Show notes:

For over 20 years, Lee Russell has been entertaining couples across the South of England, building one of the region’s most respected wedding entertainment businesses.

But his success didn’t happen overnight.

In this episode, Lee shares how he transitioned from working as a catering manager to becoming a full-time wedding DJ, the lessons he’s learned from two decades in the industry, and why networking has become the single biggest driver of his business growth.

We also dive into how the wedding industry has evolved, why social media is only one part of a successful marketing strategy, and how creating unforgettable guest experiences leads to more bookings through word of mouth.

Lee’s Instagram

LR Disco Entertainment

Time stamps:

04:14 – The Journey to Becoming a DJ

10:47 – Assumptions and Realizations in Wedding Planning

12:00 – Transitioning to Full-Time DJing

20:15 – The Importance of Networking in the Wedding Industry

29:34 – Mistakes in the Wedding Industry

37:26 – The Impact of Technology on DJing and Events

40:06 – The Evolution of DJ Technology

46:51 – The Importance of Continuous Learning in the Industry

51:32 – The Importance of Networking in the Wedding Industry

Transcript:

Lee
00:00:00.320 – 00:00:16.320
I probably would have say networking for me was so important and also networking with the right people and also never stop learning. Hence why we met on that course. Just to develop. I’ve got one thing out of that, but that one thing has gone into my business and made it better.

Becca
00:00:16.320 – 00:01:19.520
I’m Becca Pountney, wedding business marketing expert, strategist, speaker and author.

Over the last decade, I’ve combined my love of marketing with my knowledge of the wedding industry to help thousands of wedding pros and venues just like you learn new skills, strategize, get reenergy, energized and grow their businesses. Because after all, that’s how you stay top of your game. Whether you’re brand new into this industry or been here forever, I want to help.

So grab a cup of tea or a cocktail, sit back and enjoy a brand new episode of my award winning podcast, Wedding Pros who Are Ready to Grow. Let’s get going with today’s episode.

Today I’m chatting with DJ Lee Russell, founder of LR Disco Entertainment, an award winning entertainment business based in the south of England. With over 20 years experience in the wedding industry, he has seen it all.

As well as being a fab DJ and emcee, Lee is also one of the co hosts on the popular Wedding Mayhem podcast. We recently met when I was speaking at the Pro Mobile conference. So I’m looking forward to hearing more from him today. Lee, welcome to the podcast.

Lee
00:01:19.520 – 00:01:20.920
Thank you very much. Bye guys.

Becca
00:01:20.920 – 00:01:37.380
It’s an absolute pleasure to have you on. I’m looking forward to hearing more about you, about your story, about your journey.

Now on this podcast we always go way back to start with, so I want to know your story. Maybe even before you became a dj, did you have a career in a previous life or have you always.

Lee
00:01:37.620 – 00:03:05.390
Yeah, I mean I’ve always loved music, always loved music. I used to want, I was a massive Michael Jackson fan growing up and, and, and I loved. And then as I grew older, I love garage music as well.

So I really had a real mixture of music knowledge that I loved. And I went to Brighton University doing business management where I was. I used to spend a lot of time in the clubs there as you did.

I used to hang around the DJ booth, loved it. And then I used to have a bit of, I got to put it a real passion inside me. I want to do that, I want to do that.

So I ended up having a little go and then when I finished university, got a loan and started up myself and then did the occasional little parties and then literally Boom. Yeah.

So I worked as a catering manager before that, which I did for about 10 years and then, which was good because I had every evening off, So I was DJing at night and then catering manager throughout the day. And then I literally, when we had a family, me and my wife, I wasn’t really seeing my kids. So I had to make a decision.

One of them had to go and the DJing business was going through the roof. So I made the decision to stop the, the, the catering and literally just concentrate on my real passion.

And like they say, if you do a job you love, you never work a day in your life. Because I love this job. And every day the phone rings, there’s an inquiry, people tell you how amazing you are.

So, yeah, there is a lot, there’s a lot to kind of this job that people don’t see. But, like, it is. It’s amazing. That’s the best job in the world, I think.

Becca
00:03:05.390 – 00:03:15.390
Well, I always tell people the wedding industry is absolutely hands down the best industry to work in in the world because it’s the industry that makes people happy. Like, we’re literally giving people the best days of their lives, so why would you want to work in it?

Lee
00:03:15.390 – 00:04:12.270
It is the best day of their life. And people do. Like, they talk about the weddings we do for years.

We had someone in quiet a couple of days ago that they saw us at a wedding, like, nearly eight years ago. They’re like, when we decided to get engaged, we were going to have you. And I was like, what?

They were like, yeah, we knew our photographer and we knew our DJ and I from eight years ago. They were like, yeah, yeah, we just knew. And they follow you online now, don’t they? So it’s very much. They can keep.

It’s not like the old days where I used to advertise in the yellow Pages. Like, people wouldn’t even know what that was. But years ago, that’s what I thought you had to do.

And then now you’ve got your social media, which is people follow you and comment and they know they want you before the brides know, they want you all groomed before they’re even engaged. But they’re like, we’ve been married engaged a week and I’m contacting you. I’m like, you’ve not even booked your venue.

Like, yeah, but just to let you know, this is going to happen. So that’s kind of how I find what we do as a company. Very, very mind blowing that people are like that. They’re like, yeah, we know we want you.

So, yeah, it’s great.

Becca
00:04:12.270 – 00:04:23.230
Yeah, absolutely. Okay, let’s go back again then. So you’re at university, you want to be a dj, you start this business on the side. Were you doing all sorts of events?

At what point did you do your first wedding? Do you remember?

Lee
00:04:23.390 – 00:06:39.530
Yeah, so I’d done a few birthday parties for people and they seemed to go really well. And. And I was like, yeah, quite like this. And then one of the people, one of my friends from that local town said, oh, we’re getting married, Lee.

Done my mum’s birthday, you’ve done my sister’s birthday. Do you want to do a wedding? And I was like, yeah, go on then.

And back then I just didn’t even think I was doing the most important day of looking back. Now I’m doing the most important day of someone’s life and just.

Yeah, so kind of like I’ve done a few parties and then they asked me then would I do a wedding. And then once you do one wedding, you do another party, you do another wedding. It’s a snowball effect. That’s how I kind of found what we do.

You do an event, you get an event, you do an event, you get an event. And back then that was really hard because you were only. There was no Facebook or Instagram.

There was only 150 people in front of you, where now there’s 150 people in front of you to 200 people plus. Then you put on your socials and you’re going to like 50,000 people minimum. Do you know what I mean? So it’s kind of like.

Yeah, so that’s how years ago it started with the small parties, but then escalating to the weddings and just the relationships I built from them early days, they still recommend you now. And you get in with one family, you do the whole family’s weddings. Yeah, I don’t know. I’d done a wedding for mom and dad.

I’m now doing their children’s weddings. It does, but I don’t feel old. Does that make sense? I don’t feel old, but it does. It obviously is, you know, it is. Yeah.

But people, I had a massive concern a few years ago that as I’m getting older, people aren’t going to want an older dj. That was a concern of mine. I have actually flipped that on the head. And the experience, now that you have, people are 100% wanting more.

