one's another split. So yeah, I'm going hard man. You're going hard my dude July and August, though Garbage yeah.
Speaker 1:I think mine are always low-key garbage and I'm okay with it. Yeah, I want the break.
Speaker 2:I've got like two or three, but nothing crazy. Let's go to the beach. Yeah, let's do it, I'm in, I'm in.
Speaker 1:And then, yeah, I'm off this weekend. One of Ashley's girlfriends is getting married down at Atlantic Beach, so it's a bonus for me because I already got a beach house there.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so going to super small. No dj, no dj. I think it might be playlist bound. Wow, and are you doing anything for that? I have nothing to do. I offered multiple things. Hey, you want me to set up a speaker, or does anybody need a microphone? Like it's, it's a. It's a home-based house on the ocean.
Speaker 2:Let's call it 40 people type soiree and this is just one of ash's friends uh, and somebody that works for her at the spin studio as well.
Speaker 1:So and they and they were together when Flywheel was in existence. Right, that's how long they've been connected.
Speaker 2:So I'm going as a guest, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I think I'm going to take them out on the boat and stuff A bunch of people out on the boat. Probably Friday and or Saturday she wants to do a spin class down there. So we kind of organize that. But it's just a small wedding yeah, I'm off this weekend, which is super rare for may. Sunday, my mom will be down there okay this entire beach house, so she'll be there so I'll take her out to lunch and stuff that's not gonna be, uh, cheap.
Speaker 1:No, it's not gonna be cheap. But I and I and I and I said, mom, what do you want? She said a, a light leaf blower for my patio. I had to. I went down the rabbit hole like what's a really lightweight you know 80 year, 80-year-old woman leaf blower.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:A woman ain't sitting in a freaking backpack style.
Speaker 2:So now, all your Instagram's like those ads Exactly. I'm just targeted by lightweight blowers, senior citizens blowers, senior blowers that doesn't sound good it doesn't Strike that, and then pause, and then I'm back on.
Speaker 1:You know, Then we're just again hammering it all through May, all through June, like you said, Same as you and then July and August just not great. But July, did you see Dom and Aaron? And those guys are doing this. I did Hacker Hotel in Nashville. I'm going to go see that Okay.
Speaker 1:I think that'll be fun. It'll be the anniversary of Cray Hackers and a lot of DJs are going to that. Yeah, august, me and you're going to a podcast convention. Yep, we got to see our boys in dallas. I told them we want to go on the boat too. Okay, so we'll go on the boat one day, like after sessions or do it. So anyway, man, I mean you'll go to the beach or whatever. We'll bring saquon.
Speaker 2:Saquon likes the beach have you done that family one? Yet that you, the hot girls you said that all the sisters were hot looking. Did you do that wedding? Yet it's coming up. I think that's June, because they blew you up on the they were hyping. Well, because you mentioned it, I did.
Speaker 1:And then we had the clip.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And then I see all the comments. I'm like boy, these girls are just like yeah, they love Joe Bunn, love Joe Bunn.
Speaker 1:It's crazy I love doing family weddings. Man. It's good stuff, that's awesome. A cheap facade. It's time for an upgrade. That's why I created Bungear lightweight, pro-grade DJ booths designed for the real mobile DJs. They're sleek, built to last and they set up in minutes. Trust me, when you look the part, your clients will notice. Check it out now at bungearcom. Order now for immediate and free shipping. Let's get into the question. Let's do it. How would you approach selling another DJ to a client that was enticed because of your solo op brand? This is by Jesse. Yeah, sorry, shout out Jesse Palencia in Chicago, illinois.
Speaker 1:I think he's saying he's a single op. Right, he gets a lead and they're like oh my God, jesse, I saw you at the Smith Johnson wedding. You smashed it. I'm getting married October 15th. Can you do my wedding? Let's just say Jesse's booked, but he knows that DJ Saquon, that also lives in Chicago, could be available that night and he is basically cut off of it.
Speaker 1:Maybe I don't get the impression of a cut. I just think he wants to pass this lead on and get his homie booked, and he believes that Saquon would be a good fit for this couple, right? So let's just rephrase it like that. Whether that's how he meant the question to be or not, that's how we are interpreting it.
Speaker 2:How do you kind of sell that? If they like what you do and they wanted you, I think they will trust that recommendation, because why would you send them somebody that wasn't the same vibe as you? It's going to be a bad reflection if they get somebody who's whack and they come out and they just don't do what you do. So I think it's something along the lines of sending them the best recommendation based on what they're looking for, whether that's somebody who does what you do or if I would say the same thing about it if they weren't enticed because of me. I want to give people the right recommendation regardless. I guess at the end of the day, Me too.
