Interview with DJ Sparko

[Paul Smith 0]

After a short break the DJU interviews are back http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Read the exploits of DJ Sparko here.....

 

1. What is your DJU Forum Alias?

dj sparko

 

2. What is your Real Name, Age, Location & Marital Status?

Mark, 20, Manchester/Salford, girlfriend (well actually she's dating my wallet) http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif

 

3. What is the Name of your Disco?

Just known by my residency entertainment side of the business

 

4. How long have you been a DJ?

Well now err say around 4 years

 

5. What inspired you to become a DJ

Well I think it was all the hype and persona around actually being a dj, you know you're the main man of the night sort of thing if you get what I am saying? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/huh.gif Then when I found out its a high paid job in one night the money obviously became a factor http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

 

6. Are you a member of a DJ Association / Union?

Not as of yet

 

7. What is your favourite type of function now? (eg: Wedding, 18th Birthday party, etc)

Middle aged birthday party (40th/50th) as I get to play a good range of music

 

8. What’s the worst/most embarrassing thing you've done in front of an audience?

Striped (by request of the audience of course) haven't a clue what I was thinking of

 

9. If you could go back to the beginning of your DJ career is there anything that you'd do differently? (eg: The gear that you bought, the way you promoted/advertised yourself)

Got to be the gear I started off with, it was abysmal, and probably would of got alot more knowledgable about music and what to play and what not to play to get the crowd going

 

10. What do you feel you offer the public that convinces them to book you rather than "the next guy/girl"?

My bubbly personality and confidence in myself to provide a good night music to cater my crowd on the night

 

11. Have you ever bought something for your show that you wish you hadn't? and why?

Rope lights, bought them, never used them

 

12. What's your next DJ purchase likely to be?

God where do I start? New amp and speaker system, more/better overhead lighting and an adequate stand for them, p.s. really want to start using a laptop and dj,ing from that. (but funds are tight and I have other financial obligations oh well).

 

13. If you could get someone to invent a new piece of disco equipment for your show, what would it be?

A self building and break down show

 

14. What was the worst equipment failure suffered during a gig?

A COMPLETE blow out of every thing

 

15. What do you think is the best thing about DJ'ing?

The high you get when the crowd is absolutely rocking, as you have done that and brings a sense of accomplishment

 

16. What do you think is the worst thing about DJ'ing?

Putting up with the http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/pooh.gif you get from guests either drunk or just blatantly mivering you hindering you from doing your job

 

17. What would make you stop DJ'ing (if anything)?

When I now longer can get any one on the floor.

 

18. How do you think DJ'ing will change, in the next 5 years?

There will be more djs and more and more useless equipment punted out as gimmicks

 

19. Most stupid thing anyone's ever said to you at a gig?

Are you the dj, you don't look like a dj? (more than once) when the guy has sat 2 tables away from all night and asks me this when I've got phones around my neck and pushing buttons on the console cuing up the next track

 

20. Best advice you were ever given by a fellow DJ?

A couple of things..... play to the majority not the minority e.g. its a 21st and 75-80% of guests are old(ish) play what will get them up but also to please the b,day person, throw a few in from their era

 

Also you cant please every soul do your best as that is all anyone can ask of you

 

21. And worst advice you were ever given?

'If they want to do karaoke just give them the mic and let them sing over the track if you dont have the actual equipment for it, it makes no difference'. mmmmm ok then and watch my amp peak in the read zones or potentially blow it all together while some beered up madam screeches I will survive down the mic for a couple of mins.

 

22. How do you keep up to date with music? (eg Promo monthly CDs, Downloads, Purchase from retailer)

Purchase from retailer or download and burn cds

 

23. Name 3 songs that 95% of the time will fill the dance floor for you!

Dance the night away; Mavericks

 

Working my way back to babe; Detroit Spinners

 

Saturday night at the movies; Drifters

 

24. Mode of transportation.

I have a residency, all my gear locked up there

 

25. What is the furthest that you've travelled from home for a single gig?

10-20 miles?

 

26. Approximately how many gigs have you done to date?

Haven't a clue

 

27. What is the largest/smallest audience numbers you've played to?

Did a 50th booked for 60 only 10 turned up

 

Did a wedding around 200-250

 

28. What is your main (most successful) form of advertising your disco?

Word of mouth (in my opinion)

 

29. Have you ever had someone try to claim off you? (eg: Public Liability Insurance or other such legal action)

Never

 

30. Add any additional comments which you would like to include here...

Thanks for the opportunity for carrying out this interview and thanks guys and girls for taking the time to have a butchers at it

 

cheers

 

Mark http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

 

[djwesty 0]

nice one great to see the interviews are back its good to hear other peoples stories thanks to everyone whos taken the time to do one

[music box 0]

Good interview Mark

well done and keep it going

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/toot.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/toot.gif

[Dukesy 0]

Excellent stuff!

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