How to choose the venue and get the best sound

Resident DJs of nightclubs and fun pubs seem to have a good deal, i.e. they turn up with a set of records which they know will keep there regular audience happy throughout the evening. The lights, sound and even decks are supplied therefore the DJ can arrive much later than his road show brethren would and leave the scene at the end of the evening with his records within minutes of finishing up.

Those DJs who are on the road running mobile gigs to after wedding parties, birthdays and so on generally need all their own gear and will have to get to the event much earlier than the resident DJ to set everything up and do some testing with the lights and sound. If that's not enough for the poor mobile DJ who does far more work than the resident in setting everything up and then taking it all down, he also gets paid less. But some would say that it's more of a challenge being on the road and having a completely different set of people to play to with regards to age and genre week-in, week-out; as opposed to the same crowds that will inevitably congregate in the local disco/nightclub on a Friday or Saturday night.

Those DJs who work in the aforementioned pubs and clubs are generally well respected and have a good time controlling lots more equipment and power, both sound and light. Of course, with power comes responsibility and health and safety/environmental types frequently enter nightclubs armed with decibel meters to test the noise levels and, as with other developed nations, there are decibel levels that should not be exceeded. Fines are imposed for violators which may cost the DJ his job if he regularly crosses this line.

Having an ear for sound is also very important - you have to adjust your bass and treble settings so that you have plenty of bottom end to pick out those bass lines, yet not too much as to invoke boom bass. The treble needs to be set to an acceptable level that it will be picking out the hi-hats of a break beat, etc. but not so high as to pierce the ear drums of your valued listeners.

Mid-range settings (vocals, piano) are also important and being able to work a graphic equaliser so that you can strike up a medium between the three, will greatly enhance the sound. Of course, the best way to truly appreciate a recording is with a toneless an uncoloured setting but this is reserved for the hi-fi and studio environment and no good for the disco scene; however, don't over-colour the sound!

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