I don't care what anyone says, mobile DJ'ing is MUCH harder than any Club/Bar DJ'ing!

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I don't care what anyone says, mobile DJ'ing is MUCH harder than any Club/Bar DJ'ing!
Posted on: 02.07.2012 by Darlene Strohbeck
Mobile DJ's unite!

After DJ'ing in an after hours house club for my first 7 years, and doing the mobile DJ'ing for another 7 years now, I can honestly and unequivocally say that mobile DJ'ing is harder than anything in the club/bar scene.

Back in the club scene, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. It was a house club, and I was a house DJ. If that wasn't easy enough, people were there for one reason, to party. Some did drugs, some drank, some did both...But pretty much everyone was completely destroyed. In terms of the music, nobody really seemed to care whether it was popular, underground, old, new etc. as long as it had a 4/4 time signature. People only went to hear some variation of house music, and as long as you played it, you were good. To me, this aspect made track selection almost a no-brainer. It's not like anyone would go to a house club and complain that there was too much house.

Now for mobile DJ'ing...You have to bring your own system which is already a pain in the ass. Sometimes you end up at a venue that's 100 years old (like an old mill) where there's no elevator, multiple levels, stairs, etc. Then you get into a room where it's the most ridiculous layout you've ever seen, and you have to figure out where the speakers go, tape down the cables, etc...So you've already sweat your ass off and burned away 90 minutes and you haven't even started playing yet.

Once you start playing, you get all kinds of requests. Everyone believes they have the best taste in music, and in order to properly showcase any skills you have to find a way to put it all together and make it sound good. Sometimes you get someone who wants to hear quick mixes and cuts from song to song, meanwhile other people will complain that they want to hear the whole thing. I could write a whole book on ridiculous things people have said. On a whole, people bark at you all evening , "turn it down, turn it up, I hate this song, blah blah blah" and you have to do what you can to appease them or risk being called a crappy DJ'ing and not getting any referrals....Everyone has their own opinion, and they're all different, and in my honest opinion, they all stink.

Then you get to pack it all up and drive home...
Darlene Strohbeck
03.07.2012
Originally Posted by deevey
By that I mean by someone who, yes will/can mixes (at least) 2 songs together, but also programs and mixes them up a set in an artistic manner that can not only enhance but create an atmosphere and reactions by a crowd in the manner they (the dj) desires rather than gaining a reaction by chucking next biggest tune and mixing it back-2-back with the next biggest tune. John Digweed, Roger Sanchez, Frankie Knuckles, Sasha, Chemical Bros (DJ sets) as some examples.
A lot of people on here won't agree with my comments on this but to me, "programming music" is nothing more than a glorified mix-tape. It's something non-DJ's have been doing since they were 12. You take a bunch of songs that mean something to you, and arrange it in a way that you believe will tell a story. Virtually everyone in this world has made a mixtape. The actual mixing of two songs takes more skill than pressing play/record on a tapedeck, but I still don't believe it's that hard, and I don't really believe music programming or mixing two songs together qualifies someone as being an "artist"...Or rather, if all a DJ does is "program" and mix two songs, they fall low on the hierarchy of "artistry" compared to turntablists that program, mix, scratch, beat juggle, sample etc, and then some. Even cue point juggling takes a lot more skill than just straight mixing. Music programming and straight mixing are the most basic, rudimentary skills in the DJ world. So really, on a hierarchy of skill, a guy that has two ipods connected to a mixer and plays a live version of his mixtape is just below a DJ that actually mixes (but only mixes), and a turntablist is just above a guy who only mixes two tracks together.

