BPM 2022.....

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Wow I've not done this for a good few years but.....

Who's going to BPM this year?

[Excalibur]

Well Neil, subject to the latest round of changes of plans, myself and the Hughes lads should be there Sunday. Also, Mr Neen is expected to make an appearance, Shaun if he can stay awake/leave the new baby, and Matthew Western is a possible.

[mattydj50]

Well Neil, subject to the latest round of changes of plans, myself and the Hughes lads should be there Sunday. Also, Mr Neen is expected to make an appearance, Shaun if he can stay awake/leave the new baby, and Matthew Western is a possible.

Latest is that I am a probable, subject to thirteen alarm clocks going off on Sunday morning (or not going to bed).

[Excalibur]

Latest is that I am a probable, subject to thirteen alarm clocks going off on Sunday morning (or not going to bed).

I may need to borrow an alarm clock or two. I did originally have a Saturday booking which would have meant a late return home. Then it cancelled, with a sensible cancellation fee, so a colleague and I planned a weekend at the show, with hotel overnight.

Then he got a Sunday afternoon gig, so suggested Saturday only. Shot that down, as all the folk I want to see are there Sunday. Was given clearance at the highest level ( my wife ) for the full weekend on my own. Other colleagues have expressed interest in a ride down on Sunday, and I could yet be back in the usual position of Gig Saturday, drive Sunday, sleep Monday.

The sooner they decide to have the show Monday and Tuesday, the better!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

The sooner they decide to have the show Monday and Tuesday, the better!

I think that's unlikely, it's been clear they're not really aiming the show at working mobile guys but more joe public etc (this isn't a shot just seeing how the show has envolved over the years).

[Excalibur]

I think that's unlikely, it's been clear they're not really aiming the show at working mobile guys but more joe public etc (this isn't a shot just seeing how the show has evolved over the years).

Now call me cynical, but surely it's easier for a wage slave to book a ( paid) day off, than a working mobile DJ to miss out on what puts food on his table? I ask that totally seriously. :confused:

[DJ Jules]

All day wedding on Sat and Photography job Sunday.

So.... No.

Besides, I haven't made it once yet in the 14 years I've been DJing so I'd hate to break the tradition.

Julian

[DeckstarDeluxe]

As it happens I was in Birmingham last night.

Tap and spine is still going strong and now we have reflex and popworld to choose from.

[Imagine]

So....who went? What did I miss?

I'm in a very wild and windy Cornwall at the moment (planned long ago), so BPM was well off the radar this year.

Is there anything new and interesting on the lighting side of things I need to know about? (NOT the new Chauvet "we're bringing in another new and incompatible wireless DMX system" related)

[Excalibur]

So....who went? What did I miss?

I'm in a very wild and windy Cornwall at the moment (planned long ago), so BPM was well off the radar this year.

Is there anything new and interesting on the lighting side of things I need to know about? (NOT the new Chauvet "we're bringing in another new and incompatible wireless DMX system" related)

That Chauvet system was actually very impressive. Oops, typo. :o:o

Expensive. :( It was actually awesome.

The Hughes lads bought some £50 lights which did just about everything you could want. Burger, chips and a drink was a tenner. Shaun won a raffle prize. They closed the motorway in order to annoy us, which resulted in us sitting on the motorway for an hour, heading South. John boy stayed at home to play bingo. Most of the PA systems didn't impress. I tried to get lost on multiple occasions on the motorways, but thankfully was corrected by the navigators in the back. Apart from the time coming home when I saw signs for the M18, and suggested taking it, as it brings me home. The three passengers who needed to be up the M1 to get home overruled me vigorously. :D

That's pretty much a rundown of the show. :)


Oooh, edit: We saw just the thing for you for kids parties. It's a haze/bubble/haze in bubble machine. That was magnificent. Dave stood there as if he was on fire, smoke pouring off him everywhere, as the smoke filled bubbles burst on him.

[Shaun]

I went on the Sunday with my wee lad. The size of the show has diminished hugely, I was really disappointed. I got to have a play around with the pioneer XZ and RX3 though, I'm looking to upgrade from the RX2 so it was good to have a fiddle about with the upgrades.

