DJ'ed an 80's Flashback Prom last night.
- Thread starter baimun
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baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
I also used audio clips from "Back to the Future" between songs... "Great Scott Marty!!!"
I knew that somewhere along the night, someone would request something like Depeche Mode that is a cool song but it would clear the dance floor... and when it did happen, I faded it down and Marty said "I guess you're not ready for this, but your kids are going to love it" before transitioning back into another dance tune.
I knew that somewhere along the night, someone would request something like Depeche Mode that is a cool song but it would clear the dance floor... and when it did happen, I faded it down and Marty said "I guess you're not ready for this, but your kids are going to love it" before transitioning back into another dance tune.
Awesome I'd love a gig like that.
My brother is just finishing up his last few gigs with a Duran Duran tribute he's in. Playing tonight actually.
Totally rubbish idea for a band but I'm telling him to get the non maniacs to start up an 80s band with him since it gives them a lot more scope.
You remember that Kam 550rb gobolaser? I'm buying one from a guy for half retail price
My brother is just finishing up his last few gigs with a Duran Duran tribute he's in. Playing tonight actually.
Totally rubbish idea for a band but I'm telling him to get the non maniacs to start up an 80s band with him since it gives them a lot more scope.
You remember that Kam 550rb gobolaser? I'm buying one from a guy for half retail price
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
You remember that Kam 550rb gobolaser? I'm buying one from a guy for half retail price
Nice!!! I had a best buy gift card that I wasn't sure what to do with, then I noticed they had DJ lights so I ordered a small Chauvet Red/Blue laser. Not as cool as your gobo one, but it's very small and portable.
sunvalleylaw
Yep.
80's parties are interesting to me, especially ones attended by young people. the music that is perceived to have been popular (as opposed to what I experienced), and the attempts at the attire, always crack me up.
I always have to remember that those parties are not about historical accuracy or even playing the best music from the era, but really, whatever the girls who are in charge of the party want to wear and hear.
I bet it was a fun party though. I am sure you did a great job.
I always have to remember that those parties are not about historical accuracy or even playing the best music from the era, but really, whatever the girls who are in charge of the party want to wear and hear.
I bet it was a fun party though. I am sure you did a great job.
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The Crusher
The non chosen one!
What type of gear are you using to DJ with? For your tunes etc? I have tons of Mp3's and enough PA to do a stadium, but I have a small PA with 15"subs (EV TL-606) and 15"+horn mains with, AM/FM tuner, dual CD player, 5 disc CD player, Crossover, EQ and old style knob board with 8ch one for mic and the others are all RCA for the rest of the gear plus more if you want to add it. Altec power amp and Board. All in one rack with wheels etc. I call it my ultimate garage stereo.....LMAO! It would work great for DJ work, just throw a laptop on it with a DJ progy and my kids phone that has 1000 Mp3's on it and I would be good to go with 3-4K tunes from the stuff I like 70's I went to High school in the 80's (graduated in 83) then went in the military and went to Europe for 2 years and heard a ton of music that never got released in the US, or not until a year or so later. I played in bands all over the world....cool experience for sure. My kid is 17 so he likes everything from Grand Funk, Country to newer strange stuff that I hate....darn hippie's listening to that long haired rap music anyways....lol!
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That sounds like more than I out with soundwise when I DJ.
I think Virtual DJ does a free version you could download so you can can crossfade and so on. If not, I'm sure there's plenty of free DJ software out there that will do the same.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
I'm running Virtual DJ 7 Pro with a Hercules RMX controller. The controller has built in sound cards so I can preview songs in my headphones without them being heard through the main mixer. I don't scratch, but I do beatmatch and crossfade my mixes. If I have to walk away from the gear, I can queue up a few songs in a list and have them automix but it's a little clunkier than mixing by hand. I will sometimes loop 8 bars of a song to aid in the crossfade.
I have several terabytes of music and karaoke that I carry on two external drives, and I keep some duplicates and some requests on the hard drives of my systems. The main system is a mini-tower that I've rack mounted. I used to carry it in a Gator rack case (as pictured) but now I have it in a smaller SKB case with a removable front and back. The case also contains a power conditioner, my lighting controller, a keyboard and a mouse. I always have more than one computer at any gig. If something freezes or has to reboot, the backup is plugged in and ready to play a song or two until I'm back up and running. If you can't afford two computers yet, then plug in an ipod with a go-to playlist as an emergency backup. NEVER have dead air. NEVER. I carry a couple monitors in a bag. One has a stand and is on the table, then I have two more that can mount on light stands or bars for karaoke or for video playback while DJing.
