This smaller booklet issue of Mobile Beat is a “freeview” of our quarterly magazine, which is packed with more than double the content you see here, and available in print and digital formats for mobile dj, photo booth, and mobile production industry professionals. We hope you enjoy and support our goal of returning as the voice of the DJ & PB community. Like and follow our socials and subscribe today at w w w.mobilebeat .com
05> Editor’s Letter 06> Contests
IN THIS ISSUE Page 8 - Taylor’s GRAMMY Era Swift makes GRAMMYs HISTORY WITH HER FOuRTH RECORD OF THE YEAR
PAGE 16 - NEW DJ GEAR REVIEWS RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO 4-CHANNEL DJ CONTROLLER REVIEWED
08> News PAGE 20 - THE MOBILE BEAT PROFILE 10>
Meet the MB Team
12>
MEX/PBX Hall of Fame
16>
DJ Gear Reviews
RACHEL LYNCH TALKS TO MIKE CORDEIRO ON HER RISE TO HOF STATUS
17>
GET PAID FOR YOUR MIX
Mobile Beat www.mobilebeat.com
20> ProFile: Rachel Lynch 24> GET TO KNOW: RUSS POWELL 26> BALANCING WORK & LIFE 28> Business Safety Tips 29> Art & Dave’s PB Magazine 30> Next Issue published & operated by:
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Winter 2024 - Special Vegas Preview v.2 Issue #001 $8.95USD/issue - $29USD/yr - 4 issues/yr
Editor-in-Chief: Jason Walsh MEX PBX Producer / IP Owner: Rob Savickis Features / Assistant Editor: Mike Cordeiro Mobile Beat (U.S.) Sales: Greg Tutwiler Pro Mobile (U.K.) Editor: Peter Holding Pro Mobile (U.K.) Sales: Steven Honeyball Published By (MB IP Lessee): PartiPeople, LLC Cover Image: Courtesy of Rachel Lynch Contributors to this Issue: Jason Walsh, Jesse James Felice, Greg Tutwiler, Mike Cordeiro, Peter Holding, Fabio Capozzi, Steven Honeyball, Art Armani, Dave Stephenson, Russ Powell, Fabio Capozzi, Stephanie Rivkin All Rights Reserved - Reproduction of content is prohibited without the express permission of the publisher. Opinions within are those of the writers and not necessarily the publisher or advertisers. Publisher shall not be held liable for unintentional errors or omissions. Copyright 2024 PartiPeople, LLC
After a few Zoom calls and some metric conversions, the idea to work together to improve the U.S. and U.K. entertainment industries cer tainly made sense. Almost three years later, and a bit behind our Summer 2023 launch goal, we are on track with the return of Mobile Beat and the brand that shaped many of our careers. But this time, Mobile Beat isn’t just for DJs... Jason Walsh, J.D. Editor-in-Chief jason@mobilebeat.com
If you started out in the mobile event industr y before there was DJ Idea Sharing or the Photo Booth Expo (PBX), you probably subscribed to Mobile Beat Magazine. For me, the only reason to head to my local post office box was to either retrieve a client deposit check or to grab the latest issue of Mobile Beat. During the depressing months of the pandemic, I found myself thumbing through back issues, realizing Mobile Beat was the voice of our industry for more than two decades and needed to live on after the sale of MB’s conference and branding from former owner, Ryan Burger, to current owner and PBX/MEX show producer, Rob Savickis. As things were starting to come back to “normal” in the U.S., I reached out to Rob and pitched the idea of a hybrid print and digital version of Mobile Beat. Rob, more of the convention planner and “man behind the curtain” agreed, and we decided to give it a shot. Around the same time, Peter Holding and Steven Honeyball from U.K.’s Pro Mobile magazine were also interested in sharing Mobile Beat’s content and collaborating with Rob on similar projects in Europe.
This issue is a smaller, free preview (a freeview) into what Mobile Beat will look like each quarter, and it’s our way to regain the voice that was lost when the presses stopped and the screens went dim on the last iteration of the brand. Over time, we expect our initial 60-80 page magazine to catch up to the 100 page version produced by our U.K. counterparts. I encourage the leaders of the DJ, photo booth, mobile events, and production communities to join me by sharing their stories of personal success as well as your failures. For those representing our wonder ful vendor community, I look forward to working with you to educate current and future customers about your brands. And for our readers, I invite you to support us by subscribing via our website, www.mobilebeat.com . Finally, my heartfelt thanks to my wife, son, and daughter for allowing me to pursue this goal, and many thanks to my mentors along the way. I appreciate the support from Bob Lindquist and Dan Walsh (no relation), who along with Michael Buonaccorso and Ryan Burger, published and edited Mobile Beat from 1991 to 2020. Thank you all... I look forward to serving up Mobile Beat’s next 200 issues! -J.W.
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Vegas Cash Back Contest
Prize: $100.000* Cash
We know you’ll probably be broke, “felted”, or otherwise wondering how to buy lunch after visiting the PBX/MEX expo floor, the poker tournament, the Vegas strip, and the airport slot machines... so here’s one crisp new Benjamin for you. 100 United States Dollars, 10,000 pennies, or we’ll keep it simple and send it via Venmo or PayPal so you can quickly put it into play. *Of course we added that extra “0” to make you look - but just so we all know - it’s only $100, please don’t go buying a new car like you had no clue. Raffle drawing; no purchase required. Enter by March 18, 2024.
GRAMMY Award Winners Mix-Off
Prize: One MEX/PBX Key Pass
WHO MIXED IT BEST? Calling all blend, scratch, or remix DJs... it’s time to show off a bit! Your goal: Make a mix of no more than 3 minutes, using at least 4 winning song titles (any genre, aired or un-aired winners) from the February 4, 2024 Grammy Awards in your mix. Submit your winning entry via SoundCloud or MixCloud URL and follow all title tagging terms and conditions. Voting by a poll of your peers. Prize value: up to $379.00
Best DIY Photo Booth Template
Enter by March 18, 2024.