I think this trip will probably be my last venture down to BPM.

Anything else I was impressed with? Loved the look of these in person. Very impressive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEslqxsP0sA

[Excalibur]

I went on the Sunday with my wee lad.
Whaaaaat? You great Celtic :muppet: This is hard to believe ( because for those who know Shaun, he's not exactly diminutive. Vertically challenged, yes, but not diminutive)I never saw you! :whistle:


The size of the show has diminished hugely, I was really disappointed.

Actually, I went last year, and I'd say it could actually have been bigger than last year, by a whisker. It's never again going to be the extravaganza it was at the NEC. Expecting it to be the same will undoubtedly lead to disappointment, but for what it is, I think it's worthwhile.




I think this trip will probably be my last venture down to BPM.

Understandable, quite a few others think that way. Next year might be my last.

[Benny Smyth]

Anything else I was impressed with? Loved the look of these in person. Very impressive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEslqxsP0sA

That made me go "Ooooo" and do a bit of research on them. On their own, very nice.

Then I saw this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bcDm-uKarI&ab_channel=rs100uk) and suddenly felt a bit 'meh' about them. If they look like bit part players behind a couple of Chauvet Gigbars, they've got no chance of standing out in my setup.

I need to have a look and play with them. There is something about them that has piqued my interest.

[DJ Jules]

That made me go "Ooooo" and do a bit of research on them. On their own, very nice.

Then I saw this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bcDm-uKarI&ab_channel=rs100uk) and suddenly felt a bit 'meh' about them. If they look like bit part players behind a couple of Chauvet Gigbars, they've got no chance of standing out in my setup.

I need to have a look and play with them. There is something about them that has piqued my interest.

It's not like the freedom sticks would fare any better placed at the back of the room 12ft from the dance floor :P

£1,500 for 4 with wired processor unit and no battery option. I mean, OK, I can see a place for them in big shows and installs, but I can't see them being a hit with mobile DJ's?

Julian

[Benny Smyth]

It's not like the freedom sticks would fare any better placed at the back of the room 12ft from the dance floor :P

Can you honestly say that - based on that video - you can see them being more impactful anywhere else in that room?

[DJ Jules]

Can you honestly say that - based on that video - you can see them being more impactful anywhere else in that room?

Maybe, maybe not. But I can't think of a worse place to put them :D

[rth_discos]

It feels that the development of products has become a bit stale. There have not really been any major developments in the last few years.

In addition, I've noticed more DJs operating a slimmer setup.

And then there's the cost of living crisis: with the uncertainty ahead, more DJs are finally now operating like businesses, and only investing in kit where they can see a clear return on investment.

Beyond the networking/catching up with people, I sadly can't see a huge amount of value to such an event at the moment, especially now it's lost the element that the old show had at the NEC with events and seminars etc.

[Excalibur]

It feels that the development of products has become a bit stale. There have not really been any major developments in the last few years.

In addition, I've noticed more DJs operating a slimmer setup.
To be fair, how many different ways can you make lights flash? Seems to me that the growth/innovation is coming in the control area, particularly wireless. The Chauvet ILS was awesome in this respect. Sceptical souls would say that they seem to bring out a new system weekly!
Re setups, this forum was at the forefront of the " less is more " policy. I regularly go out with two wash lights, and two effects, and don't feel undergunned.


And then there's the cost of living crisis: with the uncertainty ahead, more DJs are finally now operating like businesses, and only investing in kit where they can see a clear return on investment.
Shiny. Must have. :D:D:D


Beyond the networking/catching up with people, I sadly can't see a huge amount of value to such an event at the moment, especially now it's lost the element that the old show had at the NEC with events and seminars etc.
I'm led to believe that there were seminars available. There were also speaker demos in a dedicated room. I must say I think it's a bit " rose tinted spectacles " about the NEC events. Yes, it had good points, but rather than looking back nostalgically to something which will never return, why not embrace what we do have, and seek to make it suit us better? ( And yes, despite almost every working DJ I know saying so, it seems Monday/midweek is off the table).

