It going down hill

[DiscoPromotions]

After starting my night in Wolverhampton, catching up with friends there, I moved closer to home to meet with other friends, and to the rounds in few places.

I have got to say it is all going down hill.

Budgets must be really tight as the quality of entertainment was beyond poor. One establishment had a DJ who would not shut up; he thought it was cool to sing on every song (he was tone deaf), feedback on the mic every time he stepped in front of the setup.

The next pub we went into, we walked straight out. As soon as we got through the door, the place was empty and the DJ was unbelievably beyond poor.

Then we moved onto another establishment as I know DJ's were better than (last time I was there); usually playing mainly 4x4, bass-line style, but boy I was wrong.

Sounded awful and always distorted, even with 5 sets of speakers. 4 Speakers at the front of the setup, and 1 about 5 meters away. The establishment's capacity is about 200 people (90 people where at the time).

The speakers were active, and I thought they were Mackies, but closer inspection revealed they were some clone brand. Not the DJ who regular plays at the venue.

In the end it was unbearable, so sober as a judge I just grabbed a pizza and went home.

Pub DJ's is like spinning the wheel, you get some good ones and the bad ones. But now it is a case of spinning the wheel with bad ones and unbelievable bad ones.

Seriously, are pubs budgets that tight now or have picked a night were it was "hire worse DJ weekend"

[STEVE HANLEY]

That's the reason I chose mobile as route to go down, cos the pubs don't pay decent money anymore. I've just been offered a residency at the Alnwick Castle North Shields, where I played NYE just gone

It was for every Saturday night. Despite not having a full diary yet on Saturdays I declined. I'm sure the diary will fill up as the year wears on and make more money that way:beer1:

[andyw]

The next pub we went into, we walked straight out. As soon as we got through the door, the place was empty and the DJ was unbelievably beyond poor.

"


how could you tell the dj was unbelievably poor by walking in and walking out?

[rob1963]

I've heard that pubs need to increase their takings by about four times what they pay out for the entertainment in order for it to be viable.

Considering the current climate & reduced number of people going to pubs, it's easy to understand why pubs are using Sid more than ever before.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Here we go with the whole 'Pub DJ' thing again.
I do a number of Pub gigs. They are 'fill in' gigs so in other words, they fill the gaps between bookings. I had one on friday and I did a Ska, Two Tone & Reggae Night and it went down really well.

The thing with these Pub DJ's is that (from what I have seen in the past), far too many just do the same thing all of the time and they play more or less what is on the jukebox! Is that going to get people into the pub? In my experience....No! I do a lot of theme nights to keep it healthy and it's always busy when I am there. We've done Indie Nights, Neon Nights, 70's, 80's Nights, Back to School Nights, Number 1's Nights, Punk Nights, Request Nights etc etc etc...

Maybe I am lucky? The main pub I do pays me £180.00 from 8pm - 11.30pm. I just take my decks and speakers and that's it. No lights or anything else and it's almost like I'm not working. I get paid to be with everyone I know and the atmosphere is great. Now from what I hear, £180.00 round my way for pub work is good. As I said, they are filler nights and there is no way I could survive on 2 pub nights a week. I do 2 a month generally but if I am mega busy (like I am from this week onwards) then I will do them as and when I am free. The pub are also really cool with me and know that I am busy elsewhere so they totally understand that if I get a private booking, it takes preference.

DiscoPromotions - I did exactly the same kind of thing that you did the other week. I had the rarity of a whole weekend off so thought I would go out and about and have a look round to see what others were doing. A pub up the road from me (which is dead almost every time I walk past it) has a hand written, dodgy looking poster in the window advertising a Disco every friday night. I popped in with a mate at around 9.30pm and there were around 8 people in there. The DJ had Mackies and CDJ's and an ImpossibLED. The sound quality was good but far too loud for the number of people in there. I went over to ask for a tune and there was no'one behind the decks. There were pints of lager all around his CDJ's including a pint on the floor which was really close to an extension lead.

Another place I went in had a DJ that loved the sound of his own voice too. It was the venues system he was going through but was really top heavy. He was playing Drum n Bass and you couldn't hear the bass that much. The punters in there had looks on their faces as if someone had just died, a rubbish atmosphere.

It was disappointing because I had the night off and wanted to do something. I ended up getting home before midnight and was pretty narked off.

