Asked to use wireless at a gig

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When I get a utoob track, it sits in my download folder (user profile) and play from there. Same for the Amazon download.

Now all purchases are then edited for name/tag then dropped into my master library of purchased tracks.

I did have a freeze-up one time while being on line... turned out to be a HD issue, not web/wifi/tethering.

Then again, I am running a 2ghz quad core clocked to 1600fsb and 4gb memory.
 
I have a 4g wireless card for my own use. I don't count on a hotel's wireless. My phone can also provide a connection in a pinch. I have found it useful many times.
If I client asked me something like the OP, I would tell her, "We use the latest technology. Not only would we be able to use the hotel's wifi, we'll bring our own, so if we need something, it won't be a problem. However, my experience has shown that it's much better to be prepared before hand than to just go into an event and download songs as we need them. The connection speeds can't be counted on and it might take longer than expected to download the song and make sure the sound quality is perfect. But if we need it to fill in a song here or there, it's perfect.
We have tools that will allow you and your guests to easily put in requests well before the event so we are prepared"
 
Ed Witles said:
I did have a freeze-up one time while being on line... turned out to be a HD issue, not web/wifi/tethering. Then again, I am running a 2ghz quad core clocked to 1600fsb and 4gb memory.
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Once is more than enough. May I ask what the issue was? If you were not online, would the problem still have happened?

What does the speed of the CPU / FSB and that amount of RAM have to do with it? Is this a video system?
 
Scott Hanna said:
I have a 4g wireless card for my own use. I don't count on a hotel's wireless. My phone can also provide a connection in a pinch. I have found it useful many times.
If I client asked me something like the OP, I would tell her, "We use the latest technology. Not only would we be able to use the hotel's wifi, we'll bring our own, so if we need something, it won't be a problem. However, my experience has shown that it's much better to be prepared before hand than to just go into an event and download songs as we need them. The connection speeds can't be counted on and it might take longer than expected to download the song and make sure the sound quality is perfect. But if we need it to fill in a song here or there, it's perfect.
We have tools that will allow you and your guests to easily put in requests well before the event so we are prepared"
Click to expand...

While I agree with your logic and preparedness, along with connection speeds not being counted on, mobile service can't be counted on either (4G, 3G and other).
 
DJ Dennis has a great clause in effect for this topic. I give my clients a one week prior deadline for any qualified must play. I make it absolutely clear.
 
I go back even more. In the event that you had to mail order something, how on earth would it get to you in time?
 
So if you get hailed as that priceless DJ via referals and then on the day of unable to accommodate any unique request what do you think the impact might be on the flipside? I leave nothing for error when promising anything. Much like the Must Play portion of DJ Intelligence. I strictly mention the qualification for those songs to insure I play the 5-10 which if missed would cause big dissatisfaction from my clients. Play if possibles give me much more option to play or not play all their X hours of requests.
 
ittigger said:
I go back even more. In the event that you had to mail order something, how on earth would it get to you in time?
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Thats where the guarantee DJ Dennis states "upon availability"!
 
I would never stream a song since I only use my professional DJ software for playback but... I have purchased and downloaded songs at gigs before to fulfill a requests that I though were worth fulfilling. I download it, run it through MP3Gain and then load it into my software all while running live. This is not a problem with Mixmeister Pro 5 and a good internet connection.
 
ittigger said:
While I agree with your logic and preparedness, along with connection speeds not being counted on, mobile service can't be counted on either (4G, 3G and other).
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I agree that mobile service can't be counted on. No wireless Internet service today can be counted on. That's why I suggested informing the bride that there is a better solution to her wanting her and her guests' requests played than waiting for that night.

Having multiple ways to connect will increase your chances of success, but going into an event and assuming you will be downloading a bunch of music is simply setting one self up for failure, regardless of how you connect.
 
Scott Hanna said:
I agree that mobile service can't be counted on. No wireless Internet service today can be counted on. That's why I suggested informing the bride that there is a better solution to her wanting her and her guests' requests played than waiting for that night.

Having multiple ways to connect will increase your chances of success, but going into an event and assuming you will be downloading a bunch of music is simply setting one self up for failure, regardless of how you connect.
Click to expand...

Scott, I don't think anyone here is suggesting you just show up at the venue with a plan to download everything you need that night. I certainly don't. Just like anyone diligent, I go through my requests and download anything I don't already have. I double and triple-check my lists to be as prepared as I can. Even with the best of preparation though, there's always going to be that spur-of-the-moment request that I intend to fill. Like many here have said, I don't count on the venue's wifi but will hook up my own cellular broadband connection. I'm using a usb modem and also have an external antenna for those times where I've got bad signal. So far, there have been very, very few places where I couldn't get decent download speed.
 
I'm with Scott on this one. I can't remember for sure, but I bet I have purchased (did everyone see that word?!?!?) songs at events and used them after cue/review at the event for the last few years. Who cares if I buy it that day or two weeks in advance?
 
