August 26, 2024 • 23 mins
Is DJing just about playing music and partying? Prepare to have your preconceptions shattered as we bring you the fascinating stories of Ilia, a beginner DJ managing a full-time job, and Nino, a seasoned professional with over two decades in the industry. Together, they reveal the extensive roles that DJs play beyond the turntables, like marketing, client management, and event coordination. Nino provides a glimpse into his world of leading a team and meeting high client expectations, while Ilia opens up about the sheer dedication it takes to balance his dual life. This conversation throws light on the often-overlooked persistence required to legitimize DJing as a viable career.
Running a DJ business is no walk in the park, and our guests share the nitty-gritty details behind the scenes. From tackling the heavy workload during tax season to maintaining impeccable service standards and creating original content for social media, we discuss it all. We emphasize that with enough dedication and hard work, turning your passion into a profession is indeed possible. Plus, we dive into personal stories about overcoming societal pressures and external doubts, highlighting the unwavering support from family and friends that fuels their journey. Whether you’re a budding creative or a seasoned pro, this episode is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration.
Visit our website: https://thecleverdj.com
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecleverdj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecleverdj?utm_source=qr&igsh=ZnRubWZnMjl1M3ln
YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCleverDJ
YouTube Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCleverDJClips
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecleverdj
TikTok: @TheCleverDJ
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ilia (00:12):
Welcome back to another episode of the Clever DJ Quick
intro about us, just in caseyou're tuning in for the first
time, whether it's on YouTube orany of the other platforms
which are just audio, if that'swhat works for you.
My name is Ilya and I've been aDJ for just about two years now
.
I am what is considered abeginner DJ getting up there,
(00:33):
though, and I've had a varietyof events.
I started DJing when I met thisguy beside me during one of the
events where I was a bartender,and he just took me on, and we
progressed from there.
Nino (00:47):
My name is Nino.
I'm a professional DJ.
I've been DJing for more than20 years.
I've been doing clubs and barsat the beginning.
Now I'm doing more privateevents and weddings and I have a
roster of 15 DJs under mycompany Nice, that's yeah,
that's nice man, you're beinghumble Modest.
Ilia (01:10):
Yeah, you have a pretty nice business Right now.
It's actually hard for us torecord a podcast because you
have what like 10 gigs a day.
Nino (01:19):
Five gigs a day depends on the week, right the thing is I
have a team but the problem is Ispearhead the company.
Right, the thing is, I have ateam, but the problem is I
spearhead the company, soeverybody wants me.
So I'm sure a lot of you guysknow that if you guys start your
own company you have the sameproblem.
Ilia (01:35):
They're like okay, well, I know you have a team, but can
we get you?
We saw you in the videos.
It's tough yeah.
Nino (01:41):
Everybody wants me.
If I can duplicate, triplicatemyself and make like 10 copies
of me, I would.
Ilia (01:51):
But yeah, it's not possible and uh, honestly, uh,
I'll keep one over here becausethere's a lot of work with this
podcast and, uh, yeah, it'll beeasier if you're around.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, of course,but that's the thing.
That's that's.
Djing is a very time-consuming.
Um, and, yeah, it'll be easierif you're around more often.
Oh yeah, of course, but that'sthe thing.
Djing is a very time-consumingand, very just a big business.
(02:13):
I'm not downplaying any otherbusiness, but what we're talking
about today is yeah, that kindof goes into our topic right.
It's tying into it because wewe're gonna discuss the
challenges, the challengingstereotypes around being a dj.
Uh, and you know have you?
Nino (02:30):
have this how's your parents or one of your friends
good, what do you get?
What do you do for a livinglike I'm a dj?
Oh, you get, you get.
Those looks are just so.
You're unemployed, unemployed,right.
Ilia (02:42):
Basically Following the dream right, especially when
you're in your 30s.
Oh, okay, oh really, I guess amidlife crisis came earlier, or
you're just taking on the hobbynow.
Nino (02:54):
huh, oh, you're playing with your little toys, okay.
Ilia (02:58):
And here's the thing.
Those stereotypes are therebecause often it could be true
If you're a bad jupe DJ, formost of us, for most of us in
the beginning, where it is ahobby, yeah, right.
And then also a lot of peopledon't believe that you can
actually make a living fromsomething like that, right,
(03:20):
because it's just like, like,how do you make money?
How do you?
Nino (03:23):
make money from partying and just playing music Right.
Ilia (03:26):
But that's what they see.
They think it's just partyingand playing music.
But there's so many things.
Nino (03:29):
There's so much things behind the scenes, right, that
you guys don't know that weactually do so much to it.
To get those events and to makemoney.
Ilia (03:37):
Yeah, this feels personal, but that's what we're here for
today, and Um but um, that'swhat we're here for today and
we're going to be discussingthat.
So being a DJ is more than justplaying music.
It's, it's a full fledgedbusiness.
Uh, it it's comprised ofusually one person in the
(03:58):
beginning and you're the DJ, butyou're the dj, but you're also
the um producer, and you're alsothe um marketer, content
creator, creator.
Uh, you're the coordinator.
You're like you have like 10different hats and sure you can
do it simpler.
but if you want to be reallysuccessful and for people to see
(04:20):
that it's not just a hobby, youneed either a team or you need
to be the team, and you got tobe very well managed in terms of
time yeah and here's the thinglike I have a full-time job and,
um, I gotta somehow have theenergy, after you know, eight
hours of doing it and doingovertime sometimes, to go and
practice or deal with my clientsor do whatever I got to do and
(04:45):
it takes, uh, it takes a lot ofeffort.
Nino (04:48):
Yeah, it does.