Saturday I was invited to a 50th Birthday Party at a social club in town. A friend of mine was celebrating so myself and my missus had a rare night out togeather. There was a live band playing and they were a Soul Funk covers band. They were actually really good but no'one was taking any notice of them. They had a crystal clear sounding P.A. system (again, Mackie I think?). I sat there and all I could think of was how they were feeling, playing to a crowd that was mainly full of dead people and also that it was a saturday night and I wasn't working. I couldn't enjoy myself at all. We stayed for around 2 hours and then went to a local pub around the corner from me. We thought we'd have a quiet drink and chill out so were surprised when we saw that there was a 'Disco' on.

We sat down, I went to the bar to get some drinks and I didn't realise but I was stood next to the DJ who was getting a beer. He looked quite young. He had a laptop on a table and speakers (don't know what they were?) on the floor. He also had 2 banks of 4 coloured lights (old skool?) on the table infront of his laptop. I saw him walk over to the gear, sit down and start playing with his mobile. When the track finished he was still on his mobile and there was a slight pause in the music, he looked up, pressed a button and another tune came on but a lot louder than the last one. A guy standing at the bar next to me jumped up in the air as it had startled him. What I imagine was the landlord, shook his head.

This pub is a quiet pub. We often go there and sit outside in the summer. It's a nice pub that has an older clientel in general so it's no wonder that the RnB, Dubstep and other stuff he played whilst we were there, didn't work at all.

I know it sounds bad but seeing people like that makes me feel better and I realise that what I offer is not in the same league as them. I think sometimes we all worry about what others are doing far too much. If DiscoPromotions thoughts and mine are anything to go by then we don't have any worries at all. If these two examples are anything to go by and the rest of the country is having to endure the likes of this aswell....well, as I said...no worries for any of us.

[DiscoPromotions]

how could you tell the dj was unbelievably poor by walking in and walking out?

Even worse sound than the last place, no one hardly there, who was there seem not to be enjoying themselves.

Only takes me a few seconds.

[welby]

Hi I have been dj'ing in a local pub as a filler and have had some great fun along the way. I have filled in with silly competitions with a bottle of ultra-cheap champers as a prize, getting the crowd to have fun. The landlord says he's happy and the takings have doubled. For me it's been an experience from doing posh weddings as I have a better understanding of what people want and for a change it's not all about R n B. It's hard work getting the crowd to join in, but once you have won them over your onto a winner.

I take the attitude that your there to entertain, not to just play music. It work's for me.

[Charlie Brown]

I have witnessed two "Pub DJ's" - I was working in a function room upstairs (40th) and their resident DJ was downstairs.

He had two skytech speakers and a few "T max" lights on a T bar. Cheap laptop and mixer. Finishing my gig at 11.00pm, I popped downstairs to the bar and had a couple of pints, as I was leaving the gear over night.

He was terrible. Like, laughable. I was sat there for 45 minutes and I must have heard "Fight for this love" 4 times? It was unbelievable and sounded terrible.

After having a chat to him (playing it dumb) I couldn't believe he had been in the game for 42 years. :eek:

"I give my mate my hard drive and it fills it with all the top 40 every week. Saves me a lot of hassle." He was on £75 a night - £120 for private functions.

:bang:

The second is Dad's local. One week the landlords son decided he wanted to be a DJ - the next week he was kitted out with light screens and some class D's coupled with a laptop. He loved the sound of his own voice but the crowd couldn't hear a thing.

I think the difference in quality of service a Pub DJ offers and a Mobile DJ is quite different. I think Pub DJ's pick up bad habits - no need for Produb, PAT, Booking forms etc.

[DiscoPromotions]

Hi I have been dj'ing in a local pub as a filler and have had some great fun along the way. I have filled in with silly competitions with a bottle of ultra-cheap champers as a prize, getting the crowd to have fun. The landlord says he's happy and the takings have doubled. For me it's been an experience from doing posh weddings as I have a better understanding of what people want and for a change it's not all about R n B. It's hard work getting the crowd to join in, but once you have won them over your onto a winner.

I take the attitude that your there to entertain, not to just play music. It work's for me.

The thing that all the Pub DJs I saw lacked.

I would assume it would be a gamble for landlord to pay more for DJ i.e from £80 to £180


I think the difference in quality of service a Pub DJ offers and a Mobile DJ is quite different. I think Pub DJ's pick up bad habits - no need for Produb, PAT, Booking forms etc.

Is this not case that being a Pub DJ is starting point before moving into Mobile DJ world?

