ChrisPointon
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Posts posted by ChrisPointon
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Moving swiftly back on topic......... tongue out icon
All very exciting this new technology, but I can't help feeling that the
enjoyment and flexibility of owning such a unit (or similar) could so easily be shortlived when it comes to finding out how much ownership costs in real terms when the current licensing situation is taken into account, and these additional costs could actually in a lot of cases place them entirely out of the range of a lot of mobile DJ's budgets within the UK.
I am surprised that this subject hasn't cropped up in this thread already because in reality it could make the difference between being able to afford one, and being priced out of the market by copyright laws and the huge paperwork requirement which it carries.
So much interest has been put into discussing the price of the actual
hardware, when it appears that the ANNUAL cost of owning / licensing such a
device is already some £400 a year more than the initial Thomann price for
the unit itself and is ongoing and NOT a one off payment!!!
By now, you should be aware that you need permission to convert your CD's
and Vinyl to hard drive format regardless of the type of file as it has been debated enough. This
permission has to be gained from the MCPS in the form of the much publicised but user unfriendly, SG-6. Whether you are using a laptop / PC or a hard drive based physical hardware player is totally irrelevant! , these laws are still applicable.
As the Denon has quietly appealed to me for some months, but being one of lifes natural pessimists I have taken the time since to take a close look at the small print on the MCPS website and I don't much like the expense and hassle which the SG-6 brings.
All of my information has come directly from the MCPS website on the SG6
page. I'll address each area of the text which I feel would be relevant to me, if I bought one.
What does the Licence allow you to do?The incorporation of that recording (or the incorporation of an existing
recording) into the server or hard disk
Okay so we are left in no doubt that the SG-6 applies to the Denon unit
because it uses a hard drive / disk as a storage medium, and you will be converting your existing physical media to a file format to be stored on it. No surprises there, we always knew that one or more licenses would be required.
The SG6 Specialist Music Product Licence does not apply to thefollowing, for which separate licences and/or approval would be required:
Any products where the sound recording copyright owner or performer(s) have
not given permission for the relevant copies to be created and/or exploited
Okay this is not so good, because it means even after you have paid and
applied for the SG-6, it is not valid or legal unless you have contacted
each and every artist of the tracks that you intend to convert and gained
their individual permission to convert it. So would it be safe to assume that 5000 tracks requires 5000 letters?. Anybody know the cost of airmail per letter to the U.S or where Danni Minogue is living these days?
Now we've bought shares in the Royal Mail we move on to the cost of the
license itself.
How much does a Licence costUpto 5,000 tracks on server - £1,000
Over 5,000 tracks on server - negotiable :scared:
Again, not good at all. This is an annual fee and not a one off fee.
So for the flexibility of storing a mere 5000 tracks on a Hard Drive it is
going to cost you £1000 a year - every year for the MCPS current SG-6 license. So your
first years' license fee is actually going to be more than the player itself.
More importantly most DJ's have over 5000 tracks, so how much for 10k, 15k, 20k tracks. The mid thousands?
Other areas relevant are:-
Other conditions of the licenceLicensees are responsible for ensuring the security of the audio and/or
audio-visual content on any server, to prevent their unauthorised removal,
fraudulent replacement or corruption in any way, by the application of
appropriate watermarking and encryption technologies.
Does the Denon have the facility to encrypt or Watermark the tracks on its
harddrive?. If not then it possibly will not meet the criteria required for an SG-6.
Licensees are required to provide returns within 30 days of the endof each calendar Quarter, using the SG6 reporting format (provided as an
Excel spreadsheet in response to your initial application), detailing which
works have been supplied, the number of times each work has been supplied
within the Quarter and the type of track or product supplied, as per the
above table.
Does the Denon also have the facility to log how many times each track is
played. I know that some DJ Software does offer this facility. Again another
area where the SG-6 in its current form is restrictive towards new technology. Your
time is going to be spent physically logging every track you play from the
unit, at every gig you attend, blimey thats even worse than basic bookeeping for your accounts.
The SG-6 information and criteria above is sourced from:-
Now the good news is that the MCPS are supposedly introducing a new license
to serve Mobile Dj's and to replace the requirement of the SG-6 in this
application. But when this is going to happen is anybodies guess - it was supposed to be launched around now.
Also, exaclty how much, per year the licence will cost, what if it is still £1000 a year? would this put anybody off ownership of the Denon, Ipod or other similar players?. Currently there is no mention of this
new license on the news or main areas of the MCPS website - not a good sign.
