Weekend 15th-17th January

[vokf 0]

Nothing for me (at all in Jan), but have been busy with enqurieis and bookings.

 

Things get busier for me in Feburary with 4 bookings so far (ok... one is my daughters 13th )

 

Is anyone working this weekend?

 

 

If you're not working (giging), what are you up to?

 

I have my children over, and will be fixing my daughters PC (again). Creating a dual-boot system (WinXP and Ubuntu/Linux), and setting her up a DropBox account for her homework (dropbox works on Windows, Mac and Linux)

 

I use this for my Disco Paperwork - so have access to my T&C, Manuals for Kit and also details on each booking. I can get to the details from the web, but also have client software installed on most PC's. The data is synced to each PC, and works very very well.

 

 

Also working on a revamp of my website, and testing out some kit.

 

I am considering going to the SEDA meeting, but not really sure if I'll fancy the drive after dropping kids off in Essex.

 

 

Over to you!!!

 

 

Jason

[deejaymitch 0]

Just my Saturday night residency.

 

Song to play if you're working: Mrs Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel

 

(it's very popular here in Northern Ireland at the minute :ads:)

 

If you aren't working and still haven't done your tax return - get cracking!!!

[MintyDave 0]

If you aren't working and still haven't done your tax return - get cracking!!!

 

Oh Oh!

 

No gigs this weekend as i was planning on working around the builders so never pushed for any. Builders havent been since 17th Dec and are fed up and broke!

 

Pleanty of time to do the tax return and think of the interest im earning on the tenner i owe them!

[Norfolk DJ 0]

 

Aint nothing goin' on but the rent here

[Slimboy Fat 0]

Absolutely nothing for me either although I have been out of the loop since July due to our relocation from The West Midlands to the South Coast due to my work commitments. I am considering starting back up again now though and I'm currently sizing up the potential of the area. It's a bit scary to be honest.

[Raymilkybarkid 0]

No Gig for me except a Wedding Exhibition today (Sunday)

It was good to see Jason (VOKF) and Carmen at the exhibition. (you never know I may get a booking for their wedding)

 

Out next weekend on a Stag night should be interesting....watch this space

 

 

[vokf 0]

Yes - good to meet you again Ray! Thanks for the offer of £60 for our wedding disco. haha!

 

The wedding exhibition was good, but a little disappointing that no other entertainment companies were there. I think we'll look for some others to visit where there are a selection.

 

What I did see was very impressive.

 

 

For me- we've just got back from the SEDA night in Maidstone/Kent.

I'm not a member, and so will be worried if I decide to go on another night, lest I become a "serial visitor" :nono:

I didn't see any retina scans going on, so a 2nd visit may be on the cards...

 

 

Before I go into this, I really can't comment on the worth of joining SEDA, their website and other members are best placed to answer questions on membership.

I am a member of DJ@, but do not see joining other Associations as mutually exclusive.

 

I'll run through my take on the night:

 

We arrived about 8:30, there were about 100-150 DJ's in the function room.

There was a presentation on Video DJing, which we caught the last few mins of, very loud microphone, and not sure why!

 

There then was a break so we went for a walk about - straight into Denon with Gary. We had a brief chat, but I'm not using Denon gear, so it was a bit brief.

 

We then nipped to RSD Music, who were the Featured Retailer. I've brought lots of gear from them (mainly collected), so we had a good chat about Par Cans and it was nice to catch up. I brought my original AMP+second hand Speakers from him in 2008, so recapped on my progress since.

 

There was a 2nd hand stall, some bargains - some old stuff too, I saw some rather battle worn winch-up stands. Would be fine after a lick of paint. I'm skint, no spending at the moment!

 

 

Then a SEDA member covered SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). This probably wasn't the place to do this, and I personally feel it was too technical, leaving the presenter explaining the buzzwords.

I would have preferred a shorter presentation, with a very top-level explanation.

As there is to be a seminar on this topic, it would have been wise to leave the detail/tech stuff to then, with a more interested audience - its a big topic (as he admitted), but going into back-linking, duplicate content and META tags was too much for a 15min presentation with no video/projection.

 

 

Then, RCF were showing off their systems, and ran a demo of small 10" top +12" sub, medium and large (sorry, forget the sizes!). This was pretty interesting - its not often you get a side-by-side demo of this kit.

The large system would be £10K for 2 tops + 2 bins, but sounded oh so nice!

 

Then onto Denon (I took a comfort break at this point!), Denon has some great stuff out, but duty called!

 

Followed by a by a guy who had designed a new lightscreen. Looked good (from across the room), but didn't do sound-to-light (or DMX), the designer said it didn't have LED or Lamps... not sure how it worked, and never found out!

 

The last thing of note was a guy creating replacement alloy frames for S&H Booths. These were well made and obviously much lighter.

He also had a simple box booth/stand (with shelf). He is small-scale, and these are made to order. I've got his card, and may consider my options in a month or so as his system would be very quick to set-up.

 

 

As an outsider to the who SEDA thing, I could see some people chatting- and obviously there is some networking going on. It also comes across as a bit of a jolly - beer on the tables and sometimes people having a good laugh.

 

 

What else... Hmm, a Raffle,I think the main winner got about £75 cash :cheers: .

