First Gig tomorrow and I'm nervous

[dicky]

Don't know why - this is my first gig and I'm actually doing it for free so I can test everything out in a 'live' environment - but I am strangely nervous about it

It's a Motown night which is a genre I love and understand. I've tested all the kit out and am pretty sure it all works OK

I have a fair amount of backup in the way of equipment - though something really bad could still happen I suppose

I've made a provisional playlist in case my middle aged brain suddeny goes blank.

Yet for some reason I'm feeling realy nervy about it and can't quite put my finger on why..

I can't decide whether I am most worried about some catastropic equipment failure or me totally messing it up, not being able to set up in time...... or just nobody turning up to enjoy it, oe even worse folks turning up and not enjoying what I am doing.

Is there anything more I should be doing to put the butterflies to sleep?

Rich

[Shaun]

Butterflies are a good thing, Rich, and quite normal. Many of the long-term DJs still have a little nerves before a show.

From the sounds of it you are well prepared. Just enjoy, and have a great time. I look forward to reading a post-gig-report. :-)


The very best of luck....you'll do great! :beer1:

[little al]

Its good to be nervous, it keeps you on your toes.

[fullcontact68]

I remember my first few times, I was the same. The worst bit was the first time I used my microphone.

I'm sure you will be fine, we all have a "first time", after that the confidence starts to grow, and nerves die down.

[RobKennedy]

Good luck !

When you do your sound check set your mic at the level (more or less) you will be using during the performance and remember where its set.

The first announcement will be a lot less stressful as you may only have to tweak the mic as opposed to having to make any major adjustments.

Once the first one's out of the way its plain sailing !

Also, get there super early, get set up and any free time can be used for preparation.

Rob

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

You wouldn't be treating it seriously enough if you weren't nervous.

Couple of tips :

- Get there in plenty of time so if anything isn't working, you have time to deal with it
- Don't panic is something isn't working, most of the time it's the silliest most obvious thing - cable not fully plugged in for example - that's causing it and not some monumental failure of gear.
- If you are going to talk on the mic, set yourself a time frame with which you'll make your opening gambit (i.e. by 9 I'll have introduced myself) and keep any chat short and sweet until you get more used to it.
- Speaking of mic use - ALWAYS have it louder than you think you need the mic to be. It might be comforting to have your voice buried in the mix but all it does is annoy people when they can't make out what you're saying. A nice clear mic sound projects confidence and keeps people on your side.
- If there are any halfwits that start bothering you about requests they've asked for or criticising anything, remember that they are halfwits.
- Enjoy it - Motown is one of few universally loved genres so you really can't go wrong if you like it and know what you're doing.

[Excalibur]

All good advice. Relax and enjoy it Dicky, I bet you have a blast. Jim's right about Motown appealing to just about everyone, so you're halfway there already.

Rob, thanks for your thoughts, they're appreciated. Could I ask you to pop across to the Newbies section and introduce yourself. We like to know a little bit about who we're conversing with, we're nosey that way. :D Welcome along.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Dicky, as said already, loads of good advice has been given already.
I STILL get nervous on occasions and it's a good thing because it shows you care but honestly, don't worry. If you take on board all of the advice that has already been given then you should have no problems. Let us all know how you got on. I am sure it will be fine. You'll probably get a big buzz from it and won't be able to wait until you can get out there and do it all again.

At the end of the day you are going to be playing the music genre that you say you are confident with so just be confident and make it clear that you take requests.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

good luck rich I hope it goes well for you.

relax and enjoy the experience

[Excalibur]

Come on mate, we're all waiting for the blow by blow, unexpurgated version. ;):D:D:D

[Benny Smyth]

Come on mate, we're all waiting for the blow by blow, unexpurgated version. ;):D:D:D

I think it's obvious:

:DJ:

[dicky]

Hey guys sorry for the late reply and report but I have had a mad 24 hours!!

Since last night I have done the motown gig, picked the gear up and took it to another venue for another booking that came in while I was setting up for last nights gig!

Then I've installed two satellite systems on my own cos the guy who works for me is on hoils in Tenerife, went back to tset the kit up again at tonights venue where i dumped it this morning and just about had time for a bite to eat!

I'll be off out in 30 mins for tonights party - this one is a general mix of stuff including, 60s pop, Motown, SOul, 70s, disco 80s 90s and current - so the usual thing for a private party I gess. Could be anywhere up to about 150 people tonight.....

Anyway yestterday things didn't go exactly to plan but they did go well.

