Five Sure Ways to Get a Raise
By Penelope Trunk

More money is good, right? You're going to be doing your job anyway, so you might as well ask to get paid more for doing it. But you actually have to do a lot of preparation in order to ask for a raise effectively. Here are five other things you can do to get a salary increase:

1. Understand your boss's perspective.

This is not a moment of truth; it's a moment of negotiation. You convince your boss you're worth more and your boss convinces you he or she is fair, and you reach some sort of compromise that makes everyone happy.
So be reasonable in your approach. You don't deserve a raise just because you've been doing your job well for x number of months. It's your job to do your job well — that's why you were hired. You need to show that you're doing more than you were hired to do, or that you're doing different work that's typically paid at a higher rate.
Gather as much information about your boss's perspective as possible in order to form your strongest negotiating position.

1A) Applying to a DJs raise in rates: Understand that your clients expect more for their reception then the “average” typical DJ. They want a DJ with skills, talent, experience and service to create a reception better then they have ever seen before. You need to show your perspective clients why you are different, superior and the right DJ for them and deserve a higher pay scale.  Posted by: Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment…Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Jersey.  
 

2. Expand your job duties.

Get really good at your job immediately so that you can take on more responsibility in another job, in another capacity. Look around for something more to do, and figure out how to do it. Then tell your boss you're doing more than one job and you want to be paid extra for doing the other job you've already been doing.
If you think your boss will balk at the idea of you taking on more responsibility, start looking like your current job is under control. One way to do this is to have a completely clean desk. A clean desk says, "I'm totally on top of my workload. Please give me more." A cluttered desk says, "Help. I'm drowning."

2A) Applying to a DJs raise in rates: Attend classes, seminars & conventions to expand your DJ services and skills. Do more then just hand them a questionnaire to fill out. Do more then just have them select a few songs for their event. Give them more personal service then you presently give. Everything you can do to improve your service, techniques, skills and talents will and can demand for higher rates. If you don’t have the skills you can’t ask for the Bills!   Posted by: Maine Wedding DJ, Danny D, DeBruin Entertainment…Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Jersey.  
 

3. Consistently over-deliver.

Even during a salary freeze there's always more money for superstars, because losing a superstar costs a company a lot of money. So getting a raise is about conveying to the office that you're a superstar. This could be in the form of taking on more areas of responsibility, but it could also be in the form of exceeding expectations in a very obvious way. Exceeding expectations is something that must be announced. If you finish your project, that's what people will expect. If you finish your project with incredible results, you need to remind everyone what the expectations were and what you delivered. If you don't toot your horn, no one else will. A hallmark of a superstar is they know how to toot their horn with out being annoying.
Superstars aren't overnight sensations — they work at it. So start performing like a superstar six months before you want to ask for a raise.

3A) Applying to a DJs raise in rates: Even in hard economic times clients are willing to pay more for and receive what they consider a better value, service or experience. . When you deliver more then what they expected it gives your clients a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Give all your clients more then they expected and they will refer you on to others. If you have won awards, did special community service events or other items that make you unique when compared to others let your potential clients know about it. Place pictures of your awards on your web site and display them in your office. If you have articles written about you or have testimonials from previous clients, let everyone know.  Posted by: Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment…Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Jersey.  
 

4. Get a mentor.

Employees who have mentors are twice as likely to be promoted as those who don't, according to Ellen Fagenson Eland, a professor at George Mason University. A mentor can help you position yourself, time and again, to receive a raise. An effective mentor helps you see your path in a way that maximizes your talents and stays consistent with your goals for life. This isn't small task, and almost all successful people say they have more than one mentor. But start with one, because that will significantly increase the likelihood that you'll get the raise you're going to ask for.
Unfortunately, for some people finding a mentor is almost as difficult as asking for a raise.

4A) Applying to a DJs raise in rates: A mentor can be another DJ who you wish to be more like. A DJ who you feel has more skills, talents, experience or higher rates then you will strive to reach those levels. Start first with your local DJ Associations for a member in your close proximity or try working with a nationally know DJ who you look up to. Choose a DJ that you truly respect and won’t get upset with if they give you negative feedback or suggestions that you don’t agree with.  Posted by: Maine Wedding DJ, Danny D, DeBruin Entertainment…  Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Jersey.  
 

