Unprepared DJ's

[sobi]

Just ignore it. Or try and convince people to do the hard work but whining about it is pointless.

[this is not aimed at any particular poster or post, its simply my brain emptying onto the page]

Self contradiction at it's finest. lol. I hear ya, Karlos.

[Mylestec]

..... If you don't know anything about music, why do you want to DJ?

survey says: "for the chicks, dude"

[DigitalDevil]

If you don't have training or at least someone mentoring you, how else are you supposed to learn?

I didn't have any kind of training or mentor and it was simple enough... all of the information is out there for anyone that cares enough to get it. From there its just about sitting down and learning as you play around with tunes in different ways, which shouldn't be an arduous process to anyone that's actually interested in music.

[Alessandro Savage]

This is an interesting thread and a lot of valid arguments were made here. As far as my point of view, I don't see any problem in taking any sort of gig when starting out. After all, there are some things you just can't learn by being a bedroom DJing (reading the crowd etc.). However, it would probably depend on the size of the gig.

Going around telling people you're an awesome DJ and they should hire you and then showing up to a packed super club only to fail miserably with song selection etc. is probably foolish. I'd probably be one of the people telling newcomers to go play at some house parties or anything that remotely resembles a crowd. Best way to learn.

Yeah, there are the wannabes with amazing expensive gear, but eventually they'll learn the craft through fear of ridicule or they'll eventually get so obsessed with it they'll want to learn it. If they don't learn it, someday it'll backfire on them when the expensive controller they bought malfunctions and they will be forgotten. That's DJ karma.

[tokenasianguy]

Post was aimed at wanabee djs,
Its here now, and is a useful tool, so they should take advantage.

My bad.

Wasn't sure, but you're right, even though I spent half my life without the internet, I would never think about spending the rest of it without.

[Nesquigs]

I apologize in advance for the long post but since DJ-ing became the "cool thing to do" ive had alot of ups and downs on how i feel about "newer" djs (and i still consider myself new at it, as im still learning things every day)

When you're first starting out, you should take whatever you can get that you're comfortable with at whatever price you can get, just for the experience.

Ok, a few points here..... as i have been "spinning" (i use that term very loosely) for 5 or so years... I started in a fraternity basement with ZERO EXPERIENCE and a shitty mixer and two ipods (it was miserable) but it taught me the most important (IMO) aspect of djing which is how to rock a party.

The best kind of experience is hands on experience, cause you learn your lessons quickly (especially when people HATE what your playing... you learn never to do that again) and you learn these things very quickly compared to planning out "perfect mixes" in the bedroom.

it's another learning curve when playing out.

And that can only come from trial and error (and alot of booze :P). As you are in control of the power of music at a party, week in and week out, you learn little tips and tricks on how to make the crowd go nuts and what makes them rock out.

BUT, say you are taking gigs because this is a hobby you want to support and really enjoy doing and want to learn all you can about it. its obviously going to be like learning how to ride a bike, sometimes you need a few easy gigs to get your confidence up... which brings me to some of the best advice ever...

if someone wanted to hear dubstep at a private event, I'd have them give me a list of songs and I'd make sure I had them, along with similar ones from those artists.

ITS A CHEAT SHEET GUYS!!!! THEY ARE TELLING YOU WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR!!!!!

This takes all the stress away from playing out (although i mix a HELL of alot better when im stressed and focusing really hard on what im doing).

You get much more satisfaction when you see the crowd react to the music you have selected.

Now that you know what they are kind of looking for you can come at them with things they have never heard before and if they dont like it, you can bring them right back by dropping something you know they wanted. so you always know, no matter what you do, you can always get them having a good time again.

it's a big part of being a dj

its the biggest and best part of being a dj. ---- which is what all these kids want, is that feeling of...

"oh yeah? see them? see how much fun theyre having? yeah. i did that. " (i get bitches nao?)

Basically, my point is, you can claim to be a dj, you can ask how, you can be shown, step by step how and you can even play any kind of music you want at a party.

BUT it isnt going to be a good party if you are playing slipknot or death metal the entire night (unless you and your crowd into that kinda thing), but rather the music provides the background and tone for the entire night. if the vibe isnt right, then people arent going to loosen up and have a good time.

When it comes to getting gigs and playing out, you definitely need to prepare yourself and be adventureous, cause if you dont take risks you can never learn and progress....

How do you think we all learned when we were starting out? i knew the basic principals of DJing but watching other DJs nurtures you. Plus theres half a million youtube vids these days on how to dj, go watch them and is a useful tool, so they should take advantage.

To be honest, i learned how to keep a party going long before i ever touched TT's, CDJs or even controllers and even learned how to beatmatch manually (im still working on getting that down 2 yrs later). I learned everything about how to "really mix" from watching youtube videos, trying out transitions i saw and then replicating it with different tracks, and just goofing off while having a few beers....

even though I spent half my life without the internet, I would never think about spending the rest of it without.

the internet (and this forum) are fantastic resources but there are certain things in life that are worth learning the hard way...

And I agree with Karlos, alot of people feel like they deserve to be spoon fed everything as we live in a very Instant Gratification society, where everything is literally within a few clicks and button presses on a computer.

The internet (although its a fantastic resource) is like the force --- theres a light side (finding out for yourself) and and a dark side (being told how and never growing) -- and is a huge problem in our global society (as many expect everything to be done for them with zero effort invested).

You always will have more satisfaction of doing something yourself and having that "ah-ha!" moment, finding that special track you know makes people go nuts or being 100% satisfied with something YOU made without ANY HELP from anyone else.

Anyone remember when it was cool to have a guitar? Now it's decks.

And those of us who have a passion, or OCD music addicts will always be around alot longer than that kid who learned how to play free bird so he could impress some girl. do it for you, who cares what is popular. so its all well and good to complain about these kids with a hunger to learn all there is to know in this vast landscape of Vinyl, CDs, Midi, digital age that we are all a part of now. why not help someone who was just like you before you started.

bet no one on here went zero to tiesto in 4.2 seconds! so stop complaining about being able to shoot the shit about your passion :P

[Lambox]

Do I sense just a hint of egotism and elitism in this thread...? Hmmmm...?

No skin off my back though. Jusss sayin.'

[wrong chris]

is that what you sense?

interesting.

[sobi]

Do I sense just a hint of egotism and elitism in this thread...? Hmmmm...?

No skin off my back though. Jusss sayin.'

No, what you sense is frustration due to instant gratification whores.

[BestLegsinHD]

U mad?