The 'C' word.

[Boogie Boy]

Ok let's get everything out in the open, shall we?

It would appear that quite a few of the contributors here have very little time for club DJs or ex-club DJs. As if they aren't DJs at all and come from a totally different planet.

What are the reasons for any assumptions made regarding them? I'd like to know.

[soundtracker]

I don't think anyone has made any assumptions regarding anyone, just reacted to what has been posted.

[rob1963]

Ok let's get everything out in the open, shall we?

It would appear that quite a few of the contributors here have very little time for club DJs or ex-club DJs. As if they aren't DJs at all and come from a totally different planet.

What are the reasons for any assumptions made regarding them? I'd like to know.

I'm not sure about people here having very little time for club DJs, although it might partly be explained by the name of this forum...

...the MOBILE DISCO directory forum.

Just a thought.

:)

[JAMdisco]

I'm not sure about people here having very little time for club DJs, although it might partly be explained by the name of this forum...

...the MOBILE DISCO directory forum.

Just a thought.

:)

Yep - you might be onto somethingthere Rob, I was wondering why I was getting so many funny replies to my posts on my Ford Escort on a Ferrari Forum recently??? :D

[rob1963]

Yep - you might be onto somethingthere Rob, I was wondering why I was getting so many funny replies to my posts on my Ford Escort on a Ferrari Forum recently??? :D

:Laugh:

[Boogie Boy]

I'm not sure about people here having very little time for club DJs, although it might partly be explained by the name of this forum...

...the MOBILE DISCO directory forum.

Just a thought.

:)

As an ex-club DJ who now finds himself doing mobile discos, I've found this type of comment to be rather fatuous and is the exact reason why I started this thread. Mobile DJs may not make great club DJs and vice versa, but we're all DJs and the basics of the job are similar for both types of jock.

If people aren't even going to start to comprehend.....

[Boogie Boy]

Yep - you might be onto somethingthere Rob, I was wondering why I was getting so many funny replies to my posts on my Ford Escort on a Ferrari Forum recently??? :D

Club DJs being Ferraris....?:D :D :D

[soundtracker]

Club DJs being Ferraris....?:D :D :D

Which now makes you a clapped out escort:D

[CRAZY K]

Ok let's get everything out in the open, shall we?

It would appear that quite a few of the contributors here have very little time for club DJs or ex-club DJs. As if they aren't DJs at all and come from a totally different planet.

What are the reasons for any assumptions made regarding them? I'd like to know.

Most people on here who actually post work in the Mobile Disco market--as far as I can tell.

Pubs, Weddings, Socials and Parties so they wouldnt have much interest in what goes on in Clubs--

I can only say probably most of us are mainly interested in issues relating to Mobile Discos, the music, equipment, clients needs etc and thats what we focus on--

That doesnt mean that people from other areas like Club DJs, Singers, Band members and others dont come on and post---they do---but their areas of interest, musical ideas and approaches are often different from the Mobile market--they would be by definition.

Thats my take--theres no problem--just inevitably different views.

CRAZY K

[rob1963]

I'm not sure about people here having very little time for club DJs, although it might partly be explained by the name of this forum...

...the MOBILE DISCO directory forum.

Just a thought.

:)


As an ex-club DJ who now finds himself doing mobile discos, I've found this type of comment to be rather fatuous and is the exact reason why I started this thread.

Boogie Boy,

I'm sorry that you found my comment to be foolish, unintelligent & stupid.

You're not the first person here to make it obvious they think they're better than me & you certainly won't be the last.

I can assure you that my comment was a genuine and honest attempt to answer your question, so I'm sorry if it caused a problem.

I've learned my lesson though, so I'll let the more intelligent people answer your questions in future.

:)

[JAMdisco]

You're not the first person here to make it obvious they think they're better than me & you certainly won't be the last.

I dont think, I know :p ;) :D


I've learned my lesson though, so I'll let the more intelligent people answer your questions in future.

:)

Thanks Rob, I thought my post was very constructive.

[Boogie Boy]

Rob: No intention to play one-upmanship, or to treat you as inferior, merely a general comment about that type of reply...that I've had stuffed in my face on numerous occasions by various people on this site, as if it explains everything. The whole idea of this thread is to get behind the mentality of those who make such comments and try to understand why.

I'll make no bones about my own perception that in the DJ pecking order, club DJs are a step up from mobiles, as I've never come across a mobile jock who didn't hanker after a club residency, or a club jock that hankered after mobile work, once they'd made the transition. Monetary considerations aside.

For better, for worse, mobile jocks are generally considered the second lowest form of DJ, one up from bedroom jocks. That's a fact. Maybe not one we'd like to be reminded of, but it is. So I've been surprised at the attitude shown towards club/ex-club DJs from certain members here. Burying heads in sand, comes to mind.

If this post insults any of you...that isn't intended, so think about why it does and then post something rational and measured as a reply.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Boogie.... you said "Ok, Mobile DJ's may not make great club DJ's.."..etc. That is a bit of a ****ing statement don't you think??

I actually do both and I know a fair few other DJ's doing the same as me so I am (obviously) going to have to disagree with you totally on this one. Like a lot of people, I started off in clubs and got my experience in them and have transferred that experience over to mobile djing. I am guessing that you count club dj's as playing RnB and Dance like the majority of them do and are missing out the ones that do regular Karaoke/Disco or Indie/Alternative residencies like a few of us do?