It does.
Like.
Managing your own DJ businessis not really a walk in the park
.
Right, it seems like it.
We're all fun and games andjust playing and partying all
the time.
But the backend there's so muchyou have to do like answering
client calls, trying to getthose gigs.
Like promoting, like marketing,is very tedious and sometimes
(05:09):
you market and you get no gigs.
Right, sometimes you put outads in Facebook and Instagram
and you don't get hits, but thenyou learn to work with it.
Right, you have to targetcertain clients or demographics
to demographics, to to hit Ilove it.
Yes, you need to, you need to dostuff like that right, and it
(05:30):
takes a while to get therebecause it's a lot, of, a lot of
um busy work sometimes it is.
Ilia (05:35):
That's what you're trying to say.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sorry forfinishing your thought, but like
I feel the same and I don'tknow.
I don't know if you experiencethis with your significant
experience, this with yoursignificant other, mm-hmm, I
don't know if you've actuallyexperienced this ever, but with
mine, what happens if I go to anevent and I stay longer or like
(05:59):
, hey hon, like I'm going toactually go there next.
I went to the and she's like soyou're just like hanging out.
You said you're working, butyou're just hanging out and
while it's true, I am having agood time, I'm networking.
It's extremely important.
It's called networking it'sextremely important.
(06:19):
It is, you need to.
We went on on vacation toprince edward county just like,
like, I had like a couple hoursof sleep.
This guy had a couple hours ofsleep for other reasons and
we're here now.
We're doing this right, becausethis is, like you know, one of
our DJing things, right, and andand the.
The guy who we called like 24hours prior to see if we want to
(06:42):
stay at that hotel ended upbeing this like party animal and
and he might've been drunk whenwe were talking to him, cause
he invited us to come and partywith him at the, at the, at the
Royal, you know, in toronto.
Oh, okay, and uh, like he.
It was not a regularconversation, it was like yo,
come, hang out with us, come tomy cottage after.
Uh, when you guys come toprince edward county, I'm like,
(07:05):
oh, we're going to this guy'shotel.
It was a boutique hotel, abeautiful hotel.
And then what I told her wasactually I didn't even have to
tell her she's like oh, I canalready see them, the network in
Ilya, uh, coming to you knowyou're just going to come with
me.
I just want to go and networkbecause this guy has all these
businesses and you guys just hitit off on the phone and I'm
(07:27):
like you know what?
That's what I do.
I network so I have a good time, but you network even on
vacation, right, and you have tofind the balance.
Nino (07:36):
You do, you do.
Ilia (07:38):
Do not piss anyone off and to not forget your own life.
Nino (07:41):
Yeah, yeah, like there's different levels too.
Man, I network as well, butback in the day I used to hang
out a lot more um with uh otherdjs and go to gigs with them.
Now I network uh more onlineand doing calls right, because
it's it's just the way it is,especially after business comes
(08:02):
to you, especially after thepandemic as well, too right, but
um, that's just the way it is,yeah, yeah yeah, and, and that's
the thing, like when, when I'm,when I network from the side, I
mean I think most people arelike that it looks like I'm just
partying.
Ilia (08:17):
It doesn't look like I'm working, it looks like I'm just
making excuses because I want tostay Right and it's just, it's
required.
And then when I, when I show itto her or anyone who was like,
oh, you were just partying allnight, you're not networking,
grow up.
And then when I show them hey,by the way, you remember when
you told me I was just partying,I got this gig, this gig and
that gig and I also got accessto all of this equipment.
(08:39):
Because of that, four hours Ispent there and I had a great
time.
Nino (08:43):
And that's what it is.
We get paid to party, so youhave to have that kind of
enthusiasm and just put yourselfout there to you have to be a
specific type of person yougotta.
You gotta be like a party animalkind of right.
So you have to show that youcan show you can have a good
time and that shows the peoplethat are thinking of booking you
or whatever partying with youthat might get you gigs that you
(09:07):
, you're a nice guy and peoplewill like you and one of the
most important things is beauthentic.
Ilia (09:13):
I could go to a bunch of gigs, uh, where there's lots of
networking potential, and but Idon't like those gigs or that
crowd, and just to get something, and you know, just to get in
the door, but I don't do that.
I don't do that because mostpeople will will read into you
and they'll see okay, you'rejust trying to get a gig, but I
go where I enjoy being like, Igo to places, like places where
(09:37):
I enjoy going, and then I alsoknow that there's opportunities
there, right, so you don't sellout.
Do what you love and but stillbe professional about it.
Yeah, so that's that, um, somany points here.
Uh, so that's that, um, so manypoints here.
Uh, that's a huge one.
And, man, I don't like doingthat, but I'm so calm when I do
(09:58):
it.
Right, because my life isorganized.
Uh, my business is organized,but managing finances and
booking gigs requires seriousbusiness skills.
So remember how we said you'rethe marketer, you're this, this,
that, you're also theaccountant, yeah, advisor,
everything like go ahead, tellthem how much you how much you
(10:19):
have to do.
Nino (10:19):
You're also the you're, you're, um, you're the
salesperson, right, you'reselling yourself, right.
If somebody calls you and uh,and ask for, like, um, how much
do you?
You, you charge, you're, you'rethere telling them all the
prices, why you should book meand not other uh djs, why you
stand out from the rest, you'reliterally trying to sell
(10:39):
yourself to them so they'll bookyou right and for your price as
well, the price that you want.
So it's not for everyone, noteverybody can sell themselves
properly.
But if you believe in, if youlove to do it and you, you, you
be pretty good at it.
Ilia (10:55):
I meant more from a perspective of managing the
finances.