[DeckstarDeluxe]

To be fair with covid and the impact it's on production and such I can see why product development hasn't really been great the past couple of years. Hopefully next year we'll see a raft of "next gen" DJ tools and toys but we shall see.

[rth_discos]

To be fair with covid and the impact it's on production and such I can see why product development hasn't really been great the past couple of years. Hopefully next year we'll see a raft of "next gen" DJ tools and toys but we shall see.

I would like to see:

More all in one lighting products - but with proper spec light output. There's a few around that on the surface look good, but simply have underpowered led lights.

More compact DJ booths. This has become the biggest piece of kit I carry now - and I really don't need anything that is as large, particularly in the way it packs down (or rather doesn't pack down!)

[Nakatomi]

Now call me cynical, but surely it's easier for a wage slave to book a ( paid) day off, than a working mobile DJ to miss out on what puts food on his table? I ask that totally seriously. :confused:

Yep I'd ask that too. This gripe applies for all people who dj for money. What would be so wrong about the event being on the sunday/Monday again? The first time the excuse was something about the venue already being booked for the Monday, but every time since then? Bleh

[Shaun]

Whaaaaat? You great Celtic :muppet: This is hard to believe ( because for those who know Shaun, he's not exactly diminutive. Vertically challenged, yes, but not diminutive)I never saw you! :whistle:



How dd we miss each other? It wasn’t exactly busy 😂. I was there from 10-3. If I had my way I’d have been in and out in an hour. Wee boss kept me walking around in circles.

[Shaun]

That made me go "Ooooo" and do a bit of research on them. On their own, very nice.

Then I saw this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bcDm-uKarI&ab_channel=rs100uk) and suddenly felt a bit 'meh' about them. If they look like bit part players behind a couple of Chauvet Gigbars, they've got no chance of standing out in my setup.

I need to have a look and play with them. There is something about them that has piqued my interest.

I agree, they don’t look so good on that clip. They looked great in the flesh though. I’m definitely tempted….but do I need them?👀😂

[Excalibur]

How dd we miss each other? It wasn’t exactly busy . I was there from 10-3. If I had my way I’d have been in and out in an hour. Wee boss kept me walking around in circles.

Dunno. :confused: 12 till 4.30pm Spent a lot of time in the PA Demo room. In all honesty, wasted time. :(

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Yep I'd ask that too. This gripe applies for all people who dj for money. What would be so wrong about the event being on the sunday/Monday again? The first time the excuse was something about the venue already being booked for the Monday, but every time since then? Bleh

See I mentioned in the NADJ group that working folk will either have gigs or Wedding fayres etc and why not the Monday. The reply with the most likes was basically saying book the time off which is laughable really. I know the footfall at NEC was lower on Monday and they use to give free tickets to school kids etc but now it's a smaller venue goodness knows why it can't be on a Monday.

[Excalibur]

but now it's a smaller venue goodness knows why it can't be on a Monday.

I keep being told that the venue isn't available midweek, it's used for other things.

[ppentertainments]

See I mentioned in the NADJ group that working folk will either have gigs or Wedding fayres etc and why not the Monday. The reply with the most likes was basically saying book the time off which is laughable really. I know the footfall at NEC was lower on Monday and they use to give free tickets to school kids etc but now it's a smaller venue goodness knows why it can't be on a Monday.
I always wonder how the same 'full time' DJs go every single year. Surely they are already booked up - especially if you believe what certain ones preach.
This year was the first year in the past 6 I wasn't working - yet couldn't go for other reasons lol

[Nakatomi]

I agree, they don’t look so good on that clip. They looked great in the flesh though. I’m definitely tempted….but do I need them?

FOUR for what.. £1500 ? Hold my beer! :lol:

[DJ Jules]

FOUR for what.. £1500 ? Hold my beer! :lol:

I was wondering about that... ;)

[Excalibur]

FOUR for what.. £1500 ? Hold my beer! :lol:


I was wondering about that... ;)

Oh no! ( Wanders off to find his sneak preview from times past ) ;)

[Nakatomi]

Oh no! ( Wanders off to find his sneak preview from times past ) ;)

... scratches chin... . I really must get round to finishing those blimmin things!