ChrisPointon
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Posts posted by ChrisPointon
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The forum is hosted in Ireland which makes it a little quicker than our previous California host, as it doesn't have the 'hop' across the atlantic, which can slow things down for UK users during peak traffic periods.
The new version of the forum is slightly larger, graphics wise than the older one, however on most broadband connections the difference shouldn't be that noticable, if at all.
@Kev, Some questions...
(i) Are you on a Broadband or Dial Up connection?. If it is the latter, have you tried using the forum using the 'Lo-Fi' link at the bottom of the index page?. This will display the forum without the skin and graphics associated with it, and for dial up users and those on mobile devices it should load the page far quicker.
(ii) Try logging out of the forum completely, and then clear your internet cookie and history cache. Then try logging in again. CC Cleaner is a good free utility which ensures the cookie files are deleted. However make sure that you have all of your passwords written down, as it will clean the entire IE cache!.
(iii) Are you accessing the forum via www.dj-forum.co.uk or www.djsunited.co.uk ? - ideally you should be bookmarking / using www.dj-forum.co.uk as the main URL
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Some of the observations made here surprise me, in the best part of 20 years in this game i've never once been asked by a client what medium I use, and until now I had guessed that most would have about as much everyday interest as I have in studying which lemons are best to use in a Lemon Marangue pie. Suffice to say most of Joe public wouldn't know the difference between a Cloud deck and a hole in the ground.
I would never get into a taxi, and then sit behind the driver peering over his shoulder and telling him when to indicate or change gear, I guess other taxi drivers wouldn't do this either, during the times when they have to call on the professional services of their colleagues - its called tact and professional respect. So what is it about some DJs who attend functions as guests and then have an irresistable urge to either tell the DJ exactly where he / she went wrong and how they would do the job, or go and spill their guts about how unprofessional he was, usually with the entire topic being based around the media which he / she used (or somebody turning it into such a debate). It seems that the full dancefloor or the satisfaction of the client is immaterial in our equation if the dj doesnt happen to use the same media as we do, since the portable gallows are wheeled out at the mere mention of individuality when it comes to the freedom of choice in respect to music formats.
There is almost an element of Chris Barrie's character 'Gordon Brittas' creeping in to some posts here in this proclaimed push to perfection.
Just as there are good and bad drivers there will be good and bad Djs.....all we can do is to offer advice based on our own experiences, sometimes it gets heard, sometimes it doesn't......... life goes on smile icon
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Congratulations on passing your course.
I would think that where a CRB was required for managing a pub, then the brewery would arrange help and assistance with the relevant paperwork and may even meet part or all of the cost and this would be discussed when you applied for a tenency.
Have you tried contacting the LVA for advice?, they should be able to assist with advice in this field or where the pub / hotel was a freehold premises.
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Now I am back in the DJ business I am more critical of DJ's, but only in my head. I always say hello at the start of the evening and always tell them to let me know if they want something/anything. I'll get them a drink and have a chat
Now you tell me :fright:
Arghhhh and you bought me a drink too :omg:
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Deck stands don't really take up that much room as they collapse and you can even get nice little carry bags for them,, if it was the difference between sacrificing a couple of lights to make room for them in order to give a good overall presentation then I would be tempted to do that.
To be honest, I don't go for the 'scatter lighting effects around the floor' look. Far too easy and tempting for toddlers and other little inquisitive night crawlers to investigate and touch red hot metal cases and for people to generally fall over them. Where there's blame theres a claim.......
The vibrations from speakers also do wonders at weakening bulb filaments and reducing lamp life where effects are placed onto them.
I would consider putting your CD collection on a table behind you (again for security as much as presentation), and getting your audio gear onto a proper stand. Even if you don't go the star cloth route, a neat thick black cloth across the front of the stand held on with velcro, is cheap, effective and can make your presentation a whole lot more professional and appealing.
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You shouldn't have to prove anything to anyone. If you feel that your business can be bettered and can grow then do it for the right reasons and because you want to, not because of what other people say or think.
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"The DJ said that I could have a maximum 10 requests and the rest would be left to him"
Hmmm :fan:
I don't see a problem with this, indeed I advise clients to keep their request list modest and workable. For example it is invariable that some clients will take you at your word and use the opportunity to send you 4 x A4 pages of songs to play if invited too. With the average track being 4 mins long, then through the course of one 4 hour event it would only be practical to play a maximum of 60 tracks. In reality with speeches, buffet and general faffing about, that 4 hour duration is usually far less when it comes to playing music, thus making any long an drawn out request list even less workable.
When presented with the request list version of war and peace, it goes without saying that a percentage will not be played, and inevitably because we are not clairvoyant, its always the brides mothers' favourite that you miss out, and will be chastised for doing so at 12.01 when you are packing away.
Far easily to have 15 or 20 'Must Plays' for the B & G and their guests / family, ideally with the name of whom it is requested for, than a general print out spanning several pages, the majority of which isn't going to get played. Besides, most Dj's invite requests from the audience throughout the night so where are you going to accomodate them, if you already have 45 hours of 'playlist'
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i have this problem with my friends "you use a laptop & c.d.s your a fake O". (which i do) and still get called a cowboy
Then you need to choose your friends more carefully :ads:
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Let me just clarify the rules regarding passing work on.
