From Bedroom to Big Stage: Mastering DJ Gigs and Gear - Ep#4

Embark on a journey with Elia and me, Nino, as we swap tales of transitioning from bedroom hobbyists to professional DJs—that terrifying yet thrilling ride rife with palpable beats and first-gig jitters. In this episode of the Clever DJ podcast, we're not just spinning records; we're spinning stories of stumbling, fumbling, but ultimately mastering the decks in front of a live crowd. Our candid conversation peels back the curtain on the must-haves for live performances, from the sturdiest PA speakers to headphones that have heard more beats than a metronome, and how embracing the occasional slip-up is the true rhythm of growth.

Picture this: You're gearing up for the gig that could launch your DJ career, but is your equipment up to scratch? We get down to brass tacks on the gear that makes or breaks a DJ's set. Whether you're contemplating the sleek allure of wireless systems or sticking with the tried-and-true wired mics, we've got anecdotes and advice to ensure your setup isn't just an auditory delight but also a feast for the eyes. We'll even guide you through the maze of lighting and cable management, ensuring your DJ booth is the beacon of the night.

When the spotlight hits, will you be prepared? Our in-depth chat wraps up with a masterclass in DJ gig preparation and versatility. From the wisdom of backup gear to curating a playlist that'll have every toe tapping, we're here to bolster your confidence. We tackle everything from gear organization to the art of reading a room, ensuring your first professional gig won't be your last. So tune in, turn up the volume, and get ready to elevate your DJ prowess with the Clever DJ podcast—where the beats drop, but the knowledge doesn't stop.

Visit our website: https://thecleverdj.com

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecleverdj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecleverdj?utm_source=qr&igsh=ZnRubWZnMjl1M3ln
YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCleverDJ
YouTube Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCleverDJClips
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecleverdj
TikTok: @TheCleverDJ

Transcript

Ilia: 0:20

Welcome back everyone to another episode of the Clever DJ. My name is Ilia

Nino: 0:26

and my name is Nino. Welcome, welcome back everybody. We're excited for this episode.

Ilia: 0:31

We are on episode number four, sir. Almost the end of the month, one more episode to go after this. Yeah, we're getting there. We're getting there. This is turning out to be quite a bit of fun. So, yeah, today we're going to just add on to what we spoke about last episode. Just, last episode was more about how to get into DJing and what you need at home just to get started, just to get into the craft. Yes, and now it's going to be what you need to actually go out there and go to a gig for, you know, for a client, whether it's at a club, outdoors, indoors, wedding bar.

Nino: 1:11

Yeah, so don't be afraid, this is a big leap in your career, right? But very big, very big right, and there's a lot to be afraid of. But you just got to do it. If you want to get better, too, right.

Ilia: 1:22

That's what you always told me. Yes, exactly. It took me a while to listen to you, Mm-hmm, and it was terrifying because the thing is I didn't feel ready and you'll never feel ready until you go and do it and you will make mistakes. But if you really want it, you will make sure you don't mess up too much and you fix it before it's, before it's just you know, there's no coming back from it.

Nino: 1:48

That's the thing you just have to. You're going to get better while you do it right, but and then that's. That's the thing too. You don't want to start off with really big, big gigs. You want to do family stuff and mobile stuff too as well.

Ilia: 2:01

You want to stick with that stuff, yeah, and I honestly feel like the mistakes I made in the beginning they were, they were, you know, they're not very small mistakes but at the same time, they didn't care that much because I focused on other things. I focused on my customer service, I focused on, you know, making sure they don't notice it, or something like that. They wouldn't anyway. They're not, unless you notice it.

Nino: 2:30

Unless you make it notice so noticeable for them.

Ilia: 2:33

Unless you like kind of full tilt, like, oh my God, what did I just do?

Nino: 2:38

Right, yeah, they're not going to notice it. Only you do Right, and that's that's up to you to keep a straight face and just stay professional. You don't want to make it so it seems so thing.

Ilia: 2:48

So whether they, do or don't notice. Don't make it worse by by kind of like getting into your own head and just not being able to continue, kind of ruin your mood and stuff. But you know that really helped getting out there, yep. And it didn't take three or four or six gigs for me to like notice it. After the first gig, what did I tell you? Oh, this was so different. This was, I know. I know you remember the texts I do At like one or two am I do this guy?

Nino: 3:20

right after his gig he texted me and let update me on, like it was a moment. It was amazing. Oh my God, I learned so much. I'm like I know.

Ilia: 3:30

And you're like what did they tell you? Like, yes, yes, you're always right, so, yeah. So this is a transition from DJing at home or just, you know, for fun, wherever you are, and then actually professionally if you can use the word for your first gig DJing for a client yes, so there'd be a mobile gig or even a club gig, right?

Nino: 3:55

So we're going to cover both, both ends.

Ilia: 3:57

Yeah. So how to not mess up your first DJ gig in public, wherever it may be? Show up, yeah, show up. But I guess let's start from the gear, like the stuff that you need to know, that you have to invest into, because now you're stepping up to to the big league, now you're not just DJing at home on your computer speakers or, like you know, some cheap headphones. You need to have better gear so you'll be able to have stuff to support your, your experience. You'll be able to.

