Issue 192 - March 2018 - Women Who Run The Show by Mobile Beat Magazine

ISSUE 192 MARCH 2018

Women Who Run the Show PLUS: MBLV22 Recap

WWW.MOBILEBEAT.COM

Women Who Run the Show

Cover photo by Jake Klein: DJ Dayna performing at DJ Takeover, MBLV21, Tropicana, March 2017

PLAYLIST M O B I L E M AT T E R S........................................................ 6

“Can I Get a Price Quote?” By Matt Martindale M I D W E E K M O N E Y....................................................... 10

The 1 IDEA Solution! By Rob Johnson S PE C I A L F E AT U R E....................................................... 1 2

Mobile Beat Las Vegas! Text & Attendee Headshots by Mike Cordeiro Photos by Jake Kleinfeld P R O D J F I L E S................................................................16

Jodi Harris: CEO of FUN By Michael Cordeiro P R O D J F I L E S............................................................... 20

“Party Pam” Millan By Mike “Dr Frankenstand” Ryan F E AT U R E . . .................................................................. 22

Building Your Crew By Cordell Riley P L AY S O M E T H I N G W E CAN DAN C E TO.. ........................ 26

Celebrating Female Artists By Jay Maxwell S C O O P....................................................................... 28

Cerwin-Vega CVE Series Powered Bluetooth Speakers By Mark Evans F E AT U R E . . .................................................................. 30

The Doom and Gloom Report: The Robots Are Coming!

A DV E R T I S E R S Audio-Technica

www.audio-technica.com

Bose

www.bose.com/f1

D.A.S. Audio

www.dasaudio.com

DigiGames

www.digigames.com

DJ Trivia

www.djtrivia.com

Full Compass

www.fullcompass.com/dj

Innovative LED

www.innovativeledsales.com

Mobile Beat Cruise

www.mobilebeatcruise.com

Mobile Beat Las Vegas

www.mobilebeatlasvegas.com

Play Something We Can Dance To!

www.mobilebeat.com/store

ProX

www.proxdirect.com

QSC

www.qsc.com

RCF

www.rcf-usa.com

Stage Spot

www.stagespot.com

By Stu Chisholm

Publisher Ryan Burger Mobile Beat Editor-in-Chief Dan Walsh

Events Director Jake Feldman Circulation Manager Kitty Harr

Editorial Assistant / Writer Rebecca Burger Events Director Emeritus Michael Buonaccorso

TO ADVERTISE IN MOBILE BEAT OR EXHIBIT AT A MOBILE BEAT EVENT, CALL 515-986-3344 x300 OR EMAIL SALES@MOBILEBEAT.COM

MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

MOBILE MATTERS

“Can I Get a Price Quote?” ...ACTUALLY MEANS “CAN I TRUST YOU?” By Matt Martindale

“C

an I get a price quote?” Whether in an email or on the phone, that’s what we

hear all the time. Let me ask a question: Does a bride start contacting salons for her wedding and ask, “How much will it cost to do my hair?” No.

Salon Color

6 Foil Fashion

All-over hair bleach

Balayage

Cap Highlight

Cap Highlight with haircut

Color/Haircut

Highlight/Color

Highlight/Color/ Haircut

Highlight/Haircut

Highlight/Lowlight

Ombre

Partial Color

Partial Highlight

Partial Highlight/

Haircut

Relaxer/Haircut

Partial Highlight/Color

Virgin Relaxer/Haircut

PH Bonder

Styling

Permanent Color

Semi-Permanent Color

Toner

Blow Dry-Classic

Blowout

Braiding

Clarifying Treatment

Haircuts Bang Trim

Deva Haircut and Style

Haircut/Flat Iron

Women's cut

Deep Conditioning Treatment

Flat Iron Style

Press and Curl

Shampoo/Set

Perms and Smoothing

Shampoo/Set Haircut

Specialty Braids

Specialty Down

Perm Wave

Perm/Haircut

Specialty Style - Up Do

Relaxer

There’s an average of 41 different options at several salons I looked at to answer the question “How much will it cost to do my hair?” Start combining them, and the offerings (and prices) start adding up. Oh, and what if a bride is looking at spa options, or perhaps nails? BAM! • Spas averaged 33 options • Nails averaged 31 options Believe it or not, all the research I could find shows that the average American woman spends $1,797 per year on hair and nails; excluding special occasions...like a wedding!

If she did, the salon’s response would be “it depends”—right? This makes sense to me. I use this response all the time to “What do you charge?” inquiries. In fact, I first pulled up several local salons’ offerings as I came up with this analogy. (I am married to my awesome wife, but I had no idea the list of offerings available is this extensive at a salon. A haircut is a haircut, I thought.)

Women who strive to maintain a consistent, well kept, professional look average $2,529 just on hair, broken out this way: • Hair color: $180 every 6 weeks at $1,560 per year • Hair cut: $108 (with tip) * 7 weeks is $756 per year • Blow outs: 2 per year for special occasions: $125 • Product: about $100 • Grand total: $2,529 per year How does this relate to “Can I get a price quote?” in the DJ world? Simple. Just like the question, “How much does it cost to get my hair done?” she has a choice between a chain “chop shop” and a

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Marcello Pedalino

salon. Yes, both put a customer in a chair. Both cut hair. However, how these businesses do their craft, the experiences they create, and the process they use to consistently provide what the client wants clearly varies. So...YES! There’s a reason a bride to-be chooses a reputable salon for her wedding and not a chain chop shop. In the same manner, a wedding vendor that quotes a price without taking the time to first meet and listen to the client, with the actual person doing the work involved (in the same way she talks with the stylist before sitting in the chair); to discover what services a couple wants or needs; to hear her vision and what is important to them and why it matters; is arguably focused on “quick chair turnover” for their business model. The focus is minimum time spent and exerting the least effort possible with each client. A haircut is just a haircut, as fast as they can perform, with very little differentiation, personalization or customization... until it’s a bad one. The same with a wedding. Sadly, it’s similar to a bride’s perception that a DJ is just a

DJ that plays music and makes announcements. A song is just a song, until the DJ is playing music from an online public source and the song buffers, skips, has commercials, a three-second delay, contains vulgar language, or contains sexual or racist content. (FYI, 24 percent of the music DJs say they played at weddings in 2017 was from public sources, specifically, YouTube, Spotify, etc. – State of the DJ Industry, 2017, M. Martindale. Look for my feature article coming up about this very topic and why this alone continues to damage the perception value of a quality DJ, and Master of Ceremonies!) Is the “quick turnover chain style chop shop” method okay then? Sure. If a guy wants a buzz cut with clippers, or a gal has long hair and wants a little off the bottom to clean up a few grown out strands, then sure. Just like if a bride wants a predetermined list of songs played, minimal announcements, virtually no personalization, and little to no professionalism, then maybe. Hopefully. The truth is, an iPod and drunk uncle can do this, yet DJs fill this