Like, yes, the sales is a veryimportant part, but with a
business your size right, it'snot the biggest one I've seen,
but it's pretty large it'spretty serious.
You have lots of gigs.
You can't just ah, whatever,like another 500 bucks another
100 bucks, a thousand bucks,like.
Nino (11:15):
Everything has to be, yeah , organized.
You have to make sure, like I,organized, it has to pay for
itself, right?
Yeah, yeah, I organizeeverything for my events.
I everything cc'd on me.
Even if another dj is going tobe doing the event, everything's
.
The client will actually cc meand the dj, so I can see that
everybody's on the same page.
Then I have to gather all theum, like the itinerary, songs
(11:38):
and stuff, and you know, justmake sure everything's is good
and everything's flowing right,because the business has to keep
going and uh, yeah, and if youdon't, uh, if you don't so
you're also speaking about, likemanaging in general.
Ilia (11:52):
That's actually.
I almost skipped that, but yeah, that's also really important.
Nino (11:54):
But yeah, accounting and stuff is very tedious.
Ilia (11:57):
But overseeing has to be done it has to be done.
Nino (11:59):
Stuff like that has to be done I remember taxes.
Ilia (12:02):
Oh yes, I was just gonna say that.
I remember calling you, uh, afew, a few months ago, and I'm
like, what are you up to like?
Oh, just doing taxes and justdoing taxes.
And I'm like, oh, that sucks.
I could hear the heaviness inyour voice because it was tax
season and I know, with yourbusiness, with your corporation,
everything you have to writeoff, everything you have to
(12:23):
declare, and then you have allthose 15 plus people working for
you, and then all the thingsyou give to other businesses and
then, like you said, managingYou're also a manager.
If you have people working foryou now, you've got to make sure
they're not screwing up yourbusiness.
Yeah Right, that's a big one.
Nino (12:44):
The level of service that you provide has to be straight
throughout the board.
Everybody has to provide thehighest level of service as
possible to keep repeat business.
And also creating originalcontent to stay ahead of the
curve, to stay current,Especially now everything's
online, you have to be able toput out content that's original,
(13:06):
that people will like, so youcan get booked more online as
well, not just through marketingand stuff like through
Instagram, YouTube, TikTok.
Yeah, you're just making videosand creating that content
that'll grab people's attentionto make them want to book you if
they have an event, right.
Ilia (13:28):
If you don't like Instagram, youtube, tiktok, you
just don't like social media.
Nobody's saying that you're notgoing to be a good DJ, but
you're definitely shootingsomething.
You're behind.
Nino (13:37):
You're behind the curve for sure.
You're leaving so many gigs andopportunities off the table if
you're not doing social media.
Ilia (13:44):
Your promotion is mostly going to be on those platforms,
yeah, unless you're a differenttype of DJ.
But still, most DJs I seethat's that's how they get
(14:14):
promoted.
That's a really where you are.
It's not usually your ownwebsite, unless you're very
popular, right, and then in thatcase, in that case, you already
have where living.
The dream is fulfilling yourown vision through dedication,
dedication, hard work and justlike realizing what you love and
making it happen.
Now, a lot of people will bejealous or or just, through no
fault of their own, notbelieving that's even possible.
Come on.
Nino (14:31):
You know what they say.
They um, if you love what youdo, you're not working a day
like in your like in your life,right?
So it feels like You're playingor just having a good time, but
you're making money out of it.
So you tend to look youngerbecause you're less stressed and
you love what you're doing.
(14:52):
It shows in your art form whatyou do and you know people get
jealous of that stuff becausethey can't do it.
Ilia (14:59):
Yeah, that's what I find Either jealous or they just
literally don't believe thatthat's possible.
It's not no jealousy, just thatthey don't believe't believe
that that's possible.
Nino (15:06):
It's not no jealousy, just that they don't believe it.
Hey man, anybody, everybodyshould be following their dreams
.
Ilia (15:09):
We only have one life, so yeah as far as, as far as we
know, right.
Nino (15:14):
Or a cat or something.
Ilia (15:17):
Sometimes I wonder uh, but um, I, I, I noticed that into
my thirties I noticed how I justI had enough pursuing certain
like I wasn't even going forcorporate I was going for other
other type of work.
Nino (15:33):
Yeah, is this just money driven?
So it's like I have to makemoney so I have to do something
Right.
There's no right.
Ilia (15:39):
No, and now people are becoming more like, aware of
that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,that hey.
Like I don't actually have togo to school unless I want to be
a doctor or something like that.
Right.
Nino (15:48):
Yeah, the only things you have to go to school for, I find
, is accounting, a lawyer or adoctor.
Those are the only things.
Anything else you can do it onyour own.
You can do it online.
Ilia (16:05):
I'm sure there's a few more things in between.
Well, yeah, but most those,those are the top things.
Right, right and um, somethingthat requires some sort of
license, accreditation, like tobe accredited, right, um, and
I'm sure you can learn, uh, howto be a doctor online too as
well.
Nino (16:15):
But, yeah, sure, yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't want to that
doctor working on.
Ilia (16:19):
You want to go to a doctor who got his online doctorate.
What is that website calledCoursera?
Yeah, I became a doctor onCoursera.
No, I know, I know, but uh,yeah, there's just so much.
So much to this, uh, toactually being a DJ, realizing
the dream.
Another very important point isand and that's what we said
(16:42):
about this podcast when westarted If this is not a hobby
in your eyes, treat it like abusiness.
Oh, I don't have time.
Oh, it's too hard.
Oh, well, it's not realistic,okay, then it's a hobby.
If it's not a hobby, treat itlike a business.