Nino: 4:33

You're not going to bring your monitor speakers to a gig. Honestly right it's yeah you're going to. You're going to bring professional PA speakers. Pa speakers, so good for how many people are going to be there, like a hundred or 50. Right, they have to be able to be amplified for that amount of people.

Ilia: 4:52

So yeah, and sound proper. The quality has to be there. And the headphones, I mean, if you have really lousy headphones, it'll be hard for you to and and I, I started like that. I thought my headphones were great, but you know, I did not invest in a really good pair and it just it made it harder for me to listen to music and monitor what I'm doing. And it's very important, right? Unless you're just like preparing a mix and you're faking it, which you should never do.

Nino: 5:21

So you heard a difference, right and headphones big time.

Ilia: 5:24

So he actually gave me these.

Nino: 5:27

How many did you have? I had I have three, so I gave you one of them. Yeah, yeah.

Ilia: 5:33

I always said, OK, I can still feel how much is sweating them.

Nino: 5:37

I gave him his mojo. I get my mojo.

Ilia: 5:40

Yeah, I'm like OK, I got, I got a DJ mojo, but I did have, I did have to. I didn't have to, but I chose to replace the you know what I wanted you to replace them. It's.

Nino: 5:51

I replaced a few pieces here, so they're really worn out and just falling apart and just changing color and stuff. I'm like, yeah, it's kind of gross man and he's like you know, no, I want the mojo.

Ilia: 6:00

I want to be a DJ. I'm going to put on my head, I'm going to be a pro right away. But you know, like I, you don't have to go for, you know, the gimmick beats or anything that really costs a lot of money, like what we have.

Nino: 6:18

But you know there are inexpensive options out there that are really, really good.

Ilia: 6:22

Yeah, and we're going to list it all. Like we said, you can check out the website, Check out the social media posts, everything that we're talking about and maybe we didn't get, didn't get it enough in detail, Didn't go enough in detail and we're going to have that in a form of text so you can actually find what we're talking about, be able to locate those products and learn more about what we were talking about. So it's not too vague, right? So what else do we need? So PA speakers number one. Number one Don't scam on those. Don't be cheap when it comes to PA speakers, because here's the thing. I had several options. I could go for something that was like three, four hundred bucks on Amazon or even anywhere else. I could find cheap ones. Some people swore by them. I listened to them. They don't sound good. It's very muddy.

Nino: 7:22

There's a difference between cheap speakers and quality speakers, right, and they're not really that expensive as well.

Ilia: 7:29

But it's an investment right.

Nino: 7:31

It is if you're gonna take this seriously, you wanna invest something good instead of replacing it every other year because it breaks down right, yeah, so I invested what I think they cost seven, 29 or something. Yeah, it's been like flying in front of you for like this is like something flying in front of you for like a minute and a half.

Ilia: 7:50

There's another one right there. There you go. Okay, I got it. So, if I'm not mistaken, there were seven 29 plus tax, or something like that, or after tax plus tax, plus taxes on top of that. So it was about $1,600, just over 1,600. So that pair that I bought was cheaper than one speaker that I wanted to get. I wanted to get a pair of those, a pair of those so unnecessary. So they're amazing speakers and one day I will get them, but right now I'm using the Yorkville YXL 15 powered speakers.

Nino: 8:26

And you had the choice to do it the 12 as well. Right, but I just suggested that you get the 15. So you have that more headroom for just in case you have to do bigger, bigger events.

Ilia: 8:37

Yeah, and also something that I never even experienced before and I remember like noticing it at your gig. I'm like what's going on with the sound? Like I feel like it's getting quieter it is, and you told me it's like speaker fatigue. It's like you gotta keep raising the volume because the speakers are just being pushed too far. So again, more headroom gives yourself more flexibility and the sound it sounds better.

Nino: 9:03

It does.

Ilia: 9:04

Not that much heavier. They look more impressive. Lots of times clients will hire you because you have more impressive gear. Bigger speakers like a nicer control. They think you're better because you have nicer stuff. But I feel like if you are in Canada and you don't want to spend too much on speakers, but you want something that's gonna last for a long time and has great warranty and just sounds amazing, get the YXL line, either the 12s or the 15s. I think if you invest a couple of hundred dollars in the 15s, you'll never regret it. Now, if you're a pro DJ, you don't really need my advice or his advice. Really you know what to get. But I mean the parasaurus Parasaurus is crazy.

Nino: 9:48

And then there's the elite right Elite's even higher than the parasaurus. I never heard them yeah they're great, they're amazing.

Ilia: 9:55

Is there a real difference between the elites and the parasaurus?

Nino: 9:57

Can you hear it? Just the processing is just better. Leagues beyond, it's like the difference between the parasaurus and the YXL 15s too as well, wow. So yeah, that's another topic we'll talk about in future videos. Is gear stuff right?

Ilia: 10:12

Yeah, I can't get enough of that stuff.

Nino: 10:13

Of course.

Ilia: 10:14

Microphone, that's important.

Nino: 10:17

We don't expect you to get like $1,000 wireless microphones. All you need is a wired microphone like a Shura SM58 or what which one do you have the Sennheiser?

Ilia: 10:28

I have the Sennheiser, I think 835 something 835,.

Nino: 10:32

Yeah, that's good enough right.

