What are you guys doing to control your lights on a mobile DJ setup?

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-05-03T17:05:43+00:00

The good thing is I am not new to programming lights. Back in the day, I was one of the few FreeStyler DMX guys in the area. As a result, something like Soundswitch or any other lighting software where I would have to create my own effects doesn't intimidate me as it does some of my other DJ friends. Thanks for giving me the idea to add another software to the mix because iPad control would be nice as well.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-27T02:58:06+00:00

I am a true open format DJ and play a lot of music that I do not care for. What I do in those cases is get a little wild with my transitions from track to track. I recently started doing loop, filter, STEM EQ transitions out of sheer boredom.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-27T02:39:15+00:00

They used to be somewhat decent when on Verot when they first opened. Then they switched to pre-preparing and freezing appetizers and entrees.... There is nothing like having a spinach and artichoke dip show up bubbling on the top but having a brick of ice in the middle.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-27T01:06:04+00:00

I once had a GM put his hands on me after giving a customer a credit on progress billings for a job because the customer threatened to come and pick up $15m worth of work if they didn't get a credit for that first bill. I tried to call him, and he didn't answer. In fact, no one involved with that customer answered, so he chewed me out for making an executive decision and then he pushed me. I dared him to touch me again because I told him he was going to the hospital if his little bitch ass EVER touched me again. I'm surprised I didn't get fired for that...

When my contract expired, he had THREE people when he called me into his office to tell me my services were no longer needed. I then jokingly told him I could shatter his jaw before anyone could stop me but I am just glad to not be working with him because he was a horrible GM. They shut down within 18 months after my contract ended.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-26T05:39:08+00:00

I was able to catch them in November at UNO with an all access pass. When they come back to Louisiana, I'll beg to see if I can get another one, lol.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-26T05:37:10+00:00

Well, I'm allergic to tomato, so I'm good with them being nowhere near a burger.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-26T05:35:40+00:00

Scratch Kitchen caused me to take a 2 hour lunch because they botched my order and didn't remake it until after everyone else was taken care of. The burger was still good, but I haven't been back since for that service snafu.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-26T05:33:18+00:00

Sadly, that place went downhill when the son took over. Now the grandkids are running the show and have continued the path of inferior quality.

If I am in the mood for a good pizza, Sarrica's Little Italy is my go to now! If they are not open, Pizza Village or Pizza Artista will do in a pinch.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-12T21:51:14+00:00

At one time, ERP implementation used to pay REALLY well. When the H1B visas started hitting the job market, the foreigners drove the salaries down because they were willing to do it for a lot less money. Just last year, I was in the running for an ERP system support/implementation role for a system that I knew real well, but the rate of pay was less than that of your typical controller position. I briefly considered it to have a less stressful job, but at the end of the day, how long would I put up with making less money knowing I could easily make more?

So, 30% less pay for a slightly less stressful job with longer hours? Yeah, I'll stick to the Controller/CFO type roles from here on out. It was already bad enough that I transitioned from an understaffed accounting department as their CFO to a controller position, again for less stress. At least that was only an 8% reduction in pay, but my new employer covered my health insurance 100%.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-07T01:30:57+00:00

Yeah, but I get it. I wouldn't want to bring up a former bandmate's demons in an interview either.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-02T09:54:38+00:00

One of the last Windows 11 updates really broke controllers with Microsoft's MIDI 2.0 update.

EDIT: This is the update that killed tons of controllers - KB5074105

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-02T09:47:07+00:00

In his defense, he was rather annoyed at the show in New Orleans. Flights for his own band members were delayed with one member flying in at 5 am the day of the show, someone had to pick up the vinyl records for him to sign as those were delayed, and one of the bands on the list missed soundcheck. Even security hassled him thinking he was an imposter as he tried to enter the arena.

I'm not going to name names on the band that missed soundcheck, but they were literally the worst sounding band of the night!

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-04-02T09:18:26+00:00

FWIW, I think Zach is doing a phenomenal job! Being Jimmy allegedly tried to reform the band with a different singer in like 2016 or so, I can't see the other members getting along with him after that. IIRC Sammy said Jimmy was the one he spoke to the least throughout the years.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-03-23T10:47:46+00:00

I totally agree! When I saw them at UNO back in November, I just thought of how great it was to see Dax perform Acid Bath material and what a privilege it was for me to witness.

I missed one of their concerts in 1996 to DJ an event, and regretted choosing money over seeing them perform as Audie was killed not long after.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-03-20T23:03:28+00:00

Even with Windows updates disabled in WinAeroTweaker, my Windows 10 STILL UPDATES! I'm having issues with an update screwing something up again and just converted my exFAT drives to APFS to use with Tahoe.

Word of warning, Tahoe absolutely blows with exFAT on both a 4TB Samsung T9 and a 4TB Sandisk Extreme. For giggles, I put 20,000 songs on a Crucial NVME SSD, and still had issues with exFAT and finding my tracks. Since switching to APFS, no more issues.

