Archive for Disc Jockeys
Computerized DJ
Posted by: | Comments
A Computerized DJ or a Computer DJ based in Ontario, Mississauga, Toronto or any other part of Canada is a Disc Jockey who uses a computer, mostly laptops to play digital music. The music is usually .mp3 or .wav encoded audio music files played to a public crowd. Some common DJ entertainer software programs include Traktor DJ Studio, Ableton Live, Torq, PCDJ, Virtual DJ/Numark Cue, Scratch live, Deckadance, Ultramixer and djay. A good example of computer disc jockeys are the majority of professional Toronto DJs, the best among them being Toronto wedding DJs.
Professional Toronto Dee Jays are among the worlds best and are taking this spinning business into new dimensions. They even have Toronto wedding DJ services. When one books one of these Toronto professionals they are booking a whole entertainment suite that will cater for all the wedding entertainment services from beginning to end. Toronto wedding music professionals are some of the most professional disk jockeys due to the challenges they face in adapting to different wedding scenarios. The of them are organized into formal registered associations. What technology does the wedding Dee Jay use to be ranked among the best?
They usually use MIDI controllers with laptops to give them a better interface and control of software since the controllers provide physical controls like those found on any typical music mixer. Sound card audio interfaces and external hard disk drives are also often used. The majority of the professional entertainer PC programs allow integration and manipulation of external audio inputs encouraging many professional Toronto DJs who previously only used CDs or Vinyl to integrate laptops with other setups. This especially goes well with those who have to integrate some old analogue church systems to their advanced digital systems.
Additionally, they also use packages based on the Linux operating systems. These Linux entertainer party packages include the following. BeatForce is a system designed for 2 players having independent mixers, samplers, play lists and song databases among other features. BpmDj is an extremely interesting program set for Linux. DBMix is an audio mixer system. DJ Krazy is a CD/MP3 mixer for Linux. DJPlay is a DJing Linux application. Final Scratch is a pro-audio system by Stanton Magnetics. GDAM (Geoff and Dave's Audio Mixer), is a new Linuxmixer. These digital DJ systems are real party packages providing the best of entertainments and a serious Professional should own at least two.
The professional Toronto DJs are organized into Disc Jockey entertainment companies which provide various entertainment and Master of Ceremony services. The top quality Toronto entertainment services provided include music for weddings, fund raisers, corporate functions, school functions, birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, communions, confirmations, bar mitzvahs and private parties. These professional Toronto DJs and Master of Ceremony service companies even plan other event thrillers like party games and other party packages thus are not exclusive to music services only. The Toronto wedding DJ is the professional music specialist to call for ones wedding event, dollar dances, garter auctions and bouquet tosses.
Hire a Disc Jockey
Posted by: | Comments
Disc Jockeys - The present scenario
Guys and Girls are the latest hottest things in the entertainment market, and who doesn't like beefing up an event that's exclusively targeted at his own people? This is why people are turning towards the disc jockeys more and more and things are becoming easier when the time comes to hire a DJ. We may dream of a day when all you need to do is punch your plastic's number and the DJ shows up at your doorstep on the mentioned date. And that day is not far, especially because of the stringent quality control policies practiced by the disc jockey supplying agencies. But as of now, things are not sweet to that extent; you need a reliable DJ provider if you want your event drowned in pink champagne and roses. Therefore, a few suggestions to make your party a raging success!
Before you hire a disc jockey...
You got to decide first on what kind of a DJ you are willing to hire. For single unit disc jockeys, the word amateur shows up every now and then; not that they are always bad, but most of them have only flair to mix n' match the music and that's all. While casual listeners won't mind that much, for hard-core party freaks, this can mean a total turn down. Besides, the equipment may not be a match to what their famous professional cousins use and simple is beautiful doesn't always apply here. But more than anything, it's the liveliness and the vigor to push the party onwards that matter the most; if your hired DJ is not a professional and lack the spontaneity, you may expect your party going down like a piece of rock.
