I assure you, I am not the anti-christ.....

[JohnImOnlyDancing]

...however, after reading the following, the numerous hardened, veteran mobile DJ's who use this forum may think i am.

I've wrote a brief introduction on the newbie section, but for those who haven't read it, then I'll make it even briefer here.

I'm John, 36 years old, currently living in Doncaster. Music is my absolute passion in life, and after considering it for many many years, I'm now looking into starting out as a mobile DJ. Im in full time work so this would be almost like a hobby to me. But like everything in my life, if I set out to do something, I always give it 100%.

I'm fully aware DJ'ing isn't something you can just saunter into, design a half-hearted website, buy some decks, tell a few friends and HEY PRESTO! I know if I'm going to be remotely successful, then its going to be something that is going to be a slow journey that will take years. But because I'm in full time work and therefore wouldn't be dependant on it money wise, then I think it's something I could do and something I may possibly fall in love with. It isn't about the money, its about the fact I love music and I (think) I have the knack of making people smile, and I can entertain. I'm confident to interact with strangers without being cocky, and as a result I think I've got the foundations to be a decent mobile DJ.

Anyway that's a little bit about me. Now here's the horrible bit...

As I'm COMPLETELY new to the world of DJ'ing, my knowledge of anything other than the songs I'd be playing is VERY limited. Actually that's probably the understatement of the 21st century. I know literally nothing. You now understand why I've called my thread that, yes?

Where do I begin? EBay. That's where I'll begin. I'll use this as an example of my 'plight'. Ive been on there numerous times looking at kit for sale. As you're all probably aware, there are people selling items on there which they describe as 'Complete DJ Set Up' and similar. But I'm looking at these item descriptions and not having a clue whether, what they're selling is everything I require, whether the kit included is rubbish or dated tosh etc. I really am that much of a novice.

The items I require I'll be buying over a number of months to get my 'set-up' together. Again, I know it'll be a gradual thing but I don't mind. But its just knowing the ABSOLUTE BASICS so that I know WHAT IT IS I need to be looking to buy. I'm not a complete idiot, I'm aware of the type of lighting I should be looking to buy, and obviously speakers. But its the type of speakers I require, what make, power, what I should be looking to pay etc that I'm a complete novice with. However that isn't my biggest issue. Oh no.

It's what I play the music from and what through. We live in a digital age and there are so many ways to access music, but I wouldn't know where to start in relation to mobile DJ'ing. I own quite an expansive CD collection but I'm guessing the digital route is the way forward for numerous reasons. So for example, do you hardened veterans use a laptop or different type of storage device to hold your music? And if so, what sort of kit do you use to play your music through. Then of course, there's the question of what software you use.

As you can clearly see, I'm at the absolute bottom of the pile with literally no knowledge of the tools required to even start up, never mind to be a success. As I've stated previously, if this thread has made some of you physically sick, I completely understand. I get it. However if there are some of you out there who can maybe understand my situation, or maybe even can associate, back to when you first started out and feel you can give me some friendly, helpful, relevant information, then I'd be eternally grateful. No matter how basic, I'm all ears.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from some of you. Even the abuse....

Cheers.

John

[ckpr2]

A laptop or some sort of digital player is the common route these days.
I did my time with CD players and hated them. They would sometimes skip even on new CD's. Sometimes going from cold to warm places would upset them until they warmed up.
This was with a new dual cd player.

Ebay can be a minefield, I have bought CD players there only for them to last one gig.
If you can find the nearest disco gear shop and have a chat with them.

I cant advise on speakers and amps as I design/build my own.
There are many people on here much more knowledgeable than me on what is good gear.

[mattydj50]

Posted some info on your intro post John.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Will reply tomorrow mate
.

