how do you set up

[YourBigEvent 0]

UR GR8 !!

 

Don't do text messaging, can't see the point, they never seem to arrive when I send them.

 

My daughter sent 43 in a 'conversation' the other night !!!

 

43 x 10p each is £4.30. The other person had to reply, hence another 44 at 10p, a total of £7.70, at local rate of 1p per minute thats 770 minutes, that 13 HOURS, except our local calls are free anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/blink.gif

[fenix842 0]

thanks. this whole new vocabulary will take some time to get used to. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi folks

 

Ok here goes.

 

I don't get chance to get out on the dancefloor with the punters as I'm totally blind, woldn't be good for health and safety, also, when I'm in my space, folks don't need to know I'm blind, but when they find out, hehehe amazement!

 

So how do I set up so I'm accessible at all times.

 

Ultimax stand with gantry goes up first, then speakers on tripods as far apart as I can get them.

 

Lights go up on gantry. finally the wiring happens, all done from in front of the rig so folks don't have to come looking for me.

 

One end of space is closed off, whenever possible that's the end where the majority of the wiring happens, other end is guarded by whoever my roadie is that night, always someone available to chat too.

 

No worries with where to put amps as speekers are powered, soooo easy!

 

All CD's kept in those case logic folders, take out about 600.

 

That's all folks

 

Darren

[Cheezy 0]

I've tried both ways, side on and me behind. Kids partys are much easier side on as you can quickly get out onto the floor to help with games etc. My stand which now includes an adapted ultimax gantry is really too wide and I have to now go behind. Also you can hide alsorts of junk behind, wires flight case covers etc. I try and leave one side open for people to come and see me.

[Shaun M 0]

On one gig I did not long ago I put the speakers which were on stands right up at the back against the wall so I could hear the music much better. It made more room also for dancing and improved the bass.

[The Spindoctor 0]

Ooooooohhhhh Nooooooooo! I don't want to 'hear' what I'm playing!!!!! Bad enough watching them dance!!!!

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/071.gif

[Cheezy 0]

I agree! There is only so many times you can hear the Macarena and the fast food rockers before you have a psychotic episode! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sterb188.gif

[Gary 0]

I wouldnt recommend anyone setting up the speakers behind unless they have a microphone that is really good at resisting feedback (and/or have a Behringer Feedback destroyer in their rack)

 

If you end up HAVING to set the speakers up behind you...eg: due to setting up in some pokey pub corner, then try to ange the speakers away from the postition where you are going to be using the microphone.

 

EG: Dont point the speakers at/across the mixer, if thats where you stand when making announcements.

[Smooth Criminal Ross 0]

well as my dad mentioned on PAge 1 we used to have the CD player at the side, but since we got our new ones i told him that they arent really that high(the main reason for moving to the side in the 1st place) so we went back to our old rig.

 

And its better, we use request sheets where possible if not Punters can come from the side and theres plenty of room!

[Paul Smith 0]

I don't get chance to get out on the dancefloor with the punters as I'm totally blind

 

I read this post whilst on holiday and thought 'wow - how does he do it?' Not out of idle curiosity more good on ya & respect http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

I would be interested to hear what problems you have encountered and how you have overcome them. For instance have you adapted any equipment, how do you find particular tracks, how do you know how many are dancing etc.

 

In these days of political correctness I stress again that this is not just idle curiosity and I hope you are not offended by my questions but I am genuinely interested in how you do things on a typical gig.

 

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

[Dj SBD 0]

I went to a stag night once and the host was in a wheel chair, he set-up and done everything himself. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

He was the comedian/host for the evening, he was brilliant, the girls wern't bad either http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif

 

WOW, amazing http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/071.gif

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi fH folks

 

I don't believe in political correctness, it's sent the world barmy.

 

I'll ry and answer a couple of your querries as briefly as I can.

 

Any problems...the only problem is I have to have someone with me for most of the time, driving, helping me orientate myself with the environment I work in, helping to break the ice with clients.

 

How do I find tracks...I use the case logic CD's cases, each sleave is labelled with dimo tape in braille, sort of like cataloging everything. Luckily I've got a bloody good memory and know where my music can be found.

 

Whoever is with me will feed me info like how many folks are dancing, any nice tallent on the floor, or tell me of anything going on that I can comment on over the mic.

 

It's also useful to have someone around to get in the drinks.

 

I've never ever had any negative feedback from folks and people seem genuinely positive about my "disability".

 

Unfortunately, i've been craped on from a great height by my last roady, who just decided not to turn up for a gig and so I had to pass on a ton of work.

 

I'm now working with a DJ who has no equipment, so we're gonna make a go of it as a partnership.

 

Any more questions, please ask, I won't be offended.

Darren

[kazzachi 0]

Good on ya! I really admire anyone who wont be beaten by disability - one of my great mottos is "I can, I must and I will" - those who strive to succeed usually do.

