NEWS

NADJ Press Release – Acquisition of Pro Mobile Magazine

Everyone at the National Association of Disc Jockeys was of course shocked and saddened by the news that Marked Events, the company behind Pro Mobile Magazine and the BPM|PRO event, had ceased trading earlier in the week.

To be able to ensure the continuation of the exceptional work towards education and information for the DJ industry, we are pleased to announce the acquisition of Pro Mobile Magazine and the Pro Mobile Conference.

Existing subscriptions, Conference bookings and advertising agreements will continue to be honoured and the content of both the magazine and Conference will be unaffected by this change in ownership. Pro Mobile’s founder and Editor, Eddie Short, will continue in his role moving forward and the magazine will retain its impartiality.

The only significant difference that will result from this change of ownership is that any profit from the business will be channelled directly back to the NADJ to be spent on furthering the association’s goal of ‘supporting DJs with no limits’.

“As the only dedicated magazine for the mobile DJ industry, Pro Mobile has an essential role to play” commented NADJ Chairman Pete Hawkins. “It has a rich history and I know that it is read and valued by both our members and other professionally-minded DJs across the UK. For that reason, we at NADJ felt that we simply couldn’t see it not continue following the sad ending of Marked Events. I am very excited that the association has been able to acquire the magazine to run as part of our new trading arm and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive. I am also pleased that Eddie Short has agreed to retain his position as Editor and I am committed to supporting him in continuing to publish a quality magazine that is 100% impartial and that is filled with information of interest to all mobile DJs.”

The magazine’s long-time Editor Eddie Short stated, “Having founded Pro Mobile in 2003, and served continuously as its Editor over the past 15 years, I am wholeheartedly committed to seeing it continue and develop under the ownership of the NADJ. I would like to thank Pete Hawkins, NADJ Secretary Fabio Capozzi, NADJ Treasurer Brian Jones and especially Steven Honeyball, who will be taking on the co-opted role of Business Development Officer, for the speed in which they have worked to acquire the magazine and ensure that it can continue unaffected… I have been assured by the NADJ team that I will retain the editorial freedom that I have always been able to exercise and therefore can reassure readers that the format and content of the magazine will remain unchanged. Equally, I will continue as Curator of the Pro Mobile Conference, which is set to return to the Village Hotel in Solihull next March. This event will build on the success of this year’s Conference, providing two unmissable days of inspiration, learning and networking for professionally-minded mobile DJs.”

Steven Honeyball – who will drive forward the NADJ’s new trading arm – added, “I am proud that the NADJ has been able to act quickly and decisively to acquire Pro Mobile and look forward to working closely with Eddie to ensure the magazine’s continued success and to help it to grow and develop. We already have a solid business plan in place that will cement Pro Mobile’s future for the long term while also eventually providing income to the association to allow it to expand its work of supporting DJs and developing the industry.”

Everyone at NADJ is exceptionally excited to be a part of Pro Mobile’s future and are committed to supporting the publication’s great heritage. If you have any queries surrounding the Magazine, whether it be for personal or business reasons, you can contact us via the website.

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Avtar Thethy

WHAT WILL I DO?

I have a ‘Goldmine’ of ideas, that, if elected, I will endeavour to implement and achieve top results.

EQUALITY

Equal partnerships with manufacturer’s and service providers within the DJ sector.

Strengthen existing relationships and look for new participants to drive us all forward.

Create more fund raising opportunities for NADJ.

Social Events

The 1st Internal NADJ DJ Awards evening.

We all are from the same entity, so I believe that we as a membership, we deserve equal recognition as other Associations, past present and future.

ACCOUNTABILITY

To promote the visibility of NADJ, at exhibitions and shows, both Nationally and Regionally.

Reintroduce the NADJ clothing range, with additional items.

To make myself as the National Chairman more accessible to existing Members in all classes of membership, and new ones – introducing new opportunities for the membership as a whole to perform at top level events and functions.

Allowing the membership to “air” their views as we go on, and make a positive but constructive contribution on matters that effect YOU the member.

Have standardised forms available for the whole network to use and adapt, with all Health and Safety documentation required by venues in a Welcome pack.

STRENGTH

To be a strong chairman who truly represents the membership interests at high level meetings and events.

To maintain, strengthen and underpin the membership voice by improving the NADJ’s representative role in the open marketplace.