Ilia: 10:33

And it's great. But I'm at the stage where I'm like, yeah, I can't do wired anymore Because the Yanko my gear when they forget that it's wired. And I'm like, oh, you know, like, give my controller back. It's true, and it's just so many other things that you don't want to happen can happen when it's wired versus wireless. And I was like, let me see if I can even get any gigs. And when I realized I'm getting them back to back, back to back, I'm like, okay, makes sense, let's invest into something important like a microphone. How much did you say? It was the ones that you're using 1400.

Nino: 11:11

For two. For what? Those ones are just under $1,000, right, and the Sennheiser's as they access, w835s to be exact, but yeah, then again, they're good microphones. But for weddings and stuff, just in case you need two, one for a toast and one for yourself, yeah, which right now don't really need it. Right now, you don't really need it right now. So just stick with a wired microphone for now.

Ilia: 11:37

Would you go for a cheaper wireless one?

Nino: 11:39

No, because a cheaper wireless one. No, it's more Not reliable. They're not reliable. The hardwired ones are a lot more reliable. If you're gonna get wireless, you might as well go off, go expensive.

Ilia: 11:52

So I think personally, I can afford a wireless setup, but I still feel like it's more luxury than the need. But I would love to have the luxury of not worrying about my entire gear just jumping forward off my desk, off my table, right. But then again, if you wanna avoid that, just get a really long YXL cord Exactly, I mean XLR cord, yxl. Yeah, so that's what I did. I got them like a 50 footer and they're fine, but then again they can trip on it. So if you can afford a wireless mic, do it.

Ilia: 12:31

Again, it's within your budget, so right, Because we're trying to focus on the beginner DJ right now. So we understand if you can't really drop $800 to $1400 on a microphone. Again, that's all in Canadian dollars. Wherever you guys are watching from Lights.

Nino: 12:50

And with lights. All you need, literally, is a power light or something, just something, so that people aren't dancing in the dark, literally.

Ilia: 13:00

Something inexpensive.

Nino: 13:01

just to start off with you know what I did?

Ilia: 13:05

Yes, I do so. I was trying to save money and instead of going for that impressive setup, light setup that you have, what is it called when you have them all, like in a line like that?

Nino: 13:21

Oh, that show of the gig bar. Yeah, the gig bar, the gig bar.

Ilia: 13:25

And I always liked them because it was such an easy like one, two, three done setup. Yes, you know like, but they're like how much Like $1000?.

Nino: 13:35

Yeah, the one I bought was just under a thousand. And then there's a show, a show, big gig, bar move as well. That's almost like 13 or 14. The moving heads, yeah, the smaller ones, the smaller ones but they're nice. They're nice, very nice.

Ilia: 13:50

So I thought to myself, hey, let's hack it, let's make something like that for cheaper. I buy four power lights cheaper ones, not the cheapest, but cheaper ones like plastic here, Right. But I've seen pros use them too when they have to use like 20 of them and this guy does use like 20 of them, but they're all expensive.

Nino: 14:12

But honestly, I've done that too when I first started out so I told you like, oh no, it's not a good idea, trust me.

Ilia: 14:19

And then I buy a T bar for like I don't know like 60 bucks or 70 bucks on Amazon. I'm like excited yeah, this is a smart idea. I get the four lights. I could have got one for eight with six spots for lights. It's good I didn't do that. Then I got the, the cables, what are they called?

Nino: 14:41

The DMX cables. What's DMC, then? Dmc, that's DJ competition, all right.

Ilia: 14:50

Yeah, beginner pro, but I do remember there was a different letter at the end of it, when they were like on the back of the package.

Nino: 15:01

Yeah.

Ilia: 15:01

Yeah, it did say something else. It said DMX and it said something else. I'm pretty sure it said DMC too, and I was like isn't that, isn't that the competition? Yeah, I do remember you know what? I think I saved it. If I did save it, I'm going to upload that, ok. Ok, but I had to get those lights too so I can actually sync them. I mean the cables, I could sync the lights together. So now there's four lights with cables hanging off of them.

Nino: 15:29

Because you have to power your power cables as well. And then the DMX.

Ilia: 15:32

I haven't gotten to the power cables. Yet I'm talking about the DMX cables. They're all hanging out like this. I didn't even do that in the beginning I didn't even DMX it, and then I had the power cable, and in order to actually be able to reach the ground because all power cables are really short for that application I had to get some elaborate one from Amazon that also clamps onto the T-bar. It's insane. I'm going to actually I should upload it. I should upload my light setup.

Nino: 16:04

You still have them.

Ilia: 16:06

I still have them. I still use it. It's not bad if you actually take the time to set up correctly, but that's the thing.

Nino: 16:12

It takes you an extra 15, 20 minutes to set up man.

Ilia: 16:15

And now I can do it a little quicker, but like what? Like two minutes quicker, four minutes quicker, it still takes time and it's frustrating. So it's a cable management for a computer, but harder.

Nino: 16:25

That's the thing. There's lots of cables hanging off, so it's hard to keep it clean too right yeah.

Ilia: 16:30

So usually it's far in the corner, Nobody will see it, but still you do your own social media and you're like do I want to pass by?

Nino: 16:38

the lights, and you're so OCD too that you want to, that you're going to notice that.

Ilia: 16:44

It has to be perfect for you, so I make sure I set them up nicely. But again, the reason why I didn't go the extra step and spend next to like $100, because there was no other option there was either this for about $300. And I had some Amazon credits too, so it was almost free for me to build this. Or was that actually everything? I think I feel like there were more parts to it, but anyway, it's very like it's too much. So it was either this Don't do what he did, or spending like six or $800.

