Auditioning Woes

[notroubleclubber]

Recently there was a DJ competiton at my local nightclub (biggest one in the town) and i entered it. I got a email and a phone call from the manager to tell me the details, date and time etc.

Basically all entrants was told they had to do a 30-40 minute mix and because the winner was judged by the audience cheers all entrants had a guestlist for their friends etc. I was told i would get tickets through the post for my friends and was asked how many i needed so told them.

Anyway a week before the event i decided to contact the manager by email and phone to ask what equipment they used at the club and also that i hadnt received any tickets. I also asked if possible could i use my laptop with my bcd3000 controller (i just said controller in case he didnt know what it was!). I asked all this as i wanted to be a bit prepared. I received no reply even though i asked numerous times.

I then decided sod it..if they cant be bothered to contact me then i wont do the competition.

Was i wrong to ask the above questions? Its just that i didnt want to turn up on the night (was told to turn up "around" 10pm), not know what equipment was being used until i was in the booth facing the audience, and have to get my mates to pay to get in as id promised free entry as i was already told.
Id imagine as its a £2million club that they`d have the top range of equipment which i have no experience on and no practice on so thats why i asked if i could use the laptop and controller which im used to.

WHat would you have done?

[Shaun]

I'd have done the same as you. How does the old saying go..."Failing to prepare is preparing to fail".

I think you did the right thing by not going in blind.



[ moving to mdd chat ]

[NKR]

DJ Competition - Can I bring my laptop. :(

I think that might have blown it for you.

[Mark Wild]

DJ Competition - Can I bring my laptop. :(

I think that might have blown it for you.

That's ridiculous lol. I think space in the booth can be a problem when taking your own controller, so you did right to ask, but easy enough wire one in.

[NKR]

That's ridiculous lol. I think space in the booth can be a problem when taking your own controller, so you did right to ask, but easy enough wire one in.

I got offered various trials with some big chain clubs in my Club days, but when I said I was on CD is was - cheers mate, but no thanks. Amazing the difference a few years makes. No vinyl no way back in late 90's early 00ies.

Anyhow - I would assume the manager has just seen the word laptop and thought ' this is about live mixing not getting your lap top to do it' He probably never even got to the word controller.

[Mark Wild]

Anyhow - I would assume the manager has just seen the word laptop and thought ' this is about live mixing not getting your lap top to do it' He probably never even got to the word controller.

You would assume wrong imo

[NKR]

You would assume wrong imo

Assumptions can have that habbit.

So why did he just ignore our learned colleague?

[notroubleclubber]

Its a shame as ive listened to the other entrants and feel i could of done well!!!!

Nevermind!!

Soz for putting in wrong area.

[NKR]

Its a shame as ive listened to the other entrants and feel i could of kicked <forum censor activated - please edit your post><forum censor activated - please edit your post><forum censor activated - please edit your post>!!! Nevermind!!

Soz for putting in wrong area.

Kicked Donkey?

[Mark Wild]

Anyway a week before the event i decided to contact the manager by email and phone to ask what equipment they used at the club and also that i hadnt received any tickets. I also asked if possible could i use my laptop with my bcd3000 controller (i just said controller in case he didnt know what it was!). I asked all this as i wanted to be a bit prepared. I received no reply even though i asked numerous times.




Why didn't he answer your questions on the phone?

[notroubleclubber]

i ment his phone just rang and i left answer messages.

[A1DL]

if the venue is a large £2m club, it's pretty obvious the booth will be equipped with CDJs. I can't see the point in entering a club dj competition if you're not competent with CDJs, either using CDs or a laptop with Serato etc.

10 years ago you wouldn't have asked the club manager if you could take your Citronic Popular console in, you would have expected 1210s and to be proficient on them.

[Mark Wild]

Maybe he ignored you because he did know exactly what a BEHRINGER BCD 3000 was :o :p

[NKR]

if the venue is a large £2m club, it's pretty obvious the booth will be equipped with CDJs. I can't see the point in entering a club dj competition if you're not competent with CDJs, either using CDs or a laptop with Serato etc.

10 years ago you wouldn't have asked the club manager if you could take your Citronic Popular console in, you would have expected 1210s and to be proficient on them.

That was the point I was getting at. If you can't use the CDJ's then forget it. Harsh, but true.

Not having vinyl finished my club career off in the early 00ies and I limped on for 12 months jobbing round little clubs. I was actually pretty good, which is why I kept getting openings until the dreaded CD conversation came up. What a difference a few years makes and the introduction of CDJ's!

Try mixing on a set of CDN 22 MK1's - I had to be good as they are as basic as they come.

[notroubleclubber]

Bellshill - I didnt tell him it was a bcd! i just a controller.

