| It used to be that if you were having a get together | | | | That's the bare minimum, you could also get some |
| you had to pick up your local phone book and call | | | | lights and lasers etc. but that really depends on your |
| every Entertainment Company phone number to get | | | | event age group and type of party you are hosting. |
| an idea what your event would cost. Inevitably you | | | | Sounds easy enough right? Again I can't argue the |
| and in most cases your significant other then had to | | | | fact that this really isn't rocket science but... |
| make a choice based on budget and your gut feeling | | | | What happens a lot is that the self proclaimed disc |
| alone. A lot has changed over the years, special event | | | | jockey of the night sets up his rented gear and checks |
| disc jockeys don't use tapes or records anymore, | | | | his sound, but wait, why does it sound like I'm in a |
| heck most don't even use CD's and as for the phone | | | | tunnel, no maybe a tin can; well you get my point |
| book, well with the worldwide web growing by leaps | | | | acoustics have as much to do with your party as |
| and bounds every day that phone book is better used | | | | anything else. A good disc jockey company and an |
| to replace the broken leg on that old couch in the | | | | experienced, trained host can use equalizers to adjust |
| basement than as a tool to assist you in finding a | | | | the sound until you are no longer dancing in what |
| qualified host or disc jockey for your upcoming special | | | | sounds kind of like an echo chamber! They have done |
| event. | | | | dozens, some hundreds of events or parties just like |
| As I stated above most North American mobile DJ | | | | yours and understand sound, by correctly evaluating |
| services have gone digital storing all their music on | | | | the room and speaker alignment they can make |
| massive external hard drives to avoid the disc | | | | everything sound perfect, so good in fact you would |
| damage that was inevitable in the past. With that in | | | | swear you where at your favourite local hotspot. |
| mind a lot of folks think "Hey, why pay a disc jockey | | | | So far it's 2 and 0 for the DJ's of North America but I |
| service hundreds of dollars when I have a perfectly | | | | do have one more very important factor for you to |
| good iPod that does basically the same thing. I can rent | | | | consider, like anything else iPods, speakers, sound |
| a sound system from my local music store for under | | | | boards and even wires can break or become glitchy, |
| $50 and just run my music through the iPod, right?" | | | | when you rent equipment you don't get any extra just |
| Well, yes you could do just that, however there is | | | | the basics so what happens if halfway through the |
| much more to be considered when planning an event | | | | night one of your speaker wires dies? Or your rented |
| that you want to run well. | | | | dance floor light blows? Surely you don't have |
| Let me start by pointing out that music tastes are vast | | | | replacements? |
| and unpredictable and chances are just because you | | | | OMG Party Over! That's right folks your parent's 40th |
| think that your musical intellect is flawless chances are | | | | anniversary party is now ruined and who do they have |
| at least half of your guests won't and will be gone | | | | to thank? You, the guy or girl who didn't want to shell |
| from your event within just a few hours. Another very | | | | out the cash for the professionals, If only you had hired |
| important thing to consider is that your guests are | | | | a pro disc jockey service I'd be willing to bet they |
| going to ask for requests, a lot of them, that's a | | | | would have had extra wires, speakers, bulbs and such |
| guarantee and there is absolutely no way you could | | | | along with a massive music library to keep all your |
| possibly have all the songs that are being requested. | | | | guests happy all night long because the music was |
| I've been in this business running entertainment | | | | great, all their requests were played and sounded |
| companies throughout Ontario for over two decades | | | | awesome! |
| and can tell you our music library currently sits at over | | | | I don't suggest disc jockeying your own upcoming |
| 40,000 tracks, I update new music weekly and still end | | | | event, but if I can't talk you out of it here are some |
| up not having at least two or three requests on | | | | helpful suggestions... |
| average despite our best effort, so as you see very | | | | You are going to need to rent the following equipment |
| quickly; your 200 song iPod playlist is definitely not | | | | for an average party of fewer than 150 people. |
| going to cut it! | | | | 2X 250 Watt Speakers |
| Then we move along to the sound system, although I | | | | 2X 25 Foot 1/4 Inch Jack Speaker Wires |
| don't ever recommend doing your event yourself I will | | | | 2X Speaker Stands |
| point out at the end of this article the basic setup | | | | 1 200-300 Watt Powered Mixer |
| needed to effectively disc jockey with your iPod for | | | | 1 stereo mini jack to 1/4 inch output wire |
| those willing to roll the dice. What more can I say, | | | | This is a list of the bare essentials other items that you |
| basically to DJ your own event you are going to need | | | | may want are sub speaker "base bin", laser dance |
| to rent a few speakers, speaker stands, amplifier, | | | | floor lighting, mirror ball, light cans, fog etc. |
| soundboard and a bunch of wires to make it all work. | | | | |