What next...?

[NXDisco]

OK, after a little guidance now on what I should do next.

The gear I have brought is:

PLAYOUT
1 x OHM Mosfet PA 300 Mixer Amp £20
2 x Alpha Audio 400w speakers £50
1 x 10u x 10u 19" Sloping top rack £12.50
1 x Gemini PDM24 mixer £35
1 x Citronic CD1 player £20
1 x ASUS EeePC1000H £100

LIGHTING/EFFECTS
2 x ACME Dynamo 100w £60
1 x ANTARI ALPHA 80Z Fogger £15

RIGGING
1 x 3.0m Goalpost lighting stand £40
2 x Speaker Stands £30

I also have all cabling, leads etc.

I have spent around £400.

I have arranged to go out on some gigs with Alan @ Blacktie (thanks again Alan). I am also in the process of arranging a photoshoot for my rig, and in the mix is my website, the design is done - just need to start adding content etc.

So my question being, should I start marketing my services now to start taking bookings for the spring/summer or do I buy some more lighting first?

The lighting I am looking to add would be a Equinox Quadzilla, some Datamoons and around 4 x LED PAR 56 for rear uplighting?

I have also brought some frontage cloth and brackets from ebay and will be heading to B&Q on Sunday to pickup some aluminium bar to complete that.

Thanks for any hints, suggestions and tips that are likely to come out of this thread.

Thanks!

Shaun. :beer1:

P.S. I know the gear is cheap and old, but you have got to start somewhere and I'm not a millionaire! As soon as I starting gaining abit of income out of this then i will be looking to change some of the gear out for better, high end stuff.

[JTRS]

I'd be tempted to get some backup equipment as soon as you can, certainly a spare amp and perhaps a twin cd player, then if the worst happens mid event at least you can carry on providing the music.

With regards to marketing your services, there is no harm starting that now, but your first solo event will depend on when you feel you are ready and have the confidence, so if you get enquiries before you think you are ready you can pass them on, but at least you will hopefully have some enquiries at the time that you want to go out.

In my opinion the parcan uplighting can wait until your front of house system is finsihed, I have the Quadzilla and I really like it, likewise with Datamoons, I still have a set of 4 that I take out every now and again and they are (IMO) great lights when linked together.

JTRS

[andyw]

i don't think 2x 100w dynamo's is enough lighting, i think you need at least 1 other light that you could use as a centrepiece, maybe something like an impossiled or similar

ps don't forget safety wires for the lights

[NXDisco]

I'd be tempted to get some backup equipment as soon as you can, certainly a spare amp and perhaps a twin cd player, then if the worst happens mid event at least you can carry on providing the music.

With regards to marketing your services, there is no harm starting that now, but your first solo event will depend on when you feel you are ready and have the confidence, so if you get enquiries before you think you are ready you can pass them on, but at least you will hopefully have some enquiries at the time that you want to go out.

JTRS

The Citronic CD1 is a twin CDplayer.

I also forgot to mention that I have spent over £100 on tunes from iTunes & Amazon. An amp is my first purchase when I get chance, as the amp I have isn't stereo output. But its a bloody loud system and sounds half decent, could be better but certainly could be worse. I have tried to stay away from cheap as much as I can. I certainly won't do any solo gigs until I have done a few with Alan, but we will see.


i don't think 2x 100w dynamo's is enough lighting, i think you need at least 1 other light that you could use as a centrepiece, maybe something like an impossiled or similar

ps don't forget safety wires for the lights

I agree, it isn't. Yes, I have looked into ImpossilED and Revo3 but both are a little out of my price range at the moment.

Thanks guys.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Buy a couple of Pulse led par cans - they are about £35 each and will give you more light than the Dynamos.

[funkymook]

Are you using your laptop or your CD player as your main source? (which is the one you are planning to play most of your music from?)

£100 of downloads doesn't seem that much to cover the sort of requests that can come at you at most gigs - do you have lots of other music on CD's as well?

Though not a legal requirement, you may be asked for PLI (Insurance) and PAT (electrical safety) certificates if you get a booking - do you have these already?

And if you have copied any CD's to your laptop (or burnt your downloads to CD), you will also need a ProDub licence to play them at a gig.