As far as sound, depending on the size of venue, I'll run a 6 channel Alesis board, a 12 channel Mackie board, a 16 channel Tascam board, or some combination thereof. I used to run everything through a pair of crown XTi amps and into a combination of Yamaha 15" 2-way mains and monitors (I have 6) and a pair of 18" EV subwoofers (2), but this year I added 4 powered JBL PRX 615 speakers and they're lighter and more powerful than the Yamahas, so I may dump all of the passive gear and get a pair of powered subs and 2 more of the PRX (they can lay sideways as mains or monitors) and call it a day.
In the pic below I'm running a pair of 15" mains forward with the 18" subs, three monitors, and a pair of 15" mains pointed backwards towards the beer garden. I think this was the last gig I did before buying the powered mains. I have a pair of senheiser wireless mics and a couple Shure SM58's for vocals, then a set of SM57's and a Beta 52 for micing the drums. I always carry a couple different direct boxes and a redbox for micing the bass, keyboards, or whatever direct if need be. The pic is from the board... I run a 50 foot 12 channel snake back to me.
As far as lights... I currently have 8 LED pars, 8 regular pars, 2 gobo mirror lights, 2 Chauvet Vue II LED pattern lights (ceiling and crowd), 1 Revo IV light (floor patterns), 2 PIX bars (3 foot wide LED mini projectors), a strobe, a laser, and some LED pin spots that work with a mirror ball that I only use at weddings. I've been using combinations of T-Bars and light stands (I think I have 5) and sometimes with or without an I-Truss that goes across the top. I'm planning on selling the I-Truss and replacing it with a big silver Goal post arch (triangle truss) I think it will have a bigger, more pro look than the normal stands.
It's always a growth process. It was only about 8 years ago that I started with a pair of speakers, a 6 channel powered mixer, and a CD+CDG player and worked my way up from there. the most important thing is to know your venues whether it's a small bar with a couple speakers and 2 LED lights, or a huge venue where you need to run extra speakers to a loft or another room (I've had to do both). You'll always find ways to get through any gig and then in your mind you'll know what additional gear you want for the next bigger gig. Plan how you get paid for every gig as 1/3rd to 1/2 going towards the business, once your expenses are paid for like gas or advertising, then the rest of that is set aside to save for gear, you'll grow your rig pretty quickly and be able to attack different venues.
I have several terabytes of music and karaoke that I carry on two external drives, and I keep some duplicates and some requests on the hard drives of my systems. The main system is a mini-tower that I've rack mounted. I used to carry it in a Gator rack case (as pictured) but now I have it in a smaller SKB case with a removable front and back. The case also contains a power conditioner, my lighting controller, a keyboard and a mouse. I always have more than one computer at any gig. If something freezes or has to reboot, the backup is plugged in and ready to play a song or two until I'm back up and running. If you can't afford two computers yet, then plug in an ipod with a go-to playlist as an emergency backup. NEVER have dead air. NEVER. I carry a couple monitors in a bag. One has a stand and is on the table, then I have two more that can mount on light stands or bars for karaoke or for video playback while DJing.
As far as sound, depending on the size of venue, I'll run a 6 channel Alesis board, a 12 channel Mackie board, a 16 channel Tascam board, or some combination thereof. I used to run everything through a pair of crown XTi amps and into a combination of Yamaha 15" 2-way mains and monitors (I have 6) and a pair of 18" EV subwoofers (2), but this year I added 4 powered JBL PRX 615 speakers and they're lighter and more powerful than the Yamahas, so I may dump all of the passive gear and get a pair of powered subs and 2 more of the PRX (they can lay sideways as mains or monitors) and call it a day.
In the pic below I'm running a pair of 15" mains forward with the 18" subs, three monitors, and a pair of 15" mains pointed backwards towards the beer garden. I think this was the last gig I did before buying the powered mains. I have a pair of senheiser wireless mics and a couple Shure SM58's for vocals, then a set of SM57's and a Beta 52 for micing the drums. I always carry a couple different direct boxes and a redbox for micing the bass, keyboards, or whatever direct if need be. The pic is from the board... I run a 50 foot 12 channel snake back to me.
