I hate carrying and moving my shit - did that for years when I was younger. Now when I get a mobile, I gladly give up 1/2+ of the fee to s sound guy that brings everything 'cept my SL1, Control Vinyl, Carts and Headphones....

Requests are also more numerous/tougher - Mobiles are definitely harder which is why I hate doing them.

continue....

mobile gigs are physically much harder

club gigs require you to keep up with music more and play it in an interesting way

both gigs get annoying requests

^^ Nailed it.

+1

+1

im 14, im a mobile dj.. all i have to say is i hate packing my shit up any the end of the night. lol

and i hate all the damn requests, im gunna start chargin 5% for requests.

+1

i mostly have done mobile.. for those who do clubs.. what are your warm up sets like? i might be opening for another "big time" dj.. but there are so many restrictions as to what can be played and what can't.. how do you guys keep the tunes wicked without playing the latest stuff.

I've actually found crate organisation is the main thing I need to keep sorted to play well without playing the newest stuff.
That's a subject for a different thread though.

Mobile jobs bug me because I can spend longer setting up for it than actually doing it and it rarely ever feels like it was worth it.

I refuse to do private/mobile gigs, and when I do I ask for too much money. If the suckers say yes, I'll do it, but usually over charging seems to work. Weeds out the whack weddings and birthdays, inflates my ego and word of mouth gets around bc ppl know I charge too much. Win-Win situation

I would take a mobile gig over a club gig any day. i just love always having a new group of people to play for. To me it keeps it new and keeps me on my toes. Also its never the same party, and also the pay is usually better for mobile gigs 90% of the time.

I used to do a shit load of mobile work....now its all club work. I know what my crowd expects of me and usually I know what to expect from my crowd. Not to mention the age difference...I have done everything from teen parties to the most formal of events...just too much BS to deal with not to mention setting up and breaking down.

I do mobile gigs but I charge double or more of what I get in the clubs. It's a lot of work doing mobile gigs!!! I still don't understand those djs charging $150-$200 on craisglist to do a any event!

Thats prolly cause they either Don't have shit for equipment or have never had nothin' more than a little house party gig...where thay plugged into a little home stereo. Wait till they have to lug around a coffin, an amp rack that weighs 200 plus lbs. , a rig of lights and subs and mains....

I've been doing club gigs for the past 2 years in college (where I have to bring mixer/tables but not speakers). When I graduate in May I will be starting to do moble gigs on saturday afternoons/nights (mostly bar mitzvahs). I will be working for a company that handles bringing everything but the tables/mixer and pays well. It will free me to spend the other 6 nights a week trying to land club gigs and the days practicing, taking lessons, practicing, promoting, and practicing.

(if i was pauly d it would say - tell myself how good I am, gel hair for 30 minutes, tell myself how good I am, tweet about how good I am, tell myself how good I am, go to the club and trainwreck all night long, tell myself how good I am and how I jusy shut another venue down)

Two posts from you on Pauly D since i've signed in...not bad.

^^ sorry I got an e-mail from a friend with the article and video clip and it just really pissed me off. People lose respect for what I do because of this clown. Not to mention I spent a few hours trying to learn the transform scratch and it's frustrating. But back to the original point - it pisses me off that people look down on the hard work and sacrifices I make (both financially in buying equiptment, music, and vinyl and time wise as I've given up some nights and weekends to take DJ lessons and practice) because of a clown like Pauly's ego.

I have never experienced any problems dj`ing in a club. Mobile work the list is never ending. Number one problem with mobile work you are responsible for the dj gear.Number two people come up to easily, as there is no dj booth seperating you from the guests.

well if your a mobile dj, aren't you being hired for a special occasion? meaning you should probably accept the fact you should play their requests since your pretty much a personal DJ?

Im doing 4 club gigs a week at the moment. Gave my fri night gig to a buddy 2 weeks ago so i could do a private mobile gig. Christmas party at the casino ballroom for big wig doctors. I also charge an arm and a leg to do mobiles so i only do a coupple a year. Club gigs are much more fun but mobiles are where the $ is.

I totally disagree because I get hired to dj , not to be someones personal jute box. Now if that works for YOU then fine but no dj is obligated to take requests. I even put that in my contract an if a client doesn't like it i will not work for them PERIOD. BTW......I've never lost a job yet due to this. This belief that djs should take requests is nothing more than a dj myth. DJing is MY business and I make the rules.

