Kid dj

[Paul Smith 0]

Yep I started in my local youth club. They had a 'proper' disco every Fri night but I used to do one on Wed mainly with home made gear - but everyone has to start somewhere.

To get flashing lights we put some micro switches around an old deck with a few blobs stuck on the edge of the turntable. As the deck spun it switched on & off the lights (it even had 78rpm on it for the fast stuff). The only problem was the clicking thru the speakers. Anyone else 'invented their own effect when starting out? & no I don't use it anymore!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif

 

Paul S

[The Spindoctor 0]

LOL Now you're taking me back!! I had an old deck (Garrard SP25) which I cased after glueing half a mirror ball to the platter, couple of pinspots on it and even at 78rpm it was groovy.

 

(Should this come under alternative use for backup equipment) Never actually had to unglue the mirrorball for an emergency though!

[Smooth Criminal Ross 0]

Hey im 16

 

ive been into DJ'ing since i was around 11, but then i was limited to helping with Kids Parties.

 

This being my dad a DJ, so i cud help him out and gain experience.

 

However now 16, i help anywhere.

 

He has never trained me, left it up to me to watch and learn in a sense.

 

The weirdest thing i find is talking on the Mic, ive done some of it recently, but i get all nervous.

 

Why i find this weird is because i act, do drama, ive performed in front of 1000s of people and never nervous, but me and mic in front of 5-100 ppl and im sweating,lol.

 

Need to improve my technique, when i can, i can go out alone, i feel im ready. Maybe just kids parties though till im 18.

 

DJ'ing is not the career i wish to follow if honest(please dont hurt me) but it something i enjoy doing, and it helps with every aspect, i do in fact wanna be an Actor and DJ'ing is another string to my bow.

 

All i can say to the Young generation is learn from other people. IF u wanna set up on ur own, then do it when ur 18 and available for anything, cos at a young age ur limited to places u can go, like pubs and clubs.

 

Peace

[The Spindoctor 0]

Sounds like wise head on young shoulders here LOL You can only make a sucess if it is something you really enjoy. The day I stop enjoying what I do is the day I'm out of here.

[Paul Smith 0]

Hi Smooth Criminal,

If you find it hard talking on the mike but find acting easy why not develop a character that is a DJ and use 'him' for your act.

 

At the end of the day all DJs perform a role. I don't speak/act the same with friends as I do on stage (if I did I think the bookings would dwindle - your can't call your guests a:cense:eholes). Hope this helps

 

Paul S http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

but i get all nervous. Why i find this weird is because i act, do drama, ive performed in front of 1000s of people and never nervous, but me and mic in front of 5-100 ppl and im sweating,lol.

 

This is exactly the same situation that I've had with one of my ex-trainees. He's only 15, but he's been running his own roadshow since he was 13 (Under the watchful eyes of Dad). In fact what you've said is almost word for word, to the conversation that i've had just had minutes ago with his Dad.

 

This lad, is very nervous of using the Mic, yet he also takes part in Drama lessons at School. Once he's on the Mic, he's okay and he is a very good D.J (He had a good teacher, LOL) , in fact far better than some of the Adult D.J's around this area! - and he has a strong outgoing personality, and loves to be on stage which is a plus in this business http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif - Yet getting him to use the mic in the first place is the hard work!.

 

It does take time to get used to mic work, and when you first start using one, its easy to become self conscious, and it's very strange to hear yourself over the P.A for the first time. Also being young and entertaining older people can make you feel a little overwhelmed sometimes.

 

Like you, this kid started doing Schools and Youth Clubs and his now moving on to do Weddings and family functions, and yes, he is good enough to do them!, he just needs to work on the Mic a little bit more. He has got more confidence, as he's got older but it still takes time. He's even shy, I think, of signing up to this forum, LOL http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

 

I found that, in his case, he was more nervous of using the Mic when Me/ his Dad was around and more confident when he was gigging for an audience of strangers - perhaps you may find it easier to use a Mic when your Dad isn't listening and looking over your shoulder?.

 

But for what it's worth, I still get nervous before I start off a Gig - once I've started I'm fine, but for hours beforehand I'm really bad and a right nervous wreck pacing the stage like a caged Tiger! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/fear.gif . But with me its always been the same for years, and I find that the anticipation is all part of enjoying the work.

[Smooth Criminal Ross 0]

ive come to to a re-drawn conclusion

 

Im not "scared" of the mic, ive used it before, like i say, being an Amateur actor im not scared, i will talk quite confidently in front of people.

 

Its the Technique, its this thing my dad does, u wudnt know unless u see it, if ya know what i mean, if i ignored what he was doing, and do it my way, id be fine.

 

Im definitely not scared of entertaining, thats for sure, i do it with my Dancing. LOL!

 

 

[Loz 0]

What my son is trying to describe is pulling the slider down when I'm talking.There's nothing more annoying when a DJ is trying to shout over the music. So I pull the slider down a tad whilst speaking, some DJ's use autofade but I'm just used to doing it that way. My philosiphy is if you are going to say something then make sure people can understand what you want to say, speak clearly and slowly. You don't have to speak for the sake of it, I usually speak when moving from one era to another or a different tempo etc.... I also try to mention the year or something instead of that was.....this is............ that was.................Like mentioned earlier everyone has their own style of talking just as long as you can understand it. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/dj.gif

[The Spindoctor 0]

Ah Loz the old ways are the best................ I know what you mean and I always use the fader wether I'm using a mixer with autofade or not.