Don't get me wrong, I love the aforementioned DJ's, and Sasha's Involver album is one that resonated with me BIG TIME in really taking me on a journey from beginning to end...But I don't believe that it's anything extraordinary, and I don't believe it's what qualifies someone in being an "artist". We've all (most of us on this community ) done the same thing in creating our mix sets, so are we all artists? Perhaps in some form...But I would never refer to myself as such because it seems extremely superfluous.
Darren Teboe
04.07.2012
Originally Posted by deevey
One of the main differences I see in the underground club DJ vs Mobile DJ is the punters are more passionate about what the entire evening s atmosphere is about from start to finish with songs that people don't know in advance, which takes alot of skill to pull off. Rather than "the DJ didn't play my one song I requested at a wedding".
This comment screams of inexperience in dealing with brides. Not a bad thing, but just saying... Wedding DJ's have shifted responsibilities over to event coordinators too. Basically, a good wedding DJ now is in charge of "the entire evening s atmosphere". With lighting, MCing, and coordinating events throughout the evening, the wedding DJ's responsibilities have grown a lot over the years. There's a reason guys make several thousand a evening now doing wedding events now.
Darren Teboe
04.07.2012
Originally Posted by MWagner
My experience in the Techno scene doesn't match up with yours. Sure, there were people on drugs who didn't care what you played, but there were also large numbers of people with encyclopedic knowledge of techno music who will be able to point out mistakes you didn't even know you made. When you play techno in Detroit you better be on point because people have a kind of reverence for the music.
Agreed... I've had those straight hard party kids, and the music snobs too, and by far, it's stressful playing for the latter. You really have to be on point when playing to an educated crowd. That being said, in my experience, it's still always a fun time, and not on the same level as what you have to do/go through when doing a mobile gig.
Efrain Scharr
03.07.2012
Originally Posted by deevey
Must have been a pretty "scene" club (weekend millionaires) for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.

However, I don't envy mobile DJ's - it takes alot of patience and alot of mouth to pull off a really good mobile gig and being well paid is part and parcel and deserved. Same goes for Wedding Bands.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.

I don't under any circumstances envy having to try to cater for everyone at a wedding or birthday rather than trying to cater for people "into" what I play though - some people are just good at it (and I've done it once or twice and never again).

+1
Jerica Salava
03.07.2012
Originally Posted by MWagner
Don't let that stop you from spouting nonsense that you know nothing about though.
that's what techno is all about.
Rolanda Clodfelder
03.07.2012
Originally Posted by tokenasianguy
If by "DJ" you mean someone who mixes two songs together, I believe it's EXTREMELY superfluous to refer to them as an artist. But I'll agree to disagree. If you're referring to someone who produces music and/or plays live then i'll concur with the usage of the term "artist".
By that I mean by someone who, yes will/can mixes (at least) 2 songs together, but also programs and mixes them up a set in an artistic manner that can not only enhance but create an atmosphere and reactions by a crowd in the manner they (the dj) desires rather than gaining a reaction by chucking next biggest tune and mixing it back-2-back with the next biggest tune. John Digweed, Roger Sanchez, Frankie Knuckles, Sasha, Chemical Bros (DJ sets) as some examples.

It's harder to carry and set up gear than to not carry and/or setup gear. The same as how it's harder to wash laundry by hand than throw it in a washing machine. It has nothing to do with whether or not it requires a degree.
Sorry I was referring to the amount of skill as oppose to grunt work - e.g. harder = more skill.

But yes it'll drain your energy more setting up your own gear, sure. As mentioned though, its a career choice and pays the bills (well in many).

Alot of good mobile DJ's do also end up getting regular residencies in commercial clubs/bars/events which would not suit the underground club DJ anyhow.

One of the main differences I see in the underground club DJ vs Mobile DJ is the punters are more passionate about what the entire evening s atmosphere is about from start to finish with songs that people don't know in advance, which takes alot of skill to pull off. Rather than "the DJ didn't play my one song I requested at a wedding".
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by deevey

Bringing your own gear is nothing to do with it BTW and doesn't make it any harder - it doesn't exactly take a degree in sound engineering to set up a few speakers and lights (although some might disagree), it just makes things

  • More expensive to start with
  • And more "physically demanding"
I agree with most of what you said except this. It has everything to do with it. Whether or not it requires a degree has nothing to do with it. I was comparing carrying and setting up gear vs not carrying or setting up gear. It's harder to carry and set up gear than to not carry and/or setup gear. The same as how it's harder to wash laundry by hand than throw it in a washing machine. It has nothing to do with whether or not it requires a degree.

2. Underground or Non- Commercial Club DJ - Who is technically an "Artist" and plays exclusively in underground events / clubs / festivals.

You don't hire an Artist to paint your walls - you hire a painter.
...And this. If by "DJ" you mean someone who mixes two songs together, I believe it's EXTREMELY superfluous to refer to them as an artist. But I'll agree to disagree. If you're referring to someone who produces music and/or plays live then i'll concur with the usage of the term "artist".
Werner Bile
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by loverocket
thank god.
Don't let that stop you from spouting nonsense that you know nothing about though.
Jerica Salava
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by tokenasianguy
WMC is a far cry from Detroit.
thank god.
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by oliosky
You know why mobile djing seems harder? Cos its a fucking job, and a thankless one at that.