Prize: One PBX/MEX Key Pass
Okay photo “boothers” - let’s see your most creative 2x6” or 4x6” photo booth template. It can be a brand new design (hint, hint, Mobile Beat), or it can be from a past event or fantasy event. Keep it clean and legal... This must be your original design, and if using a business logo, trademark, last name or real wedding date, it’s on you to obtain permission (email from client, an owner, director, officer or procurement official). See our contest website link below for full details and entry rules. Art Armani & Dave Stephenson will select their favorite design on an upcoming episode of the Photo Booth Magazine podcast. Prize value: up to $379.00 Enter by March 18, 2024.
For full entry details visit www.mobilebeat.com/contests The Recording Academy, SoundCloud, MEX/PBX, or MixCloud are not sponsors of this event, all trademarks are those of the entities.
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Engine DJ 3.3 Launched Engine DJ 3.3 delivers new FX, powerful song filtering features, and an intuitive profile system enabling access to multiple streaming services across devices with a single login. Engine DJ Profile adds crowd-sourced metadata and beat grid information for streaming tracks. Key song information will automatically be saved to the Streaming Analysis Database which is shared among other Engine DJ users in a universal library.
More Booths, Less Photogs More schools, local government offices, and business headquarters are ditching corporate photographers or quarterly photo shoots for new employees and replacing them with $20k-$40k photo booths (like the Iris booth on left). Consistent headshot look and feel, instant availability and unlimited reattempts are all reasons companies and schools are going self-service for IDs and LinkedIn shots.
Swift, Winning at Life Taylor Swift is in her “winning” and “cashing in” eras after crossing a $1.1B net-worth estimate this past Fall according to Forbes, and just this month (Feb 2024) winning a record-breaking fourth Grammy Award for Record of the Year from the Recording Academy. At her current pace, she could be worth close to a mind-blowing $1.8-2.0B by this time next year. Swift jetted overight from Japan to Vegas to watch her beau, Travis Kelce beat the 49ers in Super Bowl 58.
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THE NEW MOBILE BEAT MAGAZINE HAS A TEAM MADE UP OF DJs & PHOTO BOOTHERS, LOOKING TO SHARE YOUR STORY
Jason Walsh, Editor-in-Chief Jason, a Maryland based Single-op DJ and photo booth owner (Bay Deejays), has been part of the entertainment community since the late 1990’s. An original member of the Baltimore Area DJ Association, he founded the U.S. DJ Association (USDJA), and teamed up with Rob Savickis in 2021 to pave the road for the re-launch of Mobile Beat Magazine. A graduate of the University of Baltimore and the University of Baltimore School of Law, Jason brings his formal education in corporate communications, entertainment, intellectual property, and contracts law to the magazine, (capitalizing on his business and undergraduate background in print and graphic design.) Jason also founded PartiPeople, the LLC that operates Mobile Beat and he hopes the new endeavor will eventually help unite all DJ and PB associations, vendors, and entertainers under a single marketing and communications platform to give a greater voice to our industry.
Now almost as valuable as Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1 - Mobile Beat’s first issue from April 1991 originally sold for $3.95 per copy ($4.95 in Canada). 10
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Rob Savickis, MB IP Owner / Producer - Mobile Entertainment Expo & Photo Booth Expo Rob Savickis, a Canadian DJ and photo booth operator, is the promoter and “man behind the curtain” for the Photo Booth Expo (PBX) and the Mobile Entertainment Expo (MEX) in Las Vegas. The 2022 completion of the sale of Mobile Beat made Rob the owner of all its current and former intellectual property rights, including the magazine’s past photos, articles, videos, and the annual conference (currently branded as MEX). Rob connected MB’s Editor, Jason Walsh with Peter Holding and Steven Honeyball from Pro Mobile to allow the team to share best practices and content across the pond for the magazine, and he (Rob) is currently working with the Pro Mobile duo on a London version of the Photo Booth Expo in October 2024.
Greg Tutwiler, Sales Manager
Steven Honeyball, Pro Mobile (U.K.) Co-Owner
Greg has been an active mobile DJ for the past 38 years. He was awarded the Karaoke DJ of the Year Award by the American Disc Jockey Association in 1997.
Steven Honeyball is based in Surrey, in the UK, and is a passionate DJ that has been rocking events since 2005. Starting out in clubs and pubs and quickly moving on to private parties and weddings, Steven launched his second business, a photo booth company which now offers Magic Mirror, iPad and retro-booths,the last of which fit well in traditional English barn venues.
He began working for the “original” Mobile Beat in 1998 as a staff writer, and later became co-producer of the magazine. Greg co-produced Singer & Musician Magazine with Mobile Beat’s then Editor Bob Lindquist, from 1999-2005 before starting his own magazine, Americana Music Magazine in 2006. He joined the PBX staff as sales manager in 2018. Greg led sales management roles for MEX and Mobile Beat, since their inceptions.
Michael Cordeiro, Assistant Editor & Features Writer Mike has been in the entertainment industry since 1990 and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Event & Entertainment Management. A DJ and photo booth operator for multiple companies in Southern New England from 1990 to 2002, he started his own company, M.C. Entertainment in 2003. During winter months, Mike produces “Breakfast with Santa” at various banquet venues in his area. Mike began writing for Mobile Beat Magazine in 2016 and is known for his PROfiles columns and celebrity interviews. He also conducted the wrap up features for the Mobile Beat Las Vegas Conferences, getting input from vendors and attendees alike on their take of the show. Mike will serve as Mobile Beat’s Assistant Director, helping coordinate all aspects of print and event productions and also currently serves as Stage Director for the Mobile Entertainment Expo.
