Fancy a laff?? Here's my disco setup!

[Andy Westcott 0]

OK, I decided, in a moment of madness, to take a photo of my disco setup just after I finished setting for a kids' disco on Friday night.

 

I usually don't take a lot of notice of how it looks at this stage, because when it gets dark and the lights are on, I think it looks OK.

 

But after looking at the photo in the cold light of day, as it were, I don't like it so much. The speakers are way too big for the rest, although there's no way I'm changing that, as in larger venues they are worth while. The light panels look 'orrible, although again, once it's dark, all's well......

 

Basically, it looks as though the whole rig has been dragged out of a barn. This setup isn't suitable for high-class venues, and the bookings I accept reflect this; It is most certainly best suited for village halls, and that's where I do my gigs for now.

 

The light panels are old - I built those in the early eighties, and little has changed apart from safety enhancements and ballast resistors. Maybe change that brittle translucent plastic for some cleaner looking white perspex? Cracks have appeared over the years....

 

Now, I'm looking for some positive comments to make me feel better........

Please try hard. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/sad.gif

 

 

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/hosting/discosetup.jpg

[Danno13 0]

Its looks nice and neat and certainley better than a lot of disco setups.. even some i've seen in high-class venues.

 

I do think putting some grills on the speakers would improve the look no end!

[Paul Smith 0]

I haven't seen many rigs that look good in the cold light of day (my own included) but there have been a couple that I thought were impressive.

 

If you want to keep the light boxes how about draping a semi translucent material over the front? You could also try something similar with the speakers (or rent them out as holiday homes http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/smile.gif ).

 

I think the thing that spoils the look is too many colours that don't go together.

 

Did you take another picture after the lights went out?

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

Nice to see a sports hall with a good clean shiny floor...

 

you might want to get the caretaker to move those big old boxes out side so we can see your disco. can just about make out a lighting stand behind them http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/whistling.gif

 

 

So what changes are you planning on making first?

 

[analyst 0]

To be honest Andy I don't know what you're complaining about. Looks OK to me.

For a start, it doesn't look like it's been chucked together and falling apart.

 

Running a disco is not about keeping up with the jones's. If we all did the same what a boring world it would be.

 

I think Bananarama and Fun Boy Three summed it all up.

[Andy Westcott 0]

I feel better about it already! Cheers guys! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

To address some of the remarks so far:

 

Danno: Speaker grilles - a possibility, but I've no idea where to get such things from; Those circular grilles are pretty much the only protection available, but point taken.

 

Paul Smith: "too many colours that don't go together"

Not quite sure what you mean there. The blue box is a UV box, the blue bit being the protective cover, which gets removed. The 6 vertical light boxes are of primaries - red, green and blue, which flash in time to the music, but are rarely all on together. A video is the only way to really demonstrate this, but it is an efect I have always liked. For the historians on here, it's run by a Pulsar Zero 2250....

 

I didn't take a picture after dark as the kids were there then, and I'd agreed to no photos for obvious reasons.

 

Marc: I'm not necessarily looking at making changes, I'm just not sure I like the look of the rig in daylight. It looks disproportionate, mainly because of the speakers. I do have a smaller pair, but I think you might understand why I rarely use them.....

I could take them off the wheel boards, but that was a major breakthrough in back pain releif, and it stopped spilt beer from soaking up into the wood and covering.

 

Analyst: Bananarama issue - very true. And thanks for your views. I think part of my problem is that I've been seeing too many 'mininalist' rigs, like Rendezvous's, which look unobtrusive and neat, in the right setting.

Horses for courses?

[C.S 0]

Andy! if it works for you then fine, you are trying to do gigs not make a political or a fashion statement ! If it was my rig then i think i would have just had a starcloth booth and lose the light boxes but thats me !

[High Fidelity 0]

I think it looks very tidy and balanced. There's no unsightly wires hanging around, and if it looks good after dark when the disco is in full swing, and your not doing posh weddings where you're set up for the Wedding Breakfast, then IMO, there's nothing wrong with it.

