Beyond the DJ Booth
Brian B and Joe Bunn tackle questions about the private event DJ industry. They share music, gear, gadgets, and stories from their events. The podcast covers the ins and outs of being a DJ for private events.
Episodes
Wedding DJ Survival Skills
Send us a messageA number one dance record might be AI-generated, credited to a mysterious persona, and still perfectly playable in a real DJ set. That sounds like a joke, but it’s quickly becoming the new normal, and we’re unpacking what it means for working DJs who build trust for a living.We jump from that AI music rabbit hole into something every wedding DJ recognizes instantly: the craft of m
Reply Faster, Book More Shows
Send us a messageYour 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 contr
Are You Too Busy Or Just Unorganized?
Send us a messageA 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
Why Leaving The Wedding Industry Can Be Harder Than Entering It
Send us a messageGetting 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 so
Doors Open Music That Hits
Send us a messageDoors 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 ra
Wedding DJ Storytime
Send us a messageCold 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:
Stop Playing For The Internet
Send us a messageFormalities 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 a
What If You Had To Restart Your DJ Business Today?
Send us a messageYou 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
We Hit 100 Episodes And Here Is What We Learned
Send us a messageWe 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
High-End Wedding DJ Playbook
Send us a messageA wedding reception with a breakaway screen entrance, a merch table, a sax player, and RFID wristbands sounds like a flex until you’re the DJ responsible for making every moment hit on time. Brian B and Joe Bunn pull back the curtain on a full luxury wedding day, from travel and load-in to the last song, after Joe comes to Florida to shadow the entire “Brian B show” in real time.W
A Great DJ Tells a Story Not A Playlist
Send us a messageA great DJ doesn't build a playlist - they tell a story. That idea came from a listener question asking why some wedding DJs command more than double the average rate, and it sparked one of our favorite conversations in recent memory.We unpack why premium DJs aren't being paid for song selection alone. They're hired to create moments people remember, make smart deci
Is Your DJ Business Built To Run Without You?
Send us a messageWhat happens if you step away from your business for a week? A month? Forever?In this episode, we dig into one of the biggest questions every DJ business owner eventually faces: Is your business built to run without you? Inspired by the ideas in Built to Sell, we discuss creating systems instead of dependencies, using pricing strategically, building a team you can trust, and what
How Private Event DJs Stay Ready For Anything
Send us a messageYou can do everything right and still get hit with the one problem nobody schedules for: getting sick right before a wedding. We talk through the real-world backup plans that protect your clients, your reputation, and your paycheck, whether you run a multi-op team or you’re a solo DJ who needs a reliable sub at the last minute.Along the way, we hit a quick pop culture minute on we
EDM Wedding Bangers That Never Miss
Send us a messageLooking for EDM tracks that actually work at weddings? We share the edits we keep coming back to - from hooks-and-drops and chorus-first versions to mashups that bridge EDM with hip hop and rock so mixed crowds stay on the dance floor.We also react to a viral video from a bride who says she regrets spending $2,000 on a wedding DJ and built an app to help couples DIY their music. I
What Actually Works At Gigs
Send us a messageEvery DJ has songs, transitions, and little tricks they keep coming back to because they simply work. In this episode, we're sharing what's consistently working for us right now at weddings, corporate events, and private parties: from current dance floor tracks to dinner music, walk-in playlists, and programming strategies that are getting real-world results.We kick thin
When The Client’s Daughter Hijacks The Decks
Send us a messageA packed dance floor can disappear in one song, and sometimes the person asking for that song is the one signing the check. We open with a wild high end wedding story where the playlist is a tightrope: a huge do not play list, a “keep it upbeat” mandate, and a room full of guests who do not share the bride and her daughter’s festival taste. When a Sophie Tucker request clears the
Handling Bad Song Lists From Couples
Send us a messageA packed dance floor is not guaranteed just because a couple hands you a long playlist. We’re Brian B and Joe Bunn, and we’re starting the season by getting real about what happens when client expectations, modern music culture, and the actual room collide.First, we share a big update for private event DJs: the DJ Collective in Raleigh (Nov 16 through 18) and why we’re genuinely h
Working with Live Musicians
Send us a messageSomebody sends us a mystery package and it turns into a real conversation about community, merch, and how much value listeners can create around your brand when you actually let them in. From there we shout out Patreon supporters around the world, plug The DJ Collective in Raleigh, and talk about why being in the room with other working DJs still matters if you want sharper ideas
Are Pay to Play Venues Worth It?
