Opinions? New app to turn song request and shout-outs into $tip for DJs,w/ your help!
The concept is simple, people put in their song request and shout-out requests via their phones at a club / bar / lounge, with an optional $tip amount. DJ receives notification with song title, $tip amount, shout-out content, and decides if he/she want to play / announce them. If he/she decides to play it, then he/she gets to collect the tip.
One of our co-founders used to DJ back in college, and we wanted to build this app to empower DJs to better communicate with the audience, and of course, make some more money.
What do you guys (our core users) think of the concept? What should we watch out for? Any functionality in particular you would like to see in this app?
We have been working on this app for a bit over half a year now, and have had a few trial parties, and used the feedback to improve our app. We are now featured on #projecthustle by Vitamin Water, and might even get funded by them soon.
Also, if you happen to drink vitamin water, please help fund us using the code under the black cap at Home Page | Coca-Cola US .
If you are interested in the closed beta as a DJ, our website is www.playitnowapp.com , be sure to sign up there or just PM me with your email address and basic info.
Thanks in advance, your opinion is much appreciated!
The promo video was shot when our Android app development hasn’t been completed yet, hence the confusion that Android won’t be supported. We are launching with both platforms (sorry, no Windows phone support as of yet). It’s to my understanding Android users are more creative, eh?
Then I visited the webpage and watched the video that was thrust on me via autostart and now my reaction is
This will be great for a certain kind of party but why not market it to a broader segment of parties and clubs, including those where DJs don’t give “shout-outs” (and may not have mics at all), and usually don’t take requests. Let the crowd thumbs-up and tip the DJs independently of any song or shout-out or trade in kind. Maybe even offer some kind of interaction with the DJ (like a “thanks for the good vibes” text message after the DJ goes home or whatever, integration with shazam or get more info about a track etc.) Even with all that, the point is usually to have fun, dance, etc., so texting the DJ or micromanaging their music selection seems a distraction.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure this will make money (esp with Vitaminwater sponsorship) and there are a lot of clubs that specialize in this sort of thing (DJs who talk shit over the music or who play a lot of pop), but I can’t see wanting to DJ in that club myself. Shoot broader with this thing and find a way to market it to underground DJs, smaller clubs, etc.
Basically, you’re being bribed to play a request. If one person tips you more than another, of course you’re going to play that song, irrespective of your own opinions on the song or the overall vibe of the night.
@djproben , 1. I’m taking out the auto-play from our website tonight once I get home
2. We also wanted to push out a “lite” version of the app where no payment will be involved, everything is free, think that might work?
3. Good point on the fact that some DJs may not have access to mics, will try to allow a configuration where DJ decides if he wants to take shout-outs or not.
4. The few DJs we spoke to mostly liked the idea that there’s some money behind it, since they don’t make much money usually. The power is in the hands of the DJs ultimately, they are free to turn down requests however they see fit. The last we want to see is DJs turning into human jukeboxes, but I can totally see a small portion of money-hungry DJs going overboard with the tip.
@DeanOakley , again, DJs have the power and they should be the gate keeper for the music choices anyway. The app is meant to serve as a tool to empower DJs, not deprive them of their decision rights. But guess we need to make sure people get that idea.
i like the general idea apart from tips. i wouldnt personally take requests but some kind of feedback from people would be interesting… obviously usually looking at people reactions in front of u is the best way but i do quite like this idea too…
I like this idea too!
But won’t the DJ be spending a lot of time looking at his phone and then looking trough his records for the requested song?
It will also be possible for the DJ to play a set full of requested songs, that kinda defeats the purpose of being a DJ now does it…
It is a good idea, but will only work in some circles…mostly a mobile DJ market. I’d create a version for that without the tip portion because mobile DJs are mostly getting paid.
I wouldn’t see myself using it though. The phone is a distraction to me and I wouldn’t want to spend my set sifting through messages for songs. On top of what other posters stated…I’m not doing my job correctly if I have to get a playlist from the patrons.
Focus on the open format mobile people who do personal and corporate parties and you may find a good niche. (Corporate parties would be where the tip function comes in)
I like the suggestion to not have tipping how about the dj being able to yurn tipping on or off in lieu of getting an actual tip from the client and depending on the situation. Say you could have it on at a huge event and off at a Bar Mitzvah I think it would make a great interactive tool for people atteding any musical event.
We were considering a free version of the app for non-commercial events, and based on the strong opinions from you guys, that sounds like a must.
We definitely don’t want to turn DJs into Jukeboxes, which is why we would much rather DJs turn down a song request, and the user gets a notification saying “sorry, DJ wasn’t feeling your request, try again” , than falsely promise the end users that DJs are obligated to play any requests just because they paid for it. Again, we want the app to serve as a tool for the DJs to throw better parties, money making is secondary (just don’t tell our investors that).
Also, DJs will have the ability to set up the events themselves, including location, time, and now $tip on/off, maybe also a color scheme.
Thanks guys for your awesome opinions, they really confirmed many of our concerns, in a good way!
I like the concept, at shows I always think of good tracks that would mix with the one the DJ is currently playing, I always enjoy hearing what’s next but, I’ve yet to have them read my mind. This app sounds like it can bring the DJ closer to the crowd. It would blow my mind if the DJ picked my suggestion.
The “Tip” aspect of it is definitely an interesting aspect as arguments can be made either for or against. However money always talks, but the reputation of the DJ depends on the crowd’s opinion of the DJ’s actions.
This app is a neat idea and I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on it.
I am up in the air about this. My first thought was if the DJ doesn’t have a mic, how are people going to know about the app then my next thought, people have to download the app, who is really going to take the time to do that? 70/30 split on tips? How much in tips do you think someone will give to play a song $1 or $2 at most. I did have a guy tip me $100 to play a song and then came back 15 min later and tipped another $100 to play another song but that is an extreme case, I think I maybe have received $10 total in tips to play a song besides that time in 20+ years of DJing. I just don’t see people at a club taking out there phone to type out a request to the DJ. Also now it means that as a DJ you would have to be constantly looking at your phone and then responding as well with something if the request sucks? Oh and whatever you do, don’t put in anything like “the DJ wasn’t feeling your request” now you have some angry drunk chick coming up to you in your ear because you shot down her song. That wont work. It might be a good gimmick at private events and may find a niche in the mobile DJ market but again this means the people at the party have to DL the app. What is the advantage, besides a tipping option, over a DJ just getting a text number and announcing “Text your shout out or request to…”? Again if the DJ doesn’t announce the app, how is anyone going to know about it and how to hook up with that particular DJ. I think it may be too small of a niche. I just don’t think having an app is now going to make people want to tip. They have to put in a credit card or debit card to send the DJ a dollar? How many people do you really think are going to set that up? I’m just throwing out what I see as the potential problems, looks and sounds good on paper but implementing that in the real world just doesn’t seem practical. Then again, I could be totally wrong and this could be the next big thing. I would have told you that your facebook idea already existed in classmates.com…
#1: A real DJ isnt a b!tch you can buy with Money. #2: If I was a Bar/Pub why should I book a DJ and run this App if instead of paying a DJ (and Money for the App) I could just install a Jukebox and make Money out of it??? Just to say your concept is the one of a Jukebox!!! #3: Why should those things be so “unpersonal”, why can’t People come over to the DJ and place their request by themself?
Sorry to say, your intentions might be nice but for me it is simply a NO GO!!!
but i do quite like this idea too…