Top Takeaways from The DJ Collective

Last month, I was stoked to attend The DJ Collective in Music City at The Graduate Hotel. In attendance are the best DJs and artists in the country. They are at the top of their game. The tastemakers, if you will. This immersive summit is comprised of three days of intensive learning and sharing, with a focus on best business practices. The experience is hard to define, but the easiest way to define it is: fulfilling, energizing and a good reminder of how remarkable the people in our industry are.

When I first started attending years ago, this conference was 20-ish DJs getting together to share ideas. I was in awe of the immense talent in the room then. Now, this event has grown to 200+ attendees and everyone is hungry. This event brings people together in a way that is both rare and valuable.

Here are my top takeaways…

▪️This gathering fosters a collaborative environment. Nobody is there to gatekeep the secrets to success and shares freely. Thank you for the opportunity to lead some of the conversations as a moderator for the single-ops panel.
▪️ The concept of getting incrementally better. Developing yourself once you get to a certain level in your career can feel even more challenging, but focusing on little ways to improve will make a big difference over time.
▪️They (the dictionary people? idk) should really invent a word for something stronger than friendship. The relationships built and friendships formed as a result of DJC mean more to me than I can put into words.
▪️The learning opportunities are top notch. My favorite session was the history of dance music masterclass.
▪️Clients are paying for your skill and expertise, not the amount of hours you work their event. It’s about the dedication you’ve spent honing your craft. It’s about the unique skillset you bring to the table. It’s about the countless experiences you’ve had over your career that allow you to make split second decisions that can change the course of an event.
▪️I truly have the best job in the world. The fact that this is “work” is never lost on me.