CUSTOMER SERVICE New Ways to Communicate With Clients

In the mobile-DJ world, there are a lot of different reasons why a client decides to book one DJ over another when pricing or costs are not the deciding factor.

Many times, it comes down to how a DJ provides exceptional customer service. The way a DJ exceeds customers’ needs outperforms any email newsletter, website, social media channel, or landing page.

Customer Experience Has Entered The Chat

Customer-experience marketing is the strategic shift that DJs and popular brands will be taking more serious in 2023. It will be an important marketing tactic that drives usage and adoption of your services to fulfill your customer needs. It involves exceeding customer expectations throughout the entire customer journey from first inquiry to after their event.

Customer experience, to be more specific, is the perception your customer has of you as a DJ or your company before, during, and after the booking. Every interaction you have with your client will contribute to their customer experience, whether it’s positive or negative.

In 2023, we will see a massive shift in beliefs about what marketing actually is. It’s no longer about trying to convince clients to book you or work with your company. Instead, the priority has moved towards providing fantastic customer experiences that will create continuous amounts of bookings and gigs. When you focus on building a positive business culture and providing great services that other DJs do not provide, other parts of your marketing almost takes care of itself.

Your clients will expect a seamless experience from the first spark of interest to the customer service after the booking… from personalized messaging that helps them solve problems to even helping them with things they never thought about for their events. If a DJ provides a great experience that delivers quality across all channels, it’s more likely to earn a client’s business. In addition to personalized marketing messages, find ways to listen and respond to your client’s questions or inquiries in an amazing way as efficiently and quickly as time allows.

The growth of online content has really given consumers more power. They are no longer a passive party when it comes to learning about other DJs and their services. They’re not waiting for you to get back to them or for you to tell them how great your services are. Instead, they’re going out and doing their own research.

So, you have to offer them something more than just information on your website or social channels. In a recent survey, 73-percent of people say that customer experience is an important factor in their buying decisions, but currently only 49-percent of U.S. consumers say that today’s companies provide a good experience. This tells you that companies are not giving what their customers or clients want.

What Makes A Great Customer Experience?

Efficiency, convenience, knowledgeable and friendly service, and easy payment options are what people value most in their customer experience. But traditional marketing is cited, too. Up-to-date technology, personalization, an easy mobile experience, brand image, and design all add up to the overall customer experience.

Can you imagine how your revenue would soar if you went the extra mile to deliver the kinds of experiences that build not only loyalty to you as a DJ, but qualified referrals as well?

When you coordinate your digital-marketing strategy to deliver those kinds of experiences, you’ll grow your bottom line well beyond even your highest expectations. In other words, you need to consider world-class customer experience in every aspect of your marketing strategy.

A happy client is one who is likely to help you boost revenue. And the best marketing you can have are clients who will promote your business for you — the ones who are loyal to your company, continue to promote your business through word-of-mouth, and advocate for your brand and services.

Joshua Volpe is the owner of Kalifornia Entertainment in Rochester, N.Y.

Portable Scratch

Stanton, an inMusic brand, has released the STX portable scratch turntable. With its mini Innofader Nano crossfader, two recharge able batteries, built-in speaker, and performance-focused portablism features on board, the STX gives DJs instant access to their full turntablist skillset whenever and wherever they’d like. The batteries can easily be charged by connecting the unit to a computer or wall charger using the USB C input. For extended scratch sessions, the USB C input can also be used with external power banks for even more cutting time. Adding beats and loopers is as simple as con necting a smartphone to the Bluetooth input, and the USB port with one-touch recording makes it easy to record a performance for content creation. To top everything off, the latching lid also functions as a stackable, latching base, bring the STX to standard turntable height.

