So I was covering the start of a mate’s set tonight at a city centre pub; COMPLETELY different crowd than I’m used to, and I had about 6 people come up to me asking what I was doing and how.
I was using Traktor and a Terminal Mix 4, and the first lady came over and asked why I wasn’t using headphones; I explained to her I was doing it visually, and she was fascinated by the fact I had waveforms (apparently she’d done a bit of DJing in her youth on vinyl, and found the fact that technology has come such a long way was incredible).
Another guy came over and asked specifically what I was doing (I was bringing in the drum beat of Track B to replace the backing from Track A), and I walked him through it all, showed him cuepoints and used a drama effect for the transition, and he was amazed at the fact that out of two component tracks I was creating a unique “third track” on-the-fly.
Then I had another guy - very drunk - come over with his mate and ask “where the 7"s go?”, then proceeded to tell me that all I was doing was pressing buttons.
3 people, 3 VERY different viewpoints; the other people who inquired were less technical about it and just wanted to know what gear I was using, but it just goes to show that even amongst the older generation (these people were in their late 40s/early 50s), there’s still a lot of difference from person-to-person as to the way people regard digital DJing. It’s nice to see, however, that people are still interested in DJing as an artform; it was very, very different to being taken for granted in a club.
I usually bring a pair for pre-listening to tracks just to help with EQing and stuff, but I was only covering my mate for an hour or so, and forgot to pack them. Usually I’ll only use headphones for maybe 1 out of every 3 tracks I play, although it depends on the genre and whether or not I’m playing somewhere where I’m forced to take requests.
Yeah, my Friday gigs go like this sometimes… I play at a local tavern and when I arrive to start setting up the older crowd will still be lingering. I start at 10 and up until about 11 they are always asking me questions and looking at the gear and so on… After that the younger crowd comes in and all they want to do is run up to the table and scratch the record and laugh like idiots.
this… all the time. its hilarious. when i tell people i DJ they automatically assume i scratch hip hop, wear gold chains and a sideways hat… i’m like are you kidding me…
i don’t know what kind of DJ’s or crowds you mix with, but not a single DJ i know plays stuff like that and when I talk to people they assume a DJ plays either House, Techno or Deep House/Nu Disco - never “EDM”. This is the UK FFS.
I haven’t seen anyone play Techno since the early 90s. But I appreciate that it varies a lot between regions in the UK. The city I live in has a very strong Top 40 tradition; I’m resident in pretty much the only House-specific venue in the city, and I still get customers coming up to me on a weekly basis saying “play some Jay Z” or “have you got Starships?”
Ironically, when I was covering for my mate in the pub, somebody came over and asked me if I had Avicii’s latest track. I was like wtf? Somehow, wherever you play, the customers seem to have this bizarre ability to COMPLETELY IGNORE the music policy of the venue/night.
My all time pet peeve is when some broad get’s overly annoying and you actually decide to play her song.. So you play the song, look around and realize they aren’t even in the room.
You let it play, you put on your next song, then they walk back in looking at you like “wtf?”
You are very right about that. I’m actually planning to move in 2014 I’m seriously considering NYC or Chicago .much better musical culture there…for me at least.
What do you spin? Here in Chicago we have a large growing underground community… Plenty of techno shows here, not just your everyday radio edit EDM shit.
I’m in Atlanta right now. I’m working on selling my entertainment company here. As soon as that happens I’m out! Lol if I spoke Spanish it would be Ibiza but for now it looks like I’ll stay in the states.
You REALLY don’t need to speak Spanish for Ibiza I’ve got a lot of friends who work there, own property or businesses there. Worked there myself and I don’t speak a word !
Get yourself over there even if just for a looksie. You never know who you’ll meet and what you’ll get offered. Life’s too short mate!!
I’ve got a lot of friends who work there, own property or businesses there. Worked there myself and I don’t speak a word !