20) Members are encouraged to pass on, and advertise any bookings which they are unable to cover to their member colleagues on a goodwill basis. Where the work is being passed on for Reward (ie commission or fee basis) then this should be clearly pointed out on the actual post. Dj's United takes no responsibility for any dispute arising from work passed on between members, or complaints between members and their clients and these should first be addressed amicably and privately between the partiesI don't have any problem with agents passing work on in the gig section for a commission, provided that they identify themselves as doing so, and clearly mention that a commission is being taken on the actual post. Of course, you are not expected to post how much commission you are taking, just the fact that the opportunity carries a commission fee. However any commission structure should be clearly pointed out to any interested party who replies, and the points agreed in writing to avoid any confusion or mis-understanding later.
Most agents would go out of business very quickly if they didn't charge commission on their services, as they run a business and this is a different kettle of fish to those djs just passing on work / clients that they can't do to trustworthy colleagues out of goodwill. However if you are fortunate enough to get work out of goodwill, then play the game and pass something back to the person who gave you the lead, or at least give them first refusal in the future.
What I do have a problem with, is people who appear to be passing work on work out of goodwill, and then the DJ covering finds out on the night that the client has already paid £xx to the original Dj or that a balance below that which was originally agreed between them is payable. So if you advertise work as being available for £250, then that DJ should collect the agreed figure on the night, not £220
. If you do charge £30 commission (as in this example) then make that clear between you and the DJ exactly what commission is being charged, whose name the DJ is working under, and what the actual gig is worth to the DJ.I would expect that any person acting as agent will have the relevant paperwork (contracts) and some form of SLA in place which protects all parties, namely agent, client and the DJ.
With regard to where money changes hands for services, then regardless of terms such as 'Finders Fee' I am sure under consumer law that this in itself forms a contract and so various statutory rights under the goods and services act become evident. I am not 100% sure on this, but if this is the case then it would give rise to some minimum level of legal recourse in the event of any dispute, even in situations where a contract wasn't physically in place, so all the more reason to get those terms in writing.
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Bloody Depressing, the sort of thing you'd expect to hear at a funeral. Listen to it on a bad day and it'll probably send you reeling over the edge!
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About £2000 - £2500 p.a
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And if our Glorious leader could insert an apostrophe after the 'O', it would be even better
Already tried that, unfortunately it comes back with an error report as being an 'illegal character' :fright:
So, there!
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Most of those kids look older than you Steve! tongue out icon
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I've just sent an email to the Administrators of the Fundraising appeal
After all if we are to be using their name, then we need to involve them in anything we plan, and to some extent co-ordinate with them all of the way. After all, they may be trying to arrange something similar and we can put the ideas together.
Hi There,I am the Administrator of a social networking internet community for Mobile DJ's called 'Djs United'. Our members have recently been made aware of Bobby's illness and the fundraising appeal by one of our members who lives locally to your area.
Many have been touched by Bobby's fight against this Cancer and the valiant efforts of family and friends to obtain the funding for the required treatment and have publically pledged their help and support.
My initial contact to you, is to see exactly how our forum and its members can help the appeal. Some have mentioned offering their professional entertainment services for free at a local fundraising event or co-ordinating with you to perhaps arrange something national to raise awareness.
If you would like to consider the best way in which we can help, and get back to me, i'll then pass the information on to those expressing an interest.
Kind Regards
Chris Pointon
DJU Forum Administrator
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QUOTE More importantly.... how many venues will convert to software dj's? At last a post which is related to the original thread http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/whistling.gif
Interesting that you should mention this. I see a lot of the more trendy bars are converting to some method of computerised background music system, as are the bigger chains. No doubt that this is one of those automated subscription systems which updates itself via a 8mb internet connection.
Like it or lump it, It does seem to be the future at least as far as background music systems go.
I suppose its only a matter of time before somebody with a little money behind them comes up with a national pub dj system, along the lines of Burtons Instore DJ http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/smile.gif . One 'name' DJ spinning the music from a central studio, and the whole thing being carried by a network of Clubs via the Internet / Satellite. I'm sure that this would appeal to some DJ's, I mean, why get paid for a set in a club, when you can get paid for appearing in 50 on the same night http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif
You could also have a choice of several or more name DJ's all broadcasting their own content and style - The clubs can choose which show they connect to, and have Judge Jules, Thursday night, Boy George on Fridays, and Dave Pearce on Saturdays. Some already forego the public apperance in order to do shows on Radio already, so I don't see what difference it would make, certainly if the money offered was good.
