THE REAL BENEFITS OF JOINING A DJ ASSOCIATION
by Mike Connors, A-Sharp Disc Jockey Service

One of the first DJ associations ever formed is the CDJA - the Canadian Disc
Jockey Association. In fact the CDJA helped organize one of North America's
very first DJ trade shows back in 1980. Since then, of course, many other
regional and national associations have been formed to keep pace with the ever
growing popularity of DJing. If you are reading this, there is a very good
chance you are a member of one of the first "on-line" DJ associations formed -
the ODJA!

Why would anyone wish to join a DJ Association, anyway? In such a competitive
business as this, getting together (either in person or cyber-space) to
discuss your business practices, mixing technics etc almost seems like . . .
well, treason. But is it? There are probably as many different ways of
explainig why someone would join a DJ association, as there are DJs. We're all
looking for benefits of some kind. But, if you really think about it, the main
reason is simply: to better yourself and to better the industry. Those are
pretty darn good reasons! These are the real benefits of any association.

How can joining an association and sharing "your secrets" make you a better
DJ? Again, the answer is simple. Look around you, wherever you look, you will
always find those with more experience and those with less. You will always
find a DJ who has a better way of doing things and a DJ who could learn
something you already know. When you meet and share what you know, you learn.
And if you learn just one thing, you become a better DJ and when we all learn
just one thing, the whole industry benefits! And the ultimate winner here can
be the consumer. But they need to learn that not all DJs are, hum, DJs!

There is plenty of business out there, more than enough to go around. We all
know, too, that there are people out there pretending to be DJs, but who don't
have a clue. These people are in this business solely for what they can get
out of it - a quick buck. They're not interested in getting better or
contributing to the image of DJs. They will never join an association (takes
too much time or costs too much). When those of us who do care join an
asociation and get to know each other, we can send extra business to each
other. We can speak with a louder voice to consumers, our clients, and educate
them on the differences between true professionals and DJ wannabes. In the
end, this will mean more higher paying gigs for us.

DJ associations can also speak with a much louder voice to the other players
in this industry, the manufacturers and record labels. We can promote a more
positive and "respectable" image. If you've been in this business for any
length of time, especially doing weddings, you know that DJs are not treated
with the respect most of us deserve. Better image and a unified front means
better leverage and this is a must if we are ever to get a sensible
re-recording agreement which would allow multi-system operators the previledge
of making multi-music libraries, from single CDs. (This, by the way, is
something the CDJA has been able to do in Canada for its members).

If you are committed to your craft, if you are committed to your clients and
if you are committed to seeing this industry earn the respect profesionals
deserve, you will join a DJ association to better yourself and our industry.
When it comes right down to it, are there any benefits worth more than these?

Mike Connors is a partner in A-Sharp Disc Jockey Service, a multi-system
service in Nova Scotia, Canada. They are members of the CDJA and ODJA.

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