What's Better? Jack Of All Trades or Master of One?

[Boogie Boy]

This may sound like a really stupid question, but increasingly I'm wondering if it is.

With nearly every mobile disco chasing the same type of work (i.e. I'll play whatever you want and that's probably the same 200-300 tracks at almost every single gig) maybe there's some room for a more specialised format, whereby you lay out your wares and attract only those people who are up for them.

What amazes me is the limited playlist I and most other mobile DJs are likely to play. Each DJ will have certain tunes that they play out that other jocks may not have or thought about, but every mobile DJ I've ever seen, invariably gets to play at least 60% the same as anyone else. I don't think I've ever seen a mobile DJ who's surprised me (in a good way). What's the point of bragging "library containing over 20,000 tracks" or whatever?
Proof of the pudding to some extent, look at the list Charlie Brown has come up with for his 50th birthday gig in a few days time...and he's a 14 year old with little to no first hand knowledge of the records.

Surely there is a public out there that could like something a little different? Or, do we absolutely deserve the public we entertain 'cos as a body, we show/have shown little imagination in our programming throughout the years?

Final thought: Perhaps those 200-300 tacks that get played 90% of the time absolutely define a mobile disco and that in itself is specialist enough?

Not posted to antagonise, but to provoke some quality lateral thinking.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So where is all the information coming from that says all DJs play the same 300 songs then?

I know there are a number of DJs who have done specialist nights for wedding and parties, Shakermaker, Corabar Steve and myself to name 3 off the top of my head.

I personally provide a bespoke service, so people can choose what they want in terms of music and styling. Most will go for a mixture of tunes because they care about others attending their party and want them to have a good time.

People dance to music they know, which is the reason a lot of DJs will play the classics, so that people don't sit there deciding if they know the song and want to dance to it.

[Vectis]

I offer a bespoke service too with a hugely diverse catalogue, 99% of which never sees the light of day.

My main markets are young teens and weddings. I also take a reasonable proportion of the usual special birthdays, anniversaries, works do's etc..

Yes, most of the time for most of the night the same old numbers are trotted out in different orders BUT only if it's what the organisers ask for in advance or the punters ask for on the night.

Occasionally I get a break from the tedium. Last summer I had a couple of unconventional weddings - one couple wanted pretty much modern indie all night, and it didn't work well with the crowd. Another wanted God is a DJ as the first fast song and lots more 90's/naughties club & trance all night. This DID work with the crowd as the set was split with a band who were covering oldies.

This summer I have three unconventional weddings. One is for an artist who's having a daytime disco with us in a large room and the guests on the lawn weather permitting. The playlist so far reads Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, The Doors, Eric Clapton, Simon & Garfunkel. Another wedding has a bunch of yanks arriving (the Bride's from Alabama) and we'll be playing American soft rock and country all night - playlist includes Matchbox 20, Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows. Finally we've a wedding in August where the theme is Quadrophenia and as well as showing the film all night on big screens out on the lawn we're to play nothing but 60s & 70s music to connect with the film.

And we're more than happy to oblige at no extra cost.

:beer1:

[Boogie Boy]

[QUOTE=Solitaire Entertainments Ltd;232616]So where is all the information coming from that says all DJs play the same 300 songs then?

Thought I explained that every mobile DJ I've ever seen invariably plays the same limited number of tunes. 300 tracks is a guesstimation, but is probably somewhere near the mark.


I know there are a number of DJs who have done specialist nights for wedding and parties, Shakermaker, Corabar Steve and myself to name 3 off the top of my head.

Oh dear, I should have made it more obvious and said "specialist DJs or specialist nights excepted" Doh!!:bang:


I personally provide a bespoke service, so people can choose what they want in terms of music and styling. Most will go for a mixture of tunes because they care about others attending their party and want them to have a good time.

Isn't that what most DJs claim to offer and are those mixtures somewhat predictable?


People dance to music they know, which is the reason a lot of DJs will play the classics, so that people don't sit there deciding if they know the song and want to dance to it

Or what the DJ thinks they know? Hence my questions.

[Boogie Boy]

[QUOTE=vectisvibe;232628]I offer a bespoke service too with a hugely diverse catalogue, 99% of which never sees the light of day.

Thanks for proving the point.


Finally we've a wedding in August where the theme is Quadrophenia and as well as showing the film all night on big screens out on the lawn we're to play nothing but 60s & 70s music to connect with the film.

And we're more than happy to oblige at no extra cost.

And the cost for exhibiting a major film in public is how much?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

[QUOTE]

Thought I explained that every mobile DJ I've ever seen invariably plays the same limited number of tunes.

And how many mobiles have you seen, seeing as though you have been DJing for 20 odd years in clubs? Just interested to know where you are getting your figures from.




