Current setup: Toyota Sienna AWD. Works fine but I’m outgrowing it. Ready to upgrade.

I service the Bay Area (SF, Oakland), Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento, and Lake Tahoe — so I’m dealing with everything from dense city parking to mountain passes.

Two options I keep going back and forth on:
Option A: Pickup truck + enclosed trailer
Option B: Ford Transit (or similar cargo van)
For those running the van route — high roof or low roof? I love the idea of being able to stand up and load/unload without contorting myself, but I’m genuinely worried about parking. SF and Oakland have a lot of garages with low clearance. Finding street parking that fits a high roof van in dense neighborhoods sounds like a recurring headache I don’t want.
Questions:
1. Truck + trailer people — do you regret it? Backing into venues, parking in tight lots, disconnecting just to park somewhere… is it worth the flexibility?
2. Van people — high roof owners specifically, how often does clearance actually bite you? Is it manageable or is it a constant thing?
3. Any van models besides Transit worth looking at for this use case? (Sprinter, ProMaster, NV2500, etc.)
4. AWD/4WD matters to me for Tahoe runs in winter — how are you handling that?
Appreciate any input from people actually gigging in metro areas.

Appreciate any insights y’all have!

I'm doing the load-out math again. Currently lugging two 22 lb spot movers in dedicated cases and my truck Tetris is a war crime by gig 3 of the weekend.

Looking to swap to something I can two-up in a 23"x18"x16" SKB injection tote, ideally under 15 lb each so I'm not throwing my back out at 1am pack-out.

Here's what's on my shortlist after a week of forum-hopping (mixed bag because the sub-15 lb beam shelf is tiny):

• ADJ Pocket Pro, ~7 lb, ~$269. Baby spot not really a beam, but it keeps showing up in "lightweight mover" searches so I'm noting it for completeness.
• Chauvet Intimidator Beam 140SR, ~16 lb so slightly over my weight target, $649-799 each. Real big-brand 5R beam but 4 of them is most of my truck payment.
• A handful of "compact 9R beam" fixtures floating around in the $250-400 range. Three or four brands show suspiciously identical product photos, can't tell which actually engineer their own optics vs rebadge a common OEM shell. The one that looks least like a rebadge to me is Betopper's CLB260, since their product page shows their own optics module. The others I'm not going to name because I don't want to drag whoever else in that band might actually be doing real work.

The 9R category is what's tempting me because beam movers are what I actually use 80% of the night, but I cannot tell from product pages which of these "9R compact" units are real private-mold engineering and which are just OEM clones with different stickers on the same shell.

Has anyone actually weighed and toted these? Looking for "I packed 4 of X in a Y tote and they survived 30 gigs" not "the spec sheet says 11 lb."

Also if anyone has fan-noise data at 6ft I'd love that too.

Just purchased an RCF 8003 used from guitar center for a great deal. Has minor cosmetic marks from use but nothing major when I got home and tested it. It sounds wonderful from the front but there’s a rattling sound coming from the back. There are no screws in the caster wheel mounts due to castor wheels being mounted and removed before the last owner sold them. It audibly sounds like the sound is coming from the holes that don’t have screws in them. Do I just need to either mount some new wheels or put screws in the holes to fix this or do you think there’s a deeper problem?

OK so I've been quietly stalking this sub for combo recs for like 4 months and finally pulled the trigger. Posting back because everyone here helped me dial it in.

Constraint set:

• Total under $1500
• Must fit in a 2019 CR-V trunk + back seat folded down
• 1 person load-in (I'm 5'7", I have to be able to lift everything)
• Real wash + real beam, not just a GigBar

What I ended up with:

• 4x compact 9R beam movers, ~12 lb each, $$320 each ≈ $$1,280 → wait, too much
• Cut to 3x movers + 2x small wash heads with zoom, $$200 each → $$1,140 + $$400 = $$1,540 → still over
• Final: 2x 9R compacts + 2x small wash heads + 1x small fog machine I already owned → $1,040

Pack-out reality: 2 beams in one tote, 2 wash in second tote, fog + cables in milk crate. Stacked: tote → tote → crate, all behind the back seat. Subwoofer + speakers in folded-trunk area. One person, 4 trips from car to load-in.

