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
Overstepping MOHs, Karaoke Bros, and Towel-Warmed Recovery
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What’s worse: a best man belting Creed karaoke for five minutes…or a maid of honor hovering in your booth for an hour, vetoing every song you play?
This week, Joe and Brian tackle a real-life “Would You Rather” scenario that no DJ should ever have to face and somehow come up with a solution that’s actually genius. (Hint: it involves psychology, not power plays.)
From there, the episode slides into luxury mode as Brian reveals his latest splurge: a towel warmer that’s completely changed his post-gig routine. It sparks a surprisingly useful convo about recovery, travel rituals, and why small comforts can make a big difference after decades in the game.
You’ll also get:
- Fresh music picks crushing on Brian’s dance floors
- A quick breakdown on southern soul trends and remix culture
- A no-nonsense roadmap to go from solo op to scaling smart
Whether you’re here for the song ideas, the business advice, or just need to laugh at the insanity DJs deal with every weekend, this one hits all the notes.
If you're a true Booth Head (super fan of the pod), join our Patreon for all the extras and one-off goodies. You can get there by going to: patreon.com/BeyondTheDJBoothPodcast
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's up, friends, family, family, neighbors, welcome back to Beyond the DJ Booth Podcast. I'm your host, joe Bunn. That's the other host, brian B. I think we're global.
Speaker 2We are. We did get some love from some international peeps recently. Yeah, we're global.
Speaker 1Let's just say we're global Checking the stats, checking the stats and we appreciate you guys listening. As always, these come out every single Wednesday morning without fail. We are always batch recording and then sending it to editing and then Brian edits it even more and then it's a lot of work to put these out. So we appreciate you guys listening, leaving us reviews. Shout out to our sponsor, dj Event Planner, for supporting the whole podcast, quite frankly. But anyway, let's get this shit started. What you got for us, I got something. You know. Our boy, richie Stedman, is like the unofficial producer of the show, works on a lot of podcasts, lives out in Utah. Probably one of the dude will literally do three or four shows a day sometimes.
Speaker 1Like an insane work ethic on this man. He sent me this as kind of like a remember how we did those a couple of weeks ago or a couple of episodes ago where I was like would you rather this?
Speaker 2or this or what if?
Speaker 1this. So he sent me this and I'm pretty sure this actually happened to him.
Speaker 2Okay, are you ready for this? But you have to answer, so it's one scenario.
The Luxury Towel Warmer Experience
Speaker 1This happened at a wedding, so this or this, but I think both of these happened to him either at consecutive events or at the same event. Okay, you have to answer as if you're Brian B. All right, would you rather? The best man gets to karaoke over the actual version of Creed's one last breath, or? Or this is an easy one for me the maid of honor gets to be in the booth with you for the one-hour dance set and the bride has given her permission to allow or veto any of your song choices. This is an easy one, right?
Speaker 2Hey.
Speaker 1Yeah, he can karaoke and make a fool of himself all day. Yeah, one song for a whole hour, bro. Imagine the maid of honor standing over your shoulder.
Speaker 2You're going through Serato, you're taking a song, you drag it up onto the left deck and she goes nah, and then you have to. And now?
Speaker 1it's 45 seconds, 30 seconds, 18 seconds. Shit's counting down and this girl's just standing there going nah, nah, nah. Can you imagine that would be nah, dude, if this really happened to him? I actually feel sorry for him. Yeah, that is terrible. There's no way. And then, like, did this get sprung on him at the event night of? Because if it had been discussed in any of the planning calls, I would be like I'm not doing that. What would you say?
Speaker 2What if it happened?
Speaker 2to you on the night of like, she came up and goes here's what we're doing for this hour. The bride came up to me and gave me that and tell I'd tell the maid of honor write down a list of 20 songs you want to hear, so that I don't have to keep going to you every two seconds to make sure it's going to work. Shit, that's great answer. Put it on your phone, I'll screenshot it. Yep, great answer. Then you can go party with everybody else, yeah yeah, yeah, you don't need it.
Speaker 1You got to turn it to make it a positive Like I love you.
Speaker 2I love that you're here.
Speaker 1Yeah, love your input, your energy, love all of it, yeah.
Speaker 2But you know what I want you to have a good time, damn man.