Nino: 17:20

So then I find something else that you showed me the Dragon Bar that had power lights is four, and then it's already pre-made like the Gig Bar and it has the pedal. The pedal and then the remote control. You don't have to like separate power cords and stuff, you just had one.

Ilia: 17:37

Yeah, it's all within the actual, encased within the metal and everything. So it just that when I was purchasing it for the first few gigs that was not available. It was unavailable on Amazon and I'm like I wonder how much it costs, cause when it's unavailable, someone has it for like $10,000. Cause nobody else will be able to find it. But then it came up as what three?

Nino: 18:03

or $400? $400. Yeah, $400. But now it's raised down price because of COVID. It's more expensive. It's inflation. Yeah, it is more. I think it's like no, five 600 now. No, it's not, it is, it is. Don't check it now.

Ilia: 18:17

No, it's not what are?

Nino: 18:18

you doing it is, it is. Trust me I checked it, but yeah, don't do as no, it's not.

Ilia: 18:24

It is, are you sure? Yep, I gotta check it.

Nino: 18:28

Not now. Hey, get out of here, let's go. I gotta check.

Ilia: 18:31

So lights.

Nino: 18:32

Yeah, exactly, I told this guy that not to do that, because I did the same thing right, so he didn't follow me. And yeah, again, he did things the hard way, the hard way. This guy's actually checking that. I don't know if it's on there anymore.

Ilia: 18:48

Oh my God, I can't find it no wait, Dragon X, yeah, 300 bucks.

Nino: 18:56

You're trying to like. When I found it, it was like six. You don't know how to look.

Ilia: 19:01

Okay, I don't know how to look on Amazon. There's so many options, but that's the thing. Like you actually have to, you actually have to Really think about Is this piece of gear worth it for you? Yes, it will be cool to have, but If you're gonna save money, is the saving money really ruining that, the experience of using that gear? So I should have just waited for a little bit. Use the parlites, you know, like on the floor, or maybe, like you know, I have that. I have those attachments for my tower, my, you know my speakers, you know the tripods. I could put it on the tripod, right, I could do that, but no, I needed to have my gig bar right. So again, another, you know, another, rookie mistake. So it's and it's tough that I Figure it out the wrong hard way.

Nino: 19:56

I did it and I told him not to do it, but he still did it. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

Ilia: 20:00

Yeah, sometimes you have to. You have to. I like using it, but it's, oh my God, it's so much work it is. Luckily I barely paid anything for it, but if you were to pay for it it would cost you at least $250 after taxes.

Ilia: 20:13

The fare is still inexpensive, yeah yeah, but Like as much stuff as you have to go through to set it up, it's not worth it. It's not worth it, trust me, unless you really will never be able to afford something that's a couple of hundred bucks more, which I'm sure you will be able to afford. Okay, so that's lights and then A laptop stand. So we said last episode that it's not a must, but Because you're just doing it at home anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

Nino: 20:43

Now, you, when you're out at a gig, you have to look proper, so you do need a laptop stand now.

Ilia: 20:49

And also it's going to break your back If you're like hunched over the table, kind of like not not able to Kind of stand straight comfortably Right. Also, raise, raising your controller. Sometimes the tables, the desks are too low. Raise the controller, cause if you're, if you're, if you're hunched the whole night, you're going to feel it.

Nino: 21:09

You're going to feel it especially at the end of the night when you want to go home and you're packing up stuff.

Ilia: 21:13

You're going to be, oh, my back yeah.

Nino: 21:15

Yeah, so laptop stand Very important.

Ilia: 21:18

Yes, now, what else? Okay, so I wrote it down Be prepared to use different gear in certain situations. So that's, I guess, when it comes to clubs. Well, when it comes to clubs.

Nino: 21:31

You kind of you want to already visit the club that you're going to possibly do gigs at. So if you're going to do a club, you already know what kind of equipment they're going to have like CDJs or techniques. You're going to familiarize with that equipment before you actually get to do your first gig, right? So that's, that's in terms of clubs.

Ilia: 21:54

Yeah. So just just know that the fact that you learn how to use your FLX4 or Rev1 or whatever gear you have at home, you know like it doesn't mean that now you can go and DJ anywhere you want, because you got your gear with you. They might not let you.

Nino: 22:11

let you use it there If you can bring it, but, of course, or you have to, you have to use your stuff.

Ilia: 22:19

Yeah, you'll have to sometimes, and sometimes it's just no time. If you can figure it out, go ahead, but there's no time you got to switch really quickly. Yeah, and now that's important Prepare for every situation, like weather, cables, backup gear. Always have extra stuff. I learned that from you.

Nino: 22:39

Yeah, you need to bring extra stuff like extra XLR cables. You never know how far your speakers need to be from your actual setup.

Ilia: 22:47

Right, Unless you scope the place ahead of time.

Nino: 22:50

But when you have about 300, 400 gigs a year and then if your actual gig is like two hours away, I'm sure you're not going to go visit it too right Before head. Yeah, unless you just know how that.

