How to get music at a gig on the fly.?

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Jeff Romard said:
There are ways to convert audio from YouTube videos but again you need a connection. I've done it a time or two in emergencies
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I know there are ways.

I make sure I tell customers during meetings to identify 'important' items up front, this way there is enough time to review and gather what is needed. Believe it or not, there are still a bunch of items not available online - and operating under the pretense that everything is, is incorrect - as is the assumption that you will have an internet connection everywhere. Another reason I make sure to tell them, preparation - if you come at me on the day of and want it now and I cannot get it, then you already know why.

Up until Michael Jackson's passing, a large amount of the Beatles materials were not available online - you had to mail order it. Telling my customers otherwise would be a lie. ACDC is another one. As recent as a 3 years ago, they did not believe in putting their albums online.

Jeff Romard said:
I got a request from the bride Saturday night for Blink 182 she told me it was ultra important (weather it was or not is another story). I didn't have it but my service did so I downloaded it. It happens quite frequently
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What would you have told this bride if you did not have an Internet connection or it was so slow that it just would not work?

EERobert said:
Any request from the Bride or the Groom I consider "important" weather they have mentioned it in the planner or not. Sometimes they think it' important at that moment, sometimes they forget, sometimes someone puts a bug in their ear, but if it comes from the B&G it is important.
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Likewise, I consider anything from the B/G important - but you can't set a realistic expectation by saying you can get whatever, wherever. As I consider anything from them important, I want them to know I take it that way - and what to expect if they give me an important last minute request that I can't get.

If you order a new deck and while the workers are there, you want a hot tub installed that night, can they put it in? Absolutely, they can - as long as the materials and products are available. If an electrician is installing new circuits and you need a new sub panel, can it be done? Absolutely, providing what is needed is available. Can either of these guarantee that it will be done immediately, right then? Nope. Can they guarantee it will be done if it's planned for properly? You betcha.
 
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I was doing a wedding in a very small town where I had no internet connection and very poor cell service. The Bride and Groom asked for some songs from Tec-9, an artist I didn't have anything from. I simply said that I would try and download something from itunes but because of poor cell service and lack of internet at the hall, I couldn't guarantee I'd be able to get it.

I also ask the bride and groom for any important songs, must plays, etc. and it always seems that they forgot to tell me something. I never make any promises that I'll be able to get something, but that doesn't stop me from trying and that means utilizing Amazon, Itutnes, Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, or in an extremely rare case (3 times in my case for songs that I had never been released elsewhere to my knowledge), YouTube.
 
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If you can't get a song 'on the fly' you look old fashioned and the person in front of you, client, guest, etc will hold up their phone and say "here, play it from my phone" more than 1/2 the time.

Spotify may not be my first option...but it does work and work well, at least in my experience.

I could use a hot spot and buy the song off itunes and DL it I suppose, to my backup laptop. Considered it but haven't done it. (i hate itunes...no need to raise my stress level trying to make it work at a gig)
 
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what do you do if the BM comes up and wants this?


it's not somethign I have..or will every need again I"m sure. DOn't want to spend money it for that reason. Not on spotify.
I just told him, sorry, can't get it.

Playing it off youtube would have worked...perhaps. Sounds crappy to me so i'd not want to play it.
 
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EERobert said:
I was doing a wedding in a very small town where I had no internet connection and very poor cell service. The Bride and Groom asked for some songs from Tec-9, an artist I didn't have anything from. I simply said that I would try and download something from itunes but because of poor cell service and lack of internet at the hall, I couldn't guarantee I'd be able to get it.

I also ask the bride and groom for any important songs, must plays, etc. and it always seems that they forgot to tell me something. I never make any promises that I'll be able to get something, but that doesn't stop me from trying and that means utilizing Amazon, Itutnes, Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, or in an extremely rare case (3 times in my case for songs that I had never been released elsewhere to my knowledge), YouTube.
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Agreed - my performing machines are never online during an event. I may use a backup machine to get it if I need to / can.
 
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I have an Ipad Pro with built in Cellular as well as an Ipad Mini with Built in cellular. I use the 12 inch Ipad Pro normally to control my Mackie DL32R board and the Ipad Mini controls my Luminair lighting Software. Also, the ipad pro doubles as my backup music source as Mix mentioned. I agree i'm shocked though ya didn't think of this sooner mix. I actually have a great software on my ipad pro that I bought called " Djay Pro " that i highly recommend as a backup.
 
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ittigger said:
I know there are ways.