First problem I had was the Crown Amp popped the fuse in standbay after it had been on for five mins while I was setting up. I tried a new mains lead and it would come into standby OK after power on self test but soon as I powered it up it would go 'thump' thump' twice on the speakers then go into 'protect mode'

My best guess to the problem -and I am sure I was right is the kit had been in storage where it is dry but at outdoor tempratures and when I set it up in a warm humid pub the whole lot got full of condensation. The amps being huge big lumps of metal take a very long time to reach ambient temerature so the Crown was basically full of moisture and didn't like it. Don't know what to do about this other than store them elsewhere.

Anyway a quick rewire and I got all four speakers working on the W Audio Amp.


I thought all was OK at first on the night but something didn't sound quite right. After a little while I realised I was only running one chanel (either left or right_ throiugh all speakers. This made some songs sound rather odd but no one seemed to notice

The night went very well. Not a huge number of folk in but I kept the dancefloor occupied for at least 2hrs of a 2:30 hr set.

End of the night I even got a round of alpplause - and these were not friends and family!!

So I will chalk it up as a success. They want to book me again - and run once a fortnight.

Apart form the motown and a bit of northern that was very popular s couple little groups of songs styood out that went really really well - not Motown at all but the floor was filled to a rowdy set of 'memphis style soul'

Tommy James - Mony Mony
folowed by
Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances
followed by
Human Beinz - Nobody But Me


Playing a little more 70s stuff...

New York City - I'm Doing Fine Now
followed by
Joe Simon - Step By Step
followed by
First Chioce - Smarty Pants

was another highlight. Someone actuualy said they couldn't remember thre last time they heard those particualar tracks

So a great success despite the technical issues and I was well pleased.:o

Today I powered up the Crown Amp as it was at room temp and it's working fine. ALso realised why I had only one channel running last night - the W Audio Amp was in Bridge Mode. AS I only use this for the 18" subs in normal use I never realised it was. Doh!!


Anyway out soon for tonights party - I hope this goes well to

Rich

[DJ Jules]

Also realised why I had only one channel running last night - the W Audio Amp was in Bridge Mode. AS I only use this for the 18" subs in normal use I never realised it was. Doh!!

Yeah, that could sound odd. In Bridge mode the left hand channel will mirror the right hand channel (meaning the two channels will run in opposing phases) which can occasionally (depending on speaker positioning and where you stand in front of them) cause the left channel to cancel out the right.

Obviously the audience didn't notice though :D

Julian

[dicky]

Yes that is what was happening - some songs sounded really odd to me, especially ones that had a wide stereo separation like they sometimes did on late 60s recordings.




Anyway may as well continue on this thread with last nights experience - though probably should go on the good gig bad gig thread.

Bad is not strong enough though - Last night was the gig from hell :mad:

A quick preamble - when the job came through Thurs afternoon it was from another publican I have supplied satellite systems to for a few years. He has a function room and hosts bands plus quite a lot of private parties. He asked if I could do it short notice, would I do for £100 as a 'favour' for one of his regulars (he knows I want £150) and seeing as I had nothing else on, and it's a 'foot in the door' for me I said 'oh go on then'. The 'party' was a 'memorial' service - this sent a few doubts through my mind - and music was 'quote: a bit of everything to be honest more old than new'

OK so I got there yesterday and set up - was on my own but had plenty of space so set the whole lot up, took me two hours to do alone what took two of us two hours to do the week before. That's progress I thought.

All kit working great, amps running fine, no 'bridge mode!! :p'


The publican was giving me a bit more info...... the guy, one of his regulars, who was holding the party lost his wife a year ago and took it 'really badly' pretty much had a breakdown and became alcoholic. He was trying to get things together and this party was supposed to be a memorial and a celebration for family and friends and also a 'last ditch attempt' to sort himself out. There could be anywhere between 50-150 people, the guy - let's call him 'Tom' as we need a name and it helps me tell this story - would pay me directly, and had put a big buffet on cost £350, so come back at 8pm and run till midnight. I asked if they had a list of requests and was told 'Tom' would probably have a chat with me near the start of my set

Now to be honest alarm bells were ringing, I'd had no time to prepare for the night and wasn't at all sure what was expected of me or what to expect or whether I was up to 'last ditch attempts' But now there was no going back..

When I got there I went over to the bar as I spotted the likely 'Tom' and was right. They were already eating the buffet. Introduced myself. He mentioned money and I said I was doing a reduced rate which he already knew and thanked me.

I got some instructions....