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MOBILE MATTERS role and charge for it. I have been told in a few interviews with salon professionals, that “the longer the hair is, if there are flaws, a poor cut may not be as noticeable.” The same with the quality of a DJ and a full, open bar at a wedding. Lots of free-flowing alcohol helps hide DJ mistakes, messed up flow, missed cues, bad announcements, inexperience and incompetent preparation. “If a bride is looking for a more stylized cut, a mid-length or shorter cut, then the less likely she will be happy with a chop shop. Her hair length is sensitive to her,” one salon pro told me. The same with her wedding. If she is looking for a more personalized, truly memorable reception, then the guests’ experience from the moment they arrive until the last dance is also important. It’s not just about the dancing portion. She isn’t content with music, but is striving to personalize what matters to her. She is seeking a qualified and experienced wedding Master of Ceremonies—not just some guy announcing what is about to happen. “Ditto for someone with thick hair or very straight hair. Certain parts just don’t feel right, or actually become increasingly noticeable as layers build.” The DJ the couple hires becomes the face and personality of the reception (whether they know it or not). This person represents the couple with every word spoken, every song played, every moment created, and how things flow. Whether they arrive on time, are respectful to staff, can solve problems, and so much more. The DJ’s expertise level becomes more evident as the “layers build” throughout the celebration. “Curly hair hides cut flaws better, but the silhouette of her hair makes or breaks her style. So, she, and others, will notice at

least that.” The same with a wedding reception. How does this person create, build, manage and maintain an efficient, seamless sequence of events while cooperatively working with all the other wedding vendors? Are there awkward pauses in the flow? Delays with key events? Are guests bored? This flow is the “silhouette” of a wedding reception. “To address these issues, it takes skill, time, and experience to achieve excellence in all the details for excellent looking hair on her wedding day.” The same goes for an excellent reception experience. “A bride just doesn’t trust anybody on her wedding day. No. her decision to use me is about the personal relationship with her salon gal. It’s somebody she trusts. She feels confident in her skills. She likes her. She has a proven process to get the style she wants with her hair. She’ll look fabulous!” She trusts her “salon gal” Does the bride trust you?

TO SUM UP Are you a chain chop shop, or a salon? Do you quote price immediately? A salon doesn’t. A salon takes the time to meet with their clients individually. To discover what their client’s vision is beforehand. Are they confident in your skills to deliver on the biggest day of her life? A DJ is just a DJ, a song is just a song...until it’s wrong. A DJ making an announcement isn’t a Master of Ceremonies. The chain chop shop method works at the end of the day for the bottom line for some owners. The more people that go in and out of the chair and receive a fast, cheap haircut, the better. Differentiation, personalization or customization doesn’t really matter. Sadly, it’s the same with most DJ companies. “Hair is one thing you will never take off. She has to live with it.” The memories made from a wedding are something the couple will never forget. Neither will their guests. Ultimately, whatever you decide to do for your business, is up to you. In the same way a bride asks “What is my hairstyle worth to me on my wedding day?” Well, she trusts her salon. Moreover, what are the memories from her wedding worth? A stress-free and seamless flow? A personalized, fun celebration? The phone rings, or an email comes in asking, “Can I get a price quote?” How do you respond?

Matt Martindale has been a professional DJ and MC since 1989, performing at more than 1,600 wedding receptions since then. Along with running his award-winning, multi-DJ company, Amoré DJ Entertainment (www.amoredjentertainment.com), he has accumulated extensive entertainment experience including training in audio production, sound engineering, lighting and design, improv comedy, voice over artistry, magic, and much more.

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MIDWEEK MONEY PRESENTED BY

The 1 IDEA Solution! By Rob Johnson

have heard and read many debates about attending local, regional and more often than not, national conferences. Mobile Beat is a great example and since it was the most recent, I will discuss the benefits. Let’s say on the low side it costs you $1,000 for Travel, Hotel, Meals, Show Pass and a few drinks. Let’s say more realistically you spend $1500. On the high side, without any purchases, you could spend $2000. These are obviously ballpark estimates but they work well for the purpose of my article. What happens if you go to Mobile Beat, or any other conference, and learn ONE NEW THING? It could be one important new idea, contact, selling tip, business tip, game or purchase. One thing that can help boost your business to another level. One of the best presentations I have ever heard was Randy Bartlett talking about the 1% Solution. ( http://dj1percentsolution.com ) Let’s change that to the “1 Idea Solution.” (Thanks Randy for a great movement that I am now stealing and making my own. You have been a huge asset to this industry. Enjoy your “retirement.”) The 1 IDEA Solution is very simple. Attend a workshop, conference or meeting and try to come away with 1 IDEA that will improve your business. Don’t go and be overwhelmed trying to do everything, meet everyone and change your entire business. (Some of you might be able to and some of you might need to, but I don’t have the answers for that.) Meet someone who is successful and see if you can pick up and idea. Attend a seminar on a subject you could use some guidance on and keep an open mind. Visit the Exhibit Hall or Demo Rooms and find a new exciting product that can increase your bottom line. (The advertisement for DigiGames on the connecting page would be a good example of that.) All it takes is that ONE IDEA and if you are able to implement it and make it your own, you can take your business to another level, and at the very least get a clear return on the investment you made to attend a conference like Mobile Beat. You likely don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just put a little air in the tires. Many people overthink things. Keep it simple. Do what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to learn and grow your business. Have fun. Make money. Take care of yourself and the rest is just details. ™

Rob Johnson is back writing a monthly article for Mobile Beat after taking a year or so off. The main focus is to touch on “midweek money” and how you can increase your bottom line. Rob has been the Spokesperson for DigiGames for over 10 years; he has been in the entertainment business for over 25 years and full time for 17. If you have any questions, please feel free to email rob@digigames.com or call 701-710-1657.

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MBLV22

Mobile Beat Las Vegas!

ome of the sights and “sounds” of MBLV22... If you were there, you know how much Mobile Beat Las Vegas rocked!

Text & Attendee Headshots by Mike Cordeiro Photos by Jake Klein, www.jakekleinphotography.com

ENTERTAINMENT... L-R: Fatman Scoop rocked the house; Jason Jani again glued MBLV together as house DJ; Cupid was surprise guest.

t’s been exactly one week since MBLV22 ended. The memories and excitement of another great conference are still fresh in my mind. I’m sitting at my desk in Rhode Island watching the snow come down and wishing I was back in Las Vegas by the pool. I have my notebook of nuggets on my desk and I’ve been diligently working to implement everything I learned. (If you also attended, hopefully you’re doing the same.) This year’s Mobile Beat Las Vegas was definitely the best one I have been to since I started attending in 2010. My impression of the event is probably a little skewed though. As a writer for Mobile Beat, this year offered me a unique vantage point to experience the show. I had access to the staff and talent, which allowed me to get some great inside info and interviews. (Look for those interviews in upcoming issues and at MobileBeat.Com.)

But instead of just sharing my experiences this year, Editor Dan Walsh and I thought it would be great to share firsthand impressions from some of your fellow DJs who were there. So on the last day of the conference I set out to get some real, honest and unscripted feedback.

MC : Overall Chris, how did you like the seminars? Chris : There were a lot of, I hate to use the word “nuggets” because it’s getting kind of overused, but I got some good ones. I would like to see more educational content. The fluffy motivational stuff is great, but I really like the educational seminars. MC : What was your favorite seminar this year?

Chris McMahon, owner of McMusic and Photo Booth Events (St. Louis): This is my eighth or ninth time coming to Mobile Beat. I’ve seen the various progressions it’s made from different hotels to where we are today. I liked this year because of the new fresh faces on the stage. It was nice to see some out-of-the-box-type thinking in the seminars.

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Chris : I liked Sonny [Ganguly, of WeddingWire] and also that our Mobile Beat pass got us into PBX. I was able to bounce back and forth and get great content from both shows. It allowed me to incorporate both sides of my business. I think it was a really good thing that you partnered up. Mobile Beat Las Vegas attracts DJs from all over the world. They come to share ideas and learn new ways to make their events ROCK! Marvin De Vera came all the way from Hawaii to attend.