The experience, People say what I did years ago and got away with that being unexperienced. But now Totally experienced on every scenario.

When things go wrong at a wedding with timings or caterers or anything like that, it’s kind of very much. You are experienced enough just to cope with it, which people love. Like, that’s. You are the. The wedding Godfather.

I’ve been told that people use that nickname or me like you, the Godfather.

You know everything about weddings in a nice way, like photography, florists, caterers, DJing you that your experience of being around the block, as they call it, is impeccable for weddings. But, yeah, that’s kind of where we’re at now.

Becca
00:06:39.610 – 00:06:52.250
They’ve been in the business a long time, but I guarantee when you were starting out at those first few weddings, first few events, you made some mistakes. So tell us anything that you remember looking back and you think, I don’t know why I did that.

Lee
00:06:52.250 – 00:07:02.450
Playing the play music. What I thought people wanted was. It was a mustache. I thought because you’re older, you want older music. Where. No, they. They don’t.

Becca
00:07:02.450 – 00:07:02.770
They.

Lee
00:07:02.770 – 00:10:46.390
With the radio now, they listen to. Oh. People say to me, oh, yeah. So I always. When we have a meeting with couples before. And I was, what. What radio station do you listen to?

And you’ll be. So you’ll be blown away by the rate. Like, oh, I listen to history. I’m like, you’re 65 years old. I didn’t think you’ll be. Listen.

I thought you’d be on a Magic or a Heart or a Smooth, but. So you can never judge a book by its cover. And I think that’s when you look at couples as well.

I remember doing a wedding once, and they were just like the normal couple. Like, just look to look at them. But they were like, no, we want heavy metal, we want rock.

And I was like, I would never have got that from you two at all. So I think, like learning over the years, you never judge a book by its cover.

And I think communication with couples is so important like that the whole music side of things. Because you. You never know what people want nowadays. Like people say, oh, I read the room. You’re never gonna know.

Like, you never know until you walk in that room. Until, like, people chat. You chat to a few people at the beginning.

They’re like, oh, the best one the other day with the bride was, ah, she loves boy bands. And I was like, yeah, she gave me a couple of boy bands on her playlist. But she.

When I say there was like five tables of guests at her wedding, who People she’s met at concerts over the years from boy Bands. So it’s like. But she never told me nothing like that.

But like, literally just through chatting to people, you kind of realize that every wedding’s different. And you kind of make sure that you do your research on the couple beforehand. A bit more than that. I ever probably used to.

So back then, I never used to do that much research and I would go with my CDs. And that was all you really had. So if back then, where now you’ve got this, you should be able to get every single song.

And people know that as well when they come up to request a song. Years ago, you could get away with. Someone said, have you got any meatloaf? No, I haven’t got any meatloaf.

And now they come up to you to go, if you want to. Well, I know you can get it. It’s whether you choose to play it or not and whether the couple will give you permission to play it, which is quite.

Because that’s where couples are dictating what they want to hear and what they don’t want to hear, which is their special day. Like. And if they’re in the middle of the dance floor, there’s never any problem.

The one wedding I remember which sticks in my mind massively was in Guilford. And the bride only wanted garage music. Now, back then, I was like, yeah, that’s cool. I love garage. That’d be a wicked wedding.

But looking back now, I should have just said to her, how many people at your wedding? There’s 200 people. How many people are going to love that garage? And she was like, well, me, my husband and about 10 of our friends. I’m like.

And I just remember looking around the outside of the dance floor, realizing that everybody else was not enjoying their day. And I get. It’s their wedding day, I totally get that.

But I should have probably said to her a bit earlier, after half an hour, just playing garage at the beginning, like, this isn’t really going to work. And she came up to me and said, do you mind mixing up so. Because a couple of my guests are saying that they don’t want to hear this music.

So I literally dropped a bit of 80s Whitney and everybody come to the dance floor. So it’s. It’s very much. You are talking to couples now and guiding them around their wedding where. But back then, I never used to plan much.

You would just go into a wedding. You’re the dj. That was you. That’s my music. But now we literally can spend two hours on the phones of couples before their wedding.

Talking about music and planning it like before they’ve even booked. It’s a last night two 45 minute phone calls of brides talking about their music, talking about their wedding day, what they want.

They are guided a lot by Instagram now and Facebook from what they’ve seen that a we do as a company and they’re like, I want this, I want this, I want that grand entrance, I want everyone coming into the room. So there is a lot of that. But they still. We do a lot more planning with them, we get them to send a playlist. But it’s very.

A lot more planning which I never knew years ago I kind of had to do.

Becca
00:10:46.470 – 00:11:12.530
Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

And I think the assumption bit is actually really relevant to everyone listening because I think it’s really easy for us to judge or to make assumptions.

And you hear all these stories, don’t you, about people, you know, oh, they came past me at a wedding show and I thought they didn’t look like my kind of person. So I ignored them.

But then it turned out they actually had this big budget, you know, so it’s just ridiculous for any of us to make assumptions about anyone. And the only way we’re going to know is by asking, having the conversation, paying an interest.

Lee
00:11:12.610 – 00:11:24.690
That exactly thing happened to me on Sunday. There was a bride walked past me. I’ve done a wedding fair at Royal park and they walked past me.

I thought there was like five bridesmaids and they’re all chatting away and I thought, God, they’re going to be hard work. And they came back and she’s booked me already.

Becca
00:11:25.010 – 00:11:25.570
Amazing.

Lee
00:11:26.450 – 00:11:40.100
And the top package by me just talking to them and finding out what they loved and what they. And when I gave them my experience of this is how a wedding is going to be run at your venue.

Then that night she inquired, arranged a meeting for Monday. She booked yesterday. She paid the deposit.

Becca
00:11:40.490 – 00:11:44.250
Sorry, it wasn’t difficult after all. We should not make those assumptions.

Lee
00:11:45.130 – 00:11:59.690
I was literally just like, I thought because they were so like chatty away and I thought, oh my God, that’d be hard work. But they, but they were. And they were just like, absolutely my bag all day long.

They’ve got vibe, they’ve got energy and I know that they will smash their wedding dance floor.

Becca
00:11:59.690 – 00:12:23.770
Yeah, absolutely. Love that.

Okay, I want to go back to your story about the point where you went full time because there’ll be a lot of people listening to this podcast who are in that dilemma of doing their business at a side hustle. They are Thinking about going and you kind of, you explain the reasons behind it.

But actually I’m sure there’s more to it because we can make it sound really easy. I just went full time, but actually it is a big deal. So take me back to that moment.

Lee
00:12:24.250 – 00:15:23.590
So, yeah, it was me and my wife had this big discussion. Do we do it? Do we not do it? We were spending a lot of money on child care. So it was, that was a big part of it as well.

Because if we stopped the child care money, we had that extra income because my children were younger, so I could take them to nursery and stuff like that. But then the more time I spent on the business, bigger the business got.

But also I made a decision through speaking to a lot of other DJs who were full time, who would always tell me, go full time, go full time. I doubled my price, which was a big step. And when I talk to other DJs now, I just went doubled it.