This annoys me big time and I will tell you why - There is a facebook group for my local town called ' Basingstoke DJ's' and it is jam packed full of people who all do something on the scene but the aim of the group in their eyes is (as they claim)..."To showcase the skills of the 'proper' DJ's etc..." and also.. "because we are sick of hearing the same old Rihanna followed by Bryan Adams brigade"...Another pretty ****ing statement by a group of people that THINK that they are better than anyone else who goes out on the road.

One of the residencies I do is for a big chain and I have been doing it now for around 6 weeks. Every time I am on, the numbers increase and the staff comment that they love the night and the fact that it is different to any other night that they do. Some of the punters who get in (it's free entry) can't get their heads round what I am doing and they are the ones that are scared of guitar music or so tunnel visioned that they think it's all about the RnB and Dance....it's NOT!!

Another residency I do is one that I promote and have done for years. The manager there also loves what I do and so do the punters and he said to me a long time ago that he thinks I work very hard as I set everything all up on my own (like I have always done) and I also do the whole night (5 hours) on my own (like I have always done). He said that it was wierd to see that as the other guys come in a group and all help set up and divide the duration between them. That's slightly off topic I know but nevermind.

Most of the club DJ's I have spoken to would actually love to make a living out of it like I, we do but they see what we do as being cheesy. They should use their brains and think that if they were really that bothered about doing it for a living then they would bite the bullet and go for it (I'm glad they don't). I'll give you another example too - I was booked to do a Retro Night at a local venue (Club/Pub type) a few months back. It started at 9pm and on that occasion the town was a bit dead even though it was a friday. By 10.30pm it was evident that the Retro wasn't interesting anyone as people were walking past and going to another venue across the road that was a lot smaller but playing Dance and RnB. The manager asked me if I could do what the other venue was doing to get people through the doors and buying beer so I did....I hated the fact that I had to be told what to do but I did it and it wasn't long before the venue was packed out. I also hated that because I was there to do a job (Retro Night) and I ended up not doing it because the tunnel visioned music lovers of Basingstoke are just like sheep at times.

The reason for posting the above is because I am showing you Boogie Boy and people outside the forum that I, we are versatile enough to do anything. Ok, my mixing and selection of tunes may not be up to the standard of a Dance/RnB Dj but the fact is...I did it and I did it to standard where people asked me if I did private work, I gave out a couple of cards etc... I hate RnB, I'll admit that but the Dance part was a challenge and I did ok...better than ok infact. The manager also commented "I'm glad you were here tonight because the Dance boys wouldn't have been able to switch just like that and we would have been dead all night". VERSATILITY folks!!!!!!

Lastly, Club DJing isn't all that....not in my opinion anyway. You get a bit more respect for it in my experience (and a lot more attention) and I could be the coolest thing out there since sliced bread to some of the clubbers who attend my nights but then on another night I will be at a venue playing to a wedding party and playing all kinds of music (some of which I don't like personally) but at the end of the day, it's my job, I love it, it's good money and I am doing something that a lot of people out there would love to do. As far as Club and Mobile work goes, having done and still doing both, I know which one I prefer. Club DJ's on the whole (unless they do mobile work aswell covering all styles) are pretty one dimensional and only know their particular genre of music and that's fair enough....I just don't like the way that they think that they are better than the rest of us.....they're not!! Far from it.

G

[CRAZY K]

Rob: No intention to play one-upmanship, or to treat you as inferior, merely a general comment about that type of reply...that I've had stuffed in my face on numerous occasions by various people on this site, as if it explains everything. The whole idea of this thread is to get behind the mentality of those who make such comments and try to understand why.

I'll make no bones about my own perception that in the DJ pecking order, club DJs are a step up from mobiles, as I've never come across a mobile jock who didn't hanker after a club residency, or a club jock that hankered after mobile work, once they'd made the transition. Monetary considerations aside.

For better, for worse, mobile jocks are generally considered the second lowest form of DJ, one up from bedroom jocks. That's a fact. Maybe not one we'd like to be reminded of, but it is. So I've been surprised at the attitude shown towards club/ex-club DJs from certain members here. Burying heads in sand, comes to mind.

If this post insults any of you...that isn't intended, so think about why it does and then post something rational and measured as a reply.

So who with any credibility---apart from yourself--considers Mobile DJs to be
inferior to Club DJs?

Perhaps you could post a credible bit of evidence--id be interested:D

CRAZY K

[Javlingames]

As the great Pete Tong once said after finishing his set to 5000 people 'all us club DJ's are really just doing big mobile disco's'........The concept is pretty similar, making people dancing and entertaining them. Mobile DJ's play tried and tested records and club dj's are there to introduce new records to the customers. They do say that ex mobile DJ's make the best club DJ's. You just cannot beat the experience being a mobile DJ gives you. Playing for long hours, actually having to use the mic, setting up your own stuff. All this is good to have in your armoury as a club dj, quite often my mobile experience helps me in the clubs i do, especially when i have to go on stage infront of a 1000 people and do a Q & A with a celebrity or help a visiting dj set up his serato, or plug radio mics in for special guests etc. And most importantly, it gives you versatility. On sat nights in the club i play upfront house, dance, r&b etc, not a party tune insight but next thursday (a levels night) the manager wants me to do a party night, which because of my mobile experience i can do.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Good post Javlin.

[rob1963]

Ok, I'll try giving my honest opinion for the second time in this thread.

I don't think club DJs are superior to mobile DJs...I actually think it's the other way around.

Back in the early 90's I did a bit of club work, so I can only speak from that experience, and appreciate that things might have changed since then.

