Equipment and Music Blog |
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PA SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT Good quality equipment and sound is very important to us and only trusted brand names will do. Our DJs use the branded and reliable equipment in different combinations to ensure that the sound quality at your event is of the highest standard.
 PA SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT HIRE Speakers: 2 x Wharfedale Titan 15" (Active) 4 x Wharfedale Titan 12" (Active) 2 x 15 Inch Wharfedale DLX Sub Woofers (Active) 2 x Wharfedale EVP12X (Passive) 2 x Wharfedale DLX15 (Passive)
Players: 2 x Pioneer CDJ-400 1 x Pioneer DDJ-Ergo V 2 x Technics SL1210 (Limited and Discontinued) Mixing Desks: 1 x Allen & Heath Z10 small band mixer (USB) 1 x Vestax PMC280 4 Channel Professional DJ Mixing Desk 1 x Gemini PS201 2 Channel DJ Mixer
Microphones: 1 x Phillips BETA Corded Microphone 3 x Shure PG 58 Vocal Microphones 1 x Shure PG24/PG58 (Wireless Handheld Mic) 1 x Shure PG14E/PG185 (Wireless Lapel Mic) 2 x JB Systems UHF Microhophone (Wireless Lapel Mic) 2 x Denon UHF Microhophone (Handheld cordless Mic) LIGHTING 1 x Spectrum Dual LED and Laser Light 1 x Chauvet Mushroom LED (uses red, green, blue and white LED) 1 x Double Derby 9-watt 3-in-1 RGB TRI Color LEDs produces a variety of color effects (Red, Green, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Cyan & White) 1 x Chauvet OBEY10 DMX Controller 1 x Mini Laser 7w Red Green Blue 1 x Antari F80Z 700w Fog Machine 8 x PAR 64 LED Slimline Parcans and stands Chauvet CH-31 Portable Trussing INTERESTING LINKS Bloem Village: http://www.bloemvillage.co.za www.bloemfontein.co.zame HOW TO CHOSE A DJ: 1 Experience The amount of experience your DJ has is a very important factor. How long has he been playing? How much corporate events and weddings experience does he have? This will give you a clear indication of the DJ’s ability to successfully entertain your guests. A DJ should, upon request, provide you with information on his performing experience and contact details of previous brides for reference. He should also give you a sense that he is knowledgeable about wedding protocols and the music you enjoy. Anyone can play a song, but it takes a true professional to be able to make the dance floor come alive. 2 Meet face to face Ensure that you and your DJ meet face to face. Telephone conversations and communicating via emails is not good enough. Your DJ company may have a reputation that proceeds them, but the DJ they hired today might not. If you are making use of a DJ company, be sure to meet with the DJ, that will actually be supplying the music at your wedding. There is no use in simply meeting the face of the company, when he is not the one that will be responsible for entertaining your guests. It is also very important that you and your DJ get along well… after- all, you are trusting him with the success of the most important day of your life. 3 Is he a competent wedding dj or club DJ or corporate DJ? This is an aspect that you should not underestimate. A wedding is different from any other event. The DJ should not necessarily be very good at scratch mixing, or beat mixing. A good wedding/corporate DJ is flexible, knows how to adjust to the audience and to the event, and comes well prepared for his part in the wedding celebration. A good DJ will always take requests, as this helps him to understand and read his crowd even better. Be careful to choose a DJ that “specialises” in a specific genre of music, because a good DJ is versatile in his work. His knowledge of music has to be so exceptional that he is capable of entertaining people from the age of 13, up to the age of 90. Being a wedding DJ is an art. 4 Document your agreement A written contract that covers every detail is absolutely necessary. Don't be taken in by a DJ who claims that a contract is a waste of time – it’s not! The contract should include: the name of your actual DJ, the date, time and location of your event, the cost, and any stipulations under which the contract can be broken. Your DJ should also allow you to make additional requirements, and add it to the contract. It is very important that you get every detail in writing, not only for your own reference, but also in case something goes wrong. A DJ that makes use of a contract is not likely to take any chances, as this gives him legal liability. 5 Does he use professional equipment and does he have backup? All I need is the right music and big speakers, right? Absolutely not! It is very important to make sure your DJ uses professional equipment. The music will just sound that much better and the chances of technical failure will be a lot less. Make sure you find out what your DJ’s equipment and lighting rig looks like – you've gone to a lot of effort and expense getting the perfect look and you don't want it spoiled with equipment that looks unprofessional. It is also imperative that your DJ has a backup service in place, in case of equipment failure. You certainly do not want the most important night of your life to end with a speaker blowing, and there is no replacement speaker available. Also be sure to check with your DJ, as to how the backup equipment will be brought to your wedding. Will the DJ need to leave in order to fetch it or is it a simple matter of making a phone call? Then, there is always the possibility that your DJ can’t make it to your wedding due to unforeseen circumstances. So, what now? Make sure that your DJ is prepared for such an event and that he has a standby DJ in place. 