Speaker 1So you just flip it. He flipped it on him. Rest psychology these are not the droids you're looking for, so gear find stuff.
Speaker 2You know we've been doing a lot of things you would have in your booth, or travel hacks or whatever.
Speaker 1Yeah, I love the travel hacks, I love the little power strips. My favorite was a couple of weeks ago when the noise maker the white noise machine for the people with ringing ears. So I'm going to go, bougie, you were right, I shouldn't have drank a Tobo Chico before the episode.
Speaker 2Burpees, burpees, yeah, yeah. So I went bougie on this purchase, please hold it, are you seeing? It on either of the cameras. No, you can kind of see the top, Okay hold on, but it looks crazy I don't know, neither me nor.
Speaker 1Saquon know what this is.
Speaker 2So this was originally a Mother's Day gift. This was originally a Mother's Day gift.
Speaker 1You gave it to Taryn. They took it back.
Speaker 2What happened was it didn't come in on time, so then I had to go to plan B.
Speaker 1This came in like a week or two later Can I hear plan A, just out of curiosity. Oh yeah, what this is. No, no, no, no, no For what you did get Tara when the.
Speaker 2I don't remember. I don't remember what plan B went. This was, this was plan A.
Speaker 1Okay, Didn't work, so I had to go to what you don't know what plan b was. I have no idea, but it was something quick, sure how to be that? To me, either, looks like a diaper genie, which you don't have a baby anymore.
Speaker 2No, no, no, no, no, no. Or like a towel steamer or something like that. You're close, okay. Towel warmer, oh shit, okay, I was like am, I do, I need to take this thing back. Is this way over the top, dude? Now I can't live without it. I've plugged this in. Okay. It's been running since the beginning of this episode, maybe a little bit before, okay, so I'm gonna take it out, okay hold on just time out, before I touch the actual it's clean.
Speaker 2No, not from this morning. I wasn't gonna, I wasn't gonna accuse you that I know you're a very clean person.
Speaker 1you have outstanding hygiene. Yeah, so this sits outside the shower, outside the shower In the master bath.
Speaker 2Master bath plugged in.
Speaker 1Okay, at all times. At all times you shower, you pull it out. It's premium, oh my God. This feels so good. You dry off, you dry your hair, dry your whole body.
Speaker 2Re-put it back in there. No Goes on the hanger. When I get up in the morning before I hit the restroom, this goes in Before you drop bombs Before.
Speaker 1I drop bombs. This goes in, okay. So it's off the hanger on the wall into the portal.
Speaker 2Start the shower. Okay, bathroom, the shower's warming up Go in there, no, you can't let the water run the whole time you're shitting. Ours takes a while to like, okay.
Speaker 1Yeah, I've got one of those too. It sucks. It says what do you call it, I don't know, a waterless tank, or whatever you call it. It's terrible. Yeah, mine's too. Then by the time I get in, so it's been, you know, in there for almost 15 minutes by the time I'm like all in this has probably been about.
Speaker 2I don't know how long we've been recording for 10 minutes. This is premium. It feels warm, it's always dry. It's a dry, warm towel. That was my thing.
Speaker 1It's not for drying the towel.
Speaker 2I'm telling you I almost don't want to travel anymore. I can't take this thing with me. It's so good. Actually, it is mad cozy. I ain't take this thing with me, it's so good.
Speaker 1And actually. So now, tara, it is mad cozy, I ain't gonna lie.
Speaker 2Right, it's a game changer purchase. So if you want to just do a little bougie-ness for yourself a little, self-care.
Speaker 1Well, ironically, now that you think about this before, I got divorced and gave away a super expensive house. In that house that I left behind along with everything else in the house yeah, other than like six pairs of black jeans and six black t-shirts was a vertical standing version of this. Yes, so it was like a. It was basically a a heated towel rack. Yeah, if you will. Yeah, and in that bathroom there was a linen closet and I got my electrician to come put an outlet in it. So I did have this experience for many years and I loved it. This is a lot more manageable Because it can literally go right beside your trash can?
Speaker 1But I guess what you're still not understanding. I'm saying I get out of the shower, I dry off. Why can't I? But I guess what You're still not understanding. I'm saying I get out of the shower, I dry off. Why can't I just put it in there? You could.
Speaker 2You could put it in there. The reason why I don't is because Tara isn't taking the next shower right away. She doesn't want her dry towel to be in there with another wet towel.