Stanton/inMusic 200 Scenic View Dr. Cumberland, R.I. 02864 (401) 658-3131 www.stantondj.com

Of Note

Ableton has released Note, a playable iOS app designed specifically for the early stages of the music-making process. Note offers multiple musical starting points with a curated selection of Ableton Live’s drum kits, melodic instruments and synth sounds. Music-makers can also create their own sound palette by recording the world around them into Note’s sampler instruments. Those who want to take their ideas further can use Ableton Cloud to send their Note Sets straight to Live’s browser to pick up where they left off. Note features 56 Drum Sampler kits to use on the 16-pad grid. Loose timing can be fixed by quantizing, or nudging individual notes. Music-makers can choose from 261 synth sounds and 36 Melodic Sampler instruments, which can be played polyphonically using the 25-pad grid or the piano roll. Bespoke drum kits and melodic instruments can be created by recording percussive or tonal sounds into Note’s Drum Sampler and Melodic Sampler. The samples can then be manipulated through cutting, filtering or repitching, and further transformed by adding effects. Ableton Schönhauser Allee 6/7 10119 Berlin Germany (646) 862-7998 www.ableton.com

Digi Mixer

Germany’s Reloop, distributed Stateside by American Music and Sound, has released the RMX-95 Digital Club Mixer with 24-bit Dual Interface. The professional 4+1 channel club mixer blurs the lines between analog workflow and digital technology. The unit includes a redesigned effects section, optional MIDI mapping of all controls, and smooth integration of the djay PRO AI DJ software. The unit’s 3-band EQ can be adjusted to allow maximum sound control for unique results. Echo, Reverb, Flanger, Phaser, Vinyl Brake, Loop Roll, Noise, Pitch Shift, Delay, Ping Pong Delay, Tape Delay, Bit Crusher and Transformer are just some of the many studio-quality effects included in the brand-new Beat FX unit. The dedicated FX frequency control (LPF/HPF) lets you apply the effects to a specific frequency range for a more unique sound. And each channel also features a bipolar filter unit (LPF and HPF) with real-time resonance adjustment. For connectivity, the unit has four CD, two line, and two phono inputs available on the four input channels. The separate microphone channel has two microphone connections.

Reloop/American Music And Sound 310 Newberry Rd. Bloomfield, CT 06002 (800) 431-2609 www.reloop.com

STUDIO & STEMS

Serato has released Serato Studio 2.0, a fast and intuitive DAW for making beats. The new DAW provides a robust home for Serato Stems technology, a new innovation in the world of sampling and audio manipulation. Powered by Serato’s one-of-a-kind machine-learning algorithm, Stems enables producers to instantaneously isolate and manipulate four different audio stems, while keeping the audio quality. Stems splits audio into distinct tracks for vocals, bass, drums, and melodies, enabling producers to instantly create a cappellas and instrumental tracks and providing easy integration of additional samples or original sounds with the push of a button. Now embedded in Serato Studio’s powerful sampler, Serato Stems delivers infinite possibilities for sampling and unique sound creation. In seconds, users are able to isolate, flip, layer, and chop with finger-snapping ease without sacrificing sound quality, giving them greater freedom to sample how they’ve always wanted to sample. As platforms like TikTok have made remixes and mash-ups increasingly relevant and lucrative, Serato and Stems can help producers find an audience and more easily express their creativity.

Serato 80 Greys Ave. Auckland, 1010 New Zealand (800) 515-8268 www.serato.com

Into The Mixstream

GET ACTIVE!

Pioneer DJ, an AlphaTheta Corporation brand, has released the XPRS2 loudspeaker series, which includes new active full-range loudspeakers and subwoofers for mobile DJs, live sound, rental, and fixed installations. The four new systems include the XPRS102 and XPRS122 full-range speakers and the XPRS1152S and XPRS1182S subwoofers. Features for the full-range speakers include four DSP modes (Live, Music, Speech and Floor Monitor) and 16 customizable user DSP modes. Features for the subwoofers include three different DSP preset modes—Boost, Extended LF, and Normal—to suit different listening environments.

Pioneer DJ Americas 2050 W 190th St #109

Torrance, CA 90504 (424) 488-0480 www.pioneerdj.com

Numark, an inMusic brand, has released the Mixstream Pro +, its latest addition to the company’s Mixstream Pro series of standalone DJ controllers. The Mixstream Pro + includes all the features of the Mixstream Pro, but also brings access to Amazon Music Unlimited and Serato DJ software compatibility to the party. The unit features built-in speaker monitors with a dedicated volume control. The Mixstream Pro + connects wirelessly to Phillips Hue and Nanoleaf smart home lighting, making it easy to create an exciting party vibe for any occasion. For professional DJs, full DMX lighting control and automation is available by utilizing SoundSwitch desktop software and a compatible interface or dongle.