Empower all members and NADJ Reps to become co – creators of Change (Regional Led Projects)

INNOVATION

Improve NADJ facilities to allow Members to deliver a more professional service in their own respective businesses, in an ever growing industry.

The development of a more social and approachable network of DJ’s across the UK.

Introduce a ‘one stop shop’ making it easer for the member and client to obtain everything under one roof.

WHO AM I ?

My name is Avtar Thethy, 55 years old, married and a father to two boys.

Based in West London for last 52 years.

Running my own business LED Factory for last 9+ years.

An active and helpful member of NADJ London and I’m also the London Chairman.

I am determined, committed and will always endeavour to get the best results possible for YOU, the Member.

WHY ME?

Existing NADJ Member, Chairman for London.

I’ve been blessed with many opportunities week in week out to attend the TOP Events up, down and across the UK – as a supplier, organiser, judge and simply as a guest.

I enjoy the creative benefits of product and service integration with the following well established AV companies daily:

Kudos Av & Kudos Music
Calibar Events
Ritzy Music
UVD Ultimate Visual Display
AVH

(There are many more.)

We are consistently facilitating well over 100 events pa. All of them different,
So you can see that not do I only talk the talk, but I am constantly and walking the walk.

I feel the Association needs CHANGE and Change for the better, It needs to recognise the huge talent that it has within and needs to promote that from within.

It also cannot have its members to have disproportionate inequality in the outside world.

I certainly have the Passion, Commitment and fully understand the hardships in running a business without help.

In talking to a few fellow members, over the last few years, I understand what is missing and what Needs need to be addressed – If you can see these gaps, then,
I am the man to deliver.

Avtar Thethy
Led Factory / NADJ

Fabio Capozzi

Change is good but change for change sake can be a sign of not understanding the true needs of what must be done. I believe the secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. The Association is long overdue revision and reform that better suits the members.

A new approach to reviving the many reasons why membership is the right choice for hard-working DJs is a better understanding of today’s DJ. By helping members maintain a better work-life balance with money saving benefits or having access to advice from experienced fellow members or sharing work opportunities, it is all for naught unless there is a fundamental mutual respect towards everyone, no matter their view or standing.

Community is important to the success of NADJ and it is the huge support of the membership that we can all pride ourselves on. It is, however, inevitable that a collective of people will disagree from time to time, albeit having a common goal. It is essential that open and fair discussion is encouraged to allow opinion and debate to enhance the values that NADJ stand by. I believe that by creating a culture of positive ideas backed by action this forum can encourage us to move forwards in boosting the public opinion of UK DJs. By way of a campaign, aimed directly at the consumer, NADJ in collaboration with other associations and DJ groups, can represent the benefits of choosing a DJ that is encouraged to apply best practices towards their clients with a view to enhance their business. This path can be applied to all types of DJ, from bedroom to festival and radio and by being more inclusive and properly acknowledging these equally important types of DJ into our community, we can be enriched with their viewpoint and expertise of the industry we all work in.

Our industry is one of supplying a serious amount of dedication and excellent customer experience wrapped in an evening of fun, music and dancing. When you are passionate about your work and strive to be professional, it is a welcome relief to be able to meet, network and collaborate with industry colleagues whilst having a little fun. The branch sessions, events and gatherings that happen across the UK require dedicated committee officers to make these happen regionally and nationally. Without the hard work, that is volunteered, the branch sessions would not be possible – and I thank all of you for your unflagging efforts to run great branches. I agree with opinion that NADJ life has become overly serious and in some cases stale, adopting a tired constitution, no longer in keeping with current member needs and aspirations undermined by language that is outdated. I see the need for reform of the constitution, more inclusive language and attitude, updated to reflect the industry we work in today and instrumental in helping the membership to grow and develop by attracting younger DJs to understand how the NADJ can offer a sound platform to boost their DJ career.

All this I believe is important to make being a member an enjoyable and enriching experience but the serious business of running an association is not all about fun (not for NEC committee members anyway), it is a task that relies on consistency, diplomacy and the ability to make new relationships whilst maintain the ones we have happy. Without the support of members and the industry, no matter how much fun and energy you would like at a branch session, it will be difficult to achieve without the help of great content organised on time and with consideration – this is not a job where you can ‘wing it’… I have never winged anything. I look forward to your vote.