Speaker 1You know what I mean. I do, yes, I do understand. Can you set it up to come on like at 8 am every morning?
Speaker 2I don't think it has a timer. Okay, okay, what it does do is it gives you?
Speaker 1What are the modes?
Speaker 2Give me a mode 30 minutes hour, two hour, four hour. So you could have this thing percolating for four hours. Okay, I don't know if percolating is the right word, but just like warming up on a slower pace than the hotter. Is this Amazon pace than the hotter? Is this amazon? This is amazon. 49.99, no higher. It's higher shit, but we, we don't. 79.99, that's it 79.98.
Speaker 1I'm pretty good at the second time. The second time yeah.
Speaker 2So they make two versions of it. They actually have a larger one, so you can stack five of these things on there if you wanted to, right, but this has been game changer. And then it just kind of stays warm for a while until it cools down and then this red light will disappear, getting out of gigs and you're just like worked over or whatever. Yeah, I think this thing could be a winner for a DJ.
Speaker 1I mean for just anybody that likes a premium bougie experience. Just throwing it out there. I do love a hot towel, Just in general, Like even when you go get a massage or any sort of warm towel.
Speaker 2Tara, she would rather be cold than hot.
Speaker 1Oh, because she just like I don't know her face gets red and a bunch of stuff and she's all about this Really, yeah.
Speaker 2And now the funniest part is those Annie now. So she's putting her towel in.
New Music Finds for DJs
Speaker 1I'm like, hey, don't get used to this.
Speaker 2She goes dad. Can I put my towel in the towel?
Speaker 1warmer. He's got a five year old. He's got a damn towel warmer. You're asking for the towel warmer.
Speaker 2You're five, so anyways, dude, that's so funny. I got targeted for this. Like around Mother's Day, I was looking for Mother's Day gifts On the platform or on.
Speaker 1Instagram, just on Instagram, I think.
Speaker 2I was looking on Google honestly, and then you know social media kind of finds its way to get you.
Speaker 1Sure.
Speaker 2And this showed up, I was like, oh, it's under a hundo.
Speaker 1Why not, If I hate it? I?
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Speaker 2Well, you were talking about music curation.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2So are you playing anything new lately? In the last couple of weeks that's been. It doesn't have to be new new, I'm just curious if anything's been popping off.
Speaker 1What was your song of the night for your big hot wedding man? What do you think went off the biggest saquon? She had a great list and it kind of ranged from like um just somebody who works out a lot too.
Speaker 2You think, like this is like you know, would this be like stuff you would use at the cycle bar? Is that that kind of music?
Speaker 1yes, I mean it was like Age EDM but then a lot of that like 70-some BPM, early 2000s, waka Flocka Okay.
Speaker 2Yeah, that was it. That was it. It was like Waka Flocka, that was like the big song.
Speaker 1And then they are ECU. All those girls, I think, went to ECU and during All I Do Is Win. I don't know if they play this in the football stadium or something but when they go all I do is win, win, no matter what.
Speaker 2Everybody hands go up, and then they go ECU and they say that and they say like I think that's their like song.
Speaker 1Yeah, like that must be like their go-to anthem.
Speaker 2Anywhere we go, yeah.
Speaker 1Even if there's like two people, they'll go ECU.
Speaker 2So, speaking of, do you go down that rabbit hole with, because it's not really a rabbit hole, but do you ever ask that question, like where you went to school? No, I added to my form now for when I have Southern couples, because this doesn't translate to like the North or even the West Coast, it's just the Southern schools. I just ask what?
Speaker 1were the songs that they played at your sports that's actually not a bad idea.
Speaker 2I just did it for this one in the midwest sandstorm yeah, was the one yeah, so I heard you play it from uh, something you posted the the.
Speaker 1He played sandstorm with us. Since you've been gone, goes off, madness goes off. Yes, I did yeah yeah it went nuts.
Speaker 2You mean you have to get out of it quick because the end was like exactly yeah, no, it goes.
Speaker 1It goes hard someone's heart at all. We also played an edit of All I Do Is Win and it went into this like this wub stuff. I looked at Saquon, I've got it on my glasses and I go yo, I don't think we've ever let it play this long. It just went into some kind of edit. It was crazy at the end.
