Photo: The Balance
Photo: The Balance

A couple of weeks ago, I received a phone call from someone inquiring about the services I offer. I answered her questions, but no business came out of that interaction.

That’s no big deal. Sometimes, people just need to know what you’re about before they make a decision. If you’ve been proactive about marketing your business, you’re bound to start receiving lots of inquiries.

The problem comes from a different percentage of the population. I’m talking about other DJs who disguise themselves and call to find out what you do. Then they use that information to improve their own businesses. On the one hand, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Business is all about service and competition. It’s your responsibility as a DJ to find out what your competition is doing so you don’t get left behind.

On the other hand, if I’m given a choice, I’d rather not discuss my service details with the DJ who’s trying to steal my business. So, although DJs have every right to research the competition, you don’t have to reveal anything about your business to your competitors.

So, how do you tell the difference between a real potential client calling you to inquire about your services and a DJ pretending to be a potential client? I’ll tell you now … there’s no magic answer. You’re just going to have to use your experience and your gut to figure it out.

However, there are some tricks that you can look for to help you decide one way or the other. These tricks won’t be true in all cases, but they can help you begin to figure out who you’re talking to. Check them out here.