Well just to clear things up a little I see being a mobile DJ as playing at a birthday party, wedding, corporate party, things like that. Wouldn't it make sense that these types of mobile gigs pay a DJ to play music according to their preference? For example if Disneyland is having a party and paying you a buttload of money then I don't think requests are that bad to take.

Now a club setting is obviously different, your being paid to what you do as a DJ with your own flavor and style and can easily say f*ck requests cause the promoter/manager is paying you, not the people making the requests.


I'm not saying a DJ is obligated or should always take requests, just saying that that varying on what type of event your doing - in this case a non-club gig, then taking a few requests wouldn't kill ya.

+1

i have done both and i will be honest and say that i dont mind doing either mobile or club gigs, i do prefer to do club gigs as you dont have to carry all your gear all over the place but the money is normally more if you do a mobile gig as you are using your own equipment instead of the clubs so you can charge more for that type of service.

I usually wear a t-shirt saying "No Requests" and just point to that when i am playing lol

Right, I do both consistently. With mobile gigs almost 99% percent of the time have a music list to go by or direction to go in for the night. Also its usually a one off so there is a lot less pressure. Djn is much easier in that sense. When you have a weekly club gig there is a lot more pressure to stay current and perform behind the decks to keep your job.

Mobile is a bitch, Every weekend I have to setup 2 spots and at times 3. Money is good but theres always room to complain about the actual labor.
I dont do lists, I look at the crowd, and age. Clothing tells you alot about people to.
I walk in and I can immediately tell what I am going to be playing for the most part of the night. Usually its a mixed crowd of all ages and genres so theres alot of rock to hip hop to funk to top 40 transitioning. Tons of requests. I make them right it down. Save the lists put them out on the table at the next gig and when you get a request say you will try to get to it. With that said, If a tip is laid down to play a certain song I will get on it. Those that dj for the enjoyment... Get paid for having fun.
This goes for clubs too. I could care less about whats new as much as whats moving the crowd. I never get compliments on spinning whats new as much as taking whats old and turning into something new.

DJing was never meant to be easy.

ha ha! tell that to the douche who wants "auto beat match" implemented...

Yeah, but you know that will free up more time for them to be lazy.. I mean creative...

LOL

if we didn't have to beatmatch my songs, think about how much time we could spend drinking and talking to ladies in the dj booth

then why bother being a djj in the first place? just go the club and get your groove on like everyone else...

I'm saying... Just goes to show you that people DJ for all the wrong reasons. To each their own. It's best to drop the DJ act and become a promoter or VIP host if all you wanna meet chicks and drink.

i was being sarcastic

doin' mobile or club, just don't forget to have fun and use your skills! scratch/beat mix/play efx/video mix/etc

yeah im mixin' foxtrot and cha cha! lol

NOBODY TELLS DJ REQUEST WHAT TO PLAY!! ONCE YOU TAKE A REQUESAT THEY LOSE RESPECT FOR YOU!

I always was under the impression that mobile jocks just faded in/out... Not because they're lazy or anything I just thought that with such a wide area of music being covered & the amount of abstract request (chicken dance cha-cha slide etc) that's the only way they could transition?!?!

While I've never done the wedding/corporate/bar mitzvah gig I have the upmost respect for mobile jocks. I can only imagine the amount of money they've spent on their rigs, and the amount of bullshit they have to play.

I'd love to get into that arena, but as for right now the bar/club scene is where home is

Peace

sarcastic or not, some DJ's only do it for the pussy (or man pussy if that's their game).

you just mix when it feels right. if you are playing a soul set, you can mix 3 or 4 soul songs, then go into your rock set, etc... there are few genres that are unmixable, so if you just do little mini sets grouped by genre you can beatmatch. whatever you think is best...

LOL, was that for Latin???

just tripping on the guys who do mainstream mobiles and DON'T take requests. Sure if you are doing your job right the requests will be minimal, but to honestly say you WON'T take Grandma's suggestion or some little kids suggestion is just crazy when you are getting paid to entertain and interact with the crowd, especially with a Wedding or Birthday party.

Hmmm, maybe that is why I avoid those gigs - I had offers for some Sweet 16's and kiddie parties and did EVERYTHING I could to avoid doing them (and still leave door open for other gigs).

if you are doing that kind of gig and you say no to all, or even most, requests, you probably wont be in that business for long. thats the whole point.