[theoloyla]

I certainly started in Norwich pubs in the 60's

[Charlie Brown]

Is this not case that being a Pub DJ is starting point before moving into Mobile DJ world?

I don't follow?

[DiscoPromotions]

I don't follow?

do you not have to start somewhere i.e work as a Pub DJ before stepping out into mobile DJ'ing world.

[wensleydale]

do you not have to start somewhere i.e work as a Pub DJ before stepping out into mobile DJ'ing world.

I'd argue it's the other way round.

[Charlie Brown]

do you not have to start somewhere i.e work as a Pub DJ before stepping out into mobile DJ'ing world.

No, of course you don't.

I started at a Neighbourhood Watch Xmas party with a bunch of CD's from the Daily Mail and Homemix cd player...

[rob1963]

As for where you start, this will be different for different people.

Some will go straight into mobile discos, and some will do other stuff first.

For example, when I started mobile discos, I'd already been DJing for five years before that.

[OllieJames]

No, of course you don't.

I started at a Neighbourhood Watch Xmas party with a bunch of CD's from the Daily Mail and Homemix cd player...

I started in a very similar way.

Now CDs, two of the school's CD players and a 4 light chaser!

[StarZSoundS]

I think we are perhaps missing something here.

I have also seen some remarkably bad function DJ's as well.

You are more likely to see a bad DJ in a pub because you are more likely to be swanning into a pub on your night off than into some flipping strangers wedding with the intention of putting him down.

Why won't you allow DJ's to be both.Good honest Pub DJ's or KJ's when they want and function DJ's when they want.....I manage to do both and work more regularly because of it.

Maybe some of the outstanding DJ's on here may not look quite so outstanding if THEY were trying to entertain 8 people at a a FUNCTION....

It may not be entirely the DJ's fault that only 8 people have turned up???

[1st Choice Karaoke]

I've noticed a similiar trend down our way. Most pubs just won't pay the right money. I started about 10 years ago and am getting the same money now for nightclub and pub gigs as I did then, while the mobile disco rate has doubled in that time. I had one call up 8pm on a Saturday the other week because their DJ had let them down, its a Torquay harbourside bar. I couldn't have covered it anyway as I was already booked but I asked the rate... £10 per hour. What kind of Dj are you going to get for that money? No wonder they are always quiet!

[StarZSoundS]

I think we are perhaps missing something here.

I have also seen some remarkably bad function DJ's as well.

You are more likely to see a bad DJ in a pub because you are more likely to be swanning into a pub on your night off than into some flipping strangers wedding with the intention of putting him down.

Why won't you allow DJ's to be both.Good honest Pub DJ's or KJ's when they want and function DJ's when they want.....I manage to do both and work more regularly because of it.

Maybe some of the outstanding DJ's on here may not look quite so outstanding if THEY were trying to entertain 8 people at a a FUNCTION....

It may not be entirely the DJ's fault that only 8 people have turned up???

Sorry...Please replace...

"with the intention of putting him down" WITH
"with the intention of putting the DJ down":eek: :eek:

[visualdjmax]

I really think that Pub gigs are some of the hardest gigs in the world. Once you are in with the pub and the crowd then you have got it cracked. I have done (ages ago mind you) some really rough dodgy pubs, you learn so much and really fast!

[djsteve10]

I was running my club night this weekend in Millom, Cumbria.

We put a big rig in the main social club during the day and then decided to go around a few of the pubs for a lunch and a couple of beers then go DJ at around 11:00pm which is the time the venue opened.

At one pub I saw the DJ was set up ontop of the pool table, console in the middle and speakers at either side. He had a few light sequencers on the floor and that was it. BUT he was playing some really good motown tracks and some 60's which everyone enjoyed.

The next venue we went to the DJ had a S&H booth, 2 Martin EFX 500 and 2 SRM450's. His music choice was appalling and it was so loud we left and went to get changed and started dj'in early.

[ppentertainments]

I was running my club night this weekend in Millom, Cumbria.

We put a big rig in the main social club during the day and then decided to go around a few of the pubs for a lunch and a couple of beers then go DJ at around 11:00pm which is the time the venue opened.

At one pub I saw the DJ was set up ontop of the pool table, console in the middle and speakers at either side. He had a few light sequencers on the floor and that was it. BUT he was playing some really good motown tracks and some 60's which everyone enjoyed.