More recently Steve’s business has re-branded to concentrate on high-end corporate events, weddings, event production and audio video conferencing. In 2018 Steven became the business development manager for Pro Mobile magazine and conference, while under the ownership of the National Association of DJs (NADJ) and then assumed ownership with his business partner Peter Holding, in 2022 through their HH Publishing Limited branding. Peter Holding, Pro Mobile (U.K.) Co-Owner A full-time mobile DJ and wedding host since 2013, Peter Holding set up his business – All Parties and Events – with his wife Michelle in 2012. Prior to being an entertainer, Pete spent close to 30 years working in Sales, Sales Management, and Corporate Communications, mostly within the banking sector. In 2020, Peter took on the role of editor for Pro Mobile magazine and then assumed both ownership of the title and the magazine in 2022 along with business partner Steven Honeyball, through their company, HH Publishing Limited.
A special thanks to Pro Mobile Magazine, their writers, and editors for the reciprocal use of content, reviews, and industry photos.
Jason’s MB memories so far... Being stuffed in to Rob’s compact Pontiac G5 along with Greg, and Jordan St. Jacques for dinner in Atlantic City after not being able to locate his van in the casino garage. Entertaining drivers and pedestrians with Pete, Steve, and the U.K. guys on the Vegas Strip in the back of the TDJS Mobile DJ Studio in 2022.
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CONGRATS TO ALL OF THE LATEST PROFESSIONALS ADDED TO THIS YEAR’S MEX & PBX HALL OF FAME
PBX Awardees: Catalina Bloch Gregory Burt Jamie Massey Cobb Sammy English Dustin Espindula Paul Hrdlicka Tracy Hueth Lap Le Iris Max David Miller Minh Nguyen George Velasco
Join us at the South Point Casino Showroom, Tuesday February 20th at 9:00pm for the MEX & PBX Hall of Fame Awards Show.
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MEX Awardees: Keith Alan Alan Berg Joe Bunn Jim Cerone Scott Faver Mark Ferrell Bill Hermann Jimmy Johnson Chuck Lehnhard Rachel Lynch Rob Peters DiFazio
FABIO CAPOZZI TAKES THE NEW RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO FOR A SPIN RELOOP MIXON 8 PRO - MSRP: $1249.99 US
Taking the controller out the box, the first thing I noticed was its weight and sturdy build, both signalling top quality and Reloop’s use of metal parts. There’s nothing worse than flimsy faders, rattly play and cue buttons, or spongy control pads. Also in the box was the all-essential power cable and adaptor, instruction book, and a surprisingly decent USB cable. The layout of the deck is logical and only a degree of intuition is needed to work out where everything is. It’s surprising and a bit quirky to see a mirrored deck layout for a professional controller, but this has become common practice for many controllers. The rear panel section catches the eye immediately and it’s apparent this is a very well-connected controller. Starting from left to right, there is not one, not even two, but three output options: XLR, 1/4” jack and RCA.
There are two USB connection ports for changing between laptops. You also get a USB C/iOS port to connect an iPad, for which there is even an integrated slot – nice touch! The power button, PSU input and a microphone port (XLR/TRS) round off the back panel. These connection options make the Mixon 8 Pro extremely versatile. Powering on the unit results in a short burst of activity as the controller boots up. The decks are in a mirror layout configuration, which may be different to what some DJs are used to, but the brain quickly adjusts. The cue and play buttons feel sturdy and have responsive action and are thankfully, brightly backlit. Switching to decks 3 and 4 could not be easier with well-placed buttons positioned near the jog wheel – handy for the multi-deck mixing DJ or busy wedding DJ in need of multiple tracks cued.
Photo: Reloop - Reloop.com
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The jog wheels are a good size and feel very responsive – Reloop hasn’t given us the ability to adjust the feel, but the selected setting is good to work with overall. The height of the jog wheels seems an improvement on other models within Reloop’s range and allows for bettercontrolled pitch bending. The in-jog displays are a very welcome addition and crammed with information like USB and deck assignment, time, pitch, BPM, and a virtual play head offering a clear, bright and easy to read display.
Nestled around the jog wheels, the performance mode section of eight pads controls the hot cue, loop roll, saved loop, and sampler, with access to a second layer by pressing the shift button for pitch play, saved flip, slicer, and scratch bank. These were a lot of fun to play with and can add creative and imaginative flair to a set.
Ultimately the Mixon 8 Pro will be connected to your laptop – and it works very well – but just remember to install an ASIO driver. Thanks to the plug ’n’ play technology, and a choice of Serato DJ Pro or Algoriddim djay Pro AI, you can easily unlock immediate DJing with up to four decks simultaneously. This multi-platform approach gives you the f lexibility to perform with different software, devices, and platforms for PC, MacOS, iPadOS, or iOS. The industr y-leading software includes exclusive performance modes, such as Scratch Bank support for Serato (to instantly access scratch tools) and Neural Mix™ AI technology for djay Pro AI (to isolate vocals, drums, and instruments in real time). The Mixon 8 Pro also includes extensive controls for the pad as well as EQ mode, and by using the switch on the controller you can instantly turn the EQ knobs into dedicated Neural Mix™ controls.
Above the cue is the sync, two-parameter buttons (which control the parameter functions dependent on the active mode – shift param 1 controls the second level of parameter functions), pitch in/out/select and auto loop switch, pitch range and key sync buttons – all capped by a decent 100mm tempo slider with a light-up zero position indicator. The detail is really impressive.
The Reloop Mixon 8 Pro is fun to use while delivering a powerful tool for most DJ situations. It’s fair to say its most practical use will be within the mobile DJ market, but while testing out the controller in a bar setting, I found its size and aesthetics gave the impression of a more substantial DJ controller – it looked great behind the booth!