Definitely no Northern
No Motown
No Disco
No Rock and absolutely no Oasis
and Nothing after the 70s

'I want ELO - last three songs of the night in order, Horace Wimp, Mr Blue Sky, Roll Over Beethoven. Play some more ELO over the night and do you have that song that was the first one they release.. something overture. Not 1812 overture that is the music to roll over Beethoven.'

'Yeah I know what you mean, I have that song let me look - '10538 Overture'.

'Yep that one - you can start with that one if you like'

'OK, 60s Pop OK?'

'The Beatles are OK'

'Stones?'

'One or two of there's are not bad'


Now I know a bit about ELO. Actually enjoy listening to there stuff sometimes. I certainly know that ELO formed when Roy Wood and Jeffe Lynn split from The Move and formed ELO and Wizzard respectively. So intelligently I asked

'How about The Move'? 'Yeah They are OK I suppose'.
'Wizard? 'No Thanks'.


OK so the night bagan - badly. Seemed I had been given instructions to play stuff that I for the most part don't like and it appeared the audience (about 45 had turned up - only enough to scrape at the layed on buffet) weren't too fussed about it either.


Bad enough with my restricted 'allowed' genre list I was also mindful about playing songs with overly 'emotional' lyrics.. Trammps 'Hold Back The Night Turn On The Lights Don't Wanna Dream About You Baby', would be a good example but that is disco come northern and soul rolled together so can't play it anyway. But you get my drift I hope....


Played the ELO, some Beatles, Stones, Dave Clark 5, Manfred Mann

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers - Got To Get You Into My Life' was a moment of inspiration. Got a bit of reaction to that. So on goes Edison Lighthouse 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)' and that went down to moderate interest.

Tried 'skirting' with a bit of soul by playing Love Affair 'Everlasting Love' and got a couple on the floor.

So caution to the Wind - on goes Edwin Starr - Stop On Sight. Four dancing

Len Barry 1-2-3 get's half a dozen and someone coming over asking 'who did this song, is it 'Barry Something'?

If you follow this - of the above they are all white singers apart from Edwin Starr fair enough and he lived in England for much of his life so that classes as an English man to me

Now I get a couple requests.

Can we have some motown?
Can you play Meatloaf - paradise by the dashboard light?
Some guy drunk as a skunk 'can you play Footloose'?

As the drunk had at least been dancing on goes 'Footloose'. He stays on the floor and by some miracle manages to stay vertical.
OK try some 80s.... Bangles - Blondie - Glen Frey

Eventually the drunk wanders off

On goes Meatloaf. One dancer a bit of singalong

My PC crashes (well at least serato DJ software does) when I try to load Queen 'Don't Stop Me Now'. Is that rock music I'm not suposed to play? - the Meatloaf song keeps playing though.

Suddenly I realised I hadn't plugged the notebook PC with winamp and a memory stick into the mixer and couldn't find the lead.... damn. Not that it would help me much as all that is on my backup USB stick is Northern, Motown and disco



Meatloaf made it to near the end of the song before he cut out. Fortunately the audience are now singing along and merrily take the song to the end while I hastily reboot the PC to a few good hearted jibes. Phew!

OK up and running, back with a bit of 60's. It's about 10pm and no one dancing, in fact about a third of the guests have left or have wandered off to the bar room, so I decided to try a bit of up to date stuff see if that worked. First I chuccked in ELO - Don't Bring Me Down, then line up 'Sex On Fire'.


Get Sex on Fire playing and have lined up Moves Like Jagger, Blurred Lines, Get Lucky


Next minute I have got this guy with a beard (mate of Toms) in my face..... 'switch this =*&^ :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:e off and play ELO'

'But I just played an ELO track.'

'Play three or four in a run'

'OK OK I'll have to cue them up, I've got 'Moves Like Jagger' next then I'll put ELO on OK?

NO. PLAY ELO NOW!!


Well of course I couldn't, Kings of Leon fades out in 20 secs

Sorry I can't. I don't have time it takes a few mins to cue up a song. After this song...... OK?

so on goes Maroon Five


So now cuing up a bit of ELO I suddenly get the host 'Tom' in my face, obviously his bearded mate had not been up to the job.

'Why are you playing this shi!t? Who's Paying you tonight?'

'You Are'

'Well stop playing sh!t that I hate. I asked you to play no soul, you play soul. I told you I don't want any black music and all that crap'. What do you do? You play black music and you play stuff I hate... (actual quote - this bigot was really winding me up now)



So quick cut to ELO. First one I could grab 'ELO - Confusion' at least it's got a beat to it.


