Beyond the DJ Booth

Joe Bunn and Brian B
  • 5.0 (9)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Brian B and Joe Bunn tackle questions about the private event DJ industry, share music, gear/gadgets, and stories from their events.

  1. How Record Industry Changes Will Affect DJs

    3D AGO

    How Record Industry Changes Will Affect DJs

    Send us a message The song is fire, but the tag says 2026. We kick things off with a rant every DJ will relate to—bad metadata—and then follow the thread into the biggest shifts reshaping music discovery and live events. From Netflix flirting with the label game to Sony’s surge across streaming, publishing, live, and merch, we break down how the industry is acting less like record sellers and more like IP builders, and why that matters for what actually works on a dance floor. We unpack how platform power changes the hit pipeline, why exclusive content could mint the next wave of breakout tracks, and what that means for crates, licensing, and quick-turn edits. Then we zoom into the night-to-night grind: a smart trick hidden in plain sight with Pharrell’s four-beat intros that make cold starts surgical, and a candid read on the DJ Intelligence Top 200—what still saves the room, what’s overrated, and how to test trend tracks without burning momentum. Expect frank takes on ABBA, Whitney, Mr. Brightside, TikTok revivals, and the global Latin wave driving real demand. On the business front, we share how to price for complexity without nickel-and-diming, how to present lighting like a pro without drowning clients in options, and how to handle giant do-not-play lists by asking for context that protects the vibe. We also talk planner-led timeline shifts, why trust beats ego when the schedule moves, and a small gear upgrade that makes mobile work less clunky. It’s a blend of field-tested tactics and big-picture awareness—everything you need to keep your sets sharp while the industry rewrites the rules. If this helped your prep or sparked a new crate idea, tap follow, share with a DJ friend, and drop a review. Want our weekly top 10 bangers and bonus breakdowns? Join the Patreon and get in the booth for real. Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    31 min
  2. Must Play vs Do NOT Play Lists

    MAR 4

    Must Play vs Do NOT Play Lists

    Send us a message Two lists can make or break a wedding: the must-plays that define the couple’s voice, and the do-not-plays that guard against landmines. We pull back the curtain on how we handle both without tanking momentum, from planting a clear 25–50 song inspiration list to avoiding negative framing that leads couples down a rabbit hole of “don’ts.” We get candid about when to push back on rigid must-play demands, how to protect the dance floor for every guest, and why RSVP song polls almost always produce chaos instead of clarity. The conversation gets real with two contrasting event blueprints. First, a 50th birthday planned with AI that packed the night with a sax feature, aerialist, magician, and a “toast and roast” that stalled the energy. Then, a New Orleans wedding built for pure motion: strings to set the tone, three formal dances, and four straight hours of dancing in a 500-person tent with bars flanking the DJ booth and a video wall mirroring the surrounding trees. We break down why certain layouts amplify heat, how production can support programming, and what it takes to keep a massive crowd engaged without constant resets. We also step into the practical details pros obsess over: wireless in-ear monitoring that frees you from the booth, and dress shoes that look sharp but feel like sneakers so you can survive long sets without wrecking your feet. And we unpack a thorny real-world scenario: arriving early in a snowstorm to set up and getting lectured by the venue. We'll share the communication steps that protect your reputation while keeping clients calm. If you care about programming that respects the couple and still lights up the room, this one’s for you. Hit follow, share it with a DJ friend, and drop your rule for do-not-playlists vs must-plays in a review. We’re featuring the best takes next week. Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    41 min
  3. Not On My Bingo Card: DJ'ing A Cotton Gin Convention

    FEB 25

    Not On My Bingo Card: DJ'ing A Cotton Gin Convention

    Send us a message A plane party at 35,000 feet. A mega yacht dance floor at sunset. A salt flats set that looks like a music video. We chase big-feel dream gigs, then get brutally honest about the nights that humble you: a Hilton Head corporate convention where the room never found its groove. You’ll hear how we navigated a massive stage with no direction, wrangled an on-the-fly auction to save the timeline, and protected the vibe when the dance floor stared back. We also unpack the rise of RAYE’s “Where’s My Husband” and where it actually works. Grand entrances? Bouquet toss? With the right edit, maybe even a dance-floor sing-a-long. We run a live “find the one” challenge to feel the song’s stuttered cadence and share practical ways to make tricky tracks mixable using phrasing, drum reinforcement, and short intros. On the community side, the Epic Games party brought 1,200 creatives, immersive builds, and a centralized DJ booth on a riser that demanded careful monitoring. We share what moved the room: 2000s/2010s hip-hop, EDM crossovers, and a pop punk jolt plus the Dallas DJ Vault live stream’s multi-DJ lineup, video wall, and giveaways that turned a warehouse into a festival feed. Edits you’ll want in your crate get a spotlight, from a higher-energy Creed flip to a fresh Outfield rework. Then we dive into Shag and beach music. From The Embers and Chairman of the Board to modern swing-friendly cuts by Lenny Kravitz and Teddy Swims, we map a compact crate that can rescue a Carolina request. The pulse matters more than the BPM; it’s all about the shuffle and the partner dance. We close with a candid take on politics in vendor hiring. Our view is simple: lead with craft, clarity, and professionalism. Want more behind-the-scenes, banger lists, and actual edits? Join our Patreon and help us build what comes next. If you’re feeling this, follow, rate, and share with a DJ who loves dream gigs and hard-earned lessons. Your reviews keep the booth buzzing. Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    47 min
  4. Awards Shows and DJ Disasters

