Does using a controller prohibit playing in top 40 clubs??

[Paka Ono]

I can't honestly see a Top 40 club caring about the equipment a DJ uses, since they obviously don't care about the quality of music being played.

[Patch]

[haze324]

I can't honestly see a Top 40 club caring about the equipment a DJ uses, since they obviously don't care about the quality of music being played.

What's wrong with Top 40?

I live in Miami. I play open format....at the big open format clubs down here and there quite a few with big name resident DJ's there's no way your walking in with an S4 and getting any play time. At smaller clubs where no one cares, and at house clubs where headliners come in all the time (like dubfire) and play on some X1's --- yes, I've seen it all the time. But at the main open format (hip hop, reggae, house, electro, etc) everyones on CDJ 2000's and many are on 1200's.

[DJ ATX]

@DJ ATX, Ive actually thought about this a lot, 'what if someone is like hey lets jam, play some tracks' I'll look like a dick if I said no. And to your other point I know I can rock a big crowd I just feel like not using club gear is looked down upon and that I can play better with gear Im comfortable with. I guess its just getting comfortable with everything maybe

Yeah everyone has a comfort level or a gear they are used to. But, if you know how to work the basic: fader, upfader, start/play - pause/stop, beat match. you will do just fine. May take you a few mixes to get used to the lay out, but the basics will carry you through.

I have used controllers at clubs and whenever I get booked I always ask if I could bring my own gear. I have only been turned down twice. MOst clubs here in Dallas expects you to bring your own mixers and decks except for a select few.

[mr.raw]

I play in big clubs and small clubs and nobody cares what you use, I use vci-300 for some clubs that dont have cdj's and it's all good.

I use serato and timecodes at most places though.

[tauket2]

even if you don't know how to beatmatch...

I don't know about you guys, but when i plug my TT's to my Audio 4 and start the track, Traktor still detects the bpm of the song, then its just a question of looking at the BPM on the screen, and playing with the pitch fader until it matches the bpm of the other song playing.

All you have left to do is start the second song on the one... is that too hard???

[Jester]

taking a big controller to a gig is a pain in the ass, unless its your show.

[bartboy]

I have seen many well paid DJs play at clubs with just controllers. Carl Cox is fond of using Maschine as a Traktor controller on his Tour. Again though it's his Tour he can do whatever he wants.

It is always good to be considerate if you are playing before or after someone. Best thing to do is let them know what the situation is and maybe they need to give you more time to set-up/pack-up. Most DJs don't mind that as long as they know ahead of time. If your tapping them on the shoulder 15 minutes before their set is done yelling you need to start setting up then that's just being rude.

If that isn't an option I would suggest either setting up as you feel comfortable with leaving in the booth ahead of time, as long as it won't interfere with the other DJs. I would suggest at least learning basic mixing with CDJs and carrying around a few CDs just in case everything craps the bed on you which can happen from time to time.

[tauket2]

taking a big controller to a gig is a pain in the ass, unless its your show.

hahahah. I think back to my rock band days... lugging 4x12 cabs, drum sets, setting everything up... really puts your comment in perspective. lol.

[Karlos Santos]

lugging 4x12 cabs,

I hear that... Give me an S4 flightcase anyday instead of the Marshall 4x12 in a full flightcase and an 8u Rack mount flightcase plus 3 guitars (and that was just my shit) then theres all the drums, cus we all know that drummers never carry their own drums