This Tom guy is still giving me all the grief in the world. I actually asked him to please stop telling me what not to play and wouldn't it be more constructive if he would come round look at the screen and select some songs he did want and I would play them. He wasn't gonna take that offer up though, preferred slagging of the DJ

Just stop playing this sh!t

But it's ELO - Confusion.... you asked for

Don't like this one.

So on goes some more ELO and Tom has gone back over at the bar

Showdown.... dreary song
Telephone Lines.... nowt wrong with it but hardly a party track

Then I had a very nasty thought (please feel free critcise me for this as it was probably a bit of a DJ faux pas.)

I'd been considering the lyrics of stuff I played all night just in case I caused some offence or worse....

but any way Tom wants ELO. So he damn get's it.

'Sweet Talking Woman, Where did you go!'


Some younger woman comes over. says 'I wanted Michael Jackson but Tom says I can't because Jacksons a paedophile' (disclaimer: his opinion and not necessarily that of the auther ie me)

More ELO

Couple requests for Motown. Sorry I'm under instructions go ask Tom

The some guy 'Have you got any soul music or what?'

Go ask Tom, I'm under instructions not to play soul.....

The guy does. Comes back says 'Tom says OK play what you like'

Right I will.... Oh anything in particular?

Oh well, Do you have Al Wilson The Snake?

Yep

Judy Street 'What' Barbara Mills 'Queen Of Fools'

Yep. Yep.

I'd Like 'The Girl Across The Street'? But you wouldn't have that.


'Moses Smith' Yep course I do....



This guy is starting to look at me with a bit of respect or something similar

So I says' OK. but I am gonna mix in some more mainstream motown as well'

Sure he says. So I did

And got the floor full at last. I can see Tom at the bar with his coat on, saw him go out for a fag, but then half an hour later realised I hadn't seen him for a while.


Then suddenly I relaised I hadn't been payed either! Nothing much I could do about that as I had a full Floor for the last 90 mins - all motown and northern and a bit of 70s soul

Particular highlights of the evening

Billy Ocean Love Really Hurst Without You
Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup
Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor
Sue Thompson Paper Tiger

Even the landlady requested 'Frankie Valley - The Night'. Her favourite song apparently.

We went through to midnight no sign of Tom and didn't end with ELO either - ended with the Wigan '3 before 8' (Tobi Legend, Jimmy Radcliffe, Dean Parish) and a floor of dancers to the very end.

And finally ended Tom Jones - Delilah and a singalong (as this pub is near Stoke City football ground and they play Burnley today - go google the relevance if you don't know it)


It turned out Tom had gone home and abandoned his own party at about 10:30. He had left my money on the bar. The landlady had 'told him off' poining out that his friends and fmaily didn't just ant to listed to his music all night.

I feel a bit sorry for the guy actually and obviously completly failed in keeping the customer happy or satisfying his requirements. Even though he did wind me up to the point I did something slightly unproffesional with 'Sweet Talking Woman' :o

Does that make me a bad DJ, or a DJ dealing with a bad situation best he can?


Went to break the kit down this morning - spoke to the landlord straight away - 'Thank mate for dumping me in the middle of that lot last nigh!t!'

'Sorry Rich, I did try tell you the guys a bit of an arsehole. Could have been a good party. All they really wanted was a bit of motown and northern. After Tom went folks were saying how much they enjoyed it!! I'll have words with him when I next see him, basically it's not your fault he screwed up his own night.

So that was that

On a plus side I got asked for a few business cards and this publican has booked me back in for a large office party 5-10pm Friday before Christmas (proper rate). Music Genre - oldies, newies, soul, pop, and cheese...... basicallyanything that makes people dance. Says he gets a lot of private functions and can offer me regular work.

So in the cool light of today there must be some lessons to learn from last night - I have one or two in mind but firstly what do the rest of you think about my baptism of fire?

Rich

[DJ Jules]

Well, you've walked straight into every DJ's quandary, do I keep the client happy, or the guests? For those of us who get to meet the client before the event and talk to them about music, we get to deal with this question before the night itself - which is much better than being in the position you were in. On the night there's no easy answer to this, it sounds like you made the best of it though.

I hate to say it - but if you rely on playing pub function rooms for £150 to keep you busy, you're probably going to see a lot more nights like this.

[dicky]

Probably true Jules

I have lots of contacts in the pub trade so am finding it easy enough to get bookings, I would like to charge more what I consider a realistic rate but rightly or wrongly feel I need to get my face out there a bit and build up a good reputation first

Given that accomplished I think it would be fair then to ask for more. It would be nice to get into a position where I could ask for more, knowing I can always get the lower rate week in week out if needs be.