And for me to double it, I gave the couples more value because I added more things into it. So I added in which were popular. Then uplighting into the. That was in my package. I had the uplighters. I already bought them.

They used to be an extra and people didn’t used to buy them. But I decided to add them into my package. So couples felt as if they were getting more for their money by adding them.

And then I would say I would, I would set up early so that reassurance to couples that are the DJ is already set up. Rather than waiting for him to, to go to turn up in the evening.

I then made a decision to do all day weddings so I could charge even more money because we were hosting, making announcements. So by earning more money, that gave us the reassurance that we can do this. But it was scary.

Like I literally every month I was buying new equipment because I had a full time wage and a part time wage, but the part time wage was a full time wage as well. So I technically had two full time wages coming in.

And I was spending a lot of money on equipment which when I went full time, I made the decision I’m not going to buy as much. I was buying a new set of speakers every six weeks just because I could, you know, I was buying the newest lights, which I still do now.

And we still invest heavily in the business, but we do a lot of research on things that we want beforehand. For instance, last week we bought two new photo booths for the business because I felt as if they were a great price and Great offer.

And I feel as if we wanted just offer a different type of photo booth so that side of things. But, yeah, it was a big decision and I actually, looking back now, it was quite scary.

Looking back now, it was a big decision to provide for my family. My wife still worked full time and then within a year she actually left her business where she was working and joined the company.

So it was a massive step for both of us. But yeah, it was, it was a scary time looking back now, but at the time I wasn’t scared, if that makes sense. I just thought, you know what?

I’m positive I’m gonna make this work. I’m gonna make that. I just, I’ve always had that inner drive in whatever I’ve done.

From playing football to my, my college work to my school, I’ve always, I’m going to make this work. I love football still as well, but I just always kind of like, whatever I do, I make it work. Richard Branson said that, didn’t he?

Richard Branson said a cloak. Always say yes, figure it out later.

Becca
00:15:24.230 – 00:15:55.270
That’s kind of how I live my life as well.

And I think, I think a lot of people get to that point in business where actually there is a moment where if you don’t dive in full time, you, you won’t have the drive to then make it successful because, like you said, you don’t need to because you’ve got that safety net. And so there is a point where you kind of have to cut that safety net cord.

But doing it sensibly, doing it, thinking about it, making a sensible financial decision.

But actually, quite often on this podcast, when I talk to people, when they make that step, it actually is that that gives them the drive to do more and be more successful.

Lee
00:15:55.270 – 00:16:54.650
And there was other DJs going, oh, you shouldn’t do it. You shouldn’t do it. Shouldn’t. Even my family, even my dad, bless him, he, he said to me, it’s not a proper job. It’s not a proper job.

What you’re doing is not. It’s not a proper job. And then when I showed him the figures, he was like, it is a proper job. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re doing very well. Wow.

Yeah, yeah, it kind of. And it made him feel proud. And my mum’s extremely proud.

And, and because she lent me the, the money years ago, she lent me the 800 pounds, which she still reminds me now, I’ve not paid her back over the years, but she’s had it off me in other other holidays. And stuff like that. But like, yeah, but people think it’s not. People still say to me today, last week, so what’s your full time job?

What you think I did this part time? I’m like, I’ve done five events this week. They’re like, really? I’m like, yeah. They don’t quite, they don’t see it as a proper job.

Some people still don’t say.

Becca
00:16:54.650 – 00:17:06.510
People don’t think I have a proper job, including my own children.

So I’ve told this story before, but my son who is 12 years old said to his teacher, my mum can come help on the school trip because she just sits around all day and does nothing.

Lee
00:17:07.950 – 00:17:59.220
That’s, that’s, yeah, I mean I’ve got a 12 year old and a 16 year old and literally they, I think they get it, but they don’t get it like that. When I’m still in the office till 11 o’ clock at night, non DJing nights, they’re like, why don’t you come to bed?

I’m like, because I’m still working. Because if you don’t do this work, you don’t get that work. And that’s what a lot of DJs don’t realize.

They wait for the phone to ring, they don’t post anything, they don’t go out to see clients, they don’t network and they wait for that phone to report it’s not ringing. I don’t, I don’t know why people. Well, because them days of people ringing you the whole time have kind of gone.

You have to work it, you have to go out there and see people, you have to go to venues, you have to show your face. I can walk to Tesco’s in Molesy and where I live and someone will go, oh yeah, so and so is going to call you. I recommended you for a party.

Brilliant. That’s one way of recommendation. But also online is another massive way.

Becca
00:17:59.540 – 00:18:17.220
So let’s talk about how it’s changed then because you’ve been in the industry two decades now, which is a long time and our industry has shifted massively in that time. So how has the industry changed from when you started to where you are now in terms of marketing and getting clients and all that kind of thing.

Lee
00:18:17.220 – 00:21:24.370
Yeah, so it has changed dramatically now. I mean, I’ve always been, I feel as if I’ve always been ahead of the game. I’ve always taken videos from the times that your phone would video.

So I’ve always taken videos of people’s weddings, people’s parties and I’ve always sent them to the clients afterwards because I want to get that moment of people dancing and special and because some people didn’t have photographers and didn’t have videographers years ago. So it was very much a.

You were given a couple something special and so now I’ve kept doing that but I’ve now got somewhere to show off those videos that I have.

So with Facebook and Instagram and the website even like when I first started I didn’t have a website website when I first started it was all word of mouth. Like it’s now I have a sign written VAT and we’ve got like three sign written vans. So where before it was from the car.

So even, even someone booked us yesterday for a wedding. She saw our van in the high street.

I think I mentioned, told you about this before, took a picture of the van, called us, had a meeting and booked us for their wedding next year. So it’s like it’s moved on. As in you are constantly advertised, even wearing branded uniform around town.

It would just see you as being more of a professional organization. Where back in the day I did advertise in the yellow pages, I did put an advert in there because that’s where people.

There was no people didn’t go to go.

I don’t think Google was around like back then like when we first started it was like there was, it was a yellow pages or a word of mouth or in a newspaper ad people would ask you, you. I still get phone calls now saying do you want to advertise in our magazine for like a thousand pounds for a double page?

And I’m like thank you very much.

But if I put money into my time and effort doing a marketing course or a, a advert on social media, you’ll get 15 times that the amount you’d probably put in a brochure. So it’s definitely moved on.

But with us being able to show where we can all work is perfect and networking for me with that is really important that I never used to network that much. It would be like who was turning up on the day. It’ll be a photographer, be a caterers.

Where now before the wedding we’ve probably spoken to all the suppliers, just a two minute phone call, say hi.

We work with similar photographers a lot so when they finish the wedding they’re sending us the images with the bride’s permission to put on our page to advertise them. Collaborating with them as well is amazing. So where years ago we didn’t Ever do that. At the beginning, that wasn’t a thing.

Where now it’s networking with the right people, people you trust is a big part of the industry. Which if I’m going to recommend somebody I trust, then hopefully they’ll be at the wedding. So then the wedding will be good.