Numark/inMusic 200 Scenic View Dr. Cumberland, R.I. 02864 (401) 658-3131 www.numark.com

Pilot Program

Mixed In Key has released Pilot Plugins, a new generation of artificial intelligence that creates a back-and-forth experience of working between the music producer and the AI to generate melodies, basslines and arpeggios. With this technology, users can create MIDI and audio files that respond to their feedback. Whether on Mac or Windows, Pilot Plugins will speed up the creative process and help users write great music. Pilot Plugins contains three plugins: Pilot Melody, Pilot Bass and Pilot Arpeggio. After selecting a style, users can experiment with the various control knobs to customize the style further. These knobs allow users to adjust parameters such as Rhythm, Density, Shape and other parameters that give precise control over the generation of the MIDI and Audio Files. When users twist a knob, they’ll see new MIDI notes generated in the center preview section.

Mixed In Key 5660 Strand Court #A29

Naples, FL 34110 www.mixedinkey.com

I N Orbit

Four years in development, Orbit.6 has been unveiled by renowned mixer designer, Andy Rigby-Jones, and his new venture, Union Audio. The 6-channel rackmounted analog rotary mixer has been engineered to meet the aspirations of audiophile DJ and vinyl lovers. Orbit.6 features a per-channel valve stage, and a fully discrete internal signal path from channel input to mixout. Equipped with four RIAA and eight line inputs, each channel also incorporates an aux send, high-pass filter and a heavily damped rotary fader, using Union Audio’s bespoke “dampR” system. The Master section features an EQ/isolator and custom VU meters. Designed for the home studios of DJs and vinyl enthusiasts, as well as resident mixer in the booths of clubs and entertainment venues, Orbit.6 presents a unique and distinctive listening experience.

Union Audio Unit 10 Barncoose Ind Est. Redruth TR15 3XX UK www.unionaudio.co.uk

Killer Cables

ADJ has added the XLPRO Series of touring-grade audio cables to its Accu-Cable range of high-quality audio XLR cables. Available in sizes ranging from 1 to 100 feet, these professional-grade cords offer excellent audio clarity and exceptional build quality backed by a lifetime warranty. Each cable features one male and one female XLR connection with goldplated contacts. These are linked by heavy-duty cable with an 8mm jacket, low loss 20g copper conductors and a fully braided shield to deliver audio signal transmission with very low noise. The cable is also very flexible and easy to coil. Each cord is supplied with a reusable tie wrap and a color-coded ring on each XLR connection which identifies its length. All XLPRO Series cables are extremely rugged and designed for professional-event production and touring applications, backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. This covers the cable and component parts for the lifetime of the original owner’s use of the product.

ADJ Products 6122 S. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90040 (323) 582-2650 www.adj.com

Big Boom

Audio-Technica has expanded its offerings for content creation with the AT8700 Adjustable Microphone Boom Arm. Although engineered generally for Audio-Technica’s 20 Series microphones and their use in podcasting, streaming, and other modes of content creation, the AT8700 is just as useful for all other microphones and applications requiring a boom arm. This table-mount boom arm securely attaches to the edge of a desk and features 5/8”-27 thread and heavy-duty suspension allowing full 360-degree rotation, while providing users the ability to place the microphone in the exact position they need when recording, podcasting, streaming, etc. Users can attach their favorite microphone to this professional-quality boom arm to add versatility to their recording or streaming set-up and free up space. The unit comes standard with six USB cable clips, six XLR cable clips, and a table clamp. Additionally, the AT8700 folds for easy transportation.

