Interview With Revelation Roadshow

[Paul Smith 0]

It's a busy time of year but the interviews continue without an ad break. Up next it's ... you may as well read on to find out.

 

1. What is your DJU Forum Alias?

Revelation Roadshow

 

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

Matthew (but generally known as Matt unless your my mum!) Dawkins, 21 again (OK, some of you have met me....36 :-( ), live in a little town Called Saxmundham in East Suffolk and have been married to my lovely wife Amanda for 3 years

 

3. What is the Name of your Disco?

The Revelation Roadshow

 

4. How long have you been a DJ?

Way too long, which probably means not long enough. Started when I was 13, I'm 36 now - do the maths!

 

5. What inspired you to become a DJ?

It was more like a done deal really. Mother needed help at her school disco, Matt here thought he was volunteering to be a helper until mother came home and said "we've got you some decks and some lights". Sort of went from there. To be honest, I had a little break late 90's early 2000's so there must have been inspiration to start up again. I guess it was the night I was sitting in the pub, listening to the DJ in the next room and all i could do was say "I can do so much better than that". So I did (again!).

 

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

I'm one of the part time boys, but as a lot of you know I have a real desire to be a full time chap. The problem is being able to replace the day job income - what with two very crazy kittens to feed and a baby on the way. I spend my days working for Bernard Matthews - I'm the site technical manager for Suffolk (and yes, it was my site back in feb!)

 

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

By choice I would do 18th and 21st parties all day long. I absolutely LOVE the music and the vibe you get. Throw me a chance to mix some funky house and I'm in my element - maybe one of the reasons I keep resisting digital DJing (nothing like live mixing CD's). However last week saw the biggest function I have done for a while - a corporate christmas party - and that was just fantastic. So maybe I just love drunk up for it partygoers? Now that shouldn't be hard to find!

 

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

If you go back to the late 1980's I could probably reel of a long list. I grew up with the Radio one version of Steve Wright, so we used to do the "pervert at the window" with a radio mic, play "spoons" with the odd guest and have even been know to do a round of "pass the mic" (radio 1 roadshow days to the youngsters!). I also remember setting my mate up with a lovely young lass who I had already realised wasn't a lady, but again they were in the early days. I have to say my more recent moments are nowhere near as exciting!

 

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)

There are those times when you look back at the past, but I can honestly say I don't think I would change anything. it would be lovely to travel back in time and take some of today's technology with me, but actually I think that would spoil the way I am now. I was I believe fortunate to have grown up and learnt my trade from the bottom up. Nobody showed me how to do it or what with. I learnt on fixed speed Garrard turntables which taught me the art of slip mat mixing. The gear was all home made and probably dangerous in places (including the maplin home made sound to light unit in an ice cream tub that went bang at my 2nd gig), but I honestly think that if I hadn't done it that way I would know so much less now. It was a great way to learn the trade

 

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

God knows, I've seen the girl next door and I'm not a patch! In fact, I think that's probably it at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm confident in my own abilities, but I have always recognised that I have things to learn and ways to go. I love seeing other guys work and learning from them. Why book me now? Because I'm a great entertainer, well presented (if a little tubby) and i care about my clients. I'm also one of the rare remaining personality DJ's (although less and less now) and one of the "your party" people. Your Party? I firmly believe that the guy paying your wages is the person who has the right to tell you what he wants from you!

 

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

How long have we got? I guess the most recient was my I-Show 6b's. Looked great on the videos, but very very poor light output. I'm a Datamoon fan, so you might see why I was dissapointed. I am always buying little things I wish I hadn't - like that glow string stuff (which I found in a box yesterday), or maybe the "home made" flight cases, which were always way too big, difficult to carry.... see what I mean?

 

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

There are a couple of things on the list. After my comments about digital DJing in an earlier question, a Denon HDDN2500 is most deffinately on the list, although I think getting my poorly laptop back as part of the rig will happen first. Otherwise, the venue lighting / venue paint system I am currently developing will probably be the next thing. I'm using a mate's gear to run it at the moment, but will need my own soon - LED PARS and floods on the shopping list!