You treat it like a business.
It's going to react like abusiness.
It's going to give you theresults of a business, a
(17:03):
successful business, and otherswill notice it too.
Here's an example I have a verysupportive family friends,
girlfriend, you know, evenstrangers, you know like they
can see my energy.
They, you know, they support me.
My parents, even though they'resupportive, they're also, you
know, they're dreamers, butthey're also very realistic.
I suppose old people are, yeah,and you know my parents are not,
(17:27):
like, they're fairly young, butstill, you know, from that
generation, they will think that, okay, you want to be a
musician, Like maybe you need abackup.
And you know, I studiedcomputers, I studied law
enforcement, I studied, likelots of different things.
I have a government, federalgovernment job right now.
(17:51):
Uh, there's lots of stuff that,uh, I did.
But I always somehow wenttowards music.
I always, like, every year, Igot a few opportunities and I
normally did not take thembecause I was like, yeah,
they're right, everyone's right.
I mean, how do you make moneyfrom this?
As soon as I switched mymindset, as soon as I was like
you know what, even if I'm notgoing to make any money out of
it, even if it's going to remaina hobby, I'm going to treat it
(18:13):
the way I want.
I'm going to treat itprofessionally and get what I
want out of it with my attitude.
Hopefully that works.
And you know what Things startworking out almost immediately,
right, all these opportunitiesthat were knocking on my door.
Finally I accepted them thecorrect way.
And guess what?
Everyone who wasn't sure.
(18:34):
Not because they meant anythingbad for me, just because they
actually want to protect me andmake sure that you know I don't
waste my time or my talent, myyounger years.
They're like oh, you know what,good job.
Oh, good luck on the next gig.
Oh, how's it going?
Like suddenly everythingshifted right.
I mean my parents, my sister,you know my closest friends.
(18:54):
They always supported me.
But you could see the fear andthe doubt, like, wow, you have a
backup plan.
Now they Just in case, right?
Nino (19:06):
Now they're like oh, keep at it right, yeah, right, like
because you can see that that isgoing somewhere, right?
Ilia (19:08):
so this is the reason why I'm saying this exactly, and the
reason why I'm saying isbecause, to those who are 18
years old, even 12, 15 years oldif you're watching um, the, the
ones who who maybe don't havethat support and even get
bullied because of what theylike to do, hopefully, hopefully
(19:31):
, you can resonate with us,listen to us and understand that
you can get to where you wantto get to.
Sure, there are certaincircumstances in life that I
cannot talk about because youknow I cannot generalize
everything, but for the most,part.
Nino (19:45):
Everybody has difference, their own situation, right.
Ilia (19:47):
You never know but for the most part you can get it done.
You can do it, I've seenathletes without limbs running,
jumping, just the olympics didyou see them break dancing?
Nino (19:58):
I was like what the one leg?
I didn't see that heck.
Ilia (20:03):
So I was like amazing so I didn't actually see that, but
uh, yeah, it is the olympics now, so it was a job bringing it up
.
I didn't think incredibleincredible.
Nino (20:10):
I was like, wow, mind blown, they got standing ovation
because of that.
Ilia (20:13):
Yeah, yeah, it was crazy so, and that's the thing here.
You are thinking, oh well, youknow I'm a single parent, or, uh
, you know I don't have time, orI already have two jobs, or you
know I have some sort ofdisability potentially they
literally have no limbs ormissing a limb or something like
that, and they're in theolympics.
Nino (20:34):
They got it done, doing something sports, they're
literally an inspiration rightsay if they can do it, you can.
Can do it with all your limbs.
Ilia (20:43):
Yeah, no excuses.
How about music?
I've seen street artistsplaying the guitar with their
toes.
Yeah, because they have nohands, no arms, no fingers,
nothing.
Yeah, with their toes.
And it was beautiful.
Yeah, if you want to dosomething, you can make it
happen.
Let's go for it.
All right, Like it's just,these are extreme, extreme
(21:05):
examples.
But you're telling me you canwake up a little earlier, it can
be a little bit moreresponsible and hopefully it
wakes you up when you just youknow you go for it, right.
Nino (21:14):
Yeah, you go, do what you got to do if you, if you need to
be realistic, get a job, butstill work on it when you have
the time.
Ilia (21:21):
So when you have the time, so yeah, so you can definitely
make it happen if you want tomake it happen, and everyone
will stop treating it as a hobbyfor you when you show them that
this is more than that.
And also, who cares what otherpeople are?
saying but in case you do care,this is what you got to do.
Now, tell us what kind ofissues are you facing.
(21:43):
Do you have some sort ofspecific issue we did not bring
up here, something we did notdiscuss, you know?
I mean, this is what's coolabout this podcast.
I'm a beginner, he's a pro, andwe're just kind of bridging the
gap between us.
Yeah, so you can get lots ofcool advice from us, some stuff
that he might not think aboutbecause it was 20 years ago for
(22:03):
him and yeah, it's, it's justcoming for you, right.
Yeah, or something that I havenot experienced yet and you're
gonna be able to do.
Yeah, there's a lot of talkabout.
Nino (22:11):
You guys have a lot of experiences as well that we
haven't gone through.
Right.
Everybody's has their ownoriginal stuff that they've done
and gone through, so let usknow if you guys have any any
experiences that you've, uh,gone through yeah, in the
comments, uh, wherever you watch, uh, our podcast youtube.
Ilia (22:28):
We have a youtube podcast channel where we upload only the
podcast, the the full podcastepisodes.
We have a youtube clips channelwhere it's just the shorts and,
uh, we have tiktok.
Um, we have, we we're Facebook.
