a blog describing who I am, what I do and where I am headed.
I’m DJ Ritchie Rich, Mobile Disc Jockey and avid EDM fan from Sudbury Ontario Canada. Follow me on social media FacebookTwitter & Instagram.
As an international Disc Jockey I represent DJ2GO, an EDM enthusiast who attends serveral festivals and I have a soft heart for Gypsy girls as well as twerking. My podcast Thursday Thumps airs weekly, check it out: https://www.mixcloud.com/djritchierich
Music is my life…so why not blog about it 🙂 – Ritchie Rich
Reviving my blog about some of my favorite things for the week. It's called #favfridays and each week I will post my favorite song, music video and mix show.
Have your say and let me know what you think about my favs or post your own in the comments. I'd love to hear what music is currently on the top of your list.
Reviving my blog about some of my favorite things for the week. It's called #favfridays and each week I will post my favorite song, music video and mix show.
Have your say and let me know what you think about my favs or post your own in the comments. I'd love to hear what music is currently on the top of your list.
The days of purchasing music on LP’s, cassettes or even CD’s are long gone. The introduction of the MP3 player made it easy and more convenient for consumers to purchase their music digitally and on the fly. Now as a professional Disc Jockey, I have made the transition to digital music but some DJ’s still like the classic feel and sound of a record and will use them at their events. Digital music is easier to access however there are certain copyright rules that I as a professional DJ need to follow.
This week a bride asked me
“I was going over my contract [with the venue] and it stated that every client needs to apply for a S.O.C.A.N. license; is this something that you take care of or is it something we have to apply for separately? I am just a little confused”.
Copyrights are a very confusing issue, even for us DJ’s. But let me explain two things to help clarify this question as well as what licensing is required.
First, to answer my client’s question, as a Disc Jockey, I am not required to pay for a S.O.C.A.N. license. This is a “permit” that the hall has to charge. It allows the venue to let you have live or recorded music played at the hall. Some venues have it included in their fees others pass it on to the customers. The following table illustrates the differences in music licensing.
Music licensing
As you can see what I require is a Connect music license for the reproduction of sound recordings (the second license named SOPROQ is the same but required in the province of Quebec). It allows me to copy music and have it stored on a hard drive. Copying music for commercial use is illegal. Now if I was still using the CD’s or LP’s that I purchased, then I wouldn’t require the license however my performance would be restricted to only this recorded material.
Now the second question to be asked is what if I bought my music on iTunes digitally? Here is what the Connect website states:
“I’m a DJ and I download all of my songs from iTunes, do I need a licence?” A: Yes. The iTunes Terms of Sale prohibit commercial use. When you obtain the CONNECT music licensing Standard “All-in-one” DJ licence it permits you to use those iTunes downloads for a commercial purpose (such as DJ’ing).
This also applies if you want to use your iPod for your event, reception, or any other kind of function where profit is to be made. The iPod is deemed to be a hard drive and must be licensed through a Connect standard all in one licence.
To summarize, all venues are required to have a S.O.C.A.N. license to have live or recorded music played at their establishment. And all Disc Jockey’s using copied music (digital copies of CD’s or iTunes downloads) need to have a Connect Music License. As a proud member of the Canadian Professional DJ Association, I have the required licenses for all of my music.
Reviving my blog about some of my favorite things for the week. It's called #favfridays and each week I will post my favorite song, music video and mix show.
Have your say and let me know what you think about my favs or post your own in the comments. I'd love to hear what music is currently on the top of your list.
Reviving my blog about some of my favorite things for the week. It's called #favfridays and each week I will post my favorite song, music video and mix show.
Have your say and let me know what you think about my favs or post your own in the comments. I'd love to hear what music is currently on the top of your list.
Reviving my blog about some of my favorite things for the week. It's called #favfridays and each week I will post my favorite song, music video and mix show.
Have your say and let me know what you think about my favs or post your own in the comments. I'd love to hear what music is currently on the top of your list.
Your first dance could be your favourite wedding memory. Many of these memories on your wedding day hang in the balance when it comes to who’s providing your entertainment. Will the song you chose be played? How will it sound? Should the Disc Jockey ramble on about whatever he chooses as the closing verses occur? These are all worrisome questions you may be thinking about as your wedding day approaches. Let me assure you that hiring a disc jockey is an important task; however your concerns will be fewer if you do a little research into the hiring process.
“Your decision can be based on personality, ethical business practices or gut feelings.”
First and foremost it’s best to meet in person whomever you hire. Since most disc jockey’s music libraries are huge, you will rarely find musical reasons to hire one DJ service over another. It’s best to find one through referrals from others who have had the pleasure of working with them. Your decision can be based on personality, ethical business practices or gut feelings, or you could compare DJs and make a decision based on these differences.
