kazzachi 0 Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 Solid advice there steve!... Remember - there are no should do or shouldnt dos with mobile work... as long as you play to the crowd and not play stuff that is likely to offend then anything goes! WE LOVE KAREN, AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HER BACK !!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Link to post Share on other sites
paperman_uk 0 Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 Hi I've just started D.J'ing and I found your guide very useful, could have done with it two nights ago! I started out over a year ago doing karaokes at my local pub ( just a bit of fun at first with a player i got from Argos!) as time went by I replaced everything with better equipment and then found that while I was sorting out the next disc for the karaoke that i really needed to be playing some music and so began my first steps into Disco. Two nights ago I did my first Disco with no karaoke, and it was a birthday, I had worked out a plan of action for the party but it all went wrong before I even got started, first of all the venue wasn't ready on time that delayed every thing big time, the disco didn't even get started until 9:30, by which time most of the blokes were well and truly tanked up http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wine.gif, I had asked if a cake was going to be brought out and if they would give me warning so I could knock the lights off and have happy birthday cued up, guess what I just started playing Walking On Sunshine and people were beging to dance, and they brought the cake out! that killed that, The next hour was a total battle with drunks trying to give me there advice on what to play, I wouldn't have minded but when two of them started fighting cos they couldn't agree on wether i should play sex pistols or marvin gaye, I found my self feeling alittle lost. No one was dancing, people were shouting and it wasn't looking good, So what did i do when some idiot unpluged my disco thinking it was really funny? I remained calm started back up and put on gary glitter I'm the leader RESULT it was amazing they all got up and started singing at the top of their voices so I just put on as many tracks as i could were I would be sure they could sing, and the last 3/4 of an hour went sweet. At the end I had a head ache, hated myself and just wan't out of there as quick as possible. And what happend next, I got two more bookings on the spot and loads of handshakes! I hope it gets better, or I'm buying body armoure! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/1028.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/1028.gif Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisPointon 0 Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 Hi, Welcome to the DJU Forum http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif , Your gig sounds like some of mine. Everybody has good and bad gigs...and then the ones that make you wish that you'd stayed at home!. It's just unfortunate that when your first booking turns out to be like you've described, it can put you off D.J'ing for life. But you've just got to get back in there, and carry on, there are some very good gigs out there - like you've found out for yourself. D.J's tend to remember their first gig, just like you would remember a first car or first date, and it's a shame when the memories of that gig are horrific http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif Link to post Share on other sites
kazzachi 0 Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 paperman..... dont worry - its happened to us all at one stage or another! Dont be put off though - especially as you have got more work out of it! Us DJs are far more critical of ourselves than perhaps any audience - and remember - you got it right in the end..... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif WE LOVE KAREN, AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HER BACK !!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Link to post Share on other sites
The Spindoctor 0 Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 Paperman welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear it was a bit of a baptism of fire for a first gig http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif but lifes like that! You got more bookings, if that happens you can't be doing too much wrong.......... stick at it and visit here often! The Spindoctor Link to post Share on other sites
Dj_Kray 0 Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif Hello and welcome! well done on getting the 2 bookings http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif Link to post Share on other sites
Whisky In A Vase 0 Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 Out of interest what % of gigs do you lot get are good gigs to bad ones Link to post Share on other sites
kazzachi 0 Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 Id say the percentage of my good gigs are up in the high nineties.... I think if your percentage of bad gigs is more than fifty then possibly you are in the wrong job! WE LOVE KAREN, AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HER BACK !!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Link to post Share on other sites
