DJ Menno
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October 21, 2012 at 6:19 pm in reply to: Back Up Gear: Is your back up gear turned on for a smooth transition? #1014146
DJ Menno
ParticipantI’ve got an iphone, USB stick and a pocket with 15 CD’s. It fits easily in the bag, and you’re safe for the whole evening.
ParticipantI hear you Terry, and I did try to give them the style they wanted above the owner’s choice or my own preference. But to me top 40 music is like fast-food. Once in a while it’s delicious, but when you’re given only fast food it gets boring, not to say disgusting. Yesterday I went to a club where the guy was playing hit after hit after hit and I was missing a little depth or personal touch. But maybe I’m the only customer thinking like that… I like to discover a new song when a DJ is playing…not that I go harcore or trance, but for example that night I played a house remix of a sirtaki song (128 bpm with a nice bass running underneath the classical sirtaki melody), which I thought was witty and funny. And just after that smashed some good ol’ Chris Brown… trying to build something intelligent instead of hitting play on a radio playlist 🙂
Actually the owner told me he wanted to stay in contact and do a gig again, but I think the venue doesn’t suit me… that may be the problem as well…
Thxs for the comments, it’s good to read about other’s experiences.
ParticipantI drink a few beers, no strong alcohol… it gets you tired on the long run and after 2 hours of working you’re unable to sustain the concentration.
I must give in, though, it makes you more daring and sometimes makes you drop that crazy song that you wouldn’t have dropped otherwise, and gets you the crowd favor 🙂
ParticipantI was once invited to play with a DJ friend of mine. One of the supports in the DJ booth was loose, and we where told not to put anything on it. A friend of mine came in the booth, I lay my glass on the loose table, it falls over, he tries to catch my glass but the support fell, and the glass spills all over the floor, 15cm away from the amplifier. Almost killed the sound system…
My DJ friend was mad at me, OMG how embarassing that was… he litterally told us to “get the f.. out” the booth…
Since I’ve learned something. Nobody, not even your closest friend, in the Dj booth 🙂
October 19, 2012 at 4:56 pm in reply to: (Help) Terrified about connecting my equipment in gigs #1014019Participantfrom what I know, but I can stand corrected by experts, phono is analog, that is a signal that has not been modified by a computer (microphone, guitar, vinyl), and line is digital (computer, mp3 reader, CD player). But both actually work, the difference is not that audible unless on a big system. If you’re playing digital (mp3’s), go for the line entry I would say.
The amplifying happens later.
Computer sends a signal to the controller.
controller sends a signal to the mixtable
Mixtable sends a signal to the amplifier
The amplifier amplifies (obvious) and sends to the speaker.So the line/phono entry doesn’t amplify anything, it interprets the sound being sent and forwards it, but as said above, both should work.
ParticipantThe best advice I was given when I started was : “You are the DJ”. Means nothing and everything to me 🙂
October 19, 2012 at 6:46 am in reply to: (Help) Terrified about connecting my equipment in gigs #1013976ParticipantYou simply gotta think in terms of in and out. I go out my PC in my controller. Out of my controller/CDJ in the mixtable. Out of the mixtable onto the sound system. The mostly used connections you will find is RCA (the red and white), and eventually an RCA-jack adapter. Generally from the mixtable onto the sound system isn’t your problem since the sound system is already set-up. Just bring along a few extra cables for security. And I always arrive one hour minimum in advance, or check the sound one or two days before, should I buy a last minute cable.
October 14, 2012 at 12:59 am in reply to: soundcloud v mixcloud and problems with the first #1013566ParticipantI’ve seen my mixes refused on soundcloud cause it could recognize I used an already existing song…. Captain obvious ! it’s a mix ! ! So I went to mixcloud, which is openly purposed for mixes.
Participantoh nothing crazy, good ol’ gangnam style, rihanna, lmfao, skrillex…. top 40 really. But in the city I live in that’s what people want, there is none or little underground scene 🙂
what got me the gig is more my patience, empathy and sociability…
ParticipantGonna try this one at my next gig. Love the energy of it
[media=youtube]Qsy7kJyizoc[/media]
ParticipantI’ve been playing mostly in bars for the two last years.
My advice would be to make friends with the customers. In clubs you cannot meet the DJ, he’s in that closed or surelevated cabin. In bars they like to talk to you, pay you a drink, and make requests. I agree with Si Boogie, it becomes a family. You can interact with the bar crew, the customers… you can play a premade mix of 20 minutes and go and have a drink and a chat (you can’t stay 5 hours mixing actively without a break anyway, let’s be realistic). You’re at home and the people are your guests : no pressure, no dancefloor filling obligation, you’re only responsible for maintaining a good vibe.
As well, I always help the crew cleaning of a table or two if there’s too many people or at the end of the evening. The owner will respect you a lot for that, you’re part of the team, not only a one time DJ.
All in all, I recommend it, it’s a very positive experience.
September 27, 2012 at 2:56 pm in reply to: Apart from your DJ gear, what's one item you wouldn't be without at your gigs? #1012766ParticipantSense of humor and tolerance 🙂
Participant90 bpm old school hip hop always works…
Or just go to the girls, and ask them what would make them dance…and once the girls are on the dancefloor…
ParticipantGreat success story, it shows people care for the fun, the atmosphere and not the BPM’s 🙂
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