My last gig thoughts and some basic DJ etiquette guide.

So a couple weeks ago I ended up helping out a really cool dude throw his party. It actually started out that I was only going to be DJ'ing. That is until I found out we where going to be using 90% of my DJ gear. My inventory includes:

DJM900NXS Mixer with Flight Case
2x Techniques 1200MKII with Flight Cases
All My cables and DMX Cables
10 260mW Laser System
6 Foot DJ Table
Skrim DJ Table Cover
2x Light Trusses
Projection system that I designed to display each DJ Name as a Background. That included Logos

Seems like no DJ came early to help set up. Mind you every single DJ was a local DJ not a headliner by any means. This included me. So me and promoter set everything up. Then I set up my system to inteface with the house sound system. This was a black light event so the promoter was a couple black lights short. So I purchased 2 more to help out. We started set up at around 3pm finished by 7pm. Once again no DJ came early enough to help out.
Event Start Time 8pm. The opening DJs come in. To my surprise every single DJ either used a laptop for Ableton Style DJing or Brought a S4 to Mix on Traktor. Here comes the problem. Not one DJ had any clue how to jack into my mixer. Really a Traktor Certified Mixer. /rollface
So I helped each one just use a channel on my mixer instead of using the mixer as an audio card.
The next events is pissed me off. After the DJs finished there set. They left and took small group of people they came with in the same car. So basically each DJ brought around 4 or 5 people. So as the night came to an end we had no help tear down so we could have gotten out of there quickly.
In my day DJs had to earn their spot and pay dues. I will present the rules we used to live by.
1) Promote the event your playing at.
2) Come early and help set up. This includes knowing where your gear will set up. If you can have a sound check that would be awesome.
3) After you complete your set. Stay and support the other DJs and also this supports the promoter who is doing the event. This also allows you to mingle and network yourself to other promoters and EDM fans.
4) At the end of the event offer to help and tear down the system.
Last Advice: Please don't use Youtube to MP3 rips. 96kbs/128kbs MP3 sound horrible

Thanks for reading guys and hope this helps others out there

Everyone's a DJ these days. Sorry mangg.

Man I totally agree and the sad part is that following all those rules help the Djs too...so why throw that away? Yeah but nowadays everyone is a Dj. *shakes head*

Yup it sucks. But its happen to me so many times I just don't deal with it anymore. I try to avoid people like that all the time but its hard.

>promote the event that your playing at
>promote the event that YOUR playing at
>>>YOUR
seriously? let's lead by setting an example!
That said, I suppose that is all good advice, though it applies to a rather specific kind of event. How did the party go as a whole?

The problem is most younger dj's think they are destined for stardom and they act like total D-Bags who think they are the best DJs because there parents bought them a Kontrol S4.

The event as whole went great. We had around 75 people. Which was ok for the 1st event. My back was hurting from doing the set up and when it came down to DJing I was mixing on my turntables with no sync. LoL that's when my back started to hurt. Oh wells.I'll post a small youtube video of the event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCekZowiP0M Video from that night.

Nice setup! :D
Never underestimate the technical illiteracy of "DJs" these days..
I've been on the other end of the stick in this kind of situation, using my S4 setup to replace the last DJ also using a controller.

I was just about to connect up to the DJM on stage when the "sound guy" rushes on and says the only way I'd be allowed to transition is to wait for the last DJ to finish, unplug his gear, then connect mine up. You then get the crowd blaming you for the unnecessary gap in the music..

Hope you got paid well for going above and beyond!

Love what you're saying man. I've been there too. Pretty much now I always bring a friend or two to help with the takedown regardless of if I'm the last DJ or not. If its my event, its extremely nice to have them there (and usually only them since as you said all other DJs end up leaving) and if its someone else's event I always get invited back.

As everyone is saying, theres a lot of DJs now and not all of them know what they're doing. Maybe next time send an email out to those playing so they know how to use a real mixer though.

everyone is a kool deejay... I always show up early to setup... Sometimes 3-4 hours in advance and make sure every performer. cleans up after the show. Its always good to get on The venues good side

This has more to do with them being lousy people than their DJing capabilities. Regardless, the reason they were in this situation and performing at this event is because of digital DJing. Dont get me wrong! The sync button has nothing to do with it. They just have not had enough exposure to that type of situation to know what they are supposed to do. I'm not excusing their behavior, they obviously lack common courtesy. Just suggesting that they are so clueless they dont even understand they are being rude.

But seriously?? supporting the other DJs and helping out should be a requirement. To show up, play, and leave without listening to the DJs who patiently waited through your set is just plain rude. It shows that you only care about the attention and is the quickest way to not get invited back.

how much were those lasers?

The lasers where 250$ each.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by calgarc

everyone is a kool deejay... I always show up early to setup... Sometimes 3-4 hours in advance and make sure every performer. cleans up after the show. Its always good to get on The venues good side

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calgarc you're in Ottawa? same here!

where do you spin mostly?

I was @ Lago over the weekend...as usual I show up mega early(venue starts at 7, i'm there at 4:30) to hook up my gear/do sound test...good thing I did, BOTH of their sub drivers were NFG...had to get that fixed before the venue started...