Start up costs.

[Valleycomm1]

I'm pretty new here and have been quietly reading through posts to get a feel for becoming a mobile DJ. I literally have no experience whatsoever and my interest has only recently spawned from providing the music at my daughter's 5th birthday party at a church hall using an ancient laptop, iTunes and some battered desktop speakers I've had for years. It was pretty successful, however, and for a fleeting moment I felt like David Guetta banging out the hokey cokey to a bouncing gaggle of delighted 5 year olds.

This has led to the Daddy disco environment at bathtime every night run from a trusty iMac, those battered Yamaha speakers and the free version of Spotify. And I bloody love it! I think it was Jimi Hendrix who said "music is the only safe kind of high" and some pretty miserable experiences at work have been quickly transformed to dancing around the landing with the kids purely by playing some random tunes!

So I want to take it to the next level and get my hands on some kit. Whether I take it to the public and start charging for it may be much further down the line but for now I just want to step it up and at least have the necessary kit for the kids' birthdays or random acquaintances' weddings.

So my question is (and I have unsuccessfully searched the forum before posting), how much cash should I expect to make available to get up and running? Consider I have no kit whatsoever. I've looked online and I'm constantly in Maplin hanging around the disco lights so I have some idea but I was hoping a bunch of experienced guys would be able to help me out and give me some pointers. Of course, second hand kit is always an option so I'd also be interested to know what the feeling is around purchasing used kit.

One other thing - what magazine should I be reading?

Apologies for the amateurish tone but we've all got to start somewhere.:Help:

[Shaun]

Firstly, welcome to the forum. . :)


I'm pretty new here and have been quietly reading through posts to get a feel for becoming a mobile DJ. I literally have no experience whatsoever and my interest has only recently spawned from providing the music at my daughter's 5th birthday party at a church hall using an ancient laptop, iTunes and some battered desktop speakers I've had for years. It was pretty successful, however, and for a fleeting moment I felt like David Guetta banging out the hokey cokey to a bouncing gaggle of delighted 5 year olds.

This has led to the Daddy disco environment at bathtime every night run from a trusty iMac, those battered Yamaha speakers and the free version of Spotify. And I bloody love it! I think it was Jimi Hendrix who said "music is the only safe kind of high" and some pretty miserable experiences at work have been quickly transformed to dancing around the landing with the kids purely by playing some random tunes!



There's nothing quite like the initial buzz when you start out DJ'ing. For some it never leaves. This DJing malarkey can be quite addictive y'know...lol.








So my question is (and I have unsuccessfully searched the forum before posting), how much cash should I expect to make available to get up and running? Consider I have no kit whatsoever. I've looked online and I'm constantly in Maplin hanging around the disco lights so I have some idea but I was hoping a bunch of experienced guys would be able to help me out and give me some pointers. Of course, second hand kit is always an option so I'd also be interested to know what the feeling is around purchasing used kit.

One other thing - what magazine should I be reading?



How much to spend, it's difficult to say really. My advice is to not go too cheap (i.e. the very cheapest of the cheap), buy the best you can within your budget. I'd definitely recommend second hand gear. One of the best places I've bought gear second hand is here on the forum. I've bought from many members and got some great items at good prices. So definitely keep your eyes peeled in the For Sale section of the forum.

I'd concentrate on your sound first. These days you can get a lot of light-output from just a few effects so no need to go crazy with lighting, so I'd probably allocate the large part of the budget in sorting out the sound system and playout first, and some form of backup.





One other thing - what magazine should I be reading?



Pro Mobile seems to be quite popular. http://www.promobile.org.uk/

[Gazza75]

Hi Valleycomm1,

I noticed you're quite local, I don't know if you're aware of KLS entertainment in Falkirk? They have a full range of entry and pro equipment that you can see in the flesh it's all down to personal taste in the end & what your requirements are.

Failing that check out some of the pics in the gallery & google the costs of the kit. I recently saw a wedding DJ at the Vue in Bathgate DJ off of £800 of gear, bearing in mind he was using the venues PA. No budget is too small.

Gary

[yourdj]

No idea how much my stuff costs all in but its not as much as most on here.

I would say that equipment is one thing but you need to budget for marketing and other business expenses too.
Finde someone you can learn from would be my advice. Going along as a roady is a good bet.