 

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

I want a complete just add water disco please. Carry the whole thing in in one hand, pop it in a glass of H2O and bingo! Seriously, I am the worlds worst organiser. I read stories of DJ's in and set in 30 mins and wish I could do that. I have a habbit of carrying so may little odds and sods around, or taking the whole of the van into a venue and only using half of it. So a nice new bit of technology that can make my rig easier to get in and out would be lovely please! But if we're trying to be a little more sensible, I quite fancy a moving head video projector - or do they already make those?

 

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

I guess it was the tweeters on my M-Flex going last summer, although the second one kindly managed to hold on until 5 mins before the end! Still, at least it allowed me to buy the Mackies, so not all bad!

 

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

The women!!!!! Ooooops, sorry I think the wife's reading this! Honestly, it's the huge buzz and excitement you get when it goes really well. It actually does make up for all those times when it doesn't go so well. I have always said, when the biz stops happening I'll give up!

 

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

"eaedrr maaaaaaateeeeee, git theeees Shhhhhhhiiiiiiiiii@@@@@ orfff, iiiiiiis craaaafffff" if you know what I mean

 

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

Not sure anything would. I'm going to be a dad for the first time in January and I have a feeling that that's going to change my life, so maybe that's what will do it (although I have already ordered the "My dad's a DJ" t-Shirt). I've also read a lot about violence towards DJ's on the forums of late. Not something I've had a great deal of problem with, but I have a feeling it would certainly make me think twice!

 

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

Let me get my crystal ball.... Honestly, I have no idea. Digital is going to have a huge effect I think and it does seem that LED technology is moving forward. Lets hope the future is smaller and lighter.

 

 

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

Me stupid? All the time really! I have on one occasion said a big congratulations to the bride and groom and called them by last weeks couples names. Oh you have to laugh!

 

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

Give up?

 

21. And worst advice you were ever given?

Give up!

 

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

It's mainly Napster these days, but I tend to keep up to date using the NOW albums and love a few bargains from woolies

 

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

Mastermix 100 track 2 - when it's all going pear shaped, otherwise, wham - wake me up before you go go and Scissor Sisters - I don't feel like dancing

 

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

Find someone who's already doing it and go help them out. I never had the chance to do that and actully, although I wouldn't change anything, I do sometimes wish I had had that sort of help at the start

 

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

I'm a Denon CD man!

 

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

All the time, I'm always learning. Not sure I can be specific at the moment, I guess I am the sort of person who shouts when he's stuck and takes on board the advice - like buying the Mackies recently I guess.

 

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

There have been so many and I love most of them. I have to say my Powergen one last Thursday was awesome. There was also a marquee wedding back in the summer - high society do with 250 wedding guests, it rocked. I just love doing that little tease of the next track and getting "play the f@@@@g song" mouthed at you from a packed dance floor! The worst was my only time it got violent. DJing a lovely wedding when, with 15 mins to go the groom grabbed me by the throat and pulled me accross the decks. We packed up very quickly that night!

 

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

The website, nearly all my work comes in that way

 

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

Nearly - looking very likely NADJ will get my money later this month - thanks to Derek for all your help this year!

 

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

last year it was about 30, mainly Saturdays. I would love for this to be my full time job - or does the fun go from it then?

 

31. What is your average charge for a booking?

Well prices start at £250, but I'd say the average charge for 2008 is looking like £350.

 

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

Am I meant to have counted them? Oooooo - lots I think!

 

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

Luckely not yet, fingers crossed

 

34. What is your favourite music genre?

Can't you tell? Funky House!

 

 

[DJH 0]

 

nice read matty.

 

i found out that compacting your set down does help in set up time, now got mine down to half a hour, and it used to be a hour.

 

just curious as to why the groom grabbed ya?

 

Haydn

 

 

 

 

[Mighty Quinn 0]

i found out that compacting your set down does help in set up time, now got mine down to half a hour, and it used to be a hour.

 

 

Ask about strip down time for last Thursday lol........ After 2 hours 20 mins i stopped looking at my watch and started praying. tongue out icon

Edited December 10, 2007 by Mighty Quinn

[deejaymitch 0]

Great interview. Totally agree about setting up times. And, yes, the fun definitely goes out of DJing when you go full time! BTW great town name!!!

