You need to slice? There’s an app for that. No more hardware needed Serato’s iOS app now gives you the luxury of handling slicing through its Serato remote app. It cant be used with any compatible Serato DJ supported hard ware. Check out the video below for a walk through.
http://serato.com/remote
5 ways to make your DJ business more effective
1. Get an 800 number
It is cheap and easy to make your business available to everyone. It definitely gives off a professional look to the business. Some companies even have corresponding apps that make managing the number easy. Here are some companies that are priced pretty well.
http://www.tollfreeforwarding.com
2. Blogging
Blogging can be easier than you think. At this point if you are not using every social media outlet than you are behind. Post your soundcloud mixes and tag the artists on the songs. Blogging can consist of upcoming events (EDC, LIB etc..). Just put information that people will read and update during the weekdays.
http://electricdaisycarnival.com/
http://lightninginabottle.org/
3. Send cards that grade performance
Some working DJ’s use this technique now, ask your customer what they thought of your performance. If you are working weddings or events as well as the club scene this is a must. It will improve your overall skill and make it easy to ask for referrals after a good grade.
http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/free-customer-comment-card-template/
4. Make everything professional
Get a legitimate logo if you don’t already have one. You can have a logo designed for a good price by a professional crew. Once you have a logo, marketing yourself at events becomes a little easier. A nice clean business card can go a long way and put your face on as may promos as possible. It’s a new age and seeing your face can make some customers feel a little better. DJing is more popular now than ever and the possibility to work different types of events is real. Aggressive marketing and branding will help get your foot in the door.
http://99designs.com/logo-design
https://ww.deluxe.com/small-business/brand-identity/logo-design
5.Think outside the box
That cliché has been used again and again, but it has merit. As stated above DJing is becoming more flexible and many different types of events are hiring DJ’s to give them a soundtrack. If you haven’t heard of DJ2nd nature then takes the time and do some research. He is still regarded as one of the best DVJ’s in the business and has taken his game to a new level. He has made his craft respectable and charges premium pricing for his work. He is as prevalent in the corporate world as well as the DJ world by setting the tone for many corporate workshops and events.
Will trap music last longer than dubstep did? It would depend on who is asked. Dubstep was the misunderstood offspring of electric dance music. It came onto the scene with gusto, Dj’s were making dubstep remixes of mainstream songs and seeing success, companies like Microsoft and Ovalitine were running commercials with a dubstep theme. Then it just died. Trap music seems to be gaining a familiar steam and potentially setting itself up for a fall like its misunderstood predecessor. The roots of Trap music would lead to believe otherwise.
The trap genre was propelled into recent fame in 2012 with a culmination of Flosstradamus,Major Lazor and Baauer giving this new sound a bright and exciting future. Baauer’s Harlem shake went viral, Flosstradamus made Orignal Don slow down and everyone paid attention. Major Lazor walks hand in hand in harmony with dance, trap and hip hop music. These are all very good signs in regards to the music’s longevity but its greatest strength is the fact that it has been prevalent in some form for a long time.
The sounds produced by the 808 drum machine are the tie that binds two generations together. In the early 90’s and late 2000’s trap music was defined by artists like Three 6 Mafia, Jeezy and the always unpredictable Gucci Man. The term trap referred to the block or part of the neighborhood where drugs were sold. The lyrics in the song reflected that lifestyle T.I. even named one of his albums “Trap Muzic”. Little did we know that base lines were going to keep beating into the next generation?
t.i. TRAP MUZIK 2003
Anything that can inspire a dance style that makes women shake their ass will always last. While Miley is off somewhere twerking, trap music is having the same effect on the dance floors. While dubstep gained notoriety from remixes of mainstream song it didn’t necessarily make them better. It’s a dance floor killer, the majority of the people don’t or should I say can’t dance to dub step. Despite the fact it was spawned from electronic dance music it truly only appealed to the eclectic ear. Sadly the advertising and movie industries also had its hand in dub steps demise, flooding television commercials and block buster movie fight scenes saturating the public with exposure.
Deep roots in both hip hop and now electronic dance, trap music has made the generational leap possible. With its propensity of making women dance provocatively and flexibility between hip hop and dance mainstream success is inevitable. Trap music looks like it’s here to stay and if you need more evidence of how far it’s come, just watch the video below.
Meet DJ Soundninja, originally from Marceline, Missouri is now residing in St. Joseph, Missouri. His interest for DJ’ing started his sophomore year in geometry class while daydreaming of DJ names, as you can see he chose DJ Soundninja and stuck with it since then. In 2007 he was a drummer for his band called “Our Last Run” and on the side he would DJ for small parties, bars, and weddings. After his band broke up he decided to pursue his DJ’ing career. Starting off as a campus DJ at Missouri Western State University and eventually becoming a resident DJ at the Belt Sports Complex. DJ Soundninja also shared with us that his first gig was at his cousins house party while his parents were out of town, he said he a blast and made good tip money, too bad the fun ended when his cousins parents came back.