Find a Disc Jockey
So does that seem like hiring a DJ requires one to become professionally knowledgeable? Not if you keep these three points in mind:
A professional disc jockey must have a wide variety of music in his collection; from the recent chartbuster numbers to the songs played by the most obscure one hit wonders. Must be sufficiently experienced in handling any situation (this you can find out from the testimonials he/she has received from; the capability of handling technical problems can be found out from the back-up equipment the DJ has in stock). Though a DJ essentially deals in Trance, Techno and House, he must have sufficient knowledge on other genres as well, starting from ordinary rock to the various other genres and the respective sub-genres.
But most of all, if there's present a reliable provider; it is no problem to hire a DJ with an impeccable reputation in the market. There are online resources now as well, so find Disc Jockeys in your locality using Respond.com, that too without sweating out at all!
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Hire a Disc Jockey
DJ Equipment Prices
Posted by: | Comments
Music makes the world go round and people would lead monotonous lives were it not for this great gift. Music does not need to be dissected and comprehended to be appreciated. It simply carries people off in rhythm and melody to a land where the imagination rules and the laws of this world are no longer applicable.
Music can be enjoyed in many forms. Some people choose to sing, others choose to play an instrument, and yet others bring all other forms of music together to entertain a crowd. The last category is at times, referred to as disc jockeys or DJs for short and their job is perhaps the toughest of the lot. Not only do they require a deep understanding of music and its various forms, but they also need to be aware of the popular demand. A DJ's job is highly technical. There is a large variety of sensitive electronic equipment that DJs must learn to handle efficiently if they are to be successful. These machines are generally very expensive and new models come out every day so what was state-of-the-art yesterday becomes quite redundant in a week's time. DJs have to be savvy about the latest offerings on the market and know the best prices for all these products.
Basic single turntables for beginners start at about $100 and with increase in professional level, quality and size, the price can go up to a thousand dollars. CD players are generally more expensive although they are available at every electronic store. The average price can range between $200 and $2000 depending upon output and features. Mixers again vary in quality and utility. Professional that cater to a large crowds need advanced models which can cost as much as $2500 whereas amateurs just getting their feet wet can make do with cheap ones worth about $100. Accessories such as lighting, fog machine, and studio equipment are necessary only when people wish to stick to DJing as a life-long profession. Even then, such investment should be made only when people are certain of their positions in the music industry. If all this seems too expensive, people could start off with computer programs and downloads and work their way up to professional equipment.
Produce a Better DJ Show
Posted by: | Comments
Don't just DJ- Produce a Great Show
There are hundreds of Disc Jockeys out there and they all want the same thing you do. To be working for top money as many days of the week as they can. You can't expect to be better then the last guy the club hired, unless you put some time and energy into your DJ Show. The days of just showing up and playing music are gone. Today's DJ needs a lot of tools at his disposal. Just as lights, fog and other special effects are important, everybody else is using them too. So how do you stand out in the crowd. Using DJ Drops can help.
Using DJ Drops
When I listen to the average radio station one thing comes to mind. The uniqueness of the radio personalities. Many times you have two or more DJ's or guests interacting with each other using wisecracks and fake voices to create a three or four hour show that you'll remember and want to listen to more often. A DJ on stage can be limited by having only one voice to work with. If that voice is not strong and commanding then nobody will remember it. Sure your music needs to be on target but your playing the same songs as everybody else. So your choice you have is to emphasize your voice and using DJ Drops (different voices) can be a great help.
DJ Drops by any other name
There are a lot of different terms for DJ Drops. Voice overs, sound bites, segues, sweepers, bumpers and custom DJ Drops to name a few. They contain phrases, slang and DJ lingo. If they have a backing pad with sounds, noises or music then they are called Sweepers or Jingles. Inserted between songs or used to make announcements, they can promote, energize and create a show that is above the norm. Using DJ Voices that stand out above the music can make you seem in command of your audience. Having a Custom DJ Drop make with your DJ name and details will make your show seem more professional to the crowd on hand.
Were you looking for free DJ Drops?
