Beyond the DJ Booth

Joe Bunn and Brian B
  • 5.0 (10)
  • 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. 1d ago

    Reply Faster, Book More Shows

    Send us a message Your phone buzzes at 10:30pm with a fresh wedding inquiry and you feel the pressure: respond now, or watch them book someone else. We talk through the part most DJs struggle with, not the first auto-reply, but the back-and-forth that follows. When couples start asking about uplighting, pricing, and availability, speed becomes the difference between “sounds good” and a signed contract. We share how an AI follow-up assistant can keep conversations moving overnight, how it learns your company details, and how you can wake up to warmed-up leads instead of missed opportunities. Then we shift into community and craft: a DJ Collective announcement with a big closing-night opener, plus a pop culture minute on Olivia Rodrigo’s women-led festival and what stood out about the guest experience. From there, we get real about the work, including a corporate run that proves the money is out there, and a public “Throwback Thursday” that falls flat despite solid programming. The story turns into practical lessons on event pricing, room selection, and how to protect your value when the vibe is not vibing. We also share a simple upgrade couples actually want: a QR code photo hub that collects guest pics in one place, even if you skip the TVs. Finally, we answer a sticky business question: what if a venue wants you on their preferred vendor list but not your team? We break down how we’d respond, what questions to ask, and how to use it as a training moment. If you got value from this, subscribe, share it with a DJ friend, and leave a review so more working DJs can find the show. 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

    Reply Faster, Book More Shows

  2. Sep 30

    Are You Too Busy Or Just Unorganized?

    Send us a message A flood wedding with green water, a photographer saying four hours of dancing is “too much,” and a pair of Jordans that literally self-destruct 45 seconds into a basketball run. That’s the kind of day you only survive if your DJ business runs on systems, not stress, so we start with a major show update: Beyond The DJ Booth is now presented by LeadExcess, and Joe explains why he’s been using it for over a year. The key distinction matters for working DJs and multi-op owners: it’s not a lead generator, it’s a lead converter built around fast follow-up and consistent conversations that push inquiries toward one goal, a meeting. From there we hit a pop culture minute, then get into a real event-industry pain point: why DJs keep getting left out of photo galleries even when the booth set-up looks incredible. We vent, but we also offer a practical move that’s helped us get better DJ content and stronger vendor relationships without making it awkward. If you’re trying to grow your wedding DJ marketing, your Instagram, or your website portfolio, this part will feel very real. We also talk planner outreach with a Taco Tuesday style luncheon and gifting ideas that are actually useful, then shift into gig talk with a five-hour Studio 54 disco themed party and the crate finds and edits that kept the crowd engaged. We wrap with a gear corner backpack review and a bigger conversation about hobbies, time management, and staying healthy for the long game. Subscribe for more DJ business strategy, share this with a DJ friend who needs better systems, and leave a review so more working DJs can find the show. 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

    Are You Too Busy Or Just Unorganized?

  3. Sep 23

    Why Leaving The Wedding Industry Can Be Harder Than Entering It

    Send us a message Getting into the wedding industry is hard. But after years of building a business, relationships, and a reputation inside it, getting out might be even harder. In this episode, we get into why people stay in the wedding industry long after they’ve started thinking about leaving. Is it the money? The relationships? The identity you’ve built? Or is it simply that walking away from something you spent years creating is a lot harder than starting over sounded in your head? We also cover a lot of ground before we get there. We share a big DJ Collective update with RCF coming on as a sponsor, then look at some over-the-top weddings making headlines, from a festival-like cave wedding in Lebanon to Alesso’s Lake Como celebration. We talk lighting as the headline, immersive design, band-to-DJ transitions, and the kinds of “icon moments” couples are increasingly trying to recreate. Then we get practical. Joe recaps a three-hour corporate Zoom DJ stream for a global company and what it takes to program music for a workday, handle rapid-fire requests, and keep people engaged through a screen. We also unpack a challenging corporate event where layout, bar placement, and a massive auditorium created problems that could have been solved much earlier. Plus, we talk AI for DJs, including how we’re using ChatGPT and Claude for everything from travel decisions and script writing to organizing Serato libraries and eliminating some of the boring work. And we wrap with a listener question about dealing with young planners who gatekeep access to the bride and groom, which leads right back to a bigger question: after you’ve spent years becoming established in this industry, how do you know when it’s actually time to leave? 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

