Will venues let you dj with a controller?

[SolDios]

Hey guys, im just wondering, ive seen alot of (probably bullshit) things on the internet with people talking about venue's not letting people use controllers.

I am planning to get into clubs later down the line but I defiantly want an s4. I cant see why clubs wouldn't let dj's bring them, I mean as long as there good there still going to sell drinks.

just want to be sure.

thanks

kris

[eggssell]

EDIT: im in syd

i dont play out so ill let those boys answer your question.

but i do go out a lot, to bars, to clubs, and bar/clubs.

every single place i have been to in the last 24 months the DJ has had a computer BUT using it with turnies or CDJs. a few have trigger fingers, and dices and i have seen one X1.

only at one place have I seen a laptop/ controller only DJ and that is at the Arthouse on the bottom level. he had a midi compatible mixer and was controlling effects and possibly transport from the mixer (i didnt recognise the mixer from the floor, lots of channels and flouro green lines so possibly a korg?).

have never seen anyone using an all-in-one device though

[awesome88]

+1 for what Eggs said, but we are both in Sydney, and i remember a few people in other states saying they have only seen djs using just cdj's/turntables and a mixer.

But yea, here in sydney i ALWAYS see cdj's + laptop with serato or traktor. I think it really depends if they are adament on you using their gear or not. Although your gear might be better, the owner will KNOW the quality of their gear, they don't KNOW the quality of yours. Last thing they want is for your gear to shit itself and you not be able to play on their gear. Whether it's true or not, at first, you are an unknown to them.

I'm sure Karma plays out with his S4 though.

[SolDios]

yeh, I was thinking though, they should know the quality of an s4 + macbook pro. They only really seem to have audio drop outs when working with windows 7, from what ive observed anyway...

[eggssell]

i remember at the argyle sometime last year, i noticed that the dj had 3 cdjs setup and someone had put the turntable on the floor(!),

so not sure if that dude (or come to think of it i think it was a grrl) brought in a cdj or the club had a sparey.

poor old techy again, no love. they still get lots of love at the hunter, sharkies, haymarket, tank on rnb night (before it shut), the gaelic and so on. just not from the dance scene i guess

[awesome88]

that was the problem when i had the S4, but obviously you would make sure it had zero issues before you took it out.

but like i said.... you could keep your gear in top notch condition, but they have no idea of that.... they know what their gear is like and can rely on it. I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem once they saw the gear was fine etc.

there is also still a bit of a stigma about controllers.... so it might be a bit harder to get into the club scene with it, but once you get a reputation, should be fine.

At the end of the day, you won't know until you try. If you want the safe option, go for cdjs + mixer + a DVS. But if you wanna go controller, by all means go for it, at least it's something different, and you know i'm all for them

[Jaz]

some yes some no, u have to ask

[SolDios]

Yeh, haha when I used the s4 I absolutely loved it, but I seem to be more of a remixer than a dj XD I

[andyman]

I seem to be more of a remixer

Producer*

I think if you're just starting out, it would be ideal to just play CD's whilst building a name for yourself.

Once established, I think then you'd have more flexibility with all of your bits and pieces.

I know if I was running a night, and "the new guy" walked in with a MIDI controller and a MacBook I'd be sceptical.

People don't like change, so sometimes it's best to just stick with what they know.

I party in Melbourne frequently, and very rarely do I see someone playing out with somethings other than CDJ's or turnies.

My two cents anyway.

[Gandy]

clubs have there own gear, and its your favourite brand pioneer either 900s or 2000s, i havnt been to any with tt's but i would assume they are techies

the scene ive been exposed to when playing out, you wouldnt be taken seriosuly if you asked to bring in your own "pretend (controller)" gear, club scene is a totally different attitude and is pretty cut throat in regards to skill, after all they are paid professionals and not some casual bedroom banger

just be prepared to be laughed at and might even get a pat on the back saying good joke...

whether thats the right or wrong attitude thats just the way it is in my experience

edit: its either deck/deck/mixer or deck/deck/mixer/rekordbox that i seen

edit edit: although i havnt played out since feb, i dont think this attitude would have changed in 3 months as when i go out partying its still the setup i mentioned above

[eggssell]

yep all techies in the clubs or bars ive been too

[awesome88]

what Gandy said. As much as i am all for controllers, the stigma around them still exists, and whether people like them or not, it's just the way the world works at the moment.... who knows what it'll be like in the future.

You have to know how people think, and even though a controller and laptop can do everything cdj's and a mixer can do plus more.... it is just how people think.

If you want to move into clubs, get cdjs and a mixer

[BeatLeSS]

Man you guys are lucky.

One of the DJ's at the now busiest club uses his S4 in the second room.

But this town is BY far not normal.