 

Back in the good old days it was the only way!

[Chick Khola 0]

Wow I finally got an idea for my 13 yr old son to help me ......yes!!! he can learn to DJ with mom. Thanks I never thought of young kids doing it but why not, they know the rap.How does Kid Khola sound? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dj_Kray 0]

When i was at school i used to act in all the school plays and i never got scared but when i first started djing i hated speaking on the mic http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/fear.gif I really don't know why but it just took time and practice and a lot of forcing myself to do bars where i had to use it alot not i don't even think about it.

[ChrisPointon 0]

Yeah, you need to give the younger generation more credit....of course the interest has to be there and there is always the risk that the novelty will wear off as they get older and discover cars, beer etc http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif . But I know of a young lad I've mentioned before who has been D.J'ing since he was 11, he's now 15 and doing very well locally, having now got the confidence and experience to move on from doing school Discos and now does weddings etc and as I've said previously, he is a very good D.J, and credit to him.

 

With regard to the Mic fear, I think that applies to everybody when they first start up, abeit in various degrees of fear..some are more confident, others have to be coaxed into doing their first link. Using a mic is a must, there are far to many newbies who don't even own a Mic, and think that they can simply mix their way through a Wedding Reception. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif

[dangerman 0]

Hi. Im 16 and ive started out too mate. Im from birmingham too but i started out differently. I applyed for a local radio station that is mainly volunteer work. I had a few slots and at the start i was very nervous but as time went by i got the hang of it. At christmas i got asked to do a school disco as my mom is a teacher at a primary school. Anyway i started that and about half an hour into it i sort of got the hang of it. I made a few mistakes but the littles diddnt even notice. So i reckon u should just practise and when your ready start with local schools and then once your confidence builds up then you can move on to bigger and better things. As for equipment i invested in a 700w amp and 2 250w speakers that cost me around the £400 mark. I made my money back on three gigs. I hope this helps mate http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[paula 0]

QUOTE

With regard to the Mic fear, I think that applies to everybody when they first start up,

 

 

I dont think this applies to me now, does it guys?

I think the mic was more afraid of me http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ChrisPointon 0]

Happy 400th Post Paula!.

 

P.S:- Do you need a Mic??

[paula 0]

400, how'd I do that? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

QUOTE

Do you need a Mic??

 

Just thought of a rather good idea for the presentation of that radio mic,

Bit like that game where you pass the apple! But my way,

 

I'll leave you all to think about that one http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kazzachi 0]

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif I use my mic over-ride button... easy peasy lemon squeezy!

[Dj SBD 0]

I was the same, when I started, I could'nt use the mic either (least I had 1-LOL),but now i'm fine with links and announcements etc.. only cos I practiced, another dj told me to look down when speaking so you don't see the audience, but for me that made it worst, now I get on the dance floor and join in the crowd and speak so now it doesn't bother me. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[The Spindoctor 0]

As they say "Don't look down" (reminds me of a VERY rude joke) look the audience in the eyes and whatever you do smile!

[Dynamite Discos 0]

All i can say really is stick at it all of you young DJ's. Im 18 and have been doing parties since i was about 13. Started off doing kids stuff as well as helpping an older DJ friend of mine with weddings etc that he used to do. Anyway, by the time i was 16 i was doing school discos and teenage parties, as soon as i hit 17 i found an agent who seemed not to care that i was underage (i looked quite old for a 17yr old) and i worked roughly every fortnight for him in pubs./functionsuites around london.

Im now 18 and live down in surrey - now i do most of my gigs for myself throuht word of mouth bookings - but have two new agents so basically i can do pretty much as many gigs as i like. Now charging around the £180 mark for most events. So, Basically stick at it - you are bound to get some laughs/ abuse from people about your age - just make sure you only accept gigs where your gonna feel comfotable ie kiddies stuff.

Kids parties are also great for improving your mike technique - your gonna feel alot more comfortable telling some kids how to play party games than you will telling 200 adults that the buffet is now open - hopefully by the time you get going on the bigger gigs (weddings etc) you wil be so comfortable on teh mike that you'll hardly even notice your doing it!

I used to be reluctant to say the first thing on the mic but once i had made a few announcements etc i was fine - now i dont even think twice about doing it.......although i dont really like alot of mike work from dj's myself.

 

hope that helped =- if not sorry for rambling. Best of luck to all you younger ones!

Steve

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi folks young and old, and all the others too.

 

I started DJing when I was 16, had no trouble talking on the mic and thought I was Mr Cooool. Thinking back to some of the things I remember saying, I was bloody awful!

 

I gave DJing a rest when I left school to do some singing and base playign in a band for a couple of years, that gave me the chance to work on my audience interaction, and god did it make a difference or what.

 

I didn't pick up DJing again until 1997 after I'd done some hospital radio. never looked back, the playing in a band and radio work refined my patter, but it's an on-going job, you're never done improving yourself.

 

I'm 34 now and still learning.

 

I still get nervous before gigs, spend more time in a bogs than anything else until I'm set up and get everything charged up.

 

Nerves won't necessarily pass, but you will get used to having them, they'll become part of you like an old set of trainers.

 

Good luck and keep at it.

 

Darren