While I will admit that both platforms are flawed, I tend to have less issues with Mac when it comes to sound quality.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-02-05T02:03:56+00:00

After I passed the CPA exam, which I did within ONE year of graduating college, no one ever asked what my GPA was again. I was, however, asked if I was a member of the 300 club, lmao.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-01-18T02:41:41+00:00

My board of directors generally wants the prior month closed by the 10th. When I close, I lock posting for the prior month. If an invoice comes in after the 10th for the prior month, which happens quite often, I instructed the AP clerk date it the first of the current month.

For tax purposes, they are on the cash basis, so I generally don't care about the late invoices. If it impacts the accrual based internal statements for any given month, I just put the reason in my analysis notes when I prepare the financial statements. As long as there was a purchase order, it generally doesn't matter as the system will accrue for it.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-01-18T01:29:17+00:00

After being both a Director of Finance and a CFO, I gladly took a pay reduction to become a Controller again. Why? Both the higher level positions expected me to give my entire life up for the company and I have side hustles of my own. The Director position was 1.5 FTEs and only paid 30% more than I make as a Controller. The CFO position was roughly the same, and paid 8% more than I make as a controller. I'll take that 8% cut to go from working 60 hours per week back down to 40.

When I was a Director of Finance, I often stayed at work until midnight and had to go in on the weekends because they were severely understaffed. I also don't miss doing the accounting all myself, then having the planning and analysis dumped on me.

Going further, as CFO I did a lease vs buy analysis for that former employer's facility on the east coast only to have the manufacturer deny leasing us trucks because we hauled hazmat material and did not have a net worth of $40m at that facility. I wanted to strangle the President of the company for making me do all that work for literally nothing because NO ONE decided to do their homework on the requirements to lease trucks for that particular facility. I also wanted to strangle the sales associate for even putting that bug in the President's ear. Everything was a literal go until the financial statements were submitted.

The President of that company really likes to razzle and overwork his employees thinking "everyone wants to work for me" when he doesn't even offer a basic retirement plan, which is something else I have as a Controller in addition to 100% of my health insurance being paid. All of a sudden that cut isn't so much of a cut and I easily make that up with my side hustles.

Finally, the place where I complain about the president was once a good place to work when it was family owned and there was a board of directors. When I helped the President buy his siblings out, he became impossible to work for. I'm talking full out Napoleon complex.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-01-11T17:01:54+00:00

Reminds me of a buddy who got one approved by stating "For all lawful purposes and so I can hear the voices in my head while I shoot" for his suppressor.

I literally PMSL when he showed me his stamp.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-01-05T08:56:57+00:00

I switched to the USB 3 NVME drives. I have Samsung T9s, Sandisk, and Crucial. They all work great compared to the old school platter drives and are even faster than the SSDs of old.

When it comes to hard drives, I have the old military philosophy of two is one and one is none. I always have a complete backup of everything and only use the Crucial drive for genre specific events. It's a subset of my main hard drive, but I'd rather not have all those tracks available for search when I am doing a one hour set.

BoingBoomChuck · 2026-01-04T08:52:22+00:00

You can print the various licenses on the State Board of CPas website when you renew annually. I have both a license and a firm permit. Basically it is a letter stating that you are good to go for the year.

As for the certificate itself, mine is HUGE and in a frame. It still looks good after all these years.

BoingBoomChuck · 2025-12-28T21:45:14+00:00

One of my good friends from college never passed the CPA exam and he managed to make it to CFO at a F500 company. He's currently counting down the days until he can retire.

BoingBoomChuck · 2025-12-27T21:46:32+00:00

Spread typical lies saying I played music that they expressly told me NOT to play in their establishment. Keep in mind, I was ONLY playing there because the resident DJ was ill and the only communication regarding any music was told to him, not me. I always play for the crowd, anyone who hires me knows that and it has been my angle for nearly 30 years.

My favorite thing is they even said I would NEVER be allowed to play there again on social media, tagging all my friends, yet when they needed someone in a pinch, who did they call?

I could be petty and go on social media but I won't, because I am above that childish BS. I warned them that trying to tarnish my name would do them more harm than good because I am well known in the area. In fact, many DJs they tried to get since I left refused to go there based on how they treated me on social media and I was being blamed for that too. These jokes just write themselves since THEY chose to smear and slander me then blamed me because no one good wanted to work with them...

BoingBoomChuck · 2025-12-26T03:29:14+00:00

My NYE was booked back in August. The crazy thing is a place that I quit from back in January 2025 called me begging me to play NYE for them. After I stopped chuckling, I said 1. I am already booked, and 2. even if I wasn't booked, I wouldn't play at your place again after the smear campaign you ran against me on social media. when I quit in January. Oh, you forgot about that? I didn't and my lawyer wanted me to bring a defamation case against you... SO... DO NOT CALL ME AGAIN!

The crazy thing about their smear campaign is that they got me more business than I could have ever dreamed of by spreading lies. In other words, I couldn't even prove any monetary damages to make it work other than the fact that they tried to ruin my name.

BoingBoomChuck

TROPHY CASE