[QUOTE]Oh dear, I should have made it more obvious and said "specialist DJs or specialist nights excepted" Doh!!:bang:

I'm not a specialist DJ and the ones that I have attended haven't been specialist nights. They were weddings with specific requests and genres.




[QUOTE]Isn't that what most DJs claim to offer and are those mixtures somewhat predictable?

No, that isn't what 'most' DJs claim and perhaps the mixtures might be predictable,but then that is the clients choice.




[QUOTE]Or what the DJ thinks they know? Hence my questions.

An experienced DJ will know what gets people up, dancing and enjoying themselves.

[Vectis]

And the cost for exhibiting a major film in public is how much?

Already delegated that little gem to the venue (in writing) ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

[QUOTE]

And the cost for exhibiting a major film in public is how much?

That's not 'in public' as far as I'm aware a wedding is a private event.

[Boogie Boy]

[QUOTE=Boogie Boy;232631]

That's not 'in public' as far as I'm aware a wedding is a private event.

Hmmm...I don't think so. Otherwise DJs/venues wouldn't have any reason for adhering to PRS for music, most of the time. Copyright is copyright and the terms of it very far reaching.

[Vectis]

So to answer the question Which is best...?

If there was a market for it within a reasonable travelling distance with a relative markup to make it worthwhile, I'd dearly love to specialise in a favourite genre or two.

But alas, there isn't. I've certain geographical constraints and the populace want variety. All of the 'specialist nights' I detailed above were delivered for "incomers" - folks who specifically come to the island for their parties because they either hail from here or have some sort of emotional attachment to the place. I've NEVER done a specialist night for a local. Hence why I don't believe an electro-pop/new romantic disco would work here :o

[Boogie Boy]

Already delegated that little gem to the venue (in writing) ;)

Well done! Though it could be a ball breaker and a deal breaker too.

[Dragonfly]

is it not possible to be both??? highly specialised in one or two areas but still circulate in a generalised area as well , why would someone want to limit their services in such a way??

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

[QUOTE=Solitaire Entertainments Ltd;232634]

Hmmm...I don't think so. Otherwise DJs/venues wouldn't have any reason for adhering to PRS for music, most of the time. Copyright is copyright and the terms of it very far reaching.

I'm not sure PRS has anything to do with it, however you do need a licence from Filmbank it seems.

http://www.filmbank.co.uk/images/45221/single%20title%20ratecard.pdf

[Vectis]

I'm not sure PRS has anything to do with it, however you do need a licence from Filmbank it seems.

http://www.filmbank.co.uk/images/45221/single%20title%20ratecard.pdf

Funny that... I seem to remember the venue mentioning it would cost them about £75 :D

Good find. I've bookmarked that for future reference although I don't expect we'll be doing this a lot!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Funny that... I seem to remember the venue mentioning it would cost them about £75 :D

Good find. I've bookmarked that for future reference although I don't expect we'll be doing this a lot!

I had to look into it for the Grease nights I did during December last year where they wanted to show the film, hence the reason I thought a wedding was a private event.

[Vectis]

I had to look into it for the Grease nights I did during December last year where they wanted to show the film, hence the reason I thought a wedding was a private event.

I'm 99% sure that if it wasn't outdoors it wouldn't be a problem.

Although it's in private grounds not overlooked by the general public, it's still "outdoors" and so falls under the rules.

That's how I understand the situation anyway, which is specifically why I bounced the responsibility for licencing to the venue :o

[rob1963]

The music I play at any function is determined from three sources:

1) Pre-requested songs from the client (anything from a handful to 50 or more).

2) Requests taken on the night from people at the function.

3) My own selection of music (when not playing either of the above).

I admit that my own selection of music normally consists of the same 100-200 songs, but I don't see a problem with this, as they are tried & tested songs which often get requested & always go down well.

I could play some songs which I've not played before, and some would work but some would bomb, but why take the risk when I can play all the usual suspects which are guaranteed to work?

I would rather have a full dancefloor to all the usual wedding stuff than a half empty dancefloor & people saying "He played some stuff I don't often hear"

[Vectis]

I would rather have a full dancefloor to all the usual wedding stuff than a half empty dancefloor & people saying "He played some stuff I don't often hear"

Interestingly, I've had quite a few comments from venue staff to the extent that they've enjoyed the choice of music and that it's different to the usual stuff :confused:

Must be because I'm an overner!! :D

[soundtracker]

often if you stray away from the "usual suspects" people will come up and ask for them. For instance the other week I played Soft Cell - Bedsitter and A-ha - Sun always shines on TV (Brides requests) almost straight away had a request for Tainted Love and Take on Me from the floor!

