Davekd

Just out of interest, how do you work that out? The area in the orginal post, your area, the whole country? Fair play to you for the amount of do's you must have been to to work that out.,

I've been asked for insurance when doing a private party at a biggish venue - you can readily get up to 10 Million in cover for £50 or so. It's about insurers insisting on trying to step down thier liabilities as the venue should be insured anyway. I would guess however if you are using the venue's equipment the liability is thiers. Bit over the top to go for each individual DJ - mine is in the name of my club and theoretically will cover anyone DJing on the night. Having said that, I believe it will happen more and more as time goes on and the sueing culture intensifies. Dave

Looking for a copy of this (original vinyl) - doesnt need to be mint, just good enough to DJ with Cheers, Dave

Interesting question. I dont know much about the 'past' but dont see alot of people making money from the scene these days. Just thinking about some hypethetical numbers If you run an allnighter, get 500 in at a tenner each, you get 5K - take out the venue hire, doormen, people collecting money on the door, posters, fliers and then DJ's costs (and income tax) you might be lucky to end up with a grand from it - sounds good, but could you/do single promoters do that every week or even every month - no and even if they did, is that making a forune from the scene - no. Smaller promotions on the whole seem to count themselves lucky to break even/not lose money - run an event that has over 100 people in, you might make 50/100 quid if you pay your DJ's something - no making a fortune from the scene there. So to run a night, your own personal hours alone would be, say eight on the night and maybe another ten to twenty in promoting and hassling - a hundred quid for 3 days work - cant be in it for the money, surely. DJ's - what does a top level Northern DJ get from an allnighter - I would guess anywhere between 150 and 500 quid - do any of them DJ Allnighters every weekend - no they might get a nice living if they are constantly DJ'ing, but making a fortune - no Most DJ's that I know are often happy to DJ for free or for beer money only (even some top DJ's are happy to do a small night for free or have thier travel costs paid only) - totally in keeping with the ethos of the scene, I think and not one of them out to make a living from the scene. People DJ for lots of reasons, but getting rich/making money out of Northern Soul can't be one of them, surely - think about a no-mark laptop wedding/party DJ - lots of them are getting 350 to 500quid for a wedding/party and yes you've got to have the gear etc but if you want to solely make money as a DJ surely that's the way you would go? Not invest in even a duboius record collection and trip around the country for beer money or even a 100quid. I've not got a clue about record dealers but maybe those selling thier own collections can make decent money but, even with contacts, the thought of buying sufficient high end records and selling them at sufficiently high prices to make decent money, doesnt really stack up for me, especially as prices of a lot of things appear to be on the way down, not up. Just my thoughts, but I would guess, most people involved in todays scene, still do it for the love of the music. Dave

My Playlists (overshadowed by Warren Boogaloo's, Steve Clegg's and Richard Anker's sets) Early Set Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum and Durr - Your Love Keeps Drawing Me Closer - Capsoul Five Stairsteps & Cubie - Little Young Lover -Curtom Billy Harner - She's Almost You - Open Dora Hall - 1-2-3 - Reinbeau The Servicemen - I Need a Helping Hand - Pathway Solomon Burke - Only Love Can Save Me Now - Atlantic The Fuller Brothers - Moanin', Groaning and Crying - Soul Clock The Echoes - Million Dollar Bill - Pulse The Festivals - Music - Smash The Tempests - Would You Believe - Smash The Wonderettes - I Feel Strange - Ruby Little Natalie& Henry - Teardrops are Falling - Roulette Jackie Wilson - Nothing But Blue Skies - Brunswick Eddie Holland - Just Ain't Enough Love - Motown The O'Jays - No Time For You - Imperial Barbara Lynn - This is the Thanks I Get - Atlantic Later Set The Sweet Things - I'm in a World of Trouble - Date Martha Jean Love - Don't Want you to Leave Me - ABC-Paramount The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Gordy The Petals - (You Cant Close) The Windows of your Heart - Mercury Martha Star - No Part Time Love for Me - Thelma Vala Reegan & the Valarons - Fireman - Atco Isley Brothers - I Guess I'll Always Love You - Tamla Sandy & the Pebbles - He's My Kind of Fellow - Mercury Honey & the Bees - Help Me - Josie Carolyn Cooke - I Don't Mind - RCA Victor Ethics - Look at Me Now - Vent Herbert Hunter - I Was Born to Love You - Spar Ethics - Look at Me Now - Vent Spyder Turner - I Can't Make it Anymore The Gospel Classics - More Love, That's What we Want - Checker Last bits Jean Battle - I've Got to Come In - Clintone Bobby Cutchins - I Did it Again - Lasso

Oh nice one, I'm in Bilbao next week for work, maybe wangle a return visit in October.

Thanks Arthur/Carmen - we are looking for a weekender/allnighter somewhere warm - any ideas? (we are already going out to Valencia again, I think) - anyone been to the Rome allnighter? Dave

Does anyone know if the Rimini Weekender is on this year and if so, when? I have tried searching other areas of the site but come up blank. Cheers, Dave

Never thought of that!