Still interested in putting my own regular soul night on starting in the spring. Have a suitable and willing venue where I get the door money on the night but have to promote the event myself



For now it's an interesting learning experience. Though I DJ'ed for 5 years bac in the day I never before had one like last night thank heavens

One thing I think I learned from last night - is not to take 'negative requests' or in other words 'don't ask me to not play xyz' .

I'd prefer to take the approach of 'if you don't like what I am playing then ask me for something else and I will play it if I can, otherwise I will go with the flow i.e. the dancefloor dictates'. Is that a good approach?

Rich

[funkymook]

Sometimes you just have to refuse the gigs you have doubts about - for me it's last minute bookings, if I can't meet or at last have a phone call with the client (a 3rd party telling me that they think they like isn't good enough, obvious exceptions are surprise parties of course), cash in hand, prescriptive playlists, genres I don't like and general pub and bar work (too many randoms could walk in through the door). Still leaves me with plenty of bookings - and I enjoy all of them as I've filtered out the ones I'm not likely to enjoy.

[dicky]

I have to say I am very impressed with your websites funkymook :)

Given me some thoughts for my own which I should have up and running next week, I hope you don't mind me borrowing a few ideas


Rich

[DazzyD]

...On a plus side I got asked for a few business cards and this publican has booked me back in for a large office party 5-10pm Friday before Christmas (proper rate).

Ah, "Black Eye Friday" in a pub!! Good luck, then! ;)

[funkymook]

I have to say I am very impressed with your websites funkymook :)

Given me some thoughts for my own which I should have up and running next week, I hope you don't mind me borrowing a few ideas


Rich

Cheers, and of course you can Rich - and I'm more than happy of you want to bounce ideas off me at anytime, just give me a PM.

[dicky]

Cheers, and of course you can Rich - and I'm more than happy of you want to bounce ideas off me at anytime, just give me a PM.

Thanks I will take you up on that. Had a mate of mine who does website design have a look at your sites today and he was very impressed

I just said 'I would like something like that please'

To which he replied 'That's a lot of work Rich!!' :rolleyes:



Oh forgot to add an addendum to this thread - that first night I did last Thursday, the Motown night - I got a call from the bar owner today, he was really impressed with what I put on for them last week and I have the offer of a regular weekly Thursday night residency there playing Motown and Soul and will even get paid from now on lol - which is a bonus.

I suggested we start next week to give chance to advertise the night better first and he agreed after some discussion though in all honestly he wanted me down there this week!

It's not the most fantastic money admittedly but it's a weekday. it's only 1 mile from my home, venue easy to get in and out of and it's a two and half hour set. Seems like a good place to start building up a good reputation to me. It's a promising start anyway :)

Rich

[funkymook]

Thanks I will take you up on that. Had a mate of mine who does website design have a look at your sites today and he was very impressed

I just said 'I would like something like that please'

To which he replied 'That's a lot of work Rich!!' :rolleyes:



Oh forgot to add an addendum to this thread - that first night I did last Thursday, the Motown night - I got a call from the bar owner today, he was really impressed with what I put on for them last week and I have the offer of a regular weekly Thursday night residency there playing Motown and Soul and will even get paid from now on lol - which is a bonus.

I suggested we start next week to give chance to advertise the night better first and he agreed after some discussion though in all honestly he wanted me down there this week!

It's not the most fantastic money admittedly but it's a weekday. it's only 1 mile from my home, venue easy to get in and out of and it's a two and half hour set. Seems like a good place to start building up a good reputation to me. It's a promising start anyway :)

Rich

Not my work, I’m not a web designer, but I did think of the concepts and supply all the content.

Get the night up and running as soon as you can, with the media attention on NS at the moment it’s perfect timing. And a big Motown Christmas party would be a great idea too.

[ckpr2]

I remember my first gig when I started working for myself.
It was a kids party in a village hall.
Everything was going well when I walked across the stage and tripped over a speaker lead.
It pulled it out of the speaker and as it came out it shorted out and blew the fuse in the amp.
Luckily I had a fuse in my equipment container so I popped it in and it worked again.

That was about 30 years ago.
Since then I have designed audio gear and know now it is unusual for a fuse to blow without taking transistors with it.
Even if the fuse blows there is still sufficient charge in the smoothing capacitors to fry the output transistors.
The short must have been very quick just as the jack plug came out.
I guess I just got lucky that night because I had no backup amp.
I guess these days we have speakon cables which don't short on withdrawal.