[Ace DJ]

Unfortuatley people only want to hear the songs they know. Every gig contains maybe 75% of the songs you played the day before.
It is the same for function bands they all churn out the same songs.
It is and always will be that way.
Ace

[Corabar Steve]

I'm a master of one.

A master of playing music that is. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/rolleye/rolleye0006.gif

[One Vision]

This may sound like a really stupid question, but increasingly I'm wondering if it is.

With nearly every mobile disco chasing the same type of work (i.e. I'll play whatever you want and that's probably the same 200-300 tracks at almost every single gig) maybe there's some room for a more specialised format, whereby you lay out your wares and attract only those people who are up for them.

What amazes me is the limited playlist I and most other mobile DJs are likely to play. Each DJ will have certain tunes that they play out that other jocks may not have or thought about, but every mobile DJ I've ever seen, invariably gets to play at least 60% the same as anyone else. I don't think I've ever seen a mobile DJ who's surprised me (in a good way). What's the point of bragging "library containing over 20,000 tracks" or whatever?
Proof of the pudding to some extent, look at the list Charlie Brown has come up with for his 50th birthday gig in a few days time...and he's a 14 year old with little to no first hand knowledge of the records.

Surely there is a public out there that could like something a little different? Or, do we absolutely deserve the public we entertain 'cos as a body, we show/have shown little imagination in our programming throughout the years?

Final thought: Perhaps those 200-300 tacks that get played 90% of the time absolutely define a mobile disco and that in itself is specialist enough?

Not posted to antagonise, but to provoke some quality lateral thinking.

I dont think it hurts to try to be different an indavidual.
Although I dont mind playing requests which I do play I much prefare to innitialy scan the audience an try to play accordingly and in some cases you get very little in the way of requests if done right as most are enjoying what your playing.

One area that am trying to tap in to is rock nights so specialising in them somewhat, this is a bit different to the disco side as the emphasis is not necessarily on getting people up dancing, yes maybe a bit of the old head banging but not the bee all and end all but more generally providing a good night with the music they come to that particular venue to listen too as apposed to being faced with a mixed audience.

Most of the DJs in my area all pretty much do the same thing "disco/karaoke" and all fighting for the same business so I think offering something different/specialised is a must but at the same time be able to switch on to the traditional disco when needed.

[Excalibur]

I personally provide a bespoke service, so people can choose what they want in terms of music and styling.

Nothing as posh as that for me, I just give the customer whatever they want in every possible respect.;) ;) ;) :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D


is it not possible to be both??? highly specialised in one or two areas but still circulate in a generalised area as well , why would someone want to limit their services in such a way??
I certainly hope so! :eek:


Unfortuatley people only want to hear the songs they know. Every gig contains maybe 75% of the songs you played the day before.
It is the same for function bands they all churn out the same songs.
It is and always will be that way.
Ace
Never say never, and all is pretty much in the same category. From the amount of people who tell me that I've played music they haven't heard for ages, I must be different to the rest, musn't I?:confused: ( Shut it Jamesy, before you even start! ) Of course there are Discos who must run on autopilot all night, with identical playlists,from what I hear, but- ( particularly on here I reckon) there are the ones with their brains actually in gear. ( I've told you once James, I won't do it again! ) It is very easy to run sets of tracks in a given order, and consciously verying them helps.

Sorry, but sweeping generalisations like that have to be wrong simply because of the numbers.

[rob1963]

I must be different to the rest, musn't I?:confused: ( Shut it Jamesy, before you even start! )

:sofa:

[theoloyla]

Hmmm...I don't think so. Otherwise DJs/venues wouldn't have any reason for adhering to PRS for music, most of the time. Copyright is copyright and the terms of it very far reaching.

Wrong Wrong Wrong. Most dj's do not have to get licences from PRS or PPL because they work at private functions which are not subject to copyright. Clubs, pubs, dinner dances etc do need them and in most cases the venue will have the licence. You only need a PRS mobile dj licence if you play in premises that are not licenced by them e.g. a young farmers function in a barn on a farm. You will need a PPL licence if you promote/run your own gigs and take the money on the door. And neither of these 2 licences is connected to the forthcoming digital dj licence. PPl have a sister company called VPL which covers public performance of videos. Films are a different matter. You would not generally need a licence for a private party but you will notice there are copyright exclusions for certain uses/premises at the start or end of videos.
As for the thread it is better to be versatile as you give yourself more opportunity for work. It is also good to have one or more areas of specialization.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I edited your post Theo, cos it said I made that quote and I didn't!

[rob1963]

I edited your post Theo, cos it said I made that quote and I didn't!

That explains it.

I must say I was a little surprised to see Theo disagreeing with YOU, Darren!

3558 3558 3558

[theoloyla]

Dunno what happened there then. I know you never said it. You know far better.