Ever have this awkward DJ situation?

[zimfella]

Just make a folder of stuff you don't like and give that to them

[Kwal]

Hate it, I only share tracks with my partner.

I used to give out artists, track names, even MP3's a few times before to buddies.. Only to walk into the spot before I'm about to go on and they're banging my shit out.. After that, I've told everyone who asks me to "kindly fuck off" and find your own shit. Sick of that happening over and over again.

[dripstep]

Create a folder with only lame music. Call it "top set list" and fill it with bieber, selena gomez, brittney spears and all kinds of other drivel. Then, when you get asked, dump that on their harddrive. They won't ask again.

[elgi95]

I've seen people sell their music library on craigslist for about 80 dollars, It's filled with "quality Mp3s".

[Jester]

If you asked me for tunes, i would set you up with maybe 1GB maximum. I didn't spend 17 years collecting tracks just to give them away to some punk who will steal my gigs

[locksmith]

yes! this exact thing happened to me the first time I played. this annoying guy kept asking me to put music on his flash drive so I gave him a random dubstep playlist. he wouldn't leave me alone and kept asking for my entire library so I pretended I was too drunk to operate the computer. confused the hell out of him lol

if its someone I know, ill share all my good songs but not for a random tool

[Chrisku13]

Just make a folder of stuff you don't like and give that to them

Lol, that's actually a really good idea. I think that would be the best way to handle it. I remember reading a thread like this when I started out, and I thought what's the big deal with sharing your collection? But after knowing how much time and effort goes into digging, plus the satisfaction of choosing your own music, I understand why people aren't so willing to hand over their songs to another DJ

[squidot]

i would give my close friends and family my whole collection...people and djs i don't know very well...nope.

in fact i want to give friends my collection so i can have people with backups in case my main and backups take a dump.

[backtothefront]

I'm quite surprised by the responses to OP's question with the number of you who would give copies of music (assuming not already given away for free by the producer).

Me, personally I'll tell them to foxtrot oscar, I'd happily discuss music, say what I'm in to, what the track playing is and where you can buy it from, but I wouldn't give a track I'd paid money for to someone who can't be bothered to save and buy his music - it's never been so cheap, hell, got to xlr8r.com and you've got enough music legally free to do many, many sets.

...goes off muttering about the love of discovering music for yourself and spending £80 a week on vinyl for a dozen tracks...

[Michielygil]

I'm surprised at all why you find it hard or douchy to say no. Your collection is quite a part of what defines you as a DJ. Sharing that is sharing a part of your DJ identity plus it's theft basically. I purchase all my music I DJ with as a token of appreciation and respect to the maker of it. I enjoy playing and editting their music, the least I can do is pay those 1,5 euros for it.
Sharing the library is not only comprimising your unique identity as a DJ, but also disrespectful to the producers.
This of course is based on my liking a specific musical niche within techno. I suppose for mainstream pop I would feel different. Also because that doens't make you unique as a DJ

I play with a friend a lot and we both have our own library. I wouldn't think of asking or sharing libraries, even though we have quite some tracks in common.

Last point: A very important part of DJing is knowing your tracks. How well will you know your tracks when you'll get a library of several GB's at once? It's kinda polluting your delicately built up and maintained library.