Ilia: 23:02

And sometimes you're like, oh, I know how the place is set up, like I already know that's how it's going to be Exactly, yeah Right, but that's again that's somebody who's experienced versus someone who you know it's doing it for the first time. Now it's extremely important to actually bring extra cables and a backup laptop, if you can afford it, or if not a laptop, then some music player like an iPod or something, with you said like a really mix, just in case if anything, everything goes wrong.

Nino: 23:36

Just in case something happens to your laptop or your controller, that you can play something through your even the back of your speaker. Just hook up a quarter inch cable, not a quarter inch, one eighth inch headphone jack to your cable and then you can. You're ready to go. You can actually troubleshoot the problem while you're playing something. At least you're playing something right and it's not dead air which is our enemy. Dead air we don't, we can't do with dead air.

Ilia: 24:02

Yeah, and we don't. We're not telling you hey, bring a ready mix, because that's the way to go. It's just while you're fixing it, so there's no dead air.

Nino: 24:11

Yeah, and pre-mix. Don't do somebody else's mix. Make sure that you do the next yourself. Yeah.

Ilia: 24:18

That's a good point A backup controller. So a lot of us started with a cheaper controller and then bought a nicer one, right? So bring that cheaper one, have it with you. It's not going to cost you anything carrying it with you. Just in case, leave it in the car.

Nino: 24:32

Yeah, leave it in the car. Sometimes there's those, those new mark ones, ready to go. Oh yeah, the small ones you can. Yeah, they work like. Literally. They work just as good as a bigger controller, just with less features.

Ilia: 24:45

I remember you wanted to do a whole gig just with that one, just a show that you could still use them, just as fine.

Nino: 24:50

I did, I did and I was on a balcony and I actually used it. Nobody knew the different. No, nobody knew anything different than if I was using pro gear.

Ilia: 25:00

Yeah, and yeah, oh, backup SSD All your music. Anything could go wrong. Anything could go wrong. Bring it back up. Ssd or hard drive, just another form of, you know, your music bank. Yeah, exactly, because maybe just the music, something with the music went wrong, right, not with the actual software or hardware. And, yeah, be prepared to play some or all the music you don't usually listen to or know very well.

Nino: 25:36

That's also very important, this is more for mobile DJing event DJing because you never know who your crowd is going to be. So prepare other genres, playlists other than what you play personally, right, so be prepared for anything, any situation.

Ilia: 25:53

Yeah, but normally as a first timer. When you go to your first gig, you're probably are going to pick something within your your realm of DJing right.

Nino: 26:04

So you're more comfortable that way, which I didn't at all. Yeah, that's, that is tough for that way and I recommend it that way. So it's harder to impress a client if you're not. If, if, if you're not familiar with it right, if you're familiar with the actual genres, there's a good, there's a good chance that you'll get rehired for another gig, or even somebody from the crowd would rehire you too, right? If you did a good job.

Ilia: 26:30

Yeah, so that's pretty much the first pointers. Now let's say the gig is coming up. You're a week ahead from the gig, the gig, and you know you still have some time to buy things. Maybe you're, maybe you're missing something and you don't know. Set up as if you set up at the gig, as close as possible to that before the gig, five to seven days before. Just make sure you have everything, everything works together. You know how to set it up. Set it up at home.

Nino: 26:59

Make sure that it all works, that so you don't you don't have any surprises at your gig because you're going to be fiddling around with it if you don't know how to set it up. So make sure you can set up everything that speakers how it's going to look and present.

Ilia: 27:14

Of course it's going to be different at the actual event and at gig, but just just so you don't waste time, Make sure that your gear is actually working yeah, exactly yes and that all the settings are right, All that stuff that you will not realize that it takes much longer to do on the spot when you're there with the client. Now, that's something we spoke about before and you told me that you normally wouldn't do this. But I like to come with separate bags for each thing. So my certain cables will be in one bag, like my power cords, like all the utility stuff will be another bag. The tape and everything else will be another bag, and it's easier for me because it saves me so much time knowing where everything is. But pretty much. What did you say? Itemizing?

Nino: 28:04

Just itemize everything that you have. You don't have to put in separate bags, you just have it in one bag. So you have less stuff to bring, Just as long as you have everything and you set it up beforehand you know what, what, how it's going to work and everything. So it saves you, hopefully, time when you actually add the gig. Separate bags no it's so much better. Okay, it works for you. It works for you Doesn't doesn't mean it's going to work for everybody.

Ilia: 28:31

It'll work for you too. Separate bags, separate bags, separate bagscom no, but for real, like I saw this really nice bag on Amazon. I love Amazon and it has like room for everything. It's a big bag. So you get two of those, maybe if you have a lot of gear, like this guy, but it had a slot for everything. So fine, if you have something like that, great. But we're talking about a beginner DJ, someone like myself, who took a suitcase, a fitness bag and what else they take, and yeah, and another suitcase on wheels, like like you couldn't really tell it was a suitcase because it's a different kind of suitcase, but just make sure you bring everything that you need separate bags.

Ilia: 29:20

Yeah, make sure you can find your stuff quickly, because I remember the first couple gigs I was thinking that you know I organized everything. He was organized enough for my you know, at home gig, when I'm not rushing, but it was not organized enough to set up quickly, like on the spot.

Nino: 29:38

And it says it does save you time. The more that you do it, the faster you'll get at your your setup right.

Ilia: 29:46

Yeah.