Nino (22:44):
Everything's on the description below.
Ilia (22:46):
Everything is below.
We have an email address, soyou can definitely contact us in
many ways, and soon we'll havea phone number as well where you
can call in, and a newsletter,fan mail, all that stuff.
So let us know, let us knowwhat you think and what you'd
like us to cover, whether it'sthis topic or anything else.
But, uh, for now, I thinkthat's it.
(23:08):
That was a pretty good episode,yeah, yeah, let's end it on
this note and good luck with allyour wishes, anything you wish
for yourself, whatever creative,uh field you're in.
Nino (23:19):
We'll see you in the next one.
Guys.
See you, then We'll see younext time.
Welcome back to another episode of the Clever DJ Quick
intro about us, just in caseyou're tuning in for the first
time, whether it's on YouTube orany of the other platforms
which are just audio, if that'swhat works for you.
My name is Ilya and I've been aDJ for just about two years now
.
I am what is considered abeginner DJ getting up there,
(00:33):
though, and I've had a varietyof events.
I started DJing when I met thisguy beside me during one of the
events where I was a bartender,and he just took me on, and we
progressed from there.
Nino (00:47):
My name is Nino.
I'm a professional DJ.
I've been DJing for more than20 years.
I've been doing clubs and barsat the beginning.
Now I'm doing more privateevents and weddings and I have a
roster of 15 DJs under mycompany Nice, that's yeah,
that's nice man, you're beinghumble Modest.
Ilia (01:10):
Yeah, you have a pretty nice business Right now.
It's actually hard for us torecord a podcast because you
have what like 10 gigs a day.
Nino (01:19):
Five gigs a day depends on the week, right the thing is I
have a team but the problem is Ispearhead the company.
Right, the thing is, I have ateam, but the problem is I
spearhead the company, soeverybody wants me.
So I'm sure a lot of you guysknow that if you guys start your
own company you have the sameproblem.
Ilia (01:35):
They're like okay, well, I know you have a team, but can
we get you?
We saw you in the videos.
It's tough yeah.
Nino (01:41):
Everybody wants me.
If I can duplicate, triplicatemyself and make like 10 copies
of me, I would.
Ilia (01:51):
But yeah, it's not possible and uh, honestly, uh,
I'll keep one over here becausethere's a lot of work with this
podcast and, uh, yeah, it'll beeasier if you're around.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, of course,but that's the thing.
That's that's.
Djing is a very time-consuming.
Um, and, yeah, it'll be easierif you're around more often.
Oh yeah, of course, but that'sthe thing.
Djing is a very time-consumingand, very just a big business.
(02:13):
I'm not downplaying any otherbusiness, but what we're talking
about today is yeah, that kindof goes into our topic right.
It's tying into it because wewe're gonna discuss the
challenges, the challengingstereotypes around being a dj.
Uh, and you know have you?
Nino (02:30):
have this how's your parents or one of your friends
good, what do you get?
What do you do for a livinglike I'm a dj?
Oh, you get, you get.
Those looks are just so.
You're unemployed, unemployed,right.
Ilia (02:42):
Basically Following the dream right, especially when
you're in your 30s.
Oh, okay, oh really, I guess amidlife crisis came earlier, or
you're just taking on the hobbynow.
Nino (02:54):
huh, oh, you're playing with your little toys, okay.
Ilia (02:58):
And here's the thing.
Those stereotypes are therebecause often it could be true
If you're a bad jupe DJ, formost of us, for most of us in
the beginning, where it is ahobby, yeah, right.
And then also a lot of peopledon't believe that you can
actually make a living fromsomething like that, right,
(03:20):
because it's just like, like,how do you make money?
How do you?
Nino (03:23):
make money from partying and just playing music Right.
Ilia (03:26):
But that's what they see.
They think it's just partyingand playing music.
But there's so many things.
Nino (03:29):
There's so much things behind the scenes, right, that
you guys don't know that weactually do so much to it.
To get those events and to makemoney.
Ilia (03:37):
Yeah, this feels personal, but that's what we're here for
today, and Um but um, that'swhat we're here for today and
we're going to be discussingthat.
So being a DJ is more than justplaying music.
It's, it's a full fledgedbusiness.
Uh, it it's comprised ofusually one person in the
(03:58):
beginning and you're the DJ, butyou're the dj, but you're also
the um producer, and you're alsothe um marketer, content
creator, creator.
Uh, you're the coordinator.
You're like you have like 10different hats and sure you can
do it simpler.
but if you want to be reallysuccessful and for people to see
(04:20):
that it's not just a hobby, youneed either a team or you need
to be the team, and you got tobe very well managed in terms of
time yeah and here's the thinglike I have a full-time job and,
um, I gotta somehow have theenergy, after you know, eight
hours of doing it and doingovertime sometimes, to go and
practice or deal with my clientsor do whatever I got to do and
(04:45):
it takes, uh, it takes a lot ofeffort.
Nino (04:48):
Yeah, it does.
It does.
Like.
Managing your own DJ businessis not really a walk in the park
.
Right, it seems like it.
We're all fun and games andjust playing and partying all
the time.
But the backend there's so muchyou have to do like answering
client calls, trying to getthose gigs.
Like promoting, like marketing,is very tedious and sometimes
(05:09):
you market and you get no gigs.
Right, sometimes you put outads in Facebook and Instagram
and you don't get hits, but thenyou learn to work with it.
Right, you have to targetcertain clients or demographics
to demographics, to to hit Ilove it.
Yes, you need to, you need to dostuff like that right, and it
(05:30):
takes a while to get therebecause it's a lot, of, a lot of
um busy work sometimes it is.