    Why Leaving The Wedding Industry Can Be Harder Than Entering It

  4. Sep 16

    Doors Open Music That Hits

    Send us a message Doors open is the most underrated part of a wedding reception, because it’s one of the first places where guests judge your taste, your confidence, and the vibe of the night. We get super specific about how we build doors open music that feels modern without being annoying, cheesy, or overplayed: the BPM pocket we like, when to use originals vs bootlegs, why we strip aggressive rap sections, and how to choose tracks you’ll never need again once the dance floor starts. We also go off on customer service and support, starting with a brutal “had to go to the bank” story that turns into a reminder for every DJ business owner: remove friction for your clients. Then we talk about small businesses closing and the uncomfortable truth about DJ conferences and DJ education. If you want community, networking, and events like DJ Collective to stick around, people have to show up, not just comment “so sad” after the fact. We even add nuance on when a poorly run event should probably fade out so the ones doing it right can thrive. On the tactical side, we run through doors open track ideas across eras, share remixers and artists we watch in the DJ pools, and hit the gear corner with Bunn Gear updates including Quad Pods 3.0, a new basic aluminum DJ booth, and the Cruiser ceremony cart. We close with a great listener question: what do you do when a client sends a playlist with exact timestamps for every song, and how do you protect the party without dismissing their effort? Subscribe for weekly DJ business and performance talk, share this with a DJ who needs better walk-in music, and leave a review so more working DJs can find the show. 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

    Doors Open Music That Hits

  5. Sep 9

    Wedding DJ Storytime

    Send us a message Cold sparks that can literally scorch carpet, a bride who wants the party to go explicit on command, and a viral custom dance edit that suddenly turns into 20 strangers asking for the file. That’s the kind of real-world wedding DJ life we’re unpacking, with the wins, the awkward parts, and the decisions that affect your reputation and revenue.  We start with updates from our world: Patreon shoutouts, DJ Collective reminders, Recharge Circles deadlines, and why we’re excited to hear more tactical lighting solutions for working DJs who aren’t trying to spend a fortune. From there, we detour through pop culture because it connects back to our craft: when performance looks lazy or “off,” the internet notices fast, and wedding guests do too. Authentic energy and clean presentation matter more than the gear list.  Then we go deep on weddings. Joe breaks down an “explicit wedding” that was actually fun because expectations were clear and the room shifted at the right time. Brian shares a TikTok-influenced wedding full of specific decade music requests, an AI-generated welcome song, a photo dash, and the return of the garter removal moment. The biggest lesson comes from cold sparks indoors: testing issues, fire risk, refund friction, and why subcontracting special effects can protect your headspace and your liability. We also share practical DJ tools like EsStart for guest photos, requests, and a smarter review capture flow that can drive more public reviews.  If you care about wedding DJ playlists, event pacing, DJ business strategy, and protecting your creative edge, you’ll get plenty to steal here. Subscribe, share this with a DJ friend, and leave a review with the biggest “never again” request you’ve had to handle. 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

