First gig, what to think about?

[AGo]

Hi guys, new here on the forum

I got my first real gig in two weeks and I am very excited! But I'm a bit nervous because I dont know if my stuff will work without any problems.
I'm using a Macbook pro with Virtual DJ and some cheaper Hercules stuff at home. In the club I'm going to play, they have the pioneer stuff (I think, maby numark) . Thats not a problem, "mixer as mixer, looks all the same" but what about drivers for my mac? Do I need drivers from Pioneer for my mac to work with Virtual DJ. And what cables do I need? Do I only need a USB from the mac to the mixer and a 3.5mm cable from the mac to the mixer to get out the music? How do the "real" artist/djs do?

Please dont hate on me, I'm trying not to be a wannabe dj or shit like that, but you have to start somewhere.

(from sweden, maby the english isn't perfect)

// cheers!

[serox]

Its all practice! if you make mistakes, learn from them. Dont panic and keep it moving. If something does go wrong just deal with ii and laugh it off.

I dont think you should require drivers but I dont own a mac or use virtual dj. Plug it in and hit play

[Electric_Head]

First gig, what to think about??

I`d say think about cats.


Seriously though, you`ll need a stereo jack to rca.
Stereo jack out of mbp, rcas into mixer.
But you won`t be able to monitor with headphones as you`ll only have a single track reference.
You`ll need a 2nd soundcard to be able to reference a tune through your headphones while another is playing.
I may be wrong but this is the only way I know to be able to monitor with headphones from a single sound source other than splitting the cable into 2.

[lowpass]

Getting laid, definitely getting laid.

On a serious note, make sure you are somebody who can interact with a crowd from day 1. It's not about running around the stage like a loony and throwing your hands in there, just keep looking onto the dance floor, making mental notes of what works and what doesn't and adapting. Also regardless of whether you want to be one of those DJ's who plan's theire mixes or not it can help to have at least the first few mixes nailed to build confidence for the rest of the set.

Good luck!

[AGo]

Thanks for the response!

Its all practice! if you make mistakes, learn from them. Dont panic and keep it moving. If something does go wrong just deal with ii and laugh it off.

I dont think you should require drivers but I dont own a mac or use virtual dj. Plug it in and hit play

I meant more the technical part, I'm pretty confident in my mixing, it is just that I'm not sure if I need to download something for my mac so virtual dj works with the Pioneer stuff. If it is just plug and play, then I'm saved!

First gig, what to think about??

I`d say think about cats.


Seriously though, you`ll need a stereo jack to rca.
Stereo jack out of mbp, rcas into mixer.
But you won`t be able to monitor with headphones as you`ll only have a single track reference.
You`ll need a 2nd soundcard to be able to reference a tune through your headphones while another is playing.
I may be wrong but this is the only way I know to be able to monitor with headphones from a single sound source other than splitting the cable into 2.

Thanks for the info!

Getting laid, definitely getting laid.

On a serious note, make sure you are somebody who can interact with a crowd from day 1. It's not about running around the stage like a loony and throwing your hands in there, just keep looking onto the dance floor, making mental notes of what works and what doesn't and adapting. Also regardless of whether you want to be one of those DJ's who plan's theire mixes or not it can help to have at least the first few mixes nailed to build confidence for the rest of the set.

Good luck!

Not act like Steve Aoki, DONE

I was going to write down 10-15 songs and then as you say, note what people like/dont like. Great stuff!

[dj nation]

Dont get too pissed mate, not ideal at all

[AGo]

I have no experience, so I'll have to try for my self and see what works Not mad at all but I was more looking for tech info so I know that my stuff are gonna work with the Pioneer decks/mixer. But if it is just plug and play, then there is no problems

[ctang]

1.) take your shirt off 2.) wave hands in air 3.) yell jamaican phrases like "bombaclot, rasclot, rudeboy, bodmon, into the mic

[stranger_sounds]

If I were you i'd ask on the virtual dj forums for technical information on this
i'm sure it won't just be a case of plugging the pioneers in and it working without any prior setup

[drake89]

Why not just use the CDJ's? You would be able to cue songs up in your headphones, and it's nice not to have a screen between you and the crowd. But if you really want to just use VDJ then you just need a 1/8" to RCA like they said. Make sure you use the 'line' input, not 'phono' on the mixed. If you have the controller, then bring it with you I supose. Can you cue in headphones with the controller?

[Immerse]

Good luck man! i hope to be where you are at somepoint before i go to college

[hudson]

Getting laid, definitely getting laid.

On a serious note, make sure you are somebody who can interact with a crowd from day 1. It's not about running around the stage like a loony and throwing your hands in there, just keep looking onto the dance floor, making mental notes of what works and what doesn't and adapting. Also regardless of whether you want to be one of those DJ's who plan's theire mixes or not it can help to have at least the first few mixes nailed to build confidence for the rest of the set.

Good luck!

Planning mixes is a weird thing. I planned a super awesome mix for my first time djing out, but to my surprise, the people there were not into dubstep I didn't plan a backup either, so I just had to ride out the song then do a fairly abrupt change and cut my set short. I'm not a music hoarder, I only play stuff that I listen to regularly, so it's hard for me to just pick up a song on the fly and mix it in perfectly every time, especially at this point, you know? Lately I've been preparing by making a playlist for the night and leaving the selection open enough that I can read the crowd and change the music accordingly, but also have the security of planning a few mixes. I'd say plan a mix if you want to, but make sure you have other tunes you know will work if something's not vibeing with the crowd.

