Interview With James Murphy

[Paul Smith 0]

We travel to Weymouth for the next in our popular interview series. Read all about James below smile icon

 

1. What is your DJU Forum Alias?

James Murphy

 

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

James Murphy, 46, Weymouth – Married with 2 sons

 

3. What is the Name of your Disco?

Impact Disco

 

4. How long have you been a DJ?

First time round, was in 1977, when I was a fresh-faced, good looking, skinny teenager with loads of hair. Second time round was April 2006 – not so fresh-faced, not so skinny, no longer with a full head of hair, but still incredibly good looking (I wish!)

 

5. What inspired you to become a DJ?

My love of music. My dad had a Grundig reel to reel tape recorder when I was a baby and he always had all the chart music so I developed my love of music early on. When I first started, it was purely because I got into Disco early on and wanted to play it at parties. Second time round it was a business decision.

 

6. Are you a Full/Part Time DJ? If part time what else do you do?

It has become part of my overall business. We have trampolines, Candy Floss, Slush machines etc that we take to fetes, shows etc, The disco was intended to be an add-on to the business. However, It has become my favourite part of the business and it’s becoming the focal point, and the part where I am investing more time and money into it.

 

 

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

I suppose I enjoy the 40/50/60th parties the most because of the music they ask for.

 

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

Early on, I was halfway through an evening when the sound went dead. My amp and music had no music at all and I was scrabbling about like a loony trying to find out what had happened for what seemed like ages. It turned out that a little boy squeezed behind a fruit machine in the club and managed to pull out the plug from the wall socket!

 

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)

Start off with better equipment. Decide which market I was looking to cater to.

 

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

Service. I like to tailor each disco to the client’s needs. As much as I love the music, we are primarily a service provider and I like to go the extra mile. My Dad used to say ‘Treat people as you want to be treated’ and I like good service.

 

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

Oh yeah! 2 police lights. Used them once and realized how naff they were

 

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

I quite fancy some Martin Acrobats

 

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

2 things- An amp that doesn’t weigh a tonne and a way of setting up everything without wires.

 

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

Had my mixer die on me a couple of weeks ago, but had a spare so not a big problem as it failed whilst I was trying out.

 

15. What do you think is the best thing about DJing?

Being told that they’d had a great night.

 

16. What do you think is the worst thing about DJing?

Getting home late – you have to remember I am pushing 50! I should be at home with a cup of cocoa and some slippers…lol

 

17. What would make you stop DJing (if anything)?

When I stopped enjoying it I suppose.

 

18. How do you think DJing will change, in the next 5 years?

Hopefully we’ll be seen in a more professional way. I think as time goes on, the good DJ’s will get better and a gulf will appear between the good and the cowboy which will become noticeable. I went in a pub the other night and they had a DJ who was using Media Player as his vehicle of choice! The crowd were complaining about the gaps between each song as he waffled to fill the gap. And this was in a town centre pub. The public seem to be becoming that much more sophisticated in what they want and so only those that are willing to invest and learn will prosper.

 

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

‘I DJ in an old people’s home, and I find that rock’n’roll works a treat. That’ll get this party going!’ This was at 7.45 at an 18th birthday party. And the guy was deadly serious.

 

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

Too much to mention. I find this forum is excellent for picking up hints and tips. The other thing is I’m always looking to learn, so I even the smallest thing can improve what I do, so please guys, keep adding your comments.

 

21. And worst advice you were ever given?

“Two can live as cheaply as one” from my Mum when I started going out with my wife…lol

 

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

Downloads mostly, but still buy CDs.

 

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

Cha Cha Slide

I don’t feel like dancing

YMCA

Thank God for Cheese!

 

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

Don’t develop an ego, remember this is a service industry and you’re only as good as your last gig.

 

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

I love OTSDJ. So it’s MP3s for me – although it took me nearly 3 years of my spare moments to get all my stuff converted. Glad I did it though.

 

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

As I said before, too many to mention. Thanks to guys like Eskie, Big Ben and ADS for their advice when asked.

 

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

Best Gig – A wedding last month. 500 people, and most of them dancing all night.

Worst Gig – A wedding last year where the bride was an Irish lady in her 50s who had a playlist that she wanted – an entire night of Daniel O’Donnell, the Fureys and music of that ilk along with MOR music and the only danceable song of the evening – Dance the night away by the Mavericks. Hardly anyone danced. I was very despondant all night, but at the end of the evening, people kept coming up saying how much they’d enjoyed the music, and I got a lovely letter from the couple saying that of all the things that had happened that day, I had been the shining star as I’d done exactly as they’d wanted, even though they knew that I’d have filled they floor had I been given the choice of what to play. So although it was the worst gig on the night, it actually wasn’t.

 

28. Apart from 'Word of Mouth' what is your main (most successful) form of advertising your disco?

Website

 

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

No

 

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

I think all credible DJs should raise their game to rid the industry of the cowboys – who knows, we may even get more money when the public see the difference. (Not a dig at anyone – just a thought)

 

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

Last year I did 72. This coming year I’d like to do less but raise my money, but then wouldn’t we all…lol

 

32. What is your average charge for a booking?

£175

 

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

22,000 +

 

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

No

 

35. What is your favourite music genre?

Hard to put my finger on it as my musical choices change with my mood. But I am a teen of the disco generation so I suppose If I had to choose one genre that would be it.

 

 

[andyw 0]

great interview james,we had the plug pulled out at our very first gig( a school disco,a freebie for charity)everything happens in slow motion the heart stops until you see the little i(you know what) in the corner laughing holding the plug.as for answer 19 last time i come up to you in a disco :bouncy:

thanks for taking part

andy

 

[wizard 0]

Some very wise words their. Excellent read. :good:

[jamesmurphy 0]

Thanks guys! Comments appreciated...even the bad ones...lol

[Andy Westcott 0]

Superb job old man! :Thumbup:

 

Not sure about widening the gulf between the cowboys and those who actually care about the service they provide; I feel the latter are in the minority and will remain so - a cowboy is what most people get to see.

 

No problem though - just maintain a good reputation, which you are obviously doing!

[Mattaious 0]

Excellent read and some good comments :Thumbup:

[Paul Smith 0]

I think all credible DJs should raise their game to rid the industry of the cowboys – who knows, we may even get more money when the public see the difference.

 

I don't think we'll ever see the end of the cowboy market in this industry. Even when you look at service providers who are regulated by legislation there are still cowboys who operate by doing it cheaper.

 

My own way of dealing with this is to operate in a different market sector to them because there are people out there who will pay a higher price for a professional service.

 

I also believe that there are more of these kind of people than many think but some DJs will never find out because they are basing their pricing on what the 'cowboy market' charges.

[Dukesy 0]

Great read! :Thumbup:

[jamesmurphy 0]

Funny you should say that Paul.

 

I have been thinking about trying to market myself to the higher paying client. In fact, I did ask the question on here a few weeks ago, but couldn't seem to get any advice.

 

I did however chat to Rendezvous in NZ and he gave me some hints and tips.

 

I'm going to see what I can do to improve my service and equipmnt and take it from there.

 

The hardest thing is tapping in to the market though.

[deejaymitch 0]

Great interview!!!