Do you remember your first time?

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Papa Deuce

DJ Extraordinaire
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
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Valley Forge Area
Talking about what you would consider your first "serious" event. I'm not counting my teen stuff.

My first event was with "The Pros" ( I shudder to think about them :sqerr: ).... I was paid $40 a night and was allowed to keep "HALF" of any OT I made.... :sqeek:


Anyway, I had been in their UNPAID training sessions for a few weeks. I got a call one day. A DJ they had scheduled to go out was hurt in a water skiing accident, and could I handle the job? I said yes.

Well, I had to go pick up gear from their office. And then I found my way to this trucker's union hall. The event was a wedding and I knew NOTHING about this couple. I was scared poopyless. Anyway, the union hall was actually open to any union member - people were coming to the bar and drinking diring this couple's event!

I got through the intro's "ok", I guess. I had a hard time getting folks to dance. About 1/2way through I had a request from some lady to play some Skynyrd. I figured, WTH?, might as well.... nothing else was really working.

Well. the party kicked into gear after that! Most of the rest of the night was spent playing country ( which I new very little about ) and Southern Rock... which I LOVE...:sqbiggrin: Anyway this same lady was making requests all night, and she actually asked that I close with Freebird! WTH, why not? :rofl:

The people LOVED it!

Anyway, as I was breaking down, that lady walked over to me and asked me if I wanted to have a "go" with her. :sqcool: and :sqeek: !!! I didn't know what to say. I "think" I was going to decline, when she then said "and don't worry about my husband... he's over at the bar -- she proceeds to point him out -- and he never comes home til the bar closes! :sqeek: :sqeek:

Ooops! Sorry, Gotta run!

Anyway, that was my first party. I was excited, thinking I was going to "score" a lot as a DJ.... guess what? I only was hit on one other time over the next 5 years..... and that woman was a LOT more "friendly" to me.... and nope, I didn't have a "go" with her either! :sqlaugh:
 
First "serious" gig was actually a fluke.

I was bartending at a local night club which had two floors. I worked downstairs and the upstairs was dedicated mostly to bands the occasional DJ and the twice a week comedy club.

One week the owner asked me if I could DJ on Wednesday nights for a few weeks as he didn't have anyone booked. He knew that I had way too much music in my collection for my own good and that I provided "mixed tapes" (long before the technology of burning of cds became about) for the bar and that he was impressed with my selections and variety of music that I provided for the customers.

I figured that I'd go ahead and give it a try and see what happened.

A friend of mine who did sound for a lot of the bands that played there loaned me a mixer, a huge Crown amp, a handheld mic, some 2-way speakers, all the cords I'd need and a few par lights (It's been so long ago, I don't remember the makes or models of anything except that Crown amp.).

I showed up with 1 Thorens turntable, a Dual Cassette deck, and two single tray cd players. So I'm using vinyl (and yes, I knew how to cue up a record from getting training at a radio station many years ago.), cassettes and cds, but had never done it "for pay".

From what I remember the pay was really low, much lower than I would have made from bartending. But I was doing this on my night off, so it was all good to me (plus I got free drinks :D).

I am nervous as all get out, but since I bartended at this place I knew most of the people in the audience so that made it a bit easier.

I'd be lying if I told you that all went well that night and yes I messed up more than a couple of times. But the crowd and I had a good time, and of course I got razzed by 'em when I'd fluff something up!

My ex-wife (we had a friendly divorce) came in with a bunch of people and they were all coming up to me and hanging out and dancing...which didn't go over too well with one of the waitresses that I was dating..I thought she was going to deck the ex for being "too friendly" with me. :D

After I got done for the evening, I wasn't sure If I wanted to continue or not, but since I had agreed to help the owner out I went ahead and held up my end of the agreement.

I ended up doing this off and on for the bar and did their annual Halloween party for about 3 years in a row.

From there I partnered up with my buddy and we started doing wedding receptions and parties that he would book. He provided all the sound equipment and I'd do the music.
 
My first real gig (although I was more of a roadie), while acutally still a teen event, was in October of 1992 at Gaylord High School. My buddy had just started working for BWI and it was his first "Wild Video Dance Party".

We went in there with 16 Ramsa 12" subs, 8 Ramsa tops, a 10'x15' rear projection screen, an old Sony 3 tube projector, oodles of VHS tapes and tons of spin & pukes.

It wasn't the smoothest event ever, but man was it fun!!!
 
My first official "paid" gig was at a junior high dance...grade 6 to 8, we were in grade 9. We rented Shure columms..I can't even remember the amp. Lights were homemade...brought vinyl.
I still have the playlist we made (I'll dig it up and post it)...1976 ..I believe.
I think we made $100 bucks.......
As I rememeber it, it was a good night..Everyone danced....
 
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