I'd say the biggest thing to worry about after that is taking every step to ensure that your laptop doesn't overload/overheat/etc. Don't have any other programs running alongside VDJ, turn off your wi-fi, maybe even bring some sort of fan to point at the computer throughout the night (I did that when I played a live pa set a couple weeks ago and it helped so much). Good luck! Don't drink more than one or two beers until you're at the decks or off the stage!

[lowpass]

Getting laid, definitely getting laid.

On a serious note, make sure you are somebody who can interact with a crowd from day 1. It's not about running around the stage like a loony and throwing your hands in there, just keep looking onto the dance floor, making mental notes of what works and what doesn't and adapting. Also regardless of whether you want to be one of those DJ's who plan's theire mixes or not it can help to have at least the first few mixes nailed to build confidence for the rest of the set.

Good luck!

Planning mixes is a weird thing. I planned a super awesome mix for my first time djing out, but to my surprise, the people there were not into dubstep I didn't plan a backup either, so I just had to ride out the song then do a fairly abrupt change and cut my set short. I'm not a music hoarder, I only play stuff that I listen to regularly, so it's hard for me to just pick up a song on the fly and mix it in perfectly every time, especially at this point, you know? Lately I've been preparing by making a playlist for the night and leaving the selection open enough that I can read the crowd and change the music accordingly, but also have the security of planning a few mixes. I'd say plan a mix if you want to, but make sure you have other tunes you know will work if something's not vibeing with the crowd.

I'd say the biggest thing to worry about after that is taking every step to ensure that your laptop doesn't overload/overheat/etc. Don't have any other programs running alongside VDJ, turn off your wi-fi, maybe even bring some sort of fan to point at the computer throughout the night (I did that when I played a live pa set a couple weeks ago and it helped so much). Good luck! Don't drink more than one or two beers until you're at the decks or off the stage!

Back when I played CD's out I could roll up as steamed as possible and know I could hold it together (for the most part)

But the thought of being drunk and trying to set my laptop/controller up on stage does not seem like a fun idea at all!

[mikeyp]

on the topic of drinking/doing various other things while playing, i know everyone here says don't have too many but lately i've been noticing I am WAY better in the 5-10 drink range than the 0-4 (and no, it's not cause i'm too drunk to notice myself fucking up lol) i know everyone's different but for me that's right before my motor skills start to go but right when i stop giving shits and i can really just get into it.

[dj nation]

on the topic of drinking/doing various other things while playing, i know everyone here says don't have too many but lately i've been noticing I am WAY better in the 5-10 drink range than the 0-4 (and no, it's not cause i'm too drunk to notice myself fucking up lol) i know everyone's different but for me that's right before my motor skills start to go but right when i stop giving shits and i can really just get into it.

id kinda agree with that, pretty much what i used to alwways say, like i mix almost better when im abit tipsy. but then there was that time............you just go abit too far and end up stopping the wrong tune twice in one set, naaah, put enough shame on you to make sure never ever to do that again hehe

[mikeyp]

on the topic of drinking/doing various other things while playing, i know everyone here says don't have too many but lately i've been noticing I am WAY better in the 5-10 drink range than the 0-4 (and no, it's not cause i'm too drunk to notice myself fucking up lol) i know everyone's different but for me that's right before my motor skills start to go but right when i stop giving shits and i can really just get into it.

id kinda agree with that, pretty much what i used to alwways say, like i mix almost better when im abit tipsy. but then there was that time............you just go abit too far and end up stopping the wrong tune twice in one set, naaah, put enough shame on you to make sure never ever to do that again hehe

lol yeah. i'll never eat mushrooms while playing again.. didn't mess me up or anything i just ended up getting really claustrophobic behind the table haha. but yeah tipsy/drunkness makes me not think about the technical things; i don't need to, i know how to mix, and just worry about what's sounding good and it definitely puts you on the same level as your audience and you can feel em a little better

[AGo]

many interesting responses!

One more question! Is it plug and play with Traktor Pro, or do I need do download something more for it to work with the Pioneer stuff?

[drake89]

don't you need time coded cds?

[Killamike49]

I have no experience, so I'll have to try for my self and see what works Not mad at all but I was more looking for tech info so I know that my stuff are gonna work with the Pioneer decks/mixer. But if it is just plug and play, then there is no problems

White boy. Getting pissed is getting drunk, friend.

[lowpass]

on the topic of drinking/doing various other things while playing, i know everyone here says don't have too many but lately i've been noticing I am WAY better in the 5-10 drink range than the 0-4 (and no, it's not cause i'm too drunk to notice myself fucking up lol) i know everyone's different but for me that's right before my motor skills start to go but right when i stop giving shits and i can really just get into it.

My 'sweet spot' when it comes to playing out is as follow:-

2-4 alcoholic drinks (red stripe, budweiser, VK+ coke)
1/2 to full cafetiere of coffee (I'm usually tired by the time I'm read to play so this helps massively)
Protein Shake (This just puts the testosterone into overdrive to make you feel invincible! )