Ilia (05:35):
That's what you're trying to say.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sorry forfinishing your thought, but like
I feel the same and I don'tknow.
I don't know if you experiencethis with your significant
experience, this with yoursignificant other, mm-hmm, I
don't know if you've actuallyexperienced this ever, but with
mine, what happens if I go to anevent and I stay longer or like
(05:59):
, hey hon, like I'm going toactually go there next.
I went to the and she's like soyou're just like hanging out.
You said you're working, butyou're just hanging out and
while it's true, I am having agood time, I'm networking.
It's extremely important.
It's called networking it'sextremely important.
(06:19):
It is, you need to.
We went on on vacation toprince edward county just like,
like, I had like a couple hoursof sleep.
This guy had a couple hours ofsleep for other reasons and
we're here now.
We're doing this right, becausethis is, like you know, one of
our DJing things, right, and andand the.
The guy who we called like 24hours prior to see if we want to
(06:42):
stay at that hotel ended upbeing this like party animal and
and he might've been drunk whenwe were talking to him, cause
he invited us to come and partywith him at the, at the, at the
Royal, you know, in toronto.
Oh, okay, and uh, like he.
It was not a regularconversation, it was like yo,
come, hang out with us, come tomy cottage after.
Uh, when you guys come toprince edward county, I'm like,
(07:05):
oh, we're going to this guy'shotel.
It was a boutique hotel, abeautiful hotel.
And then what I told her wasactually I didn't even have to
tell her she's like oh, I canalready see them, the network in
Ilya, uh, coming to you knowyou're just going to come with
me.
I just want to go and networkbecause this guy has all these
businesses and you guys just hitit off on the phone and I'm
(07:27):
like you know what?
That's what I do.
I network so I have a good time, but you network even on
vacation, right, and you have tofind the balance.
Nino (07:36):
You do, you do.
Ilia (07:38):
Do not piss anyone off and to not forget your own life.
Nino (07:41):
Yeah, yeah, like there's different levels too.
Man, I network as well, butback in the day I used to hang
out a lot more um with uh otherdjs and go to gigs with them.
Now I network uh more onlineand doing calls right, because
it's it's just the way it is,especially after business comes
(08:02):
to you, especially after thepandemic as well, too right, but
um, that's just the way it is,yeah, yeah yeah, and, and that's
the thing, like when, when I'm,when I network from the side, I
mean I think most people arelike that it looks like I'm just
partying.
Ilia (08:17):
It doesn't look like I'm working, it looks like I'm just
making excuses because I want tostay Right and it's just, it's
required.
And then when I, when I show itto her or anyone who was like,
oh, you were just partying allnight, you're not networking,
grow up.
And then when I show them hey,by the way, you remember when
you told me I was just partying,I got this gig, this gig and
that gig and I also got accessto all of this equipment.
(08:39):
Because of that, four hours Ispent there and I had a great
time.
Nino (08:43):
And that's what it is.
We get paid to party, so youhave to have that kind of
enthusiasm and just put yourselfout there to you have to be a
specific type of person yougotta.
You gotta be like a party animalkind of right.
So you have to show that youcan show you can have a good
time and that shows the peoplethat are thinking of booking you
or whatever partying with youthat might get you gigs that you
(09:07):
, you're a nice guy and peoplewill like you and one of the
most important things is beauthentic.
Ilia (09:13):
I could go to a bunch of gigs, uh, where there's lots of
networking potential, and but Idon't like those gigs or that
crowd, and just to get something, and you know, just to get in
the door, but I don't do that.
I don't do that because mostpeople will will read into you
and they'll see okay, you'rejust trying to get a gig, but I
go where I enjoy being like, Igo to places, like places where
(09:37):
I enjoy going, and then I alsoknow that there's opportunities
there, right, so you don't sellout.
Do what you love and but stillbe professional about it.
Yeah, so that's that, um, somany points here.
Uh, so that's that, um, so manypoints here.
Uh, that's a huge one.
And, man, I don't like doingthat, but I'm so calm when I do
(09:58):
it.
Right, because my life isorganized.
Uh, my business is organized,but managing finances and
booking gigs requires seriousbusiness skills.
So remember how we said you'rethe marketer, you're this, this,
that, you're also theaccountant, yeah, advisor,
everything like go ahead, tellthem how much you how much you
(10:19):
have to do.
Nino (10:19):
You're also the you're, you're, um, you're the
salesperson, right, you'reselling yourself, right.
If somebody calls you and uh,and ask for, like, um, how much
do you?
You, you charge, you're, you'rethere telling them all the
prices, why you should book meand not other uh djs, why you
stand out from the rest, you'reliterally trying to sell
(10:39):
yourself to them so they'll bookyou right and for your price as
well, the price that you want.
So it's not for everyone, noteverybody can sell themselves
properly.
But if you believe in, if youlove to do it and you, you, you
be pretty good at it.
Ilia (10:55):
I meant more from a perspective of managing the
finances.
Like, yes, the sales is a veryimportant part, but with a
business your size right, it'snot the biggest one I've seen,
but it's pretty large it'spretty serious.
You have lots of gigs.
You can't just ah, whatever,like another 500 bucks another
100 bucks, a thousand bucks,like.
Nino (11:15):
Everything has to be, yeah , organized.
You have to make sure, like I,organized, it has to pay for
itself, right?
Yeah, yeah, I organizeeverything for my events.
I everything cc'd on me.
Even if another dj is going tobe doing the event, everything's
.
The client will actually cc meand the dj, so I can see that
everybody's on the same page.
