Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Save money on DJ Equipment

DJ equipment is first purchased by wholesalers in bulk quantities from the manufacturers themselves. This equipment includes decks, CD players, VCD players, DVD players, MP3 players, sound mixers, equalizers, speakers, headphones, etc. Wholesalers buy the equipments from the manufacturers at wholesale rates. Wholesale rates are a little above the manufacturing costs; the additional amount paid by the wholesalers constitutes the profit of the manufacturer.

Wholesalers generally sell the equipment to distributors and retailers at higher prices. They in turn sell equipments to the customers. Thus, the wholesalers are an important intermediary link in the entire distribution process. The prices at which wholesalers purchase their equipment are much lower than their MRPs when they are available in the markets. Hence, buying DJ equipment from the wholesaler always brings a tidy reduction to the buyer.

But it is not easy to contact wholesalers. Wholesalers do not advertise themselves as they are bound to sell equipment to the retailers. Even if a buyer approaches a wholesaler, there are chances that they will be refused. However, wholesalers may sell a few pieces of equipment by charging a little more than what the retailer would offer. Yet, that would be less than the MRP. Hence, buyers of DJ equipment still save a tidy sum if they buy from the wholesalers at higher than the retail price.

Wholesalers stock their equipment in storehouses until they are sold. Most of the equipment is not yet in the final packaging; this may be a drawback for people buying DJ equipment. Also wholesale equipment would not have dealer’s stamps on their warranties. Wholesalers would also not handle transportation of the equipment.

Wholesalers shirk selling individual pieces of equipment. The correct way to approach a wholesaler is as a professional rather than an amateur. It pays to ask for the equipment with their correct specifications and brand names. It is also advisable to purchase equipment in bulk rather than singly. Sometimes a few DJs combine and purchase a bulk lot from the wholesalers at lower prices; which proves beneficial to all involved.

What to Do When buying DJ Equipment

DJ-ing means not only to play with the tracks and use the equipment skillfully, but also to know the tricks to buy good DJ equipment. These equipment that include mixers, turntables, headphones and speakers are all highly technical and expensive too. And that is why before getting them, the DJ should be well acquainted with the buying techniques. There are several procedures in buying DJ equipment, which are to be followed before buying them.

First of all, it is necessary to decide what kind of equipment to prefer. It may be branded ones or may be used or second hand ones. You may already be aware that branded DJ equipment would cost much more compared to the used ones. But then the problem with the used products is that the quality is not assured. However, it all depends on the budget that you have in mind.

In the case of the budget, if it exceeds the limit, it is better to buy equipment one at a time. In fact, if this technique is followed, the best thing would be to settle for the branded ones rather than the used products. since the DJ equipment are quite technical, the new ones will always give quality service. However, while buying the DJ equipment (old or new) a few technical things about some of the components should be checked.

As turntables are important pieces of the whole DJ equipment they need good research. Just as in the drive mechanism, direct drive is better. Then, turntables with more torque are better for the mix. Finally, the tone arms should be straight.

Mixers are the basic components of the DJ equipment. The top mixers are those which have four-channel mixer plus two mic levels and have the ability to mix the signal running into the headphones. It should be taken into account that cheap and average mixers are also available that vary in their features.

Usually, there are two ways in which the buying can be done. One is to visit the stores and the other method is through online. But it should be kept in mind that there is a huge difference between both the processes. In the case of the stores, there is the facility of personal visit, which will give the opportunity to go through the equipment carefully. This process will be a bit tiresome, as it will include more of research about the equipment. Visiting different stores and companies is necessary to ensure that it is the best buy and that the price is reasonable.

However, in the online process, there are several advantages. Unlike visiting the stores, the whole online buying process can be completed from home itself. In fact, the online process provides more choice as compared to the visit to the stores and moreover the equipment available there are generally inexpensive. Even the price can be compared easily as every kind of detail related to the equipment is given in the sites.

But there are some disadvantages in buying DJ equipment online. First and foremost, the quality is not assured and everything depends on the information on the sites. Though the price is quite low, it may include shipping charges. Moreover, most of the time there is no facility of examining the equipment before buying them.

Dj Gear and Equipment

A successful performance by a disk jockey depends on the presence of the right equipment. This, along with along with adequate musical talents plays a very important role in the career of a DJ. Having the right equipment is the best advantage a DJ can have. Any DJ gear other than real pro gear will only throw a person's skills and techniques off. It is always advisable to get the right DJ gear the first time. The Technics-1200/1225 turntables are industry standard and are widely recommended by most DJs as a starter kit.