Speaker 2That one does that weird part, though Actually it went so well that I went back to the beginning of it. I have a hot cue that goes right to the beginning of that verse. Yeah, wait back to what of, since you've been gone oh right, right I played it too. Because it went so well, I played it again just from the vocal oh yeah, I got where it goes here's the thing, so it goes right back to that part of the verse and played it because it's so short.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's like a minute and a half, so you better be ready yeah, yeah, you gotta dump it, yeah because otherwise damn crazy anyway, those went well and you know what's been, uh, in my last few weddings that sammy adams, that oh yes, long great song.
Speaker 2Yeah, all night longer. When did that come out, my 2000s ish?
Speaker 1oh okay, I don't remember it being big then, it wasn't. It was just a club yeah song and there's a great edit that even steve has of it too, by the way.
Speaker 2Oh really, because if you listen to the beat, it's actually got Rock and Roll Part 2, gary Glitter, behind it. Oh yeah, With that, yeah, so he put an edit with that in the beginning. I think that's the one I'm playing, okay.
Speaker 1The other one was and we've talked about this on the podcast before and it comes and goes for me- man, I'll man, I'll see it on a list and I won't see it for six weeks.
Speaker 2The spins yes, yeah, we talked about that on this podcast before. Yeah, with the empire of the sun. Yeah, uh, yeah, beat or whatever. Yeah, yeah, sample macmillan. Yeah, macmillan, did it go off? It went off. Yeah, yeah, and I don't again. You have a clean version of it or do you only have dirty? I think I have a clean okay, yeah, I don't really play dirty. Yeah, surprisingly somebody asked me. I told her said that it had gone off, it's been yeah, big.
Speaker 2You don't play Dirty versions, do you? If I don't have a clean, yeah, and they want me to, it's rare Would you play.
Speaker 1You know what was on her list and it kind of went off London Bridge. You know I love that song.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1But oh shit, something, something, something.
Speaker 2I mean that one's kind of oh shit, something. Yeah, okay, later in the night I mean it wouldn't be early. I got a question. Yes, y'all remember when the Black Eyed Peas came out and it was like let's get it started. Yes, yeah, it was getting. Do you think somebody told them to change it? 100%, I don't think you can find that version anymore.
Speaker 1I don't know that you can either. I definitely have it, but it was like it was right around the time where you just couldn't say that word anymore. Yeah, you know what I mean. Or it's just offensive, right, it came on the other day and I was the label, or somebody was like this can't be a single, this is great. Or it could be a huge single if you change one word so I got five tracks for you.
Speaker 2What five tracks I'm playing today. Today, am I getting to hear a sample? Yeah, you are. So I'm gonna share with you five songs that I'm playing that are kind of newer for me, uh, from the standpoint of not necessarily released, but maybe just these have been played to a live audience live audits to great reaction. Okay, that's all I need to hear Send them to me, so the first one came up on my Spotify discover weekly. Yes, this is a cover of. I want to know what love is Okay.
Speaker 1The foreigner track yeah.
Speaker 2This is by Pierre Lefonde. I believe that's correct. Okay, by the way. This makes me think, cause my accents are terrible, as you can kind of tell. Yeah, but we're at that Colombian restaurant, yeah, and so.
Speaker 1I said don't try and tell me, you tried to speak Spanish.
Speaker 2I just said something like I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I. She asked me for something on the menu and I said it. I must've said it correctly, Cause she just went off on me Like with like this whole menu in Spanish and I right now, so take note, I'm like, oh no, me more vaquito, and then, and then, like she knew I was like off, so anyways but this song so I've been playing this during cocktail hour gets a great reaction.
Speaker 2I want to know what love is okay, foreigner, okay. It's got kind of four on the floor beat to it okay, but then it's got that like electronic kind of vibe to it too and then it goes raw with like just a bass line okay, cocktail chorus Cocktail hour. Cocktail hour.
Speaker 1Cool cocktail hour Cool cocktail. Okay, oh yeah, re-song style.
Speaker 2Play a little longer so you can get to the chorus, because the chorus is where you can hear it. Yeah, a little guitar, but people will be. This is one of those ones people go. What is this?
Speaker 1Who is?
Speaker 2this, yeah right, this is straight. Too much from the.
Speaker 1Blue Key. I hate that song.