The next venue we went to the DJ had a S&H booth, 2 Martin EFX 500 and 2 SRM450's. His music choice was appalling and it was so loud we left and went to get changed and started dj'in early.
Millom - God help you :D :D Strange place to hire someone from Leeds to travel too :confused: :confused: :confused:

[djsteve10]

Millom - God help you :D :D Strange place to hire someone from Leeds to travel too :confused: :confused: :confused:

I have family up there so I got in with some of the club owners up there. It was like a weekend away as we had a static caravan to sleep in over the weekend and I made some nice cash too!

[funksoulbrother]

Like others, already posted, I also do pub gigs, mainly at one particular pub, to fill in between other bookings. I do it because this is how I make my living, don't earn, don't eat, simple. I am not a 60 quid Sid, I have built up a working relationship with the manager of the pub, using customer service, discussing various ideas with them and also providing them with a successful package, the customers enjoy themselves, stay there and spend more money. I still charge them a good fee that I am satisfied with, approx 20% lower than my normal rates, this is on the basis of I get about 12 gigs a year from them, it's only from 8.30 to 11.30 and I don't have to load up until the morning after. So I feel that it suits me and I have also got other enquiries from these nights.

Pubs, whether individually owned or tenanted/managed for a group, generally have to increase their normal evenings takings by at least £1,000 to justify paying out £200/250 for entertainment, simple economics. With us still being in a recession, some managers will take a chance on the entertainers( I use this word, as DJ's, KJs, Vocalists and Bands etc. are included) who are offering themselves at a cheap price, to get themselves in the door. Some of them are good, some are complete flops, but there is always a quite a few behind them offering the same. And managers will take the risk, regardless of these people not having PAT, PLI, Produb, etc, because monetarily, it is a low risk, if they are good the pubs quids in, if they aren't they can argue that it was a quiet night, their main risk being that if the pub was busy and they were bad, news can spread quickly. But ultimately that is their risk, you can't dictate to them, as it is their business that they are driving.

If we go down the line of getting some enforcement of PAT, PLI, Produb, etc. that will not stop people who are just plain bad getting gigs, as they will be bad, LEGALLY. If we go down the line of minimum fee, again this would be illegal (current national minimum wage rate per hour is well below the 60 quid Sid rate!!!) this would be tantamount to running a cartel to price fix. What would you say to a judge in court, "Well your honour, I charge £250 to do a Pub/Birthday/Wedding etc. so I don't think it right that Sid does the job for £60". You might as well close and lock the door behind you and throw away the keys, that is no defense.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like getting undercut by them, it's very annoying, but that's life, get over it, it happens in all professions, worldwide. Whether it be a Pub, Birthday, Wedding or whatever, the only way ahead seems to be educating your customers, in that you get, what you pay for. I sell myself to the customer when I first meet them, find out what they want, what their needs are, answer their questions and LISTEN, more people lose their sale because they don't know when to stop talking.

Sorry, I'm getting down off my soapbox now.

[StarZSoundS]

Like others, already posted, I also do pub gigs, mainly at one particular pub, to fill in between other bookings. I am not a 60 quid Sid, I have built up a working relationship with the manager of the pub, using customer service, discussing various ideas with them and also providing them with a successful package, the customers enjoy themselves, stay there and spend more money. I still charge them a good fee that I am satisfied with, approx 20% lower than my normal rates, So I feel that it suits me and I have also got other enquiries from these nights.










:agree:


With a lot of what you say....particularly in your first paragraph!!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

FunkSoulBrother - It sounds like we are on the same lines.
Your comments on keeping people in the pub are spot on and it's something I really focus on. My theory is that if I keep people in the pub, they drink more, the takings are good and it keeps me in the job...self preservation if you like!

The pub I do does very well on the food side of things too and serves until 9.00pm. I start DJing at 8.00pm so common sense says that I start slowly with less volume and build up during the evening when there isn't anyone eating etc. If there are new faces in the pub then (if it's a Request Night) I will go over to their table and leave them some request slips so that they can join in. I will also explain that I am playing music as I don't want them to get the hump when the 'Disco' starts.

The reason I mention this is because there have been instances when other DJ's have been in there and totally lost the plot altogeather. What I mean is.... one guy in particular who claims to be a sound man, DJ etc etc etc (he is totally useless in my opinion), is one of those people that is very jealous of the fact that I do well down at the pub. In the past he was given a chance to do a night as I wasn't available. It turned out in the end that I became available but let him carry on and do his night. I know it sounds nasty but I wanted to watch him fail....and he did.