Headliner Vanilla Ice freestyled and waxxed nostalgic for simpler times

Sound by Electro-Voice and lighting by American DJ, for Vanilla Ice and all daytime Main Stage seminars.

Marvin : Its great catching up with guys I only see at the show. I hope people that haven’t been in a while come back next year. MC : You’re coming back next year, right? Marvin : You bet!

Marvin De Vera, DJM Entertainment: I’ve been attending since 2015 and for me it’s about the content and the new gear.

Each year Mobile Beat strives to keep the content fresh and diverse. Many attendees come ready to focus on a certain aspect of their business which needs improvement. Chip Highley, owner of Highley Productions in Ohio, knew exactly what his business needed.

MC : What were some of your favorite moments this year?

MC : Which seminars were you most interested in this year? Chip : Sales and marketing. I wanted to learn how to better translate my passion for being a DJ into more sales. MC : Overall how would you rate the seminars? Chip : The technical seminars were outstanding and the speakers on the main stage were fantastic. I’ve had a wonderful time networking with friends that I’ve made in the industry. MC : Did you go to the show Tuesday night? How was the entertainment?

Marvin : Besides the great new products, some of the different educational aspects and the technical workshops in rooms P1 and P2.

Chip : Vanilla Ice brought back a lot of memories and he rocked the house. I’m going to watch his television show more now (laughing). The entertainment was top notch.

MC : Which workshops did you attend? Marvin : Sound 1&2 and Lighting 1&2. MC : What else do you like about Mobile Beat?

Chip : Since 2014.

MC : How many times have you attended Mobile Beat Las Vegas? MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

One of the most notable differences at MBLV22 from previous years was the number of ladies in attendance. We work in a male-dominated field, but I was really

MBLV22

happy to see so many more wives and female DJs at this year’s convention. I’ve brought my wife several times and she always enjoyed it. Last year we did the Platinum experience. What a blast! One female DJ in attendance this year offered an interesting point of view on MBLV22.

EXHIBIT HALL... <- Counter-clockwise: Odyssey demoing new facade; DJ shoppers at InMusic booth; Pioneer DJ Stage in expo hall

MC : Did you enjoy the show Tuesday Night? Nadia : I loved it! I had such a great time. MC : Will you be back next year? Nadia : Oh, yes. We always buy our tickets a year in advance. (Hint, hint, save big!) MC : What would you like to see more of next year? Nadia : Our company focus is more on nightlife and corporate entertainment. I noticed that a lot of the seminars are on weddings. More corporate event seminars would be great.

Nadia Blackburn from Almost Famous Entertainment: This is my third time at Mobile Beat. I love that you can come here and learn enough to take your company to a new level. The seminars are great. You can get all the information you need to take your company on a different route. If you want to learn about AV or Production or become a better DJ, you can do all of that here. 14

Husband and wife teams running companies were also out in force at MBLV22. Dave and Kristi Halland from Magic City Productions (Billings, MT) shared their experiences. Kristi Halland : This was our second time attending Mobile Beat. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the DJ Idea Sharing. I would actually like to see a second session of that or start out each morning with it. It was very helpful and covered a broad range of topics. I wrote down four pages of notes from it. MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

Dave Halland: I liked the show. There was a lot of good information and networking opportunities. I really enjoyed the seminar with Brian on scaling. He spoke to a lot of Multi-Ops on growing your company and training.

PRESENTERS... L-R: WeddingWire’s Sonny Ganguly; Staci Nichols on social media; Randy Bartlett getting MB award; Terry Lewis with tools to boost bookings

MC : Did you attend the show on Tuesday night?

hometown, so it was nice to be a spectator. He was very entertaining.

Kristi : Yes, I thought it was great. The attendance was good and I liked not having to take an Uber to go see a great show. Dave: The show was good.

MC : Who would you like to see for next year’s entertainment? Brock : That’s tough. For me, it’s not really any one artist, but I think we should have someone from within the last ten years.

MC : Did you attend any workshops? Kristi : We did all of the smaller workshops we could this week, and we are ending with the PHDJ workshop [an extra session presented by Joe Bunn and Mike Walter, not included in MBLV registration]. MC : You’re going to love that class. Mike and Joe are tops. What would you like to see more of next year? Dave : More hands on workshops, like the beat matching and skills workshops. Besides the great seminars and entertainment, why do DJs come back to Mobile Beat Las Vegas every year? Brock Sailer from N2 Effects (Williston, ND) has an answer. Brock : This is my third year here at Mobile Beat. The biggest thing for me is the business networking. I enjoy talking one on one and going

deeper into certain topics. Kind of like a DJ think tank mode. MC : Did you have a favorite seminar this year? Brock : Not one in particular, but I had a list of seminars I really wanted to see and they were all good.

Mobile Beat Las Vegas has been helping to shape the DJ industry for 22 years. I met one DJ who has attended 18 of those 22 shows. Over the years he has witnessed the growth and changes of MBLV and he was impressed with this year's event.

MC : Did you take any workshops? Brock : I did the Light & Sound workshop with Ben Stowe and I think it was very informative. MC : How did you like the Vanilla Ice and Fatman Scoop show? Brock : It was very interesting, and I say that in a good way. I worked with Vanilla Ice at an event in my MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

Richard Mayes of Mixxology Entetainment (San Jose, CA) : I’ve been coming to Mobile Beat since 15

MBLV22 INVOLVEMENT... Attendees entertained at the CrowdPleasers event (featuring DJ Trivia, with sound by D.A.S.) and the Peavey DJ Takeover shown here. Inset: DJ Groove

Yodabooth brought the photo fun to the traditional Welcome Party

2001. This year I would have to say that, content wise, this is one of the best Mobile Beat Shows in the last seven or eight years. MC : Which seminar in particular stands out to you? Richard : Jeremy Jones. I think there should be a 2.0 version of that next year. MC : Did you attend any workshops?

anywhere else. MC : Did you enjoy the Tuesday night show? Richard : I did. Vanilla Ice was here before and he was good. MC : What was your favorite performance so far? Richard : I gotta say Freedom Williams and Tone Loc.

Richard : Not this time, but I did a ton of networking in the halls. I like learning from guys in different parts of the country. I find the international DJs have a way different take on stuff, so their ideas are great to hear.

MC : My favorite was the night with Warrant, The Village People, DJ Cupid and Naughty By Nature at the top of the Riviera.

MC : I think that is an often overlooked part of Mobile Beat. Sometimes I get as much content in the hallways as I do from the presenters on stage. That isn’t a knock on anyone. I think it’s a real testament to the learning opportunities that Mobile Beat creates.

MC : So who would you like to see next year or maybe for the 25th Anniversary of Mobile Beat Las Vegas?

Richard : Right. Being able to learn what DJs are doing differently all over the world, and being able to bring that to your market is a huge benefit. You’re not going to get that 16

Richard : That was a great show too. I like when you get to hang with the entertainers.

Richard : That’s tough. You know who would be a very interesting pick that no one would see coming? Q-Bert and the Scratch Pickles. If they were bringing somebody back I’d say Mixalot. MC : That would be different. I’m sure you’re coming back next year, right? MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

Richard : Already bought my pass. I always secretly laugh at the guys in my market that refuse to attend conferences -- any conferences at all. You know: the know-it-alls and “I’m booked every weekend so I don’t need to learn anything new” guys. In Portuguese we have a saying, “mas fica,” which means “more for me.” In other words, if you don’t want it, I’ll take it! My point is that you should always take the opportunity to learn and grow or someone else will. I’m already looking forward to MBLV23 and the new experiences it will bring. Get your passes early. Only 360 days to go. In the meantime I have to shovel more snow.

