I don't care what anyone says, mobile DJ'ing is MUCH harder than any Club/Bar DJ'ing!

[rotoitiman]

I make more money than most club/bar DJs I know in my area - but of course there are lots of drawbacks and the initial cash outlay, time, appearance, setup etc....

[rotoitiman]

And the club/bar DJs always seem to be having fun!!!

[tokenasianguy]

My experience in the Techno scene doesn't match up with yours. Sure, there were people on drugs who didn't care what you played, but there were also large numbers of people with encyclopedic knowledge of techno music who will be able to point out mistakes you didn't even know you made. When you play techno in Detroit you better be on point because people have a kind of reverence for the music.

Techno seems different from all other forms of EDM primarily for the reasons you described. I was playing progressive house back in the early to mid-2000's, back when it was really trendy in this city.

I can see how there's a reverence for Techno in Detroit. I got wind of that when I went to the black history museum and saw a section devoted to techno citing the founding fathers as Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May.

[MWagner]

Having spent time working as a club/bar promoter, you all have my sympathy with regards to the carrying and setting up of equipment. I threw events for 2 years mostly at a bar where I swear something different would be flukey or complicated about the sound every time we set up there. I injured my back more than a few times carrying huge speakers up narrow stairways too. Setting up sound is no fun sometimes.

[tokenasianguy]

I make more money than most club/bar DJs I know in my area - but of course there are lots of drawbacks and the initial cash outlay, time, appearance, setup etc....

Do you mind sharing (perhaps in PM or on here) how much you charge and what you offer?

I'm always curious to compare pricing strategies. I charge as little as $675 for 100-150 people, or as much as $900 for 200-300. I don't own my own sound because it would take me 2 years to break even on the cost, so rental fees come out of that as well.

For me, it's not "more" than what a club/bar DJ would make, but when I consider that in either scenario I would have to book off my entire day, it just makes more sense to work longer for more money. Around here club/bar DJ's make around $250-$300 to play from 10pm-2am. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

[deevey]

Back in the club scene, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. It was a house club, and I was a house DJ. If that wasn't easy enough, people were there for one reason, to party. Some did drugs, some drank, some did both...But pretty much everyone was completely destroyed. In terms of the music, nobody really seemed to care whether it was popular, underground, old, new etc. as long as it had a 4/4 time signature. People only went to hear some variation of house music, and as long as you played it, you were good. To me, this aspect made track selection almost a no-brainer. It's not like anyone would go to a house club and complain that there was too much house.

Must have been a pretty "scene" club (weekend millionaires) for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.

However, I don't envy mobile DJ's - it takes alot of patience and alot of mouth to pull off a really good mobile gig and being well paid is part and parcel and deserved. Same goes for Wedding Bands.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.

I don't under any circumstances envy having to try to cater for everyone at a wedding or birthday rather than trying to cater for people "into" what I play though - some people are just good at it (and I've done it once or twice and never again).

[JasonBay]

Must have been a pretty "scene" club for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.

However, I don't envy mobile DJ's - it takes alot of patience and alot of mouth to pull off a really good mobile gig and being well paid is part and parcel and deserved. Same goes for Wedding Bands.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.

I don't under any circumstances envy having to try to cater for everyone at a wedding or birthday rather than trying to cater for people "into" what I play though - some people are just good at it (and I've done it once or twice and never again).

The voice of reason you are, sums up my thoughts and feelings on this well

[rotebass]

I've done both, two completely different worlds imo. One similarity is that a good crowd can make or break the night.

[tokenasianguy]

Must have been a pretty "scene" club for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.

That happened at the club I was working at too, but not to me. One of the patrons went up to Anthony Pappa and told him he was mixing like shit, which I thought was pretty rude...But I remember a few nights there where I took advantage of my bar tab and got plowed and just trainwrecked all night...Yeah those were good times lol.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.

What you're talking about is the "ideal" situation. And in both scenarios, even the "ideal" mobile DJ venue still requires you to carry and setup your won gear, so that alone makes it harder.

It's been my experience that the people on this board that slag mobile DJ'ing have never done it. When I first started I had the same attitude...Thinking I was some big time club DJ and that anyone can DJ at a wedding, but I was quickly humbled and felt like I was learning everything all over again.

In terms of the actual "DJ'ing" I would agree that a lot of weddings DJ's are hacks and wouldn't make it in a club, but I could also say the inverse is true...That club DJ's would never last in a mobile scenario where they have to take requests and absorb complaints.

Regardless, just from a setup aspect alone, mobile DJ'ing is harder. The "skills" can be learned and is a moot point in my example, because even if you have the skills it doesn't make the patrons any less annoying and it doesn't mean they won't give you their opinion.

[deevey]

That happened at the club I was working at too, but not to me. One of the patrons went up to Anthony Pappa and told him he was mixing like shit, which I thought was pretty rude...But I remember a few nights there where I took advantage of my bar tab and got plowed and just trainwrecked all night...Yeah those were good times lol.

What you're talking about is the "ideal" situation. And in both scenarios, even the "ideal" mobile DJ venue still requires you to carry and setup your won gear, so that alone makes it harder.

It's been my experience that the people on this board that slag mobile DJ'ing have never done it. When I first started I had the same attitude...Thinking I was some big time club DJ and that anyone can DJ at a wedding, but I was quickly humbled and felt like I was learning everything all over again.

Regardless, just from a setup aspect alone, mobile DJ'ing is harder. The "skills" can be learned and is a moot point in my example, because even if you have the skills it doesn't make the patrons any less annoying and it doesn't mean they won't give you their opinion.

I would never "slag off" a Mobile DJ vs Club DJ. Generally being Mobile/Wedding is a Financial/Career driven choice rather than the love for the music or scene - and is the reason cited to many for why they do it - Plain and simple its a job - and a service required by many and will never be short of business.

As I mentioned - yes I did do a few gigs, and quite simply it was not my thing - boredom, playing tracks I absolutely hated, needing to come up with witty stuff to say on the mic ... However I have friends who absolutely love it and are genius' at keeping any kind of commercial crowd popping (alot of them work on radio stations as well).

Bringing your own gear is nothing to do with it BTW and doesn't make it any harder - it doesn't exactly take a degree in sound engineering to set up a few speakers and lights (although some might disagree), it just makes things

• More expensive to start with
• And more "physically demanding"

In terms of the actual "DJ'ing" I would agree that a lot of weddings DJ's are hacks and wouldn't make it in a club

I'm not saying mobile DJ's are Hacks in ANY way, what I am saying is they would lack the skills, music selection and in many cases the track selection to cater to a (good) house/underground club crowd, most however would have be fine, perfect even in a commercial bar/disco/club.

but I could also say the inverse is true...That club DJ's would never last in a mobile scenario where they have to take requests and absorb complaints.

And you are correct - throw a house DJ into a mobile situation and they will most likely run for the hills never to be seen again, however throw a commercial club DJ into a Wedding/party situation and they will most likely have no issues whatsoever.

I think in this argument - there should be a very defined difference between:

1. Commercial Club DJ - plays big hits for the masses in commercial clubs.
2. Underground or Non- Commercial Club DJ - Who is technically an "Artist" and plays exclusively in underground events / clubs / festivals.

You don't hire an Artist to paint your walls - you hire a painter.