Do you know why the drops are free-the quality is pathetic, which no professional DJ will ever use willingly. Google "DJ Drops" and you'll find a vast array of quality drop producers that can do custom work as well as offering generic DJ Drops that can fit the need in a multitude of categories from making announcements to quick DJ Sayings you can place between songs.
Music, equipment and knowledge are important. The DJ's that make the grade and out perform the competition are the ones that find other great tools to use. The DJ Drop is one such tool.
What Wedding DJs Wish You Knew About Choosing One
Posted by: | Comments
Wedding couples are frustrated. DJs are frustrated. There's a disconnect here. But what exactly is the problem?
It depends on who you ask. DJs continually wonder why brides and grooms treat the mobile DJ -- the type who lugs around his equipment to show up at big events and weddings -- as a commodity. In other words, couples price-shop ruthlessly, as if any given DJ were interchangeable with the rest.
Paul Arnett (http://www.mybigdaydj.co.uk), a Yorkshire DJ and NADJ (National Association of Disc Jockeys) member who organizes the UK's Mobile DJ Show North event (http://www.djshownorth.co.uk), puts the problem like this: "Well, your average couple spends hours deliberating over the dress. You hand-pick the caterers. You pore over flowers and sweat over the florist. You spend hours choosing just the right venue and church -- not to mention the time spent on favors.'
"But then, you go out and hire a DJ because he's ten dollars cheaper than the next one. Or he's a friend of your brother's, or he does Tuesdays at the local bar. You might never even see him work, check out his equipment, or meet with him personally to make sure he's suitable."
Most couples handle every other major item in their budget differently. You don't choose one venue over another because it costs a hundred dollars less. Few brides with a budget to work with buy their cakes from the discount grocery store, even though that cake (slathered in tubs of "BetterCream" frosting) would be much cheaper than one from the designer bakery downtown. Instead, they investigate. They take pictures. They taste-test amaretto fillings and hors d'oeuvres. And eventually, they settle on the vendor who seems poised to deliver the best experience to their guests.
-- Why Is It So Different With DJs?
Part of the answer is an image problem, says Paul. "People perceive that most mobile DJs will turn up fifteen minutes ahead of time, with a couple of speakers and some cheesy circa-1970's light screens, and play 'Agadoo' all night." (For we lucky few who haven't heard it, the 1984 song Agadoo frequently charts as "the worst song of all time.")
We all feel confident identifying an excellent meal or a sublime dessert. But few of us feel comfortable evaluating DJs in the same way. We know that a good one can "get the party started," but we're not sure how to tell a good one from a bad one.
Some people think so poorly of DJs, they prefer to eliminate them entirely, soundtracking the dance portion of the night with iPods or laptops. This isn't easy -- it requires you to rent expensive sound equipment, find someone to mind the iPod, possibly buy insurance, and somehow get around or ignore the technical issues, like the inevitable three second delay between songs you get on an iPod. And yet some people find that preferable to risking the "Agadoo" or "Chicken Dance" scenario on their Big Day.
An iPod might well be better than a bad DJ. But the DJ is a key part of your five-hour reception, and some of them are very good indeed.
-- When She Was Good, She Was Very Very Good
Perhaps it's hard for the average bride and groom to grasp the difference between a green DJ with low-end equipment, and a seasoned one who knows how to transform shy and retiring Clark Kents into dance floor superheros.
The first may be nothing more than a glorified CD changer. He may or may not have a firm grasp of the different musical needs that accompany standard reception rituals, like the cake cutting or the father/daughter dance. He may lug in his entry-level Peavy subwoofers and arrange his sound system in ways that ignore your venue's peculiarities.
The second may have emceed hundreds of weddings. Along the way, he's developed something subtle but important known as voice and personality -- not an imitation of some radio host's, but his own. He doesn't practice on your wedding; he brings his skills to it, along with a top-of-the-line sound system, which he'll arrange differently depending on factors like whether or not your venue is broken up into several chambers (the cocktail lounge and the banquet area, for example).
