Do you have a 'routine'?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

I was working last night and I was laid in the bath thinking "same old routine" in that I kind of always do the same thing when I am going out to a booking.
I wondered if anyone did the same?

Mine kind of goes like this....
Whenever possible and if it is viable to do so and the venue agrees it, I like to set up in the morning. This isn't always the case though.
I'll check all of the details from the meetings I have and transfer all of those on to a separate sheet so that I know what is required (timings, announcements, specific music requests including the do's and don't's, names and venue details) and I'll add notes too if need be.
I'll check my system and make sure everything is up to date and for some reason I always put the first dance songs on a separate USB stick and transfer it or them to the back up system when I arrive at the venue. 99.9% of the time the tracks are already on there but I always do it. I just don't want to be in that position where I don't have the first dance.

For example - A couple of weeks ago the first dance was Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud. I knew it was on my system as I'd transferred it earlier that week but despite checking Artist, Title, Genre etc on the Denon, I couldn't find the thing. I checked my back up system and there it was but for a few minutes I was pretty worried! Didn't like that feeling at all.

Once I have gone over everything I TRY to relax if possible but I am pretty much focused on what I need to do later.
I won't eat anything after Midday (I've said before why I do this) and around an hour before I leave I make sure I have everything ironed and ready to go.
Then it will be a long soak in the bath with some music on and I'll get out with around 20 minutes to go. I like to feel fresh and clean before I leave the house.
If I have to set up before I start then I will make sure I have a clean shirt with me in the van.
Again, if I have to set up before I start, I will check and double check that I have everything I need including back up.

I guess it's pretty much what everyone else does but does anyone do anything different from the norm'?
Any mad rituals?

[ckpr2]

As a DJ I mostly take it as it comes.

That really goes against all my instincts as an engineer.
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

I have only had one huge disaster.
I got to a gig and set up and couldn't find the power supply for my mixer.
To cut a long story short it had fallen out of a box in the car and was on the floor.

Just to make the gig even harder, after setting up I had no volume.
I then noticed that a jack plug wasn't quite fully home.
I pushed it in and everything burst into life.

[Nakatomi]

Where I'm having to set up, the PA & playout goes up first. The idea is to isolate & fix any problem with those first, because without lighting a disco can still 'work' - but without sound.. hmmmmmmmmmmnope. That's as far as any routine goes for me at the moment

[Daryll]

I always try to do the following before a gig

After a consultation with the clients , I add a folder on the computer , ie , Bev and JKev
Any requested songs or playlists are placed in that folder , I dont mind if I have 20 copies of dancing queen , a copy goes in the Bev and Kev folder.
Load up the van using a check list , everything has a place , so it sticks out like a sore thumb if there is a "hole"somewhere
Try to arrive at the venue a few hours before the event.
Set up is done with a routine , deck stand where it need to be , uprights , overhead , shelves , amp rack on bottom shelf ( that makes the whole thing more stable).
All the top lights , VMS4 , laptop, then wire it all up , last is the speakers , all speaker leads connected.
Turn on and see if everything`s working, then tape down cables , ultimax aux bar attached , front curtain stuck on , ta dah...ready to R `N` R

Daryll

[Andy P]

Problem for me is one shoe doesn't fit all so I normally make a plan in my head the day before of what times I need to be doing stuff. For local gigs I too like to set up early and just turn up later as the set up is always much easier when your not on the clock. But its often not the case so I just allow plenty time for travel and set up

[ckpr2]

For local gigs I too like to set up early and just turn up later as the set up is always much easier when your not on the clock. But its often not the case so I just allow plenty time for travel and set up

On the first disco I worked on the boss would often setup early in the day if close to home.
I would DJ for him during the evening and he would pick up gear next day.
This was great as no lifting involved.

When working for myself I would just turn up an hour early and set up.
This was a bit more stressful especially if things weren't going together well.