Interview With Norfolk Dj

[Paul Smith 0]

Rob aka Norfolk DJ has put his choccie eggs to one side for a few minutes to take part in a DJU interview. Read about his exploits, advice and opinions here ......

 

1. What is your DJU Forum Alias?

Norfolk DJ.

 

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

Robin, 39, South Norfolk, Married for 18 years!

 

3. What is the Name of your Disco?

Falcon Roadshow

 

4. How long have you been a DJ?

First gig was my sisters 18th party in1982, so that's 25 years ago.

 

5. What inspired you to become a DJ?

I used to use my sisters record player and change over 45's as quickly as possible, trying to talk inbetween each track, a bit like a radio DJ.

 

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

No.

 

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

40th birthday. Must be my age.

 

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

First paid gig I did was for a youth club. The microphone lead fell off leaving me with no mic for the rest of the night. I went out and bought s Sure mic the following day for £60. Expensive in 1983.

 

once at a wedding a twisted my ankle setting up and had to sit down all night. It then took me 2 hours to load up at the end of the night as I had to hop on 1 leg in and out of the venue like long john silver!

 

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)

I suppose, like most of us, money is always an issue when you start up, so my answer is better speakers. I probably could have been slightly more pro-active in promoting the roadshow.

 

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

Experience in the main. Having covered most scenarios. A personal service, understanding what the client wants out of the function. Wide range of music and playing what people want rather than what I might want to play!

 

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

Yes, I bought a pair out soundlab 100w moonflower scanners about 6 years ago, which were on offer. Nice and bright for the money, but unable to control the angle of the scan, so what happened was the all the light was to the left or right of the dance floor and the middle was in darkness!

 

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

I'm having a rest buying equipment (well that's what I told the wife) A mackie or DB powered sub.

 

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

Tricky question. A free roadie who doesn't answer back!

 

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

Nothing major to date. Just the odd minor thing, like loose leads, tripping over cables.

 

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

Money, playing music you like and meeting people.

 

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

Rude punters. I always think we are looked down on by some but not all people. I think the 'Dj' image which most people think off is the guy in the wooden village hall playing the birdies song.

 

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

My wife or mother-in-law. No thinking about it, poor health. I think I will know when to give up, and I suspect that during 1 gig, I will know that is the last one. Maybe not a planned ending then.

 

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

For me not much. The hard drive advancement look exciting, and interests me, but I like my CD's.

 

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

About 5 years ago, I announced the first dance at a wedding for julie and mick but it was actually for amanda and paul. too many wedding that summer! The guests thought that I had done it on purpose, and it seemed to perk everybody up! I great night.

 

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

By yourself don't try and copy others, and buy decent kit.

 

21. And worst advice you were ever given?

Don't Dj

 

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

Cd's and downloads. Less important to keep up to date now compared to say 20 years ago.

 

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

Billy Ocean - Love Really Hurts Without You.

Take That - Relight My Fire

Contours - Do You Love Me

 

24. One piece of advice you'd give to someone just starting out.

Listen to what the client want's you to play. Buy decent kit. My dad bought a Citronic Avon for me when I started out and it lasted 18 years. In those days, Cittronic were the Denon of turntables. Don't compromise on sound quality. You will regret it. Lighting can always be added to at little expense.

 

Oh I think that's 3 peices of advice!

 

25. What medium format do you mainly use eg vinyl, CD, hard-drive?

CD.I still have my vinyl somewhere.

 

26. Have you embraced/adapted any ideas that you've read about on DJU?

Yes, I enjoy the forum. Excellent views and advice. I particularly enjoy the music discussion, and have 'dug up' some tunes which I had forgotten about and played these with sucess. It's a good thing that we don't always see eye to eye on everything!

 

The technical advice particuarly from Gary and Marky has been spot on.

 

27. What is your best gig ever and your worst?

40th birthdays are a winner or any set theme night eg 70's or 80's.

 

The worst was a 'charity night' on the coast where fighting broke out with drunken teenagers and the police came and ended the night at 9.30pm! Still got paid though!

 

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

Word or mouth, brings better paid functions.

 

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

No.

 

30, How many gigs do you do a year, how many would you like to do?

Varies somewhere between 30 - 60. Depends on me rather than what comes in. I like being semi-pro.

 

31. What is your average charge for a booking?

£200 as an average.

 

32. How many tracks do you have in your music collection?

10,000.

 

 

[Dukesy 0]

A great read - really interesting Robin! :Thumbup:

[EdBray 0]

:good:

[High Fidelity 0]

:Thumbup: Nice one.

[andyw 0]

great interview :thanks:

[Mattaious 0]

Good read,

Glad to see someone else has introduced te wrong couple at a wedding aswell ,

 

 

lol

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

Well done sir!

Some good answers there. smile icon

[stevemarshall 0]

Great interview Robin, I remember Citronic decks still have one works well after 30 years!

[brianmole 0]

Cittronic were the Denon of turntables

Surely this can't be right! :scared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citronic is spelt with one T

I also cut my teeth on a Citronic Thames - the RR of decks at the time :nbow:

 

Good interview young man smile icon

[Tonsk 0]

Crikey - You think you know somebody and then you read this....

[Norfolk DJ 0]

Crikey - You think you know somebody and then you read this....

 

Tonsk

 

Was that the mother in law part?

 

 

Rob.