5. Think in non-financial terms.

If more money isn't happening for you, try asking for something else. Telecommuting, a job for your spouse, extra vacation time, training, even relocation to a company branch in a city with a lower cost of living — these are all things that are worth a lot of money to you, but look a lot less expensive than a salary increase in a company's budget. So, non-financial rewards are a good place to compromise in salary negotiations. Also, you can turn these benefits to cash next time you change jobs. When you negotiate salary at your next company and they ask you how much you made in your last job, add up all the benefits and include them in the number you give. Some people's benefits total up to 30 percent of their salary. If the shy ones among you are thinking this isn't a fair negotiating tactic, get that thought out of your head. Even CareerHub, a group blog of career coaches, recommends that you include benefits in the total calculation of your salary next time you negotiate.

5A) Applying to a DJs raise in rates: You can do what is called “Bartering” for business. This is where you work with another person/business and instead of full payment your offer your services in exchange for services with them. Perform an event in exchange for a business building you a web site, logos placed on your vehicles, your taxes being done, what ever service they offer that you may be in need of. You can exchange your service for a partial, reduced rate or free depending on your rate and the price that they would charge for that particular service.   Posted by: Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment…Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Jersey.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION AND PARTY MOTIVATION ROUTINES
 

This Maine DJ, Danny D believes that no party will be successful unless you can motivate your crowd to dance. Sometimes this can be accomplished by simply playing the right music. However, even if that is the case, you will not get as many referrals out of the job if you didn't physically do anything to get your crowd to respond. You see, you want your crowd to respond to you, not just the music.  Here is a list of questions that you should ask yourself after each and every gig you perform at:

1. Did I do everything that I could do to make this party successful? (If you answer, “No” to this question, get another job. You won’t be successful.
2. Did I create and utilize opportunities to show that I made a difference in this party? (In other words, If the people had a juke box, would it have done the same job that you did? 
3. Did I act as a complete professional?

Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment believes one way of accomplishing and being able to say, "Yes" to each of the above questions is by the effective use of audience participation and party motivation routines. This will give you the chance to stand out and lead your crowd. You see, by actually instructing and teaching your crowd a new dance, or a routine to a song, you will have a chance to shine and stand out. This will make people say, "That DJ is really good! He made us have a good time," rather then, "We really had a good time." You want people knowing that they had the time of their lives, and and it was in much part because of you.  Posted by: Maine Wedding DJ, Danny D.  

1940's
The 40's are known as the "Big Band" era or the "Swing" Era. This type of music is extremely popular at 25th wedding anniversaries, 20 & 25 year class reunions, 50 year, and up, birthday parties, etc. Basically, your age 55 crowd, and over, will appreciate this type of music.  Posted by: Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment.

1950's
The 1950's will appeal tremendously to people between the ages of 40 & 50. Amazingly though, this music will also have a strong hold over younger and older guests as well. 50's music is extremely popular and fun to dance to. It is very simple to incorporate audience participation with these songs.  Posted by: Maine Wedding DJ, Danny D.

1960's
The 1960's era is a great era for music. Commonly called the Motown (or Big Chill) era, 60's music has some songs that are as well known by young children today as well as adults.  Posted by: Maine Disc Jockey, Danny DeBruin.

 1970's
The 1970's was a great era for rock music. Bands like Kiss and Led Zeppelin dominated the rock side of this decade, and became legendary. Though most of this music isn't too danceable, you still should have a good knowledge of it, and incorporate it into your collection.  Posted by: Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment.

The disco era picked up around the mid to late 70’s and bands like the Bee Gees and KC and The Sunshine Band made some incredibly popular and danceable music.  Posted by: Maine Wedding DJ, Danny D. 

1980's
The 80's provided some excellent dance music that will ignite fire in many of your party participants. Much of this music has tremendous vocals is becoming more and more requested again today.  Posted by: Maine Disc Jockey, Danny DeBruin.

1990's
The 1990's are still among us. The rock and roll sound has turned to grunge, the rap sound has turned to gangster (among others), and there still are changes occurring. Watch the Billboard charts, as well as others. If a song or album is charting high for several weeks, it would be a good idea to purchase it.  Posted by : Maine DJ Service, DeBruin Entertainment.