So for now, ownership of the Denon and similar products still comes with the much
hateddated SG-6.:hurt:
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Up until a few months ago I would (and did) recommend Norwich Union as a viable insurer. However......
Competitive quotes are only one part of judging an insurance company. The real acid test is how professional and helpful they are when push comes to shove and they have to deal with a claim.
I have bitter experience in that very scenario, and based on my own personal experience I would no longer recommend Norwich Union to anybody.
I can't go into detail in the risk of prejudicing my own case, however a lot of the reviews of them around the internet, and in particular those comments relating to their claims service & handling is very similar and just as negative as my own.
I suggest you read them before taking out a policy, and remember to look beyond price when comparing policies
On the plus side, (pardon the pun) I can recommend APlus Insurance they are a small company who tailor each policy to each individual and their customer service is second to none. They will also often match or beat the quotes from the large companies too, where given the opportunity!.
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Hello and welcome to the forum :welcome:
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Its also worth mentioning, that you should really register your own domain name and not use one of the bundled ones which comes "free" with your hosting account.
Some hosts are notorious for registering these free names with their own details, and so retain full ownership and hold it to ransom if you ever decide to leave, by charging silly prices for its release or not allowing you to transfer it at all!.
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If you have only been in business for a month then you absolutely have nothing to worry about.
All of the above points are valid, but they probably appear more scarey than they are intended to be.
First you need to inform the tax man that you have started a business. Do this sooner rather than later, because if you leave it for too long then you will be liable for an immediate £100 penalty.
Start keeping records of your income and expenditure (Your expenses / what you spend running the business) some examples of what you can claim for are listed above.
Keep receipts for everything you buy, number them, and keep a record of them in an accounts book which you can get from any stationary supplier. You can keep basic and easy track of your expenditure like this....
Receipt No Date Product / Service Supplier Amount
1 4/7/06 Diesel Peartree services £30.00
2 7/7/06 Bulbs Acme Disco Supplies £13.45
etc etc etc
To keep track of your income, it is a good idea to send clients booking forms which state your fee clearly on the same slip which the customer signs and returns to you then you can number it and log it in a record book, just like your expenses.
Its also a good idea to open a business bank account in "your name T/A your business name". So if your name is Joe Bloggs and your company name is Bloggs Disco the account will say
Joe Bloggs T/A Bloggs Disco
This is handy and convenient because with *Most* banks it allows you to bank cheques in either the name of "Joe Bloggs" or "Bloggs Disco" which is useful as clients often make the (wrong) assumptions tongue out icon
Make sure that you pay any cheques and left over cash into your business bank account, so that you have full traceability through your bank statements. A debit card is also a useful addition to your business account as it means that you automatically have a receipt issued not only at the point of sale for the purchase but the transaction will also be logged on your bank account statement - less (paper)work for you :Thumbup: - but only use it for legitimate business expenditure.
Unless you are turning over more than £60,000 a year in income, then you don't need to worry about registering for VAT.
When the time has come to pay your first years tax, the amount of tax that you are liable to pay, is based on profit. This is worked out on the basis of income - expenses
So if you made £3000 and spent £2000 then your profit for that year will be £1000
So you will be taxed on the £1000 profit.
The amount you actually pay is based on your existing employment circumstances. If you are self employed (ie the disco is your ONLY business and income) then you can earn a small amount tax free (I think its around £4600 or £5000) this means that if you make less than that figure you pay no tax.
If you have a full time job or any other self employed activities then you probably wont get any tax allowance and will pay tax on every penny of profit that your disco earns.
As Dan said above, both the Musicians Union and also the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) are useful to join, because they all have qualified people to give accounts advice, and help in dealing with the Inland Revenue. I also believe that they offer discounts on Accountancy Services and in the case of the FSB - excellent deals on business banking.
Either way, if your business becomes popular and you get plenty of work and money coming in, then it will probably be better for you to engage the services of an accountant, and whilst this will mean that you still have to keep receipts and paperwork for your income / expenditure, it will pay for itself in the long run as the accountant should save you money on tax, and also handle the hassle of completing and submitting your annual self assessment form on your behalf.
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Its usually a good idea to peel of the little protective lens film before using your new camera Andy!
and an even better idea to leave the lens cap ON!
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1st Febraury, MAY be in Cheshire
What was that bang?
The sound of house prices falling again
This time do you think that you can choose a pub which doesn't screw up the sat nav?, and is on a conventional map?