Photographers who turn up at the wrong church, photographers who cancel on the day it does happen. I hear these stories, so. But if I’m going to trust people, I recommend them, or if I don’t trust them, I don’t recommend them.

But years ago, you would never even. That would never even come into your thought process.

Becca
00:21:25.010 – 00:21:47.090
And it’s basically, it’s essential now. And it frustrates me because I hear lots of people saying, oh, the photographer never gives me the photos after the wedding, the photo.

But actually often I think is, well, have you made any effort to build a relationship? Have you made any effort to get to know these people? Have you gone to industry events?

Because if they’re your friends and your colleagues, they will love to give you the photos. And it sounds like that’s your experience.

Lee
00:21:47.490 – 00:22:47.670
100%. 100%. Last night, 11 o’, clock, I got. We done a photo shoot on Monday with some suppliers at a venue that we organized between ourselves.

There was a florist there, there was a cape person, there was a dress person, there was a photographer. I said to him, at some point, can you get some drone footage of me outside?

Just some drone footage of me doing this last night, 11 o’, clock, he got in from his shoot and he sent them to me. 11:00 Clock last night.

So he got in from his daytime shoot he had, and he wanted to get them over to me as soon as possible so I could put them on my social media. That’s like the relationships you build with other suppliers, which are priceless. Do you know what I mean?

Like where, where other photographers, like you say, I don’t know them, and I am asking for the video footage and they’re like, yeah, whatever, when, whenever. They’re not really that interested, which I understand because I recommend certain suppliers.

But I will, I will still tag them, I’ll still comment them, I’ll still credit them for their work. But some of them aren’t. They’re not always that friendly. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But which. And they’re the ones who’ve got no work.

Becca
00:22:47.910 – 00:23:10.430
Yeah, well, that’s, that’s the thing, isn’t it? Because actually, I always say, well, that’s their loss. Because actually, if they shared the photos with you, if they Share the footage with you.

If, if they also want to collaborate, you’re going to put that everywhere, you’re going to tag them everywhere, you’re going to talk about them everywhere. And everyone does better. A rising tide raises all ships.

So yeah, again, if you are listening to this and you’re one of the people that doesn’t collaborate, then let us encourage you to do that now.

Lee
00:23:10.430 – 00:23:58.310
Yeah, yeah. Spread the love. Like it’s a wicked industry to work in and people don’t realize that everyone should get on.

And if you can show loving in the industry, because it just might be.

There’s a photographer I’m working a couple of weeks, haven’t worked with her for two years, just dropped her a message last night saying really looking forward to working with you. She goes, I’m so excited already. There you go, perfect. Just dropped her a little message just to.

I did meet her again at the wedding Awards last year and we sat together at the wedding Awards. So kind of like you just keep that relationship going. You don’t know when you’re going to bump into people. But it was. She’s already excited.

The grooms are excited for their wedding. That was a. That was an hours meeting last night talking about their wedding. But that’s going to be phenomenal. They’ve got you.

Wait till you see this on the socials. I can’t say anything now, but it’s going to be unbelievable. Unbelievable what they’ve got going on at their wedding. Unbelievable.

Becca
00:23:58.470 – 00:24:05.430
I love that. That they clearly are living in what I call the experience era, where they want their wedding to be an experience.

And I’m sure we’re all going to see it on social media.

Lee
00:24:05.510 – 00:24:14.560
Yes. 100 Literally it’s going to go. Every clip will go viral. You just. And they are the couple who want that. So it’s. Which is great for them.

Becca
00:24:14.560 – 00:24:38.370
Love it. Okay, let’s get into the nitty gritty because on this podcast I like to understand the business facts behind the business.

Not just the shiny object syndrome, but what’s actually working. So if you were to look at your business in 2026 and look at where your inquiries are coming from.

I don’t know if you have the data or if you can give me a rough estimate, but where are most of your inquiries coming from in 2026? What are the sources?

Lee
00:24:38.530 – 00:25:48.870
If I go into my Instagram now, friends, let’s go into my Instagram. Okay. And go to my insights. So this. Wow. So accounts reached this month. 174.8K. So that’s where my and views 341.1k on my so far in half a month.

So that’s quite a lot of people viewing my stuff on Instagram realistically, if you look at those. So I would say a lot of my work now, people follow me or comments on that side of things. Instagram for me is a great platform.

Facebook for me is I use my business suite to transfer from my Instagram straight to my Facebook because I don’t post on that as much as I used to because the younger generation I think aren’t on the the Facebook.

So it still goes on there, gets a lot of views, a lot of comments and I find more people tag people on the on the Facebook, but on the Instagram when I speak to my couples. Where did you find us? Oh, I my friend recommended you. So we went to your Instagram, saw your Instagram, realize you were what we wanted.

Becca
00:25:49.350 – 00:26:01.350
And that’s interesting because actually that it’s a kind of a mixture of two things because it’s word of mouth and Instagram because they’re being recommended to you, but then they’re doing their own research and coming to see is this guy actually as good as they said?

Lee
00:26:01.430 – 00:29:05.920
Because I, I find now a lot of people before they’ve even reached out to us, they’ve done their research on Instagram, they’ve done their research on Facebook, they’ve looked on your website and they’ve spoken to a couple of people because nine, I’d say a lot of people now they put our name into Instagram, they realize they’ve got three or four friends who are mutual friends. That person will then contact me, said, oh, Sarah’s just contacted me asking how good you are as a dj. I’ve gave you a glam review.

I thought I’d just let you know. So that is one, I’d say that’s quite a strong word of our and then word of mouth as well.

But also we are recommended at a lot of top venues in the area, which is not through us paying for it, but that’s through us doing a good job at their venues over the years. And then if we’re doing a good job, we’re promoting them on the venues on our socials. So they’re clever.

They’re getting us involved with recommending us. So the weddings will be good, there won’t be any problems, everyone’s happy. So it’s a real fight.

I would literally, I’d say it’s word of mouth, Instagram and recommendation from from venues which for Us is a. Is a. You know, that’s kind of how we work as well as when people see us, they’re like, have you got a card? Have you got a card? Or they follow you.

That’s kind of where mainly people go. But yeah, it has changed a lot over the years. But that’s where we find a lot of ours are coming from. People are.

But also like when you collaborate, they share onto their page. They see it. It’s a snowball effect. Where owes my mind when people don’t. Don’t do it. You know that that’s. I just like, I don’t.

Because we met at the A conference and I was like, it’s the lady in the red dress. And that’s my first words to you. And then I’ve just. I followed you. And you know, it’s little moments like that that you just.

The connections you build with other suppliers and people around the industry that I think is impeccable. That it blows my mind when people don’t do it. But I do think it’s very much a show the love to other people as well.

And because I recommend them and they recommend me. So that’s how it’s changed over the years. But that’s what I think most of my recommendations come from. If you can. If you can.

I can say I’m the best DJ in the world and then I could show you a video and oh yeah, yeah, you’re good. So once you show them it, this is. And not just one video, there’ll be like years worth on there.

You scroll back to when where you want to have a look. It’s that or so you can see your venue of what you’re going to get. And some people. That is not them.

Some people that just blows their mind, they’re like, oh my God, that’s not me. I don’t want to be center retention. I get that.