A night in the club earned me about half what I'd get doing a mobile.

The club closed at 2am, whereas most mobiles end at midnight.

If I said more than a few words once an hour, the staff commented that I spoke too much...so presumably if a club DJ forgot to take their mic, nobody would even notice. Mic & presentation skills in the club were therefore not required.

I felt like a human juke box, and found club work to be boring & underpaid.

No prizes for guessing which of the two scenarios I preferred!

[spin mobile disco]

Club DJ's up on mobile DJ's???? Ok new one on me. I spend 5 years as a club DJ and all the time I wanted to go mobile again.
I work the wedding market in the larger venues around here Hilton , holiday inn, race course etc. Not one of which could be done by a club Dj. Mainly because club DJ's don't have any gear (less maybe a mic and headphones)

Lets have a quick comparison shall we.
Mobile DJ owning approximatly £10.000 of disco equipment well maintained.
Mobile DJ owning large music collection gathered over many years of hard work.
Mobile DJ having P.A.T
Mobile DJ having insurance.
Mobile DJ able to repair own gear in most cases and carry gear around , comunicate with all types of people at venue's arange everything that needs doing to the client doesnt have to.

Club DJ's a narrow band of music in most cases (not putting them down here simple fact, if your an r&B Dj you don't carry disco do you and with club music it is unlikely to need waltzes, cha cha,s rumbas, 60's 50's etc)

Club DJ in a lot of cases couldnt wire an amp to a pre amp to save there lives ( i can offer 3 examples of club dj's who can't the I have met in my own town im sure there are a few others.)
Club DJ's work the same venue over and over and over again. Mobile disco's diversify into many differnt venue's , outdoor events, even simple P.A setup for use with compere'ing.

I've worked both, Club Dj's are not mobile DJ's and should not be compared as it will not add up. As is a bedroom DJ. Fatboy slim was a bedroom dj and he went on to do well. A bedroom DJ is someting you start as not something you become.
A mobile DJ is something you can aspire to. Someone who owns all the gear and can't install it, use mic etc is not a mobile DJ they are a sound engineer or a P.A install technician.
Like wise just beacuse you work in a club doesnt make you a club DJ, I have heard some club DJ that should go back to the bedroom because they cant mix or work a croud. And others that you just think are so great they should be somewhere better.

That somewhere better is in the mobile industry.

[Javlingames]

I also have not met a mobile DJ that looked down on a club DJ. When I was a mobile DJ I had a few club DJ accomplicies that would take the mickey out of mobile dj's, so if anything its club dj's looking down on mobiles.

Rob, When i did mobiles i hardly ever finished at midnight, normally 1am sometimes 2am, The most succesful club dj's (commercial) are the ones who dont stop talking on the mic, in this day and age it is acceptable for a club dj to talk loads, in the right places of course, albeit the usual 'lets see some hands in the air' 'wheres the noisy ladies tonight' and talking up promotions and generally having a laugh. If a club DJ forgot to take his mic he would be sacked!!

Most of the club DJ's i know get paid around £200 to £250 for a night. Having said that i know a few who only get £150

[rob1963]

I also have not met a mobile DJ that looked down on a club DJ. When I was a mobile DJ I had a few club DJ accomplicies that would take the mickey out of mobile dj's, so if anything its club dj's looking down on mobiles.

Rob, When i did mobiles i hardly ever finished at midnight, normally 1am sometimes 2am, The most succesful club dj's (commercial) are the ones who dont stop talking on the mic, in this day and age it is acceptable for a club dj to talk loads, in the right places of course, albeit the usual 'lets see some hands in the air' 'wheres the noisy ladies tonight' and talking up promotions and generally having a laugh. If a club DJ forgot to take his mic he would be sacked!!

Most of the club DJ's i know get paid around £200 to £250 for a night. Having said that i know a few who only get £150

I accept what you say Javlin.

As I stated, I can only speak from my own club experience which was about 15 years ago, so things have obviously changed a lot.

However, I'd still rather be doing mobiles for different occasions in different venues and diffrerent times each week, because as they say, variety is the spice of life.

:D

[JAMdisco]

Most of the club DJ's i know get paid around £200 to £250 for a night. Having said that i know a few who only get £150

And I know some that only get £50 if they're lucky, IMO there's far too many wannabes in the club DJing industry (and the clubs know that)

[soundtracker]

I've said this many times before, but here goes again, club DJing is easy, you have a captive audience, that have come to dance, to get it wrong you need to be a complete numpty. This is not just a mobile guy sounding off, for many years back in the late 70s and early eighties I did two club jobs, Friday and Saturday. Friday usually about 200 peeps, Saturday, up to 800. During this time I had lots of "Big" name DJs come along and do a "bit" in an attempt to usurp my position, but managed to see them all off - mainly due to the fact that I didn't share their tunnel vision in thinking that I could only play Disco Music, I mixed it up a bit more, played a bit of everything and kept more people involved.
The only reasons for stopping the club work, were boredom (of the same venue and crowd) and the fact that I could earn more elsewhere(weddings etc)
Club DJs aren't any better(or worse) just slightly different animals, but one thing this ex-club DJ knows for sure - the art of the mobile DJ is a much more difficult skill to master, and continue getting right on a regular basis.

[Javlingames]

I dont see that club dj's have a captive audience, with bars staying open until the same time as clubs (3am) the clientele have plenty of choices, in your day you may have had a captive audience because pubs shut at 11pm. As far as saying club DJ'ing is easy, you are only as good as your audience....

