Met some of the competition last night

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bestdjinfl

bestdjinfl

DJ Extraordinaire
Apr 10, 2008
635
70
54
Beautiful Florida
One of my photographer friends opened a new studio/gallery last night and I attended and met a few other DJ's. I always have said it kills me these days how any schmuck can buy 2 powered Gemini speakers a $200 Alexis Mixer, and Ipod or laptop and say they are a DJ. In chatting with these fine fellas :sqwink: we started talking about equipment and my oh my I really have to say I hate where this business is heading. DJ #1 was bragiing about his system so I asked what he has.. I was thinking prolly a Bose guy NO he says I have a top of the line Kustom (That I learned when I googled is the brand name) system with a Top Of the line Numark CDMix2 and a lap top and my progam can auto beat mix. I nearly vommited but kept my composure so DJ #2 chimes in tells me about his laptop and the same DJ for Dummies program he has and tells me about his Behringer (Translates to CRAP in english) Eurotrac UB 802..I had no idea what this POS was (I googled when I got home this is a $39 mixer a Pre Teen band would use)... I had to get another drink I took there cards and looked at thier websites..They actually brag on thier equipment I was laughing all evening.
I know I'm Old School I DJ'd my 1st wedding in 1990 but in my book if your mixer doesn't have a crossfader you are not a DJ. If you spent $300 on your speaker set up you are not a DJ

Vent Complete

Thanks
 
Sorry Ray but i can not agree with you this time.

1.Everybody must start somewhere and if the system is Gemini-so let it be
2.Ok in this point i have too agree with you but a lot of guys out there will not-I also hate Behringer and have 3 dead mixers from that Brand
3.Im not a Big Fan of Numark but manny people love it, so it is possible that i had only a bad expirience.
4.crossfader has nothing to do with Dj or not Dj.If mixer doesnt have it - softwere have one.
5.Price of speakers have nothing to do with quality of the Dj.I made a good party with Fender Passport 250 and because of good Party nobody has said the Party was bad because of Fender.

Just me!
 
Here we go....


I can see where this thread is headed.



I think the issue isn't brands, so much as it is bragging. Braggin annoys me if someone has to make a big deal about their EAW line array. Who cares.


Like I said before, its my competition that makes my PERFORMANCE look good.
I bet I can take that Numark CD Mix 2, those Gemini's, and that cheapo mixer and spin a party with the best of em. Am I braggin'? no, everybody starts somewhere....
 
Ray,

They probably will take jobs that will be perfect for them, and not be a player in your league. I agree that talking with a prospective client about equipment and not emotions is no different than working at a Radio Shack. But I'm not sure that you can compare someone who has been working at this craft since 1990 to someone just starting out.

Peace!

Dave
 
I run into this often myself. I see guys bragging about being a dj and yet they can't blend 2 beats together. Or the guy with 6 speakers and pushing the system with 1 amp. I know we all have budgets but I think a little research is required before making gear purchases. The new trend that I see is guys spending 5k on a bose rig but yet they are using below entry level mixers for sound. Not good. If you have the coin for a bose the least you could do is kick 600.00 bucks for a half decent mixer.
 
DJ Marco what do you charge? Why I ask is that sound quality is very important as is room coverage too higher end wedding clientelle. I guess we are in the mediocre generation as so many guys do not strive to be the best they can. So here's my test to you watch Spiderman 3 on a black and white TV, then in standard fef, then in HD you will enjoy the HD the best...Equipment makes a difference it can make a real good DJ great.
 
bestdjinfl said:
DJ Marco what do you charge? Why I ask is that sound quality is very important as is room coverage too higher end wedding clientelle. I guess we are in the mediocre generation as so many guys do not strive to be the best they can. So here's my test to you watch Spiderman 3 on a black and white TV, then in standard fef, then in HD you will enjoy the HD the best...Equipment makes a difference it can make a real good DJ great.
Click to expand...



:sqerr:
 
Bubble man at a bubble party it doesn't matter but at The Ritz Carlton (We have 4 in my area) it makes a HUGE difference. You must have crystal clear pristine sound as well as being the best DJ you can be. My point to this post was not to ruffle you feathers but to vent on how so many guys strive for being mediocre rather than great. Equipment does make a difference I guess you aren't getting my point which is simple if you have honed your craft why wouldn't you want to use the best tools available?
 
I agree that a good DJ should be able to use a crossfader and not have computer program do it for them.

But I've gotta say...there's not a whole lot wrong with Numark equipment for starters...maybe because that's what I started with for my business. I had a Numark mixer and have recently upgraded to a Denon mixer. I'll also be replacing my Numark CD player with a Denon one. I've got two pairs of older speakers of two different brands, and they'll get replaced, too, at some point.

When I was DJing with a college radio station years ago, they had spared no expense: Denon mixer, turntables, and CD player, Crown amps, and a 3-pair set of B52 speakers that blows any party out of the water.

My point is, we've all gotta start from somewhere. Besides, it's not just about the equipment that you have, you've gotta have skills. Back to the crossfading...perhaps these guys need some direction; if they see that a DJ mixer is not as tricky of a tool as it appears to be, they might drop the laptop idea. Then again, they are your competition. ;)
 
The way I see it this industry is going the same direction it always has. I sure remember the radio shack mixer, the cheap plastic ,bottom level pitch controlled technics and the Peavey 10 inch on sticks I began with. I used this system in some of the poshest locations for same events.

four yrs ago I used much less than that and survived at events it had no business being used at. I booked 25 new referrals for the company in the Greater Vancouver area for that company. Then I went on my own and upgraded to a CD MIX 2 and Mackies on sticks.
OH and I have done many posh events and in the most high end venues around. I have built such a decent client base I have been able to upgrade to All Denon and soon will be buying my Dynacord sound system. I will seek the same quality client base I have gained with the lesser system and give them the same quality performance that is my trademark. Yeah in over 25 yrs mobile I find it safe to say its heading in the same direction it always has. Im not worried.
 
Ray

First off there are djs on here (not me) who i highly respect that use the CD-Mix 2 and do quite well at it. There are also different kinds of dj's, said dj does fairly upscale weddings where his charm, personality, and professionalism are part of his performance and entertainment not his mixing skills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue 2 with your post- I definitely agree the internet, Guitar Centers in every town and heck even Ben sells bottom lines because he has to theres a market for it. But it makes Full time professionals lives harder because now EVERYONE knows a dj. It's good that you didnt come back to the guys and say "you suck you suck you suck" because of their gear heck they could do a slammin ass party.

Perhaps Marcos clients like his friendly attitude and his style and it doesnt matter what he plays on. Around here in North Carolina most people just care that the music isnt distorted.

having said that all of our 15 guys use
- a minimum of pioneer CDJ 400s
- Denon or Pioneer Mixer (although we also use 2 Numark 5000fx)
- Powered Eon G2s for small-medium events
- all our non-powereds are jbl and we have a set of Yamahas as well and of course our EAW's

gear is really important to me but this isnt the place to belittle guys because of what they use.

Im pretty certain that two very frequent posters that people are quite fond of around here use CDmix 2s

I personally wouldnt but only because all in ones scare the poop out of me if something breaks its all broke, but if your niche is professionalism, mc skills, relatability whatever than the client might not care if you used the ion system from walmart.

and on a final note FINALLY a post that will put the "Food in our contract" post on the backburner

;)


The cdmix guys can just add thanks points -
 
I see Ray's point. It's not a slam against anyone that uses entry gear. It's the ego and bragging I think he was pointing out. We all started somewhere, I had nothing but love for Numark. One of my favorite decks in the world was my CDN 90. It ran circles around my Denon 9000 if you ask me. Keep in mind it was the best bang for the buck from Numark and I even regret selling it.
Back in the day I used gemini mixers then I moved on to Numarks. I moved on because I wanted pro level stuff as I got better. I carried myself with class and DJed every event as if my life depended on it just to build a good name.
Another point is if you are DJing for more than 5 years, you should have graduated to another level of mixer from the one you started off with. Move the old one to back up status.
I did not come out of the gate playing on Rane mixers, but now I will not buy any other mixer than Rane. It took me 10 years to get it and I'm not going back. Prior to Rane I was an avid Vestax PMC collector and lover. I have a passion for music, great gear and giving a great performance. These three combinations added up to great results for me.

As for the Numark CDmix 1's, 2's or 3's those make great back up decks. But I would not put full trust in it for an entire event.
 
Well let me start by saying that I just recently upgraded my system..not Bose, but some EV speakers, Denon MP3 players, a Denon 4 ch mixer and some other odds and ends, plus I'm going digital too...thanks to the gang at Northern Light FX.

Here's what I'm upgrading from... a pair of Peavey SP5's (which have taken a tumble from time to time but have survived thanks to covers), a PV 118, Peavey 400 watt powered mixer and a Numark fusion mixer and a pair of Numark Axis 2cd players (and a back up set too)...(I feel many cringing as they read this). I also use a PD 250/Numark CD Mix 1 for ceremonies and small parties including bubble parties.

I find some of these comments on this post interesting. This was my starter system that I've used since 03' (from the start of my own company..I've actually DJ'd off and on prior to this since 1990). And it's been a damn good system...in my opinion because it's been taken care of. I've seen jocks in action with more expensive systems but couldn't handle a crowd if their life depended on it.

It's true, sometimes folks can't afford Bose and some don't need the ego booster. But this doesn't make you a bad DJ. In fact, for being PT, my wife and I are booked almost every weekend to the point where sometimes we turn work away because we're dead tired. We're the preferred vendor for 3 venues and not only for weddings...for parties and corporate parties too.

I'm not a beat mixer but I know how to read a crowd. I know how to work a crowd on the mic. And our business is referral based...hardly any advertising. We're booking up through next year already. Does having less expensive equipment make you a crappy DJ? Nope...it's how you use it and how you use your skills.

By the way...this response wasn't to take a "dig" on anyone...everyone has their own preference and opinion when it comes to what they do.
 
Agreed. It's the boasting that can upset a veteran's apple cart. Knowing that these guys are working in your market doesn't help matters. I can say this from personal experience: the lesser or entry-level brands are not road-ready. They're not designed to last. If it craps out in the middle of a show, there goes your business.

It is easy to call one's self a DJ these days. Equipment has come 'way down in cost, PCs are making it easier and music may be got via a high speed Internet connection.

I can't make too much noise... started out with RS gear and home stereo speakers, lol. Yup, I thought it was the cat's pajamas at the time. Did many a show with that old rig. It worked. Wasn't the best sound but it worked. Well, most of the time anyhow.

Here's the thing: I didn't know any better. I honestly knew nothing about professional sound and DJ equipment. Once I finally got online and got to networking with DJs, I was amazed by all the things I didn't know. My first reaction was... $600.00 for an amp??? :eek:

This may be the case in Ray's experience. Perhaps these competitors were recommended to the Crate and other entry level brands. There's a lot of it out there so someone must be pushing it. Maybe these guys are where I was in the old days and don't know any better. Maybe they can't afford any better.

Someone once posted some advice to the effect: If all you've ever driven is an Edsel, every car is like the Edsel. A Chevy is just another car that costs more. One must own the Chevy to realize the difference. Owning the Chevy means spending money, money that the Edsel owner does not have. Remember, he's driving the Edsel because he can't afford the Chevy.

Thoughts?
 
Well What have we here, the "BIG TOE"?

So the guy was bragging about his system! How many here brag about the systems they run (could it possibly be as high as 95%? It certainly looks like it in what I have been reading. I have seen the I've got Bose it's the greatest system in the world. I have seen I have an EV this or that it's the greatest system in the world. I have seen the I've got JBL this or that, it's the greatest system in the world. I have seen the I use this or that system that cost _____ amount of dollars.

I step back and think to myself how many of these bragart DJ's even know how to run the gear they have?

Having a million dollar system is not what qualifies one as a DJ, having the ability to use the tools you have, having the ability to read the crowd, having the ability to communicate, are all things that combine to make someone a DJ!

Certainly dissing someone elses gear is not something that will make you any better of a DJ, making a rant on the systems of another DJ shows me only one thing, the inability or the lack of skills to compete in the same market with them.

My philosophy has always been to sit back and watch other DJ's in my market and judge them not by the equipment they use but their ability to use that equipment. The ones I pay close attention to are the "new" DJ's who are stupid enough to sink large sums of money into expensive systems they don't have a clue as to how to run and then purchase said equipment for bottom dollar prices when their business fails.

Just my personal thoughts on the subject................
 
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