+1, on a mobile gig if I were to hire a DJ for my party and i requested a song and he told me no i dont think i could see myself to pay him

Mobile or club, it gets easier the more
experience you gain. You'll get bettet at
reading the crowd which usually means
less requests.

You don't play Whitesnake to a bunch of hyphy kids.

^I do

ha ha! GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

Not true at all.

If you hired to do a mobile gig & your not taking any request at all. I think you shouldn't be doing mobile gigs.

Ok now sixxx knows what the hell hes talkin bout. I have that skill or talent called reading crowds and my clients no this which is why they trust my judgment and have no issues with the fact i dont take requests. I dont give my clients the power to control me unlike many other djs. Dont get me wrong, i do understand this will not work for everyone. Many djs rely on requests because they are unable to properly read crowds and control a dance floor. It is much easier to be a jute box than it is read crowds so many djs take the easy way out and try to get djs like myself to follow but thats not gona happen. Many djs in my circle also dont take request and they work regularly but they have developed the skills necessary to be successful. Its the djs CHOICE if he wants to take requests , there is know RULE period.

But thats not your call.......ITS MY CLIENTS.

Youre kidding right?

Exactly! +1

mobile = more money (more work)
club = a little less money, less work, more exposure, more fun!

I do both, and will take the occasional request if it's appropriate.

I'm not saying it like your job is to stand there and take request. I'm saying it as if it's my birthday and i hired you dj and while your spinning there is a song i really like and would like to hear it or to dance to it & ask you to play it and you tell me no, I don't take request... I don't see how anyone will hire a dj like that again.

Discussion thread doesnt make sense. Club dj vs mobile dj? Im a mobile club dj. Most mobile dj's correct me if I am wrong... Have a steady residency,the only difference is paycheck, gear and you are an employee of the venue and I am a hired sublet.
Requests are going to be around forever for both and doesnt make a difference if you play a song or not that is requested but how you handle the person making the request. Conversation rules the nation. Instead of eff you I dont have it and I dont play requests... Sorry I dont have that paticular song. I will try to have it for you next time... If you are in it for the money and the request makes sense to be played... Tip Jar in the air. If you have any game whatsoever you can make a couple 100 notes in tips alone.

Im going to call you incorrect on that one, most mobile DJs I know dont even play clubs and have no aspirations of doing so, they do strictly sweet 16s, mariages, corporate gigs ect ect

i'm with you on that one

Guess it may be where you live... Most around here spin at different venues, There is a big mix of bands that circulate along with dj's. I personally wont do weddings, rarely a corporate gig or sweet 16's.

I think you have a different idea of what a "mobile dj" is, on here they are talking about DJs who bring their own sound, lighting, equipment, ect and spin things like sweet 16s, corp gigs, weddings, ect at places that typically dont have a DJ. Not DJs club DJs that spin at different venues

some people need some perspective. you're not inventing the shit, you're playing recorded songs for a crowd. get off the ego trip. get over yourselves.

I guess you can define mobile in different ways and Im off on what the thread is meant for. I bring lights, sound, the whole nine yards to different venues when they want. There is a contract and I am not an employee on their books. I drive my equiptment to their spot and spend "have it down to 2 hours to set up and an hour to tear down" Usually every thursday friday and saturday. One paticular place has me every friday and saturday turning a sports bar into a club scene. There are three setups that at times are spread out and I have to get other dj's I consider mobile that run 2 of the setups when needed. I pay them personally. I figure that as a mobile dj. I dont charge a grand a gig but keep it competitive. Typically I charge $350 a setup on a good night 3 setups I can pull 1050.00 plus a promo tab. Then pay the other guys 75.00 apeice + 25 promo tab for just showing up and playing music for 4 to 5 hours. Took 6 months to cover gear costs now everything is straight income. Isnt this considered mobile?

Yes but not in the sense that people here are talking about, your not a mobile DJ you a mobile club LOL

+1

Theres very little difference in what he does from a mobile dj other than actually djing so yes i would say its the same for the sake of argument.

That is exactly my pitch. Mobile club scene. Seems to work for me.

