Pre-Party Preparation Procedures

[TheLostProphet]

What are some of the pre-party preparation procedures you take to get yourself ready at home and at the party itself?

[djx]

i visualize my setup, from power outlet to speaker, and make sure everything in between is packed

[djscrizzle]

same for me...

[TheLostProphet]

^^ how do you guys deal with crowds i feel like i've been doing something wrong the whole time. Being 13, people think they can fuck with my shit and i won't do anything...

[Legs Diamond]

Unless you are in a controlled environment you will always have people trying to fuck with your shit. Even in some clubs I've seen people touch the dj's equipment. I'm 26 years old and EVERY house party I spin there will be someone wanting to touch the record and try to scratch. Get use to that shit.

If its a house party just tell the kids to stay the fuck off your shit unless they can afford to replace it. I have never had a problem telling people not to touch my shit. The first time be nice about it, but when they keep coming back, tell the how it is. Explain that you are trying to do a job.

[DJ FatMaster]

Tell those bitches off man thats how you gotta do it, or bring a big friend with you...


:dj: FAT

[d3vi0uz]

find out how much space i have to work with and find out how much space i have for my equipment. come at least an hour early before tha party starts and set up everything.

[TheLostProphet]

Legs Diamond thanks I'll keep that in mind :|

[DJ Doc Martin]

I don't think you should be a douche about people messing with your gear. If you are coureous and just say "hey man-chillax you're getting too close to my gear" people will ussually understand. yelling at drunk people is a recipe for disaster and should be your last resort. Even if you do have a big freind, the odds of your shit getting messed up while you beat someone's ass is much higher than someone just touching buttons.

Anyways, I have a system of packing and unpacking my gear. All the chords go in a chord bag. All the lights go in a light case-etc. etc. I try to have more chords and accessories than i will need. If you are really worried try to set everything up and tear everything down once. Or just go early so you can go back if you forget stuff.

I Go for a minnimalist approach too-it's fun setting that stuff up at the beginning of the night, but packing it all up to go home sucks ass.

Also, i know this will sound bad, but I bring a big bottle of something to drink because then I can pee in it later. Ussually the bathroom line is like 15-30 minutes and leaving your gear unattended is pretty scarey for me. Especially if you drinkw hile you DJ.

I always try to get in a "DJ" mindset. It's kinda scarey being the center of the party sometimes, but it's an awesome rush. I try to calm myself down and tell myself i'm gonna rock this party and get in the DJing zone, ya know? I always clean myself up and wear nice clothes as well-the groupies always appreciate that sorta thing (in my dreams :)).

[DJ D3CIB3L]

how to prepare: hmm. I write up a whole standard list of all the gear i have to carry around. I pack up at home then do a runthrough to make sure everything works then a final runthrough to make sure its still good. I load up the car and then look over the list to see if i forgot anything. then we roll.

Also, make sure you have the mapquest directions and the gig addy with you. bring business cards and tape, a few backup cords and a bottle of water and a bandana (i get thirsty and sweat eaisly- its summer and it gets wayy wayy hot when you start carrying around your gear.

Get all clean and put some colonge (sp?) on. wear a nice dress shirt and nice pants. A facade will work well seeing as many people would not see what you have behind the dj booth. keep it on the low and people wont be curious.

At the party itself- take your time setting up unless you are limited on time. at the party- remain calm and dont let other things distract you. When trying to shoo away people- say it nice first and then your going to have to be mean the next time if they dont listen to you. At house parties you are bound to have people touching your stuff. I hate when people do that - they deserve a kick in the balls- seriously. i hate when they dont listen and just keep touching your stuff. then it comes to the point when they either get hurt while my assistant keeps the booth under control or ill just get one of my friends at the party to get a hold of them and keep them away from the booth. if you cant do that- make sure you get the protection plan on your gear. Till next time- peace

[alterboy]

Also, i know this will sound bad, but I bring a big bottle of something to drink because then I can pee in it later. Ussually the bathroom line is like 15-30 minutes and leaving your gear unattended is pretty scarey for me. Especially if you drinkw hile you DJ.


WTF??!!

Real classy.

What sort of trailer parks do you usually get gigs at?

Seriously, WTF? :uhoh:

[thprodigi]

who doesn't pee in their water bottles!?!?! and then you can store it! and throw it at people who are asking for it...you know what people I'm talkin' about.

[Rabid Wombat]

i think i just solved the problem of how to keep people from touching my gear at parties....

[geo-metric]

i group my setup so it takes up one corner of my room. when i dj a party i just load ALL of it up in my truck. if the corner is empty then i know i have everything. if you keep it all organized it works and alot easier than stressing the whole way there wondering if you have everything.

i like to get there an hour early set up and take a look at my records. i usually group some of the stuff i want to play together and get it all lined up so im not fumbling around the whole night. the first couple i did i wrote out a playlist, hard to get shit wrong and eliminates alot of stress while your doing your first couple gigs.

alot of people feel its cool to touch my gear during the party. iv e come to the conclusion to just kill them on the spot. sometimes you just have to say fuck it.

[thprodigi]

alot of people feel its cool to touch my gear during the party. iv e come to the conclusion to just kill them on the spot. sometimes you just have to say fuck it.

bottle o' piss... I'm tellin' ya man.

[Kullz]

haha lol

anyone feel like they cant do a gig alone, i.e need a crew or a bat or sumfin?

[DJ ViViD]

Has anyone ever tried this...or would this be a real big fuck-up on the DJs part....lets say some dude is screwing with your gear, you tell him to get outa there and your nice about it, he doesn't move or keeps screwing around...then you just cut the music right where it is and yell "get the fuck away from my gear" and make it look like the stop in music was caused by him...I would assume all the ppl there would get pissed off at the guy and he would then leave you alone for the rest of the night...or would it be a majorly bad idea to just stop the music like that...thoughts?

[Kullz]

haha worth a try, but you gotta act it through! like afterwards make an announcement like "sorry for the inconvenience people" and make it genuine

and be prepared to defend urself if he fights

[Method2125]

I have a Chevy P20 step van that I keep all my equipment in. It never leaves the truck so I always have everything I need. I try to get to the gig at least an hour early so that I can get everything loaded in and set up, talk to the client and make sure everything is in order,etc. In the winter I generally try to show up at least an hour and a half early.

My equipment stays in my truck so if it's below freezing my equipment is as well and moisture will condense on the equipment. I did a gig this past year when it was -10 and when I brought my amp rack in the metal on it actually frosted up because it froze the condensation. I was there about 2.5 hours early for that one. I try to get a fan to blow on my equipment and circulate air to wick away moisture.

Once I get onsite I survey the area to find out where my power outlets are, where the light dimmers are, etc

-Mike