Audio-Technica 1221 Commerce Dr. Stow, Ohio 44224 (330) 686-2600 www.audio-technica.com

NEW & IMPROVED

Avante Audio has released the Imperio Pro IMP205. Building on the success of its original Imperio Pro “mini” line array system, the new and improved Imperio Pro Series offers increased output, enhanced audio quality, and new features from the same versatile and compact cabinet design. Intended for easy transportation and very fast setup, the Imperio Pro IMP205 is a lightweight, high-output active line array element that can be utilized in a variety of different configurations – both ground-stacked and flown – to cover a wide range of applications and audience sizes. Combining high quality neodymium components with Class-D digital amplifier modules and advanced internal signal processing, the Imperio Pro IMP205 delivers audio fidelity and deployment flexibility for a speaker of its size. Each Imperio Pro IMP205 array element measures just 12.8- x 7.3- x 8.8-inch (324mm x 184.8mm x 224mm) – the same as the original Imperio – but packs in a pair of 5-inch neodymium low-mid transducers alongside six 1.75-inch IDVAT (Inverted Dome Vertical Array Technology) highfrequency drivers. This configuration allows the unit to deliver a broad frequency response of 100Hz – 20KHz with a wide horizontal dispersion angle of 100-degrees.

Avante Audio 6122 S. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90040 (323) 316-9722 www.avanteaudio.com

Audio App

iZotope, leaders in intelligent audio technology, has released Audiolens, a new desktop app that makes track referencing and comparison simple by collecting and analyzing reference track data directly from any streaming platform or audio source without the need for downloading media files or setting up tedious audio routing setups. Reference tracks offer a representation of the desired end result of a track and are a crucial part of achieving the perfect mix or master. Audiolens aims to streamline the referencing process, assisting engineers that are looking to find balance on a final master for a client and producers that want to make sure their song will stack up on a playlist. The new innovative app gathers information on key sonic characteristics such as tone, dynamics, and width, and saves the analysis as a reference track to help users quickly visualize and compare how their own mixes and masters stack up their chosen references. Audiolens can then integrate seamlessly with the AI-powered Assistants of iZotope plug-ins Ozone 10 and Neutron 4, automatically populating saved referenced targets to the Target Libraries where characteristics can be matched.

iZotope 700 Technology Sq., Ste 400

Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 234-1200 www.izotope.com

Playing Footsie

Boss has released the FS-1-WL Wireless Footswitch, a versatile multi-function foot controller for a wide range of applications. Users can control digital music score apps, YouTube videos, DAWs, and supported BOSS and Roland gear wirelessly over Bluetooth. It’s also possible to connect a MIDI cable to operate multi-effect processors, pedals, and other MIDI hardware. And with the dedicated editor/librarian app, the FS-1-WL can be customized to control nearly any software application or MIDI device. Compact and durable, the FS-1-WL is an essential wireless partner for all types of creative situations. It can send keyboard commands over Bluetooth to smartphones, tablets, and computers and comes with three pre-loaded setups for popular apps. With the FS-1-WL editor/librarian app on a Mac/Windows computer or iOS/Android mobile device, users can assign custom keyboard commands to the footswitches, either single keystrokes or combinations with modifier keys like shift and control. And in MIDI mode, custom PC and CC messages can be assigned. The app software also provides the ability to save and organize configurations for different needs.

Boss/Roland 5100 S. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90040 (323) 890-3700 www.bossus.com

Virtual Analog

FabFilter has released FabFilter Twin 3, the latest version of its award-winning virtual analog synthesizer. Almost two decades after FabFilter’s plug-in debut with the FabFilter One synthesizer, Twin 3 expands and improves on its predecessor in every area, including a complete redesign of the GUI and workflow, more and better oscillators and filters, a radically powered-up modulation system, an all-new FX section, and much more. Sonically versatile, supremely intuitive, and spectacularly “analog,” Twin 3 is a dream instrument for creating synth sounds of all kinds, from basses, leads, and pads to plucks, drums, effects, and beyond. Beautiful new interface and improved workflow FabFilter has completely redesigned Twin 3’s interface and workflow, making it more immediately accessible, visually informative, and speedy to navigate than ever, and adding new scaling options and a luxurious Full Screen mode for taking its synth programming environment to the spatial extreme. Individual oscillators and filters can now be added and removed as required, every aspect of the filters is accessed and manipulated within an interactive EQ-style display, and the darker color scheme is less tiring on the eyes over long sessions.

