my old man rant and today's DJ's.

[jprime]

Bring back more DJ battles I say. Kids wanna step up? That's the place to bring it.

[donstone]

honestly this is nothing new. Been DJing since the 90s and "DJs" have always popping into the DJ booth with their case of CDs or a record bag asking to play a "tune or two" Worse even are the DJs who ask "can I scratch over your set" WHO THE FUCK ASKS THAT?
It's definitely worse now but it has always happened.

[johndavid]

WHO CARES?

There's always been people getting in djs faces in one way or another. (Take vinyl djing, the typical moron wanting to "scratch" randomly .... bleh )

Do your thing and laugh it off, you're better than that.


This past weekend I had two long evening gigs in the same location (a lounge) and for reasons to long to explain it was difficult for people to understand what I was doing (long story short, the people who saw me could not hear the music, and the people who heard the music could not see me haha).

At one point in the evening this cute girl comes up to me, hands me a note and me expecting something annoying got this " What purpose are you serving?" ... some djs would have taken offense but given the circumstances I could totally understand the question.

Let's not take this whole dj thing too seriously

When you're djing, dealing with people who talk to you is an art learn to flip the tables on them and make it an opportunity to educate!

[TheRad]

I've been djing for a few years now. I do mostly weddings, small events, house parties (which is more of a club atmosphere with all the rich kids around my area), but I go out to clubs and occasionally when I go out and I hear something I really like I ask if I can watch. I've become friends with a few that way and they've let me take control of the decks for some reason or another (usually smoke breaks), but I would never butt in on someones set and tell them "Hey, it's my turn now." That's plain disrespectful.

[BiggChev]

Yeah the kid with the USB is a certified tool-bag.

To me there are only a few circumstances in which it's "OK" to romp on someone else's gear. 1) it's a friend or a crew-member, 2) They ask you (my neighbour is a DJ and every now and then she'd egg me on to jump behind and spin a couple)

That, and the only time I talk to the DJ is a quick hand slap when I walk in (especially if I know them or booked them) or every now and then if the DJ signals me I'll swing back and ask him/her what he/she needs. A drink, smoke, whatever. Otherwise I wait till the set's over, catch em on the patio or bar.

I don't know why there is so little respect for the DJ and the profession as a whole. I'm only 25 and I'm disgusted by this "new age" bullshit.

[lethal_pizzle]

Luckily it's pretty easy to bat requests to play away, you just tell them that they need to get permission from the guy who owns the club to play, not the DJ. The owner pays the DJ to play, not some random punter. Easy!

[AllDay]

Only time I have personally gone and djed for a buddy was at house parties where he needed A.Pee break B. Smoke Break or C. Party break.

He normally plays for like 5 hrs or so straight so I will come in and dj for about 10-15 mins at a time.


OT if some randbob dj master extraordinaire came up to me saying all that shiz, then ending it with hey I have a usb want me to play. I would debate about smackin a hoe.

[rjc]

Out of curiosity, how do you feel about newer DJ's asking if they can come into the booth to watch you spin?

I know there's been a couple of times I've been in the club, thinking to myself 'this guy is pretty fantastic, I'd love to know what he's doing' but usually the booth is too high/obscured. I know personally I learn a tonne just by watching other people play.

Have you (the OP) or anybody else encountered this, and how have you handled it? I haven't actually asked anybody, because I do have the fear that it would come off as the 'new guy trying to judge you' or something like that, when it's actually genuine curiosity/wanting to learn. That and I obviously don't want to get in the way :P

[The Twin]

Rjc to answer your question I absolutely and most of the time welcome people to watch...
It's difficult to talk tho as it is loud, and I'm focused on queue'ing the next track, or blending/matching/looping or going on some FX craze.

You can generally feel the out by how they present themselves...if they're trashed/poluted, forget it. Feeling fine and doesnt seem like a sketch back? Hang around for awhile.

My rule of thumb has always been this for me.

Dj for fun. Not a job. Once it becomes a job it's no fun anymore.
Be good at it, and the money will take care of itself.

[Janky]

(long story short, the people who saw me could not hear the music, and the people who heard the music could not see me haha).

You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.