He had no clue whatsoever. As soon as it hit 8.00pm the music blasted out of his speakers, very distorted and far too loud. Within seconds I could see people that were eating getting annoyed. I saw one woman go to the bar and shout at the barstaff to get him to turn it down! Now, the music he was playing was Thrash Metal, Screamo, Emo etc...as he wanted to do a Rock Night. The guy thinks he is that cool (and I'm not being nasty...just honest) that he plays stuff that most people have never heard because he plays lots of unknown/underground stuff. There are literally a handful of people that actually like the stuff he plays.

Anyway, moving on....He received a number of complaints both from the management and the customers and was told to turn it down and play some stuff that people actually knew....which he hated. I couldn't believe it when he actually came over to me during a song and asked if I had any ACDC and Iron Maiden as he didn't have any (this is the guy that claims to be a Rock Specialist!). He's never been back and is not likely to. People were walking out in numbers. In the end he went to another pub which is more Rock orientated and is filled with rockers, goths etc...He did one night there and had the same experience...The pub closed down 3 weeks ago!

That's just an example of someone not having a clue. Just looking after themselves and not the pub that is giving them the chance to do something.

[StarZSoundS]

I think the difference in quality of service a Pub DJ offers and a Mobile DJ is quite different.


Interested in your comments......


However the clever ones manage to do both....Shakermaker and Funksoulbrother and ???????.;) :D ;) :D ;) :D


You'll soon spot that type Charlie.They are dead busy and not on here complaining about lack of bookings;) ;) ;)

[Corabar Steve]

However the clever ones manage to do both....Shakermaker and Funksoulbrother and ???????.Me for one :sj:

[StarZSoundS]

Me for one :sj:


We first of all have to ascertain wether Charlie means the Pub DJ's offer an inferior or superior service.......:confused: :confused:


And then we can see which half of the Forum he has offended...:eek: :eek: :eek:


For the record there is no difference in the quality of my service wether I am being a Pub DJ or a Mobile DJ......;) ;) ;) ;)

[soundtracker]

so when you work in a pub, do you take on some sort of alter ego which means that you are no longer a mobile DJ????????

[funksoulbrother]

Well, as Gary(Shakermaker), Martin(StarZSounds), Steve(Corabar) plus everyone else who is here for the duration knows, WE ARE IN A CUSTOMER SERVICE BUSINESS.
Like it or not, our customers (pub customers included) pay our wages, therefore we have to tailor what we play to their likes/requests, whether we want to. Using our guidance/tactfully explaining to a person that his request would probably kill a dancefloor/evening that has been built up, if their request is out of context of what you have been playing. I would always say to them that if it became possible later on, I would try to play it, generally they are ok with that.

Richard

:cool: ;)

[StarZSoundS]

so when you work in a pub, do you take on some sort of alter ego which means that you are no longer a mobile DJ????????

I think I've covered that Pete....i'll give 500 % wether its a Wedding.....a badly attended Pub Karaoke night....or a Kids Party.....It doesn't matter to me.So the quality of my service will not dip!!:confused:

Alter-Ego??For that I would have to adopt a persona....Thats not the way I work.I'm just a DJ...The places I work may change....not me??;) ;) ;)

[funksoulbrother]

Charlie, please enlighten me, what IS the difference between a Mobile DJ and a Pub DJ.

As far as I can see........not a lot.

A Mobile DJ accepts bookings for Birthdays, Weddings, etc in hotels, halls, etc. do people not have birthday celebrations in pubs? I've even done weddings and christenings in a pub!

Mobile DJs take the rig/setup into venues, Pub DJs take their rig/setup into pubs.......no difference

Or is it a status thing, if it is, it shouldn't be.

I'm not getting at you personally, but I hate it when people "try to put square pegs in round holes".

We all seem to say on our websites and advertising blurb "that each individual event is tailor made for each customer"

Where's the difference.

Richard:confused:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Most people know that the pub thing doesn't pay as much as private/other bookings. If they did then there would be a lot of people out there 'lowering themselves' (because that's how it seems some people think of it), and doing pub gigs too. I don't have an alter ego either. I am a full time DJ and I give 100% commitment wherever I am.

No'one has mentioned that it is also a great way of advertising yourself too. I'd bet that a number of the guys on here who also do pub gigs have had lots of follow on work too....I know I have. If you're a decent DJ and giving the punters what they want then it doesn't matter where you are playing does it? I have had some really good bookings come in because someone has seen me in the pub, asked for a card and it's gone on from there. I have then had follow on bookings come from that booking. I call it the 'Advertising Tree' because it can branch out in all directions and one booking that has come in from (example) a pub can (and does) lead to many other bookings.