[Larry B Entertainment]

Buy a couple of Pulse led par cans - they are about £35 each and will give you more light than the Dynamos.

But get the latest design ones from CPC. They dont have the ugly gel holders on them and they now have a floor stand so you can use them for either rig or uplighting.

[andyw]

But get the latest design ones from CPC. They dont have the ugly gel holders on them and they now have a floor stand so you can use them for either rig or uplighting.

is these the ones
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=411+500001+1000575&Ntk=gensearch_003&Ntt=Pulse+led+par+can&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial

[NXDisco]

Buy a couple of Pulse led par cans - they are about £35 each and will give you more light than the Dynamos.

So are you suggesting scrap the dynamos and buy the PAR's with the money i sell the dynamos with? Would that work? I.E. theres no movement?


Are you using your laptop or your CD player as your main source?

Laptop, using CD's as a backup. I am going to burn a range to CD.


Do you have lots of other music on CD's as well?

Not at the moment. When the weather gets better, I'm going to hit the carboots and find what bargains I can pick up.


Though not a legal requirement, you may be asked for PLI (Insurance) and PAT (electrical safety) certificates if you get a booking - do you have these already?

I have not got either yet. I will get membership into NADJ soon (comes with 10million PLI) and for PAT, I know an electrician that can do it for me as a favour. I won'y accept a booking until these are done, and I will actively promote that myself and my equipment are covered. Although not unique, this could be a selling point over Sixty Quid Sids (which is not what I want to be.)


And if you have copied any CD's to your laptop (or burnt your downloads to CD), you will also need a ProDub licence to play them at a gig.

I have not looked into this. Is this a legal requirement? MP3 format this is downloaded does not need to be covered by ProDub does it? How much is ProDub?

Thanks

[funkymook]

Laptop, using CD's as a backup. I am going to burn a range to CD.

I have not looked into this. Is this a legal requirement? MP3 format this is downloaded does not need to be covered by ProDub does it? How much is ProDub?

If you're downloading straight onto your playout computer then you won't need a ProDub licence, but as soon as you transfer your download to another drive/USB stick or burn it to a disc you will.

And as you say you are going to 'Burn a range to CD' then definitely something you will need to look into. Best to check on www.prsformusic.com as it depends how many you are doing (but I think for up to 5000 it's £212.77 + vat at the moment)

So might be better at the moment not to copy or burn anything so you won't need the ProDub and stick to un-copied CD's and downloads played only from the drive they were downloaded to (I'm sure others can explain it a bit better if I've got it wrong).

Lots of good cheap compilations available in HMV an on Amazon to help build your CD collection, and don't forget eBay and local car boots.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So are you suggesting scrap the dynamos and buy the PAR's with the money i sell the dynamos with? Would that work? I.E. theres no movement?





I would have never suggested buying 2 scanners if that's all you can afford. A couple of moonflowers would have been much better.

[NXDisco]

I would have never suggested buying 2 scanners if that's all you can afford. A couple of moon flowers would have been much better.

Ahh right ok. Well I thought they were cheap and a half decent starter light. So I got them!

Where do you recommend for picking up used flowers? Do you know anyone selling any? I.e. Datamoons?

Ta :beer1:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ahh right ok. Well I thought they were cheap and a half decent starter light. So I got them!

Where do you recommend for picking up used flowers? Do you know anyone selling any? I.e. Datamoons?

Ta :beer1:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NJD-datamoon-x2-/250751784140?pt=UK_ConElec_LightingLEDsStrobes_RL&hash=item3a61f894cc#ht_500wt_1156

Worth a bid.

Have a look round at the various disco shops - lots of sale items to be had at the moment.

[Daryll]

Maybe an alternative , keep the dynamo`s and have this as a centre light.
On ebay.

Acme Falcon ( just one) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ACME-JBL-SYSYEMS-Falcon-250W-Disco-LIght-/120666944466?pt=UK_ConElec_LightingLEDsStrobes_RL&hash=item1c184f73d2).

Daryll

[JTRS]

The Citronic CD1 is a twin CDplayer.

Thanks guys.

Yes I know it is, but I thought that was your only playout system, hence why I suggested getting a back up twin cd player in case that failed mid event, I realise now that the Asus is a PC.

JTRS