Send us a messagePaying a venue to get on their “preferred DJ” list sounds like a shortcut until you’re staring at the invoice wondering if it actually produced real work. We dig into a real pay to play example with clean numbers: a $2,500 annual buy in, seven leads so far, three bookings, and $7,200 in booked revenue. Then we get honest about how we judge DJ marketing ROI without getting lost in
How Private Event DJs Stay Sharp
Send us a messageYou can usually tell when a couple filled out your DJ planning form with AI, even if they never mention it. The answers look perfect, but they don’t sound like them and that can wreck the very thing people pay a premium for: personalization. We dig into how we’re seeing ChatGPT style responses show up in wedding DJ questionnaires, what it means for music discovery and prep, and ho
Learn How to Say No
Send us a messageThat tiny moment when a couple scans your QR code at a wedding show can decide whether you book the date or never hear from them again. We talk through what went wrong with sending people to a long website contact form, why friction destroys conversions, and how a simpler raffle style lead capture setup can help you collect names and phone numbers fast. If you have ever worked a b
From Conference Stages to Wedding Madness
Send us a messageThe part nobody tells you about being a working DJ is how often you’re building in the dark. Social media gives you instant dopamine, but long-form work like podcasting, education, and community takes time to show results. We open with some real talk about staying consistent, what actually feels fulfilling, and why the listeners who support on Patreon make a bigger difference than
Breaking Down Backup Plans
Send us a messageOne dead play button can turn a wedding ceremony into a nightmare, and we both know that “it worked at soundcheck” is not a safety plan. We start with a few Beyond The DJ Booth updates, then get into DJ life the way it really is: imperfect, funny, stressful, and fixable if your systems are solid.We bring back a classic segment and test our brains with a drum-only game that proves
How to Reduce Wedding Prep Time
Send us a messageWedding planning shouldn’t take an hour of copy-pasting, second-guessing, and chasing missing details. We’re sharing two big updates for mobile DJs: a cleaner way to shop our gear and a new tool designed to give you your time back.First, we explain the business shakeup for Bunn Gear that moves all their 3D printed DJ parts to Parts4DJs.com, while keeping BunnGear.com focused on hi
Songs That Work Every Time
Send us a messageThe fastest way to learn what’s real in the DJ business is to stack three very different gigs back to back and tell the truth about how they went. We do exactly that, starting with a corporate event where the timing is off, the band is loud, and the “after-party” slot feels like a setup. It’s the kind of night that tests your professionalism, your room-reading, and your ability to
What To Do When Disaster Strikes
Send us a messageTikTok can delete two weeks of momentum with one vague notification, and that’s exactly where we start. One of us gets hit with a sudden account ban for “impersonation,” no real explanation, and basically no support loop, which turns into a bigger conversation about how DJs and creators should think about platforms, backups, and not building your entire business on rented land.Fro
Are DJ Conferences Dead?
Send us a messageDJ conferences aren’t “dying” because DJs stopped caring. They’re struggling because expectations keep rising while budgets stay stuck in the past, and we’re done pretending that isn’t the real problem. We talk candidly about a recent DJ show survey, the nonstop complaint that it’s “the same people on stage,” and why booking marquee speakers is impossible unless ticket prices matc
Fun Fact: Networking Works
Send us a messageYou can be an incredible DJ and still feel stuck if nobody knows you well enough to refer you. We get honest about networking for DJs, what actually moves the needle, and why “just posting more” is not a substitute for real relationships.We break down the industry groups that have consistently turned into bookings and vendor trust for us, including NACE, WIPA, and ILEA, plus the s
Not Every Show is a Rager
Send us a messageYour next gig might be flawless or it might be a total stinker and either way you need a plan. We kick things off with a new “stinker button” idea (yes, a real button) and a no-filter rant about DJ trend overload, especially the endless wave of tech house edits that keep flooding record pools. The point is not to hate on a style, it is to protect your programming, your brand, and
How DJs Survive Bad Corporate Gigs
Send us a messageA packed dance floor can come from the weirdest place and sometimes it’s a “Take On Me” to “Crazy Frog” transition that has a club screaming like it’s 2005. Brian B and Joe Bunn kick off season seven by unpacking what that kind of moment really teaches working DJs: stop assuming you know the crowd, take smart risks, and pay attention to what actually moves people, not what “should
DJs + Sax Players: Amazing…or Absolute Chaos?
