Advantages of Being Digital

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T

Travis B

DJ
Jul 27, 2006
4,048
15
36
Lone Star State!
www.bouncemultimedia.com
Thinking back to a few gigs ago on Halloween I received an epiphany revealing that digital is the way! Time over time I hear my competition (my networking buddy as well) does not play requests. As a DJ I feel it is necessary to do that. May I mention that this guy spins CDs and runs Peavey Subs and Tops (Swears by them), however he has saturated the market with low prices and quality service.

However why are these schools turning towards me... I offer the same thing if not better and PLAY REQUESTS. Requests make people happy and being a DJ on the side of the crowd equals referrals. I can only imagine as a CD spinning DJ that trying to play requests must be a daunghting task, especially trying to go through ERG and iTunes and then fitting it in with a set, how simple is VDJ, they make DJs have all the fun :) It's kinda funny how it works out. Hopefully I will be the person in just a few short years that is being called for the school dances. Only downside is that the pay is low, but the repeat business can be rewarding.
 
Going to the computer has made me money..

I did a wedding a few months back where the groom asked me to play. "Last Christams" (I think) by Wham!

I typed it in and wow I had it on a Billboard set (I think) I put in...

He took the mic and sang along and at the end of the night I got a $150 tip.

would I have gotten that without Wham!? Dunno
 
Not only digital, but Wi-Fi capable as well.
Did a reception a few weeks back. Father of bride wanted some obscure Neil Young song. Got online, bought song from I-Tunes (No "against user agreement" please) and played his request.
Got $100 tip at end of the evening and a "thank you for my request"
Is computer the way to go?
Is for me. :)
 
Digital is Easier

Using Digital media is easier. Even I can do it..... well almost. :sqwink:

There are very few people out there that will be willing to pay a larger amount of money for a CD that spins CDs. People just simply don't care that much anymore. With digital media everything just runs smoother, faster, and more efficiently. You also have that all important ability to take requests. Also, in the time you would spend digging for CDs you could squeeze in a dance or two with that girl that caught your eye. Assuming she is legal of course.
 
I guess this is the part where I pop into the conversation briefly to restate that if you use CDs, DVDs, MP3s, DAT, Mini Disc, BluRay, etc, etc, etc... you are in fact a "digital" DJ.

Anyway, I agree, Computerized Performance Systems are the shiz-nit!

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread...
 
One aspect of the PC format that should be mentioned is the ease of building a que on the fly. Que 'em up and let 'em roll. Got a request? Tap, tap, click and there it is, ready to go.

Some years ago I was adamantly against PC DJing. Computers were not designed to play music, I argued. And at the time, they weren't. HDDs were tiny, RAM was almost nonexistent after Win got done sucking it all up and you had to settle for lossy MP3s.

Today you got a tiny laptop that can do it all and more. Hardware is smaller, better, cheaper and it does more. And you have a documented playlist, song-for-song that may be used for future reference.
 
If not for any other reason, the ability to search and find tracks quickly, the auto-pilot/auto-load and not have to carry all that heavy media.

God bless Vinyl Spinner as there is no way I'd carry much if it were all on vinyl. Vinyl is heavy!
 
Balanced Line said:
God bless Vinyl Spinner
Click to expand...

Please. You are offending me Mr. unPC Man.

If heaviness were an issue to EVERYBODY, then we wouldn't have those fascinating things, like the Acropolis.

Doesn't matter. Aliens built it...and the Pyramids...and the phonograph...

//

I almost envy you guys who love digital, for I just can get out of my box.

I caught the last bit of a computer show. The guy who was talking I believe referred to "Disruptive"? "Diminished"? (can't remember) "...Technologies". For example, years ago, you would need a large REEL TO REEL camera, and all kinds of other things to put out a movie. Now, even with a phone, you can make a "movie", put it on YouTube, and people will love you for it. Is it the quality "better"? No...but it's "Good Enough", especially with the added convenience and stuff like that.

I betcha that, no matter how hard we tried, and with all the technology we have today, we could NEVER make anything as beautiful as, say, the Acropolis or the Great Pyramids. They would be missing something, and I'm not sure what (passion? the human touch? I don't know) Does it matter? Maybe not. Is it bad? Maybe not. But we have lost something because of it.
 
I'd like try a digital system for just a week. Sure I've played with the trial verisons of software but there's nothing like doing it live.

The only concern I have about using a digital system is what the customer sees. All they know is you're using a computer. They don't realize that it's running special software and needs to be tweaked for all they know you could be using WMP.

Even if you took the time to explain a customer could think. "Oh I buy software for $200 and I'm a DJ" Average Janie Bride & Joe Groom don't know the nuisances of being a DJ, that's what they pay us for. It's the appearance of all you need is a software license and Bam you're a DJ!
 
I know a guy here on the Island that uses a laptop, with iTunes and plugs it into one BOSE L1, he plugs a wireless mic into the other channel..

so all the client sees is a laptop sitting on an 6 or 8 foot table, whatever the hotel gives him....

he is the highest priced and busiest DJ on the Island, and everybody wants DJ Dan....
 
Dan - i think the same perception can be gathered with the dj that sits two home cd players on a table and uses "home"speakers.
I use a rack pc and a laptop. Everything is mounted in a rack case. It looks "pro".

I could play cd's in my rack with vdj (might be the best odf all worlds..
I think it's all about the perception and what you present......

Chuck...your guy, I guess, is an exception to the rule.
 
The Vinyl Spinner said:
Is it the quality "better"? No...but it's "Good Enough", especially with the added convenience and stuff like that.
Click to expand...

Chuck The DJ said:
he is the highest priced and busiest DJ on the Island, and everybody wants DJ Dan....
Click to expand...

thatmusicguy said:
Chuck...your guy, I guess, is an exception to the rule.
Click to expand...

He is obviously VERY good enough. :)

He surely also does not just sit around, and he is probably very good at entertaining his guests.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have those who abuse technologies by actually letting these things do all the work, so the DJ can just sit around--or try to change the definition of "DJ" to justify his/her need to jump up and down in a chicken suit.

(like jfactor1 :p)
 
after many months running digital for bits and pieces of an event and my monthly charity event I finally did a complete show on PC. Great revues but I will be upgrading as soon as the denon controller is available perhpas get a deal in Vegas.
My gig went great and as soon as I can figure how to copy the playlist I will include it here.
 
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