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I have some new premium driver Omnitop 12 awaiting their first outing. I find the wooden tweeter horn amplifies between 1.5 and 2.5kHz rather a lot and I have to cut it almost 10dB on the EQ, and boost the very top end about 6dB. Once that's done they sound very good and the demanding frequencies taken out can only extend HF driver clarity and life in my book.

They currently do a great job filling my flat to deafening clear levels with a couple of Kappalite 3012lf each in 3.3 cu ft bass reflex enclosures tuned to 40Hz. (HP in corner is 35.5Hz. ) These do to about 15-20V worth of top end, using ~45V per sub (one side of a Peavey IPR1600) when both facing into the same corner and are enough to watch my lamp shades rattle 3/8" and blow out lighter flames close range. Not quite Titans but LOUD.

It's been months and I still haven't got round to painting them, but am wondering how people got their first gigs. Did they post on line, or ask around from club to club?

Also what's a general rate to charge?

AcousticScience wrote:It's been months and I still haven't got round to painting them, but am wondering how people got their first gigs. Did they post on line, or ask around from club to club?

Also what's a general rate to charge?

I was in places where you can not go. I met people you will not meet. I had opportunities you will not have. The story of how I was able to start is, at best, an allegory for you.

I was a dance student at a studio. I was competing in the amateur ranks of C&W dance. The studio had practice parties, and I had a bigger tape collection (yes you read that right) than anyone else. So I would bring my music and play songs during the practice parties. This went on for a few months. I kept buying more music to play at the parties. Then I was asked to sit in at a local club where the dancers would hang out on a weeknight, and play music there. Then I was hired to be the "warm up" DJ at a dance competition. Then I was asked to do a wedding for some friends. And then, and then, and then....

So, I became a mobile DJ "accidentally." It just sort of happened.

In terms of what to charge....that is another (sad) tale. Do two things.

First, add up what it will cost you to be a DJ. Equipment, cases, cables, bins, speaker stands, laptop, mixer, wireless mic, batteries, gaff tape, business cards, liability insurance, mileage, advertising, new music, etc, etc, ad nasium. Any book on running a small business will have exhaustive lists. There are three big categories of expenses: durable equipment with depreciation, fixed operating costs, and per event expenses. Make an honest effort to account for all those expenses. You will get a "fixed" cost per year, and a "per event" incremental cost. How many gigs do you think you can reasonably handle in a year? 30? 50? 100? Divide the expenses, and figure out how much you need to charge to "break even." Add about $25/hr for ALL the time (planning, rehearsal, travel, setup, teardown, performance, sales meetings, etc) you spend per event...and charge that.

Keep in mind that you have likely NOT accounted for such essentials as "living indoors," "eating every day," health insurance, phone, internet access, utilities, retirement, vacation time, etc, etc, ad nasium. You are only charging enough to keep the business alive. You have to pay the "cost of living" with some other money.

Now that you have an idea of what it will cost you to actually deliver the service....you can find out what the going rate is in your area. NOTE: I STRONGLY encourage you to figure out your expenses BEFORE you look at what the market will bear. Otherwise you will "forget" to include a LOT of legitimate expenses that you need to cover in order to fit your "outgo" into your likely "income."

Second, check craigslist for bands or DJs. Look at the "services wanted" and the "services offered" sections. Determine the going rate in your area. Weep uncontrollably. Compose yourself. Get back to doing your "day job."

Basically, if you can possibly be happy NOT performing in front of an audience, do that other thing instead. Even if you need to be in front of a crowd, hold onto that "day job" anyway.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/find-t ... -do,31742/

Ha so true and depressing. Thankfully I don't intend to do it as a day job, just to have fun and make a little money on the side. It would be nice if I make enough money to cover the system. I can't see it failing on me. It's a laptop, a DBX driverack and a Peavey IPR1600. (If I really want stereo an Acoustic Solutions SP101 with adaptation will do the mids and highs).

There is a difference between a £50 mini smoking area club night, and a wedding you have to travel miles for maybe charge £200 + travel. I don't currently have any lighting equipment, although the DJ that does the smoking area in a club I have in mind doesn't either. There are neon lights on the walls so no one cares. A wedding would need lights (and also need me to paint the speakers!). I agree it's all about asking around and no too people's opportunities are the same, though I might invite some people over to hear, as EQ-ed right this sound is a beauty, and will make up for my (lack of) mixing skills, although I'm quite good at mixing pre-recorded blocks in advance. And I at least like to think I know what would get people dancing

AcousticScience wrote:and will make up for my (lack of) mixing skills

Mixing is not nearly as hard as it seems before you can do it. (What?)

