Lets get down to it shall we? Umm feel free to just answer the ones you want - I am sorry its so long but I felt this would be better than several posts to check later.

Me and a friend are starting to slowly get into our own Mobile DJ business. We know nothing about it except what we have researched on internet and thru our local DJ store. Heres some questions we have.

Question 1.) If we were to ask some local mobile dj's to let us come along and show us the ropes - what do you imagine they would say? I would even help them unload their gear in exchange if they wanted. (but I assume most wouldn't want someone they don't know handling their gear!) But I worry that most will want me to get lost since they don't want to help future competition. What would you do if it were YOU I came to and asked??

Question 2.) We are going to have 2 speakers which handle 300 watts each and 2 subs which will handle 500 watts each. What is cheapest way to go with amps. Basically, can a speaker and sub be run off same amp or should speakers be run on one in stereo and each sub have their own in mono?

Question 3.) Maybe this should have come before the last one but - how important IS subs for a wedding reception? I am pretty sure for a school dance the more bass the better...correct?

Question 4.) Can some people show pics of their light setups as this has been the hardest part of it all for us to decide on. We are lost when it comes to picking lights. I have spent hours looking at the demo lights setup at the DJ store but they are all setup in this tiny little room and doesn't really give a good example of what they can do, or how many of each we should get. We have a 10' Truss.

Question 4.) Has anyone built there own cabinets?
If so did they work out well or did you eventually pay the $ and buy one.

Question 5.) IS there any KANSAS CITY DJ's here??? if so and you have icq or yahoo messenger hell even Aols messenger ( I could break down and use it - its worth it!)
would you mind chattin sometime with me?

Question 6.) and this is more opinion based I suppose but what is the one thing most new Dj's will screwup when first starting out so that I might be able to avoid it completely?

Phew... ok thanks in advanced.

first of all welcome to the family...
now... to answer ur questions

1. yes i'd let u come along..... as long as u buy the crew mdconalds after a gig (( and yes, the dollar menu will be fine ))... nah but seriously.... u scratch my back and i'll scracth ur's....(( hhhmm...so u say that ur a printshop superviser huh??...lol... juss kidding))

2. i would say get 2 amps... one for the mains and one for the subs.... but if u can only get ahold of one amp, then u can still make things work..... u can hook up the mains on one side(right channel) of the amp and hook the subs on the other(left channel)... or theres the normal daisy chainning of the mains off the subs... but that wont be all that flexible.....

3. subs for a wedding... well, it all depends on the place and the number of people that are going to be there(outdoor/indoor..big hall/small hall).....but yeah..a sub is sometimes not needed.... although, if u'r the type that would rather keep on the prepared side then... yeah, take a sub...

4. sorry.. no pics here... but, which store did u go to......big dudes maybe??... well, if i had a whole bunch of impressive lights i'd invtie u over to see how they perform... but still...ur welcome to come over for say $2o maybe?? ... just make sure u bring a twamp sack for my <ahem> fog machine

5. and yes... i am from kansas city..... well, actually boarderlined between kc and independence (same thing)

6 and the biggest mistake for newb's would be.... thinking that dj kirby on 93.3 is the best...hahahaa.....nah just kidding.... uumm... well, my biggest problem was playin uncut songs.... at that time i used any cd i had laying around the house.... and yeah.... u know how that goes....

but ah... sorry man... i only have msn...

but... i hope this helps..

To help you out with the lighting part, I would have to say start off with 8 Par Cans and a Light Co-Pilot to run them. You need the pars for a good bass to build off of. Then maybe get some Roto Pods, a Vertigo, Mirror Ball with a couple of Pin Spots. That will get you going, and not too expensive either. A couple of Flame Bowls are nice to hang off your truss. H2O is a nice effect light. Saga is a really nice light also, again, fairly inexpensive. Fog machine or Hazer is always good to have, just watch for places with sprinkler systems, or fire alarms though, and if you are in one, use the fog sparingly, and intermitantly. Don't blast it out and set off the alarms.
You can get into intelligent lighting with moving heads at a later date if you like, however you need a good bass of lights to build off of first. I still don't own any intelligent lights myself, and I do just fine with what I have. I'm using about 24 lighting pieces myself right now, and all I have is a T-bar which means I have to place some of my lights on the floor in front of my setup, and some behind me, and also a few on the table. I really need to look into a truss system myself now. I've seen DJ's that only have say 3 pieces of lights and they run them all night long. This gets quite boring after the first half hour, so get as many as you can to start of with. Par cans are really cheap, and that should be your very first step. Just invest the money you make at each gig into new peices a bit at a time. Should only take you a year to get to where you want to be, lighting wise. But then if your like me, you always want more. It's getting to the point now where I have to leave some of my lighting at home since I don't really need all of it every gig I do, but it is nice to change things up a bit every now and then especially if you do gigs for the same establishment quite often. Every year I do New Years at the same place, have been for the last 7 years now, and each time I always have a different lighting set-up, and people notice this. I've had many compliments on the lighting. For $2000 you can get a very impressive show of lights. If you get used lighting it's even cheaper. I've picked up used Sparkles, and Mini Gems for $40 each. Can't beat that.
Hope this helps.
THA DOGG

1) We always take on "new" guys, all they have to do is ask. We do frown upon them working with us 1 or 2 gigs, just to "steal" our routines, and business practices. If someone want to work with us, they become our employee, and get paid (legally) on a hourly basis. If they were with us a few months or years and told us that they wanted to go out on their own, more power to them, and the friendship remains. We don't just take guys on for a couple of gigs to train competition, but like I said if you work for us a little while, and politely explain (afterwards, not upfront....lol) that you would like to try and go out on your own, we would wish you the best of luck, and remain friends. Actually we have a couple of ex-employees who we refer when booked, or who refer us, it works both ways.