[soundtracker]

I must have had a very good audience then! LOL
What I meant was, with a club people generally know what to expect as most either specialise in one type of music, or have specific music style nights, so people have arrived there more or less knowing what they're going to get. They wouldn't go to an R&B night if they didn't like R'n'B!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I used to do the Litten Tree in Basingstoke on a thursday and a saturday. We used to call it The Litter Tray...anyway, Soundtracker...you mentioned that you played alongside some big named DJ's and it reminded me of when I played alongside Brandon Block on a thursday night. The place was packed and they had charged £5.00 a ticket to cover his costs. I think he did an hour set for £800.00. Anyway, he actually got boo'ed during his set as he wasn't that great to be honest. I bigged him up as much as I could and got the crowd going and people were dancing but for some reason they still didn't like him....and I know why. He was there to do a banging set of whatever he does well and he just had his head down playing obscure stuff (like I said, people DID dance), when I did the final 3 hours, I went down much better because I played what people wanted to hear. It was in the days of Modjo and Spiller etc...Quite a funny experience really because there I was, a guy who was an Indie/Alternative DJ who didn't really like what he was playing but no'one knew any better and I used to go down really well. I used to get people holding up little cards with 'TUNE' written on them and the punters probably thought I was really into what I was doing but I wasn't.

With Club work in my experience, and something that I am beginning to already notice at my new residency.... it gets boring and you can get stuck in a rut. The same people will request the same tunes week in week out and also you begin to realise what tracks fill the dancefloor so you tend to play them regularly. To a punter I can see it as boring sometimes and how many times have you heard someone talking about a club DJ and mentioning that they knew what was coming next as it was so predictable. The management pay the DJ's to get people dancing and it's not the DJ's fault that the punters ask for the same tunes. If they want to dance to something and it fills the dancefloor then why not? It's a hard job sometimes being a club DJ but I don't think it means that they are better than the mobile guys.

I've also tried to explain to my friends on a number of occasions the difference between the two and also the bedroom guys. The guys who turn up at a gig with a handful of records which is enough for their hour set have been practising it all week in their bedroom to get it exactly right so they don't embarass themselves. I don't practice, I don't have the time to but then again I don't need to now. At a wedding or party etc you use your mic skills etc...

[soundtracker]

I used to do the Litten Tree in Basingstoke on a thursday and a saturday. We used to call it The Litter Tray...anyway, Soundtracker...you mentioned that you played alongside some big named DJ's and it reminded me of when I played alongside Brandon Block on a thursday night. The place was packed and they had charged £5.00 a ticket to cover his costs. I think he did an hour set for £800.00. Anyway, he actually got boo'ed during his set as he wasn't that great to be honest. I bigged him up as much as I could and got the crowd going and people were dancing but for some reason they still didn't like him....and I know why. He was there to do a banging set of whatever he does well and he just had his head down playing obscure stuff (like I said, people DID dance), when I did the final 3 hours, I went down much better because I played what people wanted to hear. It was in the days of Modjo and Spiller etc...Quite a funny experience really because there I was, a guy who was an Indie/Alternative DJ who didn't really like what he was playing but no'one knew any better and I used to go down really well. I used to get people holding up little cards with 'TUNE' written on them and the punters probably thought I was really into what I was doing but I wasn't.

With Club work in my experience, and something that I am beginning to already notice at my new residency.... it gets boring and you can get stuck in a rut. The same people will request the same tunes week in week out and also you begin to realise what tracks fill the dancefloor so you tend to play them regularly. To a punter I can see it as boring sometimes and how many times have you heard someone talking about a club DJ and mentioning that they knew what was coming next as it was so predictable. The management pay the DJ's to get people dancing and it's not the DJ's fault that the punters ask for the same tunes. If they want to dance to something and it fills the dancefloor then why not? It's a hard job sometimes being a club DJ but I don't think it means that they are better than the mobile guys.

I've also tried to explain to my friends on a number of occasions the difference between the two and also the bedroom guys. The guys who turn up at a gig with a handful of records which is enough for their hour set have been practising it all week in their bedroom to get it exactly right so they don't embarass themselves. I don't practice, I don't have the time to but then again I don't need to now. At a wedding or party etc you use your mic skills etc...

Funnily enough though I used to get people moan because I'd played tracks in a different order sometimes - there ain't no pleasing some people

[Javlingames]

Yes i see your point. Trouble with mobiles is half the people dont want to be there, they are there to be polite, and a dj's job is to make these people enjoy themselves. That is tough, and that seperates good mobile dj's from bad.

Ive made a list of the things i love about mobile Dj'ing, not in any order

1, Travelling to different parts of the country
2, The equipment and the buzz from buying it to rigging it to makin sure its safely packed in the van
3, The good money
4, Being fed and watered
5, Early finishes
5, Being able to vocally entertain people and have a laugh with guests
6, Playing a variety of music
7, The nice round of applause at the end and people shaking your hand (does not happen in clubs!!)

The things I love about clubs,

1, Playing new music that I love
2, Can arrive 5 minutes before im due to start
3, Female attention (hope my missus doesnt read this)
4, playing to large numbers of people who just wanna dance and party
5, working with celebrities and guest DJ's
6, I love mixing tunes and doing tricks, which can be more appreciated in a club
7, Doorstaff on hand to remove abusive / annoying / drunk people
8, Working alongside a lightjock (can be nice to have the company)
9, no gear to pack away at the end

I wont put the things that i dont like because im sure its been covered before.