Ideally in a town which has road signs or even better.....has actual ROADS!
unlike the one which took 3 hours for me to find in Somerset! :wall:
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I've used the site a couple of years ago, and for anybody who has no prior experience of website building, or has no access to or knowledge of PC based web design tools like Dreamweaver or Frontpage, then the "point and click" webtools that are included in the package are a good (and fast) method of getting a web presence with very little prior website building knowledge.
You can certainly get better results by using your own programs and building a website from scratch, plus lots of other features too, however this depends on whether you have the time / interest to learn yourself the basics of website building and HTML. If you have the interest, then it is probably worth persuing. If not, then you may be better with a WYSIWYG web template builder which is included in the Easyspace deal.
The free domain name which is included is a .co.uk of your own choice (subject to it being available).
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The Behringer MDX2600 will certainly act as the first guard
I use a Behringer Comp-Limiter and have done for several years. I've also never suffered a blown driver or HF unit either. It may just be luck of course or down to the addition of the comp-limiter but I guess if its saved a couple of drivers in the years that i've had it, then you could say that its paid for itself and justified its existance!.
I've no complaints about the Behringer whatsoever - their stuff is also used by 1000's of musicians too, and I think you may get it slightly cheaper than £80 if you shop around - PA / Music shops seem to have better prices on this brand BTW. - £72.99 inc Vat here
The enhancers also work a treat too, the MDX2600 has one built in, but I use a seperate unit, it really does make a difference to your sound system, and pushes extra bass headroom from every watt. The result is that you get more bass without making the little lights on the amp Vu meter leap in protest. So if the enhancer on this model is just as good as the one I have, then you are going to be squeezing more Bass from your system, and getting more clarity from your HF units. It doesn't work miracles obviously or turn a £100 PA into a Turbosound rig, but you will notice a difference for the better on most systems
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As already pointed out, these instances for mostly are few and far between , however if you do play some regular unsavoury venues or they are getting too frequent for your liking then consider taking up a self defence course, or even a martial art.
I'm not sure what the police would make f this though.......If you make it clear that you are being put in fear then the Police will respond. Bear in mind however that most venues have key staff who are trained to deal with such events, because it is in their interests too, as the Police log all instances where trouble is reported, and if they are called to one venue more than 'X' times in any period, then they can supply a report to the local council to oppose or restrict the license renewel
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Chances are, he wont remember anything about it the following day, so why should you dwell on it?, is he really that important for you to be spending your time worrying about it.
As your title so rightly, says there is always one, but some are worse than others I reckon that this is probably your worst experience? out of how many gigs?. Usually these occurances are in the minority and most gigs go without any real grief.
Maybe he had too much to drink, maybe he was off his meds, maybe he was just having a bad day, either way its not your problem so why take the abuse, you wouldn't accept it in a 'day' job so why should we have to tolerate it?.
Probably best to report it to the management of the venue and leave it to them to sort out the troublemakers. If its a private function, have a clause that states in your contract that the client is responsible for ejecting anybody causing you trouble or making threats. If this is your own night or promotion, then get together with the venue and consider hiring in a couple of doorstaff.
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So did you advertise in there or didn't you?
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Nothing for me this weekend, but what are you upto?
Don't forget the gig pictures if you can!
And this weeks topical track to plays is........
Stan Ridgeway - Camouflage! :joe:
Only Joking......how about Bizarre Inc - Playing with Knives
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My experience is that Andy only calls when he wants something or he's on the scrounge, so that must be 681 favours done for Andy in one month! tongue out icon
There are cheaper call alternatives available and they have been mentioned before.
Companies, such as 1899.com offer unlimited, anytime free, UK landline calls for no monthly subscription fees!. All you pay for is the 4p per call connection fee!.
This basically means that you pay £0 per month (other than your standard BT / Service Provider line rental) and just add the 1899 suffix when you dial your outgoing calls. So that 01234 567890 becomes 189901234567890 then you can talk for as long as you want for 4p.
You don't need to change from BT or your line provider or pay a monthly subscription, simply pay 1899 by switch or direct debit for the calls that you've made at the end of the month when they send you your itemised bill via email.
This is the most prefered solution for people who make around 100 - 150 outgoing calls per month, as it often works out cheaper than paying a monthly subscription for services such as Talk Talk or Sky Talk etc who offer free calls in return for a monthly subscription payment. Plus it is entirely PAYG, if you make no calls using 1899 then you pay no bill. There are no hidden charges or catches and no contract.
1899 also offers cheap mobile phone calls, and also is a good option if you have friends & family abroad as they offer calls to most popular destinations for as little as 0.5p per minute.