Then I have to gather all theum, like the itinerary, songs
(11:38):
and stuff, and you know, justmake sure everything's is good
and everything's flowing right,because the business has to keep
going and uh, yeah, and if youdon't, uh, if you don't so
you're also speaking about, likemanaging in general.
Ilia (11:52):
That's actually.
I almost skipped that, but yeah, that's also really important.
Nino (11:54):
But yeah, accounting and stuff is very tedious.
Ilia (11:57):
But overseeing has to be done it has to be done.
Nino (11:59):
Stuff like that has to be done I remember taxes.
Ilia (12:02):
Oh yes, I was just gonna say that.
I remember calling you, uh, afew, a few months ago, and I'm
like, what are you up to like?
Oh, just doing taxes and justdoing taxes.
And I'm like, oh, that sucks.
I could hear the heaviness inyour voice because it was tax
season and I know, with yourbusiness, with your corporation,
everything you have to writeoff, everything you have to
(12:23):
declare, and then you have allthose 15 plus people working for
you, and then all the thingsyou give to other businesses and
then, like you said, managingYou're also a manager.
If you have people working foryou now, you've got to make sure
they're not screwing up yourbusiness.
Yeah Right, that's a big one.
Nino (12:44):
The level of service that you provide has to be straight
throughout the board.
Everybody has to provide thehighest level of service as
possible to keep repeat business.
And also creating originalcontent to stay ahead of the
curve, to stay current,Especially now everything's
online, you have to be able toput out content that's original,
(13:06):
that people will like, so youcan get booked more online as
well, not just through marketingand stuff like through
Instagram, YouTube, TikTok.
Yeah, you're just making videosand creating that content
that'll grab people's attentionto make them want to book you if
they have an event, right.
Ilia (13:28):
If you don't like Instagram, youtube, tiktok, you
just don't like social media.
Nobody's saying that you're notgoing to be a good DJ, but
you're definitely shootingsomething.
You're behind.
Nino (13:37):
You're behind the curve for sure.
You're leaving so many gigs andopportunities off the table if
you're not doing social media.
Ilia (13:44):
Your promotion is mostly going to be on those platforms,
yeah, unless you're a differenttype of DJ.
But still, most DJs I seethat's that's how they get
(14:14):
promoted.
That's a really where you are.
It's not usually your ownwebsite, unless you're very
popular, right, and then in thatcase, in that case, you already
have where living.
The dream is fulfilling yourown vision through dedication,
dedication, hard work and justlike realizing what you love and
making it happen.
Now, a lot of people will bejealous or or just, through no
fault of their own, notbelieving that's even possible.
Come on.
Nino (14:31):
You know what they say.
They um, if you love what youdo, you're not working a day
like in your like in your life,right?
So it feels like You're playingor just having a good time, but
you're making money out of it.
So you tend to look youngerbecause you're less stressed and
you love what you're doing.
(14:52):
It shows in your art form whatyou do and you know people get
jealous of that stuff becausethey can't do it.
Ilia (14:59):
Yeah, that's what I find Either jealous or they just
literally don't believe thatthat's possible.
It's not no jealousy, just thatthey don't believe't believe
that that's possible.
Nino (15:06):
It's not no jealousy, just that they don't believe it.
Hey man, anybody, everybodyshould be following their dreams
.
Ilia (15:09):
We only have one life, so yeah as far as, as far as we
know, right.
Nino (15:14):
Or a cat or something.
Ilia (15:17):
Sometimes I wonder uh, but um, I, I, I noticed that into
my thirties I noticed how I justI had enough pursuing certain
like I wasn't even going forcorporate I was going for other
other type of work.
Nino (15:33):
Yeah, is this just money driven?
So it's like I have to makemoney so I have to do something
Right.
There's no right.
Ilia (15:39):
No, and now people are becoming more like, aware of
that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,that hey.
Like I don't actually have togo to school unless I want to be
a doctor or something like that.
Right.
Nino (15:48):
Yeah, the only things you have to go to school for, I find
, is accounting, a lawyer or adoctor.
Those are the only things.
Anything else you can do it onyour own.
You can do it online.
Ilia (16:05):
I'm sure there's a few more things in between.
Well, yeah, but most those,those are the top things.
Right, right and um, somethingthat requires some sort of
license, accreditation, like tobe accredited, right, um, and
I'm sure you can learn, uh, howto be a doctor online too as
well.
Nino (16:15):
But, yeah, sure, yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't want to that
doctor working on.
Ilia (16:19):
You want to go to a doctor who got his online doctorate.
What is that website calledCoursera?
Yeah, I became a doctor onCoursera.
No, I know, I know, but uh,yeah, there's just so much.
So much to this, uh, toactually being a DJ, realizing
the dream.
Another very important point isand and that's what we said
(16:42):
about this podcast when westarted If this is not a hobby
in your eyes, treat it like abusiness.
Oh, I don't have time.
Oh, it's too hard.
Oh, well, it's not realistic,okay, then it's a hobby.
If it's not a hobby, treat itlike a business.
You treat it like a business.
It's going to react like abusiness.
It's going to give you theresults of a business, a
(17:03):
successful business, and otherswill notice it too.
Here's an example I have a verysupportive family friends,
girlfriend, you know, evenstrangers, you know like they
can see my energy.
They, you know, they support me.
My parents, even though they'resupportive, they're also, you
know, they're dreamers, butthey're also very realistic.
I suppose old people are, yeah,and you know my parents are not,
(17:27):
like, they're fairly young, butstill, you know, from that
generation, they will think that, okay, you want to be a
musician, Like maybe you need abackup.
And you know, I studiedcomputers, I studied law
enforcement, I studied, likelots of different things.