[Corabar Steve]

I'm glad to see such a good debate has come out of the original post in this thread, that was obviously done just to stir things up.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm glad to see such a good debate has come out of the original post in this thread, that was obviously done just to stir things up.

Agreed. :thumbsup:

[Cj_The_Dj]

depends on what sort of club dj you are or were. my dad used to be a club dj in the 70's and now hes a moblie dj. so it depends.

[Adam_F]

I like club work, but get paid more for mobile stuff, so thats where most of my work comes from. From mobile work I do miss playing the latest club music, using samplers, efx units etc...but I do that for about 4/5 hours a day anyway LoL

[501damian501]

yup i is an club dj aswell, but i leave that in a different part of the internet, this part is all about my sound system and lighting rig, why bring club djing into a mobile disco forum, some people are crazy these days, but if anyone wants any help i would happily help them on acouple of things, cheers damo

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

yup i is an club dj

:D :D

[JAMdisco]

Just what I was thinking as I read it too :D

[soundtracker]

What I don't understand is why if someone is so wrapped up in all things "Club DJ" and that Mobile Jocks are second class citizens, would you suddenly choose to join their sullied ranks? Why did the Clubs not want him?

[501damian501]

probley because he cant use turntables to save his life, or his taste of vinyl sends managers and promoters to the nut house, cheers damian



p.s good one solitaire, whats your name darren aint it ?

[soundtracker]

probley because he cant use turntables to save his life,



p.s good one solitaire, whats your name darren aint it ?

Unlikely in view of age and experience

[Silver]

My career started in clubs and in some of the biggest ones in Bournemouth and they were rocking. I loved it, women literally fighting over me (had two thrown out one night!) it was great fun.

I was offered a residency in Bahrain but bottled it and it didn't happen, a BIG regret.

More to the point of this thread is that club work is much much easier than mobile work. I could play the same tunes for a month with little variation in play order and would always have a packed floor. People came to listen to MY music, the music I dictated. If somebody asked for a request I would play it if it fitted in with what I was playing which was 80's funk and disco. If it was the number one and I didn't like it, it didn't get played - simple!

There is no way in a million years that I could work like that as a mobile dj now. The audience dictate, to a point what gets played and you have to have a far bigger knowledge of different genres than any club dj will ever have.

Let's not start the technology debate and how things are so much easier for club dj's to scratch, beat mix and use effects nowadays which are a major part of a club dj's life. Those elements are a minor part of a mobile's life. So technology has helped the club dj more than the mobile.

I can say I never looked down on mobile dj's in my club life, it's all horses for courses.

It's a fairly basic choice to me, if I thought I was being sneered at or belittled I would do either ....

A. Leave the forum.

or

B. Stop wittering and be grateful for the great FREE advice you get on here.

Answers on a postcard to .............

[soundtracker]

My career started in clubs and in some of the biggest ones in Bournemouth and they were rocking. I loved it, women literally fighting over me (had two thrown out one night!) it was great fun..

La Maison Royale?

[rob1963]

And I know some that only get £50 if they're lucky, IMO there's far too many wannabes in the club DJing industry (and the clubs know that)

£50 a night to work in a club until the early hours?

That's not wages...it's pocket money.

[Silver]

La Maison Royale?

Oh yes with a good mate of mine Keith Sterling!

[501damian501]

yes they are many wanna be djs out their, ive worked with some down in birmingham, but i leave them speachless with my chop, cut and drop, spinback action hahahaha

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

probley because he cant use turntables to save his life, or his taste of vinyl sends managers and promoters to the nut house, cheers damian



p.s good one solitaire, whats your name darren aint it ?

Indeed. :)

[soundtracker]

Oh yes with a good mate of mine Keith Sterling!

Twas a cracking place back in the day!:)

[Javlingames]

yes they are many wanna be djs out their, ive worked with some down in birmingham, but i leave them speachless with my chop, cut and drop, spinback action hahahaha


Are you a blackbelt in DJ'ing?

[501damian501]

unless their is a grading system which i didnt know about :D :D

[kilmeedyman]

Are you a blackbelt in DJ'ing?

Brilliant, LMAO :rofl:

[Excalibur]

By jove, there hasn't half been some rubbish spoken on this! :eek:
Totally leaving aside any "pecking order" you simply can't compare Club DJ'ing to Mobile. Chalk and Cheese. And of course there are superb and atrocious ones in both camps.
I never would wish to be a Club DJ, it's not my scene. I could however watch a good Club DJ at work, and appreciate his skills, just like I can appreciate any craftsman.
I seem to remember that we have Singers, Ex-Singers ( Hello Justin) , Landlords/Ladies and all manner of diverse occupations on here. I do not remember any of them being treated with anything less than politeness and assistance, since they offered the same in return.
"Sow the Wind, and ye shall reap the Whirlwind"

[501damian501]

i agree:D :D

[spin mobile disco]

Nice to have a good debate on here without it going over board for a change. Quick close the thread before someone spoils it. :)

[soundtracker]

By jove, there hasn't half been some rubbish spoken on this! :eek:


Nice bit of generalisation -are we talking original statement or retorts?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Yes, it's all been done in good taste.....so far. I don't know Boogie Boy but I get the feeling that I am not the only one that finds the way he words thing a tad out of order. Seeing as he is yet to reply on this thread today I can only assume that he is doing the day job at the moment (apologies if that's wrong or sounds out of order) so we'll have to see if this thread stays in good humour and good taste a bit later on.