[DJ Jules]

It's not the most fantastic money admittedly but it's a weekday. it's only 1 mile from my home, venue easy to get in and out of and it's a two and half hour set. Seems like a good place to start building up a good reputation to me. It's a promising start anyway :)

Sounds good, as long as it doesn't take your 2hrs to put up the rig and another 1hr to tear it down again! :D

Julian

[dicky]

Know what you mean but I'm getting quicker at that lol :)


I can only fit so much on their 10ft stage

[DJ Jules]

I can only fit so much on their 10ft stage

I know others have already said this a few times, but it's worth taking some time to think about the ambience you want to create for the night and then re-design your show to support the theme (and match what you're being paid!) A few people have said that putting up a few mirror balls with pin spots (or well programmed scanners/movers or other fixtures that can provide a similar feel) and some uplighting might actually fit the theme better than a full on club install?

Julian

[dicky]

And i am coming very much to that opinion based on the fine advice given on this foruym ;)

Check out the latest post on my 'how big are your balls' thread

Rich

[DJ Jules]

Yeah I did notice that thread going on in the background :D I wasn't sure if you were just going to add a few balls on top of everything else tho ;)

Lucky on the laptop...

[dicky]

Yeah dead lucky on the laptop I agree - left it running a few hours this evening on it's PSU (as we speak..... or should I say 'type') and not crashed yet so it's a good 'un

Nope wasn't thinking of adding the mirror ball to the rest - was thinking of a total alternative 'mood' setup as advised here, much appreciated. With the large mirror ball on a tripod 'centre stage' plus 4 sets of 4 pinspots each on plinths all around facing towards it and run them off an old fashioned 4 channel sequencer/sound to light should look good.

Then use my 2x octo-beams, 2x Triclops and the 6 shooter from the DJ booth gantry for a bit of extra lighting (plus if i can find some - the old fashioned Par 54 'traffic light' floods and one of those old-styled wooden booth panels with proper 'bulbs' in it) and voila we have a kinda up to date retro looking 'Studio 54' type ambiance if I imagine it right. If I can't find the above DJ booth and PAR 54s I'll probably make some myself - maybe with LED though at least in the booth front panel :p

Life is not all a total bed of roses though - he couldn't find the damn motor for the mirror ball and being a genuine 'period' one I think it's rather heavier than my 5Kg load motor can handle!



Rich

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Yeah dead lucky on the laptop I agree - left it running a few hours this evening on it's PSU (as we speak..... or should I say 'type') and not crashed yet so it's a good 'un

Nope wasn't thinking of adding the mirror ball to the rest - was thinking of a total alternative 'mood' setup as advised here, much appreciated. With the large mirror ball on a tripod 'centre stage' plus 4 sets of 4 pinspots each on plinths all around facing towards it and run them off an old fashioned 4 channel sequencer/sound to light should look good.

Then use my 2x octo-beams, 2x Triclops and the 6 shooter from the DJ booth gantry for a bit of extra lighting (plus if i can find some - the old fashioned Par 54 'traffic light' floods and one of those old-styled wooden booth panels with proper 'bulbs' in it) and voila we have a kinda up to date retro looking 'Studio 54' type ambiance if I imagine it right. If I can't find the above DJ booth and PAR 54s I'll probably make some myself - maybe with LED though at least in the booth front panel :p

Life is not all a total bed of roses though - he couldn't find the damn motor for the mirror ball and being a genuine 'period' one I think it's rather heavier than my 5Kg load motor can handle!

Rich

That still sounds like a lot of lights which means a lot more stuff than you need to load into the car, schlep into the venue, set up, tear down, schlep out and unload at the end of the night.

Buy smart - the technology for light and sound gear these days is such that you can have a high performance sound rig that will meet yours need (even if you're trying to go old school) you could fit in the back of a Mondeo if you wanted. I know it's exciting to get demented on new lights and stuff when you're putting the rig together but (and I'm sure I don't only speak for myself) in the longer run - lighter, less and quicker is the way most of us eventually go when putting together the perfect rig for your needs.

Case in point:
I popped up to my parents last night where my brother aka Mr 5 Star Discos stashes the gear he can't fit in his own gaff - not a word of a lie: my 2 HK Nano 600s (subs + tops locked into place), mixer, mics, cable bag and a couple of lights would fit in the same space as one of his 15" subs...

[Excalibur]

That still sounds like a lot of lights which means a lot more stuff than you need to load into the car, schlep into the venue, set up, tear down, schlep out and unload at the end of the night.


