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Think Tank, Derek, Milton Keynes … what does it all mean?

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Think Tank, Derek, Milton Keynes … what does it all mean?


Thanks to Eddie Short (Editor of ProMobile magazine)for this picture which almost makes me look slim!

This time last week was day two of the Think Tank with Derek Pengelly in Milton Keynes. About 50 DJ’s gathered across two days to share their thoughts on the DJ Industry and share ideas. I was one of the DJ’s who’d been invited to speak and share their story.

Avid readers of this blog will know that I spoke at a similar event in Glasgow earlier this year and I was delighted when Derek, the organiser, invited me to do it again.

I first met Derek in February 2011 when I attended an event he ran in Reading. That was a day that changed my life, Derek spoke about finding a direction for my business and how to plan the marketing. It was also the day I met my colleagues Alan Marshall and Stephen Davies who have both helped me on my journey. Derek has run many similar events over recent years and has helped hundreds of DJ’s move their businesses forward – this was announced as Derek’s final event so it was a great honour to speak alongside Derek and many of the DJ’s who he has helped. Although Derek is no longer organising training events he continues to offer a mentoring service and I’m hoping he will continue to speak as a guest at future events.

Derek has also written several books including “Wedding Day Secrets” which I also helped with behind the scenes. The full title is “Wedding Day Secrets – things the industry would prefer Brides didn’t know” and the book talks about the way the “Wedding Industry” treats weddings as an income stream where profit is King and what’s best for the couple isn’t always what’s given priority. Click on the title above if you’d like to know more or email me.

Myself with Alan, Derek, Gary and the book at a “social event” in November 2013 😉

The other speakers were my colleagues Brian Mole, Fabio Capozzi, Martin Keogh, Pete Hawkins, Stephen John Davies, Harry Kilb, Mark Parker, Ian Forest, Euan Bass, Terry Lewis, and Tony Winyard.

It was wonderful to share the Think Tank – I wish I’d had more time and energy to talk to everyone but like many of the attendees I was working Friday and Saturday nights and then only grabbed 4 hours sleep before heading to MK’s, I was running on empty a times.

As for Milton Keynes, I didn’t see much of it but the Hilton was OK and the company was excellent.

Think Tank, Derek, Milton Keynes … what does it all mean? Well it was the end of an era, but hopefully it means a few more DJ’s are thinking about how they can improve and offer their clients a better service. Here’s one of the “Take Aways” I shared with the group.

International Mystery Man Wedding DJ Scotland!

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Well that was fun! I’ve just had three days in Glasgow ~ The Party DJ / Wedding DJ Scotland! Actually I wasn’t there to DJ I was booked to speak at a “Think Tank” event for DJ’s. I flew up with FlyBe and stayed at The Holiday Inn Glasgow airport where the event was being held – both were good and very reasonably priced.

Over 30 of us were in attendance from all over the place, as well as DJ’s from Scotland and the North of England there were also delegates from the South West and Southern England. Derek, who organised the event, now lives in Cyprus. Derek was the guy who really helped me find my new direction when I attended an event with him in February 2011, so I was delighted when he invited me to speak.

I was actually billed as a “Mystery Guest Speaker” and nobody, except Derek, knew I was going. I even had a silhouette with a question mark on the publicity artwork!

It had actually caused a bit of a stir as people tried to guess who the mystery man was. Thankfully when I was revealed nobody booed or threw things.

There were three other great speakers, all good friends of mine, and the reaction from the attendees was brilliant. First up Ian spoke on “20 Reasons’s Why Other DJ’s Are Stealing Your Clients”. I was next sharing my story and talking about the WOW events I hold. After lunch Martin presented “Weddings – Day In The Life” and finally Euan spoke, his topic was “Background Music Friend Or Foe”. Throughout the day there was plenty of time for questions and the afternoon was rounded off with the four of us giving our thoughts on a number of other topics raised by the attendees.

Ian, Euan, Martin and the delegates

Derek knew I wasn’t keen to speak locally because I’m not really happy sharing with all of my competitors, but the trip to Scotland was great fun and I may be tempted to speak again – I wonder if he has any DJ’s in the Balearics who’d be up for a Think Tank?

You know you’re in Scotland when there’s a Mars bar on your drinks tray, Irn Bru in the mini bar and haggis with breakfast

If you are a DJ looking for training you need to speak to Derek, contact me and I’ll put you in touch.

So, I will probably never be Paul The Wedding DJ Scotland but hopefully I’ve helped some of my colleagues to join in my campaign to stamp out boring weddings!

ProMobile 2015

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ProMobile 2015

I’m just back from the third annual ProMobile Conference, held at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire. I’m in the picture – honestly … just under the “M” of “Moving forward”. I’ve been fortunate to attend each year and I’ll be there again next year. The event is a great mix of education, inspiration and networking, yet again there were brilliant speakers who all gave us plenty to think about.

This years keynote was delivered by Peter Merry, the author of “The Best Wedding Reception Ever”. This was the book that inspired me to develop my skills and understanding to move into providing the service I now offer, without Peter I may not have made the connections and found the amazing training that has helped me so much. Peter and his colleague Liz Daley flew in from America just for the event. Peter shared his thoughts on “Celebritizing Your Clients” and getting peoples attention, and Liz spoke on writing a great wedding script.

Other speakers included Nigel Risner on communication skills, Geoff Ramm on marketing and Jeremy Nicholas on using humour.

I have so much to think about – books to read, DVD’s to watch, notes to study and lists of actions to make and take … I love it! Thanks to everyone who made it another brilliant event – see you next year.