At least slots at club gigs are fun and involve very little actual work (unless you promote as well).
This seemed fitting.

A quote from the movie 'Meet Bill' from Aaron Eckhart

Let me tell you something, kid. Working sucks, okay? Working sucks! And it doesn't matter if you're in a bank, a department store or a doughnut factory, because once you've been there long enough, the only thing you'll care about is when your next pay increase is, how many vacation days you've accrued and if your health insurance is gonna pay for the cholesterol medicine that keeps your heart pumping no matter how much shit you've worked through it. Then after you've gained 20 or 30 pounds because you're so fucking uptight all the time, you wake and discover you're working for your father-in-law in a position with a gratuitous title and you're totally replaceable. And not only is the new guy better at your job, but he's got a better car and better jokes and better hair! So not matter what you do, you make sure you make a lot of money doing it because it all sucks! And that is one lesson I, as your mentor, can teach you.
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by oliosky
You know why mobile djing seems harder? Cos its a fucking job, and a thankless one at that.

At least slots at club gigs are fun and involve very little actual work (unless you promote as well).
Everything is a job, and requires work. Even when I was working at the club there were a bunch of evening s that I didn't want to go, and hated my 3am time slot.
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by loverocket
are you kidding man? Even at WMC 2012 there might be 1 out of 1000 that even knows about techno. I don't know too much about techno and I have been DJing 20 years.

Some shit about Juan Atkins in Detriot and then Fedde Le Grand did something that wasn't really techno, but Juan Atkins did Cybotron - Clear which wasn't techno either.

>
WMC is a far cry from Detroit.
Johnetta Olewine
02.07.2012		You know why mobile djing seems harder? Cos its a fucking job, and a thankless one at that.

At least slots at club gigs are fun and involve very little actual work (unless you promote as well).
Jerica Salava
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by MWagner
large numbers of people with encyclopedic knowledge of techno music who will be able to point out mistakes you didn't even know you made. .
are you kidding man? Even at WMC 2012 there might be 1 out of 1000 that even knows about techno. I don't know too much about techno and I have been DJing 20 years.

Some shit about Juan Atkins in Detriot and then Fedde Le Grand did something that wasn't really techno, but Juan Atkins did Cybotron - Clear which wasn't techno either.

>
Rolanda Clodfelder
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by tokenasianguy
That happened at the club I was working at too, but not to me. One of the patrons went up to Anthony Pappa and told him he was mixing like shit, which I thought was pretty rude...But I remember a few evening s there where I took advantage of my bar tab and got plowed and just trainwrecked all evening ...Yeah those were good times lol.

What you're talking about is the "ideal" situation. And in both scenarios, even the "ideal" mobile DJ venue still requires you to carry and setup your won gear, so that alone makes it harder.

It's been my experience that the people on this board that slag mobile DJ'ing have never done it. When I first started I had the same attitude...Thinking I was some big time club DJ and that anyone can DJ at a wedding, but I was quickly humbled and felt like I was learning everything all over again.

Regardless, just from a setup aspect alone, mobile DJ'ing is harder. The "skills" can be learned and is a moot point in my example, because even if you have the skills it doesn't make the patrons any less annoying and it doesn't mean they won't give you their opinion.
I would never "slag off" a Mobile DJ vs Club DJ. Generally being Mobile/Wedding is a Financial/Career driven choice rather than the love for the music or scene - and is the reason cited to many for why they do it - Plain and simple its a job - and a service required by many and will never be short of business.

As I mentioned - yes I did do a few gigs, and quite simply it was not my thing - boredom, playing tracks I absolutely hated, needing to come up with witty stuff to say on the mic ... However I have friends who absolutely love it and are genius' at keeping any kind of commercial crowd popping (alot of them work on radio stations as well).