[501damian501]

i believe he got banned, for talking to darren like a piece of :Censored: , :D :D :beer1: damo

[Excalibur]

Nice bit of generalisation -are we talking original statement or retorts?

I have just re-read this entire post in light of that valid question. Therefore, I concede that the first line of my post was not a good phrase to use, and I withdraw it unreservedly, and apologise. :o

[soundtracker]

I have just re-read this entire post in light of that valid question. Therefore, I concede that the first line of my post was not a good phrase to use, and I withdraw it unreservedly, and apologise. :o

and I apologise for the lack of smiley which I failed to add!!:) :)

[Tom]

I think that mobile djs have to work harder for the money. You have to take all the gear with you, setup, work your back side off, pack up and go home, unpack for a second time.

Club dj's only have to turn up and play.


I have never done any club sets but have started to go to clubs, mainly so my other half can have some fun with her friends. I wont let her go out as I don't trust the guys in the clubs. :mad:. Anyway....

I went to a club the other week for the first time. Good experaince to be honest. I had a great time and danced, which is rare for me. lol. The dj did a lot of talking over the music, even when there was vocals were being sung/rapped ect. Why???

[JAMdisco]

i believe he got banned, for talking to darren like a piece of :Censored: , :D :D :beer1: damo

So I see...

Well I can safely say, I won't miss his negative comments :p :D

[theoloyla]

I have been a club dj and done mobiles throughout my career. I havent done any club work now for some years and I dont think I would want to unless it was a retro night - besides I earn more doing mobiles. Mobiling is definately harder work physically and mentally but club work is more fun and prestigious. Steve The Boogie Boy's problem is that he wants to be a specialist music dj but somehow doesnt get that accross.

[ppentertainments]

So I see...

Well I can safely say, I won't miss his negative comments :p :D

Must admit it gave some good reading though :D :D

[DazzyD]

Personally, I don't have any problems with any kind of DJ other than the cowboy-take-the-booking-and-don't-turn-up-DJ.

I started off doing pub nights then promoted my own club nights in the mid-90s for a while. I had a guy (who became a good friend of mine) help out a few times. I really enjoyed those nights but I also really enjoy the mobile work I do now. As a family man myself doing family parties seems to be what I was born for.

Incidentally, I haven't seen my club DJ mate for a while but I read an article about him last year - in International DJ magazine! He's done very very well for himself and I'm happy to have known him!

[501damian501]

so whats wrong with steve the boogie boy ? am a specalist club dj, in commercial dance/classics with bassline/organ house, and i allways advertise with my mobiling that i am a speaclist in bassline house as that is up and coming nowadays with the youth.

[BeerFunk]

Is club DJing easier or more difficult than mobile DJing? There are no right or wrong answers, other than the answers stating one is easier than the other.


By jove, there hasn't half been some rubbish spoken on this! :eek:
Totally leaving aside any "pecking order" you simply can't compare Club DJ'ing to Mobile. Chalk and Cheese. And of course there are superb and atrocious ones in both camps.Thank you, couldn't have put it better myself!

As someone with a lot of experience in both, and in modern times too, I can sincerely say that each requires different skills, but both are equally challenging during the peak hour.


What I meant was, with a club people generally know what to expect as most either specialise in one type of music, or have specific music style nights, so people have arrived there more or less knowing what they're going to get. They wouldn't go to an R&B night if they didn't like R'n'B!That may apply to R&B clubs, house clubs and what have you, but what about the commercial clubs, where a mix of chart, dance and classics are on the agenda?

It can be very difficult keeping a hen night party happy in one corner, the indie kids in another corner, the ravers in a third corner, and the R&B brigade, well, everywhere - all happy at the same time!

[nigelwright7557]

Ok let's get everything out in the open, shall we?

It would appear that quite a few of the contributors here have very little time for club DJs or ex-club DJs. As if they aren't DJs at all and come from a totally different planet.

What are the reasons for any assumptions made regarding them? I'd like to know.

The last club I was in all the DJ's did was take the mick out of the female punters. Thye didnt introduce any music, it was just piped from a machine and they stood there like spare parts.

[BeerFunk]

The last club I was in all the DJ's did was take the mick out of the female punters. Thye didnt introduce any music, it was just piped from a machine and they stood there like spare parts.Stop going to rubbish backstreet clubs! :p

An example of a good (commercial) club DJ can usually be found in Lava & Ignite clubs (http://www.lavaignite.com/). The one in Edinburgh has a retro and disco floor upstairs, complete with mirrorballs, cheesy 70s and 80s music, and an over-friendly DJ on the microphone! :D

[Kernow]

so whats wrong with steve the boogie boy ? am a specalist club dj, in commercial dance/classics with bassline/organ house, and i allways advertise with my mobiling that i am a speaclist in bassline house as that is up and coming nowadays with the youth.

Not a specialist in spelling though ?

(And that's also up & coming with the decline in standards) ;)

[soundtracker]

Is club DJing easier or more difficult than mobile DJing? There are no right or wrong answers, other than the answers stating one is easier than the other.

Thank you, couldn't have put it better myself!

As someone with a lot of experience in both, and in modern times too, I can sincerely say that each requires different skills, but both are equally challenging during the peak hour.

That may apply to R&B clubs, house clubs and what have you, but what about the commercial clubs, where a mix of chart, dance and classics are on the agenda?

