Was The DJs Assemble Conference Worth It?

Hey! I’m Mike, I go by DJ AXCESS, and I’m a travel DJ, hype man and public speaker based in Columbus, Ohio.

Was DJs Assemble Worth It?

My Honest Breakdown of Costs, Takeaways, and ROI

As a travel DJ and educator, I’m intentional about the conferences I attend. They take time, energy, and financial investment. So when I committed to flying to Syracuse for DJs Assemble 2025 in the middle of the busy season, I wondered if I was crazy.

And because transparency matters, here’s exactly what it cost me:

  • Flight from Columbus to Syracuse: $700

  • Hotel (Best Western, 4/5 stars): $581

  • Conference Ticket: $350

Total Investment: $1,631

So the real question becomes: Was it worth it?

After spending two full days immersed in keynotes, workshops, networking and watching talented DJs, the answer for me was yes – and here’s why.

Why It Was Worth It: The Business Perspective

As DJs, we talk a lot about gear ROI. Conferences work the same way.

Between the people I connected with, the education I took home, and the improvements I’ll make to my performance and client experience, if I book even a single wedding from the relationships or knowledge gained at DJs Assemble, the entire trip pays for itself.

The upside far outweighs the cost.

What Justified the Investment

Jim Boeheim – Leadership That Translates

Coach Boeheim’s keynote tied directly into how I run my brand:

  • Recruit the right people

  • Shut out negativity

  • Stick to daily consistency

  • Lead in a way that makes people adopt the idea as their own

I was a Syracuse basketball fan growing up, so hearing Jim talk about his success as a leader in an extremely competitive environment was especially interesting.

Chris Washburn – MC Skills I Can Use Immediately

Emotional connection. Positive phrasing. Physical delivery.
I came home inspired to come up with new exercises and techniques that upgrade my MC presence so I can pass those skills down to my coaching clients.

Benny Nord – Client Experience

My favorite soundbite:
Connection helps you recover from mistakes.
Add that to smarter expectation-setting and low-barrier engagement, and you strengthen your entire client journey.

Alex Nepa – Social Strategy & Nightlife

Alex delivered actionable insight on brand alignment, nightlife positioning, and building a stronger digital presence. I recently updated my electronic press kit after hearing him speak.

Dave Gordon – Lighting

Lighting makes content better. Content drives bookings. That’s a straight line.

Todd Powers – DJ Health

His guidance on habits, discipline and longevity serves the business just as much as the body.

My favorite soundbite? “If you do what is hard, your life becomes easy.”
That hit.

Steven Share – AI & Curiosity

Steven reinforced a mindset that always pays off long-term: stay curious, test everything, keep learning.

What I’m Implementing (and Why That Matters for ROI)

I left with a list of items that directly improve my performance, branding, communication, and operational efficiency:

  • Add emergency scenarios to MC exercises

  • Redo my EPK (this affects bookings instantly)

  • Add slam and explosion sounds to my sampler based on Even Steve’s recommendations

  • Improve my IEM performance thanks to Ben Stowe’s advice

  • Sharpen my social strategy

The Real ROI: Identity, Direction, and Community

I also learned something about myself:
I have “Pick Me DJ” tendencies – I seek approval and react to every opinion.

What I want is to operate like a grounded DJ:
Authentic. Adaptable. Service-driven.

That shift alone affects my brand, my leadership, and the way I show up at events.

The community aspect mattered too. The conversations, the hallway moments, the shared passion. These rooms sharpen you in ways online learning simply can’t.

If there was one thing I didn’t enjoy. It was the atmosphere at the parties. This is not a DJs Assemble problem as much of a DJs in general problem. We had some truly talented DJs rocking the decks, but only a handful of people dancing or reacting to the transitions. I understand it’s a room of mostly guys, but we are supposed to be the music lovers. I did my best to give the dance floor some energy during the parties, but it takes more than one person to create a full dance floor. Again, this happens at every DJ conference, but it’s worth mentioning that even the awesome DJs Even Steve put together, couldn’t solve this lingering issue for me at conferences.

Final Verdict: Was DJs Assemble Worth It?

Absolutely, yes. Not only am I coming home inspired. I made new friends and strengthened existing relationship. I found new ways to improve my artistry, my business, and my coaching sessions.

And the math is simple:
If I book a single wedding from what I gained in Syracuse, the $1,631 investment is fully covered.

See All Blog Posts

Connect With DJ Axcess