A couple of weeks ago I downloaded a song from Itunes on my Iphone and played it from there too...There have been a couple of times I have used wifi to get a song in a pinch but I also carry a back up laptop and several 16 gig sticks in my kit

If you are getting your stuff from Itunes the quality will be good and even streaming if you are running a decent FOH you can process it to the point where it will be OK. That being said I wouldn't feel comfortable with the whole streaming thing
 
I'll leave you with these few final thoughts. About streaming? NEVER....say never The day will come when the reliability of streaming will be solid enough to play from your own cloud. It WILL come!

As to purchasing songs and playing them at an event. (see my example on page 1) In another example, Father of Bride comes up and asks for a special song that was his wedding song, not previously discussed, and says work it in sometime tonight. I buy it, gain set it, load it, played it, got $100 bill for playing it. Was it worth the $1.29 I spent? Not to mention making a possible "referral machine" out of him.

My system works for me. If it doesn't for you.....that's fine. Go with what works. For me....doing what I can for my clients, their guests and possibly future clients, that's MY job. I have the (reliable) technology so why not use it?
 
Scott McKinney said:
I'll leave you with these few final thoughts. About streaming? NEVER....say never The day will come when the reliability of streaming will be solid enough to play from your own cloud. It WILL come!

As to purchasing songs and playing them at an event. (see my example on page 1) In another example, Father of Bride comes up and asks for a special song that was his wedding song, not previously discussed, and says work it in sometime tonight. I buy it, gain set it, load it, played it, got $100 bill for playing it. Was it worth the $1.29 I spent? Not to mention making a possible "referral machine" out of him.

My system works for me. If it doesn't for you.....that's fine. Go with what works. For me....doing what I can for my clients, their guests and possibly future clients, that's MY job. I have the (reliable) technology so why not use it?
Click to expand...

Agreed. I have played "streamed" music (youtube to be exact) at my own house and it sounds horrible. I want to get it, preview it, and let PCDJ level it. Then it's good by me.

That being said, I prefer to get the music ahead of time, but it's not a perfect world. I have told people that I can't get songs while I was at the gig, too. I'm not going to buy a song with only 15 minutes left before quitting time.
 
rickryan.com said:
Scott, I don't think anyone here is suggesting you just show up at the venue with a plan to download everything you need that night. I certainly don't. Just like anyone diligent, I go through my requests and download anything I don't already have. I double and triple-check my lists to be as prepared as I can. Even with the best of preparation though, there's always going to be that spur-of-the-moment request that I intend to fill. Like many here have said, I don't count on the venue's wifi but will hook up my own cellular broadband connection. I'm using a usb modem and also have an external antenna for those times where I've got bad signal. So far, there have been very, very few places where I couldn't get decent download speed.
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Rick,
I didn't think anyone here was suggesting any such thing. From the OP, it appeared the bride was suggesting it. I was suggesting how I would answer such a statement/question from a bride.

You and I are on the same page here. I always have ways to connect somehow. I like to think i'm always prepared. But sometimes something important gets requested that wasn't planned on before and having that connection is not something i'm giving up at all.
 
Scott McKinney said:
I'll leave you with these few final thoughts. About streaming? NEVER....say never The day will come when the reliability of streaming will be solid enough to play from your own cloud. It WILL come!

As to purchasing songs and playing them at an event. (see my example on page 1) In another example, Father of Bride comes up and asks for a special song that was his wedding song, not previously discussed, and says work it in sometime tonight. I buy it, gain set it, load it, played it, got $100 bill for playing it. Was it worth the $1.29 I spent? Not to mention making a possible "referral machine" out of him.

My system works for me. If it doesn't for you.....that's fine. Go with what works. For me....doing what I can for my clients, their guests and possibly future clients, that's MY job. I have the (reliable) technology so why not use it?
Click to expand...

I agree. things change. There was a time when computers weren't reliable enough to make it through an evening. My, how that has changed.

I use my amazon cloud now a lot for my personal use, and play lots of songs through my phone and ipad. It's not quite ready for prime time, but it will be in the future.

I also agree that using technology to offer my clients what they want is important. Just because I was able to do shows years ago without the ability to acquire songs at the event years ago, doesn't mean i have to now.
 
its called progress and keeping up with the times I would say and clients will continue to raise expectation as one moves forward and the rest shall fall behind and lose credibility. Simple fact as time moves on.
 
ittigger said:
Once is more than enough. May I ask what the issue was? If you were not online, would the problem still have happened?

What does the speed of the CPU / FSB and that amount of RAM have to do with it? Is this a video system?
Click to expand...

Yes, you may. The HD was developing bad sectors b/c of a cooling fan attached to it. It started 2/6 last year, but did not notice until July. Apparently the vibration from the fans caused drive issues. I replaced the drive and started happening again. Removed the fan and problem was gone.

To date, NEVER had a system burp due to any wifi/download/etc activity. In fact, the way I assign sound devices even keeps potential embarrassing moments from occurring.
 
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