Nino: 29:47

If you do it for the first time, don't expect it to be done in 15 minutes, 20 minutes. It's gonna take you half an hour, 45 minutes, maybe even an hour, so make sure. Maybe even two.

Ilia: 29:56

Maybe even two. Right, it took me, I was ready, but like I could have been ready, I wasn't ready. I was, I could have been ready, but I did every everything I did. I checked six, seven times Like is this right, Is this the right angle, Is that a right cable? And and you know what it will happen in your first gig, Unless maybe you have a V experience, you're a professional producer, you've worked with this kind of gear before. If you've never done this, it'll take you longer.

Nino: 30:25

That's just the nature of the beast. It'll take you longer the first time, a couple of times right, Until you get your groove.

Ilia: 30:30

Yes. And then you know, after you checked everything, everything's working great. Whatever. You already know that it's, you know, you've checked it and and you're not gonna check it again Take that stuff and load it into your car. If it's a day or two before the gig, load it ahead of time. Preload your car, your vehicle. Why not? Why not? Yeah, makes sense. It's gonna save you a lot of time the day off. Yeah, yeah, it's true. Unless you're traveling very light, which I'm not, definitely this guy isn't.

Nino: 30:59

Unless it's minus 20 degrees outside. You don't want to keep your gear out in the car.

Ilia: 31:06

Oh well, I'm, so I'm in a condo, so it's easier because my, my underground garage is. That makes sense.

Nino: 31:13

But if your car, your vehicle is outside and I wouldn't recommend it.

Ilia: 31:17

Just put it by the door, set it up to be taken quickly without you know having to dismantle everything and put it all in the bag and whatever Right. So it's just just be organized, cause the day of the gig your first gig you'll be freaking out likely and familiarize yourself with your playlist. That's something you always tell me to do, yeah.

Nino: 31:41

Well, the more you practice with your stuff, especially if you know it, you know it right and it's it's good to have a mini, mini what set lists? Yeah, while you're doing it and you'll get better, you'll get to know which songs go with which songs. A lot better. Which sounds better to the ears, more pleasing to the ear, right.

Ilia: 32:04

So stuff that really works for you, those like oh, those three tracks, I always mix them together.

Nino: 32:08

Yeah.

Ilia: 32:09

And yeah, when you need something ready because you're not sure what to do next, well, those three tracks right there, that's like six minutes approximately, maybe five minutes of music you can play and then you know Exactly.

Nino: 32:21

And for clubs, you know you're going to be sticking to certain genres anyway. Right, so that yeah.

Ilia: 32:26

Yeah, not going to talk about clubs myself because that's, I have no experience with that. But yeah, you know, I used to think that maybe playing at a club would be easier than doing a wedding. But now what I'm thinking about it, it sounds more complicated.

Nino: 32:44

It's a little more complicated than just playing the genre of music, man you gotta you could. These days, promoters and club owners want really professional, like club DJs that can mix, not just mixing, regularly beat matching right, Different, creative yeah, Creative mixing and really impressive stuff.

Ilia: 33:08

Which brings us to the next point, getting to the gig. So first point before anything else, come early Always, and I even left a little note here explain how long it took me to set up the first time, which you're already kind of a tater right so.

Nino: 33:25

So always come early, because you never know what's gonna come up right, you might have maybe forgotten a chord, or the layout is a little different and you have to put speakers in another place. So just you know, you have to have that little buffer for you to get your gig straight.

Ilia: 33:44

Maybe somebody wants to talk to you about something and you don't wanna be rude and telling me you don't have time to talk to them Exactly, so just come there early and then know everyone's names and titles, like, if you're going to a wedding, know the bride and the groom, of course, the parents, the coordinator. The coordinator is very important. Do not upset the coordinator, the manager of the banquet manager.

Ilia: 34:09

So at a wedding you could burn a lot of bridges if you don't come prepared. So just know who everyone is, otherwise it's very unprofessional. And then when setting up, that's something that took me a little while to kind of hone. But when setting up, remain focused and do the social media after the sound check. Like first set everything up, do your DJ duties first, then you can walk around, phone calls, social media, stuff like that. Don't be overly confident, thinking that everything is already okay, like you were here early Set it up. Things can go wrong.

Nino: 34:49

Especially cause you're a beginner. Things are gonna take longer, so you don't wanna do social media right away, and it's actually leads into the next point, right?

Ilia: 34:59

Yeah, focus on being the DJ and not the guest. Yes, exactly which is sure. There's lots of delicious food, amazing music. You know you wanna dance to it. Maybe you wanna eat, you wanna drink Well you can dance to it when you're playing.

Nino: 35:16

And you should, because you wanna. You wanna, whatever energy you're giving out there, you're giving back right.

Ilia: 35:22

I meant like how somebody just invite themselves to the dance floor with the guest which sometimes they will welcome.

Nino: 35:29

Well, sometimes it's cool.

Ilia: 35:31

But remember how we spoke about it. You need to feel the crowd. Do they want you to be a part of that celebration or do they want you behind the booth?

Nino: 35:39

It all depends on the crowd too. Some crowds are a little bit more snobby, some are more welcoming, and we'll just like get excited when you actually get out and dance with them too right, different people, right, so some will appreciate someone.