partychris 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 I know from my experence that most people at a party only remember the last 1-2 hours !! and i must agree when i have a gig and i thing its a bad one, thats when i tend to be asked for a card or am i free for so and so date !! very strange. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisPointon 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 Just because people aren't dancing doesn't mean that they aren't enjoying themselves. Take Mr & Mrs average's Wedding Reception for example. A 1.00PM Wedding Reception, Photographs, Afternoon Reception with Food & Drinks, Speeches, More Drinks & Leftovers, Mingle with the relatives, More Drinks, Evening Guests Arrive Mingle with them, Sit down Meal or Buffet, more drinks, D.J starts playing..... If you'd been on your feet, stuffing yourself with food & drink since 1PM would you feel like dancing non stop for 4 hours??. Then you have the Evening Guest's Mingling with the Afternoon Guest's and yakking about what so and so is upto, not to mention the Guests and Old friends who haven't seen each other for XX years and all they want to do is chat and catch up. Yes, we hold the function together but as far as Joe Public is concerned, the D.J is low priority, the majority of guests are there by invitation and / or politeness and given the choice probably would have perfered a quiet pint and dominoes or Bingo at the "Hare and Hounds" on a Saturday and not a noisy disco!. If I were to put a figure on the Gigs which I have thought were a waste of time then I would put that figure at 80%, possibly as low as 60% given that I did 22 Weddings in a row over the last few months http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wallbash.gif . However more realistically, I would say 90% of my gigs past and present have been a nightmare in one form or another. QUOTE Id say the percentage of my good gigs are up in the high nineties.... I think if your percentage of bad gigs is more than fifty then possibly you are in the wrong job! Or the wrong function or the wrong area, so many factors to consider in a sweeping statement. If I did the Winkers Nights only, then I could possibly say that i've not had one gig where it has been a disaster (Possibly because people are paying to enter an establishment of entertainment to enjoy themselves - you wouldn't get Gran paying £5 to enter a dance music venue with an average age group of 18 - 24!). Now, a Wedding Only D.J leaves him or herself open to factors which you would have no control over, nobody has turned up to see you, or for the disco alone, they are there as a result of an invitation, and very occasionally at some function you leave thinking "Why the hell did they waste money on a disco when the majority of guests had taxi's booked for 10pm?" Link to post Share on other sites
Eskie 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 QUOTE Out of interest what % of gigs do you lot get are good gigs to bad ones Good ones for me are over 90% and most definitely agree with Kazz that if you're having mostly bad gigs, the problem is not the punters, you are the problem! If you go out to gigs with a negative attitude the audience will pick up on that and end result most likely that you'll have yet another bad gig; coincidence? I don't think so!! Anthony Winyard Entertainment www.awe-dj.co.uk, Entertaining London & the South-East! Click here to LIKE The Funky Penguin on Facebook. www.facebook.com/awe.dj Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Smith 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 What is the criteria to determine a good/bad gig? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif Personally I did use how busy the dance floor was during the evening but this alone isn't the full story. For instance 2 weddings at the beginning of the summer on consecutive nights. At the first the dance floor was never more than half full and I classed it as an average gig. Following the event I received a lovely letter telling me how great it was and also (perhaps more important) four more gigs from guests. On the second night the dance floor was overflowing all night and I gave it an 8 out of 10 but no thank you and only 1 booking from it (to date anyhow). As Party Chris says it's the ones which we think are bad that seem to give further bookings. Is the DJ the best person to make a judgement anyhow on how good he/she or the event is. As most of us are out gigging at the same time and therefore don't see others in action what are we comparing our 'greatness' or lack of it with? At the end of the day the proof of the pudding is in the number of referrals and repeat bookings we get. If more of these come from what I would class as an average gig (which I am comparing to the ones before it) then who am I to argue. PaulS Link to post Share on other sites
Eskie 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 To me it's a simple matter of whether you enjoy doing the gigs or not. If a dj dreads his upcoming gigs and feels it a grind to get through the night, then I would most certainly class that as a bad gig! Anthony Winyard Entertainment www.awe-dj.co.uk, Entertaining London & the South-East! Click here to LIKE The Funky Penguin on Facebook. www.facebook.com/awe.dj Link to post Share on other sites
C.S 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 I reckon i am up in the 90s too,also find that when i am most disatified with the gig i get more compliments,probably because if i feel things are going badly i try harder. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif I will try anything,once! The Cornish will arise again ! Manager of the Andy Harris Fan Club. Keep pasties Cornish Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Stewart 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 90's plus here as well, you only get out of a gig what you put in Mobile Party DJ For Weddings Parties Corporate Events Covering London Essex Kent Sussex Surrey Bucckinghamshire Hertfordshire & Essex Link to post Share on other sites