Yes, there are bad ones out there and in general (like the one I mentioned in a previous reply to this thread), they are the ones who work all week and do it for beer money at the weekend. The landlords get a very cheap 'bloke playing a few tunes' and that bloke gets a couple of quid in his pocket. They are the venues that won't part with even (example) £100.00 because they know they have to take more money to pay for that 'bloke playing a few tunes'. It's those pubs/venues that are just surviving or nearly on their way out because people won't go in them and listen to rubbish...whether it's the music or the amatuerism (is that a word?) of the DJ. Vicious circle/swings and roundabouts...call it what you like! Those pubs/venues are the ones that don't interest me at all anyway.

We've had this conversation many times on this forum. It seems that some people think that they are too good to work in the pub environment. If I had private bookings every friday then I wouldn't be in the position to do them but that's not the case at the moment. Once a month...sometimes twice, I will do the pub gigs because I would rather earn the money, the work is easy, I take hardly any gear etc etc but most of all....I also enjoy them! Fair enough if it's not your cup of tea and if you are in the position where you can afford to sit down on your backside and watch TV and turn money down then good luck to you. I know what I'd rather do.

[StarZSoundS]

I don't have an alter ego either. I am a full time DJ and I give 100% commitment wherever I am.

No'one has mentioned that it is also a great way of advertising yourself too. I'd bet that a number of the guys on here who also do pub gigs have had lots of follow on work too....I know I have. If you're a decent DJ and giving the punters what they want then it doesn't matter where you are playing does it? I have had some really good bookings come in because someone has seen me in the pub, asked for a card and it's gone on from there. I have then had follow on bookings come from that booking. I call it the 'Advertising Tree' because it can branch out in all directions and one booking that has come in from (example) a pub can (and does) lead to many other bookings.

It seems that some people think that they are too good to work in the pub environment. If I had private bookings every friday then I wouldn't be in the position to do them but that's not the case at the moment. Once a month...sometimes twice, I will do the pub gigs because I would rather earn the money, the work is easy, I take hardly any gear etc etc but most of all....I also enjoy them! Fair enough if it's not your cup of tea and if you are in the position where you can afford to sit down on your backside and watch TV and turn money down then good luck to you. I know what I'd rather do.


You have a great way of putting things Gary.I hope everybody on the Forum reads them!!

Those 9 or 10 sentences are priceless!!:beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1:

[funksoulbrother]

Hear, Hear.

:bang:

:beer1: :beer1: :beer1:

[StarZSoundS]

Charlie, please enlighten me, what IS the difference between a Mobile DJ and a Pub DJ.

As far as I can see........not a lot.

A Mobile DJ accepts bookings for Birthdays, Weddings, etc in hotels, halls, etc. do people not have birthday celebrations in pubs? I've even done weddings and christenings in a pub!

Mobile DJs take the rig/setup into venues, Pub DJs take their rig/setup into pubs.......no difference

Or is it a status thing, if it is, it shouldn't be.

I'm not getting at you personally, but I hate it when people "try to put square pegs in round holes".

We all seem to say on our websites and advertising blurb "that each individual event is tailor made for each customer"

Where's the difference.

Richard:confused:

Angie.....Do we have a fingers drummimg on table Smilie????

[STEVE HANLEY]

After reading the replies in this thread with great interest, was I wrong to turn away a weekly Saturday night residency? Cos I didn't want to tie myself down to playing the same place every week for fear I might have to turn away more lucrative private bookings.

I know it's regular money coming in that I wouldn't have normally have had, but playing the same venue every week to potentially the same set of regular punters every week is another thing that doesn't really appeal to me. I like the idea of playing to different crowds at different venues every week. Variety being the spice of life and all that.

It's a difficult one for me cos I don't have enough equipment yet to be able to do two different gigs on the same night. Otherwise I would have took it without a moments thought. However I can see everyones point of view regarding this

[StarZSoundS]

After reading the replies in this thread with great interest, was I wrong to turn away a weekly Saturday night residency? Cos I didn't want to tie myself down to playing the same place every week for fear I might have to turn away more lucrative private bookings.

I know it's regular money coming in that I wouldn't have normally have had, but playing the same venue every week to potentially the same set of regular punters every week is another thing that doesn't really appeal to me. I like the idea of playing to different crowds at different venues every week. Variety being the spice of life and all that.