Above the jog wheel is the FX section with three FX control pots and the on/off button. These are complemented by the FX paddles found on the mixer board and allow for an FX to be dropped momentarily by pressing down on the spring-loaded paddle, or clicked upwards for the FX to stay held on the selected deck. This is an industry first: the four sturdy onboard FX paddles allow instant tactile control of all the effects, providing added value in shaping your DJ set.
I also love the affordable price point, especially given the number of features available. I’ve listed a few that stand out, but do stop by a local DJ store and try out the Mixon 8 Pro – it may just be the next controller you are looking for.
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Find the full Mixon 8 Pro review on our site at www.mobilebeat.com. Special thanks to Fabio and Pro Mobile for the detailed review!
JESSE JAMES FELICE PROVIDES US WITH A TWO-PART SERIES ON GETTING PAID FOR ORIGINAL DJ MIXES “I had a fantastic experience at MEX, at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. I met wonderful, like-minded people including artists, DJs, and industry professionals. I caught up with old friends, made new ones, and gained valuable insights. I’d like to express my gratitude to Rob Savickis for organizing such a great event and inviting me to speak at MEX. I would also like to thank Mobile Beat Magazine for inviting me to write this series.” My name is Jesse James. I’ve been a DJ for 20 years and performed at weddings, clubs, and corporate events, including closing for Grammy winner Dave Aude at the House of Blues, and performing at the historic IVAR Theater, where Elvis played. Additionally, I created and hosted “The Essential Mix” radio show on WRIR-97.3FM, in tribute to DJ Pete Tong. My most memorable DJ event was TRON LIVE, in which I produced, performed, and featured Disney & DC directors and actors for whom I had written scripts to narrate during my set. Before delving into the complex world of music licensing, the sprint within a marathon, I worked with Paul Oakenfold - the Guinness Record holder for “world’s most successful DJ” and 2-time DJ MAG #1 DJ of the world. I curated and remixed music for his sets, and coordinated logistics for his world tour - which included stops at Mount Everest, Singapore, and Mobile Beat Las Vegas (Now known as MEX.) I also served as a brand ambassador and graphic designer for his Electronic Music Academy and DJ Camp in Los Angeles. Now, I work with Art Ford Music Services, a music licensing and sync agency that brings film, TV show, and advertising campaign song-placement opportunities to artists and musicians. We work with music supervisors, coordinators, directors, and trailer houses to help them find their perfect song. We vet the artists, rep their work, speak on their behalf, and negotiate licensing contracts and payments. Our song placements include Marvel, Disney, Pixar, Oprah, John Wick 2, The Equalizer 2, Land Rover, Mercedes, Western Union, Citibank, The Matrix, Coke, The Bourne Identity, and music supervision for the Olympics. We represent songs by Christina Aguilera, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Whitney Houston, Aerosmith, Snoop Dogg, Motley Crue, Little Richard, Coolio, Celine Dion, and many other iconic and independent artists. Music licensing is the leasing of copyrighted music for a fee. A sync agent’s role is to represent and speak for said copyright on behalf of the artist, pitch their work on projects, and cultivate relationships. They’re also responsible for money collection, contracts, cue sheets, metadata, and programming your music into a search database. Pursuing sync is a numbers game. It’s like buying lottery tickets, the more you do it, the more you win.
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There are no shortcuts, and information changes hands very quickly. Poor intel, including uncleared samples, remixes, and inaccurate quotes, gets people fired, or sued, causes production delays, and endangers business relationships. Every production, music supervisor, and coordinator is aware of this. That, and the number of emails they get from artists, is why it’s exponentially more difficult and sometimes impossible for an artist to break through. Agencies are established and reputable, handle all the vetting, and speak with one voice, sometimes on behalf of hundreds of artists and thousands of songs. Our database, The World Song Network, has almost 31,000. This article is a guide to working with an agent, but also provides a DIY approach to music licensing. Sync can be done solo. Depending on how much time you devote to music production, pitching, networking, and live performance, consider working with multiple agencies. Mental health is important; deadlines for procuring music can range between 1-2 hours or to 1-2 weeks, the most common being a few hours. Sometimes, there’s an opportunity to make something from scratch, but most of the time, there isn’t. My goal is to provide a context for navigating sync from an objective perspective. My Youtube video, “Mobile Entertainment Expo - How to Monetize Your Music for Film and TV,” expands on topics including song programming, metadata, briefs, pitching music, writing effective emails, research, how and when to reach out to a music supervisor or coordinator, and visual examples of contracts, music supervisor and metadata spreadsheets, split sheets, workfor-hire, artist consultation, and master use/ sync agreements. SYNC AGENCY DEAL POINT STRUCTURE Our deal point structure with independent and unsigned artists: This is a conversation to have with other agencies as well. Artists send original work they control 100% of the master and composition of. Covers are accepted on a caseby-case basis. Always indicate if samples or interpolation are used. It’s possible to license remixes and mix compilations, but it’s time-consuming, expensive, and impractical for many budgets and deadlines. Some companies specialize in clearing derivative works, such as remixes and covers. I’ll be interviewing the queen of music clearances, aka “the secret weapon,” for a subsequent article.