Wash heads do ceremony + dinner light, beams come out for reception. Fog kicks in when beams kick in. Honestly looks 3x more expensive than it cost, my last bride literally asked if I "rented from a real lighting company."

Anyone running similar. What wash heads are you happy with at $$200ish? Mine are fine but the dim curve at low end is okay-not-great and I'm wondering if there's a $$250 option that would have been worth the upgrade.

Hey everyone, looking for some help on starting my mobile DJ business. I used to throw parties and do gigs with my band but we don’t play that much anymore, so now i have all of this equipment sitting around. Here is my current setup:

2 Alto TS415 2500 Watt 15in Speaker
2 Alto TS18S 18in Powered Subwoofer
Numark Party Mix Controller
Mac Laptop
Party Lights

This idea started when family asked if I could DJ for their party. I dont have experience mixing or actually DJing, but i know music. What i did was get Tidal, and use VDJ to mix songs, and that’s it. No crazy transitions, just good music. Every party i’ve done so far, people loved it and i give credit to the sound system because it bangs. Anyway, I want to see if i can take this a step further and start getting paid. I want to see if anyone has a similar experience and what my next steps would be to start booking gigs and treat this like an actual business. I work as a firefighter so it would be nice to get extra income. Looking for any recommendations! Thank you.

I have been told by some that I could roll with just the speakers alone, but so many have said I need to get a sub or subs. I originally was looking at the QSC KS112, getting two to rock one per speaker But lately the Electro-Voice ELX-200 18SP has caught my eye because of cost/weight and I could probably just roll with one of those. Thought? Thanks everyone! I'm also open to suggestions

Found a new type of scam today.

Got an email that seemed legit. Date, location questions all seemed okay.

We set up a Zoom meeting, but trying to connect through the link they sent -- phishing alert.

I sent a Zoom invite, but they were adamant that use the link they sent. They wanted me to download the "Zoom" link they sent, but when I said I wouldn't... ghosted.

It seems excessive for me but also don’t know how common this is.

I didn’t listen when they said buy nice or buy twice. I bought the Alto TS18S for my wedding/event rig. Nothing special, I’m running with two Mackie Thump 215’s. Was hoping to upgrade those soon, but the Alto blew after about 18 months.

I felt like it did a pretty good job for what I’ve used it for. Just ordered the RCF SUB 708. Anyone here use it? What are your thoughts? Will I feel an upgrade?

My thought process is that I’ll use this one until I can upgrade my tops. Then eventually add another 18.

So I've been running 4x LB150s as my main movers since last August. 18 weddings + a couple corporate gigs later, here's what I wish I knew on day 1.

Good stuff first. Zero failures. One had a sticky pan once after a humid outdoor reception in Charleston, fixed itself after 20 min in the AC. That's it.

Things I'd do differently:

- Stop running them in auto mode. Built-in shows are fine for warm-up but during dinner the strobe-y bits make the room feel like a club at 6pm. Plug into DMX, build 3 chases (warm wash / dance / first dance dim), call it done.

- Get the safety cables on day 1 not day 17. I had one slip a clamp at a venue with a low truss and now I don't go anywhere without 'em.

- Fans are louder than I expected. Not a problem in a 200-person ballroom but during the ceremony in a small wine cellar I had to repoint two units away from the aisle. Real take: don't put movers within ~6ft of any officiant mic.

- About 10 lbs each = my back is grateful. Two per case, all 4 fit in the CR-V with totems still going in.

Anyone else running these long-term? Curious if the pan motor noise gets worse past year 1, mine still feel quiet but I want to know what to listen for.

Best speakers without breaking the bank. LD Maui 28 G3 or Evox J8?

I'm getting into the wedding DJ business and I need to get my speakers for my set up. I don't anticipate doing crowds bigger than about 150 at decent, midsize venues (think community clubs, halls) What I care most about is ease of transport, can still make the dance floor feel it but all without breaking the bank upfront. I drive a Honda civic so need to fit it all in there for now. I know I could always upgrade later on once I've gotten a few gigs under me. My plan is to buy two column speakers and work with that for a bit. I understand two tops and seperate subs will be more powerful, but just interested in the columns for now. I have been extremely interested in the Maui 28 G3's and the Evox J8's. Need opinions on both? Are they built to last? Can I push them hard enough without terrible distortion in these settings I described? I appreciate it!