And then you are not allowed to put them on your social media, which breaks my heart because I’m like, your wedding was amazing. And they’re like. But they don’t want everyone to know or to see. We.

We do a lot of celebrity work as well where we have to sign stuff where we can’t put anything online. And I’m like, that was such a party. So it does hurt. But word of mouth is still a massive thing. But socials for me are big.

Less than my website, I’d say less than my website, but that’s another story for me.

Becca
00:29:06.480 – 00:29:31.180
Yeah, it’s interesting. Is it? Because in some ways it’s changed because social media has become so much bigger, but the foundations are still the same.

So it’s word of mouth and the social media are on top of it. And you’re right, because a lot of people listening are not making the most of the features that we’re being given.

Things like collaborating on posts, tagging people, sharing on stories, doing reels together. Like that is the stuff that works. And it costs you absolutely nothing. You’ve just got to get your time.

Lee
00:29:31.340 – 00:29:33.100
Just your time as well. Just your time.

Becca
00:29:33.660 – 00:29:53.260
Yeah, exactly. Okay, let’s talk about mistakes you see other DJs and other wedding suppliers making.

We talked about your own mistakes earlier, but I’m sure, like me, you see it all the time where you look at other people maybe starting out in the industry, or maybe they’ve been in the industry a long time and you think, why are they still doing this? What are some of those mistakes that you see people making that you wish you could change?

Lee
00:29:53.830 – 00:31:03.560
I mean, the mistakes I’ve seen other people do turn up in the wrong venue. Like, I’ve.

I’ve been at a wedding where I’ve set up for a wedding and we get there in the morning to set up and I’ve had another DJ walk in and go, no, I. I’m working here tonight. And I’m like, you’re definitely not booked here. And they’re like. And then they’ll check and it’ll be the wrong day.

So, like, communication, I think, is a massive thing. So we talked. I mean, with. Nowadays, you’ve got the.

Your phone and people WhatsApp you constantly and Facebook you and Instagram message you all the time. So there’s no reason to get anything like the D even wrong. I see other suppliers.

There was one the other day where the photographer went to the wrong church, which, to be fair, there was two St. Mary’s churches in the town. He went with a bride to get ready in the morning and then they both left and went to the church and he went to this one and it was that one.

And I was actually there doing the ceremony music. So I was like. I was calling him, going, where are you? And he was, I’m in St. Mary’s there’s no one here. I was like, mate, which one did you go to?

So I gave him the postcode. He comes down just as the bride was about.

We kind of stalled it a little bit with Vicar, but as they was about to walk down the aisle, he got there and just. It’s just. It worked out all right. So there’s that. But yeah, other mistakes that I see about pricing.

Becca
00:31:03.560 – 00:31:09.960
Anything about pricing. Do you think DJs are pricing themselves too low? Do you see people in your market undercutting?

Lee
00:31:10.040 – 00:34:21.640
I. I don’t really see people undercutting because the networking area I’m in, I do find some people people want. I feel that entertainment is one of the most important parts of the wedding now.

And I think couples are realizing that that where maybe 10 years ago couples weren’t realizing how important the entertainment was in regards to set the tone of the vibe. I mean we used to just do 10 years ago evening only as a DJ, that’s what you do, right?

You rock up at 7 o’, clock, you’d be ready for 8 o’, clock, you do a sound check when people are in the room where now we get there in the morning, we set up before the guests arrive and we work as a wedding host as well. So I think that’s changed. But there is some DJs that go because they have other jobs they can’t do all day.

So they’re not doing the ceremony music, they’re not doing the grand entrance, they’re not doing the wedding breakfast, they’re not doing. So there’s a lot.

But that’s fine because some people only think that we’re trying to change the concept of DJs as being there to run the days music wise to make it easier for the couples. But some people are. I’ve only got a budget of 350, not a problem. Then you go to that DJ who might turn up, up.

But we genuinely do a couple of times a month and I see it on Instagram and Facebook, people have been let down by a DJ and they were like, how much are you spending? £200. Well, that’s why they’ve let you down, because they’ve been offered a job for more money and they’ve gone there. It does happen.

So I wouldn’t say people undercut you, but they don’t know the value of their.

And I’m part of like DJ clubs and that’s a bit, bit geeky, but like networking and learning the whole time and we’re all trying to push the price up of the industry. As you see now the amount of DJ podcasts are popping up.

I, I do the other podcast, Wedding Mayhem and I’m on there talking about DJing from, from what I see. But no other DJ is willing to go on there and show their worth yet. They don’t want to put themselves out where they should be.

Because what we do is so important to the day and literally the venue is what they’re booking there. And then, then some people are going to the dress and then the entertainment and then they go photographer.

Where probably 10 years ago, I’d probably say the photographer was being done first. Where now I think the. The DJ and the photographer are really close to what they’re booking.

And the bride, who I met at the wedding fair, she said, I booked the three main things. I put the venue, the photographer and entertainment. I can now have a relax for a little while so that she’s like booked the three main things.

She said, now I can put that, like, I’ve got the three things I want. Want. Now I can start looking at dresses and like caterers and stuff like that. So, yeah, they, they are prioritizing where the cheaper DJs are still.

Like, you see any work available this weekend? I’m like, what? People are putting that so that. But that’s.

I would say that’s the cheaper end where the amount of weddings we’ve got for next year is probably going to be our best year ever. Ever in the whole 25 years next year. But we are putting in the effort now, like with the social media, with the.

The networking and the meeting other DJs and meeting other venues and suppliers. So we are putting in the work where people don’t see that as work because you’re not getting paid for it.

If you don’t do that, you don’t get the big weddings.

Becca
00:34:21.720 – 00:34:50.180
Yeah, absolutely.

And I think it is a really interesting shift actually to see that people are suddenly realizing that the entertainment is such a big part of the experience, like this experience era. They see the photos, they see the video, they see the vibe, they see the people having a party, doing the conf. All of the things y. Yeah, yeah.

And that’s what they want. And I think not enough people in the entertainment part of our industry are leaning into that and realizing now’s our time to shine.

Let’s stop being in the back corner. Let’s come front and center.

Lee
00:34:50.260 – 00:36:19.170
Because you don’t get them photos without the vibe.

And if like even just like everyone, when you do the grand entrance into the wedding breakfast and everyone’s waving the napkins, you see someone doing that if you’ve not discussed it with the group beforehand.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, when everybody comes, when the bride and groom come into this room, like, we want everybody to show them the love and appreciation that they deserve. Like that real energy and passion. Really give it everything and then when they’re waving, they’re not. They’re proper going for it.

When you just like an old toastmaster, like Mr. And Mrs. Jones, what they are like that. That’s gone now. Them days have gone. Like, they want that energy and.

And I’m not saying that all toastmasters are like that, but kind of people want that younger vibe of that energy and they want to be shown off on. On socials in a nice way. And they like.

And some of the reels you’ve got have gone crazy, like, wild of the bride and grooves going, oh, my God, that was the best entrance ever. Thank you so much. They’re like, I didn’t realize the. How I was going to feel in that moment. But we’ve set that tone with all their guests and they.

