I'm interested in starting my own Promotions/Events 'brand'...

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

I’m interested in starting my own Promotions/Events ‘brand’…

I can’t seem to find any resources online for me to study, so I’m wondering if you have any tips/advice you could share? I’m not clueless but I’d like to have an insight into how other promo brands have been set up and how they ‘operate’.

For now, it’s just going to be a name and a logo I can put on flyers and posters until the brand gains more recognition - then I’m hoping to move to a better venue/s and book DJs to play at my nights.

I’m not sure how much money I need but it will mostly be going on flyers, posters, ‘decor’ (anybody got any advice? I was thinking a big banner to put inside the venue as without any decor it will look amateur and bland) and some other misc things. I want to go all out with this as I think it’s not worth doing if I don’t.

Thanks!

2

If I were you, I’d read some books on branding and marketing (a good idea for any DJ, even if you aren’t starting an events brand). Here are some suggestions for reading/learning material:

  • Lynda.com has some programs about branding
  • Book: Build a Brand in 30 Days by Simon Middleton
  • Any “Guerilla Marketing” book
  • The Party Promoter’s Guide - David Gold
3

Just do it - get stuck in, and be prepared to learn some things the hard way.

4

The main thing to know with Events and Event Management is that at some point, you will always fail.

The reason for that is almost always a lack of promotion.

Don’t underestimate it.

5

Start with finding a market – it might even be that you need to move to a place with less DJs in the area.

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Just don’t ever think facebook is a good way of marketing events.
Hire people to fucking talk to people about events. Otherwise you’re just obnoxious.

7

be prepared to lose a ton of money.

8

My problem is that in my town the DJs ‘own’ the clubs, so nobody else gets a chance, it makes me sick.

9

Watch this. But if your in the UK/London and need someone on board to do it with i’ll help for shits and Gigs…

10

What should I aim for when I’m picking a name? I don’t have many examples so I don’t know what’s too cheesy or rubbish.

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I wouldn’t worry too much about the name yet–you have way more to worry about than that. But when the time comes I think you should go with something that sounds like a professional events company. That’s how you get corporate gigs.

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Yeah, that’s what I’m asking, what is professional sounding? I don’t know of many events companies, do you know where I can find a ‘list’ or something?

13

Depends what you want out of it really mate.

Do you want to run corporate gigs and events or do you want to throw parties and promote?

Corporate gigs work on being able to offer quality smooth gigs that all work well and are cost effective. You need to get in with some companies and try to get word of mouth going around as if something goes well people hear about it as you get a chance to network at your own event.

If you want to throw parties, create a brand and maybe promote artists etc then its about find an angle, if the clubs/nights are sown up in your area then maybe look at day parties in a spot near you, all legal obviously so get it above board, but some of the best events I have been to have been day ones. You may even be able to twin with another club NIGHT and gain extra promotion through them as a pre party? Keep using the name and keep people on side and gain a fan base by doing it well and try to offer something not currently out there. Then when the opportunity comes you may be able to take advantage of your new found fame to try it in one of the clubs.

Just thinking aloud as I know a few people who have done the same, hope it helps.

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entertainment 720 presents an entertainment 720 production with sounds by dj roomba

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I want to do club nights and maybe outside parties/small festivals in the future, so really at the moment all I need is a name and a logo. I think the name will take me a very long time to pick, even longer because I don’t know of many promo companies so I don’t know what kind of names they use, I know of Insomniac in America and a few local ones but everything I think of sounds too cheesy.

16

A name is honestly the least of your worries.

Finding a venue, equipment, staff and promotion are your biggest worries.

You can call it ‘Peri-Peri Wonderland’ and people would still come if you get everything else right.

17

True say!

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Don’t think you can do it all online either.

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Name and Logo is the least of worries.
It’s all about the execution. First of all decide what kind of event you want to throw, and what type of music.
Start of small, find a venu, create an event, create a promotional team.
My advice is start planning for everything, once you have a venu, a dj, and a date set, then its all up to promotions

20

I’ve chosen the name ‘Phonic’ and I’m currently getting ideas together for a logo…

The main thing is to get people through the door and I’m a bit stumped as to what I can do, any suggestions?

I was thinking social media, flyers, posters, selling tickets (not sure this would be viable as it’s a small venue) and maybe having a street team (not sure how this works) - any advice?