It can be very difficult keeping a hen night party happy in one corner, the indie kids in another corner, the ravers in a third corner, and the R&B brigade, well, everywhere - all happy at the same time!

But they're still there because they want to be - NOT because they have to be.

[501damian501]

yes i agree mobile djing and club djing when be some what the same, club djing as different skills where mobiling is, like i wouldnt dare go to a wedding and start messing with the eq's adding fx ect, i wonder how long i would last hehehe, cheers damo

[JAMdisco]

yes i agree mobile djing and club djing when be some what the same, club djing as different skills where mobiling is, like i wouldnt dare go to a wedding and start messing with the eq's adding fx ect, i wonder how long i would last hehehe, cheers damo

eh? :confused:

[Corabar Steve]

like i wouldnt dare go to a wedding and start messing with the eq's adding fx ect,
Neither would a club DJ who played cheezy pop, or rock, or indie, or reggae / ska, or rock 'n' roll.

Not all club DJs play dance music or derivatives thereof. Why do people seem to think this is the case?

[Tom]

Not all club DJs play dance music or derivatives thereof.

I agree.

There is a local night club local to me and they have different music on different night. On saturdays they dance yet on fridays its indie.


Im still waiting for a heavy metal night. :D:D:D

[djsteve10]

Stop going to rubbish backstreet clubs! :p

An example of a good (commercial) club DJ can usually be found in Lava & Ignite clubs (http://www.lavaignite.com/). The one in Edinburgh has a retro and disco floor upstairs, complete with mirrorballs, cheesy 70s and 80s music, and an over-friendly DJ on the microphone! :D

I work for Luminar Leisure who own Oceana, Liquid & Envy, Lava & Ignite, The only employ some of the finest dj's for their bigger venues, Get yourself down to your nearest Oceana and check out the dj's down there, I am a club dj and i can work some of the stuff i use when im working in the clubs for when i go out on the road such as bits of beat mixing, 70's & 80's music that i would play there would be played on the road. If you want to define club dj to mobile dj then look at the likes of DJ Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke and then look at a fine mobile jock such as Darren (AKA Solitaire) who has alot of experience, Also alot of the experienced club jocks have all come from been mobile jocks so they are capable of doing mobile work even if it takes them a few gigs to get used to it.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If you want to define club dj to mobile dj then look at the likes of DJ Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke and then look at a fine mobile jock such as Darren (AKA Solitaire) who has alot of experience

I also did club work for about 10 years on and off. Not quite up to Tiesto's standard though.

[Corabar Steve]

Some excelent club DJs that I have seen / heard in action that are not Dance DJs:

Jonathan & Eko
Shuff
Krusher
Nick London
Mac
Hamish McDonald

Now can we please get over the dance fixation. Why does everyone assume that if a DJ is a club DJ he plays dance music???

I doubt very much if any of the above have ever beat mixed in their lives, & other than the fact that they all play realtively specialist genres, I would say that their styles are more akin to that of a good old mobile DJ.

[pagan_flame]

Now can we please get over the dance fixation. Why does everyone assume that if a DJ is a club DJ he plays dance music???

:agree:

I DJ at clubs.

Rock clubs.

[DJBOXY]

A mobile DJ does have to work harder he or she needs to be able to play every type of music out there from the 50's to some chav asking for some niche.

[Corabar Steve]

Welcome to the forum DJBOXY. Please take the time to follow forum etiquette & introduce yourself in the Newbies section.

[Javlingames]

I work for Luminar Leisure who own Oceana, Liquid & Envy, Lava & Ignite, The only employ some of the finest dj's for their bigger venues, Get yourself down to your nearest Oceana and check out the dj's down there, I am a club dj and i can work some of the stuff i use when im working in the clubs for when i go out on the road such as bits of beat mixing, 70's & 80's music that i would play there would be played on the road. If you want to define club dj to mobile dj then look at the likes of DJ Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke and then look at a fine mobile jock such as Darren (AKA Solitaire) who has alot of experience, Also alot of the experienced club jocks have all come from been mobile jocks so they are capable of doing mobile work even if it takes them a few gigs to get used to it.

I have a friend who works for luminar and he is awesome, wasted in a luminar venue in my opinion, he should be in a Syndicate type club, which is a proper dance club, no cheesy music videos and no 45 year old manager saying do not play pendulum again!! lol, . I do like the equipment they install though, they dont do things by halves.

I had some friends go to Oceana in kingston on a sat night a while back and they were expecting the main room dj to be the dogs, but they said he was absolutely shocking, no personality, couldnt mix, levels all over the place. You would have thought that a massive venue like that would have a first class DJ, i expect he is tucked up with management. I hear its quite clicky.

[djsteve10]

I have a friend who works for luminar and he is awesome, wasted in a luminar venue in my opinion, he should be in a Syndicate type club, which is a proper dance club, no cheesy music videos and no 45 year old manager saying do not play pendulum again!! lol, . I do like the equipment they install though, they dont do things by halves.

I had some friends go to Oceana in kingston on a sat night a while back and they were expecting the main room dj to be the dogs, but they said he was absolutely shocking, no personality, couldnt mix, levels all over the place. You would have thought that a massive venue like that would have a first class DJ, i expect he is tucked up with management. I hear its quite clicky.