[awesome88]

lol would be better for me if clubs used controllers beatless, i've got the denon mc6000

[SolDios]

I seem to be more of a remixer

Producer*

I think if you're just starting out, it would be ideal to just play CD's whilst building a name for yourself.

.

Dont worry sir andy, at the moment im using tupperware, the good thing about it is that it has no assistance what so ever, no bpm reader, no nothing!. So by the time I get an s4, I will still know what im doing if someone plonks a cd'dj in front of me. One of the reasons I got it!

[andyman]

I seem to be more of a remixer

Producer*

I think if you're just starting out, it would be ideal to just play CD's whilst building a name for yourself.

.

cd'dj!

Sol, we spoke about this yesterday, it's CDJ.

But yeah, good luck with it all.

I particularly like that my "Tupperware" quote has hung around

[awesome88]

aren't they called seedeejays?

[Gandy]

I seem to be more of a remixer

Producer*

I think if you're just starting out, it would be ideal to just play CD's whilst building a name for yourself.

.

cd'dj!

Sol, we spoke about this yesterday, it's CDJ.

But yeah, good luck with it all.

I particularly like that my "Tupperware" quote has hung around

glad i wasnt the only one who cringed when they read that

[pundaddy]

Dont really see the point of trying to implement controllers into clubs when cd's are the proven quality standard, no need to change anything for the moment.

[SolDios]

yeh, I agree pundaddy but it seems Im going more down the producer side, and so with a controler I can use as many effects, samples and everything as I want.

[andyman]

Dont really see the point of trying to implement controllers into clubs when cd's are the proven quality standard, no need to change anything for the moment.

This.

If you can actually mix properly (without the fucking sync button), you should be able to spin fine on CDJ's.

And if you're going to use the argument about loops, cue points and all that jazz; you can still do that on a standard CDJ.

Also remember, 9/10 venues just want to hear the latest tracks off of a Ministry of Sound compilation, there's no need to go all Hawtin on their ass and melt faces off with intricate effects, loops & technose.

[fackedd]

yeh, I agree pundaddy but it seems Im going more down the producer side, and so with a controler I can use as many effects, samples and everything as I want.

doing that kind of stuff on the fly isn't producing, it's mashups and bootlegs on the fly. Also most of the time effects and crappy tricks ruin the tracks unless you are pro. like everyone else said here all you need is the cdj's and mixer.

Maybe a DVS if you want to use a pc to find your tracks easily.

[andyman]

yeh, I agree pundaddy but it seems Im going more down the producer side, and so with a controler I can use as many effects, samples and everything as I want.

doing that kind of stuff on the fly isn't producing, it's mashups and bootlegs on the fly. Also most of the time effects and crappy tricks ruin the tracks unless you are pro. like everyone else said here all you need is the cdj's and mixer.

Maybe a DVS if you want to use a pc to find your tracks easily.

I think we're on the same page here haha.

[SolDios]

@facked I completely agree with you, thats why I have the tupperware, it gives me no assistance what so ever.

[dim]

In the U.K. in reasonable venues no one gives a fook what you turn up with as long the sound you produce does the job and all your kit is safe/legal. In smaller venues and those living in the past they may still fear change and in my experience the issues the venue owners are concerned with are as follows:

1) Is it safe? Non maintained gear can damage a sound system, staff or the public. All appliances require annual PAT testing in this country. Plus you require public liability insurance to use anything of your own in a public place. So if you want to bring something into a club there's two extra things the venue owner has to check you have = more work for him.

2) How will you wire it up and how will you leave it after you're done? The venue owner needs to know there will be no damage to any of his equipment and that whoever follows you in the booth will not have to struggle to re-wire things during a busy saturday night. Essentially if you cant plug in and set up and then pack down and leave without stopping the flow of the music you are not going to make any friends at all. It's highly likely that someone has tried this before you and made a real mess of it which is why the owner has got a bee in a bonnet in the first place. Worst still is if the venue owner is so worried about this that he/she gets in the way and causes you to make an error, they'll never understand it would have gone better if they trusted you so better to approach things slowly. Maybe agree a time to practice setup and show them what it involves?

If you think the argument between controllers vs dex etc are what is really on the venue owners mind then you're not recognising how busy he/she is and how much else they've got on their plate. Even if she/he does mention this it's probably just coz some barback has got an opinion that they've put fwd.

As with most things in life: proove yourself 1st by doing whatever they want. When you have earnt trust and are known as reliable explain what you want to do yourself at an opportune moment (not during an event), explain it is legal, have the certificates ready to proove it is, show you understand the owners concerns but check exactly what is on their mind and why they dont want to try the new out, try and alleviate their fears without making them look or feel dumb. Then proove that doing it your way makes no difference at all to anyone for any reason except making you a bit more comfortable... and no one'll care.