NADJ subscription gives you PLI and Promobile magazine.

I think £5,000 is a reasonable figure if your going to do it properly.
GET GOOD SOUND!! RCF speakers work well.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Hey man welcome.

As has been said, there's no hard or fast rule and I'd say it really depends on what you're aiming for.

Also bear in mind that it's really easy to get caught up with GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) where you want to buy everything in sight

For kids parties (which admittedly are not my forte) you don't need a whole lot. If you're only doing young kids parties you might not even need lights as most gigs will be during the day so you'd only need a PA and a play out system. It wouldn't take a lot to get yourself up and running and I know a guy who does tonnes of kids parties with some pretty basic Maplin gear and has never had a problem.

If you want to take it further, what I would suggest before you start buying lots of gear is to find a local DJ that will let you shadow them so you can get a better idea of what it's like to do other kind of functions.

What I would say is the acquaintances wedding thing is a potential mine field. You will need at least semi decent gear (to the point you'd need a fair good paying gigs on the books to recoup it) and more to the point, without experience you might struggle to handle working a wedding crowd and even more to the point, there's a lot of stress and planning involved in doing a wedding gig, it's not quite as simple as your average birthday party and it is a nerve wracked experience even when you've done plenty of them. It's not something I'd want to be doing blind, especially for friends and acquaintances.

I attend the West of Scotland Amp DJ meets which is great for networking and sharing ideas and stuff. It was supposed to be last week but was cancelled and is still to be rescheduled. It takes place in Rutherglen so you're not too far away with the new motorway extension. Costs a couple of quid and you get fed and would be able to ask a bunch of experience and helpful guys any questions you might have. If it sounds like something you'd be interested in let me know and I'll PM you when the rescheduled date is settled.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Hi mate. Great to see your first ever venture into this was a success. You're in the best place for really good advice. First of all work out your budget for starting up. I.E. How much can you/do you want to lay out? Also how serious you are about making a go of this? (Cos it can be expensive) work that out and you'll get some really great help on here

Also worth considering is how good your music collection is. Cos when you start getting requests, it's always good to feel confident that you at least have got a fairly good chance that you've got the track you're being asked for. Again there's lots of help on here with that also. Above all though mate enjoy it. The buzz of a great night is awesome

[DazzyD]

I think the very best bit of advice for someone starting out as a DJ is what Toby said.


Finde someone you can learn from would be my advice. Going along as a roady is a good bet.

Before you chuck your hard-earned cash in to the ring, get some experience. Offer to roady for a reputable local DJ - free of charge at first. Learn the tips and tricks that make a good DJ. Find out what type of requests people ask for and what songs get the best responses. Learn how your DJ reads the crowd so he knows what song to play next. Then ask for a go under their supervision. Lots of DJs will be prepared to help you along on your journey to becoming a real working DJ. Many people who jump straight in with no experience tend to drown as they don't know what they're letting themselves in for. I worked for others for about 13 years before I took the plunge and bought my own setup. And I still think I did the right thing!

Learning from the forum here is all good and well but there's no substitute for real, physical experience.

[Excalibur]

Good advice there, particularly from Shaun. Secondhand is probably a better way than new budget gear. Don't overdo anything at this stage, don't run before you can walk. ( And while Maplins is fine for bits and pieces, they either sell lower quality cheap stuff, or good stuff at prices a lot higher than you can find elsewhere. )

I'd suggest LED lighting for easiness, a secondhand Impossibled or clone thereof gives an awful lot of light for your buck, and would probably be all you needed for a start.

Sound, a couple of cabs with the amps built in ( commonly referred to as "Actives" ) will do you just fine for a good while. As to what brand, well I'd suggest asking on here before parting with your hard earned.

Now we're getting to the dearer bit. The playout. While spotify is one of the best finds I ever made, it's not the answer. You really need a DJ software program. Which one, well I've got no idea, that's not my area. The one I use costs around £200, and is idiot proof. I know that, cos I'm the idiot driving it. :D

You really need a mixer, and nothing fancy. Two channels will do fine. Even the cheapest ones seem to be reliable enough.