But we’ve invested in that, though. We’ve invested our time and effort in researching and chatting to the couple and finding out what they’re like.

Because we had one the other day where the couple just wanted to walk in. Everyone’s different, but most people wanted that big energy and the vibe and that’s where you.

It has changed over the years because every couple would years ago just walk in and get their food. Where things have been put into the industry now to make it special, that moment should be special. Where not every wedding is.

Becca
00:36:19.170 – 00:36:30.570
Yeah, absolutely. And to go full circle a minute. You said about people wanting the younger vibe. That doesn’t necessarily mean they want a younger dj. Exactly.

As we said earlier, it’s the vibe that’s important, not the age of the person delivering that moment.

Lee
00:36:30.730 – 00:37:18.630
Yeah. If you can bring the vibe. And I mean, I’m 46 now, but literally everyone’s like, like, oh, my God. Yeah, you’re still going.

I’m like, yeah, yeah, let’s. I’m bouncing off you guys, like the bride and groom. You’re on the dance floor all night. Why am I not buzzing, like, inside?

I don’t drink, I don’t vape, I don’t smoke. I just love. I get off of everyone having that great time, you know, that’s my vibe. That’s.

And if you’re as a dj, I mean, sometimes you turn up at a venue and there’d be a table and I’m like, what is that? They’re like, that’s for you. I’m like, thank you very much. But, yeah, it’s very rare. We go to venues where they don’t know us and. Or ven. They do it.

But some. When you go in London, when you do some Work in London, some obscure venues and they’re like, yeah, thank you very much. That’s not.

Or receipts like a seat for a dj.

Becca
00:37:18.630 – 00:37:20.590
No, I don’t have time to sit down.

Lee
00:37:20.750 – 00:37:26.190
I’m not going to sit down. And I’m doing 12 hour day. Not a problem. Smash it out. You know, that’s how we feel.

Becca
00:37:26.190 – 00:37:42.570
Okay, let’s talk technology for a moment because when you are growing a business, when you’re getting all these bookings in, I’m sure that you are using different pieces of technology to try and help and assist you in your business. So I’d love to know what tech you are using, what’s helping you in your business, what’s helping you streamline.

Lee
00:37:42.570 – 00:40:06.720
So yeah, so we, we have a DJ system online where all our bookings go into and send out contracts and playlist forms to the couple. So that’s our like booking system which is very easy, very simple.

We’re actually moving to a new one next week which is a new bells and all whistles ones which has just been brought out. So we’re moving across to that next week which is mind blowing of how that’s going to take the business even more, you know, which is great.

And then for us obviously we started off on CDs so technology, we, we had our CD players. I mean my apprenticeship years ago was I, I did used to have records when I was a young kid and that’s, that’s what I used to have in my bedroom.

That’s when my first love for music came in.

But when I started DJing I had CDs and then it moved to MP3 and then obviously now it’s all computerized which is very, sounds a lot easier but you still have to have a couple of computers, you have a couple of mixes, you have like you have everything backed up. It’s not like you have just one laptop, just one set of speakers.

We are, I am going out with a van full of stuff, you know, just to make sure we are covered on every single scale, even lights wise. We have spare lights in the van because they want that look. The couples want the setup to look perfect.

I mean we’ve just invested heavily in a video wall for, for corporate events and weddings and I am now getting a lot of inquiries for that because we’ve done a promo video at one of our venues saying this is our new video wall. And when they see they can have, I don’t know, pictures on the video wall and stuff like that.

So we’re always looking to invest in the new latest technology, but it generally still comes down to the DJs knowledge. I’ve got all the bells and all the whistles, but I can give that to in hypothesity you and you’ll be like, right, what do I do all this?

It’s still my knowledge, which is kind of like, like where as I’ve got older, I’ve got more and more and trust and experience. But equipment wise, yeah, you used to have like two amplifiers you would take with you. You would take like. Because they were.

You have to have the amps to plug into the speakers where now all your speakers are past, like they’re all active speakers. So you have the amps inside the speaker. So that’s straight away a massive win for us as DJs. It’s less carrying in.

But then, then now you have the LED dance laws, the video wall. So it did go smaller for a stage, but now people want the big production.

Becca
00:40:06.720 – 00:40:18.920
Now you’re going bigger again. What about these glasses then?

Because before we started recording you said to me that you’re going to wear these glasses and that soon I will want a pair of these glasses. So talk to me about the glasses here.

Lee
00:40:19.240 – 00:42:02.910
Basically these glasses here are now flashing in the corner, right?

They’re flashing so they can take a three minute video of different moments that we capture and stuff like that, which is great for content because our job now is all about content. And in the moment you are go, go, go. And wherever I look, it will capture that. So then if I turn it off now, it stopped filming.

So there’ll be a little video there. So when they do their first dance, we can video their first dance from our perspective from behind the scenes.

When you’re doing the dry ice, they can see a scoop in the dry ice, putting it in the machine, scooping it up, bringing it in, and then they’re going to see the dry ice going out. So we send couples that. We also have a360 camera on our DJ booth.

This is all with the bride and groom’s permission to video or the groom and groom or bride and bride to have that video of their wedding. So if things happen, it’s mainly to video us as well.

A lot of us DJing to put on our socials and then we’ve also bought a DJI camera where when we do their first dance, my roadie will video in the evening, just moments on the dance floor, people when they get put.

So videographers and photographers sometimes go home about 10 o’ clock o’ clock Some stay till the very end, but some about 10 o’ clock is a good time for them to go. But 11 o’ clock is the time when you will have the groom put on someone’s shoulders, living the best life.

And we will capture that on our videos, which is great, that we’ve invested in heavily. And then that will go into our content on our reel, or we will mainly 90 we send them all to the couples.

So technology wise, we are kind of trying to be ahead of the game with the glasses. And then also we’ve got our iPhones as well. Well, so we video from iPhones, which, if you haven’t got all the gadgets, an iPhone is still fantastic.

But it’s all to make content to put into showing their wedding off, which couples love.

Becca
00:42:03.070 – 00:42:17.150
Yeah, absolutely. Okay.

But these glasses are kind of next level because, yes, everyone’s got an iPhone on them, but you’ve also got to remember to pick it up and hit record when you’re already in the middle of everything. So presumably with your glasses, the great thing is it’s just capturing you. Capturing.

Lee
00:42:17.550 – 00:42:22.300
You can do 100. So you can do 100 videos at three minutes, and then you have to start deleting some.

Becca
00:42:22.780 – 00:42:25.180
So does it save them onto the glasses?

Lee
00:42:25.180 – 00:42:34.780
Does it go straight. Go straight to your phone. And there’s an app on your phone and all that.

You just connect the phone to the app to the glasses, and all the videos come up there. They’re phenomenal.

Becca
00:42:35.740 – 00:42:40.380
Unbelievable. I need to see some of the footage that you’ve been recording with these glasses so that I can see.

Lee
00:42:40.380 – 00:43:24.450
The last week when there was a couple of ladies in the photo booth, I said, I’m just gonna make a video of me showing you how to use the photo booth. So I went from the photo booth truth to them and from them back again.