Pioneer were demoing their luverly CDJ3000, and apparently the CDJ1000MK3 has stopped production!

 

So - thats our experience! I think I may go again, and make a bit of an effort to chat to members/organisers.

 

Its a bit of a trek for us, but not too bad if we have a Burger King stop-over at Dartford services :dukesy:

 

Jason

[Robster 0]

just got in from a sunday gig was a staff party for the staff at the hotel i do on a Thursday ..it was awesome full dance floor happy people nice clap at the end and a hand shake from the hotel manager on what a good night it was ..found out i have my friday gig back so things are on the up again..

 

 

[vokf 0]

Congrats Rob! :Thumbup:

 

I've just got email from my local pub, 4 dates this year and NYE (which I quoted a fair rate). I also slightly increased my rate for the normal night, but not a problem.

A mix of Friday and Saturdays, so potentially only losing 2 higher paying gigs, but then will be working 2 fridays when I rarely get bookings, so pretty much fine.

 

 

[Robster 0]

Jason that meeting sounded really good to me ! nice write up! I like that it has a social aspect to it too.

 

I am actually starting to practice with a band , IF it works out i am thinking of offering a combined service for the wedding market a band and a dj for a package price with me as the DJ/KJ of course it seems a way to get higher earnings , obviously for more work but that doesnt bother me. but i would only do that if i can get a level of performance i am happy with..so lots of practice!

 

Last night i did the staff party and they all know me from my Thursday night when a lot of staff come in them selves for a sing on karaoke , normally they get a agency DJ in and a agency artiste as they are FREE yes FREE what they do is have a deal with agencies that they will block book dates on the understanding that they will give one date Free and that is usually the staff xmas party which is held in Jan!? I apparently was the first DJ they will be paying for , for a staff party ever!

 

This year the staff asked for me so they gave me a try, when i turned up there was a boy girl double vocal act setting up , they were the free artistes. They had claimed the prime spot so i set up in a corner. The room was big enough for this so i wasn't cramped up at all . so it was sprung on me there was artists on ..great i thought a break for me , then a raffle and prize draw of ten prizes was pushed my way , which i again toook on in my stride thats no biggie as i like hosting that sort of thing.

 

As i was setting up at about 6:30 pm we were asked if i could play from 7:30 to 8:00 then the artistes who would be on from 8:00pm and do there spot then back to me for the raffle and then karaoke and then disco till 12:00pm

 

because the act was free they had given then a complimentary room (probably helps sweeten it for doing it for free) The artiste then left to change and relax

 

I was ready and up and playing at about 7:15PM the Artistes turned up at 8:25 and started at 8:30pm at 8:45 pm i had audience members coming up asking when i started ! and if i could make them go as the artistes "were doing there heads in" now i thought they were ok but this crowd were sober and like weird selection of songs. The artistes were bubbly like same difference off x factor ..this went down like a bottom burp in a lift, the audience participation was non existent , they battled on and as i say for most audiences they would have got a better reaction.After wards they said they normally go on at about 10 ish we all know people are often more up for it then due to drink. they finished at 9:30pm and i started i played a song before the raffle and the floor filled as the artists were packing up , the artistes had been trying for the last hour to get dancers up to no avail , i played hotel room service by pitbull and instantly had 20 dancers ..knowing your crowd really really helps ..i felt sorry for the artistes.

 

i did the raffle and played dome more urban chart music then went off at strange tangents ..yazz the only way is up was a good request but near the end i played three songs that would never work at most staff partys and not one person budged off the dance floor remember this is a group of people aged between 18 and 50 years old I played these three requests back to back

 

take that by wiley and chu fu

then

Riverside (lets go) by Sidney Samson feat Wizard Sleeve

THEN!!

haven't met you yet by Michael Buble

 

i thought the buble song would clear the floor they all stayed !

 

was strange but fun the music choice because i knew what some of the staff liked and have requested over the year it was easy work .

 

I must admit to being a little naughty as one guy was quite drunk so after playing low by flo rida he was bouncing around going low and fell over i then played hot in here by nelly knowing the drunken fool would strip a bit , those photos will no doubt be on facebook lol luckily it was only his top and he was stopped before he went too far followed that with biggies nasty girl ..wow there was some sexy dancing ! i had to then change the tempo as i realised i was there for there enjoyment err not mine.

 

as i say brilliant night with people who knew how to party and that makes all the difference .

[MintyDave 0]

Nice one Rob

i think the hotel needs to realise your worth especially considering the 'act', sounds like you had an absolute bouncer which is just whats needed at times. a 10% increase is surely acceptable considering the vat rate is back to 17.5% and fuel is on the rise.

 

Dave.

 

 

[wizard 0]

Just a birthday party for me on saturday night at a scout hut in Hertford.

 

Nice crowd, danced nearly all night....didnt finish till 1.15am.

[stoke53 0]

Its a little slow here in staffordshire too but gonna stay possitive it certainly cant't get any worse.

 

alan

[Kev.Roadies Disco 0]

Slow!!! Try dead in North Wales :damn:

 

Nothing definite until March :sad:

 

Wake me up when the Daffs start showing!

 

Kev