Is this really a selling point?

[Corabar Steve]

Spotted on a DJ's website this morning, among a bullet point list (so one can assume it was intended as a list of reasons to book this particular DJ) was:



All the latest equipment including digital decks that play iPods and iPhones


Now, there's nothing wrong with digital DJing, but is the bit I've highlighted really a selling point?

[simonp]

I suppose what he/she is saying in a round-a-about way is that "if i haven't got your request and you have on your ipod/phone i can play it"

As to whether it's a selling point or not is neither here nor there for me. Personally I think thery are creating a rod for there own back by advertising this.

[Corabar Steve]

I'm thinking more of a sound quality issue than anything else, although I'm inclined to agree with you.

[Mark Wild]

It's a selling point if you want a queue of numpties waving there iPod/Phone at you wanting you to plug it into a spare channel to play their obscure kak

I don't allow this, I'm a miserable git :)

[NKR]

It's a selling point if you want a queue of numpties waving there iPod/Phone at you wanting you to plug it into a spare channel to play their obscure kak

I don't allow this, I'm a miserable git :)

Miserable maybe. Sensible definitely.

[Shaun]

I don't allow this, I'm a miserable git :)

Being a miserable gig is my selling point. Get your own!!! :d

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You all need to get behind me in the miserable stakes....sorry. :sj:

[Shaun]

You all need to get behind me in the miserable stakes....sorry. :sj:

You win.

*stands aside*















:d

[Mark Wild]

You win.

*stands aside*



:lol:

[tony hollis]

so to sum up we have miserable in reading,belshill,fife, I can cover merseyside and manchester that leaves us the midlands and we've got a great selling point between us all............ "uk misery arse disco's, we'll tell you when to enjoy the night" hhahahahaa we're sorted lads.

[Corabar Steve]

Do you think we could have a few more vagely on topic posts?

[Vectis]

"uk misery arse disco's, we'll tell you when to enjoy the night" hhahahahaa we're sorted lads.


Careful ... I have a penchant for spoof websites :D

Anyway, what was the topic again? :sofa:

[DazzyD]

Careful ... I have a penchant for spoof websites :D

Anyway, what was the topic again? :sofa:

Nope. Not showing on Google just yet! :D


Do you think we could have a few more vagely on topic posts?

A USP? I suppose it could be. If you're doing discos for the "young 'uns" or the "yoof" then this could be a great selling point. And you wouldn't need to spend a fortune on your own track library as you could just play tracks of everyone's personal / portable MP3 players.

Hmmm. Now there's an idea to bring in savings!! ;)

[wensleydale]

It will appeal to some people- and I guess that's a reason to put it on there.
Whether it's a good idea or not is an entirely different debate....

[tony hollis]

It could lead to a whole load of trouble and a ruined evening, as you could end up playing some really obscure stuff and appealing to a handful of people instead of reading the audience and trying to please most of them

[dj foureyes]

It could lead to a whole load of trouble and a ruined evening, as you could end up playing some really obscure stuff and appealing to a handful of people instead of reading the audience and trying to please most of them

But isnt that just the same as someone asking for some obscure track anyway? You'd have a listen first and decide whether it would suit the crowd/mood. I personally wouldn't have a problem playing a tune off a iPod or phone if I didn't have a song and it was requested. As professionals we should be able to deal with occasional bad requests and bring it back on track. Just because you have floor-clearing songs in our library it doesn't mean we have to play them if they are requested.

[Corabar Steve]

I personally wouldn't have a problem playing a tune off a iPod or phone
So the fact that it would be of a considerably lower bitrate than the rest of the stuff you're playing wouldn't bother you then?

As I said in post#3 sound quality would be an issue.

[Mark Wild]

But isnt that just the same as someone asking for some obscure track anyway? You'd have a listen first and decide whether it would suit the crowd/mood. I personally wouldn't have a problem playing a tune off a iPod or phone if I didn't have a song and it was requested. As professionals we should be able to deal with occasional bad requests and bring it back on track. Just because you have floor-clearing songs in our library it doesn't mean we have to play them if they are requested.

What about the quality of the track though, it might be 96 kpbs for all you know and would sound awful through a half decent P.A. You'd still play it?