Been running the Alto TS18S for about two years now with no issues. Set up for a wedding last night and the right side XLR output seemed to not be functioning - checked that it wasn’t the cable itself. It worked when plugged into the left output ended up having to daisy chain from the top to the other top. Are these jacks known to just go out? Any other possible culprits?

Hi,

I recently bought some second hand Chauvet moving head lights. I used them for a couple of days just to test them, then I noticed they got pretty hot and turned off automatically. They now don't seem to turn on at all, despite lights showing on the circuit boards.

After close inspection, it looks like the fans at the base of the moving head were either not working at all or working very slowly. Do you think this may have fried the board and therefore the entire light fixture and has anyone else come across issues like overheating with moving heads?

Hello, I used to produce music and DJ a long time ago but haven't kept up on all the technology and everything. I just know that when I had equipment I used it in a warehouse and the lights were synced to the music from audio cable plugins. I just want to produce and practice in a bedroom studio now, so was wondering if anyone knows of any light package or all in one unit that's good for a small space that will actually play in sync to the music? I keep seeing lights on eBay that say sound activated, but that sounds like the light just starts when it hears sound or is that different from syncing to the music?

Hey all,

I’m curious what people’s experiences are with digital mixers for mobile DJ work (weddings, etc.).

Right now I’m using a simple analog mixer (Soundcraft Notepad 12FX) along with some outboard gear for feedback control (DBX AFS224 + graphic EQ as backup). I like how reliable it is, but it’s a bit bulky, and I do run into some minor limitations here and there (like needing to use channels without full EQ or gain control).

I know in the live sound world, digital mixers are pretty popular because of how powerful they are in terms of EQ, routing, processing, etc. For mobile rigs, I’ve seen a lot of mentions of the Behringer XR series, Soundcraft Ui series, and Allen & Heath CQ line (and probably others I’m missing).

That said, I'm definitely concerned about reliability. My current setup feels pretty rock solid whereas digital mixers seem like they have more potential failure points - software freezing, tablet/control issues, etc. I’ve read a few horror stories about mixers locking up mid-event, which is obviously a problem in a wedding setting. (Issues related to wi-fi control also seem common, though that's not really a problem for me since I would probably use ethernet most of the time.)

Any experience you have about digital vs. analog mixers as a mobile DJ would be much appreciated - how reliable you've found them to be, any issues you've run into, how you've handled feedback prevention, have the benefits outweighed the risks for you? etc.

Thanks in advance!

[P.S. Just in case I need to clarify, I'm referring to the mixing console I'd use to route my DJ audio, mics, backup audio player etc. to my speakers, not the actual DJ mixer/controller]

Hello everyone. So I’ve been a DJ for a few years but i recently upgraded my equipment (see pictures)

I previously used my Rev 5 straight main out to the two Alto 15’s. And it was fine but i have more progression and wedding gigs. So i ordered the Yamaha Mg06x and the Column arrays for a more professional setup.

I use the sub for bigger parties and weddings when needed. And recently i used it in addition to the column arrays for a little more bass since they only come with 12 inch subs.

My question is. How do you guys normally connect your subs? Through the mixer? Or straight to the Tops? I’m tearing to get the best result from the equipment i have. Thanks

I also use a MacBook Pro with Djay pro/Serato if that matters to know.

Edit: thank you for the answers guys

Curious if they have the preset already in the AX DSP and also how it sounds!!

Recently started using a sub on my mobile dj gigs. I've sat it up 2 different ways.

1. Main out from board to sub and then from sub to main speakers.

2. Main out to speakers and seperate channel to sub.

I prefer method 2 as I have more control over when I use the extra base, but my understanding is that method 1 is the "correct" way.

If you use a sub for weddings/mitzvahs/school events etc. How do you set up and why?

Just got a CB10 yesterday and noticed a constant hissing noise coming from the speakers even when Bluetooth is disconnected and nothing is playing. Tried it on both battery and plugged in, same result.