PRODJFILES

Jodi Harris: CEO of FUN By Michael Cordeiro

n an age when it seems that “everyone” is a DJ it is very surprising that women comprise less than 15% of the mobile DJ world and only about 2% of those female DJs are recognized as industry leaders. Why is that? Could it be that turntables and uplights are still seen as “boys” toys and not for girls? Do women face more barriers and challenges to becoming a DJ than men do? I needed some honest answers to these questions so I turned to one of the top female DJs and entertainers in America, with over 26 years of industry experience: Jodi Harris. She is the owner of Sight and Sound Events in Las Vegas and is the undisputed “CEO of FUN.” Jodi didn’t start out at the top, however. Her journey began in New York, working for ABC Television, then took some very interesting turns. Mike Cordeiro: How did you end up working for ABC and what was your position there? Jodi Harris: I grew up in Yonkers, New York and graduated from the Katherine Gibbs School a “secretarial” (now called administrative assistant) college. My first position at ABC was in the audience information department or “complaint department.” MC : Really? That doesn’t sound like much fun. What was it like? JH : Oh, my God, it was crazy! Mondays were the worst. People who watch the network would call up complaining about our shows, commercials, programming issues. The things they used to say to me where nuts. MC : I can imagine. How long did you have that position? JH : Long enough! I searched the company’s internal job listings and was hired in LIVE television production where I assisted Executive Producer Michael Gelman and the production team (including Regis) on the Live with Regis & Kathie Lee show. MC : Wow, that’s a big jump! How did you go from there to owning a DJ company in Las Vegas? JH : I liked vacationing in Los Angeles. While I was out there I met my husband to be (Pat) at a club called the Red Onion in Redondo Beach. At the time he was a busy mobile DJ working weddings and events with a company called 24KT Sound out of San Pedro, CA. I was so tired of New York and the East Coast weather and commuting that I wanted a change in my life, so I took a chance on LOVE and left New York for Los Angeles. MC : So, that’s how you ended up switching coasts, but what about the DJing? JH : When I moved out to be with Pat I took a full time job with MTV in Universal City. I was working for them booking VMA’s and Rock N’ Jock and on the weekends would go

to events (weddings) with Pat. At first, I was the roadie watching the truck, gear, etc...I would sit in a chair wearing a nice party dress and watch. Gradually, Pat started to show me how to work the equipment and program music. One night his boss (Marc Gold, 24KT Sound) showed up at our party and saw me in sitting in the background. He told Pat that I should work the equipment while he went out on the floor to interact with the guests. Magic was made! Together, Pat and I were a husband and wife DJ team. Funny story... I went to see a fortune teller with some friends for a reading. Years before I ever met Pat. The fortune teller told me that she saw me surrounded by brides. Lots and lots of brides. I grew up in a strict Italian family. My parents never took us to a wedding. I think I was 21 before I attended my first one. I had no clue how weddings worked. Jump a head several years and I’m living in Vegas working as a wedding DJ and special event planner and loving it. Crazy. MC : Did the DJ skills come naturally to you? JH : Yes and no. I love music because my mom used to sell Avon and left us in the car with the radio on as small kids (you couldn’t do that today!) so I knew music. The GEAR is what terrified me. I was so nervous at first. I kept thinking that I was going to press the wrong button and break the system or mess up the event. However, after a while my fear subsided and with practice I started to get good with music programming and mixing. Pat and I would work as a team. Pat would MC out on the floor as I would DJ whenever he was out there, and worked my way to spinning dance sets on my own. MC : When did you take over as host from Pat? JH : After a few years, Pat was tired of the DJ side of events. He lost his passion for it and wanted to focus on doing video. However, I really enjoyed being a DJ and he was OK with it and felt I was ready to go out on my own. MC : Then came the move to Vegas, right? JH : Pat and I had some friends in Vegas that we would come out and visit. There were a few factors that helped us decide to move. We both liked the area and Pat and I both wanted to have our own DJ company. LA was really saturated and competitive, but Las Vegas was like new territory; kind of uncharted back in the ‘90s. We both felt that we could make a niche for ourselves, so we got married and moved to Las Vegas. MC : Was it hard for you to step out from behind the equipment and coordinate weddings? JH : No, because my experience and training as a DJ working with timelines and people made it really easy for me. MC : Were you a full time DJ at that point? JH : No, we both had day jobs in Las Vegas as we built up the business. Our big break came when we hooked up with a local wedding chapel that opened a party room in the back.

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I want to see more female business owners. I believe our industry needs that leadership and perspective. ~ Jodi Harris

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PRODJFILES harder to prove yourself in this industry? JH : Most definitely. I still feel that way sometimes. MC : Really? Why? You’re very well known and respected and you’ve won lots of awards. JH : Because there are so few prominent female DJs. I think if more of us (women) got out and did this as a career we would be looked at differently. How many major female DJs can you think of off the top of your head? MC : Well, you of course, DJ Dayna, Staci Nichols, Jazmine Gonzalez...

We would DJ and video all of their weddings and events. We actually rented our first office upstairs from them in the same building. We built up Sight and Sound Events from there, and when we had enough business (9 months after we moved) we quit our day jobs and went full time. MC : How did you get the title “CEO of FUN”? JH : We have a friend who is the “CEO of Rock ‘N Roll” and when I was telling a local photographer in Vegas about it he said, “Well I’ve photographed your parties and you ARE the CEO of FUN.” It just kind of became my mantra. I wanted to show my clients that I was different and that if they booked me they would have a really good time. However, I almost dropped it! MC : Why? JH : I had become a member of NACE (National Association for Catering & Events) and I was afraid the other members (catering professionals) wouldn’t take me seriously with that title. But the members loved it and several of them convinced me to keep it. MC : I remember when I first met you and heard that title. I thought it was awesome and so original. I mean no one else in our industry can claim that. You own it.

MC : As a woman running a multi-op DJ company, did you encounter a lot of resistance or push back from clients and other DJs? JH : Not too much, but there are many people who still think of a DJ as a male; especially at events. When I first started doing events solo many people thought I was the wedding planner or banquet manager. They would look shocked when I would say, “I’m your DJ”. Even now I get a few calls at the office and clients will say “Oh, I know you’re popular and very good but do you have a male DJ available? MC : Do you get offended? JH : Not anymore. Maybe I did at first. That’s another reason I expanded. It’s just business and I’m a the business owner. MC : You’re still very hands on with all your events, right? JH : Very much so! It’s Party Time All The Time! Many of my clients like the fact that even if I’m not the one actually performing at their event I still am part of the planning process. I believe they like having a woman’s touch. I don’t want to sound sexist, but most brides prefer having a woman coordinator for their wedding. MC : That makes sense. I’d say 95% of wedding coordinators at venues are women.

JH : Exactly. Have you heard of the DJ Think Tank? MC : Yes, it’s a small private group of select DJs. JH : We’re DJs but also successful event production company owners. I am one of only two female DJs in the group. We need more women in this industry to step up and shine. MC : What do you see as the future for women in the DJ field? JH : For right now I don’t see too many women running multi-op DJ companies on the level that I do or Jazmine does. I do hope in the short term more women will get up to the level of DJ Dayna and Staci. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see more female business owners. I believe our industry needs that leadership and perspective. #GirlBoss MC : Where do you see yourself in the next ten years? JH : I see myself as more of an event producer. I still love to DJ and as long as clients request me I’ll keep at it. However, this year I want to focus on running my company and inspire others to MC : What advice would you give to ladies that want to be DJs and own a DJ company?