[Jonathan Ford]

I'd never use a clients ipod/phone etc. Despite the availability of mobile internet, I still don't download at gigs....if I haven't got it, they don't get to hear it!

Oh, and I'll cover the midlands!

[dj foureyes]

What about the quality of the track though, it might be 96 kpbs for all you know and would sound awful through a half decent P.A. You'd still play it?

I would see what the sound quality was like and if it was noticably bad, of course I wouldn't continue playing it or any other requests that were provided.

I personally wouldn't advertise the fact that I am quite willing to use customers' equipment to play music but there is a limit as to what I'd use.

[Gary]

Ok, without mentioning the word "miserable" - oh rats, I just said it.. There's the technical angle of the inaccuracy of the original statement.

Apple seem to be using firmware updates on iPods and iPhones to prevent media players from accessing the iPod via the apple dock connector - so the original advert saying that they can play from said devices is , well , optimistic at best.

Ok, there's always the headphone socket I guess, but it means that the cueing facilities and pitch control are lost...you're back to play/ cue effectively.

[BossmanKaraokeDisco]

I'd never use a clients ipod/phone etc. Despite the availability of mobile internet, I still don't download at gigs....if I haven't got it, they don't get to hear it!

Oh, and I'll cover the midlands!

I'm with you so the Midlands is well covered. Have been asked a few times if I can plug an iphone in and always decline and computer for dj'ing never goes online.
As said "if I have not got it, they dont get to hear it"

:) :D :)

[TonyB]

Not something I would advertise as I would prefer to reserve the right to say that I don't have the facility to plug in an Iphone, Ipad or whatever if I didn't think it was suitable so it is not something I would advertise. I have played from a guests I-phone 3 time in the past year. Once was at a wedding where the stag party had a track they wanted to dance to and was asked to play it by the groom. At an 18th I was pre warned that there were members of a dance school that had some tracks they wanted to dance to that they would supply and they turned up with the tracks on an Iphone.

Last time was at a dinner dance and again was pre warned that there would be a singer who would sing a few tracks and she turned up with the backing tracks on her Iphone.

Quality was ok although the output level was a bit low but upping the input gain meant output volume was acceptable. Plugged into the headphone socket using 3.5mm stereo plug to phono lead.

[CRAZY K]

Quality was ok although the output level was a bit low but upping the input gain meant output volume was acceptable. Plugged into the headphone socket using 3.5mm stereo plug to phono lead.

Thats what I have done a few times and the quality has been reasonable enough for the people concerned.

Other than perhaps a special request or a backing track I find they soon get bored with it as generally the selection is all over the place and doesnt really generate any atmosphere.

After that they seem happy to let me carry on.

Certainly the 3.5mm stereo jack short circuits ( not literally) any problems with compatibility previously mentioned ;)

[Golden Moments]

Well guys & Girls, I guess I'ts me your're all talking about. So let me clear things up. First of all I use a Numark player with an I-pod docking station, the same sort that you find on most high end home entertainment systems & you must agree that sound quality is no problem on those. Next, I always tell my audience that I will only play music suitable to the occasion no matter what the sorce,and I always check it out first.also I find that when I tell my clients that they can bring their own tracks,they are more than happy to do so and are usually impressed by this facility. and finally all of you that disagree need to get off your high horse and move with the times. YOU WERE PROBABLY THE SAME SORT OF PEOPLE THAT SAID C,D's WOULD NEVER TAKE OVER FROM VINYL RECORDS
Regards Sid

[Corabar Steve]

Firstly, THERE'S NO NEED TO SHOUT!

Secondly, there was no intention of any criticism, just subject for debate (which is what forums are all about)

Thirdly, I think it is actually you that needs to get off your high horse & leave out the patronising comments.

Fourthly, yeah, all well and good them being impressed with this, although most of us would look to advance requests for this rather than taking a chance that what they bring has been ripped or downloaded at a high enough bitrate so as to sound like it is being played through a professional sound system & not off of somebody's phone.

Lastly, vinyl is still popular with a lot of DJs & is actually having a resurgence & I use MP3s that I have either ripped or legally downloaded high bitrate copies of.