Just been nailed for VAT on a record coming in from the States, where the seller put the actual value ($40) on the US customs declaration. Don't really blame them for the £5.19 VAT as I didnt ask them to put a lower value, but got an £8.00 extra charge from the Post Office for 'Royal Mail International Handling Fee' - very cheesed off as the tune no londer a bargain. The Post Office thing annoying as another record from the States arrived at the same time, postage paid of course.

Maybe I go to the wrong venues because I have hardly ever seen any of this going on - a few youngsters with drinks now and then, bit always the promoter has talked to them and no problem. Of course I only go out a couple fo times a month generally in the London area, so don't attend the big oldies type do's. Our own little local do in Walthamstow has been running monthly for seven years and I can only remember maybe two 'hairy' moments and never a fight - didnt even have a doorman for the first five years (the council now insist) - maybe we have just been lucky? Dave

Thanks guys

Early Set Barbara West - Congratulations baby - Ronn Ronnie Walker - On and On - Impact Billy Joe Young - I've Got you on My Mind Again - Paula Mary Wells - Me and My Baby - Atco Jimmy Love - Two Sides to Every Story - Josie The Fuller Brothers - Moanin', Groaning and Crying - Soul Clock Billy Butler - Found True Love - Okeh Jackie Wilson - You got me walking - Brunswick Martha Reeves - My Baby Loves me - Gordy Nella Dodds - Come See About Me - Wand Later Set The Sweet Things - I'm in a World of Trouble - Date Martha Star - No Part Time Love for Me - Thelma Isley Brothers - I guess I'll always love you - Tamla Vala Reegan & the Valarons - Fireman - Atco The Impressions - You've Been Cheatin' - ABC Paramount The Petals - (You Can't Close) The Windows of Your Heart - Mercury Sandy & the Pebbles - He's My Kind of Fellow - Mercury Herbert Hunter - I Was Born to Love You - Spar Ethics - Look at Me Now - Vent Etta James - Breaking Point - Argo Last bits The Dells - It's All Up to You - Cadet Garland Green - Ain't That Good Enough - Revue Johnny Bartel and the Soul Masters - If This Isn't Love - Solid State

Trouble for me is there is so much going on in London that we dont get to travel much, although we do try and get to different venues. Most events I go to regularly/support, I know or have met the promoter out and about before going or go to support a mate DJ'ing. What keeps us coming back is harder to figure - I like a good venue and good sound system but more so it can be about the crowd and the atmosphere they generate (encouraged by the promoter I think). I've been to nights where the music has been fantastic but just didnt feel right - crowd going through the motions, outsiders welcome but not made welcome, old boys/regulars network going on etc and then other nights that are musically so so but the crowd are just electric and really make the night. I think what would make us travel further out of London would initially be a big name DJ we don't get in London but the venue and atmoshphere would keep us coming back, but more importantly not clashing with events we go to already (a tough ask I know). Musically a mixture of rare and more well known tunes, 60's and 70's, don't even mind some R&B thrown in (occasionally). Guest DJ's who play what they like but residents who are not afraid to play to the crowd without being cheesy. Monthly is an extremely tough ask of any event, so would suggest 3 or 4 times a year, maximum. Only do one allnighter a year so have to agree a 2 o'clock finish. Not sure that helps but an honest opinion. Oh and when I us, thats a crowd of us from East London that ranges from four up to fourteen (mini bus full to the Kent Soul Club). Dave

Sorted now thanks.

Thanks Guys, guess I need to save up more!

Looking for a copy of Herbert Hunter - I was Born to Love You , or Vala Reagan - Fireman - originals and good enough to DJ with (mint nice but not essential) Might be out in my priocing but I've got £150 for the HH and £100 for Vala Reagan! Cheers, Dave

Lost touch with her to be honest, tried to re-book her but they were on tour in Athens at the time! I believe she's friends with Kev Roberts though.

Ahh it was about 6 years ago at our place, seem to remember mostly 60's but not 100% sure - she was a really nice person though with no airs and graces at all.

Corrine Drewery from Swing Out Sister at Blackpool - she DJ's as well.

Thanks Dave (and the others), definately going for one of these, not sure about the camouflage though... maybe Plymouth Argyle green?

Thanks Steve, only slightly panicing now, loaded my box already and will not doubt be unloading it and reloading it quite a few more times yet lol Thanks again to everyone for the advise (Val got a few double siders put aside already!) Cheers, Dave

Thanks guys, put my mind at rest there, definately going for the carry on option - I've got a small spot at the Big Thing Weekender in Valencia, so original (Northern) vinyl only Ian and no danger of my records being worth 30K lol, Managed to avoid Ryanair as well and going with Easyjet. Thanks again. Dave

I've been asked to DJ abroad for the first time and panicing about taking my records! A friend of mine told me about a lightweight plastic 100 box he had bought, bunged into a sportsbag and straight through as hand luggage - trouble is it was at a do and I cant remember the name/details of the box. I wondered if anyone has any advice/stories etc - probably only going to take 70 or so maximum. Thanks, Dave