Only just realised I posted this thread twice - sorry!

Guys - many thanks for your kind wishes and great advice.'Speaker delay' is the thing I'm most worried about because once I start a mix, I generally take off my headphones and mix off the speakers or monitors. I think I'm going to have to get used to doing mixes in my headphones (which are HD25's so I think they'll be up to the task).

oDori - many thanks for your kind wishes and great advice. 'Speaker delay' is the thing I'm most worried about because once I start a mix, I generally take off my headphones and mix off the speakers or monitors. I think I'm going to have to get used to doing mixes in my headphones (which are HD25's so I think they'll be up to the task).

I'm told the monitoring is excellent at the club so hopefully this might counteract the whole speaker-delay thing?

From the good advice I've been given so far, it sounds as if I should do the following:

* turn the monitors right up to counteract speaker echo
* mix in headphones wherever possible to get a true feel for the mix
* don't panic! (easier said than done! )

Last edited by tu_face on Jul-16-2004 at 16:29

quote:

Originally posted by FirstBorn Only just realised I posted this thread twice - sorry! oDori - many thanks for your kind wishes and great advice. 'Speaker delay' is the thing I'm most worried about because once I start a mix, I generally take off my headphones and mix off the speakers or monitors. I think I'm going to have to get used to doing mixes in my headphones (which are HD25's so I think they'll be up to the task). I'm told the monitoring is excellent at the club so hopefully this might counteract the whole speaker-delay thing? It sounds as if I should do the following: * turn the monitors right up to counteract speaker echo * mix in headphones wherever possible to get a true feel for the mix * don't panic! (easier said than done! )

Be respectful of the slot you are playing, if you are warming up don't play major stuff etc.

Don't be too worried about your mixing, focus more on your track selection as it has to be appropriate. A crowd will forgive a dodgy mix but wont respond to music that they are not ready for or don't want to hear.

DONT have drinks before hand to calm the nerves as you may find you calm them to the point where you are slaughtered... and that never works.

Take it as a learning experience. If the monitoring is good in the club then the system on the floor shouldn't be a problem, with any luck the system will be designed to help the DJ.

If you are going to interact with the crowd, try and find the core elements on the dancefloor. See which groups are your energy creators and see if you can play to them.

Above all, enjoy it and ignore any DJs in crowd as they will always try and pretend they could have done it better even though the only people they play for are their cat and mum.

Cheers
Nem

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quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 If you are going to interact with the crowd, try and find the core elements on the dancefloor. See which groups are your energy creators and see if you can play to them.

This is such a good point. To expand on it a bit further, if you can keep those "energy creators" involved and dancing to a set, it'll tend to keep other people in the club interested in dancing. Similarily, if you see people start to wander, chances are that others will tend to follow them off the floor.

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Click below to download my most recent trance set:
DJ Kibon - August 2004

quote:

Originally posted by FirstBorn Only just realised I posted this thread twice - sorry! Guys - many thanks for your kind wishes and great advice.'Speaker delay' is the thing I'm most worried about because once I start a mix, I generally take off my headphones and mix off the speakers or monitors. I think I'm going to have to get used to doing mixes in my headphones (which are HD25's so I think they'll be up to the task). I'm told the monitoring is excellent at the club so hopefully this might counteract the whole speaker-delay thing? From the good advice I've been given so far, it sounds as if I should do the following: * turn the monitors right up to counteract speaker echo * mix in headphones wherever possible to get a true feel for the mix * don't panic! (easier said than done! )

So long as you have a decent monitor, I would mostly suggest ignoring what you're hearing from the rest of the club, as it can be deceiving. Generally speaking you should trust things in the following order:

- what you hear on your headphones
- what you hear on your monitors
- what your overall experience tells you should sound good
- what you are hearing from the club's PA system

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DJ Kibon



Click below to download my most recent trance set:
DJ Kibon - August 2004

quote:

Originally posted by FirstBorn I've been DJing for about 2 years and playing out for about six months or so. All the gigs I've had so far have either been at house parties or in bars where the sound system has been relatively small. However, I've just been booked for my first club gig - I've been given a peak-time slot, in front of up to 800 people. To say I'm a bit nervous is something of an understatement. The bit I'm most worried about is the transition from the small systems that I've been used to, to a huge club set-up. Can anyone give me any advice on how to handle this transition and what to expect? Thanks!

first off... congrats.

while i dont have any good advices to give like other more experienced TAs here... i do want to tell you to enjoy your time and take it easy.

hey, you better post after that first gig! i would love to hear how it went.

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why should you expect a delay in sound ? if you got a pair of good monitors near your ears you're fine.

quote:

Originally posted by postman why should you expect a delay in sound ? if you got a pair of good monitors near your ears you're fine.

Monitors are often inadequate.
The sheer volume and spl of the main system can often overpower them too or l;ead to mudiness

quote:

Originally posted by subtledreamer first off... congrats. while i dont have any good advices to give like other more experienced TAs here... i do want to tell you to enjoy your time and take it easy. hey, you better post after that first gig! i would love to hear how it went.

That's really kind - thank you very much! I posted this thread to get some good advice, which I've definitely got, but it's really cool how so many people have wished me good luck. Thanks to all of you!

I'll post after the gig... but you're in for a bit of a wait - it isn't until mid-August! It's a monthly night so fortunately/unfortunately I've got plenty of time to practice/worry about things (delete according to how I'm feeling on any given day).

quote:

Originally posted by wiregen 1. Rely on your headphones. The club I dj at the monitors are TERRIBLE and the bass response is so bad (almost a second delay) so if you try to match the beats you will be thrown off by the sound system. Presuming ur venue is like my club...we get about 1300 people during my playtime. 2. Pratice mixing in ur headphones, or also try cranking your home system to emulate a club enviorment :P

great advise, unless the setup is fabulous you are gonna be hit with the booth/system delay

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drink a can of redbull. tastes like shit but it keeps your concentration high. also be careful with the gains.. on large systems its always a lot more noticable if you get it too loud, and people like their ears

other than that, i think all i was going to say has been covered!

good luck

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Is it really neccesary when doing the warm up set to play such totally annoying shit?
I have only been in a club once where the warm up set was actually worth staying on the floor through the whole thing.
How is one gonna get hired again if you have to play stuff no one wants to listen to? I know the mainliners have to look good.

i'm a total noob btw.

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quote:

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My Discogs.

quote:

Originally posted by Gunyouken Is it really neccesary when doing the warm up set to play such totally annoying shit? I have only been in a club once where the warm up set was actually worth staying on the floor through the whole thing. How is one gonna get hired again if you have to play stuff no one wants to listen to? I know the mainliners have to look good. i'm a total noob btw.

see: the difference between good dj's and bad dj's

i have seen many warm-up sets which have been fantastic. the point of a warm-up set is not to go mental, but to have some good music that gets people in the mood for the nights procedings. if you can't do that as a warm-up dj then you shouldn't be warming up.

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MUGGETS