A1DL - Unfortuantely im not in a position financially to be able to splash out on kit that compares to a £2million nightclub but listening to the entrants (about 20 others) i feel my mixing would give them a good run for their money and thats on my laptop with a controller hence why i entered.

I personally didnt feel it was a big deal to use my laptop and controller as i can get good results from what i use. I was also put off by the lack of comms from the manager.

My question was , was i right not to enter due to my queries not being answered and also what would you have done?

Maybe i am not prepared to be entering this sort of competition because i cant afford the equipment the clubs use?

[notroubleclubber]

And i must be good if i can mix well on a bcd3000 and laptop!!!!

Well, thats what im told!!

[NKR]

Maybe i am not prepared to be entering this sort of competition because i cant afford the equipment the clubs use?

The CDJ's are essentially a better version of many cheaper CD players on the market (okay sweeping statement, but the principal is the same). Go and play with one in a DJ store and learn where the basic functions are. If you have cheaper CD players and can mix on them and know where the functions on the CDJ's are it will be like stepping from a mini to a Ferrari and should help you, not hinder.

[Mark Wild]

DJ Competition - Can I bring my laptop. :(

I think that might have blown it for you.


That was the point I was getting at. If you can't use the CDJ's then forget it. Harsh, but true.


You'd hook up the Lappy to the CDJ's via SSL.

[notroubleclubber]

Im afraid the equipment that ive mixed from start about 15 years ago with a set of numark belt drive decks then about 5 years ago a numark cd mix 2 and then recently got hold of the bcd3000 with my laptop and vdj.

From what people are saying, maybe my technique is not the problem but my equipment is?

So what sort of price am i lookign at to "upgrade" and also has anyone got any links to what i should be looking at?

[NKR]

And i must be good if i can mix well on a bcd3000 and laptop!!!!

Well, thats what im told!!

Quick spec read. It features auto sync - does that not mean it does some of the work?

[NKR]

You'd hook up the Lappy to the CDJ's via SSL.

How about burn the tracks onto CD and use them properly?

[notroubleclubber]

no no no!! I have all that stuff turned off. Ive got a pioneer skin on it and got all the auto stuff turned off.

I do find it handy having the bpm shown and like working off the waves at the top so you know when the main beats are gonna drop off etc but i belive its all in the practise and knowing your music.
So far, i find the controller and laptop the easiest to mix with probably because the above.

[notroubleclubber]

What do you mean use them properly???

I see it as upgrading - so vinyl to cd - cd to mp3. So would you say i was not mixing properly if i used vinyl in the days of cd?

[NKR]

no no no!! I have all that stuff turned off. Ive got a pioneer skin on it and got all the auto stuff turned off.

I do find it handy having the bpm shown and like working off the waves at the top so you know when the main beats are gonna drop off etc but i belive its all in the practise and knowing your music.
So far, i find the controller and laptop the easiest to mix with probably because the above.

Maybe, but it features it, which may have thrown you out of the running. Perception is not always reality, but if you are sat in a booth with a lap top and a machine that auto-syncs someone is going to shout foul!!!!!

[NKR]

What do you mean use them properly???

I see it as upgrading - so vinyl to cd - cd to mp3. So would you say i was not mixing properly if i used vinyl in the days of cd?

No but its a CD player, so use it as one. That's what club DJ's do. Why have a laptop in the booth and have someone accuse you of using auto-sync software?

[notroubleclubber]

I can see your point now. I could see how that would look.

[A1DL]

Im afraid the equipment that ive mixed from start about 15 years ago with a set of numark belt drive decks then about 5 years ago a numark cd mix 2 and then recently got hold of the bcd3000 with my laptop and vdj.

From what people are saying, maybe my technique is not the problem but my equipment is?

So what sort of price am i lookign at to "upgrade" and also has anyone got any links to what i should be looking at?

there will be a lot of cdj1000 mk3s on the secondhand market over the next few months as people upgrade to the 2000

[notroubleclubber]

I maybe wrong - but wouldnt using cdjs through the laptop cause the same problem?
Surely using the cdjs is just another way of controlling vdj ie, cdj as a controller?

[NKR]

I can see your point now. I could see how that would look.

I am not running you down just trying to look at it from the managers point of view considering its a DJ competition.

One door closes another may open.

[NKR]

I maybe wrong - but wouldnt using cdjs through the laptop cause the same problem?
Surely using the cdjs is just another way of controlling vdj ie, cdj as a controller?

Yep - burn it to CD dude its the only way to look genuine!

[A1DL]

No but its a CD player, so use it as one. That's what club DJ's do. Why have a laptop in the booth and have someone accuse you of using auto-sync software?

the laptop in the booth is ok if it has Serato on it and you are uisng the CDJs to mix.

what's not ok is auto mix software or a bellringer controller!