However, the most important thing to remember is that it is not the equipment that entertains, but is definitely the DJ himself. Owning the latest equipment won't make a person any better as a DJ. It is possible to start up on a budget of about $2000, which will enable a person to purchase a sound system and a few lighting effects. In case the budget won't stretch to this, a person may need to consider buying 2nd hand or leasing the equipment.

Purchasing a wide-ranging music library is far more important than how much lighting a DJ has, and should be the first consideration. A DJ can build up on the lighting, and upgrade the sound system if required once the work starts coming in to substantiate it. The most important equipment required by mobile disc jockeys consists of sound recordings in preferred medium, which is often vinyl records, compact discs and mp3s. Two devices for playback of sound recordings are also required for the purpose of alternating back and forth and creating continuous playback. A sound system meant for magnification of the recordings is required for broadcasting the music. Apart from this, a DJ may also need a mixer and a microphone.

Headphones used to listen to one recording while the other is playing, without transmitting the sound to the audience is also strongly recommended. Other equipments may also be added. These include drum machines, samplers, effects processors, and computerized performance systems. Opinions of other experienced DJs, magazines and a number of websites prove to be an efficient guide in purchasing the right kind of equipment.

Get DJ Equipment For Less

When someone plans to be a DJ, one of the major stumbling blocks is the astoundingly steep price of the equipment. That said, DJ equipment is not one-piece equipment, but an assembly of several components. A DJ can mix and match components of different qualities and price ranges to make the entire outfit suit a budget.

The greatest margin on price can be made on the sound mixers. Sound mixers can have a great number of features; and so their prices may be as low as $200 and also as high as $2000. A DJ working within a limited budget can opt for a small mixer, which could easily be afforded at $200 to $500. These mixers can work just as fine as big ones and are ideal buys for amateur DJs. Even big names in the DJ equipment market such as Numark, Gemini, Aiwa, Akai, etc. produce such small economy speakers.

DJs that are keen on remixing their music opt for turntables instead of CD, DVD or MP3 players. Turntables are more expensive than players, but Gemini manufactures good quality affordable turntables within $400. Though direct drive turntables are a tad bit more expensive than belt driven ones, DJs prefer them as they play the record faster without any time lag.

Players are much more affordable than turntables; but they cannot provide features such as scratching and back-spinning of records. Players only provide sound output as it is on the CD or DVD and facilitate no scope for its alteration. DJs that just play original records go for players.

DJs trying to reduce their expenses on equipment can also shop around for speakers. The price of a speaker essentially depends upon its output. A low wattage speaker can be selected to save costs. There are small woofer-type speakers available that can output stereophonic sound and are available at prices at low as $20 apiece.

Another way to reduce expenses is to buy all equipment in bulk as a DJ package. A package contains the basic components and the necessary peripherals like headphones. Buying a package entitles a DJ to a discount. Packages are available generally for the mixers. In most cases headphones are given free with the package.

Using cheap equipment may take its toll on the music that a DJ provides; but DJs can make up for their equipment with their talent and creativity. Typically, the major buyers of cheap equipment are the amateur uncertain DJs who are still in the process of trying out the profession.

Disk Jockey and DJ Equipment

Companies manufacture DJ equipment like turntables, decks, CD players, VCD and DVD players, equalizers, sound mixers, speakers, headphones, etc. Bulk orders of this equipment are taken over by wholesalers at prices that are barely above the manufacturing costs. This constitutes the profit margin to the manufacturer. The wholesalers outsource this equipment to retailers, who put a final price tag on the equipments. This final price tag is inclusive of the profit of the retailer and the various taxes that are applicable during sale.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, the retailers may decide to lower the prices on the equipment. They may waive some of the price on equipment that has become out of fashion and has been replaced in the market by newer equipment. These items come under the category of discount DJ equipment. A part of discount DJ equipment is those which come under stock clearance sales. Before the beginning of a new marketing season, retailers often try to clear their pending stocks by selling them at discount rates.

Discount DJ equipment rates are most often a very economical buy to the customer. Prices are lower than their MRP which existed when the particular piece of equipment was new. Most of the time, discount DJ equipment is not too old; they may have been introduced in the market just a few months ago. Hence, the buyer is assured of getting quality equipment at a low rate.

