Training a Roadie / DJ

[Ricesnaps]

I think I need some advice?

I have a new roadie / trainee DJ. 16 year old lad, know the family, last night was his 4th outing with me. Unfortunately I am getting more and more fructrated that he seems not to be picking things up and unwilling to actually participate.

Am I being a little too critical? He's never ever done anything like this before and as a 16 year old know far more abour Razorlite than the Stones.

However, he's also seems far to unwilling to try doing anything in a live situation. Don't get me wrong, I have taken time to show him very basic fading from track to track, how to use the decks. Even set up a little earlier and gave him free playing time with the kit with noone to worry about him messing anything up, yet get to a live gig and he won't even queue a track up for me.

Any training packs available for new staff that anyone can help me with.

Hints tips and advice¬

My wife has suggested that I set up the decks in the conservatory one weekend and ask him round to do a live training session. But I also need to understand how to get him to understand how to rig and de-rig without me having to show him every single time!

Thanks

[Dragonfly]

confidence rice thats what he needs... the poor lad is probably petrified hes going to stuff up and incur the wrath of an angry dj. your wifes suggestion sounds a good one to me.

could always teach him the way i was taught..... bought my first set up and the guy said first gig i'll come with you and give you a hand ..... evening came met the guy in the car park in we went set up taped cables down etc. sound checked .......... at which point he said ok all set up ill see you at 11.30pm to take it all down and was out the door....... so i had to get on with it.... of course slightly differently it was my gear my name so if i didnt just get on with it it would all have come down round my ears...... id still love to go out with another dj and see how they do it as everything i do is all self taught and adopted self style and im sure could be improved on.

[Penfold42]

My wife has suggested that I set up the decks in the conservatory one weekend and ask him round to do a live training session. But I also need to understand how to get him to understand how to rig and de-rig without me having to show him every single time!


As Dragonfly said confidence thing I think.
The boss is right, let him do the set up while you go have a cuppa. Then inspect it but don't be to critical say - 'That's good but i would have done it this way' or 'Nice one but let me show you this....'

He probebly likes the safety net of you being there and relies on that but next time try halfway through going for a comfort break and doing a David Copperfield but keep a descreet distance....you can rush back to save the day.

Hope this helps.

[DMX Will]

Got to agree, it's probably nerves, especially if your doing a big wedding or birthday with 200 people.

I like your wife's idea, once he's done it, write out a list of say 8 songs to play in the warm-up of your next gig. Explain you would like him to play these songs (if you are CD based, pick out the CDs for him, or at least give him the names of the CDs they can be found on! - As he can't be expected to know your collection yet). Tell him if he mucks it up, no problem it's only the warm-up, background music.

If you do that a couple of times, then move onto a bit later in the evening and so on.

Good luck!

[flatliners]

if he knows wat to do then at a gig say when the dance floor is jumping say you are of to the toilet and tell him to look after things and hurry 2 the toilet and wate till the next song comes in it might just work

[DMX Will]

if he knows wat to do then at a gig say when the dance floor is jumping say you are of to the toilet and tell him to look after things and hurry 2 the toilet and wate till the next song comes in it might just work

I would hope so, as you don't want to return to a music-less room! For the first couple of gigs I'd make sure you were there Matt!

[soundtracker]

I had this situation with a mate the other week, he showed me how PCDJ worked for about 5 minutes, then decided he was bursting for the bog, and did a runner! I was crappin' myself, but I managed to pull it off! Once you are removed from your comfort zone, its a different ball game - the lad just needs a bit of time and encouragement!

[rob1963]

I think I need some advice?

I have a new roadie / trainee DJ. 16 year old lad, know the family, last night was his 4th outing with me. Unfortunately I am getting more and more fructrated that he seems not to be picking things up and unwilling to actually participate.

Am I being a little too critical? He's never ever done anything like this before and as a 16 year old know far more abour Razorlite than the Stones.

However, he's also seems far to unwilling to try doing anything in a live situation. Don't get me wrong, I have taken time to show him very basic fading from track to track, how to use the decks. Even set up a little earlier and gave him free playing time with the kit with noone to worry about him messing anything up, yet get to a live gig and he won't even queue a track up for me.

Any training packs available for new staff that anyone can help me with.

Hints tips and advice¬

My wife has suggested that I set up the decks in the conservatory one weekend and ask him round to do a live training session. But I also need to understand how to get him to understand how to rig and de-rig without me having to show him every single time!

Thanks

Hiya Ricesnaps,

Everyone has suggested that this guy's problem is nerves or a lack of confidence.

There is another possibility...maybe he just isn't interested, and feels awkward about telling you.

