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ProMobile Conference 2016

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It’s that time of year again! I’m just back from the ProMobile Conference 2016. My head is full of great ideas and I’ve just spent the morning typing out a new marketing plan and my targets for the coming year. These are exciting times!

ProMobile DJs

The ProMobile Conference 2016 was held on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th February at the Crowne Plaza facility in Oxfordshire. The Conference theme was “Growing Together”.

If you look back through this blog (or use the search facility) you’ll see posts about the previous conferences, this was the fourth, and I’m so glad I attended all of them. Each year the organisers, Eddie and Mark, put together two days full of interesting and challenging content. Every year I think surely they can’t better that, surely they are going to run out of brilliant speakers, but they just went and did it again!

The keynote speakers for the ProMobile Conference 2016 were Peter Merry and Randy Bartlett, both of who had spoken at previous conferences, this time they came together and gave us hundreds of great pointers and inspired us to greater things. Also speaking were Casper Berry on risk Risk Taking & Decision Making, Gilan Gork on Influence: The Business of Body Language, Graham Jones on Internet Psychology For Mobile DJ’s and Katie Bulmer-Cooke (from the 2014 series of the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’) with her presentation called No Added Sugar: PR Lessons From The Boardroom. Each and everyone of them were thought-provoking, informative and presented to a very high standard.

If YOU are a mobile DJ reading this to find out how I do what I do my biggest tip for you is GO TO PROMOBILE 2017

BUT my time away at the Crowne Plaza didn’t end there! On Tuesday I took a private workshop with eight other DJ’s with Randy Bartlett on his Advanced Microphone Skills Workshop … again! I say again because I first did this workshop with Randy back in 2014 when he was here last time. Great training is always worth repeating and I was glad to spend another session with Randy beating me up and helping me focus and improve my skills.

UK Training DJs

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.

ProMobile Conference 2013 ~ Part 2

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The other main speaker on the Sunday was Alex MacLaren who is professional actor, improviser and trainer who gave us a couple of really excellent sessions under the title “Insights from Improvisation”.

On the Sunday evening there was the Gala Diner in the Crowne Plaza’s ballroom. I have to say, the food and service throughout my stay was fantastic and this meal was no exception. Later in the evening we were entertained by Amy Housewine and a very good mind reader whose name escapes me, but the highlight was the presentation of a Life Time Achievement Award to my good friend and coach Derek Pengelly. Eddie made the award which was greeted with a standing ovation.

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After the Diner we moved to the bar where this picture of Jim Cerone and The Party Hosts was taken.
Jim Cerone & The Party Hosts

Monday started with a networking breakfast at 7:30am. The whole day was filled with excellent sessions including one with Derek on marketing. The final session ended at around 6pm and we all adjourned for one last cuppa and our goodbyes, the atmosphere was a fascinating mix of emotions – sadness, joy, excitement and many, many more from a group of about 100 people who all shared and contributed in something very special.

Two days full of challenging training,great conversation and networking – so much to think about and, as I type this a week later, so many ideas to develop and implement – where will I find the time!

This was the first ProMobile Conference, two days that, I believe, have changed the UK mobile industry for good. I look forward to next years event and charting the progress that we will make in the time between. Thank you Eddie, Mark and everyone who played a part.

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ProMobile Conference 2013 ~ Part 1

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ProMobile 2013 Last Sunday and Monday was the first ProMobile Conference for UK mobile DJ’s. When the event was first announced I signed up immediately and I’ve been looking forward to it ever since – I wasn’t disappointed.

The event was held at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Heythrop Park, just north west of Oxford. I travelled up with my colleague Gary, from The Party Hosts and another of our DJ friends – DJ Joe. Hampshire was probably the best represented county with a very good turn-out of DJ’s looking to improve their skills and network with other professionals. On the way up the A34 we suddenly noticed it was snowing and when we arrived at the conference centre it was like entering a winter wonderland.

Everything about the event was top drawer, the venue, the arrival packs, the food and drink, I can’t speak highly enough of the standard that the organisers set. About 80 delegates were booked onto the two day event and it was great to catch up with many old friends and make new connections.

Networking at the ProMobile Conference 2013

After our arrival drinks and networking brunch we made our way into the lecture theatre for the opening address by the conference curator Eddie Short, the Editor of ProMobile magazine who put the event together.

Then it was time for the Conference keynote speaker, Jim Cerone.

Jim Cerone at the ProMobile Conference 2013

I’ve been reading Jim’s articles and listening to his podcasts for the last 3 years and I can honestly say he has been a huge influence in the direction I’ve taken in that time. His message is that DJ’s should stop “doing gigs” and start “hosting parties”, that we should take responsibility for the success of every event we perform at.

He actually joined us at the earlier brunch and I was delighted to shake his hand as he welcomed us to the conference. Everything about Jim just enforces his image and his mantra of the Perfect Host.

His presentation was brilliantly adapted to fit the British style of wedding and he had obviously taken considerable care to understand how things work over here. My other Party Host colleague, Alan, had been showing Jim and his family around during their UK visit and had passed on some information, but it was clear that Jim had done plenty of homework before his plane had touched down at Heathrow.

The Perfect Host Keynote was really inspirational and although I’d heard and studied the basics of Jim concept for several years it was fantastic to hear it in the flesh. Can you imagine my surprise when Jim was talking about how we present our equipment and the care we should take to make it tidy that he showed the picture below … from my New Years Eve wedding!

More to follow soon …

Mood Lighting