If he's a gearhead, he might even offer specialty lighting abilities you might not think of, such as the ability to shine gobos on the dance floor -- gobos being customized templates that display things like your wedding monogram. Some DJs even offer giant video screens and live replays of key points in the reception.
But the most important skills a good DJ will bring to your wedding is a honed personality, a formal-friendly image, and an absolute mastery of what gets crowds on their feet.
Okay, so you get it. You understand that not all DJs are alike, and that a good one brings as much your wedding as any premium florist or baker. So how do you find him?
-- Choose DJs that Take Their Job Seriously
Skip the part-timers -- they're still learning the ropes, and they'll be practicing on your wedding. Instead, look for full-timers who show their commitment to the profession by belonging to professional DJ associations such as CPDJA, ADJA,
How to Make a Grand Success of your Party
Posted by: | Comments
Having seen the basics of selecting a good DJ, let us examine some more of the multitude of options on offer. Here is part two of how to select the right disc jockey for your get-together.
Single Unit Disc Jockeys: A single unit disc jockey is a one-man show who is in the business for the sheer pleasure of making good music. An aspiring professional less the flashy wherewithal, he may well be the answer to your needs if you are looking for a low-cost affair.
The single unit disc jockey you hire may have simple equipments but may well have liveliness and vigor to put life in the party. On the flip side, the use of much simpler studio equipment may result in their not having enough back up of the songs required. Then as they are not professionals they may be comparatively not so responsible. While you may end up saving a few pennies here, it is best to try out the competence of such a person before you hire him. Ask him for references or a trial performance before you make your final decision.
Yellow pages, Friends or Relatives: It is the easiest way to know about the disc jockey but then again it is your luck as everyone has his own choice. Of course, from the yellow pages, you can get the telephone numbers and the addresses of the DJs but then you have little idea about the better ones!!! Do not get disheartened as we have a solution to this also. Here are few tips to keep in mind while talking to them
a. It is important to create a rapport with the Disc Jockey over the phone. Take notice of their way of speaking and approach - after all it depicts their style and personality which is a part of their profession.
b. Are they returning your phone calls? Were they prompt in doing so? This again shows proficiency in their field and their approach towards work.
c. Enquire about the equipments they are using. Check up if he uses his own studio equipment to mix his own music or he uses premixed music. This can give you an idea about the talent of that person.
d. You also have to check whether they have digital music recording or normal recording. This is likely to affect the quality of the music produced.
e. Ask for the list of songs they would play on that day. It should match the occasion and the type of guests invited.
f. One of the most important things to check is whether he fixes his dance floor and the quality of the lighting used. Additional expenses may be avoided if these facilities are provided by the Deejay. Most do, but it always better to be sure.
Make the best of this knowledge to get the right man for your wedding function. After all, it’s a very special occasion and you would like everything to be memorable and absolutely perfect!
Scared of the Horrible Djs in Town –don’t be
Posted by: | Comments
A disc jockey is a person who has the potential to make a party a rip-roaring success. Whether you are throwing a party to celebrate your promotion, or to celebrate your child’s birthday, the quality of the DJ definitely has a bearing on the degree of fun people have at your party. Whatever be the occasion, one of the surest ways of putting life into a party is by having some lively, foot tapping music. Since so much depends on him, it may well be worth spending a little time on choosing the right person.
If you are planning to throw a party for your wedding in the coming month, and you are having nightmares after having recently attending a DJ party of your friend, don’t lose heart for help is at hand! No do not panic - I will tell you how to go about choosing the right DJ for your memorable day. Here are few guidelines to decide on real good one and hopefully put all your fears to end.
In House Disc Jockeys: The other option is to check from your function venue, as most of them will recommend a good disc jockey that they have seen performing. A few arrange it themselves as an added service to the client. After all, their reputation depends upon the disc jockey. Sometimes a bad DJ can spoil the effect of the good catering done by the hotels, so it is likely they would like you to have the best to give them a good reputation.
