by Matt Ryan
I believe there is a DJ for every event and an event for every DJ. School events are a huge percentage of my business because I want them to be.
Like many DJs, I have another job – I am also a school teacher. Believe me, this does not mean I am a “part time” DJ. It just means that I have little time for sleep!
School events are a great fit for me because it brings together two realms I enjoy. My experience as an educator has provided me with a new frame of reference for which I am able to approach my school performances. I have begun to see many of the qualities I possess as an educator make me successful at performing school events. This is not to imply that one must be a teacher in order to do a great job playing a school dance, but I encourage you to evaluate your own personality and beliefs to determine if you really have what it takes to be a school dance star:
- Do you believe that teenagers today can be trusted?
- Do you leave yourself open to guests coming up to you during events?
- Do you feel that most kids today lead drug, alcohol, and tobacco free lifestyles?
- Do you believe that many teens are still naïve to explicit content in music today?
- Do you think teens have an open mind when they are carrying on a conversation with you?
- Can you guess the 10 most popular songs in the country right now without the list?
- Are you OK with answering the same question multiple times?
- Do you have a teenager of your own right now or spend at least 5 hours a day with one?
Count up your “Yes” responses above and score yourself!
- Less than 4 – School events are not for you
- 4 or 5 – School events probably should not be your bread and butter, but you can pull them off
- 6 or more – You’re a school dance star!
Matt Ryan – School Dance Pro
Matt Ryan is a multi-op DJ business owner, radio personality, developer of School Dance Pros and educator.
He has been entertaining at school and many other types of functions since 1996. Matt Ryan Mobile DJ Entertainment performs at approximately 250 events per year, nearly half of which are school and teen dances and proms.
Matt is a well-known on-air personality at WNCI 97.9, a Top 40 radio station in Columbus, OH. He is also a middle school teacher and coach.
Matt is able to provide unprecedented insight to other DJs about how school dances are organized.
His “School Dance DJ Marketing Toolkit” is available at SchoolDancePros.com. To contact Matt, email [email protected].
