Making Money with Trivia
 

The subject of this month's Mobile Beat is "More Than Just a DJ." When I heard that I thought, wow, that's the theme of my column every issue; this should be easy. I have been "more than just a DJ" for a long time.

I do not mean "just a DJ" in a negative way at all. If you are able to make a good living by working exclusively as a DJ, I admire you. It is rare and takes a very special situation. To be totally clear, to me, "just a DJ" simply means someone who doesn't do ANYTHING other than performing events as a DJ. Playing music. Period. No photo booths. No game shows. No other forms of income at your events. You set up and play music and are compensated for it.

Making Money with Trivia - Not just DJ
 

Think about it. How many people do you know that fall into this category? Not many. These days there's a ton of opportunities available for performers and entertainers of all types. Every article I write is geared towards this type of person: the professional who is looking to INCREASE THEIR BOTTOM LINE. As I always say, this has nothing to do with full or part time. That is not my issue. My focus is maximizing opportunity to make as much money as you can. Every time Mobile Beat comes out I hear from someone who has read my column for the first time. Since this issue is focusing on the stuff I am passionate about, I am going to address some of the things I have touched on in the past--how you can be "more than just a DJ" and the keys to making money with trivia.

Many years ago I started doing karaoke (which I don't consider DJ work). I was the third person in my market to do it; within a couple of years there were more than 30. The market was saturated, and still is in most places, with people doing karaoke.

Making Money with Trivia and Stand out as Distinguished

I looked for something unique that could set me apart from the herd. I found trivia and game shows. I started doing them in the 90s when very few people were performing game shows. Here we are over 12 years later and the number is still relatively low. The opportunities are in EVERY market (except mine, of course) for you to make some serious money. Corporations and other customers will pay big money for this type of entertainment. DigiGames, the company I am spokesperson for, has systems for every budget. The technology has changed so drastically that now the wireless game systems are very portable and easy to use. If you haven't looked into this avenue for additional fun and income I strongly recommend that you do.

While game shows have been around for a long time, there are many options that have come about in the last few years. Photo booths have been a HOT item the last couple of years. It seems like everyone is getting into that. I can see why. The amount of money you can make is astounding. While there are many good options on the market, I settled on Atlanta Photo Booth for its sleek design and functionality. If you couple that with their awesome customer service, you can't go wrong. Do your homework. Check out Open Air models and any others you hear of and make the best decision for you.

Up-lighting is another huge moneymaker. I hear of DJs adding up-lighting to their packages or providing it for events they aren't even performing at and making huge money. There are lots of options out there. If this interests you, go for it. A small investment can lead to big rewards.
 

Make Money with Trivia and Network with other Entertainers
 

Whatever you decide to do to enhance your "DJ" company I always suggest you talk to your peers and see what info and advice they can offer. The networking opportunities in this day and age are unmatched. Attend trade shows. Join associations. Meet people. The power we have to make a difference has never been greater.

Don't look at your "competition" in a negative way. Get to know them. Work with them to improve the market around you and everyone will benefit. If you are looking for ways to increase your bottom line, there are lots of great opportunities. Find what works for you and go for it. If you have any questions or just want to bounce ideas off someone, drop us an email. I don't have all the answers, but I can tell you what has worked for me.

Diversification seems to be an important part of today's economy and the business world. If you are in this as a hobby, that's fine. DigiGames produces a wide variety of wireless buzzer games and game show software.  It is definitely a fun way of making money with trivia. If you are in this as a career you should know that it is very possible to make a great living doing what you love. The industry is evolving and you will need to decide if you want to evolve with it or keep doing what you are doing. Only YOU can determine what is best for you. That is all that matters.