Another similar provider is 18185.co.uk who offer even cheaper landline to mobile calls, and there are no problems with using 1899 and 18185 together - simply change the prefix you dial.
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Welcome Along! :Thumbup:
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Andy (ADS Entertainments) is probably one of the best people to ask, as he insures more than one member of staff.
Also try Hencilla Canworth Ltd
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if your names not down you ain't coming in
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All above points taken on board and many thanks... But has any one had success of failure with some thing like this...
Not exactly the same, but similar. I once advertised in a publication which circulated all of the pubs in the Northwest. The intention being to appeal to those venues with function rooms and who had pub based entertainment, although the publication was actually meant to be be read by the public I had hoped that the landlords would read it too, and so two chances of getting work!.
This was several years ago, the ad didn't cost much (about £45 I think), and it did get me one booking. I suppose you could argue that since the booking was worth more than £45 that the ad paid for itself and made a profit, although I never bothered with it again or anything similar.
It all depends on your expectations I suppose, and whether its worth a gamble. £75 can be a lot of money to some, and peanuts to others. I would haggle though, I wouldn't be surprised if deadlines were looming and good deals can be had when sales folk need to fill their quotas.
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Perhaps the question to ask is
If you wanted a DJ for Wedding, would the first thing that you picked up to look for one be a directory which you got from your local leisure centre?, would you even remember that you still had the directory?.
Then consider why anybody would want to keep a directory full of advertisements?, advertising in publications with readable content such as Magazines, Wedding Publications or Cheshire Life is different because people are actually buying it to read because of content, but very few people will spend time looking through pages of nothing but wall to wall adverts or have any inclination to do so.
Limited appeal, which is probably reflected in the advertising price
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Send them a recorded delivery letter to the address shown on their contact page, demanding that they send either the goods or a refund, and informing them that unless you hear from them within 7 days you'll contact Birmingham Trading Standards.
They do have some mixed feedback Here and a history of a few delivery and refund problems.
Given the wording 'Circumstances beyond our control' may suggest they are having some problems, and it may just be that your order has been mislaid or lost. Either way, I suspect a direct letter will result in a refund.
If you do a lot of buying online, it may be wise to get a credit card with internet fraud and buying protection, if you choose a 0% one then for a limited time you can use your credit card with no interest and with protection, you have an easy way of getting a refund back from the card co.
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I notice not much reaction from the mods/admin on this project. How do you lot feel about it?
Like I feel about all new projects which rely on regular committment............... :fear:
Will members send in the fresh and new information on a regular / weekly basis required to keep it updated? :hide:
A couple of years ago, in relation to requests from members at the time, I was asked to add a knowledgebase along with several other features. This I did, however when they were up and running you'll find that very few people bothered to contribute.
Hopefully this idea will be different and appealing, but it is one of those things which is logistically impossible to compile yourself and so does rely entirely on contributions from others in different areas, and if members are willing to take and submit photos and send the information in on the rural / remote venues which they cover then I suspect that it will grow and work very well.
Probably the best thing to do is to see how the information rolls in this weekend, and over the coming weeks and then take it from there.
Overall I do think that it is a really good idea, especially if it includes information on things like Sound Limiters, Access, Parking, Google Earth / Multimap information
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No, you asked how long it would be before somebody posted something negative.
Which could be construed as an invitation
and I didn't want you disappointed tongue out icon
Denon Hd-2500
in Buying Equipment
Posted
My post was / is aimed towards those who wish to remain on the right side of the copyright laws, and to publicise the cost of doing so. It wasn't an attempt to get those who want to have their cake and eat it, and who go about these things in their own sweet way to change as I am not trying to reinvent the wheel here, i'm just pointing out the associated costs, some of which other members may not even be aware of.
If you don't like the law, or can't afford to comply with it, then as previously mentioned, perhaps you should choose to use another 'safe' format which doesn't carry such financial penalities, and in return avoid the threads which debate an area, which doesn't apply to you rather than posting a argumentum ad hominem style reply.
However that doesn't change the fact that the UK copyright law penalises DJ's far more than most other countries, indeed it wasn't that long ago that a member was abroad for some weeks and posted back more than once on the fact that many clubs and bars there were already heavily geared towards some form of hard drive based storage & playback medium. Same music, same artist(e), same record label. I guess they don't have the same copyright laws as in the UK.
I think that given the UK's mentality there is always going to be the requirement of a form of licence, perhaps eventually to the point where all media is chargeable, however maybe those who write the copyright laws should be reminded that a lot of DJ's only earn a tiny percentage of the types of income that those of whom they represent may earn.