[Dukesy 0]

I'ts not what you have, its how you use it!

 

Yes, very tidy.

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

[Paul Smith 0]

QUOTE (Andy Westcott @ Oct 22 2006, 08:44 PM)

Paul Smith: "too many colours that don't go together" Not quite sure what you mean there. The blue box is a UV box, the blue bit being the protective cover, which gets removed. The 6 vertical light boxes are of primaries - red, green and blue, which flash in time to the music, but are rarely all on together. A video is the only way to really demonstrate this, but it is an efect I have always liked. For the historians on here, it's run by a Pulsar Zero 2250....

I'm sure this all looks good when you are up and running but your question was specifically about the look of it in daylight hence my comment that there's too many colours that don't all go together (in daylight).

 

To be even more specific you are going from black to white via a brownish colour, then dark green then purple

 

QUOTE (Andy)

The light panels look 'orrible, although again, once it's dark, all's well......

 

You see you agree with me really http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif

 

The rig itself is all neat & tidy & symmetrical but my 1st impression was as stated - now someone who likes Photoshop and is fed up adapting Steve's picture could add a white / black cloth to cover the light boxes and we'll get an idea of how a few pounds could transform your set-up. (You could even remove it once the lights go out)

 

QUOTE (Andy)

Now, I'm looking for some positive comments to make me feel better........

 

Positive comments are great but you don't learn anything from them - they just boast your ego. I know I sometimes http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/censored2.gif members off on here because I don't just say 'That's fantastic'. The reason for that is because you don't gain from such a comment. If someone asks for my opinion (not specifically but inferred) then I think I owe them the courtesy of being honest but it is just my opinion after all - to be discarded at will.

 

Now I've started I might as well get on with it......... It's the end of a gig and people are coming up to shake your hand and thank you for a great night. I get to the stage where I just wish someone would say 'That was a great night, but .... '

 

In fact at last nights, which was good although I wouldn't say great, I tried to encourage a bit of constructive criticism by asking them 'What didn't you like about it?' - the replies were 'But I've just told you it was great' or 'Nothing' or they just looked at me confused.

 

OK I'm asking the wrong people because those that do take the time to come up at the end of the night only do so because they have something positive to say. I knew myself that there were things I could've done better and I'm sure there were some guests who thought the same - just a pity that, human nature being what it is, they won't tell me. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/amen.gif

 

 

[bigMCben 0]

QUOTE (Andy Westcott @ Oct 22 2006, 08:44 PM)

Danno: Speaker grilles - a possibility, but I've no idea where to get such things from

Get some 2x1 wood and make a rectangular frame that fits inside the edge of your speaker. Get some black gauze and stretch it across the frame, stapling it into place. Then secure this inside the front of the speaker.

 

With regard to your setup, the only thing that jumps out at me is the width of your setup, and whether the distance between your speakers could or should be narrower.

[D.X 0]

I've seen worse. A wedding I went to recently for one.

 

Awful lighting. Some were simply white always on lights like you get in a normal room.

Awful sound system. Crap sound with a lot of hissing.

Awful CD's or CD player. At one point every single track was jumping and he had to mix in the next track after 20 seconds.

Awful track selection too. Playing the fast food song is OK when the floor is full of kids but when it's all adults and one of them was my nan LOL.

 

To top it all off the DJ was drunk and hitting on all the women. Still, what do you expect for £100 http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif

 

PM Sent

Edited October 23, 2006 by Dukesy

[analyst 0]

QUOTE (D.X @ Oct 23 2006, 01:52 AM)

Still, what do you expect for £100

Actually, even for £100 I wouldn't expect any of that list.