6 How diverse is his music collection? At a wedding you have a very diverse crowd, thus very diverse tastes in music. Your DJ needs to be able to cater to everyone’s taste. A good DJ will give every guest the opportunity to enjoy his or her favorite genre or era of music for a period of time. His music collection needs to be versatile in order to entertain all your guests. 7 Does he come recommended? Before you decide on a DJ for your wedding, be sure to ask him for his references. The last thing you want is for a start-out DJ to ruin your big day. If it is possible try to come in contact with some of his previous clients and hear what they have to say. 8 Price versus quality As with most services and products, the price you pay is linked to the quality of that service or product. Sure, you will always find the guy that wants to charge double for what the service is actually worth. Ask for a few quotes from various well known or recommended DJ’s. This will give you a good idea of what the industry cost average is. Of course you have a specific budget and it should definitely be taken into consideration, but just make sure that it is not the deciding factor. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true… it normally is Our Dj's can confidently cater for a wide variety of music styles including: - Pop music & Commercial music - Rock /Metal/Alternative/Raggae - Traditional: Kwaito/Portuguese /Greek / Indian / Afrikaans - Best of the Oldies 70-90's music etc. etc. How to chose a DJ
Posted 611 weeks ago
Posted 612 weeks ago
Posted 612 weeks ago
Posted 619 weeks ago
Choosing the correct affiliates Hey Dj’s
Today I’m going discuss the importance of choosing the correct affiliates and the value of maintaining your business reputation. Being a Disk Jockey is more than just playing music and being good at it. You have to approach yourself as a business and as all business owners know, your business is something you gave birth to and will have to nurture to help it grow. In the entertainment industry, you will often be asked to assist in promoting events. This association should be carefully considered because your affiliates actions and ethics might not be on par with yours and you and your business could possibly be stigmatized as amateur or corrupt. It is crucial to affiliate yourself with people who share your values, entrepreneurial spirit, and vision. If an affiliate is reluctant, combative, or unable to consider your viewpoint it will be harder to promote a successful venture. Chose an affiliate that can offer resources and credibility to your business, a strong business network, industry connections, client list, or certain credentials and expertise can also increase the value of your business and improve your chances for achieving long-term success. Often the success of any event is measured by the fiscal returns. An affiliate who mismanages personal or business finances may not have the skills or discipline to make a business partnership work, so choose an affiliate or partner that practices good personal and business ethics because a poorly chosen business associate may end up stealing from you, the company, taking your ideas or clients to start their own business, or even breaking laws that could get your business into legal trouble. Once again the bottom line is Use Discretion! And take note that any good business person will tell you that the value of a company’s good name or reputation is priceless. P.L.U.R!
Posted 709 weeks ago
A DJ's Skill Howdy peeps Last weekend I played a set in a very tiny village in the Free State called Clarens and after 4 and a half hours behind the decks, I was left in a state of bliss! Having totally satisfied my need for a marathon set to a absolutely stunning receptive crowd and trust me when I say that you cannot imagine the the amazing feeling of staying 4 hours behind the decks and keeping the dance floor satisfied whilst blasting away all your favorite tunes unless you’ve done it. This once again makes me believe that a professional DJ’s skill comes from a diverse knowledge in music and the ability to assess the crowds tastes and then correctly select and mix the music to provide a memorable and satisfying aural experience. After this wondrous set, I was given the honor of signing the “Wall of Fame" @ Rock Bottom. I have to admit that there is nothing better than the warmth, friendliness and kindness of the Clarens community and thank the guys from Rock Bottom for their hospitality. P.L.U.R!