Speaker 1:I don't care if it's cakes or wedding dresses or mmos or whatever. I agree, and it's no different than running a multi-op company, right? I mean, the entire reputation of bun dj company, of b-boy entertainment, is based off of a recommendation of. This guy happens to work for me, but he's still a great choice for your wedding. It's not like I'm just out there sending out amateur night, right, you know, to do the biggest day of somebody's life. We wouldn't be here, right? We, right. And we especially wouldn't be here 25 years later if I was sending out a bunch of scrubs.
Speaker 1:So I don't think it's a hard sell. They've either seen you or gotten recommended to you and I think a just a simple conversation, jesse, about hey look, I can't do this wedding. I'm so sorry, I'm so upset. I've got whatever you say, it's a friend. I got a colleague, I know a guy that would be great for y'all, you know, because maybe you get a little more data, right. Maybe they want a Latin and pop mix. Maybe you do have that conversation. Give me a little more Like. Maybe it's a heavy hip hop crowd, oh, okay, I've got the guy for that. Maybe it's a crowd that wants an MC that's going to get out on the floor and teach line dances or be hyping people up on the mic and throw your hands in the air type thing, like if you get just a little bit more information in this call with you, I think that you can feel confident sending them a recommendation of one or more people.
Speaker 2:I'd also say too that in this case, if they were recommended because of the fact that they're like you, it would be good to have a conversation, say, hey, listen, if I'm ever booked, I'm going to be recommending you because I think you're the right fit, like comparatively, 100 percent. Can you have some promo material put together so that when I send these over it can sell the deal way quicker than if they got to have another conversation? We just went through it, you and I, because you had a corporate that you couldn't do, yep, and you said, hey, you know, made the introduction or whatever, yep, and within two seconds I had a press kit to them. They could go look and they could see if it's the right fit or not.
Speaker 1:You're really good at having that EPK electronic press kit up-to-date new relevant pictures, new relevant data. That is basically Canva-made PDF-driven Right and that you can just fire off.
Speaker 2:I'm not saying you have to go to that depth, but have a mix. Video content's really king at this point, or even their Instagram.
Speaker 1:Their Instagram is good, like, hey, go check out their Instagram. This guy's doing big things, he's a good choice. Set up a meeting. And again, I think that's critical as well I still push, push, push people hey, meet with the guy that I'm recommending. Right, you know, you don't even have to come in anymore.
Speaker 2:It's all on Zoom. It's a Zoom world.
Speaker 1:So I don't know, man, it shouldn't be a tough sell, jesse, and again I will state this I think everything is karma related. I'm not a big you know sweating that guy, a lead, just heads up. Here are their names, here's the wedding date, here's where it's going to be. I hope you book it. And hopefully that guy or girl is going to turn around in six months or two years and go, can't do this epic games party or whatever, like I think it. Just it goes around, comes around.
Speaker 2:Totally agree. I just don't think that taking a big is necessary on stuff like that. Yeah, what'd you call it a vig? A vig, you never use it. No, you know that word. I don't know. Is that, like I don't know, 50 plus?
Speaker 1:you gotta be 50 plus. I don't know, maybe it's not a word, now that I'm saying it.
Speaker 2:I don't know. You said big, a big. Yeah, look that up. Okay, look that up now.
Speaker 1:I'm big on this. Look that up. He had me listening to podcasts the whole way back from charlotte yesterday. You know, theo was hey look this up. Can you find a monkey?
Speaker 2:hanging upside down with a squirrel Vig slang for interest paid on a loan.
Speaker 1:Okay, it's kind of the same thing Kind of yeah, booking, commish, booking fee.
Speaker 2:It's a stock term, okay, so I mean, maybe they make it up.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm not in your circle he's the judge in the jury here. Anything else before we wrap this?
Speaker 2:I think, so I think this is good stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is good stuff. Get yourself one of these, man these are good.
Speaker 2:These are good they don't pay us to say that man, it's on brian's store.
Speaker 1:So I really don't make it, on it, but anyway love you guys. New episodes every week. Have we shouted out our sponsors?
Speaker 2:we have not you should. We need to. Dj event planner. It is our crm of choice. It's what we use. We've been on it for years, because it's just years. It's the thing. You gotta have it. And then uh s start. If you're not familiar with them, go check them out s startcom. We thank them for supporting us and we hope you will support them as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Thank you guys. New episodes every single Wednesday drop right there first thing in the morning, Stream it wherever you listen to your podcasts and then, if you ever want to see the full video version, all you got to do is go to youtubecom. Slash DJ Joe Bunn. Thanks y'all. See you Bye.