As far as lights... I currently have 8 LED pars, 8 regular pars, 2 gobo mirror lights, 2 Chauvet Vue II LED pattern lights (ceiling and crowd), 1 Revo IV light (floor patterns), 2 PIX bars (3 foot wide LED mini projectors), a strobe, a laser, and some LED pin spots that work with a mirror ball that I only use at weddings. I've been using combinations of T-Bars and light stands (I think I have 5) and sometimes with or without an I-Truss that goes across the top. I'm planning on selling the I-Truss and replacing it with a big silver Goal post arch (triangle truss) I think it will have a bigger, more pro look than the normal stands.
It's always a growth process. It was only about 8 years ago that I started with a pair of speakers, a 6 channel powered mixer, and a CD+CDG player and worked my way up from there. the most important thing is to know your venues whether it's a small bar with a couple speakers and 2 LED lights, or a huge venue where you need to run extra speakers to a loft or another room (I've had to do both). You'll always find ways to get through any gig and then in your mind you'll know what additional gear you want for the next bigger gig. Plan how you get paid for every gig as 1/3rd to 1/2 going towards the business, once your expenses are paid for like gas or advertising, then the rest of that is set aside to save for gear, you'll grow your rig pretty quickly and be able to attack different venues.
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The Crusher
The non chosen one!
I have tons of stage gear, recording gear, guitars, etc. 36yrs worth of gear. I used to DJ when I was in high School using a Kustom Tuck and Roll PA 75W 4ch head with 2 speaker columns with 4 10" speakers that was also my bands PA...lol! Now I have tons of old 60's and 70's mint Kustom stuff with JBL and Altec speakers in them, mostly 15's, but some 12's. I have a Allen and Heath Mix Wizard 16ch board with 4 power amps a dbx drive rack PA, Alesis midiverb 2, 32 ch Ross EQ for my monitors, Ferman with lights and then a switch panel to turn separate items off and on. My rack is 16 spaces on one side and then another 16 next to it with a large front cover and rear cover and then a 10inch tall cover that latches on top. It has 6 BIG casters that all swivel...lol! On the empty side I carry all of my mics, cables, 100' snake, parts, tools, my board is fixed to the top on one side so I don't have to hook up anything as my snake stays plugged in as well. I can put my laptop next to the board or keyboard and 17" monitor I can also put my Zoom portable recorder there. I have my tower in the bottom of the non Equipment side now. My bass player owns a ton of lighting and then as much sound equipment as I do with a soundcraft board, we both run our systems in stereo as well. I own a boat load of sound equipment as well as amplifiers for guitars and bass as well. I just wasn't sure what to use for the programs for the DJ work. My Bass player is wanting me to help him DJ on the side when we aren't gigging. I am a technical guy and he isn't so it is up to me...lol! So, that you very much for the info. If you want to see some of my gear I have a bunch of pics, shoot me a PM with your e-mail and I will send you some pics or the link to my photo bucket acct.
Thanks again
Thanks again
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
What do you think if the Mix Wizard? I've thought about replacing my Mackie with one of those... but I've also thought about the Presonus Studio Live. The SL kinda scares me because I've read online the software can be glitchy and cause the mixer to need a "reboot". That scares the shit out of me.... but the capabilities are amazing. The Mixwizard seems like the perfect do-all board because of the two effects units and the 6 aux mixes.
The Crusher
The non chosen one!
The MW is awesome and they are a great board also a Sound Craft as well as they are both owned by Harmon along with dbx, JBL, and Crown. All great stuff. If you have never played with a dbx Drive rack? They are a very handy tool as well.
I did just get a copy of Virtual DJ Pro, my laptop made in 1997 XP Pro has a hard time running it, but will however, I know the PC I have on my rack will run it without and issue as it is much beefier and I use it for recording as well and has a separate HD for recording the files to and I will put my music there and put the program on the main HD with the OS.
I did just get a copy of Virtual DJ Pro, my laptop made in 1997 XP Pro has a hard time running it, but will however, I know the PC I have on my rack will run it without and issue as it is much beefier and I use it for recording as well and has a separate HD for recording the files to and I will put my music there and put the program on the main HD with the OS.