Send us a messageChances are you’ve played a Mike D edit without even realizing it. We open the episode by giving flowers to one of the most influential remixers in the DJ world. His unexpected passing hit the community hard, and we share some stories about meeting him, why his edits became staples in DJ crates everywhere, and what made his “clean but still club-ready” sound so unique.Then we jump
How Record Industry Changes Will Affect DJs
Send us a messageThe song is fire, but the tag says 2026. We kick things off with a rant every DJ will relate to—bad metadata—and then follow the thread into the biggest shifts reshaping music discovery and live events. From Netflix flirting with the label game to Sony’s surge across streaming, publishing, live, and merch, we break down how the industry is acting less like record sellers and more
Must Play vs Do NOT Play Lists
Send us a messageTwo lists can make or break a wedding: the must-plays that define the couple’s voice, and the do-not-plays that guard against landmines. We pull back the curtain on how we handle both without tanking momentum, from planting a clear 25–50 song inspiration list to avoiding negative framing that leads couples down a rabbit hole of “don’ts.” We get candid about when to push back on ri
Not On My Bingo Card: DJ'ing A Cotton Gin Convention
Send us a messageA plane party at 35,000 feet. A mega yacht dance floor at sunset. A salt flats set that looks like a music video. We chase big-feel dream gigs, then get brutally honest about the nights that humble you: a Hilton Head corporate convention where the room never found its groove. You’ll hear how we navigated a massive stage with no direction, wrangled an on-the-fly auction to save the
Awards Shows and DJ Disasters
Send us a messageBig stages magnify everything...the wins and the wipeouts.In this episode, we break down awards season through a DJ lens: the Golden Globes walk-on music debate, the Grammys stacked with performances (and a few brutal tech gremlins), and a Super Bowl halftime set that balanced spectacle with cultural impact. What makes a song “make sense” on a big stage? And how do you translate t
Why DJs Keep Ruining Good Songs
Send us a messageIt’s Love Week, which means no clichés and no pretending. Brian opens with a question he’s clearly been holding in: why are there so many 140+ BPM edits in music pools right now? Are DJs actually asking for this? Or are we all just pretending faster equals better? What follows is a very real, very honest plea to editors to stop ruining good songs.From there, we break down how R&am
What Would You Do If You Couldn’t DJ Anymore?
Send us a messageWhat would you do if your main gig disappeared tomorrow?We put that question on the table and followed it into some unexpected places : law, sports agency, music programming, even D1 basketball before circling back to the core skills that make great DJs irreplaceable: reading people, controlling momentum, and telling a story in real time.From there, the episode jumps into both the
How a Chandelier Almost Ruined New Year’s Eve
Send us a messageA packed dance floor can die in one flick of a switch.In this episode, we break down two real events where tiny, overlooked details nearly derailed the night - including a New Year’s Eve celebration hijacked by a blinding rental chandelier and a holiday wedding where the bar shut down two hours early… yet the room somehow stayed alive.From 28-degree outdoor dinners to guests hove
Bruno’s Back, And DJs React
Send us a messageThe comments were spicy, the questions were fair, and we decided to hit record and bring it all back. We kick off with a new segment called "Bring It Back" built to revisit hot takes and fix misses. We start with the update on Joe's office ease. From there, Joe is pressed on his non-use of TikTok. (spoiler: he's done with skits). Then we wade into the AI storm.
