Hey guys I just thought I'd put this post up to see if anyone has any advice for me.

I am being backed by the princes trust for a business grant so I'm applying for about £2,500 (maybe more if needed) just to get me started and I'm also being given a business mentor to get me up to scratch before I am let loose running my own company.

I have picked my setup which is listed below so any feedback would be great, it is also chosen by hard to find records for a pro mobile dj.

1 x stanton rm404 - 4 channel mixer with fader start and superior sound technology
1x pair of Stanton T90 USB direct drive turn tables
1 x stanton c500 dual cd deck
1 x kamkase kk252 flight case
2 x 250w speakers
1x 900w amplifier
2 x 350w subwoofers
1x prolight deck stand and lighting t-bar
2 x exercet 100 watt light effect
2 x patriot 100 watt light effect
1 x stormbird 250 watt light effect
1x smoke machine (plus 1L smoke fluid)
1x numark ws32 wireless microphone
1x numark phx headphones
1x cd organiser- holds 96 cd's
4 x high quality speakon leads
1x high quality phono-1/4" jack lead
1x 50 metre gaffa tape roll
4x 4 way gang extension lead (2m)

I don't have experience of setting it all up but my mate also does mobile disco's so I am planning to get him to help out where possible.

I am planning to do all kinds of disco's (apart from weddings for a year or two) all I need to sort now is a cheap van or large car. I have a quote for PLI insurance as well.

Look forward to your replys and feedback, thanks in advanced.

You will need to invest some money in music so that you have a variety covering all genres from the 50s to date.

If your mate is all ready running a mobile disco you should go out with him to gain some experience 1st before going out on your own.

Good luck

Welcome to the forum.

What type of DJ service are you intending to offer clients? Club, mobile, combination of the two? Other?
The reason I ask is that your list is considered for 'pro mobile' by HTFR. How did they get to this conclusion?
What area / region are you intending to cover?
Why only £2,500 to start your business?
What advice have you received on obtaining further advancements of grant funding after being successfully awarded £2,500 from the Princes Trust?
Have you beed advised on the low interest loan awards via the associated banks?
If you are successful in being backed by the Princes Trust, based on your business plan venture, what is your forecast for three years of business trading? Which are the good months and the poor months?
Out of the £2,500, have you allocated funds for your advertising, stationary, affiliations, drawn wages, etc for the first 12 months of business? What about other expenses including maintenance / repairs and overheads?
How much of your business plan is in the bag - have you completed a SWOT analysis report yet? What did you find?
What is the business background of your business mentor?
How much was your quote for PLI? Have you been advised or perused all the benefits of membership to the MU (Musicians Union) which provides £10,000,000 PLI cover for free as a benefit of membership, as well as membership to the F.S.B. (Federation of Small Business)?

I'm sure you will be well advised during the whole process, but there is little info you've provided on what to actually advise you on.
If you want to hear that your gear is great, then sure, it's great. But how long will it last with intended daily/weekly/monthly use? Always test equipment for yourself and compare to other models and makes and do the ground work - research and look at the support side of things too.
Eg Why are Technics TTs expensive? How much to repair, buy second-hand, flightcase, maintain, etc, etc.

Other than that, I too wish you luck and would strongly advise that you don't let anyone put you off your plans, but please do keep an open-mind and get as much information as possible before you take the plunge into setting up a full time DJ business for the long term!

Please fell free to PM me if you do not wish to discuss your business on the main forum.

Have you got a van to transport all of that gear around?
Have you thought about advertising? Your own website, other websites, yellow pages, business cards etc etc
Don't forget that you may also need back up equipment too in case of emergencies and also double up on spare leads, clamps, fuses, bulbs etc

I've been in business since February 2006 and I am still learning as I go along. I didn't get any business loans or anything, I just hammered my credit cards and although everything is going really really well, I am still paying them off but also I have a habit of upgrading stuff on a regular basis or getting more kit for extra set ups.

I didn't forecast my potential earnings at all as I didn't have a clue at the time and it's only via places like this and other forums that I have taken on board tips from helpful people.

I would make sure you have PLI before you go out on the road on your own too.

all the above great advice.

what sector are you aiming for? what type of gig ? what music do you have? what medium will you using? i see you have vinyl decks as well as cd decks.
will you specialise?

what is your competition in your chosen sector?

what rates can you reasonably expect this early in your career?

what experience do you have with mic work etc?

all questions i know but you will need to practice practice practice.
the techniques need to be learnt and mastered before you can unleash yourself on a paying client.

try setting up scenarios that put you under pressure: drunken punters, amp going down, lights blowing etc. how will you handle these situations?

being any type of jock is not all just playing music. for every gig of say 4 hrs there is a learning curve which is far steeper the earlier in your career.

i.e. your first gig is 4 hrs long, your prep for this is probably weeks in all. from your first gig you will encounter things you need to overcome, hopefully small things, but that is the learning curve. you wont always do the right thing first time, sometimes there is no "right thing" to do.

i wish you the best bro but do take up dukesy's advice. pm him and have a phone chat or something. he will put you right on a lot of things.

but the greatest asset you will ever have is experience, cant buy it or borrow it , dont come in tins.