[Golden Moments]

Ok, sorry for the outburst but I feel strongly about my profession. I'll try to explain calmly where I'm coming from. Let's look at the sound issue first. I have been a D.J for 40years, I started off with records, a valve amp and Carlsbro speakers. Looking back, they were awfull but Joe public had a good time, why? because you as a D.J entertained them. How many D.J's these days just sit behind their latest gear and expect the public to enjoy the night.Regardless of what is played.I have been to many Gigs where the D.J has just played what he wants regardless.Then he blames the public for being misrable! I have never had a poor quality I pod sound track given to me most of them are down loaded from I tunes. Next, as a full time D.J, I can't afford to be choosey about the gigs I take. This includes 18th & 21st These people love the fact that you can play their tunes.Let;s face it you have to be right up to date with these guys and that;s not always possible.When these lads and girls have had a skin full they don't care what the (sound quality is like) they just want to chant along to the equivalent of Chelsea Dagger.I too ask for advanced requests but on many occasions these are the bride and grooms requests and half an hour into the night you realise that no one else actually likes them. At this point I go the the Bride (or often she comes to me) and we start asking for requests to see what the guests actually want to hear. Finally,have you ever had the bride and groom give you a CD that they have down loaded with a compilation for their opening dance ? Do you turn it down because you think the quality is not good enough ? When I tell my Bride & groom that they can put it on their I pod or indeed a memory stick they are more than happy. Is advertising the fact that I am willing to play I pods a selling point ? I think so. With more and more gear having the facility for I pods . I also think that I pods are the future of mobile disco's. Once again sorry for the outburst yesterday. Regards Sid

[Jonathan Ford]

Honestly, if a bride and groom approach me with a CD, iPod, memory stick, mini disc, 8-track tape...I won't be playing it. It's not necessarily about sound quality, though that would worry me. I would be concerned, however, about the iPod having a virus and finding a way of corrupting my gear. I'd also question your idea that the content of most iPod's is from iTunes...I would imagine that the exact opposite is true, particularly with younger clients.

[Golden Moments]

On the Numark Decks there is no way that an I pod can corrupt your gear in the same way that a copy cd played on a cd player cannot corrupt your gear.
I have had bride and grooms come to me with a whole dance routine worked out to their music for the opening dance so who am I to tell the people that employ me that I won't play their music and spoil their day. But then again that is why I get enough work to do this for a living by giving people what they want not what I want them to have.

[Javlingames]

Unless it was pre arranged or the client, I would not let any old punter plug there iPod in to my gear. To be honest, whilst a gig is happening I've hot better things to do than fumble about connecting iPods!

[Corabar Steve]

Unless it was pre arranged or the client, I would not let any old punter plug there iPod in to my gear. To be honest, whilst a gig is happening I've hot better things to do than fumble about connecting iPods!
Having seen the type of set up that Sid uses (yesterday, purely by coincidence) I can assure you that there is no fumbling about involved. They just slot in.

Sid, surely a better selling point would be to get the music they want for them?

Punters supplying their own music seems to me a bit like a carpenter insisting you supply the nails or a mechanic saying I'll service your car, but you can bring the oil & spark plugs.

[yourdj]

Nope if anyone wants a track then they have to ask for it before the event.
Its really annoying being handed a CD as its not only illegal but it has to be ripped to the Mac. As per ipods - no thanks. you have no idea whats fgoing to come out of it unless its a special track (ie uncle jim has recorded an acoustic song for the bride and groom).

[discoinferno]

Honestly, if a bride and groom approach me with a CD, iPod, memory stick, mini disc, 8-track tape...I won't be playing it. It's not necessarily about sound quality, though that would worry me. I would be concerned, however, about the iPod having a virus and finding a way of corrupting my gear. I'd also question your idea that the content of most iPod's is from iTunes...I would imagine that the exact opposite is true, particularly with younger clients.

:eek: IPod with a virus - That would be a first for sure in the history of the machine.

I'm with Sid on this one. Although I would not advertise the fact that we can connect IPods, I have done so many times and with success. All the events we do are planned and discussed with clients prior to event.

However, no matter how much planning we do or how many tracks we have, we might get asked for a track that we don't carry. We had an instance at at 18th where a track was asked for that we did not have and the requester had it on her on her IPhone. I always check the track before putting it out, in this case it rammed the floor and made everyone happy.