Jim is running along the right lines. Now I appreciate that you're acquiring gear at knockdown prices or free, but there is a danger that you can easily end up with immense amounts of kit which don't really suit the mobile lifestyle. One of our members has just bought a Chauvet gig bar, which has a strobe, cluster laser, par cans and moonflowers all on one bar. A complete lightshow with one plug, in effect. Although I have no need for one, and no idea when or where I'd use one if I got it, I'm presently bowled over by the Swarm 5. Another all in one solution, but apparently not as controllable.

Back in what passes for my real world, if you were to get a par/power bar of some sort, and two moonflowers, that rig would suffice for 95% of gigs you're likely to encounter. Many other possibilities exist for a similar solution. Have you considered that the reason you're being given install kit is that it is as the name suggests, install kit?

Yes, I know we all start somewhere, and with what we can lay our hands on initially, but to me, you seem to be handicapping yourself by the work required, and falling into the trap of thinking that more effects = a more impressive light show. On Saturday night, I had two par cans, and an EFX 500. Three units, and I was heavily overgunned for the ( admittedly small ) venue.

Chosen correctly, you can get a very impressive show with three units. Hmmm, I think I can feel a thread coming on. :whistle:

[atlanticdisco]

Completely agree when it comes to light shows, buy wise. I remember starting out and doing gigs with massive light shows. I soon learned the hard way.

[dicky]

Yes and Yes but then again maybe.....

Only done a couple of gigs and I have to bow to the experience and advice here or at least take notice of it

At the moment I have the DJ booth set up in the dining room again - trying to figure a good (and safe, obviously) way to fit the 3m truss taken from my tripods onto the 6ft DJ booth instead

Actually having measured that 3m truss it is not actually quite as big as that

It overhangs about 18" either side of my booth so I need about 9ft total width at a venue to set up and that includes the speaker stacks either side (or slightly in front of) the booth.

With a bit of inginuity I think I have come up with a way of doing this so that I can keep the main lasers/lights permanently mounted and wired up on the truss and transport the whole thing like that then just 'hook' it onto the booth. Two leads to the switch unit in my 19" cab and job done. I do have a jumbo transit - which is about two foot longer than a LWB as I need this for my main business which means I have plenty of room in the back of the van to carry the gear, so effectively I can put the booth together in about 10 mins, hang the main lighting truss from that and get set up totally in say 45 mins yet still keep an impressive light show

Then I would have the two tripods with T-bars for additional lighting out to each side on large venues

Or use one tripod for the large mirror ball behind me, some plinths at 90 degree positoins (or four corners of a square surounding the mirror ball if you like) and groups of pinspots mounted on boards to fit each plinths connected to a sequencer/Sound To Light and job done

You have to appreciate that I am just doing my best on working out how this needs to be done and I am experimenting with setups - but I do already agree that 2hr set up times is a no-no :daft:

So yes I am definitely listening and taking advice but rightly or wrongly for a novice I also think I may be able to come up with something a bit different to help others in future..... if that makes any sense?

Rich

[dicky]

OK made quite a bit of effort today to sort this little quandry out

Turned out after trying this and that, leaving the lighting fittings on the truss made it too heavy to easily handle

But having figured out it's wiring everything up that is taking most of the time I've now cable-tied all the cables (power and dmx) I need onto the truss which I now have successfully mounted above the DJ booth (it is 3ft narrower than the supplied lighting bar and also handles the lights better so this should help a lot) all I need to do is lift it up, hook it on and rotate the vertical poles to lock it into position by angling the hooks. I actually used some hook type things from B&Q designed to store ladders or stepladders against a wall, max load 80Kg per hook - more than enough! :p

Having done a practice run I can assemble the entire booth and lighting truss, fit the lighting and plug all the cable in taking about 15 mins

Takes me a similar time to set up the PA and plug everything in

So I think i have this all down to about 30mins plus unloading the van so say 45 mins set up

I still have the two tripods and T-bars for additional lighting if needs be

Gonna try this setup tomorrow on my live gig (soul night) and see how I get on

I also cleaned up that 20 inch mirror ball today - it's looking really good now and adds a certain 'wow' factor IMHO, thank you all who advised this :) Having weighed it I found it's actually 5Kg - my rotator motor is rated at that so happy days

If I get chance I will fix up some pairs of pinspots onto small plywood plinths tomorrow which means I should be able to hang the mirror ball from one of my tripods centred behind the booth and as high as possible then light it from all around with 8 x PAR36 proper old skool style pinspots

Looking forward to trying this out and best guess set up time will still be well under 1hr :D

Will get some pics/video tomorrow and post here of course

Oh PS

facebook page now up and running called 'dickysdisco' please like me if you wish, much appreciated.