Keizersgracht 467 1017 DK Amsterdam The Netherlands www.fabfilter.com

TECHNO PLUG-IN

G-Sonique has released Resonant Techno Reverb RRTX24, a VST plug-in intended primarily for the production of techno music (deep techno, dark Berlin/Detroit techno, minimal techno, hardcore techno, percussive techno etc.), but it can be used in a wide range of genres such as Neurofunk, Dark Ambient, EBM, Experimental, Psytrance, Hitech, Darkpsy, Techtrance, House, Psybient and many others with virtually no genre restrictions. The plug-in produces various types of artificial, as well as realistic spaces, from almost endless celestial halls to paranormalsounding metallic UFO objects to medium-length deep mysterious monasteries. In addition, it creates a large range of resonances – thanks to the nine high/sharp resonant analog filters, a DSP filter inspired by DSP hardware chip devices, as well as a series of two special resonance circuits –Resonator 1 and Resonator 2, which give this reverb a new unique dimension and a previously unknown sound. Reverb’s filter can be additionally modulated by LFO including analog white noise to create brand new hissy analog atmosphere.

G-Sonique Digital Instruments Holubyho Street 921 01 Piestany Slovakia www.g-sonique.com

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“IRLY (I Really Love You)”

Dombresky

Sink Or Swim

Loaded with soulful vocals and filtered effects, this disco-tinged slammer pumps with a solid house rhythm and an ultra-catchy hook. A real earworm.

– Jim Tremayne

“Hold Me”

Sam Monie feat. Daniela Rhodes

Superfreq

Manic acid lines snake thru a clapping rhythm and a yearning female voice, resulting in a more-than-trippy tech-house journey. On Mr. C’s slightly more pulsing, but no less bewildering remix, the track’s burbling bassline lets loose like jackrabbit. The B-side “Bing Bong” packs a bigger 4/4 wallop and increases the tension as the track skids along. Looking for a brain massage to go with some whopping grooves? Look no further.

– Jim Tremayne

“We Still Believe”

The Blessed Madonna & Jamie Principle

Warner Records

Tweaky and relentless, this stripped-down paean to the classic days of Chicago house music hits all the right marks – from the grooves on the dancefloor to the politics outside the club. The Blessed Madonna brings in house legend Principle for an obstinately powerful track that celebrates the past, but stands firmly in the present. Terrific.

– Jim Tremayne

“Push to Start”

Noizu & Westend feat. No/Me

Insomniac Records

This frenetic house tracks kicks off with a mad build then gets pumping with a rumbling bottom with some exhilarating synth wooshes on top. After that, the builds and drops get even more manic. This one will rock any club or fest. “Push my button/Push to start it,” indeed.

– Jim Tremayne

“Make You Happy”

Mark Knight, James Hurr & Todd Terry Toolroom

Bouncy and big-room blasting, this feel-good collab delivers synth stabs, hip-shaking rhythms and soulful vocal samples that’ll light up a dancefloor. A hands-in-the-air, peak-hour track for house-music lovers.

– Jim Tremayne

“Grumble Bumble”

Steve Bug

Rejected

Moody and dark, yet oddly melodic before it starts chugging hard, Bug’s latest deep-tech track should work for any late-night gathering. The B-side, “Get Away from Me,” percolates a slightly jazzy vibe and flaunts tasty female vocal stabs before ominous synths kick in. A solid double dose.

“Sugar”

Riton feat. Soaky Siren

Big Beat/Atlantic

By ramping up the beats on 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop,” this bouncy, pop-inflected number pushes plenty of spice onto the dancefloor. Energetic, with a big wind-up/drop combo that’ll satisfy.

“Legend”

Adam Beyer

Drumcode

Ascending and hypnotic, this techno stormer builds to a spacey crescendo and delivers a mighty drop. A real 3 a.m. burner, “Legend” will shake hips and rattle some senses. Tough and groovy.

– Jim Tremayne

“The Freaks”

David Guetta x Marten

Hørger

Spinnin

A genuinely stompin’ future-house track that thumps, builds, careens, and wiz-bangs its way into your head. Wildly ravey, “The Freaks” is quite a rollicking rollercoaster ride.

“SOS” (Skylark Remix/Nic Fanciulli Edit)

A’Studio feat. Polina

Defected

Revisiting his remix of this 2006 release, Fanciulli’s new edit shimmers with new energy, as he bumps up the beats with a sizzling bassline and whopping rhythm. Melodic and once again memorable.