The fact you've sought advice instead of jumping in headfirst puts you way ahead of most new starts. :)

[Nakatomi]

It's a lot better than coming here fully prepared to ignore all the good advice people will want to give you :)

Buying gear wise.. while it usually seems like a good idea to buy second hand (and it can be if you find a bargain), finding good gear at a reasonable price on the likes of Ebay & Gumtree is very very tricky. I wanted all my gear to be 2nd hand because it's a nice cheap way in. I'm always on the lookout for good gear at realistic prices, but is there much about? Is there heck. The better the gear is, the less time it'll be on sale for and the slimmer the pickings will be. DJs often sell directly to other DJs though through the likes of this site & certain groups on Facebook (still beware of some of those because I've seen a hell of a lot of crusty old crap being sold at silly high prices too).

All my lighting bar none, was brand new. I decided not to buy the absolute cheapest stuff, and I think I've a very servicable setup suitable for a lot of functions. It's not what I'd call a classy setup by some people's standards here, but it does the job well. What I think is necessary for ANY disco nowadays is this: wash/flood lighting. Some effects lighting. That's basically it. You can have a stand stuffed full of different effects lights all doing different things, but if they're all on at once it'll be nowt but a cacophony of light. Some here will swear that they've more than just 'got by' with an LED floodlight bar & I would never claim it'd be impossible because I know the value of that type of lighting. You can have all the effects in the world, but nothing can change a room's atmosphere more than basic coloured floodlighting (especially where fog/haze isn't allowed which these days amounts to a lot of places).

Sound wise, your basic choices nowadays boil down to...

Do you want separate speakers (passive) & amplifiers, or active speakers (with amplifier built in) ? If you're just starting out you might not want or need subwoofers but your own taste might dictate that you do. Separates will involve a bit more cabling (not much), more carrying but will allow you to mix & match components later. Actives.. you carry the speaker box in & that's it for that speaker. Plug each speaker into your mixer & power.. job done. My grudge against passive is that any amplifiers need to be in cases, and cases add more weight & take up more room - and you really need a spare waiting in the wings. With actives, if you lose sound it's very unlikely to happen to more than one speaker.. and if pushed you can likely limp through on just one.

Music wise - since I returned to DJing just over a year ago I've gone completely digital. I really don't miss CDs, and I really don't miss vinyl either. Convenience is the absolute king of all for me. I can find anything I've got in seconds, and have everything categorised in different ways to make it less easy to forget things. e.g. Some tracks live in more than one 'crate' so I don't need more than one file of it. Whatever you decide to use, have a backup. If that means a spare dual CD player or another single deck, so be it. Have a backup mixer too. Or if playing out on a laptop, have some other means of playing music into your PA system to afford you time to fix the laptop or else continue for the rest of the night from it.

I've had a lot of experience with CD players, and I've found my laptop & controller to be way more reliable. In clubs I worked there was always a backup player available but it was usually locked away somewhere & took a long time to get at. Ah yes.. a controller is absolutely essential in my opinion. There are DJs who 'drag & drop' tunes into VDJ's auto-player but that isn't DJing at all. I like things to start when I tell them, where I tell them to start from and how. So I've got a controller.

There's a lot to contend with I know, but with any luck we'll be able to help

[Imagine]

Well - you've made the right choice by asking for advice before jumping in head first. It's a minefield at times and there's a lot of snobbery in this game (just take a look at a lot of the Facebook groups....and then ignore half of them)

My biggest tip having re-started myself four years ago is buy the best quality you can. It'll last you a lot longer.

As others have already said, a laptop and a controller are the way to go these days (from someone who cut his teeth on milkcrates full of round black plastic things). The laptop doesn't have to be top of the range (I use a cheap Acer for the main playout and I've got a Toshiba to handle lighting and to be a backup should things go belly up). A backup laptop/tablet/phone with music on it IMHO is one of the most essential things you can have because things can and do go wrong.

Lighting - take your pick. There's a lot of willy waving out there as far as this is concerned. I bought loads of lights when I first started back into this game....a lot of them never see the inside of my van any more. For starting out though, I'd be inclined to go for something like the Chauvet GigBar or something very similar where it's all pre-wired and actually does a fantastic job (I had two of them out tonight). There's other fixtures of the same ilk, but they're a complete lighting solution and have inbuilt programs on them to control the entire light show without having to DMX them (that's a topic for another day). You could also buy a t-bar, add a couple of PAR cans and other fixtures and Bob's your uncle.