Bringing your own gear is nothing to do with it BTW and doesn't make it any harder - it doesn't exactly take a degree in sound engineering to set up a few speakers and lights (although some might disagree), it just makes things

  • More expensive to start with
  • And more "physically demanding"


In terms of the actual "DJ'ing" I would agree that a lot of weddings DJ's are hacks and wouldn't make it in a club
I'm not saying mobile DJ's are Hacks in ANY way, what I am saying is they would lack the skills, music selection and in many cases the track selection to cater to a (good) house/underground club crowd, most however would have be fine, perfect even in a commercial bar/disco/club.

but I could also say the inverse is true...That club DJ's would never last in a mobile scenario where they have to take requests and absorb complaints.
And you are correct - throw a house DJ into a mobile situation and they will most likely run for the hills never to be seen again, however throw a commercial club DJ into a Wedding/party situation and they will most likely have no issues whatsoever.

I believe in this argument - there should be a very defined difference between:

1. Commercial Club DJ - plays big hits for the masses in commercial clubs.
2. Underground or Non- Commercial Club DJ - Who is technically an "Artist" and plays exclusively in underground events / clubs / festivals.

You don't hire an Artist to paint your walls - you hire a painter.
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by deevey
Must have been a pretty "scene" club for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.
That happened at the club I was working at too, but not to me. One of the patrons went up to Anthony Pappa and told him he was mixing like shit, which I thought was pretty rude...But I remember a few evening s there where I took advantage of my bar tab and got plowed and just trainwrecked all evening ...Yeah those were good times lol.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.
What you're talking about is the "ideal" situation. And in both scenarios, even the "ideal" mobile DJ venue still requires you to carry and setup your won gear, so that alone makes it harder.

It's been my experience that the people on this board that slag mobile DJ'ing have never done it. When I first started I had the same attitude...Thinking I was some big time club DJ and that anyone can DJ at a wedding, but I was quickly humbled and felt like I was learning everything all over again.

In terms of the actual "DJ'ing" I would agree that a lot of weddings DJ's are hacks and wouldn't make it in a club, but I could also say the inverse is true...That club DJ's would never last in a mobile scenario where they have to take requests and absorb complaints.

Regardless, just from a setup aspect alone, mobile DJ'ing is harder. The "skills" can be learned and is a moot point in my example, because even if you have the skills it doesn't make the patrons any less annoying and it doesn't mean they won't give you their opinion.
Lela Umanskaya
02.07.2012		I've done both, two completely different worlds imo. One similarity is that a good crowd can make or break the evening .
Georgina Schatzman
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by deevey
Must have been a pretty "scene" club for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.

However, I don't envy mobile DJ's - it takes alot of patience and alot of mouth to pull off a really good mobile gig and being well paid is part and parcel and deserved. Same goes for Wedding Bands.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.

I don't under any circumstances envy having to try to cater for everyone at a wedding or birthday rather than trying to cater for people "into" what I play though - some people are just good at it (and I've done it once or twice and never again).
The voice of reason you are, sums up my thoughts and feelings on this well
Rolanda Clodfelder
02.07.2012
Back in the club scene, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. It was a house club, and I was a house DJ. If that wasn't easy enough, people were there for one reason, to party. Some did drugs, some drank, some did both...But pretty much everyone was completely destroyed. In terms of the music, nobody really seemed to care whether it was popular, underground, old, new etc. as long as it had a 4/4 time signature. People only went to hear some variation of house music, and as long as you played it, you were good. To me, this aspect made track selection almost a no-brainer. It's not like anyone would go to a house club and complain that there was too much house.
Must have been a pretty "scene" club (weekend millionaires) for no-one to care what was played so long as it was house. I've worked in some EDM clubs where international house veterans have been kindly told to let the resident take over after an hour because they mixed a rough set or were playing too safe with "club classics" or "their big hits" instead of the cutting edge stuff that the regulars were used to.

However, I don't envy mobile DJ's - it takes alot of patience and alot of mouth to pull off a really good mobile gig and being well paid is part and parcel and deserved. Same goes for Wedding Bands.

Is it more difficult ? - IMHO, no, not if you are doing it right (and in the right places), its just .... completely different ballgame altogether. Most mobile DJ's I know and have known would not last 10 seconds in a decent house club.

I don't under any circumstances envy having to try to cater for everyone at a wedding or birthday rather than trying to cater for people "into" what I play though - some people are just good at it (and I've done it once or twice and never again).
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by rotoitiman
I make more money than most club/bar DJs I know in my area - but of course there are lots of drawbacks and the initial cash outlay, time, appearance, setup etc....
Do you mind sharing (perhaps in PM or on here) how much you charge and what you offer?