Music. A few now albums, children's party favourites, and adult party favourites will go a long long way. Itunes, Amazon, 7 Digital are all good sources. Check out the 100/101 compilations, that's a fine way to build a collection quickly and cheaply.

Now the more painful bit. Licences. Until you start performing for gain, you're reasonably fireproof. Public Liability Insurance ( PLI ) isn't a legal requirement, but could be the best £50 ( or less) you've spent, if a light falls on someone. ( Yeah, a little ray of sunshine, aren't I ? )

And now the really painful one. Produb. Google it, and have a look at the FAQ's. If you play for gain in the future, you're fairly much bound to need it. ( Exceptions exist. just don't expect me to explain them, cos last time I did, the learned member for Barnet took me to task. :o:o )


Never worry about asking stupid questions on here. The only stupid one is the one that doesn't get asked. Five minutes typing on here could save you hundreds of pounds, and loads of grief. Good luck.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Welcome to the forum.

Have a look in the for sale forum - there are some bargains in there...

(Shame you're in Scotland though - I have a lovely little P.A for sale, very cheap.)

[Valleycomm1]

Wow! Thanks for all the advice. What a helpful bunch!

I'll definitely check out KLS in Falkirk, Gary.

Jim - feel free to PM me details of the Rutherglen meet. I'm a big advocate of networking.

Getting some experience as a roady sounds like a wise thing to do as well.

This was exactly the kind of advice I was looking for and getting to learn about the kit and what brands are good etc. has certainly whet my appetite. Looks like I came to the right place.

Very interested to see the comment about Spotify, Excalibur. How does that work legally? I only use the free version at home which I stick on for the kids at bathtime but I understand that even with the paid version, you don't have ownership of the track; you lose them all if you stop paying your monthly subscription, right? Just wondering how that would work if you are playing a track from Spotify for monetary gain. Isn't that just like playing pirated stuff? I suspect this has been discussed somewhere before.

[Excalibur]

Very interested to see the comment about Spotify, Excalibur. How does that work legally? I only use the free version at home which I stick on for the kids at bathtime but I understand that even with the paid version, you don't have ownership of the track; you lose them all if you stop paying your monthly subscription, right? Just wondering how that would work if you are playing a track from Spotify for monetary gain. Isn't that just like playing pirated stuff? I suspect this has been discussed somewhere before.

I fear we may be at cross purposes here. I have the fiver a month Spotify, which I find invaluable. I use it to listen to at home, and to research new music, customer requests, and the like. I would never contemplate trying to use it as a playout at a function. The software I ( and many other DJs ) use is Virtual DJ. This plays MP3 tracks which are stored on your hard drive, rather than streaming them like Spotify.

So, you'll need to buy music, but as has been said, a few now albums and a few 100/101 sets will cover a lot. Check out Amazon and 7 Digital for bargains.

Now, the painful bit, and a possible way round it. Virtual DJ full edition costs somewhere around £200. ( Roughly, before some smartbottom tells me its price to three decimal places. ) However, there is a free program, which while not a dedicated DJ program, is more than capable of getting you started. While I was dipping a toe in the digital water, I used it as a playout alongside CDs. Download the free version of Media Monkey. It's a fabulous program, and even the free version is very versatile.

It's also possible to get cut down versions of some DJ programs by buying certain hardware, but I think we'll save that for later. I hope I've explained things a bit for you. Like I said, if you don't understand, just ask. Information and advice are free here.

[Valleycomm1]

Thanks Excalibur!

I'll have a look at Media Monkey. Sounds like a good idea to start off with.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Now, the painful bit, and a possible way round it. Virtual DJ full edition costs somewhere around £200. ( Roughly, before some smartbottom tells me its price to three decimal places. ) However, there is a free program, which while not a dedicated DJ program, is more than capable of getting you started. While I was dipping a toe in the digital water, I used it as a playout alongside CDs. Download the free version of Media Monkey. It's a fabulous program, and even the free version is very versatile. Wouldn't the free cut-down version of Virtual DJ (ie the 'Home' version) be a better idea for him to get a clearer idea of the full commercial stuff, Peter?

[Excalibur]

Wouldn't the free cut-down version of Virtual DJ (ie the 'Home' version) be a better idea for him to get a clearer idea of the full commercial stuff, Peter?


