old soul

Sounds like a lot of fun, you going to change your name to Buster Bloodvessel for the night? I did a party in a bar last summer when I started playing some early 80's tracks, played Ghost Town by the Specials, and got a couple of requests for more Two Tone stuff, ending up doing over an hour of Ska type stuff, as well as veering off into things like The Jam, the place was bopping and it was great fun.

There's no legal requirement for PAT, but it is a duty of care, and if something should happen, and you can't show that you've made all reasonable provisions to be safe, then look out. I do believe that there are quite strict guidelines on working hours for under 16's, but could be wrong.

I think the original post paints a bleak picture of DJ'ing if that's really how the majority work, and is it? How many honestly turn up with a playlist prconcieved and just play it, regardless of audience? Isn't it more the case of having a bigger picture, built up by experience, and client meetings of what is likely to be wanted, and then adapting and adjusting as the evening goes on, tayloring things to audience reaction. Earlier evening gives the opportunity to try different tracks and genres and guage reactions, requests help with this too. Be honest, how often is tonight's gig a repe

Turnover would normally be considered to be all incoming money.

I would guess that an established mobile disco business, with maybe a residency or two, and perhaps as the "preferred DJ" at a couple of places could concievably run a busy and succesful business without the need to recourse to paid advertising. I would also guess that those businesses whilst around are few and far between. As a sidenote, one good cheap method of advertising I use is local Parish Magazines. They normally cost about £10-20 per year, you get a monthly add, and often a bigger circulation than you may think. As they normally carry details of local services and tradesman, peop

No I'm probably not explaining myself very well, she was dead set on an entire night of extremely heavy stuff, which I know was going to fail due to the guests she would invite. I was desperately trying to talk her out of this, and eventually the second list seemed to make the penny drop.

Welcome aboard :) Be sure to have a good poke around, there's a whole heap of good stuff on here.

I tend to go shirt and trousers most of the time, maybe a suit at a wedding, but no tie if I could help it as I hate them. Having a fat neck and double chin probably doesn't promote my love of them particularly. Pub gig, would be black jeans and either shirt or polo shirt.

I was talking to a girl/woman last week regarding a gig she wants me to do for her at the end of the year. It's an engagement party, she's 26 and it will involve a large age range, I do know quite a few of the expected guests and the core age range is likely to be 30-45. I asked her to think about between 12 and 20 tracks which she would like played, expecting something in a couple of months time, after all it's about 11 months to the party. As it happens she came back within hours, gave me a list of music, as well as suggestions to the general music theme. All great, except we are talkin

Yes to Jackie Wilson said, and Geno. I'd never realised that there were versions without the fiddles at the start, I'm sure I've got it on CD with the fiddlers beginning (they were called the Emerald Express btw) I'll have a check tomorrow. I know I've got it on two or three albums (CD's)

Probably not really my place to comment here, as I'm both fairly new, and only recently back into this profession. However, I would like to take some issue with some of the above points regarding "forums" or "chat boards". I DJ'ed from the mid 80's through to the mid 90's on a very regular basis, not full time, but often matching my daytime income. During that time I knew about four or five other mobile DJ's, and spoke regularly to two of them swapping ideas and sometimes gigs. Club DJ'ing I mixed in a slightly wider spread circle, but invariably worked the same nights with same group of DJ's

Interesting point, personally I have to say that I always found it far easier to mix on 1200's than I ever did with CD. On the point of the post though, I only ever get positive comments with regards the PC and software, but then again, many still listen to wax cylinders around here (Now they are a bitch to mix smile icon )

I know what you mean, and I think it's easy to feel like you are doing this. I have groups of 3 or 4 songs that I tend to play together because they fit well, and make a nice set. However, after I read this thread I looked at some playlists, specifically for the Marina bar that I do on a regular basis, and despite me thinking I do the same show once a month when I'm there, it actually varies enormously. early evening tend to be similar in terms of music style, but after about 10/10-30 they all go off in very different directions. So my point is, whilst you may feel you are doing this, may

Mike Just a quick point, as you've had enough advice I'm sure, and will do what you think is best, and good luck whatever you decide. I did almost precisely what you are suggesting New Year's Eve. I wasn't working and went with the Wife to party at a friends house, along with other's of my family. I had agreed to sort out the music, and used my laptop, a 400W amp and some small PA speakers I have. Prior to NYE I actually spent time not just preparing playlists, but recording short sets (imo unless you want to top and tail every track you rip leaving the software to fade them in

:cense:cough:cense: used to DJ in a white suit :cense:cough:cense: with the full George Michael stylee big boufant hair :cense:cough:cense: Stopped a couple of months ago though, so all's good :chad:

Had a similar discussion recently with my Dad, who's on the local Parish Council. I think you'll find that they do need PP, and also that the highways agency can and do object. It's often the case though, as I understand that the local Council or either too spineless, or can't be bothered to act.

Jeff Beck - Hi Ho Silver Lining, I really really really hate it.

Did I smell that bad last night that you're now referring to me as a fish? Actually i'd forgotten about the women asleep, so you could have saved yourself some embarresment there, and so could I if I could spell it I got a couple of pictures as we were setting up, but haven't downloaded from the camera yet, I'll put one up when I do. As Tony said, once it started there wasn't much to take piccies of, which was predictable really, the one we did a fortnight ago was stuffed out with long, long legs and short dresses, and we both forgot cameras, last night we both remembered, and wel

I worried a bit about this when I started ripping mine, but to be honest, the search functions are so good on most of the software that I don't think it's actually as important as you might think. I now just have folders for eras, 60's 70's etc, one for rock, disco and new charty type stuff which also contains my NTWICM CD's, but in all honesty, I could probably chuck them all in one big folder and not notice the difference. The tags are more important imho for browsing.

Tony B and I played a christmas tune a fortnight ago lol. I'll let him enlighten you if he feels the need though :aa

Plenty of cheese prepared I hope

It would probably depend on the audience and their age, but if it's something like a 40th I'd be more happy sticking to the original, which people will remember well, something like "Never Gonna Give You Up" would have been quite big in 12" format anyway, so I'd probably play that, and if it went down well would probably mix it into Colonel Abrams "Trapped"

You gonna review and rate the trolley tongue out icon

I had a problem a few years ago when doing a 40th birthday party. The gear came out of a cold garage, went into the trailer, and was then transported for an hour on a very cold night. I set it up in a very hot and steamy rugby club, only to find that everything got covered in condensation. Not a problem especially, except the CD players refuse to read any CD's. After about half an hour, one began working OK, but it took about an hour and a half before I could a second one functioning, which meant a lot of microphone work between tracks People were aware of what was going on, and on the who

Could I just say that I'm not able to make this, though it's perhaps a bit late now anyway, but would be quite interested in any future meets. Just a vote of confidence and show of interest really.