| The Pro's (and woes!) of becoming a
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| | If you are setting yourself up as a
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| Mobile D.J!
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| | specialist DJ, offering services for one
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| So how do you become a Mobile D.J?,
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| | age group or type of function, then this
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| easy!, just call yourself one!. There are
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| | will be a lot easier to fund and build a
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| no diploma's or qualifications and no
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| | music collection. However you may wish to
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| graduation ceremony. However the time may
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| | gauge the demand for that type of music
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| come where you are called upon to
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| | and DJ in your area.
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| demonstrate your D.J'ing skills and often
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| | What Equipment do I need to buy?
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| this will be in front of 100's of people
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| | Again it's not the equipment which
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| at your first gig. Entertaining such a a
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| | entertains, it's the D.J. By having the
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| large number of people can be a very
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| | latest equipment it won't make you any
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| daunting and nerve racking task.
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| | better as a D.J. It is possible to start
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| Not just music and flashing lights
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| | up on a budget of £1000, which will get
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| Mobile D.J'ing is different to club or
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| | you a sound system and a few lighting
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| radio D.J'ing. Just spending a fortune on
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| | effects. If your budget won't stretch to
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| the very latest equipment and latest
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| | this, then you may need to consider
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| chart music won't make you a successful
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| | buying 2nd hand or hiring the equipment.
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| D.J or get you re-booked. Being a Mobile
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| | More information on choosing equipment is
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| D.J is also about being an entertainer,
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| | covered on another article.
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| rather then just being a Jukebox
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| | Any good reason to start off by helping
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| surrounded by lots of pretty lights!. You
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| | another D.J, is that you gain the
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| will also have to play a lot of music
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| | experience and also find out if D.J'ing
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| genres which you may not otherwise choose
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| | suits you BEFORE spending a lot of money
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| to listen to by choice.
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| | and committment on buying equipment.
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| A successful D.J is one who plays to his
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| | Buying a comprehensive music library is
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| or her Audience, who can break the ice at
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| | far more important than how much lighting
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| difficult functions and who isn't out to
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| | you have, and should be your first
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| satisfy their own ego's. Most D.J's learn
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| | consideration. You can build up your
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| to "read" the audience, and are
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| | lighting, and upgrade your sound system
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| frequently watching the dancefloor to
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| | (if required) once the work starts coming
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| gauge what music will work next. At
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| | in to justify it.
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| Mobile Functions such as Weddings, your
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| | What else do I need?
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| audience may take some time to get onto
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| | Committment, dedication and enthusiasm is
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| the dancefloor and this is where
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| | a must. As is patience and a good sense
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| Microphone work is important in order to
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| | of humour. By definition, most Mobile
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| break the ice, make your audience feel
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| | D.J's work the weekends, so if you get a
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| welcome and encourage them onto the
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| | good reputation and a full diary, you may
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| dancefloor.
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| | have to cut down on your own personal
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| Where and how can I learn D.J skills and
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| | social activities, and this can also put
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| get advice?
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| | a strain on relationships, so make sure
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| Some people simply may not be cut out to
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| | your partner / spouse is also agreeable!.
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| D.J. Others may pick up the skills in a
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| | From a professional prospective, you
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| few months, others may take a year or
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| | should also obtain some level of PLI
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| longer. There is no hard or fast rule to
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| | (Public Liability Insurance), as a
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| learning the basics. The best, and often
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| | business within the UK it is a
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| the most successful route to becoming a
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| | requirement to have some minimum level of
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| D.J is by helping another D.J at
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| | insurance cover in order to protect you
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| weekends.
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| | in the event of causing harm to a third
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| Consider volunteering your services to
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| | party through accident or neglect. The
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| another D.J locally. Helping out as a
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| | amount of PLI cover required varies from
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| "Roadie" may not be financially rewarding
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| | £2 million to £10 million. You may find
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| but you are essentially learning new
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| | that £2 Million cover is adequate for
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| skills for free, which would cost you
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| | your area, although some hotel chains may
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| £100's on a course. Most D.J's will
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| | insist on a minimum of £5 million to
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| often cover your expenses and
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| | work at their venues.
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| refreshments, some may even pay you, in
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| | You may be asked to produce evidence of
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| return for your help, but don't expect to
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| | your PLI cover before being allowed to
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| live off it, after all they are doing you
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| | set up in some Hotels, and Council run
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| a favour by teaching you a trade, and
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| | establishments, so it is wise to get
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| sharing their knowledge.
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| | cover sooner, rather than later.
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| Learning to D.J by becoming a Roadie is
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| | How about a D.J Course or Workshop?
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| the fastest way to learn the business and
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| | These are few and far between especially
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| by actually watching another Professional
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| | in the UK, and usually aimed at teaching
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| D.J at work can teach you more than in a
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| | you beatmixing or turntable skills, which
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| classroom or College environment. Most
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| | are of little use to the Novice Mobile
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| D.J's themselves got into the business
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| | D.J. If you are aiming for club work,
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| this way, so don't be afraid to ask.
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| | then you may find a course to be of
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| What music will I need?
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| | interest, however these courses have
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| This is entirely dependant on the type of
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| | limited use on the Mobile Circuit.
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| functions which you are attending. Most
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| | D.J courses can cost between £100 and
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| Mobile DJ's will set themselves up to
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| | £1000s ($100 - $3000). Like any industry
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| cover all types of functions from
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| | there are risks, so it is important to
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| Childrens' Parties to 75th Wedding
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| | find out exactly what the course involves
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| Anniversaries, and this means playing
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| | and whether the information is of any
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| music to all age groups. Ideally you will
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| | value to you before parting with your
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| need to invest in virtually all types of
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| | money!. Some courses may of little use,
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| Genres. Rock & Roll, 1960's, 1970's,
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| | others may teach you the basics find out
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| Disco, Funk, Soul, Motown, 1980's, 1990's
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| | exactly what each one offers and weigh up
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| as well as the latest chart and club
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| | the benefits to you.
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| dance music.
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