    FEB 18

    Awards Shows and DJ Disasters

    Send us a message Big stages magnify everything...the wins and the wipeouts. In this episode, we break down awards season through a DJ lens: the Golden Globes walk-on music debate, the Grammys stacked with performances (and a few brutal tech gremlins), and a Super Bowl halftime set that balanced spectacle with cultural impact. What makes a song “make sense” on a big stage? And how do you translate that kind of contextual precision to a packed dance floor? We dig into the craft behind walk-on cues: when to go clever, when to default to instrumentals, and how to keep energy high without stealing focus from the host. The Grammys become a production clinic: why ambitious staging multiplies failure points, and why tight, simple execution often beats spectacle. Then we zoom in on real DJ disasters: from a full PA dropout at a pregame party to speakers tapping out mid-event. We unpack the safeguards working DJs should build into every show: confidence monitors, clear hand signals, redundancy planning, and having someone who can communicate fast when the unexpected hits. We also debate whether halftime performances actually shift requests, how cultural moments translate (or don’t) to private events, and how to test trending tracks without derailing the room. Add in real-world road upgrades - gear, prep strategy, and travel logistics - and this becomes less recap and more field manual. If you care about contextual song choice, production risk, resilience under pressure, and avoiding your own DJ disaster, this one’s for you. Follow the show, share it with a DJ friend, and drop a comment with your go-to walk-on track.  What’s your current clutch pick and why? Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    44 min
  5. Why DJs Keep Ruining Good Songs

    FEB 11

    Why DJs Keep Ruining Good Songs

    Send us a message It’s Love Week, which means no clichés and no pretending. Brian opens with a question he’s clearly been holding in: why are there so many 140+ BPM edits in music pools right now? Are DJs actually asking for this? Or are we all just pretending faster equals better? What follows is a very real, very honest plea to editors to stop ruining good songs. From there, we break down how R&B really works across a private event: cocktail hour, dinner, and into the dance floor. What to play, what to avoid, and how to keep things moving without speeding everything up. We share timeless and modern picks, along with practical mixing choices for knowing when a song’s done…and when the room clearly wants more. Then we shift gears into booking power for 2026. Why generic “Top 50 DJ” blog posts are losing steam. How location-specific content is pulling in higher-intent couples. And where AI tools like ChatGPT are quietly influencing real inquiries. We break down what still matters with Google, how to tune your site for qualified traffic, and the small, repeatable content habits that keep your pipeline steady without chasing trends. We also shout out the Patreon Backroom. Are you not in it yet? You're missing monthly bonus episodes, weekly banger lists, private edits (where we stash the deeper music pulls and wink-worthy blends), and gear giveaways.  Plus, a few tools we actually use on shows to keep workflows clean before the first song ever plays. If this sounds like the way you already play or want to,  hit play. And if you’re feeling generous, write us a review, leave a comment on YouTube or socials, and follow us on Instagram @beyondthedjbooth. Send this to a DJ who needs to hear it, and drop your favorite R&B dinner track while you’re at it. We’ll grab the good ones for a future playlist. Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    31 min
  6. What Would You Do If You Couldn’t DJ Anymore?

    FEB 4

    What Would You Do If You Couldn’t DJ Anymore?