Of course it also means the content could be exactly the same no matter which club you go into, but if several shows were on offer and judging by the condition of some clubbers, by 1AM as long as the beats are repetitive, who the hell will notice http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wacko.gif
Eventually when we are all paying £3000 road tax, and £10 a Gallon for Petrol internet syndication and digital jukeboxes may be the only way to go http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif
Incidentally, I visited one pub whilst I was on holiday in a coastal town in Yorkshire which had a PC behind the bar, and a screen over the optics which displayed nothing less than Winamp. It's entirely possible that some files on there were not strictly legal, certainly I have visited more than one hotel in the course of my work, which has more than its fair share of CDR's in the BGM or left on the side by the resident DJ I'm sure many here will say the same. However you never really see that discussed do you?, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.
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QUOTE Dont over react ... and dont make a big issue out of this or it wont be long before the govenment bans cameras.... Didn't some Schools and LEA's already move into banning parents from taking cameras into School Plays and sports days?
Over reaction and a sign of the lunatics taking over the Asylum certainly, but if parents are banned from taking pictures of their own kids within the school, it doesn't give Dj's much right......
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I worked for a while at a Club nr Buxton, it paid £120 a night - no agency
After my parole period http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/smile.gif , when it came to negotiating a contract, the subject of money came around, and whilst I was willing to work for £120 on a trial basis, I wanted more when it came to a contract, as I would naturally be turning down better paid mobile functions for the night.
Sadly, the manager didn't want to pay anymore, so we parted company. However he has had no shortage of DJ's who were willing to work for £120!. However they've come and gone, which may be a tribute to their skills and reliability....or should I say a sign of the lack of them.
At the end of the day, non of us are indespensible, nor should we try and convince ourselves otherwise, there will always be somebody willing to work for that little bit less. However, if you are good at what you do, and have enough faith and determination to market it, then you should have no problem with moving on into a field which pays better.
Sadly, some people get stuck in a rut, they do have the skills to get better money, but are complacent to remain where they are, because they haven't the drive to carry a change through, or perhaps its just regular, confirmed work and in some cases it is better the devil you know........... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/smile.gif
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in his own words, "he's taking a break from the UK Forums"
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You'll need permission from each Child and their Parent / Guardian
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Reading the posts which you refer to, I believe that Kingy was refering to the fact that it is not soley down to you to police each individual DJ.
Yes, you can advise people and you can set them off with good intentions, but at the end of the day, if people have made their mind up to do something in a way that is entirely opposite to your advice, then they'll often go off and do it in their own sweet way.
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You mean like that!
For Gawd's sake don't start a thread entitled, why has my avatar changed
http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/071.gif
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Personally, id go with what is on the official PPL Site,
PPL Site Digital DJ Licence FAQ
Or email the PPL Directly with your question.
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QUOTE I paid my £235 to transfer 20000 tracks to digital format for use at public events No, you paid the PPL via the Digital DJ licence for the right to PLAY your transfered music at a public event.
The MCPS deal with the conversion process, and to my knowledge by just buying the Digital Dj License you haven't paid them anything! (The PPL and MCPS are different bodies entirely). Therefore, in theory you can still be prosecuted by the MCPS for converting the music from CD to MP3 and for not seeking permission of the copyright holder in order to convert their music regardless of whether you have a Digital Dj license and whether you do private or public performances.
By having a Digital DJ licence you are legal in the eyes of the PPL, but what about the MCPS?. Do you have an SG-6? because you need one! - if not then your Digital Dj Licence is worth nothing.
Taken from the Digital DJ FAQ on the PPL website
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Do I need any other licences?
If you are copying or storing digital copies of sound recordings, you are copying and storing the musical and lyrical compositions featured on those sound recordings. You therefore need the licence of the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (“MCPS”), which controls the copying rights of composers in the UK. If you use the DJ Database to perform sound recordings in public, either the venue or you will need to obtain a public performance licence. What if I don’t get a Digital DJ Licence? You will be unable to use digital copies of sound recordings in PPL’s repertoireIt does make me wonder how many people read the small print of what is essentially a legal document and contract before they buy it.
QUOTE The people who impose these silly rules should really sort this mess out. I quite agree, Which is why many Digital Dj's are not buying the Digital DJ Licence, and others have grudgingly gone back to CD, because the DDL is only half of the story and even if you have one, you now still need to pay the MCPS 10p in royalties for every track you have converted
I suppose if you just did private functions (Where you wouldn't need a PPL Digital Dj license) and obtained an SG-6 from the MCPS then you would be covered for using a laptop / PC at private events but that is only an opinion and not legal advice.
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Remember your mother telling you never to accept sweets from strangers?
Here's Why!
http://70.84.143.196/~chris/trick.jpg
Uk Web Host
in Website Building & Discussion
Posted
A lot of those mentioned have servers /support based in or outsourced to the U.S and Tony did mention a UK host.
For a true UK Host (server, billing and support) then Clook Internet are renowned for their uptime and end user support. They are not the cheapest around, but then again you get what you pay for and a 100mb / 2GB package at £30+Vat a year is still excellent value for money.
They also offer Cpanel control panel and Fantastico which offer many standard features and easy to add scripts as well as very detailed visitor stats as standard., and Jim, the guy who runs it is very helpful.
Their servers are housed in the Redbus Datacentre in London making them a true UK host, rather than just a UK reseller for a US Datacentre