What I will say though....I've NEVER had a customer or a guest come up to me and say anything about my lighting. Believe it or not, they don't notice whether it's the latest American DJ product or a cheaper version. On the subject of cheaper versions.....buyer beware, especially when it's coming from the Far East.

Sound....this is obviously the important bit and it very much depends on your budget, what sort of party you're aiming to do, and what sort of transport you have.

I personally roll with a pair of Yamaha DXR15's. These are what are known as active speakers (they have their own amps in them). It makes them heavier, it makes them more expensive (the price of actives frightened me when I was starting out again), but they have a lot of benefits too. I don't know an awful lot about modern day amplifiers and passive systems and I'll be the first to hold my hand up to that. What I do know is that if one of your actives dies mid gig, you can happily carry on in mono and I doubt anyone will notice. I also have a single Yamaha DSR18 sub which rarely goes out because 1. It's heavy and 2. I don't need it. A full range speaker like the DXR15 will happily thump out bass by the bucket load (I have mine on a wooden stage tonight.......mmmmmmmmmm)

Whatever you do with speakers though....find a dealer and go and listen to them in person (the same with mic's come to think of it). Sound quality is a very personal choice and you're the one standing between them night after night.

A lot of the kit buying is down to personal choice at the end of the day, plus what you feel comfortable with spending.

There's a lot of very knowledgeable people on here and as I've found out myself in the past, they're all very willing to help with even some of what might seem a silly question. Do things right, get kit that you feel happy and proud to take out on the road every week, and you'll enjoy this job a lot (I know I do).

[Excalibur]

What I will say though....I've NEVER had a customer or a guest come up to me and say anything about my lighting. Believe it or not, they don't notice whether it's the latest American DJ product or a cheaper version.

And continuing the theme of being the polar opposite to you tonight, the venue staff were in raptures tonight about my Teutonic Powerbar.

John, as a rule, " complete disco kit on ebay, buy now start earning tomorrow " are a pile of crap. This comes from a man who's bought plenty of crap in his time.

Good news: All the answers you need will be available here.

Bad news: While the advice is free, following it will cost you. I can foresee the P word* coming up very shortly. ;)

* Don't ask yet. It will only upset you.

[Imagine]

And continuing the theme of being the polar opposite to you tonight, the venue staff were in raptures tonight about my Teutonic Powerbar.

Not a good night then Peter?
It makes a change for me to have a good one, and you to have a bad one. Take it young agricultural people weren't involved? ;)




Bad news: While the advice is free, following it will cost you. I can foresee the P word* coming up very shortly. ;)

* Don't ask yet. It will only upset you.

are the following letters a consonant, a vowel, another consonant and another vowel by any chance? Do the letters after the P word make up the name of a grain harvested in paddy fields?

If so, I nearly touched on that subject but had to struggle from typing ;)

[Excalibur]

Not a good night then Peter?
It makes a change for me to have a good one, and you to have a bad one. Take it young agricultural people weren't involved? ;)
Correctamundo.



are the following letters a consonant, a vowel, another consonant and another vowel by any chance? Do the letters after the P word make up the name of a grain harvested in paddy fields?

If so, I nearly touched on that subject but had to struggle from typing ;)

Not correctamundo. Ooh no, it's the word we dare not mention. Price is fine. Price, price, price. :D

Here's a clue. P****b. Young John may decide that CD players are attractive when he finds out about that one.

[Imagine]

Here's a clue. P****b. Young John may decide that CD players are attractive when he finds out about that one.

Go swallow some Carbolic old timer! :o
How very DARE you even think of mentioning that subject on here!!!! ;)

[ukpartydj]

I think the best place to start is your computer software assuming you arent gonna use CD players. I would advise against cds, no pros really dj with them anymore.

I personally put all my music directly onto my DJ laptop and that's all its used for. An external drive is also fine.