Speaker 2Oh, really, I'm the original. Yeah, it's just like. All right, this is where it switches up.
Speaker 1Oh my.
Speaker 2God this is filthy.
Speaker 1I love this Just the baseline of the drum Retail store fashion show and then hotel lobby pool party or pool side vibes. Check her.
Speaker 2And then in between it switches to this electronic feel. It kind of has this wavy look been going over smooth for me brand new just came out not too long ago. Second one here. Dude, you were the one who turned me on to king george. Yep, does that have a genre? I don't feel like it's hip-hop, I don't feel like it's country. I don't know what you call that.
Speaker 1It's got to be like southern soul. Yes, so are you.
Speaker 2We looked up the guy have you heard that, like another one that's crushing right now, boots on the ground yeah, are you playing that?
Speaker 1no?
Speaker 2you got another request list yet.
Speaker 1Oh, I haven't. Randy sent it out to us weeks ago and was like this is going to be huge, which is the same feel as that sure as king george.
Speaker 2So I've had this other song. It's been crushing for me. I've had two people ask it must plays one to start this party off. I was like are you sure this is called, uh, juke joint love by simply wayne? Have you ever heard of this one? No, so this is kind of in that styling.
Speaker 1Okay and is it a line dance?
Speaker 2no, okay, might have to give a little bit more of a bump.
Speaker 1Wow, sounds like an old preacher.
Speaker 2Yeah, turn that music way on up, dj, you're kidding.
Speaker 1I mean I kind of love it but I do, but it sounds like something my dad would like. You know my dad used to love like those, like soul artists, right? I went to Virginia Beach, maybe like a couple of weeks ago, and I was walking up the boardwalk and there's this guy sitting there all day playing King george wow, all I mean like live or the oh, you're saying the recording of it. Yeah, one of them, gdl speakers the whole day.
Speaker 2Bro, I don't know if it's getting big now I'm here. You just gotta keep an eye out for where were you?
Speaker 1can you louisiana? I was about to say, were you in? Uh, I was gonna say it sounds like some kind of new orleans, right?
Speaker 2but I've had it on two lists. I don't remember where the other wedding was, but it wasn't louisiana. But this style is like I don't know. I'm just keeping an eye on it, I don't know if it's gonna take off. I don't either. It's just it reminds me of like when r kelly was doing some of those like it didn't really ever take off, take off right but then kind of in the south yeah, certain spots it would if they liked it.
Speaker 2They liked it right. So I'm like I better have a bag full of these songs just on the back end, just in case I agree. You know, because drew said that he texted me the boots on the ground before it ever really took off. He's like are you playing this yet? I'm like yeah, no. He's like, I'm playing it. It is crushing my dance, like really, yeah. And then that's why I thought that sounds like that King.
Speaker 1George, dude Randy, put us on the boots on the ground thing.
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Speaker 2So I have not played it yet. Anyway, this one that one might be, I've had it on two lists recently, all right. Number three of five is this song. This is for a mother son dance, which are always tough ones to come up with. Yeah, this song's called blessings by hollow coves. Wow, have you heard of them? No, it's kind of an alternative kind of track, indie. Did somebody request this?
Speaker 1no, this was on a mother, son and it kind of like got me oh, it got me in there and I was like in the fields.
Speaker 2I was like if I ever get somebody who needs a song I would recommend this would be one of those ones. I'd love to hear it. The lyrics are good, man, people close to you. They say hold on to this time we have and let the light shine through. Yeah, oh man, I mean, it got me in the feels I don't usually get that for like a mother's son dance.
Speaker 2Usually I mean either they're usually a little bit more happy-go-lucky father, daughter, though wreck you yeah, oh, this one got me on my dude. I can't imagine. Yeah, like everybody in the audience is just like tears really good man.
Speaker 1It's a good one.
Speaker 2So if you are needing something a little bit more current, that someone's looking for something, use it.
Speaker 1it's a good one? Yeah, because I feel like the same old, same olds are coming, coming out Recycle.
Speaker 2Are you playing Dochi's Anxiety? Is it on the list?
Speaker 1I'm getting it on the list. No, and I mean I think I got so upset when the Godier version came out.
Speaker 2You didn't like the Godier at all. I love Godier, but I don't like her.