    Wedding DJ Storytime

  6. Sep 2

    Stop Playing For The Internet

    Send us a message Formalities are fading and the party is taking over. We’re seeing it in our inboxes, in the way couples ask questions, and in what actually works on dance floors right now. Gen Z wedding clients want fast answers, clear pricing, and proof you can really mix. If your set still leans on full-song playback and your sales process moves slow, you’re about to feel it. We talk candidly about what’s changing, what isn’t, and how to stay booked without becoming a hype-chasing DJ. We also catch up on the road. Joe shares highlights from Japan and Australia, from Tokyo temples and next-level food experiences to Sydney’s harbor and a DJ conference that reinforces a core truth: stop playing for the internet and start playing for the people in front of you. That leads into practical workflow talk on crate organization, trimming the bloat from your library, and building systems that protect your time instead of stealing it. Nobody gets into DJing because they love organizing folders, so we outline how to keep your prep efficient and your life bigger than your admin. From there, we dig into music strategy. We scan Billboard, Spotify USA, and the TikTok trending list to separate “chart famous” from “crowd useful.” You’ll hear what edits we’re actually playing, why one minute versions can save a moment, and how to build doors-open sets that sound current without being obnoxious. We also hit gear corner with travel recovery tools and routines for long flights, plus an Australia update on Bunn Gear distribution and manufacturing partnerships. If you got value from this one, subscribe, share it with a DJ friend, and leave a quick review so more working DJs can find the show. What’s the biggest shift you’re seeing with wedding clients right now? 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

    Stop Playing For The Internet

  7. Aug 26

    What If You Had To Restart Your DJ Business Today?

    Send us a message You can book great events and still feel like the money disappears the second it hits your account. We get into the unsexy part of being a working DJ that decides whether you stay stressed or build something durable: cash flow. With The DJ Collective coming up in Raleigh, we shout out why education matters and why Rich Cranston’s talk hits so hard, especially when the question is “I just booked a $3,000 wedding, where should the money go?” We unpack the mindset shift from chasing revenue to understanding annual cash flow, taxes, profit, savings, and investing so each booking actually improves your life. Then we pivot into customer experience and event upgrades that feel premium without being complicated. A simple thank-you video from a brand founder sparks a bigger idea for DJs: short personalized videos right after the contract and payment can boost trust fast. From there we break down real wedding field testing with EsStart, including Instant Spotlight guest photos on a TV and QR code song requests that update in real time. We talk practical guardrails, how many table QR codes you really need, why wireless HDMI is clutch, and the one item you cannot forget if you bring a TV. We also hit the human side: team-building ideas, travel headaches, and the content grind when social media growth feels stuck. To wrap, we answer a great listener question: if we had to restart our DJ business with no reviews, no network, and no reputation, what’s the first priority? If you’re building a wedding DJ business, a mobile DJ company, or any service brand, you’ll take away moves you can use this week. Subscribe, share this with a DJ friend, and leave a review that tells us what you want us to dig into next. 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

    What If You Had To Restart Your DJ Business Today?

  8. Aug 19

    We Hit 100 Episodes And Here Is What We Learned

    Send us a message We just hit 100 episodes, and we’re not pretending it happened by accident. We talk about what two straight years of weekly drops teaches you about consistency, momentum, and why the audience often finds value in moments we barely remember recording. Then we turn the milestone into something you can actually use: a giveaway for the Melanair SD2, a full rack-mounted in-ear monitor system that can seriously upgrade how you hear yourself and perform at weddings, corporate events, and private parties. From there, we get into the ecosystem around the show: the Patreon Back Room community, what we’re putting behind the paywall and what’s happening with DJ Collective in Raleigh this year. We also announce a new general session speaker and talk about why we’re excited for an AI session that focuses on real workflows with tools like Claude, not the same recycled “ChatGPT for DJs” surface-level stuff. And because we’re DJs, we argue about music. We run through song of the summer contenders and land on a pick that may or may not surprise you, plus the real-world question behind it: does a track count if you need an edit to make it playable at a gig? We close with a listener question that hits a nerve: what do you do when well-known, higher-priced DJs in your market are honestly not good anymore? We unpack the ethics, the business angle, and a practical move that helps without starting drama: invite someone to shadow you, then go shadow them too. Subscribe, share this with a DJ friend, and leave a review so more booth heads can find the show. 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

    We Hit 100 Episodes And Here Is What We Learned
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5
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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
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond the DJ Booth
  • Show Website
    Beyond the DJ Booth

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