Being a full time DJ and loving every second of his job, DJ Soundninja also enjoys recording in his home studio, Soundninja Studios working with his artist Tres (@Tres314) and performing with Daniel Cole (@DColeDrums). Being St. Joseph’s top DJ he also had a chance to open for touring acts such as 3OH!3, Sammy Adams, XV, and Timeflies! DJ Soundninja loves Hip-Hop and Dubstep so if this your type of music make sure you check him out at Headquarters Nightclub on Wednesdays and Fridays, Hammerjacks Dance Club on Thursday nights and he will be at a lot of venues around Kansas City this summer. You will find him playing the hottest club bangers, tracks with a lot of bass and anything with Kendrick Lamar. Some of his favorites that never fail are “Wobble” by V.I.C., “Pop That” by French Montana ft. Rick Ross, Drake, & Lil Wayne, and when he really wants to turn up he plays “No Hands” by Waka. Sounds like if you want to have a good time you really need to go party with DJ Soundninja!
He has traveled all over Missouri and Kansas and will be going to different states this summer. He hopes to be living his dream and playing in other countries; we have no doubt that he will be performing with the big time DJ’s. Surely if follows his advice that he recommends to all DJ’s “Always reach for the next big thing and never settle for less and keep working to move forward” he is sure to make it far! He tells us that a good DJ is someone who can go to a venue and feel the vibe and make create something personal and unique just for them while knowing your mix. Some of the DJ’s he looks up to are; DJ AM with his ruthless mixes, DJ Spinbad and he is a huge Deadmau5 fan!
Infinity and beyond
When the buttons on phones become a nuisance, they were replaced with smart phones. Laptops replaced the immovable desktop computer, and then were replaced by tablets. Technology is making our lives easier but that isn’t always necessarily a good thing. The conversion from books to e-readers was not an easy one, most avid reader’s like the feel of a book in their hand. DJ’s are no different, there have been some futuristic advancements in the equipment that are not welcomed with open arms.
Music went digital then 12 inch record became obsolete and a novelty collection item. Following technological trends it would you lead you to believe that touch screen applications would be next. The Emulator is futuristic and looks like something out of a daft punk video and for all intents and purposes an amazing product. Deadmau5 has developed touch screen software that looks very similar. The idea aggressive and plausible but not popular.
DeadMau5 software
Then there is this thing it looks like to tool used to open the star gate. At first glance there is nothing on this machine that looks musical at all. It actually looks like an overzealous sifi fan was recreating something from their favorite movie. In reality it makes beautiful music and presents itself the same way. Seeing this in a night club would be mind blowing to patrons and present them with a amazing show.
There are a lot of variables to consider for DJ’s to make a switch to tools like these. Cost, training and portability all seem like natural objections to equipment like this. At the very least these technological advances are just a sign of what the future holds.
(props to the first person that chooses the moniker DJ Chief Anderton)
Projectors vs. Flat screens
“A DJ is only as good as it tools”, if that isn’t a quote it should be. Equipment is crucial for any final product. A high performance car needs low profile tires and premium parts, a superior pizza will be made with superior sauce, cheese and dough. A good DJ should look at their equipment choices as a way of improving their business. The quality of the final is all the truly matters and premium equipment is a crucial price.
A working VJ has a caveat to their performance that standard DJ’s don’t, video. Like other DJ’s they have to purchase the best equipment to make their mixes and perform shows, but VJ’s have to take into consideration the video aspect when setting up. There are two types of equipment used to accomplish this projector and flat screen monitors/Tv. Naturally there are low end and high end versions of both of these, the more important question is which one is better.
The advantages with high definition flat screens are obvious, we deal with them as consumer when buying one for the house. They can be slim and light weight offering superior color quality and picture clarity. Smart TV will connect to the internet and sync to a laptop if necessary, in many instances most of these venue will already have these installed. Traveling with these flat screens can be troublesome, setting them up at each venue and the frailty of the screens themselves can make it difficult. Using TV’s provided technology and far superior picture quality make a flat screen TV a great fit.
At first glance projectors do not seem to measure up to the flat screens. They offer no technological advantages and have inferior picture quality. Most venues will not provide projectors, so owning them is basically mandatory. With all that said they are the equipment of choice for most VJ’s. Projectors are light weight and great for traveling. They expand larger than most flat screens and can be placed in strategic sight lines. DJ’s at the core are artist, and each time they spin it is a performance. VJ’s incorporate a visual experience into the performance to take it to that next level. Projectors do not offer the same quality of picture and that is an advantage for a working VJ. These performances are predominantly done inside clubs and bars. The grainy video projected un-centered and out of frame on a wall can give that experience a different feel. Although the mixing of videos is impressive and worth watching, the DJ’s job is to make people dance and they can’t do that if they are mesmerized by what is on a TV screen.
First and foremost the art of mixing needs to be mastered, then the equipment is chosen. Once that is accomplished the equipment needs to be purchased. The quality of the equipment needs to be taken into consideration but the fact that this is a form of art with the intention of people dancing needs to always be the main focus.
The Ultra Music Festival in 2014 will be the launching pad for the Avicii themed hotel from SLS South Beach Hotels. The location and timing are perfect, the dance music community will be in full swing attending Miami Music week. Avicii’s star status and SLS’s knack for promotion of their luxurious hotels will make an unproven match look genius.