JH : Go where the food is. By that I mean go to conferences, get into the social JH : Right. media game, get involved in female MC : When did you decide to expand your DJ groups, find a mentor, and most company into a multi-op? MC : Do you feel that you’ve had to work importantly support each other. Track JH : When I found we had the and use the hashtag #girldjs. If need. We had built the business you want to succeed and stay Michael Cordeiro is the owner of M.C. Entertainment, a small multi-op in Rhode Island. He has been up to where I had enough extra relevant in this industry you on TLC’s Four Weddings, hosted an episode of Toddlers & Tiaras and has opened for many celebrities. work to add new DJ’s. have to continually learn. He has a degree in Entertainment and Event Management from Johnson and Wales University. JH : Trademarking it is in the works!

MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

PRODJFILES

Partying with Pam SAN DIEGO’S “PARTY PAM” MILLAN ON HER OWN JOURNEY TO MOBILE SUCCESS, AND THE PROGRESS OF FEMALE DJS OVERALL By Mike “Dr Frankenstand” Ryan

ecently the entertainment industry has been called onto the “red carpet” over sexual harassment. Mobile DJing is part of the entertainment industry and has its own challenges when it comes to how female DJs are treated. In this article Southern California Mobile DJ “Party Pam” Millan shares some of her experiences and thoughts of how our industry treats its female counterparts. “Have I been hit on? Sure, but I can’t say drunk guests are more of a problem for me than they would be for a man,” she says. “When I walk into a venue, I do still hear ‘You’re the DJ?” pretty often, as well as ‘We’ve never had a female DJ here before.’” Millan is a self-confident, strong

woman, single mother of a young daughter, a professional DJ of 25 years, a recipient of the WeddingWire Couples' Choice award and also serves as treasurer on the board of the San Diego DJ Association. She says serving with the DJ association has been an honor and it has special advantages: “it has allowed me to be involved in the SDDJA’s partnership with the All Industry Cruise and a joint holiday party with the San Diego Chapter of NACE.” The SDDJA has been in business for 28 years and Millan is one of four females who have served on the board of directors over the years. I wondered how she has been treated by fellow board members— as an equal or something else, and is there room for improvement? “Hmmm,” she answers, “well that depends on who’s president at the moment. Our current president, David Otero, treats everyone MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

as equals and supports the industry as a whole. It is not about ego or control for him, so he is great. I’ve been asked to be president a couple of times in the past, but it is a huge commitment. Quite honestly, finding relevant presenters every month is the biggest challenge for associations.” Millan got her break in the professional DJ ranks while working in the office of a DJ company that played in a club that she frequented. When one of the company employees started his own DJ business she was hired to spin for him. Millan says he was a nice guy but not very organized: “He sent me to a few weddings with the wrong first dance song and to a holiday party with NO Christmas music. His bargain price probably wasn’t a bargain to those clients. But my real inspiration was another DJ that inspired me to go out on my own. I was afraid of making a big investment in music (this was BEFORE MP3s) and equipment and then falling flat on my face. Without his encouragement, I would not have done it. Thank you Tony!” Along with the challenges, there are definitely some advantages eing a female DJ. Millan exclaimd “...It’s a huge advantage. I’ve been a bride; I’ve been on both sides of the fence and know how a bride feels and how special her wedding SHOULD be. I can relate in a way men can’t. Weddings are not about tech and gear—they are about emotion. People rarely remember the centerpieces, party favors, lighting, etc. They remember if they had fun.” More and more women are entering the DJ arena, including celebrities; but are celebrity DJs hurting female DJ efforts to be taken seriously? Millan thinks celebrity DJs hurt ALL DJs, not just women: “It ignores the skills that DJs take years to perfect. I’m not even sure the celebrities

are selecting their own music and doing their own mixes. I suspect a REAL DJ has pre-programmed their sets. I am, however, surprised and very pleased to see so many female DJs online, but I don’t meet many at networking events like DJ associations, NACE, ABC, etc. “ Millan remembers a time when there were NO female DJs. She believes this was because the equipment was so big and heavy. “Back then the company I worked for would set up and break down my gear. Heavy equipment USED TO BE an issue. I probably get offered help with my gear more often than male DJs. A fun female DJ I knew who passed away not too long ago used roadies to set up and break down her equipment but I like being independent and being able to do it all myself. These days I can fit everything—even my lights—into my sedan.” “As I was pulling into the Sheraton last month for one of my holiday parties, the valet asked if I needed a cart to load in my equipment. I thanked him and said no...” Millan’s equipment arsenal includes a laptop system with a Rane MP2 mixer, Bose

L1 speakers, and cordless mics including Shure, Audio Technica, and Line 6. I asked her what if, anything, she would especially like her male DJ counterparts to understand and appreciate about stereotypes and challenges as a female DJ who is just trying to do her job. “To their credit, I don’t feel like male DJs have made me feel less-than. They have their skills and I have mine. That said, it did take me a year to become a member of the San Diego DJ Association when I joined. I felt like I had to jump through flaming hoops to prove myself, but in retrospect, I used it as a sales technique. Membership meant something; we don’t allow ‘just anyone’ to join.” Millan leaves us with a word of encouragement for women considering a career as a Mobile DJ: “Today, there is no

Heavy equipment USED TO BE an issue...These days I can fit everything—even my lights— into my sedan...Today, there is no reason not to have more female DJs... Being a DJ is a great job for a woman! ~ Pam Millan

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reason not to have more female DJs. I love what I do, and as a ‘people pleaser’ it has been a very fulfilling industry, because I love making people happy. Being a DJ is a great job for a woman! Join the party, ladies!”

FEATURE

Building Your Crew THE DEEPER, ENGAGED WAY TO ONBOARD NEW EMPLOYEES By Cordell Riley

he days and weeks after employees start at your company represent a time of unique opportunity. Can you teach them new systems and skills? Of course you can. But have you also stopped to consider all the other important goals you can reach during the onboarding period? To name just a few, you can . . . • Grow and encourage adoption of your culture • Get new hires to understand, promote and believe in your brand • Sow the seeds for outstanding customer service • Cultivate the kind of spirit and energy that customers will value and love • Hear creative ideas from new employees who have a fresh perspective • Build retention by proving that your company is a great place to work • Set up communication channels with new hires that will improve operations throughout your company Those are only a few of the opportunities you have during

employees’ first weeks at your company. But how can you take advantage of them? Here are eight approaches that work.

1. IMPLEMENT A WELL-DEFINED ONBOARDING SYSTEM Many companies just wing it, with negative results. Still other companies see onboarding as little more than filling out forms, setting up company email accounts and showing new employees to their desks. Because new hires start their jobs without a deeper understanding of what is expected of them, they make mistakes that quickly become costly habits that must be corrected later on. Many problems can be avoided if you set up a structured onboarding system that functions as high-level training. On their start days, new hires can meet individually with HR representatives to fill out forms, for example, and then meet as a group to watch videos and learn about your company, its brand and its values. After lunch, they can be trained in the basic skills their jobs demand; watching training videos, engaging in work simulations and working alongside current employees can work well to reach those goals. And after day one, they should attend regular followups to address problems and reinforce basic concepts and skills. The operative strategy is to clearly define ahead of time exactly the skills and behaviors you need, and to create a concise mini-curriculum that tracks to them.

MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

FEATURE training elements for each new employee. You can evaluate the skills of your new hires during training and address them directly, for example, or help employees overcome anxiety about performing certain parts of their new jobs. Investing just a little time to give training extra value can go a long way toward getting new employees up to speed faster.

6. STRESS AND REINFORCE YOUR MISSION STATEMENT, VISION STATEMENT AND STRATEGIC COMPANY PLAN The onboarding period is a highly effective time to share the big picture about your company and to get employees to buy into your most important goals and priorities. Instead of waiting for employees to discover these critical priorities, start talking about them soon after new hires come on board.

7. CONSIDER CREATING A CAREER PLAN FOR ALL NEW EMPLOYEES 2. SET UP GENUINE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEW HIRES AND SUCCESSFUL CURRENT EMPLOYEES Remember, mentors’ goals should not be to get new hires to imitate what they do, or even to adhere to company systems. Their purpose is to discover what new employees would like to accomplish at your company, and to help them reach those goals. In short, mentoring is not about the mentors or strictly about your company, but about the employees who are being coached.

3. FIND WAYS TO DE-LAYER AND FREE UP COMMUNICATIONS Invite new employees to brainstorming sessions where their new ideas are collected, posted, discussed—and put into action when appropriate. Also consider setting up de-layered systems—like virtual suggestion boxes on your company intranet—where employees at all levels can present suggestions directly to top company executives. If employees can only submit ideas to their immediate managers, you have created a communication structure that carries a risk

of demotivating front-line and entry-level personnel; just one supervisor who stifles new ideas can do great damage to your company.

4. DON’T DO TRAINING ON THE CHEAP One thing is for certain: if you are only handing out employee handbooks and having new employees fill out withholding forms, you are missing out on some great opportunities. If you can train every new retail salesperson to sell just 10% more on every order, for example, that could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of new business companywide, maybe even more. Or if you can set up mobile training that sends out pings to remind employees to use specific skills they learned in training, you could increase your training ROI dramatically. The lesson? Spending a little more to deliver great training is a money-maker, not a cost.

5. WITHIN YOUR BUDGET, CUSTOMIZE TRAINING FOR EACH EMPLOYEE Even “standardized” training can be enriched by creating individualized

Cordell Riley is sought-after keynote speaker, and the Owner and President of Tortal Training, a leading training development company he founded in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tortal uses strategic engagement methodologies and specializes in developing mobile training platforms for organizations with distributed workforces. A recognized training expert with extensive experience in the service, automotive and franchising sectors, Cordell has spent more than 20 years helping thousands of companies achieve outstanding success through training. For more information about Cordell Riley, please visit www.tortal.net.

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You won’t want to do this for seasonal or short-term employees. But for employees whom you would like to stay with you for the long term, consider sitting down with each of them to create individual careerdevelopment plans that spell out what they need to do to be promoted within your organization. You could say, for example, that all retail salespeople can apply for management training after six months of employment, or that your company will provide technical training to help them move into their desired career path at your company. Millennials, especially, are more likely to stay with your company for the long term if they know the ropes and understand what it takes to build a long-term relationship with your organization.

8. EVALUATE WHETHER YOU ARE ACTING LIKE A GREAT EMPLOYER This is something you should always do, not only when you are training a new class of employees. So take the time now to benchmark your company climate, benefits, quality of work/life balance and other factors against other companies. Unless you have the best of everything, you cannot expect your employees to commit their hearts and minds to working with you for the long term. You see, retention starts with you, not with your employees. Unless you commit your efforts to becoming an “employer of choice”—a company that people talk about and would love to work for—you are damaging your profits, operations and ultimately, your success.

PLAY SOMETHING WE CAN DANCE TO

Celebrating Female Artists By Jay Maxwell

emale artists sing some of the best music ever recorded to get people on the dance floor. The variety of talent ranges from the time-tested romantic “At Last” by Etta James to the Marcia Griffiths’ line dance standard for the Electric Slide dance. In this issue, we pay tribute to some of the female artists who have provided us with decades of superb dance music.

song made me feel like a magician because the dancefloor would magically fill with dancers. Other fun songs created by female artists in the 1980s that still rock the dancefloor are “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, “Mickey”, and “Walk Like an Egyptian.” There are many other influential females from the 1980s including Salt-N-Pepa, The Go-Gos, and the Pointer Sisters. When in doubt about what to play from the ‘80s, put on either “Push It” or “I’m So Excited” and wait to see what happens. The most exciting era for the female artist is perhaps the modern era of popular music. While Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, and Madonna might have blazed the trail, Beyonce,

SLOW JAMS ARTIST

SONG TITLE

YEAR

BPM

ETTA JAMES

AT LAST

1960

NORAH JONES

COME AWAY WITH ME

2002

From the early days of 3 ALISON KRAUSS WHEN YOU SAY NOTHIN AT ALL 1995 87 sock hops, DJs have spun the 4 LEE ANN WOMACK I HOPE YOU DANCE 2000 76 tunes of female groups, like 5 PATSY CLINE CRAZY 1961 71 the Crystals singing “Then He 6 NORAH JONES DON’T KNOW WHY 2002 88 Kissed Me,” The Chiffons’“He’s So Fine,” and the Shirelles’ hit 7 WHITNEY HOUSTON I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU 1992 66 “Dedicated to the One I Love.” 8 KELLY CLARKSON MOMENT LIKE THIS 2002 73 The 1960s dance scene intro9 CELINE DION BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME 1996 60 duced the public to Diana 10 ALICIA KEYS FALLIN 2001 64 Ross and the Supremes and the Queen of Soul, Aretha 11 ARETHA FRANKLIN NATURAL WOMAN 1967 112 Franklin. It is hard to imagine 12 BETTE MIDLER WIND BENEATH MY WINGS 1989 62 a DJ playing a dance set from 13 ANNE MURRAY COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE 1980 87 the sixties without playing “Stop! In the Name of Love,” 14 ADELE MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE 2009 76 or “Respect.” It is almost guar15 CHRISTINA PERRI THOUSAND YEARS 2012 69 anteed that if a DJ is perform16 ALICIA KEYS NO ONE 2007 90 ing for a wedding reception 17 NORAH JONES NEARNESS OF YOU 2002 45 with an older crowd present, Little Eva’s “Loco-Motion” will 18 ADELE SOMEONE LIKE YOU 2011 68 get played sometime during 19 CELINE DION MY HEART WILL GO ON 1998 50 the party, 20 SHANIA TWAIN YOU’RE STILL THE ONE 98 67 In the Disco era of the 1970s, Donna Summer was crowned as the “Queen of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Pink have taken the genre to new Disco” due to her influence on popular music. She placed ten songs heights. This was the most difficult chart to compile for this issue in the Top Ten, according to Billboard in the ‘70s. Four of her titles because of the huge number of outstanding female artists that reached number one on the Billboard charts, including two on this have dominated the dance music scene in recent times. It was issue’s chart, “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff” with a combined eight weeks a challenge to narrow it down to only 40 selections. Many of at the top of the charts. Some classic dance tunes from the 1970s these songs are in my “go to” arsenal of music to get the crowd rank even higher on a mobile DJ’s list than Donna Summer’s grooves. energized. Whenever it appears that the party might be slowing The standards of “We Are Family” and “I Will Survive” are in every DJ’s down, “Single Ladies” or “Shake It Off” are easily drawn from the quiver of tunes and the play toolbox of surefire party-starters. button pushed. Some of the The 1980s brought the songs even seem to be named talents of Whitney Houston, Mobile Beat’s resident musicologist since 1992 (issue just to satisfy a DJ’s need for Madonna, and Gloria Estefan to #11), Jay Maxwell runs the multi-talent entertainment jams that will “Get the Party the mobile DJ’s turntable. This company, Jay Maxwell’s Music by Request, LLC, in Started” or have people “Just Charleston, South Carolina. He is also a professor of was the decade where I hooked Dance.” After all, this is exactly Business at Charleston Southern University. His passion two turntables to a mixing for detail and continuous research of clients’ requests what any DJ needs when board for my first dance party. can be found not only in this column, but also in his someone walks up to the table Cueing up “I Wanna Dance with annually updated music guide, Play Something We and yells, “Play Something We Somebody (Who Loves Me),” Can Dance To. Can Dance To!” “Conga,” or any early Madonna

