Re-investing/refreshing gear

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Is it just me or does refreshing your gear make you a little more enthusiastic and get your juices flowing again?

I've used the same sound system and lighting for 3-4 years and am more than happy, but have made a few changes to make things lighter/easier to set up and pack away and it certainly got my interest level up..

[Excalibur]

Is it just me or does refreshing your gear make you a little more enthusiastic and get your juices flowing again?
.

No. Would you believe I got excited about getting a new flightcase for my controller? :o:o I got some LED barrel scanners, which won't go out on a regular basis, but I get excited about using them, too.

Nowadays, I'm a man of simple pleasures. :)

[DJ Jules]

Yup - it's always good to be invested in your business - either financially or emotionally :D

I've just gone for my yearly spending spree, switching my backup controller from Numark Mixtrack Pro to Pioneer DDJ-SB2, fixing the blue LED's which seemed to have all faded in my existing QTX pars, buying a new stack of LEDJ pars and finally picking up a great pair of second hand RCF 705AS's.

And now I have an even more ambitious targets for income for next year.

Julian

[Nakatomi]

I had a handful of new bits I couldn't wait to try out last night - my portable booth screen, backlight (Chauvet WashFX), 32-35mm tube clamps, my son's dirt cheap (but not all that nasty) jellydome effort. Oh and the newly painted uprights for my Ultimax - which wouldn't fit once I had the booth on the stage (hence having to put my scanners on the speaker poles & cobble cable lengths accordingly). Bums!

I'm still impressed with my speaker 'downgrade' too.

Currently running out of patience waiting for a Teutonic supplier to send me an LED PAR bar in a box which hasn't been bashed all to hell. I sent the original box back with a big hole in the top & lord only knows what missing out of it or water damaged.

[Imagine]

No. Would you believe I got excited about getting a new flightcase for my controller? :o:o I got some LED barrel scanners, which won't go out on a regular basis, but I get excited about using them, too.

Nowadays, I'm a man of simple pleasures. :)

It's not just me that does that then!
I was all excited a couple of weeks ago when my custom made flightcase turned up for my Jaguar MSD's. Just wish I'd have paid the extra for wheels now though....it weighs a ton with both of them in it :(

[Benny Smyth]

New flightcases are pretty sexy. I've had four new ones done this year. The only problem is when they get bashed about and start getting marked.

I have a solution though: I just need flightcases for my flightcases. :p

[Imagine]

New flightcases are pretty sexy. I've had four new ones done this year. The only problem is when they get bashed about and start getting marked.


Yup....got the first marks on my new one last night......dusty boot prints (it's the perfect height for taking stuff off of the overhead bar I was using :daft:)

[Nakatomi]

New flightcases are pretty sexy. I've had four new ones done this year. The only problem is when they get bashed about and start getting marked.

I have a solution though: I just need flightcases for my flightcases. :p


Naw. Padded covers for flightcases should be enough unless you're in the habit of shoving them down flights of stairs

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I agree Darren.
All I did last week was move the lights on my top bar around and I couldn't wait to get out on Saturday to see how they looked because I knew I could use smoke at the venue I was in. Same lights I have used for a couple of years now but swapping positions has created a better effect in my opinion.
I also got my DB Techs fixed by a friend. There were dry connections inside where I hadn't used them for ages. Had a small PA system hire (just vocal) and they sounded sweet as so I might start using them a bit more now for smaller parties.

[Benny Smyth]

Naw. Padded covers for flightcases should be enough unless you're in the habit of shoving them down flights of stairs

I feel a Flightcase vs. Padded Bags dance off coming on! ;)

But yes, the occasional re-jig has to happen, I think. To our clients, what we use is a unique experience to them, but for us is a day-in-day-out thing.

[funkymook]

The thing that gives me the biggest buzz is changing gear for lighter, easier, quicker set-up, alternatives.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

It does but I only purchase items to replace faulty equipment now as it's a very short lived boost. I'm very much of the mind that if I'm not charging extra for having that piece of equipment then it's not a worthy investment.

[Nakatomi]

I feel a Flightcase vs. Padded Bags dance off coming on! ;)

But yes, the occasional re-jig has to happen, I think. To our clients, what we use is a unique experience to them, but for us is a day-in-day-out thing.

No, I meant padded bags to put around yer flightcases to keep them nice - as opposed to putting the flightcases in flightcases (in flightcases?)

[Benny Smyth]

No, I meant padded bags to put around yer flightcases to keep them nice - as opposed to putting the flightcases in flightcases (in flightcases?)

I know, but putting flightcases into flightcases protects the flightcases better than putting flightcases into bags. ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The thing that gives me the biggest buzz is changing gear for lighter, easier, quicker set-up, alternatives.