Disc Jockey Agencies : Disc jockey agencies have many disc jockeys on their books with recording studio equipment predominantly owned by the agency. Or they maybe having some contracts with other DJs also. But choosing a DJ through them can be a risky affair as the quality may vary from company to company, and within the company, amongst individuals. Some may be very good but some of their DJ staff they may not have been even heard or seen for months, so they can be short of good quality. Moreover, some of these employees are poorly paid so they find it very hard to maintain a class as they try to cut on the cost of their music collection. Some, in an effort to cut costs, will even resort to illegally copying music onto tapes, compact discs or mini discs. This being the case, they find it hard to keep motivated and interested enough to deliver a superior level of attention, service and entertainment.
Some of the agencies have also been known to have music software and can forward you a list of songs but again it depends upon the DJ. If unfortunately you get a wrong selection then you are left at the mercy of a Disc Joker instead of a Disc Jockey.
You must ensure from your DJ agency that how much personal attention they will give to you as most of the time they are more interested in putting up more DJs on the road rather than providing the best possible service to the client.
Do not get unduly worried – all this talk is only meant to show you the possible way of things. Taking a few simple precautions may be all you need to get your party the right mix of fun and entertainment.
In part two of this article, we shall see some more options of Disc Jockeys available to you. We shall also see some of the tips that will help you make a wise decision for selecting the right person to make your party a roaring success.
DJ Equipments To Rock The Dance Floor
Posted by: | Comments
Do you know what is the key to becoming a successful DJ? Well it is the ability to produce great music mixes that bring the dance floor alive. And in order to create the right kind of music you have to invest in a range of advanced DJ equipments.
If you are just a beginner to the world of mixing and turntables, you are most likely awestruck by the well-established disc jockeys that have the ability to set the floor ablaze with their highly energetic music mixes. OK so you may not have the same range of talents as these DJs, but you can make up for your lack of experience or talent with the right kind of DJ equipments. Next time you visit a night club or disco, just make a trip backstage to check out the DJ equipments, and you will be amazed at the wide range of DJ equipments that are used to churn out those masterful mixes. Although, a novice in the field requires some time and practice on the turntable to somewhat master it, there are other DJ equipments that are not as difficult to learn. And as you advance as a DJ, these equipments will help you to create better music. As in any business you have to make some initial investment in this world of music mixing, as DJ equipments are the basic tools to give you a head start in this trade.
As a DJ, you can manipulate the equipments in a number of different ways. Not only can you rock the dance floor with beats and rhythms, you can also synchronize the music smoothly from one track to the next.
As a DJ, your goal is to make the crowd come to its feet and rock all through the night. At the same time you have to keep the energy level of the dance floor at a point that it can sustain over a longer stretch of time. You have to maintain a musical consistency throughout. As a DJ it is in your hand to keep the tempo alive without annoying a portion of the crowd.
To accomplish all these goals, DJs must be well versed in the advanced technological features of their DJ equipments. You need to be really familiar with your instruments like the back of your hands to use them to their fullest potential.
In the end, it is your skill as a DJ that will be appreciated by both the crowd uninitiated in the art of DJing, and also by those who do have some idea about the workings of a DJ. So make the best use of your DJ equipments and enjoy the wide appreciation from the audience for making them rock and roll throughout the night.
Motorcycles, Accessories and Riding Gear
Music is Life – Live it Up
Posted by: | Comments
Music is a magical gift we must cultivate and nourish. Casals says music fills him up with the wonders of life and the incredible marvel of being a human. Berstein says it is enriching and ennobling. Music teaches us to appreciate the wonders of life.
Music builds up the skills of creativity, cooperation and communication and helps us to see the world from a new prospective. We are introduced to the myriad rhythms, richness and diversity of human life. Music has a great power of bringing the world together.
In today’s busy and hectic world people young and old look for an opportunity to chase away their blues with good music. There is a variety of music available in the market these days. You can even download music from the net on to your computers and from there to your mobiles. No family function or gathering is complete without a good DJ system - everyone dances together enjoying themselves for hours. Music and a good voice are God’s gifts to humans. Even animals have now been proven to respond to music.