So, the ability to beatmix is a physical skill that is more like riding a bike and less like juggling. (Still, what?)

Basic beatmixing is a mechanical skill that requires a bit of practice, but is not "magic" by any means. Given a basic outline of what needs to happen and a few hours of dedicated practice over a month, (almost) anyone who can hear a beat and count to "8" over and over can successfully beatmix music.

So, if you want to learn to mix, then learn to mix.

How did I get my first DJ gig?
The same way I got my first band gig!

I identified likely venues and approached them. One in ten may say yes.
I offer a reduced rate for the first gig only, at a new venue.

SIMDJ has given some great advice about how to work out worth.

As far as the rest of it:

Here's the thing. You've got a system to play music on so that's a tick.
Your cabs are not all painted, that's a serious cross for presentation.
You have no lighting, another cross.
You don't have to spend a fortune initially. A couple of DMX LED par cans on auto change things enough. Maybe add a DMX controllable moonflower or similar, maybe a strobe. Off and running.
You want DMX capability because if your business expands, you get a DMX controller, add more lights, and it gets bigger.

Remember, you're in competition with others who have professional looking rigs, with lights.
If you can't find gigs the way I suggested, then you have to take other peoples gigs lol...

AcousticScience wrote:It would be nice if I make enough money to cover the system. I can't see it failing on me. It's a laptop, a DBX driverack and a Peavey IPR1600.

You're going to want new/better toys in the future. Tack on (or set aside) $10 to $20 per event to upgrade your EXISTING gear every 3 to 5 years. This does not count "new to you" gear that you will also want.

Trust me, Rapid Gear Acquisition Syndrome is VERY contagious among musicians, DJs, and nerds in general.

SoundInMotionDJ wrote: Trust me, Rapid Gear Acquisition Syndrome is VERY contagious among musicians, DJs, and nerds in general.

RGAS is very real. Last summer when i had the wreck and had to account for everything to turn in to insurance, I found out that it would take 30% more than I paid for my house to replace it all in one shot. Of course, I didn't pay anywhere near that much for it becasue I wheeled and dealed and traded and upgraded and so forth... but what you've got it in it, what you can get out of it, and what it takes to replace it are three drastically different numbers.

BrentEvans wrote:Last summer when i had the wreck and had to account for everything to turn in to insurance, I found out that it would take 30% more than I paid for my house to replace it all in one shot.

WOW

SoundInMotionDJ wrote:Mixing is not nearly as hard as it seems before you can do it. (What?)

So, the ability to beatmix is a physical skill that is more like riding a bike and less like juggling. (Still, what?)

Basic beatmixing is a mechanical skill that requires a bit of practice, but is not "magic" by any means. Given a basic outline of what needs to happen and a few hours of dedicated practice over a month, (almost) anyone who can hear a beat and count to "8" over and over can successfully beatmix music.

So, if you want to learn to mix, then learn to mix.

+1 - it clicked with me a few years back, and now I don't ever practice but I always manage to tear the place up. I found a big part of it was having the confidence to not think whilst mixing... I let my subconcious do the mixing as it has learned what records sound like when too slow/fast from the practice that I have put in. It was when I started to think during a mix that it used to go wrong.

Bottom line is:
1 - I need a mixer
2 - I need to figure out how said mixer works. I have quite a good ear for rhythm but making sure the songs are only heard through the headphones as I'm cuing them up depends on the mixer.
3 - I need some lights above the mini bedroom disco ball I have
4 - I NEED TO PAINT MY CABS!!

Finally ask around venues and even invite people over. The sound quality of these speakers will probably be a bonus compared to un-EQ-ed cabs on sticks without subs.

Have a gander at Digital DJ Tips website. The promotional thing comes across heavy, but they know their stuff and gear, and there's a forum, where I've waxed on about my BF system, even offering to play out with it, if there's any local-ish DJs who wanna try it out, and I can learn a few things from them. ...no interest whatsoever. I don't get it.

Where are you, AcousticScience?

Herefordshire - West Midlands England. I'll have a gander at Digital DJ Tips, and also I've noticed my timezone settings are wrong.