Yes indeed and this is a big part of the reason I changed. (apart from digging out my truss totems that haven't been used for 4 years..)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

It does but I only purchase items to replace faulty equipment now as it's a very short lived boost. I'm very much of the mind that if I'm not charging extra for having that piece of equipment then it's not a worthy investment.

Even if it makes your life easier and makes your set up quicker?

[ckpr2]

I use ebay quite a bit for refreshing gear.
I buy something new then sell the old gear on.
That way its not like I am paying full price for new gear.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Even if it makes your life easier and makes your set up quicker?

Well with anything it's weighing up the cost vs how much I would appreciate that

[yourdj]

Well with anything it's weighing up the cost vs how much I would appreciate that

Time is definitely the most important thing on my list after quality and cost, with impatient venues managers, these days its nice to set up before the room turn around. to me thats money well spent. I love tinkering with thew kit on a down month. Doing the wireless DMX now on my quad passes, hopefully it will work?

always nice looking at optional extra investment as you know you will get the money back quickly. :)

[TONYTIGER]

I tend to spend around 10% on earned income ,so about £ 3.500 a year on new gear i then put the old gear into hire stock just keeps the show up to date in the fast moving world of new technology.

[mattydj50]

As I have now been at my hotel residencey for 15 years, I have always tried to refresh the look each year for the Christmas (sorry) season. Given that many guests return year after year, I like to present a different image (wholly or in part) so that there isnt the chance of "oh, this again".

Granted, most of the punters couldn't care less, but if we can give then a new look, it, hopefully, keeps the interest level up.

Also, I like to re-invest to make sure that all of the gear is of the highest standard and in full working order. Replacement of any older gear before faults develop is the aim but, of course, that is always unpredictable.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

As I have now been at my hotel residencey for 15 years, I have always tried to refresh the look each year for the Christmas (sorry) season. Given that many guests return year after year, I like to present a different image (wholly or in part) so that there isnt the chance of "oh, this again".



Fair play to you, but you really think they'll remember the DJ let alone the gear?

[yourdj]

Fair play to you, but you really think they'll remember the DJ let alone the gear?

Suppose it depends from venue to venue. I changed my lighting set up today and had everything reprogrammed and had quite a few comments from staff (same with my new booth when I bought it). I also put an uplight on control in the bar area on control and he mentioned that too, so I think staff are quite savvy to change depending on the venue and what you do as I always notice subtle changes in the hotels decor/equipment but seldom mention it. Its whether that member of staff last more than 6-12 months thats the problem as they tend to come and go so improving things and working hard can be a struggle. Another manager moves in and will extent that as the norm from then on, unless what they have come from it total crap, in which case they 'seem' to be impressed, from my limited experiences in the few venues I am resident. :)

[Nakatomi]

Oh I have it on good authority that staff remember both DJ and gear. I am, apparently, like a proverbial breath of fresh air where I play. Which is nice. My gear is hardly the Rolls Royce of mobile discos I'll gladly admit, but it's streets ahead of what came before me. They've had a couple of other discos in who the customers brought along & they were both the 'loads of lights flashing seemingly randomly & blinding everybody' variety. Not only that, the staff actually seem to like me. I've even been asked to go to the staff Xmas night out :O

[Excalibur]

I've even been asked to go to the staff Xmas night out :O

Yeah. And oh, just make sure you bring your disco as well, if you wouldn't mind. :whistle::):)

[Nakatomi]

Yeah. And oh, just make sure you bring your disco as well, if you wouldn't mind. :whistle::):)

Hahaha no... it's in town. Could get a little bit messy.

[mattydj50]

Yeah. And oh, just make sure you bring your disco as well, if you wouldn't mind. :whistle::):)

I do the staff party for free. And a bit of scratchee-backee during the year.

Many of the guests have been coming for years and do recognise me and come and say hello.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Oh I have it on good authority that staff remember both DJ and gear.

But the discussion was about Christmas parties and guests remembering the DJ from one year to the next.

[Nakatomi]

But the discussion was about Christmas parties and guests remembering the DJ from one year to the next.

Chances are you need there to be a change in terms of a quantum leap for anybody to notice, even the staff. Customers are the least likely to notice something unless it's bad in some way (looks nasty, sounds bad, annoys them by dazzling etc)... Unless they're also in the trade.

[ukpartydj]

I could do with re-investing some of my money the trouble is I don't see much point if I'm not gonna see any money back from it!
Maybe I'll just work on discovering the new "in thing" and busy myself with that to take my mind off spending money I don't need to.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Here's the thing though. I know that buying new gear is not going to make any more money than I am already charging, but I always sell old gear to finance the new and as I look after stuff, I get good resale value, so don't have to invest loads.