I have a pair of £400 cd decks and tones and tones of CDs. I also own a £900 labtop with all the cd's on the harddrive, running virtual DJ. I can DJ preety good with the decks, but like the extra features of virtual DJ. I have a few teenage gigs soon, where im trying to impress. What do you think i should use?

Labtop VS Decks
and why?

Thanks

What ever you can dj better on only you can answer that for me i could never get my head round djing on a pc and im best at mixing with vinyl and nearly as good on cd players

i agree use what ever you are best and most comfortable with, i use both try that it then you have the best of both worlds

Take them both, CD's, records and laptop, a lot of lugging but it will impress, although I think you may be trying to impress the wrong people, there is another thread on the forum about the amount of kit, I could go out tomorrow and spend £100k on kit but still be a terrrible DJ, or a decent DJ could use a couple of lights and get the place buzzing. It is what you play and how you play it that matters

Use your talents as a D.J and Entertainer to impress, not your gear or cost of it . If you are good at what you do (Or willing to learn! to become better) then that will get you re-booked.

Non of us could rely on Teenage Gigs solely to run a business and earn a living so there will be a time when you need to move on and concentrate on the more lucrative family functions. Here you will need talent to keep your business going.

13 - 18 year olds may be taken in by fancy lights and the integrities of your system, however most adults won't give it a 2nd glance - most (non D.J's) would find the subject boring. After all it'll probably be the adults who are footing the bill for the teenagers gigs so better try and impress from the word go!.

Yes, you should definately use your talents impress rather than just your gear. Nice gear can impress but it is mostly your skill as a DJ that is most likely to impress the organiser and get them wanting you back. As Chris said, the adults who are organising and funding the event won't be too worried about all the techie side of things and will be looking or rather listening to you as a DJ raher than how much 'flashy' gear you've got.

Good luck with it. In my opinion you should take both the laptop and the CD decks with you if it is not too much trouble. As DJshaggy has said

I always notice what gear the dj is using obviously (not amps etc but lighting/speakers) but it makes no difference to me - a great dj could have rubbish gear (within reason) and vice versa. the only time i will be on the lookout is if im abuot to purchase something myself then if a dj is using it i will go and have a gander. apart from that its really none of my business - it irritates me no end when people came over and ask me what cd players etc im using - oh they're crap u wanna ge kam ones etc!!

How ironic that words like...

Im with eskie on this one! I couldnt care less about the gear another dj has.... and on the rare occasion I actually attend a function (cant even remember when the last one was)...I would only be interested in what the dj played..... Im on a night off after all and as long as the music is right I dont care if he uses an elastic band spinning two plates playing vinyl (oh.. thats kam)!!

Leemar... having done the odd thousand or so teen gigs... the only people who will be interested in your gear will be the wannabe djs.... and take my advice... dont let em anywhere near your gear!

What' a night off ?

as long as the decks and mixer are capable then it dont matter what they cost... as long as YOU can match the bpms - and remember.. one mans crap is anothers teasure!

When I do get the chance to see another disco my first impression is how it looks ie is it scruffy or has the DJ made an effort to present his roadshow in a professional way. After that it's quality of the sound and then what he/she plays. I have placed then in this order because it could be my fav music but if it sounds crap I'm not gonna stay to listen to it being crucified.

Lastly lighting but more as a chance to see an effect in action and decide if it's worth adding one to my own show.

PaulS

I always like to check out others lighting,speakers like the above post it can give ideas on improving your own setup, I would never have bought lasers if I hadn't seen another disco using them , if it did not matter what equipment you use , then we would all still be using painted flashing light bulbs (some are)

Like visiting a mate at home to find out he has a new plasma TV ! , I want one , I just cant afford one !

Whats KAM mean?

Answer to the question:

I'd take both the CD Decks and the laptop if I were you. It sounds like your more comfortable with the laptop but you just never know what might happen on the night.

The other point raised:

Well...Last night was the first time in a year or so I was at a function as a guest rather than a DJ.
The entertainment was provided by a resident vocalist, a vocalist/comedian, Garry Mullen as Freddie Mercury (Former Stars In Their Eyes winner 2000 and DJ for the last 2 hours.

Everyone was entertained by all the live acts but the enjoyment stopped as soon as the DJ started (it was actually someone I know - wierd considering I'd travelled 40 miles to get there). It certainly wasn't his equipment that let him down but the way he delivered the entertainment to the remaining guests.
No one was dancing or tapping their feet - they looked bored.
He then made what I consider to be a big mistake and blamed the audience for making his job hard.

Shortly after he announced he'd play only the music we wanted to hear. So myself and somone I was with wrote a short list of the songs I would have played if it had been my job.
As he knew me we sent my friend up with the list and straight away announced over the mic that if he played these he'd clear the room.
Still no-one danced, clearing the room was inevitable.
5 mins later he played the first song on our list and the dance floor started to fill....
then the second and the floor filled more so...then came the 3rd song on the list, nobody left.

There were only 2 songs on the list he didn't play...

The point is, if you don't play what the audience want to hear, you can't blame them for not dancing or enjoying the entertainment.

Ross.

Incidentally, I could detail exactly what equipment was used but, thats just the way I am. I like to know whats available on the market and seeing it in action is the best way to rate it.