In-Ear Mixing, Cleaner Setups, Better Shows
Send us a messageSome sets feel effortless - not because the crowd is easy, but because your monitoring and setup give you control before the first blend. This episode breaks down the practical choices that make private events smoother, from the IEM workflow we rely on at every wedding to the booth setups that tighten timing, reduce stress, and keep your mixes honest.We start with the foundation:
AI, High-Touch DJing, and the January Hustle
Send us a messageJanuary doesn’t ease you in; it throws you straight into the deep end. In this episode, we talk packed calendars, unexpected inquiries (including a celebrity half-birthday lead sourced through ChatGPT), and the growing role AI plays in the private event DJ industry. We’re pro-tool but pro-craft first, drawing a clean line between using AI for inspiration, bumpers, and workflow vs
The Songs That Never Miss at Weddings
Send us a messageNew Year’s Eve doesn’t give DJs room for autopilot, it demands intention. We kick things off with the tiny details that matter on the biggest night of the year: clean transitions, tight loadouts, smart routing, and why “Happy New Years” needs to finally retire. Then we break down a viral clip of a planner sliding down a staircase to save a dress train and use it to talk vendor awa
Tricky Intros, Tough Venues, and the DJ Skills That Keep Crowds Moving
Send us a messageSeason Six opens with a true DJ gauntlet: impossible song intros, broken grids, and venues that think bass is optional. We start by dissecting one of the hardest count-ins in rock history - The Rolling Stones’ Start Me Up - and break down how phrasing, hi-hat patterns, and cue-point choices determine whether your floor lifts off…or looks at you like you’re insane. If you’ve ever h
When DJs Should Raise Their Rates (And When They Shouldn’t)
Send us a messageRaising your rates isn’t about confidence — it’s about capability.In this episode, Brian B and Joe break down exactly what it takes for a DJ to step into a higher price tier and stay there.Using a real New Year’s Eve wedding that booked at $26,000, we pull apart every ingredient behind a premium fee: travel costs, gear decisions, prep time, performance structure, and the expectati
When the Dance Floor Disappears: Hard Lessons for Working DJs
Send us a messageSometimes the dance floor tells you a truth you don’t want to hear.In this episode, Brian B and Joe break down a tough wedding where everything - the room layout, the guest mix, the cultural split, and even the flow of the night - worked against a high-energy dance set. From navigating a Latin-heavy request list with older Russian Orthodox guests to watching the floor migrate towa
What the Charts Don’t Tell DJs
Send us a messageThe charts are loud but the dance floor tells the truth.In this episode, Brian B and Joe break down one of the biggest gaps working DJs face: what people stream vs what people actually move to at private events. Billboard, Spotify, TikTok, Apple Music, Shazam - they all paint a picture. But it’s not the picture that keeps a room dancing at 10:30pm.We dig into why certain chart mon
Mike Walter Finds the Greatest Song Ever
Send us a messageWhat is the greatest song ever? A chart-topping classic? A perfect lyric? A groove that flips a room from murmurs to full-on chorus?In this episode, Brian B and Joe sit down with one of the most respected voices in the private-event DJ industry, Mike Walter, to unpack a deceptively simple question that reveals everything about how DJs listen, select, and shape emotion on the dance
When Wedding Planners Act Like Partners: Lessons for Working DJs
Send us a messageEver had a planner ghost right when the dance floor opens? We’ve all been there. In this episode, Brian B and Joe Bunn unpack the night-and-day difference between vendors who simply “show up” and planners who actually partner with DJs to create seamless, unforgettable events.Brian shares three back-to-back gigs that illustrate how strong communication changes outcomes:A Disney-the
Beyond the DJ Booth: How Spotify Auto Mix Changes the Game
Send us a messageWhat if Spotify’s Auto Mix feature could actually hold its own against a live DJ? We put it to the test (sorta)...and the results might surprise you.In this episode, Brian B and Joe Bunn break down how Spotify’s newest Premium feature blends transitions, keys, and BPM alignment in ways that feel surprisingly natural. From bar-length filter sweeps to smooth key-matched intros, Auto
When the Planner Disappears: DJ Stories and Boundaries That Work
Send us a messageThe dance floor is finally open and the planner vanishes. In this episode of Beyond the DJ Booth, Brian B and Joe Bunn pull back the curtain on a trend that can make or break an event: vendors leaving before peak moments hit.Joe vents, Brian offers fixes, and together they build a simple system for smoother weddings and private events - clear pre-dance expectations, quick text che
