In a few weeks I'm playing a venue I have played a few times before. However, I have never had a decent night in there, as a DJ or as a guest. I believe this is because of the room itself - it is a big square room with a relatively low ceiling. Fully carpeted with a deep pile, fairly bright even with the lights down and everything is 'in' the room - the bar, the toilets, the disco and the temporary dance floor.

There are no dark corners to chat-up the opposite sex and nowhere to hide in the room to let your hair down and boogie. Just about everywhere in the room is visible at all times - so I think people are reluctant to let go unless they are well gone. You know what I mean.

What really puts the dampers on it for me is the tiny DJ area - I am adjacent to the dance floor but in a store room that has had the double doors removed - it's about a seven foot square opening and, to date, I have had to set up in here. To be honest, it's perfect for loading/unloading because I'm about 12 feet from the van. But it's awful for everything else. I'm not 'in' the room so I'm not getting that instant feedback, the barrier between me and the audience is huge, simply because they can't see me, my speakers are in the room on the edge of the dancefloor so I can't hear them properly or keep an eye on them for safety.

I want to change this for next time. I think it is important the audience can see me and feel like they can approach me, so I am considering turning my gear around so I am on the edge of the dance floor with my gear facing the audience (a bit like ADS, but about £10k less gear!). I can then put the lighting on a tripod so that it isn't hidden away either. Alternatively, I could move the whole set-up to a corner of the dance floor - working with my back to the audience, but facing the dance floor. Obviously less secure but at least I'll be approachable and feel in control.

What do my peers think? Have you ever played in the middle of a room before? Did it offer any benefits?

If I'm picturing the room and the store room correctly (photo's, photo's), then I've done a similar room before.

There was a function room pretty much as you describe, big, square, bar in one corner of the room, low ceiling etc,etc. Halfway along the wall opposite the bar there was another bar - a spare one. Is was one of those built-in ones with a roll down shutter from ceiling to waist-height - about 7ft wide as per your storeroom scenario.

The dancefloor was central to the room - eg: about 20ft of carpet all around the dancefloor in every direction. Typically the venue would fit two or three tables between the dancefloor and the walls.

What I used to do was set up the lighting along the wall OUTSIDE of the spare bar area, with my audio inside the bar - I therefore DJ'd over the bar counter, across two of three tables to where the central dancefloor was. This wasnt too bad, except for the fact that anyone sitting on the few tables between the spare bar and the dancefloor would be very very close to the speakers.

I wouldnt recommend running anything in the middle of the room unless you can run power safely (not just Gaffa'd down) to the middle. eg: over the tops of suspended ceiling tiles - (which will probably clash with health and Safety issues).

Right then Gary, following a massive amount of effort I have cobbled together a photo from a murder mystery evening showing where I have to set up, the deep pile carpet, the plush surroundings, the low ceiling, the area where the temporary dance floor would normally be and about a quarter of my gear!

I have also created a 'map' of the room to demonstrate the layout, etc.

I don't expect to be featured in Morph's Gallery any time soon. Enjoy!

Poor Venue?

I gonna for for a bit of table numbering here.


As per your diagram, lets number the tables, in their current positions as:

1
2,3,4
5,6,7


I'd move tables 3 and 4 UP, (toward the fire exit/cupboard/storeroom)

So things look like this...the spaces left by tables 3 & 4, I'll call A & B, respectively.

1,3,4
2,A,B
5,6,7

Then...set the dancefloor where A is, and set the disco/yourself, where B is. You'd be facing out over the dancefloor, toward table 2, with the bar and tables 5,6,7 to your left, and tables 1,3,4 (and the store cupboard) to your right.



This will mean that your dancefloor is central(ish) to all tables/punters, as indeed are you.

This will also mean that you and your speakers are a bit closer to the bar, so...the venue will probably worry about volumes eg: Barstaff hearing drinks orders. But...you're a DJU member - so they need not worry. You can also point out to the venue that you'll be able to turn the volume down now, as you're in the middle of the punters, as each table will be an equal distance from you, rather than some being further away, which used to need more volume...

As for the rather un-atmospheric room - drop them off some "Hire - A - Rubber plant" brochures... that'll break up long flat unfriendly walls, as will those wonderfull lattice work portable screen things...

Oh, and when you see the DJ who's in the photo next, tell him to stick a bit of foam rubber between the speaker and the poor gear on top of it, which is probably vibrating nicely on every base note...

I'm not the resident DJ here but I do have a good relationship with the events co-ordinator. I may well mention your suggestion to see what reaction I get. As you can tell, the room is well co-ordinated - matching curtains and upholstery, etc., so to shove a horrible ugly disco in the middle of their pretty room might not go down too well. I think they like the idea of 'uncovering' the disco when they open the curtains. But I will raise the point that the venue lacks something.

You didn't mention where the power sockets are.

Gary's suggestions sound good, that's where I would prefer to be, but will your wiring be OK?

My guess is that I could run something under the temporary dance floor if necessary - never looked into it though. I expect there will be "special" extra strong cables suitable for this sort of requirement?