DJ Skills - Preparing Your Set For a Live Show

In the minds of an audience a DJ is only as good as their last show. This is a hard truth that needs to be faced up to. DJ you need to prepare your set for each live show so you will not flop. Read every word of this article as I reveal my success formula.

As a successful DJ, I know that when I play a live set I make it look easy. My mixes flow and get the crowd on their feet pretty much guaranteed every time. The reason it looks easy is because I have put in a massive amount of hard work in advance to ensure that I do a brilliant job for my audience.

You see for me the alternative is not an option. Earlier on in my career I played a couple of shows where I presumed too much. I presumed that I understood what the audience at the venue would like I presumed that they would respond as positively to the last successful set I played. In the DJ game we should never take our fickle audiences for granted.

So here is my success formula.

1) Get to know your audience - I play to majority black crowds across three or four styles of music. What I have discovered is that a style which is big in one City may not be the flavour in another. Therefore I take time out to research a new city in advance. This is easier than you think now we have social networking. I simply study what my friends from that area are listening too. I check out their mix-tapes and local DJ's and take a listen.

2) Bring something new - I am not trying to contradict myself from point one so do not worry. What I mean by this is that if I discover a certain style of music or a specific track is big in an area where I am about to visit then I make sure that I get an exclusive remix done that will blow the place apart. So successful has this strategy been for me that years down the line I still get people saying things like "I remembered when you came here and played that big remix". Creating this positive kind of memory builds up your 'legendary' status as a DJ and will create anticipation on your return.

3) Do not rest on your previous success - What worked last time will not necessarily work this time. Be diligent make sure you do your research and stay current. Sadly your audiences are fickle and will quickly dismiss you if you fail to keep on top of your music.

4) Cover the basics - Before you set out on a show make sure you go through a checklist that ensures everything is present and correct. Do you have your headphones, are they working and so on. Last month I was all set to go and play somewhere only to discover a fault with the laser on one of my pioneer CDJ Decks, fortunately I do have a backup. I am glad I checked as discovering this fault whilst playing live would have been a nightmare.

These ideas are based on my real experiences i.e. I have learned the hard way. I trust they will be useful to you and help you to become a successful DJ.

Preparing the Essentials For a Preschool Homeschool

So, you've decided your going to home school right from the beginning! But, what do you need? Where do you start? Well, to be honest, every homeschooler will say something a bit different when answering these questions. But, at the same time, there are some common ideas that many families agree were essential homeschooling supplies when they were at the preschool homeschool stage.

Books, Books, And More Books

Easy access to books helps develop a love of reading and is truly an essential of any preschool homeschool. If you haven't already, start creating your own home library and keep all the books within easy reach of your child.

If you need some ideas, take a look around online. There is a wide range of possibilities for excellent books for a preschool homeschool. Look for some reviews from other homeschoolers, and select what you think you and your child would enjoy.

Get Yourself (And Your Child) A Library Card

Along these same lines, make sure you patronize your local library frequently! Get to know the librarian's name(s), and come regularly. Help your child select books, and check out some for yourself too, involving your child in the process whenever possible. It's never too early for a homeschooler to learn how to use the library system!

Libraries also sometimes offer special events (that are usually free!) in addition to regular programs for young children like story hour. It's a great way learn about new things, and sometimes, you might even get to meet new friends there too!

Make Learning The Basics Fun With Board Games

Young children can learn a lot through games. Some board games are obviously educational, but others are just plain fun; and even they can teach preschoolers a lot. In addition to the subject matter of the game, a child can learn things like how to take turns, basic counting, following the game rules, and depending on the game, number recognition and a bit of reading. Not bad for a "game!" You can find some really unique games in homeschooling supply catalogues and online, but regular "old" games like Connect Four, Candy Land, and Checkers are perfect too.