Crowd Control: Lessons From a Thursday Wedding
Send us a messageA purple suit, a mansion party, and one question every DJ faces: how much does the room layout actually matter? Brian B and Joe Bunn open this week’s episode with full Halloween energy — yes, a Heath Ledger Joker outfit — to explore smart seasonal programming that stays fun without slipping into novelty. From candy experiments on the porch to dance-floor reads inside, it’s a study
DJ Economics 101: Rent Hikes, Heat, and Hit Songs
Send us a messageAn email can change your month...and your mindset. Joe's arrived with a “pursuant to your lease” assessment that nearly doubled the rent on a 600-square-foot office in a 100-year-old building. We unpack what that clause really means, how to demand transparent line-item accounting, and why negotiating caps on pass-through costs might be the most valuable sentence in your next
Travel DJ Chaos, Smart Buys, and the COGS Formula Every Pro Needs
Send us a messageWeddings in triple-digit heat, iPads overheating, and handheld fans aimed straight at the DJ’s face: sometimes the smallest tools make the biggest difference. In this episode, Brian B and Joe Bunn share real stories from the road, starting with outdoor summer weddings where even your tech needs shade. You’ll hear practical, field-tested ways to keep your setup cool, your sound con
DJ Gear Fails at 11,000 Feet: What Every Working DJ Should Know
Send us a messageA perfect set can’t save a broken signal path.. and that’s exactly where our night in Peru began. After a marathon climb to Cusco and a day at Machu Picchu, the after-party kicked off with the wrong rig, a cryptic “In Use” input, and five minutes on the clock. We walk through the split-second choices that kept music on and panic off: deploying a tiny travel controller, rethinking
The Five-Hour Dance Set Problem (and How to Fix It)
Send us a messageWhat’s the hardest event you’ve ever played? And how did your body feel the next day? In this episode, we unpack the reality of five-hour dance sets: why they happen, how to design them smarter, and the recovery hacks that keep you in the game. Along the way we cover everything from music strategy (yes, even September), gear hacks, a Patreon announcement and a $69 foot massager t
Wedding DJ Tips and Stories: Branding, Gear, and the Impact of Iconic Songs
Send us a messageWhat’s the secret sauce that keeps your wedding DJ sets unforgettable and your podcast thriving? Join hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B as they dive deep into the vibrant world of DJs in this engaging episode of Beyond the DJ Booth. From the nuances of maintaining momentum in podcasting to the excitement surrounding the upcoming DJ Collective event, this episode is packed with insights t
Wedding DJ Style Tips, K-Pop Influence, and Our Season Four Celebration Recap
Send us a messageWhat do K-pop, wedding DJs, and stylish suits have in common? They're all part of the vibrant tapestry that makes up the DJ life, and in this season finale of Beyond the DJ Booth, hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B. dive deep into the nuances of the private event DJ industry. As they wrap up Season Four, they reflect on their journey, the challenges they've faced in podcasting,
Navigating DJ Life: Nightmare Stories, Gear Tips, and How to Handle Photo Requests During Dance Sets
Send us a messageWhat would you save if your DJ gear was engulfed in flames? This episode of Beyond the DJ Booth dives deep into the heart of the wedding DJ experience, where hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B. share their own personal anecdotes and invaluable DJ tips and tricks that every DJ should know. We kick things off by urging our listeners to spread the word about the podcast, highlighting the uni
DJ Tips for Corporate and Wedding Success: Handling Event Challenges and Family Drama Like a Boss
Send us a messageWhat happens when the dance floor is threatened by family drama and a gatekeeping wedding planner? Join hosts Joe Bunn and Brian B. as they navigate the often tumultuous waters of the wedding DJ experience in this riveting episode of Beyond the DJ Booth. With a focus on wedding DJs, they share invaluable DJ tips and tricks that can help you thrive in the private event DJ industry.
Pre-Workout Vows and an FBI Agent Mic Drop
Send us a messageEver wondered what goes on behind the scenes at weddings when traditions take unexpected turns? Brian B and Joseph Bunn pull back the curtain on some of the most bizarre wedding rituals they've witnessed throughout their careers as private event DJs.The episode kicks off with a jaw-dropping story about fitness enthusiasts who skipped the traditional beach wedding sand ceremon
Should You Still Open with “September”?