[notroubleclubber]

No, i can see your point. I put the question on the board to see from others peoples views.

[A1DL]

if you are sat in a booth
:eek:

[NKR]

No, i can see your point. I put the question on the board to see from others peoples views.

Good man. So now you know your next move. Get back in the mix and kick some donkey butt so next time you can tell us how you won the DJ contest. :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[notroubleclubber]

Im guessing the bcd isnt looked upon very well on here then?

Shame, as i get on well with it and it does the job for me!

I wouldnt want it to look like i was cheating though and i could understand the managers view if he knew that there was the option of automix on it.

The problem is i run a mobile disco so dont really see myself as a club dj even though ive always wanted to be one. SO ive never seen the need to splash out on the "proper" kit to be able to club dj as my controller does the job well for mixing as well as mobile discos.

[notroubleclubber]

How much am i looking at for some cdjs to get back into the mix as you put it?

[NKR]

:eek:

Err yes wrong type of booth. :eek:

You know what I meant. I once slept on a booth floor after too much budweiser.

[NKR]

How much am i looking at for some cdjs to get back into the mix as you put it?

Still a few quid. If you on a budget get something cheaper to practice on but get down to your local DJ store and learn your way round a CDJ. At least then you can be preping your mixing away knowing when you see a CDJ you know your way round it!

Simples! Ish.

[notroubleclubber]

CHeers - thanks for the help

[NKR]

CHeers - thanks for the help

;) pleasure. Also you are going to need to have a sneaky peaky at Pioneer and Denon Mixers and learn your way round probably a DN-X series Denon (cheaper clubs) or Pioneer DJM series mixers (someone tell me which is the most popular in clubs these days!!!)

[A1DL]

How much am i looking at for some cdjs to get back into the mix as you put it?

the going rate for a pair of secondhand mk3s is around £1,300

[NKR]

the going rate for a pair of secondhand mk3s is around £1,300

Yes I know - I think the chap is on a budget, hence why I didn't look to scare him.

[notroubleclubber]

£1300!!!! Think i will be sticking to the bcd for a while. I could always hide it somewhere or stick a couple of cds over the platter bits!

[simonp]

the laptop in the booth is ok if it has Serato on it and you are uisng the CDJs to mix.

what's not ok is auto mix software or a bellringer controller!

Or TSP - 10x better than Serato, especially for EFX, and even more especially if it's a DJ Comp, where you've 20 mins to please rent-a-crowd.

And yup your right, in fact anything with the name Behringer needs to be launched back to Germany, with a post it note attached, saying NEIN aufhören, diesen Müll :D

[rob1963]

Recently there was a DJ competiton at my local nightclub (biggest one in the town) and i entered it. I got a email and a phone call from the manager to tell me the details, date and time etc.

Basically all entrants was told they had to do a 30-40 minute mix and because the winner was judged by the audience cheers all entrants had a guestlist for their friends etc. I was told i would get tickets through the post for my friends and was asked how many i needed so told them.

Anyway a week before the event i decided to contact the manager by email and phone to ask what equipment they used at the club and also that i hadnt received any tickets. I also asked if possible could i use my laptop with my bcd3000 controller (i just said controller in case he didnt know what it was!). I asked all this as i wanted to be a bit prepared. I received no reply even though i asked numerous times.

I then decided sod it..if they cant be bothered to contact me then i wont do the competition.

Was i wrong to ask the above questions? Its just that i didnt want to turn up on the night (was told to turn up "around" 10pm), not know what equipment was being used until i was in the booth facing the audience, and have to get my mates to pay to get in as id promised free entry as i was already told.
Id imagine as its a £2million club that they`d have the top range of equipment which i have no experience on and no practice on so thats why i asked if i could use the laptop and controller which im used to.

WHat would you have done?

I'd have done the same as you.

If you're enterting a competition using someone elses equipment, it's perfectly reasonable to ask what equipment they have & also whether you can use your laptop.

To be honest, the lack of information & the fact that your enquiries were ignored suggest that this competition has been very poorly organised.

In the circumstances I'd give it a wide berth.

[Mark Wild]

Yep - burn it to CD dude its the only way to look genuine!

That's a sweeping statement surely, I'd take a bag with my xponent & laptop with Torq 1.5 loaded on it and still look genuine.

[A1DL]

And yup your right, in fact anything with the name Behringer needs to be launched back to Germany, with a post it note attached, saying NEIN aufhören, diesen Müll :D

Bellringer production is in PRC so send it back there.

However Germany get "zehn punkte" for some real lovely exports... d&b audiotechnik, Kling & Freitag, Sennheiser, HK, Fohhn, Dynacord, Natalie Horler :) ....