I'm always curious to compare pricing strategies. I charge as little as $675 for 100-150 people, or as much as $900 for 200-300. I don't own my own sound because it would take me 2 years to break even on the cost, so rental fees come out of that as well.

For me, it's not "more" than what a club/bar DJ would make, but when I consider that in either scenario I would have to book off my entire day, it just makes more sense to work longer for more money. Around here club/bar DJ's make around $250-$300 to play from 10pm-2am. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.
Werner Bile
02.07.2012		Having spent time working as a club/bar promoter, you all have my sympathy with regards to the carrying and setting up of gear . I threw events for 2 years mostly at a bar where I swear something different would be flukey or complicated about the sound every time we set up there. I injured my back more than a few times carrying huge speakers up narrow stairways too. Setting up sound is no fun sometimes.
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by MWagner
My experience in the Techno scene doesn't match up with yours. Sure, there were people on drugs who didn't care what you played, but there were also large numbers of people with encyclopedic knowledge of techno music who will be able to point out mistakes you didn't even know you made. When you play techno in Detroit you better be on point because people have a kind of reverence for the music.
Techno seems different from all other forms of EDM primarily for the reasons you described. I was playing progressive house back in the early to mid-2000's, back when it was really trendy in this city.

I can see how there's a reverence for Techno in Detroit. I got wind of that when I went to the black history museum and saw a section devoted to techno citing the founding fathers as Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May.
Krystina Reifsnider
02.07.2012		And the club/bar DJs always seem to be having fun!!!
Krystina Reifsnider
02.07.2012		I make more money than most club/bar DJs I know in my area - but of course there are lots of drawbacks and the initial cash outlay, time, appearance, setup etc....
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by rotoitiman
No - but booked solid during Summer and every second weekend during the year. It feels like its full time sometimes.
If that's no full time I don't know what is. This is my first attempt at doing it full time after deciding not to go back to office work and I'm only experiencing modest success (21 gigs) but it's increasing steadily
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by squidot
bringing and setting up heavy gear (especially upstairs) is the worst to me. i used to do that at house/hotel parties all the time, but the crowd at those parties almost never asked about any requests and were never a pain in the ass for some reason. in my limited gigs at bars and such people always do what you described and i was constantly being bothered for requests that didn't make any sense. so i guess that second part can happen to you anywhere unless the booth is concealed or it's a specific styled venue playing only one genre like house (but even then people could want their house music tastes fulfilled to the max).

i'd much rather take the not lugging around too much gear route. if i can fit it in my mono bag, i'm good to go.
That's true, I guess bars can be the same. The club I DJ'd at did have an elevated booth, but it wasn't concealed. You would pass by the doorway on your way to the washroom. But nobody ever complained or asked for requests. All I remember were fists pumping, people dancing, and getting props all 'round.
Werner Bile
02.07.2012		My experience in the Techno scene doesn't match up with yours. Sure, there were people on drugs who didn't care what you played, but there were also large numbers of people with encyclopedic knowledge of techno music who will be able to point out mistakes you didn't even know you made. When you play techno in Detroit you better be on point because people have a kind of reverence for the music.
Erica Charvet
02.07.2012		Hey... That's why us mobile DJ's, in most cases, make way more than the club guys do

Best compromise? Own a venue with a pre-installed sound and lighting system. That way, you just show up, do the gig, and leave.
Krystina Reifsnider
02.07.2012		I have expanded out to other cities so I am playing lots of new venues. Some are fantastic and others are not. Regardless setting up can be difficult sometimes.
Krystina Reifsnider
02.07.2012		No - but booked solid during Summer and every second weekend during the year. It feels like its full time sometimes.
Cole Maroto
02.07.2012		bringing and setting up heavy gear (especially upstairs) is the worst to me. i used to do that at house/hotel parties all the time, but the crowd at those parties almost never asked about any requests and were never a pain in the ass for some reason. in my limited gigs at bars and such people always do what you described and i was constantly being bothered for requests that didn't make any sense. so i guess that second part can happen to you anywhere unless the booth is concealed or it's a specific styled venue playing only one genre like house (but even then people could want their house music tastes fulfilled to the max).

i'd much rather take the not lugging around too much gear route. if i can fit it in my mono bag, i'm good to go.
Darlene Strohbeck
02.07.2012
Originally Posted by rotoitiman
LOL - story of my life!!
Do you do it full time?
Krystina Reifsnider
02.07.2012		LOL - story of my life!!

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