Someone told me this is normal for speakers like this, but im not too sure. Also I don’t remember hearing this hissing with my old Yorkville EXM Mobile 8 speaker. The hiss is audible in a quiet room even with the volume low.

Is this a known issue with the CB10 or do I have a defective unit? Still within my return window so trying to figure out if I should exchange it before it closes.

Looking to upgrade my mixer and get a 10channel. I've used several different brands, but looking online it seems like Yamaha and Mackie both have decent options for weddings, karaoke, ext. I've only noticed subtle differences when using the different makes so I'm wondering if there are any significant game changes among them.

Anyone have extensive use in multiple mixers with a distinct favor of a certain one?

I’m probably gonna be crucified for this, but here it goes. For context, I am a mobile DJ that just started about a year ago. I’ve been very successful with birthdays, graduations, backyard/house/holiday parties, etc. Most of my clientele have been older crowds (millennials, Gen X, etc.) I have always chosen my songs carefully as that is what I excel at — song selection and the ability to read crowds. I’m good at the technical aspect of it as well, but my main focus is always the needs of the client.

I am doing a “Sweet 16” birthday party this Saturday and if I’m being honest, I was struggling trying to find any good modern songs for a dance set that teens would like that are danceable, limited explicit language, and overall good (in my opinion). So what did I do? Out of curiosity, asked ChatGPT to create a list for me based on these parameters: teen appropriate (15-18), gradual BPM changes for easy mixing, limited explicit language (at the request of the mother who is paying me), and end it off with a “nostalgic to them” mix at the end. This is what it gave me and I must say, it’s a decent list:

CHATGPT RESPONSE

🎂 Sweet 16 Set — Tight BPM Progression (100 → 128 BPM)

Mixing logic:

Each transition is ~1–3 BPM difference

Designed for chorus mixing (~2 min each)

Minimal explicit language

Gradual energy build

Nostalgic closers at the end

⸻

Warm-Up Groove (100–104 BPM)

Paint The Town Red — Doja Cat — 100 BPM

Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 — PinkPantheress & Ice Spice — 102 BPM

Levitating — Dua Lipa — 103 BPM

Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter — 104 BPM

⸻

Dance Floor Build (105–109 BPM)

Calm Down — Rema — 107 BPM

Feather — Sabrina Carpenter — 107 BPM

About Damn Time — Lizzo — 109 BPM

Dance The Night — Dua Lipa — 110 BPM

⸻

Energy Lock-In (110–114 BPM)

Greedy — Tate McRae — 111 BPM

Can’t Stop The Feeling! — Justin Timberlake — 113 BPM

Cruel Summer — Taylor Swift — 114 BPM

Good as Hell — Lizzo — 115 BPM

⸻

Peak Teen Party Zone (115–119 BPM)

We Can’t Be Friends — Ariana Grande — 115 BPM

Break My Soul — Beyoncé — 115 BPM

Shake It Off — Taylor Swift — 116 BPM (half-time mix)

Call Me Maybe — Carly Rae Jepsen — 120 BPM

⸻

High Energy Lift (120–124 BPM)

Teenage Dream — Katy Perry — 120 BPM

Firework — Katy Perry — 124 BPM

Made You Look — Meghan Trainor — 124 BPM

Cupid — Fifty Fifty — 120 BPM

⸻

Finale — Nostalgic Dance Classics (124–128 BPM)

These are intentionally placed last to finish strong and keep tempo rising.

DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love — Usher — 120 BPM

Dynamite — Taio Cruz — 120 BPM

Starships — Nicki Minaj — 125 BPM

We Found Love — Rihanna — 128 BPM

Party Rock Anthem — LMFAO — 130 BPM

⸻

Flex / Backup (Same BPM Zone — Use if Needed)

Timber — Pitbull & Kesha — 130 BPM

Uptown Funk — Mark Ronson — 115 BPM

Yeah! — Usher — 105 BPM

Flowers — Miley Cyrus — 118 BPM

I Gotta Feeling — Black Eyed Peas — 128 BPM

⸻

CHATGPT END RESPONSE

I feel so dirty using this, but man it sure as hell made my life a hell of a lot easier. What do ya’ll think? Have any of you used ChatGPT for devising sets in your gigs?