YourBigEvent 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 1845% here or has my calculator broken ? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif Like the rest of the replies I think most DJ should be in the 95%+ bracket at least, but a lot is state of mind, if you don't want a good gig it is never going to happen, start each gig as if it were your first and most gigs will be fine. BTW Chris I can't remember my first gig at all. .....but what do I know ? Your Big Event Office:01803 813540 Direct: 0797 0717 448 e.mail:info@yourbigevent.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
stevemarshall 0 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 high 90's here too Love doing gigs...hey they are fun:) Link to post Share on other sites
paperman_uk 0 Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 I havn't done too many Disco's yet so I can't say what percentage i give myself, but as I have been doing Karaoke sessions for the last year I'll give 100% for them, they are so much fun and the fact that the puinters do most of the work is even better, i.e. they choose the music and then they sing it, loads of banter over the mic's and hardly anyone ever dances but the atmosphere is fantastic. Disco's however I'm finding real hard work, but still rewarding mainly at that point where the whole dance floor is packed and everyone is jumping and singing at the top of there voices, the feeling that gives me makes up for all the hassel. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/071.gif Link to post Share on other sites
YourBigEvent 0 Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 QUOTE Disco's however I'm finding real hard work, but still rewarding mainly at that point where the whole dance floor is packed and everyone is jumping and singing at the top of there voices, the feeling that gives me makes up for all the hassel. Welcome to the mobile DJ world, you will get really bad gigs, or even hours then one record will change all of that and you will be looking forward to the next gig, only for it to happen again. .....but what do I know ? Your Big Event Office:01803 813540 Direct: 0797 0717 448 e.mail:info@yourbigevent.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
tonyj 0 Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 i'm in the 90's aswell. its true you think you've had a bad gig and as your packing up, your shaking hands with everybody and the brides father has given you a £20 tip........well ok the tip does happen as often as it use too.....lol we are working week in week out so you compare to the last gig you did, but the punter might not have been out for six months so its there best time in ages. Member of The Musicians Union "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work." Link to post Share on other sites
YourBigEvent 0 Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 QUOTE we are working week in week out so you compare to the last gig you did, but the punter might not have been out for six months so its there best time in ages. Very true .....but what do I know ? Your Big Event Office:01803 813540 Direct: 0797 0717 448 e.mail:info@yourbigevent.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
cmj 0 Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 Doing mostly clubs I would defo say you can judge on how busy the dancefloor is and whether or not you get a cheer and the end of the night!!! Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisPointon 0 Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 QUOTE (cmj @ Oct 18 2003, 03:50 PM) Doing mostly clubs I would defo say you can judge on how busy the dancefloor is and whether or not you get a cheer and the end of the night!!! Equally, in the same thought - you can be your own worst critic http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif Link to post Share on other sites
djnammu 0 Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 One thing Idd reall ylike to ask is How Do i decide as to what music is da correct music for the occassion, like teens will not dance on 70's music will they???? So how do I choose correct music as and the correct way to play??? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/095.gif DJ NAMMU http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/095.gif Link to post Share on other sites
paula 0 Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 QUOTE How Do i decide as to what music is da correct music for the occassion, like teens will not dance on 70's music will they???? So how do I choose correct music as and the correct way to play??? How did you play for your last disco where the dj was sick? I think as it was a friends party you knew what to play as you are in the same age group as them possibly have the same music tastes etc etc.....Yeah? Or you knew that through there age group etc etc that they'd be in to the latest chart music, yeah!!! It's called reading the crowd, the age thing means a lot what was being played in there late teens early twenties etc, also again what has your dj teacher told you? I'm sure some of the others will be along with some comments! But think about this! I'm gonna book you for my 30th birthday bash (in a year and a half http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif ) What would you play for me? (OMG!!! this could turn into a whole new thread,feel free to join in guy's who knows I might book one of you!) http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/071.gif Link to post Share on other sites
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