The guests will be privy to exclusive programming and VIP packages that will give access to events throughout the week’s music inspired convention. This will be the second time this promotion has been available and seems like it could become a mainstay. It is a testament to the popularity and commercial value one DJ can have.
While this unlikely marriage between luxury hotel and superstar status DJ is now a reality and profitable, the fact of the matter is that is has been done. So what’s next for DJ’s? If anything this proves that anything is possible and that being a DJ is a marketable trait. Naturally the next step points to a Las Vegas hotel themed with a superstar DJ, most DJ’s aren’t superstars. On the other hand to be a DJ an individual needs a certain amount of creativity and a shameless self promoter. With the tools at hand and with the EDM/dance community flourishing this is an ideal time to find that new marketing technique. This can be the golden age for DJ’s
The Ultra Music Festival in 2014 will be the launching pad for the Avicii themed hotel from SLS South Beach Hotels. The location and timing are perfect, the dance music community will be in full swing attending Miami Music week. Avicii’s star status and SLS’s knack for promotion of their luxurious hotels will make an unproven match look genius.
We were able to catch up with one of our resident VJ’s and ask him a few questions. He makes some of our most downloaded mixes. He has been VJ’ing from the start. He is a self professed videoholic, he is DVDj Dread!
Where are you from and where do you work?
New York. I have worked in New York City and all other parts of New York, South Carolina and Florida.
How long have you been DJing?
Funny you ask, I just recently celebrated 10 years in the business.
Congrats! When did you decide to become a VJ?
In 2007 I saw DJ 2ndnature doing it at a convention and I knew I wanted to do it.
So you started at the beginning?
Yes, in fact I just found this picture of my first set up, and yes I used all four.
What piece of equipment can you not live without?
My Rane ttm557, I know there are bigger and better things out there that I can get, but If it works why fix it? I had an opportunity to meet DJ Jazzy Jeff who is one of my favourites and he used an older set up saying that this worked for him, why mess with it. If it makes sense to Jazzy Jeff it makes sense to me, besides having an ear for the music goes a long way.
dj.rane.com/products/ttm-57sl-performance-mixer
Do you have advice for aspiring VJs?
The eyes don’t lie, you have to make sure that your video is as good as your mix. Think of it like putting a new stereo in your car. When you are driving down the block people will hear your music playing and then see the car, if the car isn’t on point than nobody will care about the system.
So what do you do in your free time?
I am a movie buff, I have time off I’m watching movies with my wife. I’ll watch just about anything I love the experience.
LeBron or Durant?
Ohhh man, I want to say Durant but I gotta go with LeBron that’s my homie. LeBron came into the league as kid like Kobe and KG and just owned it.
dvdjdread.com
DVDJ Dread on Facebook
DVDj Dread on vimeo
I listened to his trap mix while I wrote this: The remixx kidd
DJ Name and how did you come up with the name?
Kevin Allen, Its my first and middle name. Back in the day before having a regular name was “cool” I Went by Dj Kurious spelled with a K for Kevin which was given to me by a middle school friend because I was always curious lol
Where are you located?
I am located in Northwest Indiana, about 20 mins from Chicago.
How did it all start?
It all started in Middle School I went to a friends birthday party and there was a dj mixing and cutting it up and I was hooked. I said to myself I want to do this!. I got to know this dj who is now Paul Anthony from Dirty Fabric and he showed me the ropes.
Are you a DJ Full Time?
No as of now I am part time at one point I was. Between my family sports and video editing the weekends are it for now.
What genre do you prefer?
I am a BIG House Head!
What other interest/hobbies do you have?
I am very involved in my kids life, I am President of our Towns Pop Warner Football League and help Manage Baseball.
This review has been long overdue, we are very excited to bring you a review on the product from the staff here at VJstreet. If you have any questions about our review don’t be afraid to post them in the comment section below.
At first glance at the packaging my first thought was that we had ordered the wrong product. I had heard the rumblings about this unit being a little too big and was afraid they were true. Once the unit is out it is visible that the size is perfect. I wouldn’t invest too much into the rumors about it being cumbersome, considering that it encompasses multiple tools into one apparatus.
The NS7 had some amazing features so naturally the NS7 II would improve upon those and it did. The layout is logical and cerebral, all of the buttons are in areas that make sense. While there were many improvements the ability to edit beat grids from the unit versus the laptop is a great example of the evolution of the product. The NS7 II offers exclusive content for your Serato DJ. Beyond giving a maximum level of control there are never before seen features available on your Serato DJ.
The younger generation really has it great, machines like the NS7II are the final product of innovation in the field. While the older generation has to get used to feel of a 7 inch turntable versus a 12 inch vinyl, having an entire music catalogue at your fingertips is a decent trade off. The NS7 II feels as authentic as it is going to get.
It comes as no shock that here at VJstreet we highly recommend the NS7II. The size, feel and improvements are second to none. A DJ would be hard pressed to find a better machine. Thanks for reading and please leave any comments or questions you have at the bottom, we love to help.
Digital Street Team