Preparing For a Disco

[marting]

How do you prepare for a disco ?

For example I have my most prestigious wedding to date at the Royal Bath Hotel Bournemouth in a most stunning room i will setting up at 4pm for a 7pm start.

Yesterday I went through all the gear wiped all the lights off checked all the electrical cables went and brought some more gaffa tape filled the smoke machine etc.

Today I have checked the lap top & virtual DJ, re cursed the hard drive to the software.

Already to go but have found myself clock watching a bit getting a bit on edge, maybe time for another coffee and check the new posts for the 20th time today.

Gigs report and pics later.

[lazersounds]

I tend to have a bath and walk the dogs before a disco :D

Seriously, I check I have all the requested music, test everything to make sure no problems, check the route if its a new venue and make sure I have fuel in the car! :)

[ukpartydj]

the Royal Bath Hotel Bournemouth

I was lucky enough to get a gig there a couple of months back (school prom).
Didn't realise they have a multi storey car park with a car elevator in there!
Parking was a nightmare for me though.

I supplied outdoor PA in the week for a diggerland show - all my equipment is caked in mud. I'm arriving an hour earlier than normal for my party today to clean all the leads!

[chrisj]

As an example, I have checked that I have all the advance requests for tonights gig and I must load the van in a bit. Probably pull some weeds out of the rockery as it relaxes me before having a bite to eat and shower.
I never worry about checking the gear as I use it a lot however I must put the A1/259 lamps that arrived this morning in my spares case incase one blows tonight.
I always carry back up deck, mixer, speakers, mic and some lights.

[Twinspin]

By the day of the disco i have everything done. On My DJ Intelligence system it set so it locks clients out of their account 3 days before their wedding. Then i print off their final request list normally on a wednesday night and ill load their songs into a playlist on virtual dj.

Not a playlist where you set automix. When you set a playlist you can just choose the name of your client on my laptops and it will put all their requests in the right hand pane of VDJ so i can drag and drop their requests into a deck when i need them.

Other things are normally maintainence on my laptops. e.g. defrag, clean the registry, Windows updates, and remove playlists no longer needed etc etc. I will also clean both the gig laptops.

id say at least 99% of the time. I have everything done apart from the loading up of the kit. If i do download anything on the day its last minute requests or extra songs i feel might do down well that i dont have already.

[ppentertainments]

wow - do people test and clean their kit before each outing ???
My stuff goes in the garage when finished then out again when packing to leave.

[yourdj]

I tend to have a bath and walk the dogs before a disco :D



Same here :p

Music and other plans all sorted and short listed earlier in the week.

Testing and making sure you have everything if your getting in to the swing of things is a must. Go through it all when you are on your way, you will be amazed at what you can forget. :p

[DazzyD]

wow - do people test and clean their kit before each outing ???
My stuff goes in the garage when finished then out again when packing to leave.

I check everything over visually (no loose/damaged wires, cracked mirrors, etc) a couple of days before hand as this gives me plenty of time to fix things. On the day, though, it's just a case of putting the right number of bags and boxes in the Alhambra along with the speakers, stands and poles.

Other than that, food and a bath is all I need to do before setting off.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I prepare for the weekend's bookings during the week.
I make sure I have everything that has been requested. I'll print out a document with all of the information on it that I need. I check my equipment too and clean it (like I will be today because it's a bit dusty from last nights booking).

[STEVE HANLEY]

wow - do people test and clean their kit before each outing ???
My stuff goes in the garage when finished then out again when packing to leave.

:lol:

[Jonathan Ford]

wow - do people test and clean their kit before each outing ???
My stuff goes in the garage when finished then out again when packing to leave.
Not sure if that's sarcasm or not...but that's exactly what I do. Apart from updating play out etc, I don't touch it from one gig to the next.

[surround sounds]

Not sure if that's sarcasm or not...but that's exactly what I do. Apart from updating play out etc, I don't touch it from one gig to the next.

Same with me.
Why test things again when you have just used them and they was working?
Plus i take backup anyway so if something is not working i replace with the backup.
If i have not used a piece of equipment for a while i may test before i go but thats it and never had a problem..
When i comes to cleaning etc i normally do this maybe every month (unless they get dirty before and i will clean earlier).I will do this when i have a gig when i can get in somewhere early and i will clean everything before i display the item..
I do not see the point checking things before every gig because it could while before you get to your next gig while transporting or moving it around

[yourdj]

Why test things again when you have just used them and they was working?


i suppose this is the biggest event so far so it's more for piece of mind.

i did the same, but now if it all works when I put it away it gets forgotten for a week and loaded back on for the next gig. :p

[ppentertainments]

Not sure if that's sarcasm or not...but that's exactly what I do. Apart from updating play out etc, I don't touch it from one gig to the next.

no I was bring truthful, just surprised to read some check and clean equipment before every outing.

[JAMdisco]

Same here, after the disco all gear goes in the shed and only a quick visual check before the next disco as I'm loading up the car.

I have a quiz night every Thursday that requires minimal equipment (1 speaker & stand, mixer case (with sd card reader), radio mic and a few cables). Then next day just the rest of the stuff to load for my regular Friday disco.

I never forget anything these days as all the equipment except laptops & HDD's are in the shed. If the shed is empty I know I have everything I need (including backup).

Until I get some extra lighting that I can mix and match that's how it'll stay. :)

[Daryll]

Ok , I have a idiots list in the van , every time something goes in , it is checked off , I have different lists for different events.
Typical list ( in order it goes in the van)


Playout case ( denon , backup etc )
Amp rack
Ultimax stand ( pre built)
Subs X 2
Tool kit
Ext lead
tops X 2
Ultimax shelves x 2
Lead boxes X 2
Metal work
ultimax uprights X 2
2 X speaker stands
Ultimax aux rail

ADJ comscan X 2
abstract XP5`s X 2
cluster buster laser
ultimax pre wired overhead bay
Sack truck


From home

Bag with camera, food , drink , clothes etc
Platout laptop ( mic and odds and sods )
Back up laptop with ext hard drive ( more odds)

me...............:D

Prep for a gig , each to their own , so hear me out............;)

If I have a play list , I create a folder named either names or date , or venue
Copy all tracks to that folder , even if I have 15 copy's of sexy and I know it , it gets copied again , drive space is cheap..........
The folder is copied to the following

home PC
main playout
Back up
SD card ( this gets deleted after the gig)
so when I arrive at a gig , all the pre requests are all there in front of me , I can then slot requests in when required , or use my judgement.
It works for me.

cheers

Daryll

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Good idea Daryll.

I don't use that when DJing as I tend to use the same gear, but certainly when I am doing a bigger event or several different things at the same time, I always use a load list.

[Excalibur]

Ok , I have a idiots list in the van ,

Daryll

Sadly, I cannot lay claim to anything so ordered, useful and logical. :(








I've only got the Idiot and the van. :o