It's a difficult one for me cos I don't have enough equipment yet to be able to do two different gigs on the same night. Otherwise I would have took it without a moments thought. However I can see everyones point of view regarding this


I confidently walked away from a residency last year that was worth about £6500 a year to me.....I wish I never had done.They put another KJ in and the pub went :Censored: up after the Christmas rush.

The Pub lost out but in hindsight I did too:eek: :eek:

If I were you I would be on the phone begging for their forgiveness.:eek: :eek:

[STEVE HANLEY]

I confidently walked away from a residency last year that was worth about £6500 a year to me.....I wish I never had done.They put another KJ in and the pub went :Censored: up after the Christmas rush.

The Pub lost out but in hindsight I did too:eek: :eek:

If I were you I would be on the phone begging for their forgiveness.:eek: :eek:

It's certainley got me thinking Martin and I know the residency is still there cos the lad who got me the NYE gig is regular there and he said it's dead on Saturday nights no-one is going in

[DJ Jules]

It's certainley got me thinking Martin and I know the residency is still there cos the lad who got me the NYE gig is regular there and he said it's dead on Saturday nights no-one is going in

I think the key thing Shakermaker mentioned was flexibility - for him it's a gig he can do if he has a free night, so he doesn't have to turn away lucrative private gigs.

Talking about Variety being the spice of life and so on, I've got a monthly residency at a family night at a local leisure centre and it's actually a challenge in itself. Playing to a crowd month on month without resorting to playing the current top 40 plus a few old favourites, but still keeping the set fresh and interesting, is a challenge and forces you to go digging for tracks you might not have otherwise played. Playing to different audiences allows you to get away with playing less variety and more of the usual "party favourites", whereas playing to the same audience week on week means adopting a different approach to building a set list.

Martin - did the pub really go under just because they had a poor DJ playing at prime time? I'm not questioning that a good DJ will keep people in the pub and paying for pints, but surely there must have been something else a bit rotten in the business for it to die so quickly?

Julian

[StarZSoundS]

It's certainley got me thinking Martin and I know the residency is still there cos the lad who got me the NYE gig is regular there and he said it's dead on Saturday nights no-one is going in


Wow....you'll even have the pleasure of building it up from nothing as well!!;) ;) ;)

A word of caution tho.....All of those fears you mentioned a couple of posts ago are real issues:eek: :eek: Go into it with your eyes open.

Oh....and keep up your service levels.....don't go upsetting Charlie:devil: :devil:

[StarZSoundS]

Martin - did the pub really go under just because they had a poor DJ playing at prime time? I'm not questioning that a good DJ will keep people in the pub and paying for pints, but surely there must have been something else a bit rotten in the business for it to die so quickly?

Julian

It would be arrogant to suggest that me not being there was the catalyst for its demise...... it wasn't.The pub game is suffering now to an extent that I have never ever seen before....and even the good ones are going under now.

Having popped in there over Christmas though a couple of the guests did say they hated it because the new KJ wanted to sing all the time instead of them.You break rule number 1 and you're doomed...wherever you are!!;) ;) ;)

[STEVE HANLEY]

Wow....you'll even have the pleasure of building it up from nothing as well!!;) ;) ;)

A word of caution tho.....All of those fears you mentioned a couple of posts ago are real issues:eek: :eek: Go into it with your eyes open.

Oh....and keep up your service levels.....don't go upsetting Charlie:devil: :devil:

Agreed I would always treat all gigs the same private or residency. Give 150%

Anything less reflects on your ability as a DJ and as a result your standards drop and your name soon becomes asscociated with :Censored:

[StarZSoundS]

Agreed I would always treat all gigs the same private or residency. Give 150%

Anything less reflects on your ability as a DJ and as a result your standards drop and your name soon becomes asscociated with :Censored:


Thats why the statement shocked me.....


Good luck with whatever you decide.How about kill 2 birds with one stone.Offer them once a fortnight!!Keeps it fresh for you...the Landlord...and the Punters??;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[STEVE HANLEY]

Thats why the statement shocked me.....


Good luck with whatever you decide.How about kill 2 birds with one stone.Offer them once a fortnight!!Keeps it fresh for you...the Landlord...and the Punters??;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Yes got to be worth a punt. I'm pleased this thread up came now.