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DANCE CLASSICS

2000 TO TODAY

ARTIST

SONG TITLE

YEAR

BPM

ARTIST

SONG TITLE

YEAR

BPM

MARCIA GRIFFITHS

ELECTRIC (SLIDE) BOOGIE

1990

108

TAYLOR SWIFT

SHAKE IT OFF

2014

160

SISTER SLEDGE

WE ARE FAMILY

1979

118

BEYONCE

CYNDI LAUPER

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

1984

121

SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)

2008

3 4

WHITNEY HOUSTON

I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

1987

120

P!NK

GET THE PARTY STARTED

2001

129

GLORIA GAYNOR

I WILL SURVIVE

1978

116

ARETHA FRANKLIN

RESPECT

1967

SALT-N-PEPA

PUSH IT

1988

WEATHER GIRLS

IT’S RAINING MEN

SUPREMES

DONNA SUMMER

11 12

LADY GAGA

JUST DANCE

2008

119

BEYONCE

CRAZY IN LOVE

2003

115

RIHANNA

DON’T STOP THE MUSIC

2008

123

130

PUSSYCAT DOLLS

DON’T CHA

2005

120

1983

138

GWEN STEFANI

HOLLABACK GIRL

2005

110

STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE

1965

118

MILEY CYRUS

PARTY IN THE U.S.A.

2009

LAST DANCE

1978

128

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

LADY MARMALADE

2001

110

POINTER SISTERS

I’M SO EXCITED

1984

183

DESTINY’S CHILD

BOOTYLICIOUS

2001

104

ANITA WARD

RING MY BELL

1979

126

FERGIE

GLAMOROUS

2007

131

SALT-N-PEPA

SHOOP

1993

MISSY ELLIOTT

GET UR FREAK ON

2001

SUPREMES

YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE

1966

196

SHAKIRA

HIPS DON’T LIE

2006

100

MADONNA

MATERIAL GIRL

1985

138

CARLY RAE JEPSEN

CALL ME MAYBE

2012

120

MADONNA

LIKE A PRAYER

1989

113

BRITNEY SPEARS

TOXIC

2004

143

SUPREMES

BABY LOVE

1964

138

FERGIE

FERGALICIOUS

2006

130

SALT-N-PEPA

WHATTA MAN

1994

LADY GAGA

POKER FACE

2009

119

BANGLES

WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

1986

103

P!NK

RAISE YOUR GLASS

2010

122

MADONNA

HOLIDAY

1984

118

MISSY ELLIOTT

WORK IT

2002

102

GLORIA ESTEFAN

CONGA

1986

124

RIHANNA

PON DE REPLAY

2005

MADONNA

VOGUE

1990

117

KATY PERRY

FIREWORK

2010

106

CHERYL LYNN

GOT TO BE REAL

1978

116

SHAKIRA

WHENEVER WHEREVER

2001

108

MADONNA

LIKE A VIRGIN

1984

120

CASCADA

EVACUATE THE DANCEFLOOR

2009

127

TONI BASIL

MICKEY

1982

148

UMBRELLA

2007

LABELLE

LADY MARMALADE

113

RIHANNA

1975

BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE

1978

125

DESTINY’S CHILD

2000

TASTE OF HONEY

INDEPENDENT WOMAN

KE$HA

TIK TOK

2009

120

TLC

NO SCRUBS

1999

RIHANNA

WE FOUND LOVE

2011

128

ALICIA BRIDGES

I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE(DISCO ‘ROUND)

1978

125

LADY GAGA

BAD ROMANCE

2009

119

MARTHA REEVES

DANCING IN THE STREET

1964

126

NICKI MINAJ

SUPER BASS

2011

127

POINTER SISTERS

JUMP (FOR MY LOVE)

1984

134

KE$HA

YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG

2010

120

DONNA SUMMER

BAD GIRLS

1979

121

CASCADA

EVERYTIME WE TOUCH

2008

142

DONNA SUMMER

HOT STUFF

1979

121

NICKI MINAJ

STARSHIPS

2012

125

LITTLE EVA

LOCO-MOTION

1962

132

KE$HA

BLOW

2011

120

MARIAH CAREY

DREAM LOVER

1993

101

KATY PERRY

CALIFORNIA GURLS

2010

125

EN VOGUE

FREE YOUR MIND

1992

100

MEGHAN TRAINOR

ALL ABOUT THAT BASS

2014

AMII STEWART

KNOCK ON WOOD

1979

142

ICONA POP

I LOVE IT

2013

126

CHAKA KHAN

I FEEL FOR YOU

1984

125

NICKI MINAJ

POUND THE ALARM

2012

125

NATALIE COLE

PINK CADILLAC

1988

125

IGGY AZALEA

FANCY

2014

SPICE GIRLS

WANNABE

1996

110

P!NK

BLOW ME (ONE LAST KISS)

2012

114

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SCOOP

New Audio Experience CERWIN-VEGA CVE SERIES POWERED BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS By Mark Evans

MO BI LE BE AT.COM â&#x2013;· M A R CH 2018

nyone who has been around sound gear for a while knows the name Cerwin-Vega. My very first set of DJ speakers back in the 1970s was a pair of Cerwin-Vega two-way speakers with 12” woofers. I remember that they weren’t very big but they sure did weigh a lot (I think 70 lbs for a passive speaker). They were rock solid and probably already 10 years old even when I got them. By then, Cerwin Vega was well established as a leader in live sound, having gotten their start back in 1954. So more than six decades of audio expertise stands behind Cerwin Vega’s latest line that DJs will be interested in: the CVE Series Powered Bluetooth Speakers.

