Interview With Glenn Knights

[Dukesy 0]

Paul is on holiday so I'm filling his gap...ooer!

Take it away Glenn!

 

 

1. What is your DJU Forum Alias?

 

I don't have an alias - what you see is what you get ! (couldn't think of one really )

 

 

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

 

Well.... my real name is Glenn Knights. I am rapidly approaching the big four zero (too rapidly ) and I am married.

 

 

3. What is the Name of your Disco?

 

The disco is called "The Mirage Mobile Disco"

 

 

4. How long have you been a DJ?

 

I have been running a mobile disco on and off for about 23 years (sometimes more off than on though)

 

 

5. What inspired you to become a DJ?

 

I remember watching a DJ in the mid 80's really enjoying himself at a party I was at when I was a teenager. I thought that it looked like fun...and fancied a go ! I ended up buying his rig off him !

 

 

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

 

I am very much a part time DJ, enjoying a hobby. I always offer a professional service but am happy with where I am at - at the moment.

As a "daytime" job, I am an Electrician (a proper old school apprenticed one too !!)

 

 

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

 

I enjoy them all. I don't try to specialise in a particular type of function - as long as the client and guests are happy that's good for me.

 

 

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

 

In a previous life I used to carry out various health and safety training. After a morning session standing in front of a room full of people I was told that I carried out the whole session with my flies undone

 

 

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)

 

The choices I made at the start of my disco "carrer" served me well at the time. However, last time around I hastally bought a set of speakers that promised the world but turned out to be a load of gash and total waste of money - so I learnt an expensive lesson in not rushing into things.

 

 

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

 

That's hard. I am honest in what I tell my clients and try to offer a fair price but can't say that I do antything in particular - maybe I should, any suggestions?

 

 

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

 

See answer nine above....

 

 

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

 

There are so many things I would like... a third cd deck maybe, a laser of some description, a Cortex, I could go on but funds won't let me, not sure about any scanners though.

I really need a bigger van as well !!

 

 

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

 

Some sort of audience filter device that "de-programs" those people who:

 

1. tell you to stop playing this because no one likes it - when the dance floor is full.

 

2. demand you play some some hard core whilst waving a pint in the direction of your gear.

 

3. tell you that should play suchandsuch because that will get evryone up - when everyone is up.

 

etc. etc..

 

 

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

 

I lost a tweeter once at a School disco - no one noticed though luckily.

 

 

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

 

Seeing everyone enjoying themselves and getting positive comments from the client and thier guests work for me. And don't you just love all those flashy lighty things too..!

 

 

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

 

Setting up and packing away (especially in the rain !!)

 

 

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

 

The loss of my enthusiasm or poor health (or the wife I guess !!)

 

 

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

 

I think we are heading for a digital world but at least it will save humping all those cd boxes about

 

 

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

 

see answers to 13 above !

 

 

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

 

"Dress smart - people always remember your appearance."

 

 

21. And worst advice you were ever given?

 

"You want to use a Telephone reciever as a headphone" (fair enough it works, but it sounds naff and hurts your neck if you need both hands)

 

 

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

 

I haven't ventured into the download department yet. I tend to buy from high street retailers (cd singles are getting hard to find though - can anyone recomend somewhere ?)

 

 

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

 

Ooh...

 

Cha Cha slide

The Grease mega mix

Sandstorm

 

You have to pick your moments though..!

 

 

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

 

Don't rush into any rash purchases - do your homework and find a dealer who will let you hear the and see the gear working.

Make friends with another DJ and go out on a few gigs with them (I still "roadie" for a good friend when I can).

Take time to set your gear up properly and do proper sound checks.

 

 

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

 

Everything is on cd at the moment but if I get my and get the cortex I guess I will be digitising one big pile of discs..!

 

 

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

 

I recently introduced booking forms and t's&c's. I spent some time looking at the ones that a lot of forum members had published and adapted them to suit my needs. So thanks to you all for that.

 

 

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

 

Best ever gig was a twentieth wedding aniversary party at a local social club. The clients were very specific about the music to be played which to start with sounded like it might be a problem, but the couple and thier guests really enjoyed the evening and I got a lot of good comments at the end and an extra tenner (and a future booking).

 

The worst wasn't really bad - just hard work. It was wedding for an American family.

They had specified thier first dance, father daughter dance, dollar dance etc which all went according to plan but when it came to the actual "party" part of the evening, thats when the hard work started - just when I thought I had found what they wanted to dance to - they sat down (all of them). This happened time after time - even for songs they were requesting. I was also pestered by a guest all night wanting to hear this and that but could have really used a shower. The odd thing was though they were all really enjoying themselves.

To top it all off though, after the Bride and Groom left (early and without letting anyone know) everyone started leaving so at about 10:30 the Brides mum came to see me and said that everybody was leaving and I could stop playing. I thought I had done something wrong but she assured me people were just tired (apparently alot of them had travelled from Germany to be there). I still got paid the full ammount and was home by 11:30 (this was a very local gig). I have since recieved an email thanking me for a wonderful evening.

 

 

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

 

I have cards up in various places (Post offices, Newsagents, chip shops etc) but have taken an ad in the Yellow Pages. So far this has generated one enquiry and two confirmed bookings, so I will be monitoring that one.

 

 

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

 

Not yet but considering it

 

 

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

 

Keep up the good work on the forum - it is reassuring that you can go somewhere to ask questions and get sensible, educated answers.

 

 

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

 

When I resurected "Mirage" this time around I said that I would be happy doing two or three gigs a month (remember I am only a part timer enjoying a hobby). However the lead upto Christmas is now booked solid as is half of January - so maybe I need to rethink..!

 

 

32. What is your average charge for a booking?

 

I am not a greedy man, my charges are around the £130 - £150 region for most gigs, more if I have to travel, less if it is a kids party for just a couple of hours.

 

 

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

 

More than I ever use - but you just know that if I leave any behind they will be the ones people want to hear ! Can't say that I have ever counted them though

 

 

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

 

No. I am very careful.

 

 

35. What is your favourite music genre?

 

My real favorite genre is rock/metal ( ) but I enjoy a lot of different types of music - I could listen to 80's stuff all day.

 

 

There you have it.

 

Thanks for reading it,

 

Glenn.

[Mattaious 0]

Excellent read there.

Keep up the good work!

 

 

 

[Gary (GDK) 0]

Good read :)

 

I have often considered business card's in post offices etc.

 

 

[glenn knights 0]

Excellent read there.

Keep up the good work!

 

 

 

Thankyou very much !

 

Good read :)

 

I have often considered business card's in post offices etc.

 

 

Thankyou.

 

The real problem I find with post offices etc is sometimes your cards get blocked by the others - but if you keep them brightly coloured they usually stand out.

 

[Paul Smith 0]

5. What inspired you to become a DJ?

 

I remember watching a DJ in the mid 80's really enjoying himself at a party I was at when I was a teenager. I thought that it looked like fun...and fancied a go ! I ended up buying his rig off him !

 

 

 

Mirage Disco - I loved it so much I bought the company!!

 

 

 

Good read smile icon

 

 

[glenn knights 0]

Mirage Disco - I loved it so much I bought the company!!

 

 

 

Good read smile icon

 

You could say that I guess....

[Dukesy 0]

I enjoyed that!

Great read.

:Thumbup:

[glenn knights 0]

I enjoyed that!

Great read.

:Thumbup:

 

 

Thanks or all the kind comments

 

 

:thanks: