The first ever show you performed alone....
- Thread starter Papa Deuce
- Start date
I kinda remember the first bono fide paying gig alone...
I guess that counts...
It was at a VFW in Walden, NY. Halloween party.
Two turntables in a heavy, self-made coffin. I had no hand truck, so had to sling it up the hill.
If I recall correct, I was in-between services then, and I kind of did it as a favor, and charged a hundred bucks or two. I was really nervous, but still have no clue why. I had been playing out in bands, DJ'ing for parties (gratis), etc...
I had worked a couple of paying weddung gigs with another guy prior, but never my OWN gig! It was the first time I was responsible for the outcome, and my own talent at stake
Worked out not perfect, but well enough for me to still be in this business 30+ years later
I guess that counts...
It was at a VFW in Walden, NY. Halloween party.
Two turntables in a heavy, self-made coffin. I had no hand truck, so had to sling it up the hill.
If I recall correct, I was in-between services then, and I kind of did it as a favor, and charged a hundred bucks or two. I was really nervous, but still have no clue why. I had been playing out in bands, DJ'ing for parties (gratis), etc...
I had worked a couple of paying weddung gigs with another guy prior, but never my OWN gig! It was the first time I was responsible for the outcome, and my own talent at stake
Worked out not perfect, but well enough for me to still be in this business 30+ years later
Bowling banquet, 1978. Not pretty but very effective. Next May marks the 30th year in this endeavor.
I've always been solo except when training protégés (26 to date and finally finished training my competition. Talk about a huge DOH!!!
AH, they're wonderful people, who am I kidding.)
I've always been solo except when training protégés (26 to date and finally finished training my competition. Talk about a huge DOH!!!
AH, they're wonderful people, who am I kidding.)
For me a wedding reception... back in 'ol 2005 back then I was half PC and about half CD.
No major glitches except that I was young and dumb and had (gulp) hate to admit this downloaded their first song and it was incomplete.... never will I DL again... from illegal sources (Flame Retarded Shields Engaged)
so I looped it.... lol
Otherthan that I ended up with a nice fat $200 tip which brought the gig total to a whoppin $600.
My wife tended bar... or basically opened beer cans and served soda. She got paid $12/hr for a 6 hour event.... that was nice.
No major glitches except that I was young and dumb and had (gulp) hate to admit this downloaded their first song and it was incomplete.... never will I DL again... from illegal sources (Flame Retarded Shields Engaged)
so I looped it.... lol
Otherthan that I ended up with a nice fat $200 tip which brought the gig total to a whoppin $600.
My wife tended bar... or basically opened beer cans and served soda. She got paid $12/hr for a 6 hour event.... that was nice.
I got paid 150 dollars for a backyard wedding reception. Used my gear and a borrowed EV guitar amp which fried at about 1030 we then used the neighbors receiver at 90 watts. The neighbors were probably relieved.
If memory serves, it was a VFW dance party back in '97. The missus and I were about to go our separate ways at the time and I couldn't take her along to the shows anymore.
My main concern was doing all the loading by myself. Up 'til then I'd had either the wife or daughter along to help. Well, there was no more help so I schlepped it alone.
Got there early and got it all loaded in and set. The show actually went better without the stress of having the wife hanging around. Over time I made some changes to the rig... consolidated some things so's the load time and weight were lessened somewhat.
My main concern was doing all the loading by myself. Up 'til then I'd had either the wife or daughter along to help. Well, there was no more help so I schlepped it alone.
Got there early and got it all loaded in and set. The show actually went better without the stress of having the wife hanging around. Over time I made some changes to the rig... consolidated some things so's the load time and weight were lessened somewhat.
Mine was just a few weeks ago. My lovely wife had always been there to help load in and run the mic and audio cables and such. As she was (at the time) 7+ months preggo with our 3rd, she was unable to attend. All I can say is, I had NO IDEA how much she actually does until she wasn't there. The gig went good, except for a ghost in one of the karaoke machines. It took me over 90 mins to set up/take down versus 45-50 minutes. Thanks for all you do, honey!
Ok, I'll just start with my adult mobile event. ( as a teen, I DJ'd in a teen club )
I had been in training with The Pros. I think you were supposed to train for 10 shows for FREE. Anyway, before my training period was up, I got a call. The DJ I was supposed to train with that night was hurt in a waterskiing accident, and could I handle a party on my own?
So, of course, I said yes.
It was at a truckers hall, and the bar was actually open to anybody who walked in off the street. Imagine having your wedding reception, and people you don't even know are walking across your dance floor to go sit at the bar and get drunk!
Anyway, it was going "ok". They wanted more country music than I actually had. All I had was (200 ) 45's that were provided by the Pros, nothing else.
We actually ended, by request, with Freebird.....
So, as I was packing up, a woman approached me, and asked me to come back to her house with her for a good time. Now, I wasn't inclined to do that anyway, but I sure as heck wasn't when she said "That's my husband over there at the bar. He won't come home til they throw his drunk ass out at 2 AM."......:sqerr:
Um, no thanks.
I had been in training with The Pros. I think you were supposed to train for 10 shows for FREE. Anyway, before my training period was up, I got a call. The DJ I was supposed to train with that night was hurt in a waterskiing accident, and could I handle a party on my own?
So, of course, I said yes.
It was at a truckers hall, and the bar was actually open to anybody who walked in off the street. Imagine having your wedding reception, and people you don't even know are walking across your dance floor to go sit at the bar and get drunk!
Anyway, it was going "ok". They wanted more country music than I actually had. All I had was (200 ) 45's that were provided by the Pros, nothing else.
We actually ended, by request, with Freebird.....
So, as I was packing up, a woman approached me, and asked me to come back to her house with her for a good time. Now, I wasn't inclined to do that anyway, but I sure as heck wasn't when she said "That's my husband over there at the bar. He won't come home til they throw his drunk ass out at 2 AM."......:sqerr:
Um, no thanks.
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
DJDennis:
Who is this question directed toward? If me, suffice it to say there are rocks in my driveway younger than me.
it was early 1972..just back from veit nam...an old band member asked me to play music for a birthday bash he was throwing for a friend...2 technics turntables, a 100 watt marantz tuner/amp, 2 home 150 watt speakers and 3 crates of platters...I WAS HOOKED!!...been spinning every since..USA, GERMANY, ITALY, ENGLAND, MEXICO
VFW Christmas party for the FAA. The year was 1979. 1 Technics TT, 2 Logic controlled Cassette players. Lots of Albums and cassettes. 1 Kenwood 35 Watt per Channel Amp and a pair of 12 inch Precision Acoustic (local brand) home speakers.
1-6 Channel RS Mono mixer and RS mike. Made 150 Bucks for 3 hours and I was hooked.
Was solo 'til 1988 when I took the marital plunge. Diana helped out (having radio experience) until this year. She just got tired of it.
Back to solo again.
1-6 Channel RS Mono mixer and RS mike. Made 150 Bucks for 3 hours and I was hooked.
Was solo 'til 1988 when I took the marital plunge. Diana helped out (having radio experience) until this year. She just got tired of it.
Back to solo again.
My 1st show ever was a youth group dance in 1988. I was 11 at the time. I used my 2 home cd players a cassette deck and my bands pa system. It was a powered ross mixer and 2 EV 15" with horns. It was at the church about 10 blocks away I used my wagon taking 2 trips to get my gear there.
At the time I had a paper route and used most of my money to buy cd's. What I didn't get on CD I bought alot of cassette singles and taped the missing hot songs from the radio or from other peoples cd's.
While I really don't consider this the start of my career it was the 1st time I DJ'd by myself. The 1st time I DJ'd was eariler that year in summer for the alter boy picnic, my father helped me.
I'll tell my other stories at alater time.
At the time I had a paper route and used most of my money to buy cd's. What I didn't get on CD I bought alot of cassette singles and taped the missing hot songs from the radio or from other peoples cd's.
While I really don't consider this the start of my career it was the 1st time I DJ'd by myself. The 1st time I DJ'd was eariler that year in summer for the alter boy picnic, my father helped me.
I'll tell my other stories at alater time.
My was in elementary school and i was 15 years old.I was doing that party for free-no money.First payd gig was a year after in a small club calld CLUB83.So my first payd gig was with 16years.