With events, it's all about the night so no matter how much you prepare someone can come up and ask for something you have not planned for, before going down the IPod route I try and find the track on line first via our mobile internet that we always carry.

[Corabar Entertainment]

With events, it's all about the night so no matter how much you prepare someone can come up and ask for something you have not planned for, before going down the IPod route I try and find the track on line first via our mobile internet that we always carry.
...But surely if it's not available from the usual sources, then there's a fair chance it's a hooky copy from God-knows-where on pre-release.

[discoinferno]

Thats why I always try and find it myself, check it and ask them when they got it from.

[Jonathan Ford]

I have had bride and grooms come to me with a whole dance routine worked out to their music for the opening dance so who am I to tell the people that employ me that I won't play their music and spoil their day.

And you haven't known about it in advance? I'd have though one of those "interesting" first dances takes a bit more planning than showing up waving a CD at the DJ. For a start, I couldn't play a CD even if I wanted to!


But then again that is why I get enough work to do this for a living by giving people what they want not what I want them to have.

Yeah, you see, I just stand there and play Radiohead and The Smiths all night.

[Corabar Steve]

Yeah, you see, I just stand there and play Radiohead and The Smiths all night.
Ah! So that was you was it!? Ruined my whole night!

































:sarc:

[Jonathan Ford]

:o Sorry, Steve.......

[ajm]

I would not play someone else's copied music, who is to say it is a legal copy, not worth the risk. Even music downloaded from itunes is not licensed for commercial use. If its that important that a track needs to be played on the night then tell me in advance and I shall get the copy myself.

[CRAZY K]

or a mechanic saying I'll service your car, but you can bring the oil & spark plugs.

I used to have a car mechanic like that who serviced my wifes car--he worked for a main dealer in the day and did private work at the weekend but didnt want to get involved buying parts.

As it happens I have been sent an MP3 file to play of a specially mixed track by some music enthusiast related to the B and G for the beginning of their Wedding.

I cant reproduce it or buy it-- :(

[Shaun]

It's well documented on this forum (and I've been slated for it) that I don't offer the facilities for clients to play CDs through my system and I don't let other entertainers hook into my system. That said. I have my system wired so I can plug in my iphone/ipad and download on the fly (if need be). And I have been known on one rare occasion to let the client (and on the second occasion, the Best Man) plug their ipod/iphone into my system via the cable. I had absolutely no problem with doing so.

[ukpartydj]

I have a headphone jack to EVA to plug into my laptop sound card incase TRAKTOR crashes also doubles up as great ipod or phone player! Always accept requests this way had a party where half the people were Indian but venue didn't mention that! Had 3 guys playin music off there phones and they went mental... Some were terrible quality but they loved it so who cares?

[simonp]

I would see what the sound quality was like and if it was noticably bad, of course I wouldn't continue playing it or any other requests that were provided.


I think you'll find that is mostly clap trap, you'd be extremely hard pushed to discern the audio quality through your headphones ;)

[DJ Paulie]

I used to have a portable DVD player as a backup plugged into my mixer, I played a few CDs that people brought. A few for dancers or singers had thier own music arrangements. No chance would do it through my 00DJ. It didn't have a cd drive anyway !

[CRAZY K]

had a party where half the people were Indian but venue didn't mention that! Had 3 guys playin music off there phones and they went mental... Some were terrible quality but they loved it so who cares?

Identical to my experience--no warning Indian Music was required (at a Barn Dance)
using a laptop through the headphone socket sounded half reasonable.

Not that I would know if it was good or bad as not heard the music before---certainly no distortion anyway.

[ukpartydj]

Identical to my experience--no warning Indian Music was required (at a Barn Dance)
using a laptop through the headphone socket sounded half reasonable.

Not that I would know if it was good or bad as not heard the music before---certainly no distortion anyway.

Funny what people forget to mention! Also did a French exchange disco for a school, I was told it was a school disco... Luckily the French kids love Nicki Minaj and David Guetta :D

It's a great feeling when you set your gear up and somebody says I hope you've got plenty of "deep funk" or "bollywood" or some other random genre which I don't have a clue about! Makes you all warm and fuzzy inside!