Hi there guys,

I have had a good read through some of the guides and all I can say is WOW, very good indeed. Especially for someone like me who is completely new to this.

I know now, that I need to have:
* Equipment PAT tested
* Some form of PLI insurance

but then I have a few questions I hope you guys can answer.

Firstly, I have heard of a 'Digital DJ License'... is this a MUST have? and what makes you a 'Digital DJ'.

Seccondly, Being a full time student... I am unsure how to declare myself self employed...or even if I can....Legally I don't know if I can be both a full-time student...and self employed... could someone point me in the right direction so I am registered for tax/n.i. etc:

Finally, Apart from a bunch of flyers and possibly a website... what would you say is the best way to get myself known / booked. One route I will be doing, is friends house parties for about £20/night... purely to get practace and get myself known via word of mouth.

Thanks in advance guys!

PS: How do I come up with a non-cheesy 'stage name'...or is it meant to be cheesy

I would ring my local tax office and tell them what you want to do re £20 friends parties, and that you are a full time student, I'm sure they wil be kind, you are allowed to earn a few thousand before you are taxed, also keep records of all your expences, every little counts towards your final net profit.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/rates_and_limits.htm

This website has details.

Facebook ? It's almost perfect for student networking

The Digital DJ Licence situation is nebulous at the moment.

The licences that are available cover only public performances as opposed to domestic ( private parties, weddings etc. ).

For further information have a look at the PPL ( Phonographic Performance Limited ) website, although you may be none the wiser afterwards.

Is there an events notice board at Uni / college where you can publicise your services?

What about letting the Students Union know about you.

Bearing in mind your expenses (PAT, PLI, Equip, Music, Advertising) do you think £20 is a bit low even for starters? Yes it will get you known - as someone who works for next to nothing and this is how you will be labelled.

£20 I was thinking just as 'Mates rates'. Plus it would be more for practace than anything :-)

I'll have a word with the tax-man and my union once I get the PAT testing sorted :-)

Actual venues, I will probably charge similar to what local DJs do (still need to call a few to get an idea of the average around by me).

Quote:
"One route I will be doing, is friends house parties for about £20/night purely to get practace and get myself known via word of mouth."

I see what Paul means when he recommends against this, but I think the important bit at the moment is to get that practice in before you unleash yourself on an unsuspecting and highly critical public, and doing house parties seems to me to be a good way of dipping your toe in the water, with the opportunity to show a small return to offset the costs of music, PLI etc.

I don't know whether the low starting price would really affect you in the long run - I would suspect not. You are a newcomer to the job, and therefore can't really justify charging the full going rates as you don't yet have the experience or the music to do so.

Hey guys. I got my setup today, which I will put details about tomorow sometime once I hae had time to play with it. Sad thing is, out of four lights... two are knackered. If anyone is interested in them, I have them on ebay :-)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280172226627

Essentially one is completely dead, the other one does not light...and there is no voltage accross the bulb contact wires. If anyone wants them, stick a bid in or let me know. Otherwise i'll just bin them or try and get the local cash converters to buy/trade them for a working one :-)

Incidently, I LOVE the smoke machine that came with the kit. Took less than 20 secconds on 'max' setting to fill the whole house lol

As promised, My setup:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2906...mp;id=537666010

Bit tatty, but works perfectly.

Pioneer CR-555 - Equaliser

JBSYSTEMS AX400 - Amp

Unknow 200W spare AMP

Two Speakers...Unknow make, but seem good enough

Two lights

Smoke Machine

T-Stand for lights and smoke Machine

KAM Audio Dual CD-Player / Mixer

Two Wireless and one wired Mic

Those speakers look like the Carlsbro systems from around the early 90's

Used to have a pair myself back a few years


The cd decks and mixer looks ok, I agree you need to sort the wiring out but its not a big job.

The jem smoke machine - a classic, Emits loads of smoke

How are you planning on setting all this up ?

Deck stand?

Or?

I am thinking of getting some form of strong folding table for the mobile DJing aspect.

the lights and fogger, will go on the light stand.

CD/Mixer/Laptop on said table.

Amps, under table on floor.

Just need to tidy some of it up, but it all works very well indeed.

PS: I will be using the 400w amp... and will wire the 200w amp up so It can be used within 10-15 secconds in the event of a failure of the first one ;-)

what is the scooter in the pics? wanna sell it if its the right one for me?

How you getting on with everyone Craig?

Any Update?

Hey guys, long time no update lol

I have now got my van on the road, and will be sorting out one of two things with it this weekend.

I will also be tidying the wiring and getting the equipment PAT tested by my old man who is a sparky.

After that, I have put an add out on facebook for anyone that knoes me that they can have me free within the next 10 days so that I can get some proper practace.


I will be arranging some advertising over the weekend too, maybe even a website... with my chosen name: DJ LEXX


Apart from that, Only other update is that I am starting to get confident using Numark Cue as my software of choice... and that I will be getting my PLI once I get my first official booking (due to serious cash limits right now).

As for the digital DJ licence, I will be getting this once I have a few bookings under my belt and I know that I will be doing it for atleast a year ;-)

So if anyone is within about 30 miles of Cardiff and wants a free DJ for the night, let me know ;-)




PS: I tested the equipment the other day, on near full volume for about an hour... my neighbours officially now hate me, lol