I make sure I tell customers during meetings to identify 'important' items up front, this way there is enough time to review and gather what is needed. Believe it or not, there are still a bunch of items not available online - and operating under the pretense that everything is, is incorrect - as is the assumption that you will have an internet connection everywhere. Another reason I make sure to tell them, preparation - if you come at me on the day of and want it now and I cannot get it, then you already know why.


I do also and I never depend on it or promise it. It would be foolhardy to do so. Something as simple as dropping your phone could put it out of reach. If it is brought up I will tell them I have the ability to do so but there is no guarantee because of circumstances beyond my control.

Unfortunately more often than not they generally always have requests at the show.....Which leads to number 2



What would you have told this bride if you did not have an Internet connection or it was so slow that it just would not work?

I would tell her I don't have it and I don't have internet access to get it. As I said I never promise download on the fly as a service or option but if I can they will get it and I will use whatever means necessary to do it



Likewise, I consider anything from the B/G important - but you can't set a realistic expectation by saying you can get whatever, wherever. As I consider anything from them important, I want them to know I take it that way - and what to expect if they give me an important last minute request that I can't get.
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Responses in blue
 
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Okay, as stated previously, you need to take a smartphone with a data plan with you wherever you go. just a cost of doing business. There are also signal boosters out there, and I suggest buying one of those also. You then need to go to your phones settings and "Tether" your cell's internet to your laptops wifi. If you do not know how to do this, look up your phones manual online and read the section on tethering/enabling mobile hotpsot.

Then, either purchase the song and download it to your drive, or search on VDJ's Content Unlimited for the song and cache it. I don't know what the equivalent of content unlimited is on other platforms, but I imagine they have it.

Also, don't beat yourself up if you don't have a song. If you did your due diligence prior to the event, you should have every song that must be played for the client. If there's no internet service even with a booster, it is what it is. If they request something different and it's not in your catalog, no big deal, just tell them the truth that due to no 'net you can't get it. Good luck.
 
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Most people should have 'smart phones' with data plans - but believe it or not, some don't want (or need) that. With that in mind, even with a 'smart phone' and data plan, my performing machine(s) never see the web while at an event. VDJ CU is for VDJ subscribers and users only - does nothing for the rest of us. I wouldn't rely on that service anyways, as it has had issues in the past (I don't recall if it was specifically VDJ, but it was one of them) .
 
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I agree. It's a last-ditch effort. Now, as DJ's our job is to have an extensive library, however we don't have every song that was ever created. In those instances, to have the capability to grab a song on the fly, it shows the client an "above & beyond" attitude, and aides in a small way toward justification of your prices. I've done it several times seamlessly (Amazon music purchase/VDJ Content Unlimited), it hasn't failed me yet.
 
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That's how it always goes with his threads or one he has replied to. He causes a distraction then watches from the sidelines.
 
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I got the answer I needed and will take heed to the suggestions given. I thought that's how it's done. I started to try it out today at the gig I did earlier but decided to wait and do it for practice first before doing it at a gig.
 
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I have cell service on my iPads as well as my smart phone. All can be a mobile hot spot if I want to connect my laptop.

All could play a song from some streaming service if I wanted. But I'm not close to accepting streaming as reliable enough for a gig.

If I use Spotify to play a song, which I have, but it's rare, I'll DOWNLOAD the song onto the device first. Then play it. Yes it costs money, but well worth the $10
 
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Ausumm said:
I love the way Mix starts a conversation,
then bails out when things get ugly.
Everyone keeps replying to everyone else's posts...
meanwhile the OP hasn't been a part of the discussion since page 1.
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That's OK we can have a decent conversation without him ;)
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I got the answer I needed and will take heed to the suggestions given. I thought that's how it's done. I started to try it out today at the gig I did earlier but decided to wait and do it for practice first before doing it at a gig.
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Did you use your phone or do you have cellular on your ipad? I haven't done much with this either, but I've found that most of my competitors are able to play music or download music online. I know of one DJ that was doing this 12 years ago with a card in his laptop and a monthly service. He kept his laptop online all the time and I would guess he still does.

Last year I had an inquiry looking for a DJ that played music from the internet. Because this is a college town, there are ethnic groups wanting music that most DJs don't have on their hard drive. That's why they want DJs with online capability.
 
I don't have a tablet, but use my phone. it's an android..cheap smart phone..put a 32gb card in it, a mix program..hey, backup is backup!

I've been MANY places with no wifi so the cell phone works. I've not tried making a hot spot and going to itunes or such on a laptop..haven't found the need really. Yet.
 
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