[soundtracker]

I think I've covered that Pete....i'll give 500 % wether its a Wedding.....a badly attended Pub Karaoke night....or a Kids Party.....It doesn't matter to me.So the quality of my service will not dip!!:confused:

Alter-Ego??For that I would have to adopt a persona....Thats not the way I work.I'm just a DJ...The places I work may change....not me??;) ;) ;)

Haha- you couldn't have mis-understood me more if I had written the post in arabic! My point was, whether you call yourself a pub DJ, or you are a mobile DJ that does pubs, how can it make any difference?

[funksoulbrother]

Steve, if your unsure about doing a full blown residency, it might be worth your while suggesting either once a month or every 2 weeks to them, also seeing if they might be flexible if you have a private gig one weekend. You never know, they might jump at that, then you've got the best of both worlds, not fully commiting the whole year to them but also guaranteeing you an income from them. In the end, the only person who can make the decision is you.

I turned down a weekly residency 2 years ago, the money was so so, but I was worried about becoming stale, seeing the same folks, getting asked for the same tunes. I had been working there for 4 months, playing every 2 weeks and the requests had started to be the same, when I said that I wouldn't take up his offer, he got really shirty and asked my to take my gear out, right away, before I had even started to play that evening. With that type of attitude, I think my decision was right.

I've always worked on the basis, never regret what you have done, regret the things that you could have done.

Richard:tiptoe:

[StarZSoundS]

Yes got to be worth a punt. I'm pleased this thread up came now.


:beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1:


Haha- you couldn't have mis-understood me more if I had written the post in arabic! My point was, whether you call yourself a pub DJ, or you are a mobile DJ that does pubs, how can it make any difference?


I think you are confusing the issue by agreeing with me:devil: :devil: :devil: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1:

[ultrasound disco]

One thing I have found in pubs where the usual clientele is under 30 is that they really do expect to be "entertained" while they sit and drink, talk and fornicate.
Whereas at Wedding receptions and Birthday parties etc. the people are there to have a good time and are more relaxed.
I agree that pub DJing is a whole different entity to the mobile side of things and not just because the many variables ....(money aside)

[CRAZY K]

Whereas at Wedding receptions and Birthday parties etc. the people are there to have a good time and are more relaxed.


Not the Weddings I get booked for---they expect a lot of Entertainment value --;)

[theoloyla]

I've worked pubs, clubs and private functions. It has always been true that pubs cannot pay the same sort of money that can be earned elsewhere which is why many dj's do start and gain valuable experience in pubs. Others start at youth clubs. Wherever you start and whatever sort of dj work you do it will always be true that there will be good and bad dj's. I havent done a pub gig for a few years now but I used to when I had a regular local. If I had free night I used to do a deal with the landlord and had some really great nights. I'd do it again now.

[DiscoPromotions]

Not been on MDD forum for a few days; playing catch up on the thread I posted.

I do agree that pubs will not pay the price of private function will do.

Just to reflect on the main point of my original post, to highlight that going out as paying customer was just such a poor experience.

The service delivery of these DJ's I experienced was beyond poor. I am not asking for Pete Tong or DJ Tiesto; just a nice & simple balance to enjoy my night out.

Or am I asking for too much?

[StarZSoundS]

Darren...

This is the thread you volunteered to review.....

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Darren...

This is the thread you volunteered to review.....

And having flicked through, I can't see actual names of DJs and discos who don't have the right to reply. Yes, there are posts saying how awful some are, but that's about it.

[StarZSoundS]

And having flicked through, I can't see actual names of DJs and discos who don't have the right to reply. Yes, there are posts saying how awful some are, but that's about it.

Sorry Martin, but that is simply not true. We don't allow slating of other DJs or companies on here, especially if they are not members.



Your post.......


So its ok to assasinate other DJ's as long as we don't name them....


I have no great interest in reading about how others have been performing badly....I have an interest in how colleagues have performed well....as that promotes the best practise this site is striving for.

Also..... a couple of the posts were trying to create a divide between Pub DJ's and Mobile DJ's.....one even going so far as to say that one delivers a lesser quality of service.....

There is no divide as far as I can see.A number of us on here manage to combinbe the two very succesfully!!!:beer1: :beer1: :beer1: ;) ;) ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Sorry Martin, but that is simply not true. We don't allow slating of other DJs or companies on here, especially if they are not members.


No names have been mentioned and the DJs are being talked about generally rather than naming names. That is what I meant.


Now get off my case please.

[StarZSoundS]

No names have been mentioned and the DJs are being talked about generally rather than naming names. That is what I meant.


Now get off my case please.


No problem.....you're the Guvnor!!!:beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: :beer1: