Everyone's a DJ, but who's a DJ

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Originally Posted by DJ Eff

Id like to weigh in on the subject:

This is a very serious distinction between someone who DJ's, and a DJ.
Someone who DJ's:
This is your average joe who got some equipment, learned how to play music from it, and gets hired to go from event to event playing music for a crowd. These people believe they are DJ's because those at the events call them "dj", or "The DJ". But these people IMO are in no way, shape, or form, real DJ's.
They have the ability to play music. They may be able to beatmatch, or scratch, or mix in key (although not likely) but that doent make them a skilled DJ, or a DJ at that. The factor that prevents them from getting the title DJ, is they dont dedicate themselves fully to the work that goes behind being a dj. Be it club or mobile, if your not dedicating the majority of your time practicing, researching, or playing, then your not a dj.
A Real DJ:
Has dedicated the majority of their resources into the art of being a DJ. To me, technically and skill wise, the reason that makes them a DJ is they dont just "have" equipment, they have Their equipment. A real dj is able to do EVERYTHING on his equipment and has a full understanding the ways to manipulate music using said equipment. Not only tht, but a real dj, can go up to YOUR equipment, (unless your also a real dj) and use it better than you.
But mastery of equipment is only part of the battle.
reputation plays a major role in it.
A real dj is a name. people here abut who will be spinning, and KNOW they will have a good time. Im a mobile dj, so considering that i feel a REAL mobile dj is one who says their price, and people pay it. little to no questions asked. When you can tell someone, "this is my price, and your going to pay it because you know the work i do" and they accept that, you are a real dj.

Notice i did not mention skill as much because honestly, being a real dj OBVIOUSLY recquires skill. and still, u dont have to be the most talented dj ever to be a real dj.

at this moment in time: I am not a real dj. I hope to be one day, but i understand that its more time than i have at the moment.
Id also like to say that being a mobile dj for my little viewpoint is much more difficult then being a club dj. reason being?
PEOPLE GO TO A CLUB TO DANCE,
just becuase someone goes to a wedding or a party doesnt mean they plan on dancing. they may be there for the friends or association. but at a club, you prbly dont know the people outside of your small group, and you go there with the intention of DEFF having a good time.

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You can't be serious. You put way too much value in somebody who ultimately just plays other people's music.

I like to play music. I can play on any format. I don't care what that makes me. It isn't like the title "DJ" is, in any way, prestigious.

To the OP...

I get what your saying but I think we all were those kids at one point. Maybe we didn't openly criticize (I probably did) but we all thought we could either do better or be better. That drive helped me play some huge venues and get to some places I may not have been to in life. The reality is that most of us are our own favorite DJ's. I know what I like better than anyone else does. Kids are going to be kids and talk, it's part of growing up. As a young DJ I used to go out and listen to every mix and judge how good it was. It was part of my learning process. I took all of that info into the lab and formulated my own style and technique. I think as an older DJ we stop doing that just because we can understand what is involved in rocking a show. I believe a seasoned DJ understands the difference between technical skills and programming skills. IMHO a skilled programmer can rock a show even if he/she can't mix well. Back in the day we practiced hard to blend records to perfection. These days, sync does a bunch of work but the programming part always takes front seat. Yes those kids are annoying, yes they don't get it yet, but those kids are also the future of music. We have to embrace it for what it is. The days of being the mysterious DJ are over. Now it is front and center and pretty exciting. Once all the fluff has mellowed out, we should see some amazing things from the artform we love.

I don't see why you need to differentiate between types of DJs. We treat DJing like an art no? Then why in the world are we classifying ourselves into separate groups unlike other musicians.

You don't see people saying, "I'm a REAL guitarist. That guy isn't. He just pretends to play the guitar." We all aspire to be like Armin or whoever your DJ idol is, but the fact of the matter is that most of us weren't blessed with the skills to. This doesn't make us any less of a DJ.

If you feel the need to set yourself apart, that gives me the impression that you're an elitist prick.

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Originally Posted by b1sh0p

You can't be serious. You put way too much value in somebody who ultimately just plays other people's music.

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I think a lot us old timers would disagree. Playing on floating 1200's in front of 3000 people can give anyone butterflies. When that happens, skill and ability takes over and it separates the men (or women) from the boys.

So does this mean you're not a musician until you're on a label, touring, and rich?

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Originally Posted by bigbeatzz

I think a lot us old timers would disagree. Playing on floating 1200's in front of 3000 people can give anyone butterflies.

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Why do they float 1200's? Seems like a load of crap.

I've played small clubs that have them and they suck.

And big clubs that don't and they are fine.

What's the deal?

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They used to do it so you wouldn't get feedback and skipping needles. I think with dvs it's not so much of an issue but with real vinyl it was an issue. The first time I played on a big system with floats I was nervous as hell. Those decks were all over the place! When cdjs came into action it was like a wet dream for vinyl djs.

I'm 17 years old,
I DJ for my high school's events from time to time, and get a fair amount of gigs doing house parties and charity events. I am even a part of a local DJing firm. I have made most of my money DJing (enough money to buy a decent car and pay for my needs like equipment, music, books for school ect). But I spent most of my spare time doing school work.

So tell me who thinks I'm a DJ, who thinks I just have a hobby, and who doesn't really gives 2 shits?

wow sparked quite a debate it seems
yes im somewhat elitist, yes i am narcissistic, I feel that it comes with and develops with the job

and i by no means mean any offense to wedding DJs, ive done a few, its HARD.. like very very hard, no more or less than doing venues where people come expecting to dance, just a different skillset.

the guitar thing, is kind of the same thing, funny enough this debate was kind of sparked at waffle house with a buddy talking about guitar players he's been auditioning for his band how he has been dealing with people who can "play the guitar" vs people who can PLAY the guitar .. strummer vs talented artist

DJing is a lot like that, you have strummers and then you have those people who go above and beyond as an artform that encompasses the whole package.

the title DJ at one point was a very honored position, gained by people who worked hard to master their craft, spent excessive amounts of money on their records, painted spots on their wax to blend a perfect set, who had their own unique sound because their collection was their own that they put together by trolling through countless albums at the record stores wherever they could find them...

i simply was making an observation at how watered down it has become in major cities where everyone claims to be a "DJ"

seems like a fair topic within the community, in the end it doesn't matter ...its fun, and thats all that matters

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Originally Posted by lethal_pizzle

Weirdly, it's the professional DJs I do know that tend not to blow their own trumpet at all.

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+1