Mobile disc jockey
Encyclopedia
Mobile Disc Jockeys, also known as Mobile Discos in the UK, are disc jockey
s that travel or tour with mobile sound systems and play from an extensive collection of pre-recorded music for a targeted audience. There are a variety of Mobile disc jockey business models, including full-time, part-time, multi-operator, and single-operator companies.
era of the 1970s, demand for Mobile DJs soared. Top disc jockeys in this era would have hundreds of vinyl records and/or cassette tapes. The equipment used in this era was enormous and usually required roadies (similar to those who work for bands) to set up. While many club disc jockeys still use vinyl, most mobile DJs currently use compact disc
s, computer-based files (such as MP3
s), or a combination of sources. In addition, professional-grade equipment created by a variety of companies expressly for mobile DJing has allowed for faster set-up and break-down, as well as improved quality of performance.
Mobile DJs typically perform at various types of events including wedding receptions, bar and bat mitzvah receptions, company parties, school dances, anniversary and birthday parties, etc. Mobile DJs also perform in public at bars, taverns, nightclubs, and block parties.
In the 1980s and 1990s, mobile DJs began to form and expand associations and create professional business networks, which now include annual trade shows and internet discussion forums. Today, many mobile DJs also promote themselves as event planners, organizers, and MCs (Master of Ceremonies). Working closely with their customers, their guests, and other vendors (such as venue staff and photographers / videographers), today’s professional mobile DJs strive to provide quality entertainment that fits the event in question in terms of style and performance.
Today, a large selection of music, professional-grade equipment, good organizational skills, vocal talent as an MC, mixing skills, quality lighting, insurance for liability, and on-site back-up equipment are typical customer expectations when purchasing mobile DJ services.
Since the early 90's, mobile DJs have raised the bar with organized professional trade shows such as the Mobile Beat Show in Las Vegas, NV and DJ Times Expo in Atlantic City, NJ. Seminars by numerous respected DJs such as John Rozz, Ray "Ray Mar" Martinez, Stacy Zemon, Mark Ferrell, Peter Merry
, Randy Bartlett, Steve Moody, Mike Walter, and many more have helped DJs to better understand their profession as well as running their businesses more professionally rather than treating it as a hobby.
By furthering their education at these trade shows combined with a number of books that have been written about this legitimte trade, the poor perception that mobile DJs have had by their clientele has dramatically improved. Mobile DJs who once were averaging $350–500 dollars per four hour event in the 70's, now on a national average for a wedding can command anywhere from $1,200-2,500 per four hour event.
The American Disc Jockey Awards Show was established and held in Las Vegas, NV, since then thirteen mobile DJs have been elected to the American Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. The thirteen members include, John Rozz, Al Lampkin, Joe Martin, Robert A. Lindquist, Jon Michaels, Mike Buornnaccorso, Sid Vanderpool, Bobby Morganstein, John Roberts, Ken Knotts, Ray "Ray Mar" Martinez, Cesar Cosio and Bernie Howard-Fryman.
The DJ of the Year Winners at the DJ Times Expo include, Three-time winner Marcello Pedalino, Roxanna Greene, K.C. KoKoruz, Shawn "Big Daddy" McKee, Marz Lawhorn, Gerry Siracusa, Adam Weitz and Steve Moody.
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s that travel or tour with mobile sound systems and play from an extensive collection of pre-recorded music for a targeted audience. There are a variety of Mobile disc jockey business models, including full-time, part-time, multi-operator, and single-operator companies.
History
In the past, mobile DJs utilized formats such as vinyl records or cassettes. During the discoDisco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
era of the 1970s, demand for Mobile DJs soared. Top disc jockeys in this era would have hundreds of vinyl records and/or cassette tapes. The equipment used in this era was enormous and usually required roadies (similar to those who work for bands) to set up. While many club disc jockeys still use vinyl, most mobile DJs currently use compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s, computer-based files (such as MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s), or a combination of sources. In addition, professional-grade equipment created by a variety of companies expressly for mobile DJing has allowed for faster set-up and break-down, as well as improved quality of performance.
Mobile DJs typically perform at various types of events including wedding receptions, bar and bat mitzvah receptions, company parties, school dances, anniversary and birthday parties, etc. Mobile DJs also perform in public at bars, taverns, nightclubs, and block parties.
In the 1980s and 1990s, mobile DJs began to form and expand associations and create professional business networks, which now include annual trade shows and internet discussion forums. Today, many mobile DJs also promote themselves as event planners, organizers, and MCs (Master of Ceremonies). Working closely with their customers, their guests, and other vendors (such as venue staff and photographers / videographers), today’s professional mobile DJs strive to provide quality entertainment that fits the event in question in terms of style and performance.
Today, a large selection of music, professional-grade equipment, good organizational skills, vocal talent as an MC, mixing skills, quality lighting, insurance for liability, and on-site back-up equipment are typical customer expectations when purchasing mobile DJ services.
Since the early 90's, mobile DJs have raised the bar with organized professional trade shows such as the Mobile Beat Show in Las Vegas, NV and DJ Times Expo in Atlantic City, NJ. Seminars by numerous respected DJs such as John Rozz, Ray "Ray Mar" Martinez, Stacy Zemon, Mark Ferrell, Peter Merry
Peter Merry
Peter Merry is an American author, public speaker, and a DJ in the wedding entertainment industry. He served as the national president of the American Disc Jockey Association in 2003-2004., and is the founder and current CEO of the Wedding Entertainment Director’s Guild-Background:Peter Charles...
, Randy Bartlett, Steve Moody, Mike Walter, and many more have helped DJs to better understand their profession as well as running their businesses more professionally rather than treating it as a hobby.
By furthering their education at these trade shows combined with a number of books that have been written about this legitimte trade, the poor perception that mobile DJs have had by their clientele has dramatically improved. Mobile DJs who once were averaging $350–500 dollars per four hour event in the 70's, now on a national average for a wedding can command anywhere from $1,200-2,500 per four hour event.
The American Disc Jockey Awards Show was established and held in Las Vegas, NV, since then thirteen mobile DJs have been elected to the American Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. The thirteen members include, John Rozz, Al Lampkin, Joe Martin, Robert A. Lindquist, Jon Michaels, Mike Buornnaccorso, Sid Vanderpool, Bobby Morganstein, John Roberts, Ken Knotts, Ray "Ray Mar" Martinez, Cesar Cosio and Bernie Howard-Fryman.
The DJ of the Year Winners at the DJ Times Expo include, Three-time winner Marcello Pedalino, Roxanna Greene, K.C. KoKoruz, Shawn "Big Daddy" McKee, Marz Lawhorn, Gerry Siracusa, Adam Weitz and Steve Moody.