Website will go live over the weekend dickysdisco.com


Rich

[dicky]

Another good one last night!! Was meant to be a Motown/Northern and soul/disco night but with the range of people in a very full pub it turned out to be a bit of a mixture of the intended soul night plus some 80s dance and pop and some up to date R&B/house/DnB type stuff

Oh and a bit of Pink!


My mate helped me set up this time - only took 50mins including unloading the van until the music and lights went on. It wasn't necessarily a leiserly 50 mins though, it was a determined effort! We were both sweating when it was done. The venue had a very cramped stage area made worse by the fact the tables usually set out there for diners had just been pushed to the back. The cramped area definitely made set up slower and the kit just fitted.

Best floorfillers of the night were

Tommy James 'Mony Mony' - again!
Wilson Pickett 'Land of 1000 Dances' - again! I play this usually to follow up Mony Mony and then Human Beinz - 'Nobody But Me' if the first two went down well - which makes for a great floor stomping set.
Trammps - Disco Inferno (rammed the floor)
Barry White 'My First My Last My Everything' and Billy Ocean 'Love Really Hurts Without You' also very very popular, amongst others

Picked up the kit this morning, the publican said it was a great night and will rebook me. Lot's of the locals also said nice words about me and some were overheard outside smoking near the start pf the night saying 'after 15 mins he's already better than the usual disco they have down here'

Got another little round of applause at the end of the night (plus a few hand shakes) and thoroughly loved the whole night

Have a big grin on my face today

Also have a couple or three spin off threads to start..... lol

Rich

[dicky]

Oh forgot to mention

Preliminary website is now up and running and www.dickysdisco.com

Facebook page disckysdisco

It will do the job until I get a better site ready. Probably gonna run Joomla CMS for the dickysdisco site once I rework it

Anyway have a look, and 'like' me if you wish

[Andy P]

Hey guys sorry for the late reply and report but I have had a mad 24 hours!!

Since last night I have done the motown gig, picked the gear up and took it to another venue for another booking that came in while I was setting up for last nights gig!

Then I've installed two satellite systems on my own cos the guy who works for me is on hoils in Tenerife, went back to tset the kit up again at tonights venue where i dumped it this morning and just about had time for a bite to eat!

I'll be off out in 30 mins for tonights party - this one is a general mix of stuff including, 60s pop, Motown, SOul, 70s, disco 80s 90s and current - so the usual thing for a private party I gess. Could be anywhere up to about 150 people tonight.....

Anyway yestterday things didn't go exactly to plan but they did go well.

First problem I had was the Crown Amp popped the fuse in standbay after it had been on for five mins while I was setting up. I tried a new mains lead and it would come into standby OK after power on self test but soon as I powered it up it would go 'thump' thump' twice on the speakers then go into 'protect mode'

My best guess to the problem -and I am sure I was right is the kit had been in storage where it is dry but at outdoor tempratures and when I set it up in a warm humid pub the whole lot got full of condensation. The amps being huge big lumps of metal take a very long time to reach ambient temerature so the Crown was basically full of moisture and didn't like it. Don't know what to do about this other than store them elsewhere.

Anyway a quick rewire and I got all four speakers working on the W Audio Amp.


I thought all was OK at first on the night but something didn't sound quite right. After a little while I realised I was only running one chanel (either left or right_ throiugh all speakers. This made some songs sound rather odd but no one seemed to notice

The night went very well. Not a huge number of folk in but I kept the dancefloor occupied for at least 2hrs of a 2:30 hr set.

End of the night I even got a round of alpplause - and these were not friends and family!!

So I will chalk it up as a success. They want to book me again - and run once a fortnight.

Apart form the motown and a bit of northern that was very popular s couple little groups of songs styood out that went really really well - not Motown at all but the floor was filled to a rowdy set of 'memphis style soul'

Tommy James - Mony Mony
folowed by
Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances
followed by
Human Beinz - Nobody But Me


Playing a little more 70s stuff...

New York City - I'm Doing Fine Now
followed by
Joe Simon - Step By Step
followed by
First Chioce - Smarty Pants

was another highlight. Someone actuualy said they couldn't remember thre last time they heard those particualar tracks

So a great success despite the technical issues and I was well pleased.:o

Today I powered up the Crown Amp as it was at room temp and it's working fine. ALso realised why I had only one channel running last night - the W Audio Amp was in Bridge Mode. AS I only use this for the 18" subs in normal use I never realised it was. Doh!!


Anyway out soon for tonights party - I hope this goes well to

Rich

I done a disco a few weeks back and though my output sounded very mono - after an hour or two I noticed I hadn't turned on the right hand side powered speaker. duh, happens to us all