And it’s great, even, like, for me at the moment now when people come up and ask for a song, I’m like, Cha Ching. Right? Because I went like. And I’m like, there was a bride. Not the bride there. One of the bridesmaids the other day. She was like, have you got.

I can’t remember the song Kevin Little she asked for. And I was like, yeah, no problem. But I just videoed her coming up and I just sent that to the bride afterwards.

And she was like, oh, my God, that’s amazing. I was like, yeah, it’s just a little bit of, like, a little wow factor and just a bit something different that not many people are doing.

Because you do get some funny Requests. And you don’t want to go like in someone’s phone. But you are saying, I’m filming. They’re like, where are you filming? I’m like on my glasses.

So, yeah, just a bit of fun.

Becca
00:43:24.690 – 00:43:29.930
So if people are interested. We’re not selling these glasses, by the way. Let me just say, it’s not the.

Lee
00:43:29.930 – 00:43:31.170
Ray Ban meta glasses.

Becca
00:43:31.409 – 00:43:37.690
Ray Ban meta glasses. You heard it here first. He’s using them. Maybe they’re the future and maybe I will have a pair soon.

Lee
00:43:37.690 – 00:43:41.320
Because Lisa as well. So you don’t need AirPods. You can talk through them as well.

Becca
00:43:42.670 – 00:43:55.150
Unbelievable the way technology is going. Okay, I want to know then, what makes you stand out? Because DJ entertainment. There’s. It’s a crowded market, there’s lots of people doing it.

You’re very successful. What is it that makes you. You?

Lee
00:43:55.710 – 00:45:55.050
I’ve always been different to other DJs. I’ve been always loud, which I think as a DJ, you should be loud. You should be in the moment, in, in the party, enjoying it. Very like, I’m very.

I’m out there and that’s me. I’m a people’s person. So I’m very much like, if you request a song, I will play the song.

Not sure like what part of the wedding, but we will play the song. But generally our ethos is, we are gonna make it the best day of your life. We are gonna deliver. We’ve got proof that we deliver.

And most people who’ve been to a wedding or seen us or follow us, they know what they’re getting. And I’ve always been true to myself. Like, I am who I am. I’m not trying to be another DJ. Other DJs have the headphones on all night.

They are head down, looking at their mixer and their controller. I’m very much not like that. I am generally looking at the crowd. I’m enjoying myself.

And if I’m enjoying myself, if the guests are enjoying it, I’m enjoying. If they’re enjoying it, I’m enjoying. So I’m very much like, that’s. I’m not gonna start. I will talk on the microphone.

I will like, this song’s been requested by the lady over there. Give people shout outs. We’ve always done that, that. And it’s a very American esque kind of DJing. Where.

Where years ago I was told, you’re too light, you’re too loud, you’re. You’re like, you’re not gonna. If you want to be a dj, you need to just concentrate on the music, I’m like.

So I. I’ve always been me, so this is who I am. And I literally have just gone like that. So for me, not copying anyone else, being who I am, that’s kind of, like, worked for me.

I’ve not tried to be other. Another dj. Like, just. Just music, music, music, mixing, mix, mix it. We do everything. So you mix the music, you play the music, you interact.

Interaction for me is massive because that’s the American way. Like the real party, the vibes. That’s kind of how we bring it. And now a lot of English DJs are realizing actually we need to do what he’s doing.

Where years ago I was told not to do that, and I just carried on doing it, and now they’re all coming across to our side.

Becca
00:45:55.130 – 00:46:08.340
It’s the best way, Lee. You got to be unapologetically yourself and lead the way.

You know, I always, always tell the story about how a year ago, I started taking my content creator with me to events and everyone laughed at me. And a year later, everyone’s got a concert.

Lee
00:46:08.340 – 00:46:40.410
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I know. And I’m literally like, I’m just that today. I love being on camera. I don’t mind it. I’ve always been that outgoing person. At the school disco.

When I was a little kid, I was the one at the front dancing in front of the dj, like, doing my Michael Jackson moves, where now I’m like, that’s me, like, behind the booth, but I’m like, yeah, I’m dancing the whole time. I’m literally dancing, enjoying the night, vibing. I like all types of music. There’s no music I don’t like.

I’d say heavy metal, it’s probably one I don’t like, but everything country, R B, house, garage. I love it all.

Becca
00:46:40.570 – 00:46:41.530
Musical theater.

Lee
00:46:41.930 – 00:46:46.210
Oh, I do. Hairspray is my ringtone on my phone. So, yeah, I love Hairspray.

Becca
00:46:46.210 – 00:47:13.910
Yeah, I love it. I love it so much. Okay, the final thing I want to ask you about is the importance of education.

Because I think when someone’s been in the industry a long time, there are. There’s two types of people. There are people that want to keep learning, and there are people that already think they know it all.

I put you in the first category. We met at a conference. You were there to learn and to network. We chatted recently because you were on a training call about TikTok.

So why is it that you still value the education even though you’re finding success and you’ve been in the industry? A long time.

Lee
00:47:13.990 – 00:49:28.300
Someone said to me a few years ago, every day is a school day. And I’m like, you know what? I use that saying so much. Even my kids, they’re like, every day. You’re learning every day.

I’ve got a little networking group with another makeup artist, a photographer. We meet up like once a month for a coffee. Some days it can be two hours. Last week was seven hours. And we were just sitting there chatting away and.

And she showed me this little keyring. And. And the key ring was if you basically tap top, tap something. Like, basically you put your Instagram on it.

And as couples come up to you at the wedding fair on Sunday, instead of saying, do you want to sign, scan the QR code up there? And they go, I’m all right. They were just coming up to. As I was chatting, I just tapped their phone and my Instagram page come up on their phone.

And they liked it, followed it, it. And I was like, I. I got that from the little coffee I had the other day with two other. Two other suppliers.

So when I say every day’s a school day, like, I’ll be driving along, hearing a song, and I’d be like, harriet, can you just. Who’s my wife? Like, can you just make a note of that song?

She’s like, well, I’m like, I haven’t played that for a while, and that’s an absolute banger. And like, literally, you just. So every day I think you’re learning, and I think you. When.

If anyone says, I know it all, that’s like, I would never even give him my time a day because I’m literally learning all the time. Literally all the time. It could be this conversation, that conversation every. You just.

We’re never going to know it all because the industry is changing as well. Like, if you’d have told me years ago, even like two years ago, I’d be playing country music at a wedding, for instance. Like. Like, you.

That would not have happened. Like, that would not. Where. Now fellas are loving so much country. Ladies are loving country. They’re going to America.

And you’ve got the bars in America with the country music. They’re going to. They’re coming back. They want. I mean, last year, I probably.

The first dance song was country, by far, by far with the most popular song for a first dance. Now you just gotta evolve and always listen and learn. And I think, like, yeah, that’s how I feel. And that’s how we met, really.

I was like, I’m always scrolling on online at courses and looking to develop what we do to make us better than everybody else. That’s never going to happen. We’re never going to be the best.

But we can try and put ourselves out there as best we can can, which with the help which is available.