The prices of discount DJ equipment go lower as more and more time elapses. Even equipment of big brands like Numark, Pioneer, Stenton, Gemini, Behringer, Ministry of Sound, Aiwa etc. are put up on discounted prices as these companies keep on modifying their products and launching newer versions. Prices may even get slashed by 50% within a year of their inauguration in the market. Due to this some DJs adopt a wait and buy policy, which helps them to avail themselves of the equipment at discounted rates.

Discounted DJ equipment provides the same benefits as new equipment. Their prices get lowered; but their warranties and guarantees remain the same. They enjoy the same after sales services and maintenance. Some DJs prefer to buy discounted equipment not just for the lower rates, but because they are able to hear reviews of previous owners of the product before buying them.

The Music Business

The music business is one of the first of many industries that will be fundamentally be changed by the Internet, especially with the advent of Web 2.0 open source and SOA. In my books, any industry that is dependent on take down orders, clumsy security protocols, lawyers and government lobbying for survival is a SELL. The music business is waiting for that new guy to come along to present the new business model. My advice is to take the bull by the horns and build your own empire, piece by piece. The music business is a multibillion-dollar industry, with the sales of musical products accounting for a large portion of the total. This degree gives the student a traditional musical background, the understanding of various instruments through specific classes, courses in the business of music, and studies in areas such as economics, accounting and small business management.

The music business is a cut throat industry and if your music isn't cutting it another producer is willing to take your spot, trust me I have seen it all. The music business is a very diverse industry. Great acts just don't appear out of thin air. The music business is a multi-billion dollar industry that touches people in every corner of the world. It all starts with the songwriters and composers, without whom there would be no music.

The music business is built around albums--publishing contracts (that means for songwriting) are for ten-song albums, you get paid less if you put out shorter EPs or singles or something. I put out the Panderers' Hotshot's Boy this year, as a five-song digital EP (iTunes and etc)--I put out the five tracks I liked the best, and figured that this was the direction our musical age was headed, and also that, ironically, one is more likely to listen, in one sitting (or commute to work), to a 20 minute, five song batch than a 60 minute, 14 song batch.

Who Is Your Publicist

A publicist is paid, while a sock puppet, or the persons purporting to write those glowing reviews and appreciative comments, are not. For some reason it is regarded as an embarrassing act of vanity to write a glowing review of your own book on Amazon, but not to act as your own publicist under a pseudonym. A publicist is trained to give your company the best shot at a full article in a major or local publication. These articles always carry more weight than an ad. A Publicist is adept at establishing core messages and fundamental corporate goals, and introducing them to the media and the public through high interest stories and press releases about products, people, services and benefits. The reason you read your favorite magazine, newspaper, blog or online news site is that you expect to find something there that is of use to you in your life -- it educates, informs, is relevant, useful for your needs, astonishes or entertains you.

Bands and musicians need exposure. American Idol last year had nearly thirty thousand applicants. Bandgator.com provides free internet promotions for musicians who need. Internet promotions at bandgator also includes free domain and web hosting services for musicians and they also provide url redirecting for their clients free of charge.

A Publicist is a person who represents your book to the media. This can be very helpful to small publishers.

Public relations is not just for large organizations. In the long run it's far less costly and often more effective than print or broadcast advertising. Publicists tend to book a lot of radio for their clients because it?s easier to get broadcast time than print space. But radio has a few disadvantages: It doesn?t have the longevity of printed publicity (It won?t turn up in a doctor?s office reception room three years later, for example). Publicity campaigns run approximately three months and continue for as long as the artist is touring and has momentum. Publicity companies may charge a monthly fee or a flat project fee plus mailing expenses and, in Canada, GST.

Publicists must be creative and proactive so as to engage all media outlets to the maximum benefit of the organization or person they are representing; the ability to connect with supplementary disciplines is extremely advantageous. Publicists work long hours and are expected to be available for the client day or night.

After office hours, they attend parties and media get-togethers in the hope of getting face time with influential journalists. Publicity is typically generated from an organization's public relations department and its goal is to gain media coverage. Examples of news-worthy events that may receive media coverage, or publicity, include ground-breaking ceremonies, press conferences, organized protests, or ceremonial appointments.

Promotion is one component of marketing. Promotional tours are far more enjoyable when you are not worrying about the post office closing, where you put your address list, and whether the buyer's credit card information is correct.