Speaker 1It's like all I want to hear is I do not want to hear it.
Speaker 2Well you're not on TikTok, but it's blowing up on TikTok. It's been blowing up for a long time. Yes, you're right.
Speaker 1So this is a cool Sidebar, can I sidebar? I'm going to sidebar this right now and I'm going to say it to the world. Say it, are you ready? Oh, unpopular opinion.
Speaker 2the world say it.
Speaker 1Are you ready? Oh, everybody, popular opinion, yeah, coming out. No, I'm probably gonna go fuck tiktok. Honestly, god, fuck tiktok, fuck the algorithm, fuck that platform. As of today, june 16th, I will delete that app. I just spent 30 days, 30 days, posting 30 good music trivia videos about popular artists did you start a new account? No, this account had 60 000 real followers on it.
Speaker 2Yeah, it was dormant for a long time, a long time so I did a an experiment.
Speaker 1I'm gonna do 30 reels of 15, 20 seconds yeah me. Green screen over top of picture of the artist. You know, did you know that rihanna got discovered because she was a backup singer, yeah, yeah, on a track. And then Did you lose followers? Probably yeah, and the last video I'm going to post on that account is going to be like fuck, tiktok Tonight. I love it All, right.
Speaker 2Well, this song has been big for me. Sorry for my language. Anxiety. Anxiety has been on a lot of requests, yes, so okay, this is a cool version. This is with deville's. This is deville's um brazil street. Deville can do no wrong in my opinion, so this has got that pitbull sample behind it is what I would consider it, but the original is brazil, so here's anxiety with that behind it. I think you could mix in and out of it quick anxiety keep on trying me.
Speaker 2I feel it quietly it's different when it's rap over something that has melody, but this is in key because this is real singing.
Speaker 1What's this sample originally? Is it in Calle? Ocho, it is that's where they took the sample from. That's a sample.
Speaker 2The song is called Brazil Interesting and the artist is Nicola Bassano. That's where the Calle Ocho comes from. Yeah, anyway, I worked it into a dance set. Went over massively that version of it.
Speaker 1Did you drop out of it and go to Calle Ocho? I did, yeah, nice, I love that.
Speaker 2Yeah, and I don't play that one regularly.
Speaker 1Yeah me neither. So this gave me a reason to do it, Because Pitbull has so many songs.
Speaker 2Yes.
Speaker 1You know what I was thinking about, man. That never took off and it came out a year or two ago was the it's my Life.
Speaker 2Pitbull with Bon Jovi on it. I never liked it. It's my Life in general.
Speaker 1I didn't either, but that's kind of like the first time I can. And even the Even the one with the jump around sample didn't take off that big. It's like I feel like he's just run his course. Now listen, if he goes out and does it in terms of making a current record that pops off on the dance floor, no Hotel room service. Yeah, yeah, calle.
Speaker 2Ocho, yeah, always Time of our life, yeah, that thing.
Speaker 1Timber. I mean I can name 50, but I'm saying those two tracks which came out in the last two to three years. Then neither one of them did well for me right now, me either jumping, and the other one was called um, whatever I just said the funny thing is I went to his concert yeah, in vegas, yeah and like every song was a banger it's like they're all hits.
Speaker 2He could. He could do an hour and a half.
Speaker 1Yeah, he did that that tour last year with Mark Anthony and somebody else, and there were 20,000 people there every night yeah, remember that video. I mean not Mark Anthony yeah, mark Anthony, and then old boy Enrique Enrique Iglesias and everybody was clowning him because he was so bad oh, he's bad, bad bad bad singer awful singer horrible singer a lot of studio work. A lot of tuning went into that A couple weeks ago, pitbull punched that guy in the face.
Speaker 2Yes, Did you see that video?
Speaker 1I did not see that Some dude he was playing. It looked like a small venue and the dude was in the crowd throwing money at him, which is kind of insulting to somebody who's got probably $100 million, kept doing it and then Pitbull reaches his hand out and pulls him up on stage, and then the guy kept doing it and literally took a stack of money and hit him in the face with it. Pitbull knocked his ass out. Good.
Speaker 2Yeah, crazy.
Speaker 1And the caption was like y'all forget Pitbull's from a bad neighborhood Like he's.
Speaker 2Miami.