Posted 710 weeks ago
In-House Dj's Some function venues genuinely recommend various DJ firms that they have seen perform and know to be reliable to clients, or even organise a Dj on their client’s behalf as an added service. This is because they realise how important a good DJ’s contribution can be to the success of the function. Conversely, they know that no matter how good their catering may be, a bad DJ can leave the clients with an overall negative impression of the evening. However, there are some circumstances we would like to warn about; particularly the offer of a so-called “Free” DJ with the room hire of catering. Over the years we have been advised of instances where:
Frequently, the function manager is paid a “commission” or “spotter’s fee” for recommending a particular Dj firm. Ironically, the manager often doesn’t even attend the function and thus doesn’t see the Dj they recommend in action, so they don’t know how good or bad they really are. Once again, use discretion and check the dj’s credentials! Have a great weekend! P.L.U.R Peace, Love, Unity and Respect
Posted 719 weeks ago
Hey music lovers today, I’m going to discuss DJ/Artist Agencies. Agents can represent up to as many as 30 Professional DJ’s, who are often represented by other agencies as well as Radio Stations. There are probably ten or twelve “Agency”-Type firms operating in South Africa and ironically, they give the impression of being the big players in the industry by high profile advertising and providing you with a list of most popular Dj in the country. However, their going rate and the capital investment might be in the range of at least R30 000 plus per gig. The "Agency-Type” Firms are a bit of a “lottery” in that there is very little quality control. They may well have some very good and popular DJ’s working for them, however, there is potential for a large variation from DJ to DJ and that the DJ might be double booked or worst case scenario the agent/agency may be a fraudulent fly by night agent and the DJ which was booked through that agency might not even be aware of this booking. Some club owners might not even meet their DJ staff when booked through an agency, furthermore, while some firms supply the Dj’s, the music is largely supplied by the disk jockey themselves, mostly from their home CD collections. In some instances the DJ’s are paid well below the going industry rates (as little as R800 for a 4 Hour show). Thus they find it hard to afford to keep up to date or expand their music collection. Dj Agencies have been known to forward a list of popular Dj’s to the clients, however, this can bear little resemblance to the range of music the DJ has available at that function, due to the reasons mentioned above. Thus you’re often at the mercy of the DJ’s own personal tastes. This emphasises the need for some form of control which is only achieved through experience in the entertainment industry. Overall, the “Agency-Type” Firms seem to appear to be more interested in putting as many shows as they can on the road, and making an extraordinary profits rather than striving to provide the best possible service to the client. Now you know..
Posted 723 weeks ago
Being a Mobile Dj requires a particular personality trait. Carrying heavy equipment in the early hours in the morning is all part of the job. Creating playlist that should contain a variety of songs that will be enjoyed by all your guests old and young requires skill, musical knowledge, persistence and a great customer service attitude. Some function venues, catering companies, event organizers and promoters genuinely recommend various mobile DJ’s that they have seen perform and know to be reliable to clients, or even organise a Dj and sound system on their client’s behalf as an added service. This is because they realise how important a good DJ’s contribution can be to the success of the function. Conversely, they know that no matter how good their catering may be, a bad DJ can leave the clients with an overall negative impression of the evening. Many professional Dj’s started out as mobile Dj’s where they gain experience in reading a crowds response to his music selection and thus, mobile Dj’s are able to expand their music collection and knowledge. However, there are some circumstances I’d like to warn about; particularly the offer of a so-called “Free” DJ with the venue hire of catering. Experience has shown that there has been of instances where the DJ recommended or organised by the venue is actually a relative or friend of the manager and the manager is charged a greatly reduced price by the DJ but charges a normal industry price to the client, making a substantial profit. Or even worst, a venue apparently offering a “Free” DJ with the venue but allegedly placing a hidden surcharge onto the catering cost per head to make a substantial profit above the DJ’s charge. Mobile DJ’s serve a domestic function and only cater for smaller domestic functions such as weddings and private parties, so purchase laptops and ready-made consoles as well as smaller more portable sound systems. Professional mobile disk jockeys will often have more than two sets of Dj consoles and thus they are able to provide limited back up if something goes wrong. Frequently, function managers are paid a “commission” or “spotter’s fee” for recommending a particular Dj. Ironically, the manager often doesn’t even attend the function and thus doesn’t see the Dj they recommend in action, so they don’t know how good or bad they really are. Once again use discretion when selecting a mobile DJ for your function, even if everything else is perfect, without good music the party is likely to fizzle. Until next time party peeps
Posted 725 weeks ago
Posted 725 weeks ago
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