Ilia: 35:52

Like that other gig when the older Italian lady was almost yelling at us for not and in Italian, for not playing her song. Yes, specific Italian, like old Italian music, right, yeah, I forget what it was called, but and then I would go back to her and calm her down because she was visibly upset and she wasn't there like 80s or something, right, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I asked her what song is that? So the whole table started translating to me and telling me where to find it. Right, I ended up finding the song. I give it to you, right?

Nino: 36:29

Because I was DJing at the time and I couldn't really deal with that. So he was deflecting the lady.

Ilia: 36:35

Pretty much making sure that she's okay, but also does not keep bothering him, right? Yeah, and I got the song, I prepared it on my setup and then, when he was done, I switched to it and I started performing. But then I had a little bit of time. I knew that song will be playing for about three minutes.

Nino: 36:54

There's no way I'm going to cut it short, not after all of a request, because she wanted that song, and to the fullest too, so you want to hear the whole song.

Ilia: 37:03

It literally played until the silence came on, because we wanted to make sure she was happy and I went up there and we started dancing. Yeah, he went out in the crowd Two minutes.

Nino: 37:13

It was great. It was great, they loved it. They loved it.

Ilia: 37:16

Yeah. So that was fun. And then when we played all the like more a bit of, a bit more modern music, you know, I started singing with them and dancing with them. That crowd just loved it. Yeah, yeah. And there you have those are great crowds, right.

Ilia: 37:29

The next one might not appreciate it. They'll be like can you not take over? So just be the DJ first, kind of scan the room and if you really have that skill where you can tell, you can kind of see through the person and understand what they want and you can take that risk right, it might be very rewarding. They might really love it right. Oh, that's important. You taught me that payment up front.

Nino: 37:56

Yeah, you would want to get payment up front, whether it be e-transfer or even even getting paid right before you set up. And that's the thing with with clients paying cash. You want to be paid before you set up because you never know, Late at night when they're partying, they're all drunk and you can't go up to them and they're going to forget what a yada yada. They're going to have excuses and you can't blame them. Right they're, they're drunk, right, they want to have a good time. They don't want you nagging them at the end of the night for payment. So you got to make sure you get paid up front, and even for club DJs it's really hard to get payment up front.

Ilia: 38:36

Yeah, you were telling me how you had to deal with the promoter.

Nino: 38:39

Yeah, some promoters, a lot of the promoters are the ones that are paying you. So I had to deal with a certain club that I played and I had to trust them, and so they would pay me two weeks, three weeks here, but I'd still have remaining balance with them. So, and then there was one time that they, they, they got robbed and then they literally closed down and was like close shop and disappeared. Like what happened to my payment? I still they, you still owe me like literally like almost 15, 2000 dollars. I'm like sorry, oh geez.

Ilia: 39:14

Yeah, it happens way more than 1500. Yeah.

Nino: 39:18

Downplaying it. But yeah, it sucks, you are downplaying it, bro.

Ilia: 39:21

But. But that's the thing it's make sure you get paid ahead of time, for whatever reason that is. But also, remember, talking about money kind of Makes people nervous, and don't don't do it in a classy way, you know. Explain it Almost almost like you apologize for asking ahead of time but say listen, in this industry we usually get paid ahead of time before we set up to make sure everything is done.

Nino: 39:49

You want to get it out of the way so everybody can just have a good time. That's it Right? So it's a formality you have to.

Ilia: 39:55

Yeah, I don't want to come and bother you right before you go to, exactly, and you can tell, tell the client that to leave leave for your honeymoon. They will totally understand, because that's what they're thinking about in the end of the gig. They all talk about where they're going next and their plans and how they're going to leave for their honeymoon, all their, all, all the experiences they're going to have Exactly, and you can give him money.

Nino: 40:20

So tacky to. Yeah, it's like you're, you're, you're, you're getting at the pay me, pay me, pay me, like.

Ilia: 40:27

I just don't like that situation at all and I've been in that situation a number of times, definitely, and it also can lead to a worse review or terrible review. Right, because everything was great and now that that one thing messed everything up, that one interaction. So get paid ahead of time. It's going to save A lot of problems for everyone. Now some good things to remember. Something extremely important in my opinion, thinking about my Christmas gig, my Christmas corporate gig Just just a few weeks ago Bring a friend who will support you and help you set up and also take pictures, videos for social media and stuff like that. Give people your business card, your Instagram handle and stuff like that, but specifically, first and foremost, help you set up, because I was downtown Toronto and I had to make sure my stuff does not get stolen. When I had to, like, go from the car to the, to the, to the door and there are some, some areas were just impossible to even town Toronto's the worst man Get the stuff out of the car.

Ilia: 41:33

It was like I was about to scratch my car.

Nino: 41:35

Scratch this drop that, and you don't want to leave your equipment unattended.

Ilia: 41:40

Yeah, and it was a sketchy area, it is Right. So it was a great client, everything. But like there are some places downtown Toronto or maybe New York City, I don't know wherever you are you don't want, you don't want to leave that stuff unattended. And also it's hard, like the doors were much, much narrower, they just it was. It was almost impossible to enter the elevator and I was almost dropping all my gear. And yeah, it's just, it would have been so much easier if had some somebody come with me and it was more of a need rather than a want for that type of gig. But then I also had to focus on taking my own videos, given, given my own business cards, what people were asking me for them, and it would have been nice if I could just focus on the gig, yeah, rather than do all of that stuff. Right, because for one of my first gigs it was really hard to do all that stuff altogether.