[UKHero 0]

QUOTE (Paul_Smith @ Oct 23 2006, 01:31 AM)

The rig itself is all neat & tidy & symmetrical but my 1st impression was as stated - now someone who likes Photoshop and is fed up adapting Steve's picture could add a white / black cloth to cover the light boxes and we'll get an idea of how a few pounds could transform your set-up. (You could even remove it once the lights go out)

You mean like this

 

Nik

 

 

 

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/UKHero/discosetup2.jpg

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

there could be a simple solution...

 

A coat of mat black paint and black carpet to cover the speakers and same colour perspex on the light boxes..

 

I bet is all looks nice after that....

[Kingy 0]

Seen much worse Andy!!!

[Andy Westcott 0]

So've I actually.

It was just a bit of a shock seeing it in a photo, as I don't usually get to look at it critically in daylight.

 

I like the idea of covering the front with black cloth if I need to set up in advance somewhere - a good suggestion I hadn't considered. Thanks Nik for your Photoshop rendition.

 

"the only thing that jumps out at me is the width of your setup"

It can be reduced by omitting certain elements, but in practice it fits very well in almost all village halls I've visited, and if I have to set up on stage, it occupies the space nicely.

 

The only problem I have at the moment is if called on to do a gig in a pub - no room for the gear, but I avoid these anyhow. If I decide to crank up the business again to anything more than tick-over, I know I'm going to have to assemple a smaller, lighter rig for use in small venues and corners.

 

Paul, thanks again for you honest remarks. I do agree that a uniformity of colour would vastly improve the daytime appearance - a nice clean black is my favourite for this.

[The Ogrady Roadshow 0]

looks good but how do you move them speakers.... are they heavy???? (look it)are you doing many discos at the moment or is it more hobby than work??

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

[pareshj 0]

I think even a starcloth to hide the speakers would look clean and would also add a nice twinkly feel to your setup.

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

I think all has been said Andy..There`s nothing wrong with that... You can see just by looking at it that it does has finese...It looks well organised..

 

Keep on top of making sure things don`t get tatty, ie keep your cabs painted up, change cracked persects etc. This applies to all of us.

 

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

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (stevemitchell @ Oct 23 2006, 01:05 PM)

Keep on top of making sure things don`t get tatty, ie keep your cabs painted up, change cracked persects etc. This applies to all of us.

Wise words!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/thumbup.gif

[Andy Westcott 0]

Quote Disco3000:

"how do you move them speakers.... are they heavy???? (look it)are you doing many discos at the moment or is it more hobby than work??"

 

The speakers are fairly heavy, and the mid-tops units (2 each side) are surprisingly heavy! But being able to place them on the wheels helps no end, and in a larger venue they really work well and sound good.

 

As for doing discos, no, I'm not doing a lot at the moment - purely local stuff, including several freebies for various groups in my village. Hobby level for now then.

 

I built this sound system in 1999 to replace a crappier and lower powered one and did gig regularly with these up until 2002, when I decided to wind things down and let go for a bit - I won't go into details as to why, personal, roadie, etc, etc..

 

I do have a smaller speaker set, but I don't like the sound quality, so rarely use them unless I absolutely need to. Possibly looking for a decent alternative for use at kids' discos and small venues.

[Dave80s 0]

Why no photos after dark? "for obvious reasons" - I don't get it?

[Andy Westcott 0]

Young kids, and I'd agreed in the contract not to take photos during the event.

 

Obvious reasons? Some parents can get very 'funny' if they find out you've been photographing their kids, and the school respect that and asked me not to.

 

Best to play safe where youngsters are concerned. From what I hear, it seems all too easy to be accused of having 'indecent' images of kids, despite perfectly innocent reasons for having them.

 

Anyone else's thoughts on this important subject - or is it worth making a new thread on this?

 

EDIT:

I'm starting a new thread on this subject - any responses on there if you please. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/smile.gif

[Splosh 0]

Do you look and feel like Jimmy Saville????

 

If so, it's fine bud.................

 

lol.......

 

(sorry, silly mood today, no offence meant!!!)

 

Splosh