Speaker 1Well, yeah, he's still from Miami. He might be three foot two, but he'll knock you out. He came from somewhere down bottom.
Speaker 2I guess. So I got one more. Blue is Flame you playing that. That's the Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco track.
Speaker 1I know that record. I tried to listen to it. I like her, I like him, but no.
Speaker 2It's been blowing up for me. Really not that version. I had to come on the dance floor on the dance floor, so this is frank williams version they made a whole album.
Speaker 1Have you listened to?
Speaker 2I haven't listened to it yet this is with a tracks blend of heads will roll. Can you believe there?
Speaker 1are a couple, I mean that does surprise me.
Speaker 2so it's later in the night. Now this is where it switches. So it's later in the night. Yeah, now this is where it switches. Yeah, so if you're playing to a current audience and you want to drop this record, I would do it in this context, not early, yeah.
Speaker 1But then here's what it changes.
Speaker 2So it goes into that part and then I went into the original of that Right right, so I didn't stick in it that long.
Scaling from Single to Multi-Op Business
Speaker 1Did, heads Will Roll, go over. It was great Really, yeah, not on the list, not on the list, that's a big pull. I mean I love that song, but I mean I just I don't ever pull it.
Speaker 2I couldn't play. I mean, I've tried to play the original and I just was Well.
Speaker 1Blue's Flame nor Heads Will Roll were on their list.
Speaker 2Neither no. No, I'm sorry, blue's Flame was on their list. Okay, I was trying to find a version that I could play.
Speaker 1The original wasn't going to work. I thought you just went raw like I'm going to try this.
Speaker 2No, no, no so anyway, just another track to kind of think through.
Speaker 1Good shit, good shit.
Speaker 2Brian B here. Yes, stellar podcast episode. But don't worry, this is a value add, not just me rambling. Have you enjoyed the music finds I share on here? You know the ones that Joe pretends he discovered first. Well, if you didn't know, I've got a Patreon where you can grab not only song lists but also exclusive edits of mine Yep, custom tracks. That'll set you apart from every DJ still rinsing the same tired wedding set. Want fresh music suggestions every month? Go to patreoncom forward. Slash DJ Brian B official. Again, that's patreoncom forward. Slash DJ Brian B official. You'll be the DJ. Everyone's trying to figure out how you keep your sets so fire and planners will start nudging their couples your way. And if that's not a hard enough sell, I don't know what is All right. Back to the episode. Before Joe tries to convince us that Sweet Caroline is actually a banger, let's hit the question. Okay, close it out, let's do it.
Speaker 1Jess.
Speaker 2Jess McKelvey, this is from Facebook. We put a little post out there and asked for some questions.
Speaker 1You want me to read it or you want to read it, go for it. She says I'm grateful that my brand and business are pulling in quality leads. I feel it would be unwise to not respond to the demand. What are the proper steps to take as a single op as they begin staffing DJs under their company name? I especially need to understand the taxes portion. I'm going to let you answer this, but before I let you answer it, I'm going to put a disclaimer out here. We are not lawyers, we are not accountants, we are not bookkeepers, we are not tax consultants or the IRS. So please consult with those people before you do anything.
Speaker 2When you first started. Let's just transition from single op to multi-op. I know you did that really quick and that was years and years ago. Did you think about those things? Did you have that part figured out or no? You just like paid them until you figured it out and then it was like, hey, I'm making a lot of money, I better deal with this. I don't remember man.
Speaker 1I mean, I just remember, you know, the first guy I ever hired was a guy named Greg Ramsey and I just said, hey, what do you think about coming on board for a year? I think I can build people as subcontractors, I mean.
Speaker 2I always have.
Speaker 1I've been through audits. I've consulted multiple people that are labor lawyers. That's their specialty.
Speaker 2So take that part out of it. If you're advising somebody new who is thinking about doing this, what would be your first recommendation? Not necessarily to pick between the two, but probably to consult with a tax person right.
Speaker 1I think the first thing I would do is consult with a really good account Before hiring your first person.
Speaker 2100%.
Speaker 1I mean, as you're hiring them. You know you could start hiring now. You can decide how you want to pay them later. You know. I mean, go ahead and start hiring these people If you're getting people that are asking for you and you're always booked. You need more DJs. It's time to scale up.