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We upload the songs to our music database, The World Song Network, listen to each 3-5 times, and program them for search criteria, such as mood, vibe, genre, keywords/ tags, instrumentation, lyrics, Billboard affiliation, and similar artists. 10 songs can take up to two full hours to program, depending on the complexity of the music. There are no upfront retainers or costs. We take care of the bandwidth/ time required to program and host the songs. We pitch artist’s songs that we think are a good fit on forthcoming films, TV shows, and ad campaigns we’re pulled in on by music supervisors, coordinators, and trailer houses. Sync agents perform countless hours of work. It can take months or even years to get a placement for a song, there’s a lot of unpaid labor. Sync agents find and put music in front of the right people, but there’s no placement guarantee. Sync agencies generally charge 25% to 50% of the placement fee. Should we secure a placement, we would receive 50% participation in all the revenues we generate from the placements we secure and 50% of public performance royalties for network placements. We offer non-exclusive representation by default and don’t ask for ownership of the songs. Exclusivity is available at the artist’s discretion. The artist/songwriters have approval and standard auditing rights. Once we receive placement interest in a song, we would enter into formal agreements at the above terms and conditions at fees acceptable to the artists/songwriters. Interested in trying to sell your music? Part 1 of Jesse’s story continues & his contact info is on mobilebeat.com Have a unique industry job or tiein to Mobile Beat? We want to know! Contact us at: mobilebeat.com/contactus
MIKE CATCHES BACK UP WITH ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PIZZA-LOVING DJs: RACHEL LYNCH I’ve really missed writing and doing interviews for Mobile Beat Magazine the last few years. I was beyond excited and honored when Editor -in-Chief Jason Walsh invited me on board for the relaunch. Mobile Beat helped to shape the DJ industry for over 20 years. There’s been a noticeable void without it since 2020. From 2016 to 2020 I handled the celebrity interviews and DJ Profile page. The profile page introduced me and all of you to some wonderful entertainers and hidden talent in the DJ world. I was trying to figure out who should be the first DJ Profile for this next generation of Mobile Beat. I started going through all my old interviews and came across a February 2019 interview with DJ Rachel Lynch. Bam! I had my answer. Rachel has become an industry rockstar, mentor, vlog sensation, trend setter and now an MEX DJ Hall of Fame Award winner - the choice was a no-brainer.
Mike: Hey Rachel, can you believe that it’s been four years since our first interview? Rachel: Wow! That’s unbelievable! Mike: So much has changed since then. Let me start with the pandemic. How did you get through it and how has your business changed since then? Rachel: During COVID, I had a full-time job as a Connecticut state EMT and corporate security trainer, which kept me busy and financially stable. However, my DJ business was severely impacted. While some DJs adapted by doing online performances or hosting virtual parties, I took the opportunity to prepare for when live gigs would return, and I also joined online radio stations to stay creative. Despite the challenges, I made the most of the downtime and emerged from the pandemic more organized and skilled than ever. Mike: What exactly did you do DJ-wise during the down time? Rachel: I took the time to thoroughly go through all my DJ gear, practice my mixes, and organize my music databases. It was important to me to stay on top of my skills and not let them become rusty. I also made sure to keep up with the latest music releases, so I wouldn’t miss a beat when live gigs returned. Thanks to this preparation, I was able to hit the ground running and feel confident in my abilities. Mike: No pun intended, right? Any challenges you faced coming out of the pandemic? Rachel: Handling the influx of new bookings while still honoring commitments to clients who had to reschedule events was definitely a challenge. It required careful planning and communication. I made sure to prioritize the clients who had to postpone their events, working closely with them to find new dates that worked well for both parties.
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I also made myself available for any additional support or guidance they needed during this time. It was important to me to do the right thing for all my clients and ensure that everyone felt valued and taken care of. Mike: I would say most of us went through that. I finished my last pandemic wedding in October of 2022. How about you? Rachel: In early 2023, I had my final COVID wedding. Over the course of three years, I worked closely with my remaining couples, adapting to all the changes since so much time had passed since getting booked. It was a challenging but rewarding experience. Mike: You also started doing radio shows during that time? Rachel: It was a strategic decision for me to continue creating content and building my audience during that time. I didn’t want to give up and sit back. Instead, I saw it as an opportunity to transform the negative situation into something positive and keep moving forward. It allowed me to sharpen my skills and stay determined in pursuing my goals. Mike: I would say you did pretty well with that. Rachel: The radio shows helped me reach a new audience, and that’s when I decided to join TikTok too. The pandemic was a turning point for me as a DJ and businessperson, and I believe it made me better in both aspects. Mike: How did your business change? Rachel: Due to the impact of COVID-19, my focus shifted primarily to weddings. I had to adapt and accommodate the needs of brides who had to adjust their plans due to the pandemic. As a result, my schedule became fully booked with weddings, taking up my Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and this resulted in doing less and less bar and club work. This change in clientele allowed me to explore a different side of my DJ career and I’m loving it. Mike: Tell us about that. Rachel: As I did more weddings, I received more referrals, leading to more bookings, gig logs, and opportunities in the DJ industry. This increased recognition allowed me to raise my wedding prices significantly this year.
Mike: That is not a bad problem to have. Are you still doing bar gigs? Rachel: I focused solely on weddings and haven’t looked back at doing bar and club gigs. Wedding gigs bring in significantly more money and are more rewarding work. While they require a lot of planning and responsibility, I don’t miss the hassle of late-night drives from the bar. Plus, I’ve made great friends with some of my clients. Mike: I love early country club weddings that are done by ten or eleven. No more club and bar work at all? Rachel: In New England, January, February, and March are usually slow. To stay connected with popular music and trends, I’ll do some bar gigs during those months. Mike: Don’t take this the wrong way, but in a weird way the pandemic was a good thing for you? Rachel: It does sound terrible, but it made me a better DJ and person. I feel more confident in my skills and ready to take on the world. Mike: That is a great lesson on how to handle adversity. So many people left the industry and gave up. Honestly, none of us know if something like that will ever happen again. You grabbed the bull by the horns and won.