Your first dance could be your favourite wedding memory.
Here are five things that I do to distinguish myself from my competitors.
Music knowledge: I have many genres of music and listen to them all in various forums: radio, internet, streaming sites and satellite services. Listening to as much music as possible enables me to better judge a crowd and adapt my song choices as opposed to simply playing from a pre-set wedding list. I am familiar with music keys and am a piano player at heart, which reflects in the way I blend certain songs together using composition and BPM (beats per minute) to raise excitement levels.
Audio editing: I use mixing software and have a dexterous sense of hearing to beat match songs. There is never dead air in between songs and the constant flow ensures your guests are engaged and enjoying themselves. Recording memorable messages from a bride or groom’s parent and replaying them for the bride is one way that I edit special dance songs.
Professionalism: I am licenced through Connect Music and am a member of the Canadian Professional DJ Association (CPDJA). Through an online software system (DJ Event Planner) I utilize forms, contracts, invoices and planning tools to help my clients prepare and feel confident about the job that I will do.
Speaking Skills: You never want to have that entertainer who goes overboard on the microphone and says inappropriate things. As your MC everything I say or announced is pre-planned and practiced to assure you that there will be no surprises at your wedding. I am a member of Toastmasters International with recognitions in Communication and Leadership. Also, I’ve attained microphone skills through professional workshops and I have experience in speaking in front of large audiences.
Dedication: When you hire me, I will work with you to make sure all of your expectations are met. This is a full time career for me and there is nothing else I love better than entertaining. I am involved in the community, providing my services to organizations such as The Canadian Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes and Angels in Pink. Being a community leader is important to me because it’s incredibly rewarding.
“My vision is to provide a professional entertainment service that creates memorable moments for my clients, guests and partner organizations.”
Capturing these memories is essential; making them happen is my ideal. By taking time to research who you will be hiring for your wedding it will ensure that you establish expectations and are satisfied with the service delivered.
The owner/operator of Big & Rich DJ Services, Ritchie regularly volunteers his services at fundraisers for good causes such as Angels in Pink and Miners for Cancer. In 2014, he won a service excellence award from the Canadian Professional DJ Association.
It is common for both experienced speakers to be nervous about giving a speech. Over the years as a professional Master of Ceremonies, I have seen many nervous individuals give speeches, mostly at weddings where the wedding party or parents of the bride and groom had anxiety about speaking in front of guests. Like I said it is common for all speakers. The difference is that experienced speakers know how to control nervousness and understand the causes and symptoms of anxiety.
Allow me to explain, with my own examples, some triggers of anxiety and how to manage the symptoms associated with being nervous.
Common triggers for anxiety are new situations, risk of failure, the potential for appearing foolish and possibly boring the audience. These triggers will cause an individual to act differently when one of them occur. My most common symptoms of anxiety are tapping my foot or continuously bouncing my leg up and down. It’s normal, it’s a symptom of nervousness and I use three different ways to manage it: experience, visualization and relaxation.
1. Experience
You will feel much more comfortable in front of an audience if you have had more opportunities for doing so. It’s the experience that will ease this anxiety. I myself like to practice in front of a mirror and view what I will look like when speaking. You can also rehearse in front of family or friends. The more experience you get in front of people while speaking, the more comfortable you will feel.
2. Visualization
This method is used quite frequently by athletes. They envision what they need to do to be successful. I always take the time before a reception to stand at the podium before I begin to speak. This lets me see the entire room as it will be when I start my speech. It’s here where I visualize the entrance, first dance, or any other event that will happen while I’m delivering my message. If you see yourself doing it before hand you will feel more comfortable when you actually have to perform.
3. Relaxation
There are several ways to relax before having to speak before an audience. In a Google search you will find isometric exercises, breathing techniques and ‘mind over matter’ as ways to alleviate anxiety. Our mind and body are connected and feelings often affect the body physically. Practicing a relaxation method will help reduce tension, ease shortness of breath and help you support your voice.
The anxiety you feel when speaking is normal. What’s important is to know the triggers, how to manage the symptoms and to use tools such as relaxation, visualization and experience to help you cope with your nervousness. The next time you are about to give a speech, as your heart pounds, you have butterflies in your stomach and your knees quiver, turn your anxiety into positive energy using the methods mentioned above. Your audience will be impressed with your confidence and listen to every word you say. Hopefully these methods will give you control of your fear.
One of the many things I enjoy about Djing is playing at a Halloween party. The atmosphere is already fun and exciting as guests dress up and our imaginations run wild. But to me having fun with my playlist is what I really enjoy. You never know what spooky or scary sounds will creep up in a mix. The standard Halloween recordings are always available and included in some form, however making something new as far as a spooky mashup or sampling a scary movie theme makes the mix extraordinary.
Here is something I decided to dig up for this years Halloween….