Speaker 1Jess, I've always said I think it is very difficult to, as a single operator, to make enough money to support yourself, your family, your house, your cars and everything else. I mean you're going to have to have either another side hustle or get paid to speak or do coaching or something else. There's not enough. Even if you can get $5,000 a show and 20 shows a year, that 20 shows a year, that's only $100,000. It's not enough money. You're going to have to scale. So I think it's time.
Speaker 1I'm happy to help you anytime, but I would definitely talk to a tax professional in terms of how you set up the company going forward, if it's an LLC or an S-corp or whatever. They're going to steer you in the right direction for that. I would talk to them about employees versus subcontractors as well. You don't want to get in trouble Again. Every state is different, laws are different, taxes are different. I mean a tax professional would probably be my first stop. But I would never not hire somebody that you think is ready right now, because all that stuff can be factored in on the back end. You need to start getting them in and indoctrinating them to your brand now.
Speaker 2The only thing I'd add to that is I would say any money that you take on bookings from these extra people, put that money that you're going to pay them in a separate account. Boom, because, uh, I've just heard horror stories saying of I'm talking from djs that I wanted to hire. They're like are you actually going to pay me, like my?
Speaker 1last company. Like I don't understand, we used to get djs all the time from this other company that just simply were not getting paid and I'm like how many shows are?
Speaker 2you doing in a row?
Speaker 1my children starve before. I wouldn't pay my djs, for christ's sake. That's insane.
Speaker 2I'd be out of business yeah, and that reputation it's you're cooked, you're cooked, you're cooked, yeah. So put that money at least at the very least for them that you're gonna use and don't spend it because looks, looks good in a bigger bank account that can be the death of you.
Speaker 1Whatever that book was, wasn't it Mike McAuliffe, or whoever that did the different buckets?
Speaker 2Yeah, profit first. Profit first. Was that Mike McAuliffe it?
Speaker 1was. Yeah, I know when Ramsey Right I knew he didn't come up with something that smart.
Speaker 2Oh, wow.
Speaker 1Oh geez Anyway.
Speaker 2Yeah, and beyond that. I mean. I mean you're talking more about accounting stuff, but I would just make sure that they are good people.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2If you're going to hire them, make sure that they are people that you would want to represent your brand, because that's the thing that can take the hit the quickest is all that good work that you've just gotten to be able to get to the point where you're at now to want to turn it into. It can go south really quick if they don't represent your brand well.
Speaker 1Yeah, if you're sending out the wrong people. Hire slow is my suggestion. I agree with that. Janai says that a lot too.
Speaker 2He's like don't don't build up too big.
Speaker 1Yeah, too quick, I agree. I've luckily not made that mistake, but I've definitely had some bad hires. I had people I thought were going to make it out of month one and they're still here 15 years later.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1I mean Mark McNally came straight from Ireland off the boat type thing. He would come pick up his check back when we were doing checks and I'd call Randy and be like, bro, we're sending this kid out to DJ. Like I can't understand a word he says.
Speaker 1But people loved him you know what I mean, he's cool right, and it was like yeah, it's cool, right, and it was like Randy, are we really doing this? Steve Stowe was like a you know, a bass player in a country band. He was here for 15 years and I mean, he was just like I don't know. I don't even know who 50 Cent is, you know. Oh, wow, bro. Are we really going to send this kid out?
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1I like George Jones and George Strait, and George is I'm like this dude's a redneck. Are we really going to send him out to play whatever in the club or whatever the hot song was back then?
Speaker 2Wow he was here for a long time man, he killed it.
Speaker 1Yeah, anyway, good stuff, good stuff. Jess, always happy to help you. You know, brian and I are super fans of yours, super fans, yeah, anyway.
Speaker 2Hit us up If you are liking the podcast, leave us some comments, show us some love, share it, comment, like it. All those things help us, help the algorithm, help us get this out to more DJs. If you want to see something for us to cover, a comment, a question that you want us to cover.
Speaker 1Put it in the chat, DM us. There's plenty of ways to get ahold of us. We'd love to add you to in there. You can leave reviews. You can also send a question in that we'll answer. Make sure you're watching this on YouTube on my channel. Make sure you're streaming it, where your list of podcasts comes out every single Wednesday, and shout out to our sponsor, dj Event Planner, again, djeventplannercom. Thanks everybody, see you back next week Later. Thank you.