RL: “You need to have a plan - believe in yourself, and just push through.” Mike: Great advice! In our last interview I asked you who your mentors were. You said you had a few, but now you’re kind of a mentor. How does that feel? Rachel: I find it cool, but also a little weird. I am a modest and introverted person. While I don’t love lots of attention, I do take pleasure in assisting and bringing happiness to others. That’s what motivates me in everything I do. Mike: You hide that very well. You would never know it with all the You Tube videos and gig logs. Rachel: I hear that a lot. People are surprised to hear that I’m actually an introvert. I do those things to help, and I do have fun creating. When I’m home, I like to disconnect and relax.
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Mike: I would say that anyone who meets you can instantly see that you are genuine and authentic. Rachel: I’m grateful when people tell me how my videos and advice have helped them. Industry friends also send me emails expressing their appreciation and encouragement. It’s humbling and motivating to receive such positive feedback. Mike: Be proud of what you’ve done so far. Speaking of that. How does it feel to be on the MEX Hall of Fame Award list this year? Rachel: I’m honored to be mentioned alongside industry giants like Alan Berg, Ben Stowe, and Mike Walter. They are highly respected in the industry. As for being the only female on the list this year, I believe that’s correct, right? While I don’t focus on gender, it’s worth noting the significance of being recognized as a woman in a male-dominated field. This is big for me. Mike: There are definitely a few more ladies that deserve it. They need more representation.
Rachel: I create content and videos to show women in our industry that they can excel in this field,and that geeky tech stuff isn’t just for guys. I want to empower them and inspire them to pursue their passions without barriers. Mike: Going back to our first interview I asked you what your five-year plan was? Your answer was: “To make more money than the previous year”. Given the pandemic and all that’s happened in the last four years, what’s the new plan? Rachel: I’m so bad at plans. I’m just taking everything in stride right now. I’m really enjoying this stage in my career. If an opportunity comes my way and it feels good, I’m going to jump on it. I’m at a point where everything feels right, and I love doing what I do and that’s good enough for me. Mike: Amen to that. Last interview you said you don’t take the phone into the bathroom because you need thirty minutes of privacy. Still the rule?
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Rachel: No, that’s gone out the window. With all the social media, I get contacted at least a dozen times a day and I always try to be generous with my time. Maybe that should be the new goal? Mike: Speaking of social media, how does it feel to have 14,000 followers now? Rachel: I may not have as many followers as some other DJs, but I’ve worked hard to earn each one. For me, it’s not about the numbers. I value building a close-knit community of people I know and can interact with. I have a clear vision for my channels and social media presence. I only post when I have something meaningful to say and I avoid controversial topics. Mike: One of the things I enjoy most about your content is watching how diplomatic and nice you are to people that really need to be told to take a hike. Rachel: Being nice online can be tough with so many people scrutinizing your every word. Dealing with bullies and self-proclaimed experts is challenging. However, what matters most to me is understanding the impact of content and taking the responsibility to respond professionally and honestly. You’re asking people to trust you, so I take that with very seriously. Mike: Good point! Rachel: I strive to create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and asking questions without fear of judgment or embarrassment. It’s important to me that my channels are a safe space for everyone, regardless of their level of expertise or technical knowledge. I make a conscious effort to keep any negativity off my pages and maintain a positive and supportive atmosphere. Mike: Have you had to block anyone? Rachel: A few people. I’ve had to turn off comments or hide a thread because it started to get out of control. At the same time, I’ve gotten plenty of emails from people apologizing because they went back and reread a thread or post and realized they got it wrong or misinterpreted what was said. I mean, really, who’s getting apologies on the internet? Read the rest of Mike’s interview with Rachel on our website at www.mobilebeat.com. Special thanks to Rachel and congrats on the HOF win.
FROM HIS EARLY DAYS ROCKING IN BANDS, TO HIS CONFESSION ABOUT THE SECRET MEX/PBX ATTENDEE NETWORKING SPOT - RUSS POWELL DOESN’T HOLD BACK by: Jason Walsh Jason@mobilebeat.com Beyond following him on his socials, I first met Russ two years ago when I partnered with The DJ Sessions in Seattle to have Darran Bruce bring down his “Pope Mobile” mobile DJ studio. Russ and his crew contacted me as soon as I put a post out and they were the first ones to sign up for a slot to entertain on the Vegas Strip... it was literally a historic mobile DJ moment for the MEX / PBX conference and probably a once in a lifetime experience for all. With the relaunch of Mobile Beat - I’ll be reaching out to DJs and Boothers to get the scoop on how they got their start in the entertainment industry. For as much as I see Russ online (he seems to be literally everywhere), I didn’t know his background, so it was fun to catch up and talk about what makes him tick. I give him a ring and he huffs off a “hey Jason” and a few long exhales, and I quickly realize that I caught Russ while he was finishing up the final reps of his daily workout. As he catches his breath, we start with some small talk and then we get into the main event - where exactly did this 48 year-old get the energy of a 20 or 30 year old? In just my first issue on the job, I’ve already realized that a lot of photo booth owners started out as DJs and many DJs started out as former band members or perhaps running sound for a band or church service. Russ is guilty of the former, he was a punk rock star playing bass guitar, singing, and songwriting for his band “Squawkbox” (a name that stuck due to the sounds made by a 1/4” mic in the group’s Radio Shack megaphone-style speaker).
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Squawkbox transitioned into “January Daze” before the DJ bug bit. In 2003, Russ was asked to lend his sound equipment to a friend for their wedding. Not wanting the equipment to get ruined, or the event to get messed up - Russ stepped in to run point as the DJ and MC for the event. Having received praise for his performance, and enjoying the evening himself, Russ started to make the switch from “band dude” to DJ with another shocking twist of fate.