[YourBigEvent 0]

Karen

 

I thought you motto was

 

Anytime, any place, anywhere http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/blink.gif

[Gary 0]

QUOTE

Anytime, any place, anywhere

 

Nah! That was only Kazza's motto when she was rollerskating into office elevators, whilst wearing a mini skirt and holding a tray of Martini's at shoulder level. (A week last Tuesday, as I recall).

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Eskie 0]

Yep, respect to Darren, takes some bottle, and it seems that you've got loads,

QUOTE

Good on ya! I really admire anyone who wont be beaten by disability - one of my great mottos is "I can, I must and I will" - those who strive to succeed usually do.

My mum lost her sight a few years ago and earlier this year I cycled across New Zealand to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind, along with 28 other people, 4 of whom were visually impaired people (VIP) and rode on the back of tandems.

One of the VIP's was a truly inspirational bloke named Murray. He's now around 25 and lost his sight around 8 years ago. During this trip Murray continuously amazed everyone around him. He rode a normal solo bike around a car park, he won a game of Pool and potted the black! (before each shot he would ask someone to tap the table just in front of where the ball he was aiming at was). The locals refused to believe he was blind!

 

I still keep in touch with him now and he's always taking up some kind of challenge; the latest is that he's aiming to get in to the Guiness book of records by breaking the speed record for a VIP on a motorbike which currently stands at 89 mph! He's doing it at an RAF air field in Edinburgh at the end of August and me and a few others from the NZ trip are flying up to Scotland to watch him. He reckons he can break 100mph!!! Picture the scene if you will; Murray turns up at the air field led by his guide dog Opal and then mounts a motorbike and hits 100mph http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif

 

Knowing someone like that puts your life into perspective. We should all be grateful for our health, rather than bellyaching and whinging about trivial matters. As Kazza said, if you're determined you can succeed, the only thing that holds you back is yourself, for most people that usually involves constantly finding pathetic excuses.

[kazzachi 0]

this is really "feel good factor" stuff.... how many of us can claim to have been inspirational? Not many of us I bet! Anyone with any disability who defies their problems gets more respect from me than lets say, somebody who gets a single into the charts at No.1!

Another of my little mottos is "no matter how hard they push you down, fight to come up"..... what a wise OLD owl I am!!

[YourBigEvent 0]

QUOTE

no matter how hard they push you down, fight to come up

 

for air http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Dj_Kray 0]

QUOTE

if you're determined you can succeed, the only thing that holds you back is yourself, for most people that usually involves constantly finding pathetic excuses.

 

so true eskie!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif

 

some amazing storys they really do make you think. But i am a true beliver that we only get 1 life so im going to live it to the max!!!

 

[kazzachi 0]

Too true kray...... love and kisses to everyone... xx

[The Spindoctor 0]

Sometimes you read a thread and it is so inspirational that you just have to say something.

 

Darren I'm not gonna waffle on as its probably the last thing you want, but more power to you mate. I thought DJ'ing was hard enough if you were able bodied but you are an inspiration to us and all the younger members joining, keep it up my friend.

 

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

 

Spin

[YourBigEvent 0]

Agree with everything everbody has said, except the kisses to everyone !!. Won't write loads about the respect etc etc because you probably don't want to hear it, but I for one cannot express how much courage it must take.

 

 

[Dj SBD 0]

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

 

With a flick of the wrist like Ali G- http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi

 

thanks for the kind words.

 

Well, DJing is hard, too right, but it something that I always wanted to do. Remember back when you were in your last few years at school and the careers advisors came round asking what you wanted to do the rest of your life? Well, when I said I wanted to be a DJ, she nearly fell off her seat. Consequently I went to college to do business studies. that was back in 1986.

 

It was only by a fluke that I did a summer ball for a college I was working for, with borrowed equipment that I ever managed to follow my dream. The gig was a barnstormer and have found it hard to replecate since, but wow did it give me the kick up the a$$ or what!

 

DJing has taken a bit of a back seat as mortgages have to be paid and I have to spend time with Louise my partner, but I still get out when I fancy an ego stretch. I'm also concentrating more on building up my online ventures so I can retire to a nice beech somewhere soon *grin*

 

It's the oddest thing though, when I'm doing gigs, folks don't tend to realise I'm blind until later on in the night, and once they find out, they tend to think you're a better DJ than you really are. In truth I'm no more or less good/professional than most of the people on here, the blindness seems to make people think I'm embued with superman like tallents...very weird.

 

Ok,

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi again

 

Don't know what happened there, just chopped my message short.

 

that was about it though, took me 12 years to realise my dreeam, so you youngsters out there that may be told you can't do this job or that job, stuff 'em, if it's realistic and you want to do it, follow you dream, you only pass this way once and it's not a practise run for something else...just do it!

 

Darren