The difference is the crowd. If you are DJing at a sports bar that turns into a club then you most likely are spinning for people that come there often and have some similar music tatses. When you DJ a wedding, birthday party, or corporate event you are spinning for a group of people that normally don't party together and have a much wider range of music tastes. The logistics of DJing at a bar where you bring your sound system may be the same as a traditional Mobile DJ, but the performance aspect is very different.

there we go well said

I can accept that on a bar aspect. I do cater to schools and a few private parties. Did a few weddings and stepped into karaoke, Both were not to my liking. Weddings to personal and karaoke just way to much for me to deal with, Its like taking requests for every song and hearing it trainwrecked isnt what I consider fun in work.
Hence I enjoy clubbing so I lean more towards what I like and make money to boot.

in my town, mobile gigs are the only way to make good money... to be honest, i'm at the point where I prefer doing mobile gigs locally to doing top 40 club gigs. The money is better, the people are generally less entitled that the douchebags who go to clubs nowadays. That and I can get away with playing more classics tunes and oldies that I actually like and don't make my ear bleed and my head explode like current top 40 music.

I've been hearing shit like our top DJs spinning all night for $150 - and these are proven, top-rated, highly-skilled veterans in the scene.

Of course, given the choice I'd rather just play good music to a crowds that appreciate good music and good djing. That rarely happens in my city anymore mind you...

This whole thread is like original artists and cover artists arguing...lol. A club DJ is an artist. A mobile/wedding dj plays what the client wants in most cases and creates smooth transitions between songs with a few possible effects. Its just two entirely different jobs that both use music and sometimes the same equipment. Like comparing someone who can play songs on the piano vs. Beethoven. Either can be very difficult or come naturally. But someone who creates good original mixes is literally an artist. Like Yamato! If you don't know who this is...must see!

So if Laidback Luke does a wedding gig is he still considered an artist or a just another mobile DJ?

Lol...I see your point, But why would anybody hire Laidback Luke to transition top 40 tracks and play the wobble? That's an insult on him.
I'm not saying weddings are limited to mobile/wedding dj's. But I see a lot of arguments here between people trying to compare someone who is basically a master of ceremonies to mixing like an artist. That was the comparison I was trying to make.
I can see someone asking Laidback Luke to play at their wedding the same way you might ask Bruno Mars to come sing at your wedding. But your not going to tell Bruno Mars to sing your favorite Ed Sheeran songs like you would if you hired a cover band and nobody is going to tell Bruno Mars that if he wants to entertain at a wedding the right way that he has to do that.
Does that make more sense?

Still up to the DJ to control the crowd regardless if it's what he's requested vs a set genre at a club. Djing a wedding is way tougher. Btw, lol youtu.be

Lol... the irony of the video.
I am actually a wedding/event dj. I completely understand. I love the interaction with people myself. But I've done some club djing and understand how requests can mess up the flow of a good set list. For me, the two are completely different jobs altogether. There's much more flexibility with weddings and events, but all the equipment is a job all in itself. Plus, for weddings, I like to customize a set list with all of their favorite songs in advance. With a club the set list can be the same one week after week with subtle changes but you also want to put your stamp on it. Whereas with weddings I'm just trying to make all the country, rock, pop...etc. flow
together.
Then there is the other category of the DJ Gods that make their dj controller look like a musical instrument...... goals.

I don’t usually comment on these forums but this is a interesting debate, and I wanted to add my side of the story, as a former club Dj since 1986, I would often travel across Europe lugging record bags, I know things have moved on and I have to say the Club Dj is the one you pay to watch play, and the crowd expect to be entertained, so the pressure of the job, with management and clientel I feel is much greater, I have played alongside many of the worlds top Dj’s and you have to be seen to be equal,
Lately however, although I no longer hold a residency, I have been helping a local bar and playing some 70’s & 80’s Soul, now that’s a different proposition entirely, the graft and hard work it takes to set up the system, I have a lot of respect for mobile Dj’s, I use Cdj 2000 NSX2’s
and Djm 900, and passive 2000 watt JBL speakers, and a Crown Amp with a LiteConsole XPRS Booth, setting all that up takes 2 hours plus, and you have to carry the gear and pack away after so the bar can open in the morning,
RESPECT Mobile Dj’s.

Not trying to be a dick but who says you don't mix like an "artist" at a wedding? It'a also a whole lot more fun to mix actual songs from the last 60 years than 200 tracks that all have the same basic sound, structure and vibe but that's just my opinion. Not saying Laid Back Luke isn't a good DJ or super nice guy but I would expect any professional wedding DJ to be just as good as this Watchwww.youtube.com