[TonyB]

My Nephew helps me out sometimes. He is only 14 so can only help with local gigs that don't end too late. Usually teenage parties where he knows most of the people.

At first it was a pain because I had to show him what to do but he quickly picked it up. Now after doing 6 gigs, I can leave him alone to start to set up the lighting while I do the sound. I do check everything over though before its plugged in.

He watched me on the decks and basically taught himself what to do. Someone bought a request up and he said don't worry , I'll do it, now I just sit back and let him get on with it. His worst mistake was to accidentally end a track in the middle and started the next one but he's only done that once.

Other problem is he is blonde and 5ft 8" so the girls try and drag him on to the dance floor. He tries to fight them off by saying he can't join in because he's working but I normally encourage him to go and enjoy himself (so I can get my decks back). Sometimes I wish I was 14 again:)

[Shaun]

Hiya Ricesnaps,


There is another possibility...maybe he just isn't interested, and feels awkward about telling you.

That's a good point. I had a lad out with me recently that just didn't show much interest. I asked him outright if he enjoyed the job, or had an interest on taking the training further....he was honest and let me know that he didn't particularly like DJ'ing (he was very introverted). I've since found another lad to help out after the first lad phoned in sick 30 minutes before departure 3 TIMES IN A ROW :eek:.

The new lad is turning out to be fantastic, he's picking things up very quickly and seems very keen. The new lad's also very outgoing which helps a great deal in this line of work.

[Penfold42]

I have a lad lined up but he's still to young at the moment.....my son 8 yr's old...hoping it will rub off.
When i get my set out he want's to help in everything, from putting the lights up - he can't reach - to putting away.

[Tony Scott]

I have a lad lined up but he's still to young at the moment.....my son 8 yr's old...hoping it will rub off.
When i get my set out he want's to help in everything, from putting the lights up - he can't reach - to putting away.

My daughter is 7 & my boy is 5, the've both mastered PCDJ on my home PC, what have I created? :eek: :D :D

[Penfold42]

My daughter is 7 & my boy is 5, the've both mastered PCDJ on my home PC, what have I created? :eek: :D :D

A top dollar enterprise in my book....:)

[DMX Will]

I have a lad...

Oh wait...I am the lad! I've just "taken on" a new guy to do visuals etc as a freelancer. He's 24 and runs a computer services business, so he's running it alongside that with us.

Too inteligent for my liking, but a top bloke.

[lightspeed]

Had my dad roadie for me once as my usual roadie was sick.. worst mistake EVER. He just bloody plugs anything that fits into anything else! :confused: Despite my best efforts I ended up following him round unplugging everything he's just plugged in, would've been quicker on my own :D He has far too a relaxed attitude on cable tidyness as well :beatnik:

[PropellerHeadCase]

I trained a DJ ages ago, I forget what I even told him. He's good now :D

[rob1963]

Nobody trained me :( :( :(

[Tony Scott]

Had my dad roadie for me once as my usual roadie was sick.. worst mistake EVER. He just bloody plugs anything that fits into anything else! :confused: Despite my best efforts I ended up following him round unplugging everything he's just plugged in, would've been quicker on my own :D He has far too a relaxed attitude on cable tidyness as well :beatnik:

My dad 'helped out' when my van was off the road, we used his 7.5tonne lorry which he drove onto the cricket green, got stuck & churned up in full view of the wedding party.......DJ's arrived!!! bet they'll not forget that.

[Candybeatdiscos]

I have a young un - And he is 18 6ft 2 and build like the proverbial ...yeah i think you know what i mean...anyway he asked if he could start Dj'ing with me, i didn't know him from adam, so i told him what gear i had - next thing i knew he has his own laptop, ext drive, & some back up cd's. I took him out and for the first two or three gigs he helped set up and he watched the magic...as well as picked up a few phone numbers along the way lol, anyway we then progressed onto him cuing up and playing a few tracks here and there, as well as some into talking, however he wasn't too confident with the talking, however the more he practised the better he has got - confidence now oozes. I had done a few walk in jobs for another DJ which Andy came along to, now andy does them a few times on his own, next on the horizon is a proper party where he will set up the gear and do the fll party with me watching in the wings, no input unless utterly ness. wil feedback on his progress soon :)

[benlewis13]

try telling him you need him to do one for you, and you cant stay, or just say you need to go half way through, it will help him through his nerves if that is what the problem is.

[Shaun]

however the more he practised the better he has got - confidence now oozes. I had done a few walk in jobs for another DJ which Andy came along to, now andy does them a few times on his own, next on the horizon is a proper party where he will set up the gear and do the fll party with me watching in the wings, no input unless utterly ness. wil feedback on his progress soon :)

Andy's a great lad, and an asset to you. I enjoyed meeting you both. :)