2) Best case scenario, you want 2 amps. You can look on eBay, or used at a local shop and find something inexpensive. I recommend staying with inexpensive used from good brands like American Audio, (Que-Es-See), Krown, or Crest. Rather than cheap new junk (Pyle, Pyramid)

3) For weddings subs aren't crucial, but anything you can add to the show improves your overall perceived value, thus you can charge more. Trust me a full range system almost always sounds better than just speakers on sticks.

4) I can show you some of our setups, from our older lights which look small, but cost a ton in their day to our $10,000 light show, but it won't really help your situation. My recommendations.......
-1 Mirror Ball
-1 Color changer the American DJ Color 150 does a great job as a mirror ball spot.
-4 Par cans or 2 color changers for color fill (depending if you want to go with the expense and more setup time of intels over "S&P's)
-2 Scanners, or 4 effects (S&P's) for ("un"-intels, I would recommend Vertigo (a must have) a Lotus, a Millenium, a Deco, and 2 that look like intels like the Whirl 250, Trance Wheel 250, or so on.) Those are all great effects with allott of WOW factor, for under $200/pc. With intels you are looking at allot more cost.

4 again?) As far as cabinets anyone can build one. Will it sound OK, maybe, Will it sound great, slight possibility, will it sound bad, most likely. There is allot of engineering involved in properly sizing, porting, tuning a cabinet for any given woofer. A cabinet that sounds great with a cheap 15" woofer, you might assume will sound even better with a woofer that is supposed to be twice as good. That is not the case, if the cabinet wasn't desighned for that particular woofer, the sound can very well become worse. Without a thorough understanding of fas, Qts, Excursion, Watts, Ohms, Engineering, and properties of the building materials themselves. You are much better off letting the experts build the speaker cabs, and buying them, or you will in most likelyhood throw money out the window.

5) I'm not....Fobs is, although, I will teach you everything I know, and even throw you some gear if you can get me some 50 yard line seats in the first 5 rows at any KC home game. I am the biggest Chiefs fan, who doesn't live in Missourri.

6) Asking too many questions, and making me too tired too help anyone else. The finger tip blisters are starting too hurt....lol j/k

Whew must be a slow day, you guys write a ton.
Most DJ's will be happy to lwet you tag along, but most won't help you take their business away. I live about three hours away towards st.L, but i do a few gigs a year in KC and I'd let you tag along and prolly try to teach you a few things as well. I started my own mobile co. almost 3 yrs ago. If it's possible try to do it yourself. Friends are cool at first but it might not be the wisest business venture. By the way how old are you? Just curious. anyway q&a.
1)Yes you can come along. Just buy the redbull.

2)Try to get a second amp. It's easier. Don't buy cheap amps. You will have to buy 3 of them to equal one good one.

3)I love subs, more the merrier. Yes I would have one for a wedding reception. It just helps overall sound so much that it's worth using.

4)I'll shoot you a pm with my e-mail. I got a ton of pics of my startup lights shows.

4)I've built my own cabinets but I didn't just do it. I talked to some guys at a car audio shop and they figured out the cubic feet and best dimensions and port size and more technical stuff and gave me some dimensions. They sound pretty good, but be sure you know what you are building and not just thrown together. I have built a set of front load sub cabinets and they sound just as good as the ones I bought, but I would buy before building them myself again, especially if they are not sub boxes.

5)Fobs is the only KC DJ here i think, but I am probably the next closest.

6)actually trying to get tickets for stevie ray
No, there are many but that's a later subject.

Stevie-if you want KC tickets quit haggling the new guys, my sister lives in KC and they have 4 season tickets for the 25th row, 40yd line on the west side. And the north part of the stadium. They usually give the other two to friends and I've gone and it rocked. Strings can be pulled.

Let's do it

hey, i think dj skwerl is from kansas city.... i think??

DJ FOBSTER and NEXUS I shot ya a private message - thanks again for the advice.

And ya I did screwup on the numbering, probably wouldnt be a bad idea to pay someone to write my contracts for me "hahah."

everyones advice was good and I only WISH I had 50 yard line tickets to the Chiefs. (long as it isnt a denver game ouch! damn them and their ability to RUN ALL OVER US!)

Thanks DOGG sounds like good advice on the lights, that was what we were thinking bout getting and you pretty much confirmed it for us.

Stevie Ray sorry bout your blisters and just to clarify we arent out to steal anyones ideas just want to see it done from start to finish to get an idea of what we need to buy and what we may be forgetting, BEFORE buying all of our equipment. I am the type of person who believes in respect. You respect me and help me out and later I will find a way to repay that. If Nexus or Fobster were to help me out now and called on me in 2 years sayin he was in a jam, I would do the show for free and give him the check. Just the kind of guy I am. I respect your opinion and think you guys do a great job of helping new people break into this. Hopefully you keep up the good work and someday I may be as experianced and able to give those blisters a rest and do the helpin for ya.

SUPA,
I wasn't trying to say you were going to "steal" anything. I was just pointing out the fact that we have had guys "want to work for us" where they already had their own business, or worked for the compeition. There intent wasn't well meaning. Now if they were upfront like you and said they were new, and would like to learn the ropes. I for one am willing to help. I wouldn't spend my free time here giving advice if I wasn't.

hey suPa NewB add me 2 msn I was just a begginner a while ago and I am probably around ur age..

andrew_corbett69@hotmail.com

Im thinking maybe i could help ya from newbie 2 newbie lol