Send us a messageEver wonder why so many DJs open the dance floor with "September"? We're pulling back the curtain on dance floor strategy with a candid conversation about song selection that can make or break your event's momentum.When the photographer co-hosts of The Vendor Table podcast called out DJs for predictable opening tracks, we decided to share our tried-and-tested a
Beach Setups, Mic Mishaps, and Videographers Gone Rogue
Send us a messageWhat happens when drummers and Whitney Houston collide? In our latest podcast adventure, we dive into the unexpected rhythmic challenge that has swept through social media – hitting the perfect drum beat during "I Will Always Love You." This seemingly simple task proves hilariously difficult even for a seasoned music professional (Joe) who claims he has "perfect tim
Fans, Fallacies, and AK-47s
Send us a messageEver wonder if those viral social media "hacks" are actually legitimate? In this eye-opening episode, Joe and Brian put popular online claims to the test with their own hands-on experiment. Using three Starbucks cups and some freshly brewed coffee, they debunk a widely circulated video suggesting you're getting scammed when buying larger sizes. Their real-time exper
Overstepping MOHs, Karaoke Bros, and Towel-Warmed Recovery
Send us a messageWhat’s worse: a best man belting Creed karaoke for five minutes…or a maid of honor hovering in your booth for an hour, vetoing every song you play?This week, Joe and Brian tackle a real-life “Would You Rather” scenario that no DJ should ever have to face and somehow come up with a solution that’s actually genius. (Hint: it involves psychology, not power plays.)From there, the epi
Wordplays, Surprise Drops, and Dance Floor Chaos
Send us a messageEvery DJ lives for that moment: you drop the unexpected track and the crowd loses it.In this episode, Brian and Joe dive into the art of musical left turns; those surprise selections and clever transitions that flip the energy of a set and burn the moment into people’s memories.Brian shares how he recently cracked an EDM-heavy wedding by dropping a custom edit of Toto’s “Africa”,
Should DJs Ditch Headphones?
Send us a messageIs it time to hang up your over-ear headphones for good?In this episode, Joe and Brian dive into the growing shift toward in-ear monitoring systems and how it’s changing the way DJs mix, monitor, and show up at events. Joe shares his full switch to custom-molded in-ears...a $1,000+ investment that’s paid off with better hearing protection, a cleaner look, and no more broken headba
Rainstorms, Trolls, and Apple Store DJs
Send us a messageWhat do you do when the beach wedding you’re DJing turns into a muddy mess… and your booth is now on the dance floor?In this episode, Joe shares a behind-the-scenes story from one of the most weather-challenged weddings he’s ever worked...a rain-soaked celebration that could’ve been a disaster but turned into one of the couple’s most epic memories. From rerouting power cables to e
Why real DJs don't wear shorts and other unpopular opinions
Send us a messageEvery DJ knows the struggle of balancing personal comfort with professional standards, especially during those sweltering summer gigs. This candid conversation between Brian B and Joe Bunn tackles this head-on with Joe's controversial hot take: "grown men should only wear shorts at the beach, at the gym, or if they're a child." Whether you agree or vehemently o
The Gig Was Half Persian. Joe Was Full Keto.
Send us a messageWelcome to Season 4 of Beyond the DJ Booth ,where the weddings are wild, the carbs are canceled, and we’re just trying to survive both.This week, we open with a musical quiz no one asked for:Is “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” a real song title?(Somehow, yes. Thanks, Conway Twitty.)It spirals from there into a hall-of-fame list of song names that make you question how anythin
The Night The Laptop Froze And No One Knew
Send us a messageWhat happens when your DJ equipment completely fails during the peak of a wedding reception? Brian i takes us through his heart-stopping experience when his laptop froze mid-set, forcing him to create what we're now calling the "Oh S*** Playlist" - a collection of carefully selected tracks designed to keep the dance floor moving during technical emergencies.The perf
Would You DJ a Wedding at Chuck E. Cheese?