Russ shared that for the most part, he was self-taught when it came to many of the ropes in the DJ world, such as speaker placement, contracts, and marketing. He branded his company as Squawkbox Sound and although he had already been winning awards from his satisfied clients for almost a decade, he says he didn’t incorporate and start on his true “professional” career until 2015. After a 2017 divorce, and while raising a son and daughter (now ages 20 & 18 respectively), he was determined to focus on entertaining and doubled-down on networking and training. “Everything just seemed to click for me,” he said. I was in the Salt Lake Chapter of ADJA which got me connected with guys like Rob Ferre who put me in contact with Mark & Rebecca Ferrell and their MarBecca workshops,” Russ said. It was also through networking at an ADJA local industry mixer that he met his photographer wife, Morgan. They happened to end up as DJ and photographer at the same event and went from first date to wedding bells in just a matter of months - truly love at first sight! It was also through his local connections that he scored the chance to DJ for boy band stars Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick , and Nick Carter as part of the Salt Lake FanX Pop Culture & Comic Convention. Something that he admits he would never have done without the support of others in the DJ community.
“You become a more professional entertainer, through training and having the humility to understand that you don’t know what you don’t know... and try new things.” And Powell isn’t afraid to try those new things from riding the Vegas “Russ Bus” (fondly named by friend Nate Nelson), to multiple trips to DJ Collective events, to serving in DJ roles for “Virtual Mobile Beat”, Marquee in Chicago, and WeddingMBA & MEX/PBX here in Vegas. “I have always maximized my time while attending conferences, but I sometimes get more out of networking with my peers than I do attending seminars during the show,” he admits. His Vegas speakeasy of choice - the Wicked Spoon buffet inside the Cosmopolitan. “I just love to work with other vendors and help them with any issues they might be having maybe their issue is something I need to think about, or work on in my own business,” he said. From his “House Arrest” podcasts during COVID to raise spirits, to his big moments on stage or in a Vegas buffet, Russ Powell has shown us how to truly be both humble and kind.
Russ certainly knows what he wants and right now, he is hyper-focused on his wedding work. Since starting MarBecca in 2019, he has been able to up his game and stand out from his Utah competition. “The bar to become a DJ is quite honesty pretty low,” he shared. “Equipment is much cheaper than it used to be, music is easier to obtain, and overnight anyone could set up shop and market themselves as a DJ,” Russ continued. Photos: TDJS (below), Morgan Powell (right)
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STEPHANIE RIVKIN [DJ STARDUST] TALKS ABOUT TIPS FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE DURING MEX/PBX IN VEGAS by: Stephanie Rivkin DJ Stardust If you’re anything like me, you work hard 24-7. I tend to give myself very little time to relax. In fact, I seem to stack one stressful experience on top of another with very little room in between to just breathe! When my seminar was chosen for The Mobile Entertainment Expo, I thought it would be a piece of cake to fit that in to an already incredibly hectic schedule and lifestyle. I have the desire to do so much outside of work, but sometimes realistically, there just isn’t enough time or energy. That hasn’t stopped me from trying to do it all though. It’s all about finding balance, even if you’re a procrastinator like me! Getting to Vegas from CT is one of my favorite parts of the experience going to MEX. Flying over the entire country and watching the landscape change from familiar to alien is so fascinating. It is also my one and only chance to be forced to have to relax for at least 7-8 hours - if I can grab a nonstop flight. I don’t like to sleep during that time but the 3 hours difference on the clock really does mess with me on arrival. The overall mix of emotions from excitement, stress, jet-lag and exhaustion are enough to overwhelm anyone. The anticipation of seeing friends plus the abundance of sights and sounds in Sin City keep me going for a while as though I drank a red bull. Speaking of RedBull, conferences are the only time I allow it to give me wings! It’s just not healthy. Self-care is part of work-balance for me. I love a hot bath in the hotel room on arrival plus a hot shower at least once a day! The smell of the smoke from the hotel can be gross, I’m not gonna lie. I’m not opposed to grabbing a short nap if I feel the need to. The desire to go hard day and night is strong but I know that taking care of myself will ensure a better overall experience than if I burn out early in the week.
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Sometimes, just privately disconnecting from all the madness with a few friends, can help maintain a sense of relaxation. I suggest planning and prioritizing ahead of time who & what is important to you. Because the hotel is so big, and we are in the desert, I feel like my energy is limited and I’m dehydrated before I know it. I’ve left Vegas looking 10 years older than when I arrived before, it’s no joke! It took me months to get back to normal! I can’t express how important it is to drink water all day! It will especially help if you plan to indulge in lots of drinking night after night.
Once you start seeing everyone, it’s easy to want to be in three places at once. I didn’t plan enough this past trip and I regret that I ended up missing out on lunches with good friends, parties with people I wish I was I with instead of where I was and education from people I highly respect and admire. The FOMO even when you’re there is real! Our community is incredible and making connections in person is so valuable! Building relationships is one of the top reasons I go back each year. That’s using your time wisely. Attending a conference versus performing or speaking is so different. For me, the last few MEX’s have about work and play. In 2021, I performed at the DJ Takeover and this year I presented a seminar and played in the DAS & Bose Booths. The amount of preparation for all of that was intense and had to be done right after wedding season and during the holidays. I was glued to my laptop for months in advance. I couldn’t wait to be the 1st one on stage Tuesday morning so I could let go of the information taking up so much space in my head. I had already prepared way in advance to celebrate at a VIP table at Omnia that night as a gift to myself for all of my hard work, not only for MEX, but all year round. When in Vegas, you must party often. One of my favorite parts of MEX is the DJ Takeover. I was so excited to see my friends perform on stage – especially my girl Nicki Nell, & hosts ChiTown Shani & Michelle Miller. It should be mandatory homework to be there and listen to these DJs, witness their stage presence and see the crowd’s reaction.