    Send us a message What would you do if your main gig disappeared tomorrow? We put that question on the table and followed it into some unexpected places : law, sports agency, music programming, even D1 basketball before circling back to the core skills that make great DJs irreplaceable: reading people, controlling momentum, and telling a story in real time. From there, the episode jumps into both the practical and the absurd. We break down a ’90s slumber-party after-party concept that actually improves events. We talk why themed after-parties are a cheat code for music curation, how not to cannibalize big reception moments, and what discoverability really looks like in 2026: where SEO, social proof, and timing collide.  In our "story time" segment, we talk through a 65-and-a-half birthday that found Brian B through ChatGPT, featured a bass-and-vocal virtuoso, and somehow ended with Jenny McCarthy FaceTiming Donnie Wahlberg from the dance floor while he played a smart NKOTB routine. Then we shift into a blunt breakdown of a venue showcase: banner messaging that sells benefits (not features), the impact of DJ-plus-sax fusion, and the contact-form mistake we won’t make again. When three DJs started clashing in the same outdoor space, we solved it the hard way: syncing systems with wireless remotes so one playlist fed multiple rigs, zero chaos. Along the way we unpack ROI on wedding showcases, when saying no is the smarter play, and how much “relationship value” actually matters when attendance is soft. We wrap with growth and future-proofing: scaling a gear line toward seven-figure revenue while navigating real manufacturing constraints, and building a weekday corporate niche in medical software to balance the calendar and reduce dependence on weddings. It’s honest, tactical, and a little unhinged. Part strategy session, part story hour, and part field guide for creative businesses wondering what comes next. If this episode made you rethink your skills or your ceiling, tap follow, share it with someone who needs the push, and leave a quick review so more DJs can find the conversation. Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    48 min
  7. How a Chandelier Almost Ruined New Year’s Eve

    JAN 28

    How a Chandelier Almost Ruined New Year’s Eve

    Send us a message A packed dance floor can die in one flick of a switch. In this episode, we break down two real events where tiny, overlooked details nearly derailed the night -  including a New Year’s Eve celebration hijacked by a blinding rental chandelier and a holiday wedding where the bar shut down two hours early… yet the room somehow stayed alive. From 28-degree outdoor dinners to guests hovering behind the DJ booth pretending to twist knobs, we walk through the exact decisions that saved both parties — and the non-negotiable habit checks we now build into every show. We get tactical about flow: how to announce an early last call without killing momentum, why pre-lighting walk-throughs matter more than your newest transition pack, and the moment you have to force the party inside when weather turns on you. You’ll hear how we rebuilt energy after delays, structured countdowns under midnight pressure, and handled a groom’s 11 PM curveball request to sit everyone down on New Year’s Eve. We also talk playlist politics:  last-minute overhauls, “no Pitbull” rules, and how to respect taste without abandoning the room that actually needs to dance. Then we tackle the elephant with a ring light: influencer pricing. We unpack the shared-risk contract model that keeps “exposure” from turning into an unpaid invoice, what deliverables actually count, and the red flags that tell you a clout deal won’t convert. If you care about DJ booth boundaries, lighting strategy, weather contingencies, and the business math behind brand mentions, this episode is your blueprint for fewer trainwrecks and more clean wins. If this sharpened your craft or your contracts, follow the show, share it with a DJ friend, and leave a review with your wildest lighting save... what’s the one fix you’ll never skip again? Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    33 min
  8. Bruno’s Back, And DJs React

    JAN 21

    Bruno’s Back, And DJs React

    Send us a message The comments were spicy, the questions were fair, and we decided to hit record and bring it all back. We kick off with a new segment called "Bring It Back" built to revisit hot takes and fix misses. We start with the update on Joe's office ease. From there, Joe is pressed on his non-use of TikTok. (spoiler: he's done with skits). Then we wade into the AI storm. A pod viewer called for a stronger stance on generative tools, plagiarism, and charts. Here’s ours: tools help, theft harms. Don’t clone living artists or misrepresent authorship. If a platform allows an AI track and a client asks for it, your job is still to read the room and deliver. Policy will keep shifting, so build a filter you can defend and a set you’re proud to play. We’re not kingmaking tech; we’re protecting craft and connection.  Then we move to our music segment and celebrate the fun part: Bruno Mars is back. We break down his latest single’s tempo and feel, share a few blends and remixes and talk through why the rollout was masterful. It may not be an Uptown Funk bomb, but it’s primed for early-night energy and remix heaven.  To close, we also share our most fun years behind the decks—from riot-level college chaos to international bookings when confidence finally clicked.  If this conversation helps you think sharper about your craft, business, and the culture we’re part of, tap follow, share with a DJ friend, and leave a review. Then tell us: would you play an AI request if it packed the floor? Support the show RESOURCES & LINKS Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/ To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/ To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/ Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com

    40 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Brian B and Joe Bunn tackle questions about the private event DJ industry, share music, gear/gadgets, and stories from their events.

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Bunn and Brian B
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond the DJ Booth
  • Show Website
    Beyond the DJ Booth

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