starting my own mobile disco advice please

[daveyboy]

hey guys iv been into my music for last 10 years djing at home but iv decided to stary up and run my own mobile djing for partys etc. whats the best way to get started and iv seen lots of bulk cd collections from many djs on ebay etc are they good buys as it would help to start of as then your have many tunes to start with etc. any advice would be great thankyou. dave.

[DMX Will]

I'd say you need to consider 5 things.

1) Music - CDs/Legal electronic downloads (if downloads, are you going to use a computer to play them, or burn them to CD?)

2) Sound 'Stuff' - Speakers/Amps/CD Players/Computer Software and Mixers

3) Light 'Stuff' - Lightboxes/Scanners/Moving Lights and stands for the lights (T-Bars/Truss/All-in-one Deck stand with crossbar etc)

4) "Covering Yourself" - Contracts/Public Libability Insurrance/PAT (electrical safety) testing (None of which are a legal requirement)

5) "Getting Known" - Advertising (Local papers/Yellow Pages/Friday Ad etc)/Website/Bussiness Cards or Flyers/ Ringing around (Hotels/Function Rooms etc)

I would also recommend that you get a bit of experience, maybe with another DJ locally, you could easily offer your servcies as a free roadie and in exchange you would get to watch an experienced professional at work, and ask questions etc. You might also want to consider doing a couple of free parties for friends/family who are considering having a party and need that extra push. You will then get a feel for what you are doing (as you can't get all the practice you need sitting at home playing music and mixing it for hours on end) doing it for an audience and seeing how they react is the key.

I'm sure other members will add in their own bits of advice, if you need help with anything we're always happy to assist.

[BeerFunk]

First and foremost, above and beyond everything else, is the music. You have to know a huge variety of music from 50s up until what's in the charts now. So, in that case, you should know if these collections on eBay are worth it! :)

[sleah]

So, in that case, you should know if these collections on eBay are worth it! :)

As we all keep :bang: ing on about.... please please please please please please please please please make sure any music you buy of eBay is LEGAL.
I.E. NEVER EVER buy a collection that is in MP3 (or similar) format or that is on a DVD, as there is no current legal way to do it.

Good luck! Sadly you may come up against tough competition from the cowboys.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Also look for Mastermix and DMC collections which are DJ only and can be invalueble.

I managed to get a very good deal for one of my DJs - Mastermix 1-100 for less than £500 and that covers most genres, styles, eras and eventualities.

[Corabar Steve]

:welcome2: :approve: :beer3:

[DMX Will]

hey guys iv been into my music for last 10 years djing at home but iv decided to stary up and run my own mobile djing for partys etc. whats the best way to get started and iv seen lots of bulk cd collections from many djs on ebay etc are they good buys as it would help to start of as then your have many tunes to start with etc. any advice would be great thankyou. dave.

Also....as we all seem to have forgotten (and I have only just remembered)

Welcome to the forum! Why not start a thread in the "Newbies" section to introduce yourself?


We got there ;)

Edit: d@mn you Steve!

[Corabar Entertainment]

Hi there & :welcome1:

Regarding the experience you should get under your belt before going it alone, may I suggest you let eveyone here know where you are (fill out your profile in the Forum under User CP)..... someone here may be near where you are based and offer to take you out!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

and offer to take you out!

You wanna re-phrase that Ang?!:eek: :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

:doh: Oopps! :sorry: You know what I mean!!!!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:doh: Oopps! :sorry: You know what I mean!!!!

Not sure I do, especially with your connections with the Barnet mafia:eek: :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

:ner: :offtopic:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:ner: :offtopic:

So, your advice on starting a mobile disco is.....?:D

[Corabar Steve]

So, your advice on starting a mobile disco is.....?:D


Regarding the experience you should get under your belt before going it alone, may I suggest you let eveyone here know where you are (fill out your profile in the Forum under User CP)..... someone here may be near where you are based and offer to take you out!
:D :D :evelgrin:

[andyw]

first welcome to the forum.
cd's a good place to buy genuine cds is car boot sales.make offers for all they got but before you do ,open the cases and check it's got the right cd in they are orignal and not scratch to bits.equipment look around the internet get a feel for what you want,try and get a demo before buying anything,ask on the forum about it.beware just about everyone makes the same mistake when starting of buying some kit that either aint upto the job or is just pants.good luck
andy

[daveyboy]

yeah im going to a gig soon as my mates brother does it so iv ask if i can come with him to see what it all about, with these cds they range from everything to up to 2006. he is he selling mastermix cds, he selling "now thats what i call music" cds fro 24 to 61 and many other kinds, 70s/80s/90/s etc. But only thing that concerns me is getting to remember what on each if people ask and whats a good way to file these cds so can find the songs quick.

[sleah]

But only thing that concerns me is getting to remember what on each if people ask and whats a good way to file these cds so can find the songs quick.

Ahhh yes, tons of CD's! I'm digital now so it ain't a problem:D
You'll probably find your own method of filling, everyone has their own way.
I used to put all the Now's together and compilations by year (60's/70's etc) or by Genre, CD singles by Artist.

Some DJ's even make their own indexes for quick serching and cross references, it would be time comsuming to set up, but worth if you get it right!

HTH at bit.

[daveyboy]

thats what im gonna have to do either put the names or artist in a spread sheet or something so i can look at artist then see what cd they are on etc only way really but like you say time consuming but at end of day it will make like easy and you cant be searching for a song for 30 mins if doing a gig or transfer them all to laptop but not have funds forthat yet starting with the basics first.

[BeerFunk]

I've found that after ripping my collection for use on the forthcoming Denon HD2500 player, I have discovered more of my collection that I didn't know about, or that I forgot about! :D:rolleyes:

It's also helped me remember where a lot of stuff is :)

[sleah]

It's really good to hear from someone who seems to realise you can't set your sights too high to start with.
There are too many cowboys who get cheapo gear, a cheapo laptop and a load of illegally copied mp3's, they learn how to make their 'toy' DJ software automix and they think they are proper DJ's, then go out and undercut the 'real' DJ's. Let's hope it's not too long before clients 'see the light', also with changes in the law, venues can be prosecuted for using cowboys with illegally copied music.
I started by roadieing for a couple of pro-dj's and also was lucky enough to be able to start DJing at a local yoof club that had their own gear.
In time, I would cover for the Pro's during a gig if they neede a pee or had to talk to the band or customer.
once I had my own gear and tunes, they would pass on double bookings to me and even had me cover gigs in their name.
I pretty much started from scratch with my tunes, it took several years buying every Now album and every compilation going, as well as singles.

Going digital (properly) isn't quick and easy. You need to own all the music before it can go onto the PC for playout. There are opportunities opening up to be able to buy from a download site and build a digital collection that way, but it's very messy at the moment for many reasons.

Stick with the CD's as you plan and you'll be OK!

[daveyboy]

Well hopefully if i decide to buy the cds of the ex dj and they are not copys etc then ill have most music upto 2005/6 so all i need to do really if update it from last year which is not to hard as so many dance albums and rnb albums around etc. and iv seen now cds with number 1s from 80s/90s/ etc then if i get all these then ill will then transfer to lapt top as a reference for each tune so i know what cd every tune is for as i wont remember all off them.

[lightspeed]

I don't think my CD's are organised in any strict fashion, I just know where things are :D Mostly...

[andyw]

we use cattrax to cataloge all our cd's.used to print out and take along folders works ok but a lot of work to keep updated.so we bought a cheap laptop for £25 of ebay and put the files on it and take it with us.if you mark all your boxes and cd's with numbers cattrax will tell you what cd each track is on and what box it is in.