THE SPECS The system comes in single 10”, 12” and 15” tops and an 18” subwoofer. The system I tested included two 12” tops and a subwoofer. Right out of the box I noticed how solid the speakers were, complete with rugged front grilles. The most interesting thing to me was the inclusion of four handles, on each side and on top and bottom. The four handles allow you to carry the speakers whichever way fits your needs. I found that when going up and down steps I preferred the side handles to keep the speakers close to my body, and when loading into a vehicle the top and bottom handles worked best for me. Unlike my first Cerwin-Vegas, these 12” speakers only weigh 33 lbs. (The 15” speaker weighs only one pound more, at 34 lbs. and the 10” version comes in at mere 29 lbs. The subwoofer weighs in at 66 lbs; with handles on each side it is easy to carry, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t come with wheels. Each speaker has five DSP settings, so set up for each event is easy; with a push of a button you can go through Live PA, Club/ DJ, Mix/Flat, Voice and Monitor settings. So far, my favorite setting is the Club/DJ (surprise, surprise), which adds just a little more punch and bass. For me this no-brainer kind of control is great because it saves me from scrolling through menus and messing things up. There are three more knobs on the back for each input volume, which include two channels with Neutrik combo line/ mic jacks and one mixed output. There is also a pair button for Bluetooth. A simple, clean design. The subwoofer’s back panel has the pair button for Bluetooth, but the DSP mode select is limited to Live PA and Club/DJ. The Output Select button selects between 100HZ High Pass Filter (HPF) providing a crossover to the top speakers and Full Range, which leaves the sub in full range mode. Two XLR inputs and outputs and one level knob complete the simple back panel. Each speaker has a 1000W Class D amplifier. As Bluetooth has become a bigger a part of music technology, it is a welcome addition to the CVE series. I was quickly able to connect my phone and start playing music. To connecting a Bluetooth device simply involves pushing the pair button and watching your device to pair. To link another speaker you push and hold the button for another few seconds. I first set up the two 12” speakers and paired them. I then paired the phone to the sub but could only get one of the tops to pair along with it. It does take about 10 seconds for the speakers to pair. Sound, eq and volume can then be controlled by the device. I did check with a rep from Cerwin Vega and he did confirm to me that you can only pair 2 speakers whether it is a top and the sub or 2 tops.

THE TEST Using a standard DJ controller and software we set the system up and began the test. Starting with new music we went through each of the DSP settings and, as mentioned, really liked the Club/ DJ setting for recorded music. The highs and lows have more definition compared to the Live PA and Monitor modes, which soften the frequencies to lessen feedback. Voice brings out the vocal clarity and Mix/Flat is pretty much that, the base setting which is a great starting point for your sound check. With the setting at Club/DJ we went through several genres and decades. New music included JT’s “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” and it pumped. The highs were crisp, the vocals clear and the bass thumped. Feeling a little nostalgic, I threw on Gino Soccio’s “Dancer.” The song starts with nice crisp snaps but then the bass and drums kick in and it was reminiscent of the club days as the bass went through our bodies. We actually had to turn the sub level and low frequencies down. “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics was the ‘80s test song and why not the 90s “Sweet Dreams” by La Bouche. All these songs sounded amazing with a rich robust sound. Plenty of highs, clear vocals and thumping bass. This new series is very well made and looks great. The sound is amazing, with plenty of headroom. They include the proprietary CV Loud Limiter to prevent distortion. With a simple mixer to input one or two and a mic to the other, add Bluetooth music and you have a quick and easy ceremony system. Add the subwoofer for a complete, solid full-sounding system -- backed by 60+ years of sound reinforcement tradition.

MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

www.cerwinvega.com

FEATURE

The Doom and Gloom Report: The Robots Are Coming! By Stu Chisholm

e here at Mobile Beat do our level best to be nurturing, positive, upbeat and ever supportive to you, our readers...but I think we’d be doing you a great disservice if we did not at least touch upon some of the more negative winds blowing within the DJ industry. Very recently, I learned of two rather alarming trends that will impact every DJ soon, if they haven’t already—and both are “job snatchers.” Back in 2014, a bogus article talking about a “robot DJ” spinning at a Texas nightclub burned up internet DJ forums, but the fiction became fact last year when a nightclub in Prague added an actual robot to the DJ booth. While it didn’t work solo, it worked well enough to select, mix and even scratch songs, all with a minimum of human intervention. The advent of the

robotic DJ hasn’t been stalled by the mechanics; robots have been able to manipulate small things like faders and volume controls for decades! What has kept humans reigning supreme in the DJ booth is their creativity, along with the ability to read the mood of their audience. This is all about to change. While you were busy putting together your crates, significant strides have been made in the field of A.I. (artificial intelligence), the computer science devoted to bringing cognition and even sentience to machines. A recent article on the topic in Mother Jones made me laugh… at first. It proclaimed, “You Will Lose Your Job to a Robot—and Sooner Than You Think”! Did you laugh, too? 32

For a long time, we DJs, and, in fact, any other worker in a creative field could feel smugly confident in our ability to bring that “human element” that no machine could match. According to Mother Jones, however, all that is about to change. One line especially caught my attention: “If you’re a magazine writer, a robot will write your articles better.” Uh, oh. “While we’re nowhere near human-level AI yet,” the article states, “the progress of the past couple of decades has been stunning.” With computers winning chess tournaments against Grand Masters, and the infamous defeat of top Jeopardy champions to a machine, the ability of people to distinguish between a human and a robot will become more and more difficult and may vanish altogether before you know it! Real world confirmation of this came in the form of an online brochure for Coverjock, a computer program designed for “gentlemen’s clubs.” Specifically, it automates all aspects of the entertainment, completely replacing the DJ and/or emcee. (A sister program, called BoothPoint, completely automates the back-office functions, handling all administrative functions.) A club owner or manager can control all aspects of said club using an app on his/her cell phone. Dancers aside, then, an entire club could be handled by a minimum staff! Thus far, there’s no sign of robotic bouncers or bartenders. Yet. Their website claims that nearly 700 clubs across eleven different countries have already implemented their system. And in case you’re wondering, yes, the system does indeed make “professional DJ sounding” announcements. Computers have come a long way since Stephen Hawking’s speech device. I cannot help but wonder how long it will be before they introduce “Coverjock for Weddings.” As if in response to that thought, a Detroit area friend of mine who retired from the DJ industry got back in contact with me recently. “I’ve got an idea that could shake things up,” he said. If this were anyone else, I might be more skeptical, yet as he spelled-out his plans, I couldn’t help but think of the robots and software above. Without betraying a confidence, his idea would eliminate the need for a mobile DJ entirely. Just as business conference centers have facilities for broadband teleconferencing available, his idea is to install similar systems into banquet venues. This way, no “mobile DJ” would have to drag gear, set up, or pack up gear at the end of the night. Instead, the DJ would teleconference in, with 2-way audio and video feeds. The DJ is in the house! (Virtually.) But this is just the beginning! Suppose the wedding couple loves a certain DJ or style. Because their DJ can be anywhere in the world, their virtual DJ/ host could, at the beginning of the dance portion, say, “And now, live from New York, especially for Doug and Tammy Bridengroom, please welcome DJ Jazzy Jeff!” And an artist that they normally could never have afforded to appear at their wedding is now throwing down just for them! Or not. I also couldn’t help but speculate on the idea of marrying my friend’s technology with Coverjock-like systems. Not only would the DJ/host be virtual, but he or she might not even be real. And guests would be none the wiser. So why am I telling you all of this? Because knowledge is power! The article in Mother Jones predicts “full human equivalent A.I.” by roughly 2045. Yet as Coverjock demonstrates, such systems don’t actually need to be fully equivalent to a human! There is a “close enough” factor to consider; they’re already replacing DJs in strip clubs, and we can see how short the distance to life event entertainment may be. Wise DJs should start planning now for the changes ahead. Because they’re coming. Possibly sooner than anyone suspects. Until next time, spin long and prosper!

MO BI LE BE AT.COM ▷ M A R CH 2018

Many thanks to all who attended and everyone who contributed to making MBLV22 one of our most successful MB events ever! Whether you made it to Vegas this time or not, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too early to consider going next year. Keep your eyes on MobileBeatLasVegas.Com for all event news, such as current deals on registration.

MBLV23

March 11-14, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ Tropicana, Las Vegas