[Paul Smith 0]

Just two more questions - Do you get a free turkey at Christmas? If so do you eat it, give it away or dump it? :joe:

[DJH 0]

Just two more questions - Do you get a free turkey at Christmas? If so do you eat it, give it away or dump it? :joe:

i think his xmas turkey was in the lorry that overturned last week that i went to, so maybe rev aint getting one this year...lol

[Norfolk DJ 0]

Good read Matt, enjoyed it!

 

Rob

[Revelationroadshow 0]

Just two more questions - Do you get a free turkey at Christmas? If so do you eat it, give it away or dump it? :joe:

 

Paul,

 

Yes, every member of staff at the Suffolk factory gets a free Christmas Turkey (although for some odd reason the senior management team (that'll be me) get a slightly bigger one! A propper butter basted golden norfolk turkey!

 

This is only my second Christmas working for them, so it was a novelty last year (even after my mother in law - bless her - decided it needed a wash... after all we only inject all that butter baste for show!). But yes, it gets eaten on Christmas day. It's actually quite a nice change to have the gravy and cranberry sauce. I do eat turkey daily (part of my job), but generally its just oven baked bits and bobs (and the of Golden Drummer as we make all those too!)

 

just curious as to why the groom grabbed ya?

 

Ah now there's a story. Booked to do a wedding. Groom says before hand "we want 'soul weekender' stuff". Then came the playlist which had very little 'soul weekender' tracks. Unfortunately at the time, 80's soul was not my strong point. Anyway, I played what was on the list, threw in a few alexanda o neal tracks - you know the thing. I was in a small room, no chairs, steps through a door into a room next door with seating, and the bar was out the room, turn left down the coridoor turn right, past the smoking lounge turn right again.... well you know the sort of thing. So I had full dance floor, empty dance floor and so on. The groom got drunker and drunker and it was one of those weddings where the older generation seem to have been left at home, so all late 20's kinda crowd. No complaints all night until 15 mins before hand the groom, very drunk, wandered over to me, grabbed me by the throat, pulled me over the decks and shouted "get this F';][ing Sh;;te off now your @@:{))&*^%%%&^$$$&%&.

 

[Mattaious 0]

Excellent Read

 

:Thumbup:

 

 

[D.X 0]

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

Matthew (but generally known as Matt unless your my mum!)

 

 

Yeah, I get that. My nan calls me Matty sometimes. Matthew is bad enough but Matty :protest:

Edited December 11, 2007 by D.X

[Paul Smith 0]

Yes, every member of staff at the Suffolk factory gets a free Christmas Turkey ... butter basted golden norfolk turkey!

 

tongue out icon

 

[TonyB 0]

A good read Matt. Having worked with you at a wedding I can say that your "client care" is exceptional. Nothing is too much trouble and you had both the clients and the venue management eating out of your hand by the end of the evening.

 

Well done.

[Revelationroadshow 0]

tongue out icon

 

Fool!!!!

 

The turkeys were born, grew up and lived in Norfolk!

 

Although if I was a football chap I might be more concerned - sure we could squeeze a few canaries into the kill!

[DJH 0]

sure we could squeeze a few canaries into the kill!

 

Dont let my missus hear that, you wouldn`t have any disco balls ....lol

[Tonsk 0]

Although if I was a football chap I might be more concerned - sure we could squeeze a few canaries into the kill!

 

You be a little quiet there Matt....

 

Or us Canary boys'll get ya!!

[Revelationroadshow 0]

You be a little quiet there Matt....

 

Or us Canary boys'll get ya!!

 

When were you moving back to Ireland? lol!

[Gary (GDK) 0]

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

I'm one of the part time boys, but as a lot of you know I have a real desire to be a full time chap. The problem is being able to replace the day job income - what with two very crazy kittens to feed and a baby on the way. I spend my days working for Bernard Matthews - I'm the site technical manager for Suffolk (and yes, it was my site back in feb!)

 

so remind me not to ask you for a catering quote for a party tongue out icon tongue out icon tongue out icon

[Cheesey1975 0]

so remind me not to ask you for a catering quote for a party tongue out icon tongue out icon tongue out icon

 

 

Count me out of asking you for a food quote as well lol

 

Cheers

:damn:

[big mac 0]

You be a little quiet there Matt....

 

Or us Canary boys'll get ya!!

Great read, honest and down to earth, and oddly funny! thanks for the time taken , lots