As you guys know, it's always interesting meeting with other DJ's because we can see how someone else handles an audience, the mic, the music, etc. We also get to look at each other's gear in a sort of penis-envy fashion.
For those that don't know, Paul is also a solo entertainer - a singer/guitarist from the days when workingmen’s clubs were where you plied your trade. Paul has many skills from his many jobs including, but not limited to, welding, metal fabrication and electrical. This means he can build an awful lot of his own stuff, setting everything up just how he wants it whilst being able to fit it all into the boot of his estate car in only two trips! Link.
With all these skills plus years of entertaining experience I was in full learning mode. Cue the worst crowd possible...No more than 40 adults - the majority of which were non-dancing males, most of the women present didn't appear to know anyone else aside from their hubby/partner either, and about 20 kids - again, mostly male, ranging from tiny to teenage.
The room wasn't the best - dance floor next to the bar so it was bright and everyone could see you dancing and lots of dark corners to hide in and nurse your beer.
It was a surprise party but even my father-in-law would have sussed this one...
Anyway, loads of requests from the kids, the usual crap to be honest. Some weird and wonderful requests from the invited guests including Hendrix! Paul and I had some success choosing tracks that ‘worked’ and plenty of failures too! Paul is a laptop only DJ using iTunes. I’d never seen a laptop only DJ and I’ve never seen any DJ using iTunes so I was able to watch, learn and form an opinion.
He had four lights loaded onto a winch stand and his show was sideways on to the audience – the position a number of us prefer to adopt nowadays. He was using one of my subs to help alleviate some of the work off his powered mixer and speakers. It did sound nice.
I wasn’t aware you could use only one sub direct from the mixer so Paul was able to demonstrate for me. He also made me up a cable so as I can do the same…bless him!
The night ended and Paul loaded up his road trunk with the lights and stands. He plonked his homemade deck on top and strapped it down. The B&Q trolley was loaded with speakers, cable bag (full to bursting) and laptops. Then we exited – all within 20 minutes of the finish.
As for laptop only DJ'ing...well I found it restrictive. I like to have my CD's in-front of me so that I can see them all. Not having these 'reference points' left me feeling a bit naked - but I guess I rely on them so that's only natural. The best thing about laptop dj'ing is that you can cue up the whole night if you like but I don't like the lack of interaction - not with the audience but with the gear. It must be how some of you guys felt giving up your vinyl for CD? I do use a laptop I just quite like having the CD's too. The laptop earns its corn for me when I need to be out with the audience doing a game or walking around at the begining taking requests. It is also invaluable towards the end of the night when the drunks start to request a track that you need to squeeze in really quickly.
iTunes worked surprisingly well and I would recommend it to anyone starting out on a tight budget. There were a couple of tracks that needed their start and finish times tweaking a bit but Paul was able to do this with a couple of mouse clicks. More than impressed.
Overall, the night was a success; we did a deal on the sub, I got a cable to try out my remaining sub using Paul’s instructions, I saw the infamous “two trips” in action and I ate from the buffet for the first time in a very long time…and what nice food it was too. The only letdown was the venue and the invited guests.
Thanks once again for the invite Paul!
PS No-one tell his mrs about the sub!
ITunes fits the bill. I've had a play with demos of OTS, Tracktor etc etc, but my old brain couldn't cope. A bit daft really when you think that I'm an IT support analyst in my day job. 