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Tax Tips 2013 Contrary to what you may have heard, you don't have to be millionaire to take advantage of the same tax codes that allow the rich to get richer, nor do you have to be a financial expert; you just have to know one. Thankfully, we do: For our year-end wrap we invited our good friend Jerry Bazata, who, when he's not helming DJ Jaz Music and Entertainment, moonlights as VP of Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America, to share a few simple strategies every entrepreneur should know by heart. "As you sort through the piles of credit card receipts, purchase invoices and notes you've made throughout the year as they relate to your business expenses, there are a number of often-overlooked deductions waiting for you that can make the difference between owing Uncle Sam and receiving a post-holiday bonus from the IRS," says Jerry, "such as..." Meals and Entertainment:
Any lighting or sound equipment, electronics, software, accessories or other items you purchased for your business in 2013 may be fully deductable in the same year it was put into service. (IRS: Section 179 Expensing). If you have been holding off on some equipment purchases you may want to consider making them before the end of the year and offsetting those cost against income reported in the same year. Advertising Expense: Be sure to review all your expenses as it relates to promoting your business. We often deduct for print advertising but also forget about what we pay for on the internet, professional services for ad design and marketing consultations. Any expense related to advertising your business may be deductable. Rental Expense: For larger events, did you rent lighting or sound equipment that was part of the overall expense of preparing for an event? You will record the income, but you can deduct such out-of-pocket expenses. Charitable Contributions: You are not permitted to deduct the value of the time you donate to a charity, but any direct expense such as mileage, meals and lodging may be deductable whole or in-part. Office Supplies: Often we forget about the little things that we take for granted everyday such as office supplies, ink for the printer, postage, pens and paper that we need to make sales and run our business. All of these items are tax deductable. Retirement Fund: Getting older in inevitable and regardless of when you get started in the DJ business, you need to plan for retirement. Selling you equipment or even your business is not going to get you into a penthouse suite on Miami Beach. You need to consider setting aside a portion of the millions you make each year as a mobile DJ for the golden years you'll spend at the retirement home for Vinyl DJs. To learn more about tax deductions for small business owners Jerry recommends the following: To learn more or to contact Jerry, visit mainediscjockey.com 
DJ Tips presents...
To Cloud or not to Cloud. We've got the answers... I'm afraid I've lost the name of the reader who asked me this, but it's a great question and I'd love to hear everyone's views on it. Here it is: "I bought a new smartphone with 50GB of free Cloud storage as part of a promotion. I was looking for a Cloud storage option anyway to backup my music library (lost a lot of good music a year ago when my hard drive suddenly died), so this option is very handy. But is it OK to backup my collection to the Cloud? "I mean I can't prove that all my tracks are owned legally. For example, some tracks are from a label's 'best of' collection that was free to download for a limited period of time, while now it costs $15 to buy that same collection. What if they ask me to remove the files because of copyright questions? And will it be safe?" Digital DJ Tips says: A few things here. First, many of the services "legalize" your music by charging you a subscription annually for the privilege of using them, and paying some of this along to the record labels, while replacing your uploads - wherever you got them from and whatever their quality - with pristine new legal versions; however, when they don't have a track, they use your version (wherever it came from). So while I've never heard of anyone being questioned over where their tracks came from, at least here in the UK, that can change from country to country (and person to person!) so be informed. As for how safe Cloud storage is, my take on it is that if you keep your tracks stored locally on your laptop, on your smartphone, and have a Cloud backup too, you're pretty safe, as you'd have to lose all three at once to lose your collection - and the chances of that happening are pretty slim. I love Cloud storage; I think it can be really convenient with data rates getting higher and cheaper. But I know DJs who feel you should treat digital music just like vinyl or CDs - and have very carefully cared-for local copies, backed up away from the Cloud. How about you? Do you see any legal issues with storing promo music in the Cloud? Do you back up your library to the cloud, or locally? Where can you see this going? Please share your thoughts at digitaldjtips.com About Digital DJ Tips Digital DJ Tips helps people learn to DJ using modern digital DJ gear. With news, features interviews, reviews, show reports, and tutorials, it is one of the most-read DJ tech websites in the world, and has over 60,000 students on its paid and free DJ courses. 