Well Oceana main rooms Dj's can differ in my opinion, Who is your mate then i might know him ;)

[Javlingames]

Rob Lawes is his name, he does 7 nights a week for luminar. won dj of the year back in 2005. really good dj, does oceana bristol and oceana mk

[501damian501]

i never said all djs play dance in clubs ect ect, dance is simply my style, like lashes is hardhouse, millers is funky house ect, if you notice about these kinda of people, you will see they are into the music, like my fav music is dance/ bassline aka niche, it dont mean i play all tunes which i like, it just makes the night more enjoyable and if the punters see me enjoying the night, they will enjoy it too.

[colagirl]

I'm not sure about people here having very little time for club DJs, although it might partly be explained by the name of this forum...

...the MOBILE DISCO directory forum.

Just a thought.

:)

true lol

[BeerFunk]

A mobile DJ does have to work harder he or she needs to be able to play every type of music out there from the 50's to some chav asking for some niche.I don't agree at all.

Going back to the example of a commercial club DJ, you have to be able to mix through many different styles and tempi, without getting too cheesy, or boring!

On average, and in my experience, the actual DJing part of things is more difficult in a club environment. Being a mobile DJ though, requires a lot more than just being on the decks.

[Kernow]

I don't agree at all.

Going back to the example of a commercial club DJ, you have to be able to mix through many different styles and tempi, without getting too cheesy, or boring!

On average, and in my experience, the actual DJing part of things is more difficult in a club environment. Being a mobile DJ though, requires a lot more than just being on the decks.


I've never had any desire to be a Club DJ, to my mind it puts you in an isolated environment where it is difficult, if not impossible , to build a rapport with the crowd.

As a very much 'interactive' person I am totally content to remain a Mobile till I hang up my phones.

I'm certainly not a DJ in the bedroom, but it has been the scene of some of my best performances ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I
On average, and in my experience, the actual DJing part of things is more difficult in a club environment.

Because?

[Excalibur]

Because?

Because the customer hasn't handed you a rigid playlist. Do try to keep up! :p

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Because the customer hasn't handed you a rigid playlist. Do try to keep up! :p

Oh...:o

[BeerFunk]

Because?Because the technical side of it, mixing and so on, is so much more important. Often you will have to beatmatch aswell, even as a commercial DJ.

Remember that thread about some mobile DJs not using headphones? I think that goes a long way to highlight the point.

[rob1963]

Remember that thread about some mobile DJs not using headphones?

I remember that thread well, and I'm proud to say I didn't use my headphones ONCE for the entire 5 hours of my first digital gig last weekend.

:D :D :D

[CRAZY K]

I remember that thread well, and I'm proud to say I didn't use my headphones ONCE for the entire 5 hours of my first digital gig last weekend.

:D :D :D

What are headphones?

I thought they were used with vinyl records.

:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[501damian501]

untill you notice you have tagged sumthing wrong :D :D :D :beer1:

THE WORD IS SOMETHING

[Excalibur]

untill you notice you have tagged sumthing wrong :D :D :D :beer1:

Or tagged it right, and not read the artist. :o :o :D :D :D :D

[nigelwright7557]

Because the technical side of it, mixing and so on, is so much more important. Often you will have to beatmatch aswell, even as a commercial DJ.

Remember that thread about some mobile DJs not using headphones? I think that goes a long way to highlight the point.


I refuse to beat match.
It might be easy with drum and bass stuff but speeding up or slowing down "Hi ho Silver lining" just doesnt sound right.

Dont need headphones as the CD decks cue themselves.

I suppose that makes me a lazy DJ.
It doesnt seem to make people have any less of a good night.

I suspect after 10 pints most people dont even know what song I am playing never mind if the beats match.

The club DJ does have the advantage that he/she doesnt have to move the gear 4 times a night. House 2 car, car 2 gig, gig 2 car, car 2 house.

The last club DJ's I experienced just seemed to be there to take the mick out of female punters, otherwise they just stood there while the music was spoon fed by a machine.

[BeerFunk]

I refuse to beat match.
It might be easy with drum and bass stuff but speeding up or slowing down "Hi ho Silver lining" just doesnt sound right.Generally speaking, there isn't much point beatmatching at functions - maybe 18ths and 21sts though.


Dont need headphones as the CD decks cue themselves.

I suppose that makes me a lazy DJ.
It doesnt seem to make people have any less of a good night.

I suspect after 10 pints most people dont even know what song I am playing never mind if the beats match.Yes, but you're talking from the perspective of a mobile DJ, where I would agree that beatmatching, and even precise cueing are optional really - ie. you can get away without it.


The club DJ does have the advantage that he/she doesnt have to move the gear 4 times a night. House 2 car, car 2 gig, gig 2 car, car 2 house.Precisely, but a club DJ will find the actual DJing harder work (in a busy club)


The last club DJ's I experienced just seemed to be there to take the mick out of female punters, otherwise they just stood there while the music was spoon fed by a machine.As I said, you must have been in a rubbish club. There's no point comparing good mobile DJs to rubbish club DJs, or vice versa.

[nigelwright7557]

Precisely, but a club DJ will find the actual DJing harder work (in a busy club)

As I said, you must have been in a rubbish club. There's no point comparing good mobile DJs to rubbish club DJs, or vice versa.

There is pressure on at any gig to play the right music.
One wrong track and the floor is cleared.

I was in Terminal One at Carlisle where they played quite a lot of older disco music. It would be interesting to get into a good club and see some real DJ's.

I tend to play clubs mostly for engagement parties and birthdays.

[Corabar Steve]

the actual DJing part of things is more difficult in a club environment.

Depends on the type of club. I would have to say that when I was doing the rock clubs it was a sight easier than doing mobile work.