Becca
00:49:28.540 – 00:49:51.060
Yeah, absolutely. And we can always get 1% better. Every single one of us should be trying to get 1% better all the time.

And I think the biggest thing that’s going to kill any wedding business is complacency and thinking they know it all. Because it changes, it’s changing.

The couples are changing, the tastes are changing, the trends are changing and it’s the people who are forward thinking, always trying to do 1% better and do it first rather than copying everyone else.

Lee
00:49:51.060 – 00:50:10.520
Who find the success in the last week. Because I went out like not last Sunday before and they were like, yeah, I’ve seen your glasses. I’ve seen some. Yeah, we’ve ordered a pair.

But because mine are prescription glasses, they are more expensive and you can only get prescriptions through Ray Ban. So the price doubled.

Becca
00:50:10.600 – 00:50:13.000
But it was worth it. It was a good investment in your business.

Lee
00:50:13.159 – 00:50:36.930
It’s. It’s 100 because it just, it’s a real talking point with loads of people at the moment.

And couples are like, oh, can you video the first dance from your perspective when you do the mixer and then go across to the. And I’m like, course, man. That’s like, like they’re excited for seeing that behind the scene footage as well. I just need to make sure I look at.

I’m not like this the whole time moving my head because obviously it’s going to look quite. Yeah. But I’ll share some videos of you to have a little look and the quality is phenomenal. It’s probably better than the iPhone.

Becca
00:50:36.930 – 00:50:52.380
Know what? I need them fully. Not even for my wedding business. I need them for filming my daughter’s football matches.

Because I am terribly notorious for looking the wrong way from my phone. So the phone misses it because I’m watching the goal. But if they’re on my face, I’m going to see her. Save those goals every time.

Lee
00:50:52.380 – 00:51:02.220
Yeah, yeah.

When my daughter does dance shows, I’ll be like, I can watch the whole show now and it gets video because you’re not really meant to video like in the dance show. So it’s like, it’s a sneaky way of doing it.

Becca
00:51:02.540 – 00:51:04.700
Don’t tell anyone or they’ll start banning them.

Lee
00:51:04.780 – 00:51:09.420
You can’t go into your daughter’s dance show, what, without your glasses. I can’t see about the glasses. That’s what you got to say.

Becca
00:51:10.300 – 00:51:16.100
You’re going to have to come on commission for these glasses and then they’ll pay for themselves because the amount of people that are going to be starting to look at them now you’re in.

Lee
00:51:16.100 – 00:51:19.690
That’s not bad. I’m going to start tagging them in all the videos. Yeah, just start doing that.

Becca
00:51:19.690 – 00:51:32.730
Yeah, I love it. Lee, it’s been so much fun chatting to you, hearing all about your business.

I always end my podcast with the same question which I’m going to post you now, and it’s this. What’s the one thing you personally wish you’d known sooner in your own business?

Lee
00:51:32.970 – 00:52:09.060
I genuinely believe networking for me with the right suppliers is so important. Where years ago I never used to network with other suppliers, it was like my DJing business. This is who I am.

And they loved us, they loved it, but I didn’t really reach out to them. So I’m saying now, networking for me is so important with the right suppliers.

And I wish I told myself that 20 years ago, but you didn’t know as many suppliers then because it was always different suppliers at events where now you get your core people and. And I generally think that’s a massive plus because people buy people, so if they trust you, they trust who you recommend.

Becca
00:52:09.140 – 00:52:12.340
And when you say the right suppliers, what do you mean by that?

Lee
00:52:12.820 – 00:52:45.310
Generally people who. You can see their work, because that’s important. People who. The right suppliers who are.

Maybe it’s not the right thing being local to the event, but people who are worked at the venue before, people who have a track record of being in the industry for.

And I’m not saying new people aren’t good, but people who are respected and people who’ve who’ve been there, seen it and done it as well, it just makes a great wedding. Or you got. For me, it’s difficult when someone says, we spent all our money on this, so we can’t afford this, so we’ve got this person doing it.

Becca
00:52:45.460 – 00:52:45.620
It.

Lee
00:52:45.620 – 00:52:54.980
And things aren’t work. Like for instance, a camp. Their friend’s going to do the photos. Fair play, that’s not important to them.

And then they’re upset when the camera doesn’t work or that.

Becca
00:52:55.060 – 00:53:09.380
Yeah, it breaks your heart, doesn’t it?

Because I see this all the time with people where they say, I’m not going to invest in doing this training or I’m not going to invest in doing this, I’m just going to go for the cheaper option and I know in my heart of hearts it’s not going to work for them but sometimes you just got to let people do it and you can’t do anything.

Lee
00:53:09.620 – 00:54:05.570
Yeah, you can, you can take the horse to water but you can’t make it drink, as people say. You know, it’s, it’s. I do believe that this industry is, this industry is the best ever. I’m so pleased I got into it years ago.

Wish I got into weddings a bit sooner, but probably wasn’t ready for weddings like the realizing now probably wasn’t ready at the very, very beginning like to do some of the weddings I did. But the weddings weren’t, they weren’t as massive then. They were on a smaller scale when now you’re talking.

But the small weddings can be just as important as the big weddings.

But you have to work harder on a smaller wedding because if there’s only 50 people at the wedding, I’ve got to get 50 people dancing where when there’s a wedding, when it’s 200, I can have 150 and it looks phenomenal. Do you know what I mean? So it’s.

But yeah, I probably would have, I probably would have say networking for me was, was so important and also like networking with the right people and also never stop learning, hence why we met on that course. Just to develop. I’ve got like one thing out of that, but that one thing has gone into my business and made it better.

Becca
00:54:05.570 – 00:54:20.830
Yeah, absolutely. You only need the one thing to make it the 1% better. And that every time you add a one thing it adds up to multiple things.

Lee, it’s been such a pleasure.

If people want to find out more about you, about business, about your glasses and all the sales you’re going to make on those, where are the best places for them to find?

Lee
00:54:21.230 – 00:54:39.950
We’ve got our website which is www.lrdiscoentertainment.com or we’ve got Instagram, which is DJ Lee Russell. Instagram, DJ Lee Russell or Facebook LR Disco Entertainment. But yeah, there are platforms and yeah, reach out.

If we can give any advice or help any couples. Reach out. Not a problem.

Becca
00:54:40.110 – 00:54:48.450
Amazing.

I will make sure I put all of the links in the show notes, Lee, and I’m sure if people want to chat to you, you’d be more than happy to send them a voice to 100%.

Lee
00:54:48.450 – 00:54:50.090
Yeah, I love a voice note as you know.

Becca
00:54:50.330 – 00:54:52.170
Love it. Thank you so much for your time.

Lee
00:54:52.250 – 00:54:53.810
Cheers guys. Take care. Bye bye.

Becca
00:54:53.810 – 00:55:14.810
Such a great conversation. I love Lee. I love his energy.

I will never forget when we met at the pro Mobile conference and he shouted across the room to me, are you the lady in the red dress? But it just shows the importance of visibility and showing up. I’m sure if you want to ask him more questions, he’d be more than happy to help.

And I need to go and check out his meta ray ban footage right now. I’ll see you all next time.