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z1™ controller ® iOS has never been like this Despite all the positive momentum we've seen in iOS controllers, the reality for most DJs is that mixing with an iPad or iPhone still isn't all that. Cuing with a headphone splitter and navigating through a maze of pop-up windows to control EQ, effects and filters is, at best, inconvenient; and takes time to master. Native Instruments seems determined to shake that impression, and with the launch of the Kontrol Z1 Controller, appears ready to bring the same zero-setup, full-on Traktor mix experience to your (and thousands of other DJ's) iPhones and iPads.The Z1 brings a lot to the table: NI's engineers have nicely boiled down the essentials of Traktor DJ for iPad into an ultra-compact and instantly recognizable package...
Trouble viewing this video? Watch it on Youtube Like it not, it won't be long before you start to see more iPads in more DJ booths. And it's likely they'll be connected to a Z1. Price: $199.00 (fully loaded). For more info visit native-instruments.com 
Business Partner Guidelines Starting and thriving in a mobile DJ business by yourself can be a difficult and lonely proposition. It can be much more rewarding if you have the right partner to share the journey. Still, the question of whether you should have a partner in business is a tricky question.A partner gives you a shared responsibility for the company so you don't have to bear the entire weight yourself. Sometimes, two people together are greater than the sum of the whole (if they have a synergy of skills). Just as often, two people together are less than the sum of the whole (if they fight all the time). "Over the years in this business, I've seen it happen time and time again: Two DJs who are the best of friends get together to form a new company. And then, sooner or later, their relationship, and then their business goes South and crashes hard," says DJ Success Coach Stacy Zemon. "I've had this painful experience and if you'd like to avoid it like the plague, here's some advice from someone who's been there and done that to consider..." Read More 
If you want to be a better DJ and run a better business then
visit ProMobileDJ.com every day. You'll get ideas, information and advice from Stacy Zemon
and her team of industry expert writers!
Internet TV for DJs, by DJs. DJvideoNetwork.com features a growing lineup of channels including reviews of the newest products and services for DJs - sound, lighting, music mixing, and other tutorials - tips and tricks to help you become a better DJ - and lots more! DJ Earworm's mashup of the 25 biggest U.S. hits during 2013 Trouble viewing this video? Watch it on Youtube 
POOL Tips and Tricks Tip of the Month - Skit Free. If you're like most DJs, you're no fan of the beat-free video skits that kick off the majority of music videos. Here's how easy it is to skip the skits and go straight to the drop. Step 1: Open your POOL App and click on the PREFERENCES tab 
Step 2: Go to the Download Options tab (directly below Launch Setup Wizard & set your Default Video Skit pull-down window to Exclude... 
Step 3): SAVE your preferences - and done! 
Questions about POOL? Contact support at poolsupport@promoonly.com or by calling 407-331-3600. 
The Hitlist: Find all the hottest Top 40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Dance and Latin Hits, and where they appear on your Promo Only Series.
Browse the Current Hitlist **EDITORS NOTE** The current Hitlist may still be in the process of being compiled so please check back if the one shown is not the most current. 
December Blowout Sale!
View complete video track listings here. Digital Download (POOL) All Specialty Videos for digital download are $15.00 each (a $10.00 Savings). No minimum purchase required. To order, click here. 
Physical Media (Discs) All Specialty Videos on DVD/DFF are $25.00 per disc (a $15.00 Savings). No minimum purchase required.* To order, contact: customerservice@promoonly.com | 407-331-3600 *Extra shipping charges will apply to orders of 6 or more Video discs.
Specials end. Classics are forever. 
ASAP Science Presents...Amazing Facts to Blow Your Mind Pt. 3 Ready to have your mind officially blown? ASAP Science has some truly jaw-dropping facts to share... Trouble viewing this video? Watch it on Youtube
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