Manipulatives For Math And More

Manipulatives are most often associated with teaching math, but are really any model, block, tile, etc. that can assist a student in working out a problem regardless of the subject. In addition to the wide array of manipulatives available for exploring math, there are also science, and phonics manipulatives that can make learning new skills more "hands on" and, for certain learning styles, easier.

Manipulatives are a great resource for the introduction of these concepts in the preschool homeschool, and are available online or anywhere else where you might find homeschooling supplies.

As you continue on your homeschooling journey, you'll surely find other homeschooling supplies that you would describe as essential. Products are always changing, and of course, our children are always changing.

Each year homeschooling you will also gain a better idea of your child's learning style, and interests, as well as your own homeschooling philosophy. But, if you start off with these tried and true homeschooling supplies for the preschool homeschool, you and your child will definitely enjoy your very first year of homeschooling!

Preparing to Lay Your New Wooden Floor

Due to the nature of real wood such as oak it is a living and breathing product. It will expand and contract depending on its environment. A new wood floor looks fantastic but it is always best to ensure it stays looking pristine for years to come. The way to do this is to make sure the preparation for laying the flooring is done correctly, along with a common knowledge of the small issues that can happen with real wood floors.

Solid flooring has a tendency to expand and contract. In summer, when the air is more humid due to the house being aired more often - the boards soak up the extra moisture and tend to expand slightly. In winter, when central heating / underfloor heating are used regularly, the air in the house is very dry therefore resulting in the boards drying and contracting - this often creates gaps appearing between boards - often large enough to put a coin between. These are harmless and disappear in the warmer months when heating is not used in the house as often.

When hardwood flooring gets wet or damp it absorbs the moisture and expands to accommodate this extra moisture. This can often happen even if the room does not feel damp or wet - the humidity in the air can also affect the floor. Before laying a wooden floor in is essential to check that the room is dry and the sub floor contains no extra moisture. It is also best to check the moisture content of the flooring before installing. However the sub floor is the most important thing to check before installing as this will affect the floor if it is not the correct moisture levels.

Where an existing timber subfloor is present, this needs to be checked for wet rot, dry rot and for woodworm. Although these are not commonplace it is always best to check existing floors before laying down your new wood floors which can get ruined by rot or woodworm. It is always best to ensure that the existing boards are also securely fastened to the joists as they will cause creaking if not fitted well. Loose timber boards can be screwed down onto the joists - or additional noggins can be placed between the joists if an old board has been cut in the wrong place and is loose.

When nailing down onto the existing flooring, the boards should be laid at 90 degrees to the sub floor. This ensures maximum stability and strength in the floor. (As an example consider a jenga game where all the blocks are placed on top of each other in the same direction - it is extremely unstable). If you are wanting the boards to be laid in the same direction as the sub floor a layer of plywood can be placed and nailed or screwed down to ensure a stable fit of the new wood flooring.

There are additional precautions to take where a screed or concrete sub floor is present. New concrete dries at a rate of 1 inch per month or 1mm per day. Although the concrete can look and feel dry to the touch, it can often still contain more moisture than the recommended amounts for hardwood flooring. The best way to check is to use a moisture meter - this will give you an instant reading and tell you whether you need to leave it to dry for longer.

If the new wood floor is an engineered floor that is being laid as a floating floor then it is possible to lay an extra layer of damp proof membrane (DPM) over the concrete / screed to ensure no moisture reaches the wood floor however if the floor is being glued down to the subfloor or battened out it would not be possible to lay the DPM, however a liquid DPM or epoxy resin can be used to create a liquid barrier instead. As solid wood floors are recommended to be stuck down to the sub floor it is best to glue solid wood floors down to the concrete directly therefore it is essential that the moisture is checked before laying.

With all wood flooring, an expansion gap must be left around the edge to ensure there is room for expansion in case of problems with moisture. This can be covered with skirting, beading or an edge profile. When preparation for the sub floor has been completed correctly, the laying of the wood floor is more likely to fit properly and without problems for the future.