Angela, as is so often the case, you're correct. :bowdown: I've just checked the VDJ website, and surprisingly, the free download Home version has far greater functionality than the LE version which comes with Hardware you've paid for. :confused: Well worth a look.
I don't think it's necessarily an "either/or" situation, because although I use VDJ on the road, I use Media Monkey at home to catalogue and sort my music, and Spotify to listen to, and research new or unfamiliar music. Having or being familiar with any of the programs won't cause problems with another, so go for the full house, I'd say.

I honestly didn't know there was a freE version of VDJ, you learn something new every day. :).

[Excalibur]

Wouldn't the free cut-down version of Virtual DJ (ie the 'Home' version) be a better idea for him to get a clearer idea of the full commercial stuff, Peter?


Angela, as is so often the case, you're correct. :bowdown: I've just checked the VDJ website, and surprisingly, the free download Home version has far greater functionality than the LE version which comes with Hardware you've paid for. :confused: Well worth a look.
I don't think it's necessarily an "either/or" situation, because although I use VDJ on the road, I use Media Monkey at home to catalogue and sort my music, and Spotify to listen to, and research new or unfamiliar music. Having or being familiar with any of the programs won't cause problems with another, so go for the full house, I'd say.

I honestly didn't know there was a freE version of VDJ, you learn something new every day. :).

[Corabar Entertainment]

Any reason you've posted the same thing 3/4 of an hour later, Peter?

Does that mean you think I'm doubly right? :p

[Shaun]

Any reason you've posted the same thing 3/4 of an hour later, Peter?

Does that mean you think I'm doubly right? :p

No, he's just old and forgot he's already posted.

[Excalibur]

Wouldn't the free cut-down version of Virtual DJ (ie the 'Home' version) be a better idea for him to get a clearer idea of the full commercial stuff, Peter?


Angela, as is so often the case, you're correct. :bowdown: I've just checked the VDJ website, and surprisingly, the free download Home version has far greater functionality than the LE version which comes with Hardware you've paid for. :confused: Well worth a look.
I don't think it's necessarily an "either/or" situation, because although I use VDJ on the road, I use Media Monkey at home to catalogue and sort my music, and Spotify to listen to, and research new or unfamiliar music. Having or being familiar with any of the programs won't cause problems with another, so go for the full house, I'd say.

I honestly didn't know there was a free version of VDJ, you learn something new every day. :).

[Shaun]

I rest my case M'lud.

[hammy]

:bang:

[Excalibur]

Any reason you've posted the same thing 3/4 of an hour later, Peter?

Does that mean you think I'm doubly right? :p


No, he's just old and forgot he's already posted.


I rest my case M'lud.

Ah. So I can't hide my errors with a spot of discreet deletion then, since you two have highlighted the problem. Thanks a lot. :p

What happened was that when I submitted reply the first time, my computer hung, and sat there with the symbol for "Hang on, I'm going as fast as I can " showing. When I went back to it later, it was still the same, so I hit submit again, thinking that it hadn't already done so. Obviously, it had, but not let me know. Since half an hour had elapsed, the forum let it through, and I repeated the exercise, as you can see.

I'm pleased to see that my fellow mods are being vigilant. Well done both, although next time, might I suggest a spot of tactful deletion of duplicates as a more effective course of action than ridiculing venerable forum members for their apparent memory lapses and failings. :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

I'm pleased to see that my fellow mods are being vigilant. Well done both, although next time, might I suggest a spot of tactful deletion of duplicates as a more effective course of action than ridiculing venerable forum members for their apparent memory lapses and failings. :DNot a hope in Hades, Peter! ;););)

[ukpartydj]

You could get away with starting up for under £1000 I'd say.

Assuming you get most of it 2nd hand or the cheaper brands-

Pair of speakers £300-400
Lights - £150
DJ software and external sound card £200?
Stands / table / whatever you're going to hold lights on - £80-150
Mixer could get away with £50 I reckon
Mic - £20
Headphones - £20
Assuming you'll use a laptop you already have.
Cables extensions etc - £50
+ MUSIC

Would be worth looking out for a complete mobile disco listing on ebay.
You can get half decent setup for £1000-1500 and I bet it'd cost £2000 + if you buy it all individually.