I have a government, federalgovernment job right now.
(17:51):
Uh, there's lots of stuff that,uh, I did.
But I always somehow wenttowards music.
I always, like, every year, Igot a few opportunities and I
normally did not take thembecause I was like, yeah,
they're right, everyone's right.
I mean, how do you make moneyfrom this?
As soon as I switched mymindset, as soon as I was like
you know what, even if I'm notgoing to make any money out of
it, even if it's going to remaina hobby, I'm going to treat it
(18:13):
the way I want.
I'm going to treat itprofessionally and get what I
want out of it with my attitude.
Hopefully that works.
And you know what Things startworking out almost immediately,
right, all these opportunitiesthat were knocking on my door.
Finally I accepted them thecorrect way.
And guess what?
Everyone who wasn't sure.
(18:34):
Not because they meant anythingbad for me, just because they
actually want to protect me andmake sure that you know I don't
waste my time or my talent, myyounger years.
They're like oh, you know what,good job.
Oh, good luck on the next gig.
Oh, how's it going?
Like suddenly everythingshifted right.
I mean my parents, my sister,you know my closest friends.
(18:54):
They always supported me.
But you could see the fear andthe doubt, like, wow, you have a
backup plan.
Now they Just in case, right?
Nino (19:06):
Now they're like oh, keep at it right, yeah, right, like
because you can see that that isgoing somewhere, right?
Ilia (19:08):
so this is the reason why I'm saying this exactly, and the
reason why I'm saying isbecause, to those who are 18
years old, even 12, 15 years oldif you're watching um, the, the
ones who who maybe don't havethat support and even get
bullied because of what theylike to do, hopefully, hopefully
(19:31):
, you can resonate with us,listen to us and understand that
you can get to where you wantto get to.
Sure, there are certaincircumstances in life that I
cannot talk about because youknow I cannot generalize
everything, but for the most,part.
Nino (19:45):
Everybody has difference, their own situation, right.
Ilia (19:47):
You never know but for the most part you can get it done.
You can do it, I've seenathletes without limbs running,
jumping, just the olympics didyou see them break dancing?
Nino (19:58):
I was like what the one leg?
I didn't see that heck.
Ilia (20:03):
So I was like amazing so I didn't actually see that, but
uh, yeah, it is the olympics now, so it was a job bringing it up
.
I didn't think incredibleincredible.
Nino (20:10):
I was like, wow, mind blown, they got standing ovation
because of that.
Ilia (20:13):
Yeah, yeah, it was crazy so, and that's the thing here.
You are thinking, oh well, youknow I'm a single parent, or, uh
, you know I don't have time, orI already have two jobs, or you
know I have some sort ofdisability potentially they
literally have no limbs ormissing a limb or something like
that, and they're in theolympics.
Nino (20:34):
They got it done, doing something sports, they're
literally an inspiration rightsay if they can do it, you can.
Can do it with all your limbs.
Ilia (20:43):
Yeah, no excuses.
How about music?
I've seen street artistsplaying the guitar with their
toes.
Yeah, because they have nohands, no arms, no fingers,
nothing.
Yeah, with their toes.
And it was beautiful.
Yeah, if you want to dosomething, you can make it
happen.
Let's go for it.
All right, Like it's just,these are extreme, extreme
(21:05):
examples.
But you're telling me you canwake up a little earlier, it can
be a little bit moreresponsible and hopefully it
wakes you up when you just youknow you go for it, right.
Nino (21:14):
Yeah, you go, do what you got to do if you, if you need to
be realistic, get a job, butstill work on it when you have
the time.
Ilia (21:21):
So when you have the time, so yeah, so you can definitely
make it happen if you want tomake it happen, and everyone
will stop treating it as a hobbyfor you when you show them that
this is more than that.
And also, who cares what otherpeople are?
saying but in case you do care,this is what you got to do.
Now, tell us what kind ofissues are you facing.
(21:43):
Do you have some sort ofspecific issue we did not bring
up here, something we did notdiscuss, you know?
I mean, this is what's coolabout this podcast.
I'm a beginner, he's a pro, andwe're just kind of bridging the
gap between us.
Yeah, so you can get lots ofcool advice from us, some stuff
that he might not think aboutbecause it was 20 years ago for
(22:03):
him and yeah, it's, it's justcoming for you, right.
Yeah, or something that I havenot experienced yet and you're
gonna be able to do.
Yeah, there's a lot of talkabout.
Nino (22:11):
You guys have a lot of experiences as well that we
haven't gone through.
Right.
Everybody's has their ownoriginal stuff that they've done
and gone through, so let usknow if you guys have any any
experiences that you've, uh,gone through yeah, in the
comments, uh, wherever you watch, uh, our podcast youtube.
Ilia (22:28):
We have a youtube podcast channel where we upload only the
podcast, the the full podcastepisodes.
We have a youtube clips channelwhere it's just the shorts and,
uh, we have tiktok.
Um, we have, we we're Facebook.
Nino (22:44):
Everything's on the description below.
Ilia (22:46):
Everything is below.
We have an email address, soyou can definitely contact us in
many ways, and soon we'll havea phone number as well where you
can call in, and a newsletter,fan mail, all that stuff.
So let us know, let us knowwhat you think and what you'd
like us to cover, whether it'sthis topic or anything else.
But, uh, for now, I thinkthat's it.
(23:08):
That was a pretty good episode,yeah, yeah, let's end it on
this note and good luck with allyour wishes, anything you wish
for yourself, whatever creative,uh field you're in.
Nino (23:19):
We'll see you in the next one.
Guys.
See you, then We'll see younext time.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.