discouraging dj rant

[Sn0wday]

Well, the stuff they gave you must have been pretty messed up, cause as a DJ I feel like you just passively learn to deal with the most jacked up audio situations just over time, if i'm ever at a house party (not DJing) people usually ask me to figure out the audio situation with the things they have at hand, I find setting up systems and the sort pretty fun actually.

but that's too bad it was like that. And yeah, Djing is becoming easier and cheaper, so me thinks things will only get more difficult from here.

[Cook]

The issue with the amp has been discussed already so ill go ahead and put my point on the other topic,

Its not what you know, its who you know.

There's a few guys in my town that get booked purely because everybody knows them, and why not? They have a big following, they can play music, dosent matter if they do it well or not, they get booked because they can bring a crowd, its sad but its true.

[backtothefront]

Every DJ should be able to setup and fault find that sort of setup. It blows me away how many DJs now have no idea about the basics of this sort of shit, I'm not aiming this at you dude, your right the amp could've been broken but still I've seen/heard of DJs not even knowing what an RCA is...

Couldn't agree more, I just do not understand why DJs do not learn about the kit they use, including a basic understanding of audio routing.

[kevinmcdonough]

hey

yeah two issues here. Firstly on the subject of work and other DJs, its just part and parcel with the job i'm afraid just that kind of industry. On a good handful of occations i've turned up to work somewhere and been told that the club has decided that they're going to change things up a bit, go for a different feel or try something new and i wont be needed back. However on the other hand i'm assuming that for most new jobs or venues i've started over the years, some other DJ has had the same conversation.

It does seem a bit callous at first dropping you with no notice and stuff, but having worked as both a DJ and a bar and club manager i can see it from both sides of the argument: If your the manager you dont really want to say to the current DJ say a month early in case he takes the hump and leaves before the month is up, leaving you short of a DJ for a few weeks before his replacement takes over.

So yeah from that point of view its all about just having a thick skin and not taking it personally as someone said, it genuinly is almost always that they just want to mix things up a bit and have a new feel or a new genre of music at the night rather than you not being a good DJ as such.

However the point is also well noted that these is hugely increased competition nowadays for work. While, as we more than anyone all know on here, laptop DJing has opened up a whole new world of techniques and posibilities, it has also ment that every tom, dick and harry can jump online, download free DJ software and a pile of mp3's from bit torrent and call themselves a DJ. However talent, hard work, good marketing and above all WHO YOU KNOW, like someone said, is the key. Get out to the bars an clubs in your area, start chatting and getting to know door staff, bar staff and managers and let them know your a DJ and something will eventually come, they'll need holiday cover or someone will be sick and need covered at the last minute and that'll be you in the door.


However the sound system part, for me, is another matter. I'm maybe slightly biased on the topic as I work as a professional sound engineer touring with bands and recording/producing as well as being a DJ, so again can see it from both sides, but to be honest and a bit blunt the technical knowledge of most DJs as it comes to sound systems is frankly shocking.

Even just the one enduring myth that "running the mixer into the red" makes it sound good, or is acceptable on any level, drives anyone who actually knows what their doing to an early grave. The number of DJs i have seen take a perfectly good sound system and, by clipping and ragging their mixer (pioneer mixers are ESPECIALLY bad sounding when pushed into the red) make it sound distorted, shrill and just all over terrible amazes me.

All DJs in my opinion should have a working knowledge of at least the basics of a sound system and how it goes together as its just as vital to their work as the decks and laptop they use. A way back when I was actually talking to the guys running the site (bento-san back then) about doing a series of articles about sound systems and how they work, but life tooke me away from DJing for a year or two and i never got round to it. However could well be time to finally sort that out.

k

[anteater32]

I'd recommend anyone working mobile to invest in an ART DTI box. As well as ground loop isolation you'll be able to connect to xlr, 1/4" and rca so you can pretty much connect to any system. Passive as well so no power plug issues, works a treat for me any time I plug into somebody elses set up.

[Calum]

Every DJ should be able to setup and fault find that sort of setup. It blows me away how many DJs now have no idea about the basics of this sort of shit, I'm not aiming this at you dude, your right the amp could've been broken but still I've seen/heard of DJs not even knowing what an RCA is...

+1

[lethal_pizzle]

If you don't know how to wire your stuff up then you'll miss out on gigs because you won't be asked back. Why? Because people are idiots and will expect you to do all the work.

If, on the other hand, you know enough about the gear to be 100% sure that it doesn't work, and (as importantly) know enough about the gear to be able to convince the manager as to why it doesn't work, then I wouldn't worry. You've done all you can, and you'll be asked back.

[DJ ATX]

As a DJ, you should know the basics of how to hook up a system. However, this bar should have their own sound guy if they are providing sound that is not your fault.

Your second subject: Sadly anyone with $500 can now be a DJ and sync their way into a club/bar. Undercut your ass by charging a bar tab, or $50, or both. DJ pay and quality has gone down over the years.

[djproben]

On a good handful of occations i've turned up to work somewhere and been told that the club has decided that they're going to change things up a bit, go for a different feel or try something new and i wont be needed back. However on the other hand i'm assuming that for most new jobs or venues i've started over the years, some other DJ has had the same conversation.

It does seem a bit callous at first dropping you with no notice and stuff, but having worked as both a DJ and a bar and club manager i can see it from both sides of the argument: If your the manager you dont really want to say to the current DJ say a month early in case he takes the hump and leaves before the month is up, leaving you short of a DJ for a few weeks before his replacement takes over.

Sorry that's not just callous; it's totally unprofessional. At least they should let you know before you pack up your stuff and head over there ready to play. Happened to me once too and I was pissed; this was a place where I had to bring my own turntables, mixer, and vinyl and set everything up an hour before the place opened and when I got there, there was already a party going on with a DJ, and the bouncer didn't even want to let me in. I explained I was the DJ and he said no this promoter set this other thing up a few days ago; we don't need another DJ tonight. Finally got in and found the owner who apologized and liquored me up for my troubles, but it really didn't make up for the fact that he could have called me the day before the gig (or hell, even the day of the gig) so I could have made other plans for the evening. Getting cut at the last minute is one thing but not being told about it until you show up is utter bullshit.

[MFilthy]

Sorry that's not just callous; it's totally unprofessional. At least they should let you know before you pack up your stuff and head over there ready to play. Happened to me once too and I was pissed; this was a place where I had to bring my own turntables, mixer, and vinyl and set everything up an hour before the place opened and when I got there, there was already a party going on with a DJ, and the bouncer didn't even want to let me in. I explained I was the DJ and he said no this promoter set this other thing up a few days ago; we don't need another DJ tonight. Finally got in and found the owner who apologized and liquored me up for my troubles, but it really didn't make up for the fact that he could have called me the day before the gig (or hell, even the day of the gig) so I could have made other plans for the evening. Getting cut at the last minute is one thing but not being told about it until you show up is utter bullshit.

^This for sure! Had that same experience a couple months back....drove 2 hours through the snow for a 4am slot on a big bill event (check in was at 8pm). Was assured about 2 hours before I left that everything was a go. Get there and the original promoter had "outsourced" check in and lineup to someone else. I find out I have been bumped to the after party at 8 am at a coffee shop across town....needless to say I used up my drink tickets in about 15 minutes and bounced the f*** out. The other 10 guys in my crew and the 5 other crews we are tight with now refuse to work with said promoter and he hasn't been able to throw an event since. So sometimes (though those times are few and far between) karma does have its way. Keep networking, keep promoting yourself, and keep a level head and you're bound to get somewhere.