Send us a messageWould you take a celebrity wedding over your cousin’s…or DJ a full-pay gig at Chuck E. Cheese?This episode kicks off with real DJ dilemmas that blend humor, horror, and hard truths about reputation, branding, and where we draw the line in our careers.Then we flip the script and dive into something every DJ needs to master but few talk about:musical transitions.Those 30–50 second i
Gen Z, Gear Hacks & the Death of Award Shows
Send us a messageEver wonder how to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry where connecting with younger clients is crucial? In our latest episode, we tackle the language barrier head-on with a fun (and slightly humbling) exploration of current Gen Z slang. From "ratioed" posts to having a "Menty B," these linguistic insights might just save you from awkward miscommunicat
They Asked for You. You Referred Steve. Now What?
Send us a messageWhat do you do when a dream client reaches out for their big day… but you’re already booked?In this episode, Joe and Brian unpack one of the trickiest solo-op dilemmas: how to make referrals without damaging your brand. When someone hires you for your vibe, voice, and vision — is it even possible to pass the mic without losing trust?Prompted by a smart question from Jesse in Chica
Booked Solid, Burned Out, and Battling Sugar Withdrawal
Send us a messageEver feel like the daily grind is getting more expensive? You're not alone. Brian B kicks off this episode sharing how he's been booking double gigs in Florida's sweltering heat to keep up with rising mortgage payments and private school tuition costs. The financial reality of today's economy has many DJs pushing their limits, forcing tough decisions about trav
Beyond the Booth: DJs Who Inspire Us
Send us a messageEver wonder which DJs have shaped today's wedding and event entertainment landscape? In this enlightening episode, Joe Bunn and Brian B pull back the curtain on their professional influences in a candid conversation about the figures who've transformed their approach to both music and business.The discussion reveals how pioneers like Mike Walter set the standard for prof
Hot Sauce and Hot Tracks: A Spicy DJ Cinco de Mayo
Send us a messageGrab your sombreros and questionable life choices—this is a LIVE Cinco de Mayo episode of Beyond The DJ Booth, where Joe Bunn and Brian B. celebrate the only Latin holiday they truly connect with… because, well, they both really love Mexican food.Broadcast straight from a virtual live audience session, the heat gets turned up—literally—as Brian takes on a hot sauce challenge that
Immigrant Ingenuity and DJ Dilemmas: Navigating Long Toasts
Send us a messageHandshakes, heritage stories, and handling awkward reception moments take center stage as Joe Bunn and Brian B share valuable insights for DJs navigating the professional and personal side of event entertainment.The conversation kicks off with a discussion about making strong first impressions. Joe shares his father's wisdom about proper handshakes—never the dreaded "dea
Creating Magic Moments: The Timeless Power of Perfect Ballad Selection
Send us a messageBrian B takes us back to his origin story as a teenage karaoke host with frosted tips in late-90s California, revealing how this unlikely start built the foundation for his DJ empire. With disarming honesty, he explains the perfect karaoke host paradox: "You can't suck, but you can't be so good that people are intimidated." This delicate balance created the sta
When Everything Goes Wrong: Power Outages, Pollen Season, and Professional Pride
Send us a messageEver wondered what happens when the music suddenly cuts out during the most crowded moment on the dance floor? In this remarkably candid episode of Beyond the DJ Booth, Joe Bunn and Brian B pull back the curtain on the messy realities professional DJs face at high-end events.The conversation dives deep into situations rarely discussed in public forums – from Joe's recent tech
Navigating Event Season: Personal Stories, Travel Tips, and Business Automation
Send us a messageReady for event season? Top DJs Brian B and Joe Bunn share what they're most looking forward to as their calendars fill with diverse celebrations. Joe anticipates a beach wedding for the third sister in a family where he's already created unforgettable experiences for the other siblings. These repeat clients have become true fans, attending his events and engaging with h
Recommended
The Swerve Podcast: Obscure Topics | Conspiracy Theories
The Bread and Banter Podcast
The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament
Busted Open
Deadline: White House
Crickets Corner
History of the Earthquake and Fire in San Francisco
Fox news
K-Drama Obsessed Mamas | Beyond “Just One More Episode!”
True Crime Classics
The Healer Revolution
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