The big 4 DJ software giants are....

Rekordbox
Traktor
Serato
Virtual DJ

Each have pros and cons and there are some decent free programs also. I think you can download free trials to test and decide which is your favorite.

[Excalibur]

OK John, here's a very basic run down.

CD players Pros:
Cheap.
You already have the CDs to put in them.
Fairly reliable, tried and tested.
Won't need a licence to use them.

CD Players cons:
Bulky.
Single purpose. (ie usually can't play video )
CDs are very bulky and heavy, and can be damaged ( or even stolen ) With digital, it can be replaced overnight.

Laptop pros:
So easy to use, takes up very little space, and also fairly reliable.

Laptop cons:
The two big ones. Professional DJ programs Cost money. The Produb licence ( more of that later ) costs money.


Sound:
The balance to be struck between quality and cost. Nowadays, with guidance you can get something suitable without breaking the bank. Good name brands secondhand are usually a better investment than cheaper new kit. Ask and listen before you buy, and you'll be fine. Active is a good move nowadays for various reasons.

Lighting:
Wayne gave you good advice above. All I'd say is don't get hung up on having loads of lights. As they say, you can't dance to lighting.
You need some sort of wash lighting , LED tripars and that sort of thing, to avoid your guests being in darkness as other lights flash and move.
I'm a big moonflower fan, and you can pick up older halogen ones for peanuts. This gives light and movement on the dancefloor only, which is good.
With those, you're covered for any type of function, and whatever else you add is up to you. Scanners, Barrels, Cluster lasers or whatever. There's a lot of low cost lighting on the market now, which will do all you need.

Keep asking questions, we only know the answers because we've already made the mistakes. :)

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

OK John, here's a very basic run down.

CD players Pros:
Cheap.
You already have the CDs to put in them.
Fairly reliable, tried and tested.
Won't need a licence to use them.

CD Players cons:
Bulky.
Single purpose. (ie usually can't play video )
CDs are very bulky and heavy, and can be damaged ( or even stolen ) With digital, it can be replaced overnight.

Laptop pros:
So easy to use, takes up very little space, and also fairly reliable.

Laptop cons:
The two big ones. Professional DJ programs Cost money. The Produb licence ( more of that later ) costs money.


Sound:
The balance to be struck between quality and cost. Nowadays, with guidance you can get something suitable without breaking the bank. Good name brands secondhand are usually a better investment than cheaper new kit. Ask and listen before you buy, and you'll be fine. Active is a good move nowadays for various reasons.

Lighting:
Wayne gave you good advice above. All I'd say is don't get hung up on having loads of lights. As they say, you can't dance to lighting.
You need some sort of wash lighting , LED tripars and that sort of thing, to avoid your guests being in darkness as other lights flash and move.
I'm a big moonflower fan, and you can pick up older halogen ones for peanuts. This gives light and movement on the dancefloor only, which is good.
With those, you're covered for any type of function, and whatever else you add is up to you. Scanners, Barrels, Cluster lasers or whatever. There's a lot of low cost lighting on the market now, which will do all you need.

Keep asking questions, we only know the answers because we've already made the mistakes. :)

That's about covered it with the gear side of things. Buy as good as you can afford and look on gear as an investment - it'll pay for itself in time. Bog plusses are you can get a perfectly servicable new light set up for a couple of hundred quid these days and speakers are smaller and lighter Tha they've ever been.

Do get backup or have your rig designed so that if part of it goes, the gig can go on.

Before buying all the bells and whistles it night be an idea to join an agency with walk in gigs or ask to roadie / shadow a local dj so you can find out whether it's something you actually want to do - the reality is generally less east, fun and glamorous as it night look to your average drunk punter.

[Excalibur]

Before buying all the bells and whistles it night be an idea to join an agency with walk in gigs or ask to roadie / shadow a local dj so you can find out whether it's something you actually want to do - the reality is generally less east, fun and glamorous as it night look to your average drunk punter.

Good advice. Matty has offered already, I sometimes work your way out, and I know a couple of lads who were in your position a year or two ago who are in your general area.