Nino: 42:37

It's nice to have company to and your friend or the supporter will, will help you bring stuff in, watch stuff for you. It's very important sometimes for certain, for certain gigs, right yeah, always beneficial to have someone come with you, definitely.

Ilia: 42:52

And then don't forget network with the right people, but also know when to stop, because sometimes you know you could, you could go overboard. So feel the room and remember that that coordinator can get you more gigs. That coordinator can can recommend you to other venues. The manager can ask you to become one of the in-house DJs. Right, make a good impression and network with these people. Just know also when to not push them too hard.

Nino: 43:24

Yeah, you can't push them at all. Yeah, yeah, you have to just make a good impression on them honestly, Beyond, beyond time. Set up fast, tear down fast, get killed your sets make the client happy. In turn, you're making them happy as well.

Ilia: 43:39

Do you remember the one time they gave up North, how they were raving about how quickly we set up?

Nino: 43:44

Northridge yes, yes, they love us there. You did a really good job helping me set up really fast too. They love that.

Ilia: 43:52

They love that because in and out, right, and they kept kept talking about it right. So that was, and again, that's one of your bigger clients, so you definitely want to keep them happy and even though there's, they already know you, they were still impressed. Yes, right, so that's, that's good. So strengthening, strengthening your ties with them. Now, one more thing to remember is In clubs and we spoke about it already you might have to familiarize, familiarize, oh my God, familiarize yourself with a CDJ or turntable setup. So make sure you do that before you take a club gig. A lot of people don't realize that. I don't know how, but they don't have the same setup, and you'll definitely bring two USB, usb drives, because one might not work. And then that's it. That's your music, that's your set. So make sure you have extra.

Nino: 44:48

Bring three extra, extra always. And of course, you're not just working with turntables, you're working with the mixer as well, so make sure you familiarize yourself. If it's a DJM S 11, s nine or the new pioneer that came out, a nine or something, so there's really. Yeah, you need to work out that before you actually do the club, so you're not just fiddling around with it during the gig.

Ilia: 45:11

And that's this next point, One of the last points here is one of the one of the points which makes it hard for me as a beginner.

Nino: 45:19

It's harder for all beginners actually All DJs in general.

Ilia: 45:23

The next one. Yeah Like Club DJ etiquette.

Nino: 45:27

Oh yeah, the next point, yeah.

Ilia: 45:30

Yeah, definitely the CDJ set up and everything. I don't have much experience with that yet. That's one of the next things I'm going to to learn. But knowing differentiating yourself from the headliner, knowing what music to play, what not to play, that's just experience. Right, I'm not there yet you would know. You would know what to play, what not to be invited again.

Nino: 45:55

It you got to play. If you're an opener, you have to know the opening songs, the vibe of the club that you're playing at. So you'd play, maybe like B side songs which are not as popular, but we'll get the crowd warmed up literally right. And then, if you're the headliner, you play this, just the bangers, all bangers, until until the closer comes, and then the closer comes. It's almost like the contrast, the same contrast as the opener, you play the same kind of stuff and slow the night down, sort of thing. So you have to play the right time, right, music at the right moment, right, and you also said make sure to have extra music in case you'll have to play longer.

Nino: 46:38

Always, because you never know if you're going to open and you're going to close too. So you have to make sure you just expand on the music that you have. You never know if you're going to play longer or if maybe the headliner is going to be a little bit late. So just be prepared, always be prepared, yeah.

Ilia: 46:53

And the last point here is make sure you have a crowd to bring with you, your crew, your, your, your guests that will always come in and support you. Because one place where I wanted to DJ I was surprised how, how, how easy it was to get a gig there. He said, yeah sure, just bring people because he wants them to spend money there, right. But at the same time it's also great for you because you'll have those 10, 20 people who will really kind of hype, hype it up and make the other people also, you know, support you everyone else at that venue and that's the whole point of DJing in clubs and bars you want them to book you again.

Nino: 47:34

So if, in turn, bringing a crowd will actually make the money which is what your job is pretty much right. So you want to make sure that you're bringing as many people as you want as you can to help you, support you. So it's it's not an empty club as well, or an empty bar.

Ilia: 47:52

It looks good on you, yeah, and logically, I mean, I thought it would always be great to bring people with me, but it's not just. It's not something that would be great, it's almost a must. It is Nowadays. It is a must.

Nino: 48:05

It's pretty much a must.

Ilia: 48:06

Yeah, have at least five or six or seven people who come with you, like one booth, at least one booth who will be there to support you.

Nino: 48:14

Nowadays, you're not just a DJ, you're a promoter as well. You are.

Ilia: 48:19

And prior to actually to the gig. I mean, they'll they'll ask you for your photo and stuff like that, and, and you know they'll promote, they'll add you to the flyer, but you'll have to promote it as well. You have to really work with them and show them that it's worth inviting you to play there again, worth booking you again.

Nino: 48:36

So, yeah, I mean, we went through everything, we covered everything. Man.

Ilia: 48:39

Yeah, and if we didn't, I mean more episodes to come. If there, if there's something for God, you can let us know. Anything that was a bit vague here on the podcast will be in text form on the website, social media. Yeah, thank you very much for joining another episode of the Clever DJ.

Nino: 48:56

You guys will see you in the next one, all right.

Ilia: 49:00

All right.