I think I've got a problem.
I'm spending over £1,000 on speakers and lights this week. Apart from something to sit in front of my playout gear to tidy things up, that's me pretty much done with the rig.
Now I've just about landed a good paying all day gig and I'm already wondering what else I can buy to add to it
I'm spending over £1,000 on speakers and lights this week. Apart from something to sit in front of my playout gear to tidy things up, that's me pretty much done with the rig.
Now I've just about landed a good paying all day gig and I'm already wondering what else I can buy to add to it
See now you're just going to have to cover that in flashy twinky things.
Do you have someone else working alongside you?
The fact I work solo and I'm quite determined to keep it like that is a bit of a self container as I need to haul and set up anything I take.
Do you have someone else working alongside you?
The fact I work solo and I'm quite determined to keep it like that is a bit of a self container as I need to haul and set up anything I take.
Ugh GAS case in point.
I am literally done with my rig once I pick up the things I'm getting tomorrow then I woke up to go to the loo during the night, couldn't get back to sleep and went into business mode. I basically spent the next hour or so before I nodded back off thinking about ways to improve and expand the business over the next 2 years.
My big suggesttions: Further pursuing advertising opportunities in places where it's working aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand getting a Bose array system.
I am literally done with my rig once I pick up the things I'm getting tomorrow then I woke up to go to the loo during the night, couldn't get back to sleep and went into business mode. I basically spent the next hour or so before I nodded back off thinking about ways to improve and expand the business over the next 2 years.
My big suggesttions: Further pursuing advertising opportunities in places where it's working aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand getting a Bose array system.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
I'm solo on the DJ thing. My hope is that the truss will enable me to mount some of the lights like the PIX inside the truss so I can assemble it, stand it up and it's good to go.
Once I figure out what positions the lights will be in, I'll run all the wires, get them to the appropriate lengths and then zip or tape them to make a labeled wire snake so when it's time to set up... I run this beastly cord once.... plug plug plug plug plug done. that way I'm not constantly rewiring different every time because I'm assembling the T-bars and mounting all the fixtures.
Once I figure out what positions the lights will be in, I'll run all the wires, get them to the appropriate lengths and then zip or tape them to make a labeled wire snake so when it's time to set up... I run this beastly cord once.... plug plug plug plug plug done. that way I'm not constantly rewiring different every time because I'm assembling the T-bars and mounting all the fixtures.
Yup to me that's the main benefit of trussing.
Those Atlas brackets arrived yesterday and I can't wait to get them rigged up.
I'm not quite sure where the £45 per bracket has went I mean it's essentially 3 pieces of bar metal welded together and some screw holes but hey ho. This week's been a good one so far for bookings. Picking up a decent paying local one that my gf will be at so she can help me haul gear and I'm 90% of the way to securing a lucrative wedding and also had a very positive enquiry put in about another wedding.
The girl was having a family friend DJ for her in a cracking big Victorian hotel in Glasgow City Centre. The guy is obviously a bit of a chancer and doesn't do many decent gigs because it's a notorious load in and as soon as he found out that he couldn't actually park at the hotel (it's in the feckin city centre and was built 140 odd years ago, is he expecting an underground car park? He's let her down.
Suffice to say a pro of my nature has stepped up to the plate and explained why quality is seldom cheap and cheap seldom is quality. We'll see how that one goes.
Those Atlas brackets arrived yesterday and I can't wait to get them rigged up.
I'm not quite sure where the £45 per bracket has went I mean it's essentially 3 pieces of bar metal welded together and some screw holes but hey ho. This week's been a good one so far for bookings. Picking up a decent paying local one that my gf will be at so she can help me haul gear
and I'm 90% of the way to securing a lucrative wedding and also had a very positive enquiry put in about another wedding.The girl was having a family friend DJ for her in a cracking big Victorian hotel in Glasgow City Centre. The guy is obviously a bit of a chancer and doesn't do many decent gigs because it's a notorious load in and as soon as he found out that he couldn't actually park at the hotel (it's in the feckin city centre and was built 140 odd years ago, is he expecting an underground car park? He's let her down.
Suffice to say a pro of my nature has stepped up to the plate and explained why quality is seldom cheap and cheap seldom is quality. We'll see how that one goes.