A disc jockey or a DJ is a person who selects and plays prerecorded music for an audience. In 1934 American commentator Waller Winchell coined the term “disc jockey” the combination of “disc” and “jockey” which is the operator of a machine.
In 1943 Jimmy Savile launched the world’s first DJ dance party playing Jazz records in England. In 1947 he became the first DJ to use twin turntables for continuous play.
In 1947 the “Whiskey-a-go-go” night club opened in Paris, France, considered to be the world’s first discotheque or disco deriving its name from the French word, meaning a nightclub where the featured entertainment is recorded music rather than an onstage band.
There are several types of disc jockeys –
Radio jockey – They introduce and play music that is broadcasted on AM, FM, shortwave or digital stations.
Club Jockey- Select and play music in a bar, club, disco or a rave.
Hip hop jockeys- They select and play music with multiple turntables with one or more backup.
MCs Reggae disc jockeys- In Reggae, the DJ is a vocalist raps, beat boxes or chats over digital music recording.
Mobile disc jockeys- They travel with a portable sound system and play at a variety of functions like birthday parties, marriages, and a variety of other events.
DJ equipments:
-The music recording is done in a DJ preferred medium eg. Vinyl records, compact discs, computer media files.
-A minimum of two devices to play sound recording for alternate back and forth to create continuous playback of music.
-A sound system for amplification of or broadcasting of the music.
-A DJ mixer, an electronic two channel mixer with a cross mixer with a crossfader to go from one song to another.
-Headphones used to play one recording while the other is being played to the audience.
-A Microphone so that the DJ can introduce songs and speak to the audience.
Several techniques are used by DJs as means to better mix prerecorded music like cueing, audio mixing of two or more sound sources. Club DJs use turntable techniques like cutting, scratching, needle drops etc. In part two of this article we will learn more about music.
Motorcycles, Accessories and Riding Gear
A Career As A Disc Jockey
Posted by: | Comments
Disc Jockeying is a fast growing career and often a career that many young people choose to pursue, giving this career a try as it practically guarantees a shortcut to fame. With numerous new radio channels opening up in cities and the need for good disc jockeys increasing, the recognition of this unique profession is increasing.
Job Profile
Disc jockeys are just not paid to blab. They have to play music as well and tell listeners about singers, movies and actors; they are full-time entertainers.
They are the ones who bring home the singer's voice, musicians as well as talents of a myriad of celebrities from the entertainment world. They also share stories about current news events and help keep listeners up to date on traffic, time and weather.
Disc jockeys answer listeners' questions and play host to celebrities and experts on the air. They are the faceless friends whom we always aspire to meet and we can turn to at any time of the day.
Educational Qualifications and Basic Requirements
Presently, there are no specific schools or short-term courses for disc jockeys. But nowadays there are crash courses for voice modulation available. A pleasant voice is a requirement for this job. Other factors that are essential along with having a good voice include a sense of humor, good knowledge of music, as well as presence of mind to answer witty questions. But if you want to excel in your profession then it will be helpful to acquire a degree in mass communications. Conversely, all radio channels have their own requirements.
A disc jockey's voice must be very sociable and should also carry an attitude, but should not be pompous. Being a disc jockey requires a lot of presence of mind and hard work; for example, if you say something wrong or controversial on the air, you must know how to cover it up and how you can carry on with the show.
The radio's target audience ranges from the age of 18-60 years. Accordingly, a disc jockey should have fresh ideas and concepts and a fresh voice to capture listeners of all generations.
A disc jockey should have a thorough knowledge of music and should be very succinct and to the point with words. They need to know how to present different musical styles and how to keep people engrossed and entertained - keeping people involved and interested in the radio station directly affects the stations' number of listeners and profits.
Disc jockeys must have good diction and knowledge about what they are playing. As with senior professionals in this field, a radio jockey should never use four letter words and ought to weigh his or her words carefully before speaking.
If you have a knack for humor and entertaining people, then try turning what you love doing into a successful career as a disc jockey.
Motorcycles, Accessories and Riding Gear