Does DJ need to be in the name?

In another thread, some one was asking for help with their name as a DJ.

My question is, does "DJ" need to be in the name? I mean, I've come into this scene at a late age and have relatively just started mixing music. And I actually don't consider myself a "DJ", as I now only know how to "control" music with an S4 and Traktor. (yeah, I'd love to learn how to use turntables, scratch, etc. but haven't yet had the chance). But, I actually don't want to be called a DJ or have it in my name. DJ scamo or DJ whatever... (scamo is just a mix of my initials, BTW). My son, who is also learning to mix music with me, said we should call our selves "party pilots" or something similar. So does DJ really need to be in the name at all?

scamo

My 2 cents, DJ doesn't need to be in your name, and I understand what you mean by not considering yourself a "DJ." The thing is though, to almost everyone you meet, you are a "DJ." People that are not in the loop when it comes to DJing have almost no clue what it is really about other than playing songs continually. So if you are in front of them playing music, you are a DJ, and they don't give a rats ass about how you do it. So if you don't include DJ in your name, you should still tell people you are a "DJ" strictly for promotion purposes so the layperson can have a general idea about what you do.

Good point. Thanks.:)

scamo

You can only put DJ in front of your name if you have a doctorate in mixology from the University of Funk. Otherwise, no.

I think the letters let people, who don't know who you are, know exactly what you do; without even having to ask you. You can drop it when you become popular enough, and your name is associated with DJing. It's good on posters and business cards too.
You don't really need to have DJ in your name, you don't even need a DJ name, really. You just need a name period.

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Originally Posted by lethal_pizzle

You can only put DJ in front of your name if you have a doctorate in mixology from the University of Funk. Otherwise, no.

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This!


Nah, I just think you should go by what your happy with. Even though I started out on vinyl, I don't consider myself a DJ. I consider myself as a guy who really enjoys spinning tunes and making music in no particular order.

Nowadays it seems like DJing is a hip badge, where you have to wear it to be cool.
Me, I always tend to shy away from being hip, I just want to do what I like, without having to think if it will be considered hip.
So for me, no DJ badge please, just let me go at it. My aliases, Leslie Jones - RSTRCTD - Restricted Sessions, are badges enough.

DJ HYPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf6lS...eature=related

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Originally Posted by tekki

I don't consider myself a DJ. I consider myself as a guy who really enjoys spinning tunes and making music in no particular order.
Nowadays it seems like DJing is a hip badge, where you have to wear it to be cool.

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Yep! I also hesitate from making "DJ" part of my name since I think so many pubescent noobs have already abused that term that I don't feel I want to be correlated with that. The internet is full of "DJ Shitstorm", "DJ Cool", "DJ Hater", "DJ Dustbin", "DJ Hype" (:p joke) and so on.

Well this was one subject I also thought about when coming up with my DJ name.

I decided to put it on my facebook name as people would be more easily associated with recognizing that I was a DJ and not something else. For my other social media things I dropped the DJ and just used my name. I think as you become more recognized, and people get to know who you are in the scene it becomes less important. Almost all of the DJ's in my area dont use it at all, just their names or aliases.

I have to say though sometimes it does sound pretty cheesy putting a DJ in front of your name, lol... I'm also thinking about changing my name to some knid of other funky cool alias soon, but have no clue as to what ha ha...

Does skrillex have dj in front of his name?
Armin Van Buuren? No dj infront of that.
Cosmic Gate No dj in front of that.

Your question has been answered.

Depends on the genre, for electronic music I think it's just old fashioned. Most people drop it when they start producing (ie: everyone in the list of the previous post).

No

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Originally Posted by photojojo

No

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:):p "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

scamo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scamo

:):p "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

scamo

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Because he can't point you to a page for you to RTFM on this one :p

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Originally Posted by padi_04

Depends on the genre, for electronic music I think it's just old fashioned. Most people drop it when they start producing (ie: everyone in the list of the previous post).

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Agreed!

I like "Selecta" better than DJ.

^yes!

selectors were originally just the people who picked the records for the djs in jamaican dancehalls!

Sean Parker approves

http://i.imgur.com/vkre1.png

I actually was going under the name gullum but everyone promoting show or gigs added DJ infront so I just started doing it too

I think you should have DJ in front of your name if your a DJ. Like, playing only other peoples songs n stuff. If your an artist, then drop it.

"DJ" in front of a name sounds super cheesy and ridiculous...
Whether you decide to go for it, just remember one thing :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1-3ai1Ayyc&feature=plcp

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Originally Posted by Xonetacular

Sean Parker approves

http://i.imgur.com/vkre1.png

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Hehehe......oh wait. Is that JT? OH my GOD!:p:) Is it just a coincidence you used a pic of him or is there some underlying meaning there?;):D

And yes, I am wanting to avoid adding DJ to my name, even if I even become one, which is easily questionable at this stage in my life. But it seems, you get "tagged" as a DJ, once you start mixing music for a crowd. Hmm....could that be changed....ever?

scamo

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Originally Posted by scamo

Hehehe......oh wait. Is that JT? OH my GOD!:p:) Is it just a coincidence you used a pic of him or is there some underlying meaning there?;):D

And yes, I am wanting to avoid adding DJ to my name, even if I even become one, which is easily questionable at this stage in my life. But it seems, you get "tagged" as a DJ, once you start mixing music for a crowd. Hmm....could that be changed....ever?

scamo

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It's a scene from The Social Network where Sean Parker (JT) is telling Mark Zuckerberg to lose the "The" from "The Facebook", too bad I can't find a clip of it but the movie is worth a watch anyway. I kind of want to watch it now. :)

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Originally Posted by lethal_pizzle

You can only put DJ in front of your name if you have a doctorate in mixology from the University of Funk. Otherwise, no.

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comments like this make my day :)

have i honestly just read a thread about people wonder whether to put 'DJ' in front of their name...???

I think just using your real name is the best way for promoting yourself.

Arman Van buuren? Sounds great to me.

Sunny more sounds better then skrillex.

Armin that is.

(Probably a little bit confused with Armand van Helden. ;) )

As I've got older, I've found it increasingly funny that a lot of DJs feel the need to underline that they are a DJ. Of all the performers in the musical world, I think ours is the only branch that does. So many DJs have stage names, yet still feel the need to preface it with "DJ" as if standing in the booth wasn't enough to signify it. It does seem to be more of a Hip Hop thing though. I'm struggling to come up with a Hip Hop DJ who goes by a real name.

Guitarist Slash? Drummer Art Blakey? Singer Carrie Underwood? Sounds bizarre, as if giving some sort of commentary. And it's only when you put it in those terms does the DJ thing begin to sound a little odd. Perhaps it comes from the need to wear a badge of honour - yes I'm the DJ. It always made me feel a little cooler if people asked.

Besides, it was hard to fit "Mark Settle" on a belt buckle. ;)

Attachment 10107

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Originally Posted by Xonetacular

It's a scene from The Social Network where Sean Parker (JT) is telling Mark Zuckerberg to lose the "The" from "The Facebook", too bad I can't find a clip of it but the movie is worth a watch anyway. I kind of want to watch it now. :)

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Oh, ok. I haven't seen that movie yet. Makes me want to now.:)

scamo