[JohnImOnlyDancing]

Thanks for all the replies so far gents. But my worries at ease. Quite the friendly bunch.

Trust me I'm taking notes and considering ideas put forward.

One other question I will ask, aimed at the people who are now using digital format as opposed to CD's, did you just transfer all of your existing music that you owned into MP3 format, or is there other alternatives?

Thanks again men, definitely chose the right place to ask the ridiculous questions.

[Excalibur]

One other question I will ask, aimed at the people who are now using digital format as opposed to CD's, did you just transfer all of your existing music that you owned into MP3 format, or is there other alternatives?


Ooh, now we're heading rapidly for the thin ice. A cautionary tale. (http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?12755-The-loneliness-of-the-long-distance-Ripper&highlight=long+distance+ripper)

Right Peter, deep breath, take the tablets. You can indeed rip your CDs to MP3 ( or WAV, should you wish. You just need a bigger hard drive. ) Be warned, it's a task best done meticulously, as any mistakes will at best annoy you, and at worst make you look a :muppet: when what you have displayed on the screen as Dancing Queen turns out to actually be Silver Machine!! Ripping your own means you'll need Produb. ( I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it ). :)

Alternatives? Oh yuss. Here's where the argument starts. You can buy and download music from ( legal ) sources, and if you do so direct to your playout device, you won't need Produb. Mastermix are a DJ oriented source, and there are others.

As in so many things in this game, the only limiting factor is cost.

Should you wish to rip your own, I'm told that it's faster to rip to WAV, and then batch convert to MP3.
We're bandying terms about with gay abandon now, and I'm sure we'll be asked for translations and reasons later. Don't worry, just ask.

[dicky]

Hi John, I'm another DJ who started back up about 15 months ago after a 31 year break

I also have found myself a welcome home here on MDD forums (or at least they put up with me :p) and I can tell you now you have made a very good decision by regestering, this place is a goldmine of knowledge

Could I suggest you take the time next Sunday 7th Feb to drive down to the DJ Demo day at Coalville near Leicester? It's a straight run down the M1 for you and you will find probably around 150 of us are there - many of us will bring our PA systems and set them up in the large function room - then we all get chance to play some music in turn and compare the different setups. You will get to hear everything from budget £600ish systems (mine, for one :p) to probably £15K PA's too and all sorts of thnigs in between. And guess what, it's not alwys the most expensive that are the most impressive!

It's a free day out, but maybe bring some money as there is a good bring-and-buy area and you will get the chance to meet loads of other DJs in a friendly and informal environment ;) Peter and Juski who replied on this thread will be there for sure and probably plenty of others

I went last year (this is an annual event) because my PA was rubbish and I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I took it with me and demoed it and at the end of the day I walked away with some superb second hand speakers that another DJ from here was selling at a very attractive price.

Honestly if you can get yourself down there you will not regret it I am sure.

Cheers
Rich

[Excalibur]

I'll second Dicky's recommendations for Coalville. There will be kit from £500 or so, up to many thousands. You'll ( probably ) never see so many speakers side by side anywhere else.

I'd grab you on the way down, except I shall be starting from Lincoln at 1am, so that's out, sadly.

This is where we'll be. (http://www.fayre-square.com/pub/charnwood-arms-bardon-hill-coalville/m8620/?utm_source=g_places&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=places&utm_content=m8620)

[musicology]

I think the best place to start is your computer software assuming you arent gonna use CD players. I would advise against cds, no pros really dj with them anymore.

I personally put all my music directly onto my DJ laptop and that's all its used for. An external drive is also fine.

The big 4 DJ software giants are....

Rekordbox
Traktor
Serato
Virtual DJ

Each have pros and cons and there are some decent free programs also. I think you can download free trials to test and decide which is your favorite.

And there's the excellent FREE Mixxx software http://www.mixxx.org/ although the latest version I personally don't like and would recommend finding a previous version.

[dicky]

I use Serato which came free with my Numark Mixtrack Pro II :)