It’s your job to be the person at the party for once. Using the photo booth, dancing, playing the role of someone at one of your own events so you can reevaluate the experience later. It’s your chance to get ideas to take back with you, to cheer on your peers and be supportive of their success as well as make new friends and connections. It’s your chance to let loose! All of the parties they put on are awesome. You get to mingle with everyone! If I’m being honest, I didn’t spend much time on education this time around and that’s only because I had plans to DJ on the showroom floor during that time. I had been networking hard all of last year and when the opportunity arose – I couldn’t say no. I know for a fact many of the presenters were amazing, worthwhile and inspiring because I had invested quite a bit of time and money going to 5 DJ conferences last year where I got to see some of them speak. I kind of had my fill of education at the time but I plan to always incorporate more. I love that MEX offers DJs a chance to share what they know from their perspective as a DJ or business owner. A lot of DJs have so much to offer and I love that some are willing to share their mistakes, stories and secrets to help improve our industry as a whole. It’s hard to fit so much in such a short amount of time between the expo and getting a taste of Vegas. If you can - arrive early, stay late, or do both! Do as much as you can, but balance it with water, healthy eating and sleep. There’s no doubt you will get 1,000,000 steps in, so a reminder once again to stay hydrated and stay positive. I have a funny way of getting stuck in the airport every year and this past year didn’t disappoint... stuck or sick, sometimes stuck while sick - just roll with it and enjoy Sin City for all it has to offer! It’s definitely going to be an adventure, but one that you’ll fondly look back on at the end of your entertainment career!
above credit: adobe stock prior page credit: sassy mouth photo
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IT SEEMS EASY TO AVOID PHISHING ATTEMPTS & FAKE CALLS, BUT TODAY’S SCAMMERS ARE UPPING THE ANTE
by: Jason Walsh Jason@mobilebeat.com Don’t click unknown links, don’t answer unknown calls. These are both things that have been constantly repeated to us since the early days of the Internet and the beginning of the social media craze. But the emails from your rich uncle or that Nigerian price have been stepped up a few notches, so it’s time to learn the latest in scam trends, to keep your business safe. As many of your read this in Las Vegas at MEX and PBX, you’ll be disturbed to know that your personal information and financial records (credit cards, spending habits, birthday, and tax information for you high-rollers) are as secure as the newly hired IT service desk tech. Casino giants MGM and Caesars Entertainment both disclosed they were attacked by hackers this past fall. According to multiple reports, the Russian group known as “Scattered Spider” is believed to be responsible at least in the MGM attack, where they impersonated an employee that forgot their password and worked their way into an authentication tool that provides single sign-on access to multiple MGM systems. “Well I don’t have an IT help desk,” you say...
That’s what comedian and Bravo star Andy Cohen thought after scammers took him for a reported six-figure payday. Cohen, a busy entertainer like many of us, told the Today Show in January that a hacker called pretending to be his bank, and Andy had just reported his credit card lost or stolen. With thousands of scammers worldwide, making millions of calls each year - the numbers are bound to catch up to someone. As soon as Cohen logged into a site that the scammers provided, it was too late. They could see what he saw and had his Apple ID and bank login details and made quick work of redirecting fraud warning calls and other typical text alerts you would receive. Experts say that small business owners have it the worst... Owners need to answer emails and take calls to attract and interact with new clients, but each call taken or email opened, could spell the financial end of their business if they don’t take proper precautions. The latest scams for our industry involve a sad widow that has some DJ or photo booth gear that her late husband left and if you just pay shipping, she’ll gladly send you the entire estate. The ongoing deaf or mute potential clients are also lower-than-dirt, pulling on your emotions and ensuring you don’t need to talk to them while they scam muliple people at one time. If someone starts off any conversation asking if you take credit cards or wire transfers like Nancy Reagan said in the 1980’s... just say no! Get more tips, including the top 10 things you need to do to protect your business this month on mobilebeat.com.
photo license: Adobe Stock
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JASON SITS DOWN WITH THE GUYS TO SEE HOW THEY GOT STARTED IN THE PHOTO BOOTH BUSINESS Art Armani and Dave Stephenson seem like two guys that have been around since the beginning of today’s “photo booth era” - that’s probably because they helped pave the way for so many... Dave and Art both got their start in the industry as DJs. To be exact, Art started off as a local bar / bowling alley karaoke singer turned volunteer assistant to the KJ, then turned DJ. Dave also started out a bit accidently - he was shopping at a mall when he ran into Denny McConnell who was running music and sound for a fashion show, and being helpful, he asked if he could lend a hand loading out his gear. It’s this spirit of being helpful that landed them both where they are today - Dave celebrating his 13th year since he started The Photo Booth Network (a group page started out of a desire to help others learn and grow in the photo booth industry) and both of them just celebrated the 50th episode of their self-launched and self-produced, Photo Booth Magazine Youtube channel & podcast. Dave recalls getting calls from around the world (sometimes in the wee early morning hours) from frantic photo booth owners that were at events and needed urgent help with a printer or software issue - he was literally the industry’s first service desk operator and technician through his Network! Art credits his love of being a “boother” on the respect he is given from venue coordinators; and his technical knowledge he credits to the help he received from Dave in his early days of his business. So if Art learned from Dave, and we’re now learning from both of them - where did Dave get his photo booth chops? An IT consultant by trade, Dave credits his skills in Photoshop to the talented Cherie Irwin and his knowledge of the industry and photography from mentors Scott Harris and Bill Vahrenkamp respectively. “It’s a tight knit community and for the most part, everyone works well together to help each other out,” Stephenson said. “I’ve only had to throw a few people out [of his Photo Booth Network Group].” Kudos gents on your dedication to the industry! Learn more about Art & Dave this month on mobilebeat.com and check out their livestream shows at photoboothmagazine.com. by: Jason Walsh Jason@mobilebeat.com art (left) & dave (right) - photo credit: art armani
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