Is that cheating?
I listen to a lot of DJ mixes, A LOT of mixes. As an avid DJ, I feel it’s something that helps me, but is it cheating if I hear two songs that go REALLY well together, mixed by another DJ. go FIND those two songs and replicate that mix? After hearing someone else do it? Is that cheating? Or is it just another way of finding new music?
I’m kinda torn on this.
I’d call that inspiration. Your mix won’t come out exactly the same anyways. You’ll probably accidentally do something different and really like how it turned out. Now if you were to download the mix and adding it into a set…THAT’S cheating. haha.
As long as you don’t abuse it, it’s a valid resource. Personally i’d rather try to imitate how they mixed it (technique) than copy the exact same transition.
There is no cheating. Go out and have fun.
Unless your name is Peter Hook 
Its a matter of personal opinion… fast forward your DJing career to the point of success, now put yourself in the opposite position… If you hear an up and coming DJ replicate something that you’re known for how would you feel? What ever the answer to that question is - stay consistent if and when you meet with success… That said, it is one thing to copy and another to take inspiration and make it your own.
For me.. I am constantly inspired by other artist’s DJ mixes and productions… I don’t usually find myself replicating mixes and productions, but I often do discover new music or even new styles of mixing that inevitably influence my mixes, remixes, and productions… also, those artists that most inspire me I tend to hold up on pedestals when I’m asked about my influences.
[quote]I listen to a lot of DJ mixes, A LOT of mixes. As an avid DJ, I feel it’s something that helps me, but is it cheating if I hear two songs that go REALLY well together, mixed by another DJ. go FIND those two songs and replicate that mix? After hearing someone else do it? Is that cheating? Or is it just another way of finding new music?
I’m kinda torn on this. [/quote]
That’s not cheating, just poor sense of creativity.
practising another dj’s set is fine, a great way to learn. copying their setlist for your own mix is lame.
LOL! Hey man, if people keep parting with their money to go see him, who am I to knock his hustle?
How the hell did you come to that conclusion, yea if you’re using their mix and song selection for you own set I see that the person would have a poor sense of creativity but for anything else I think it’s great! I saw a video of
A-trak juggling Robot rock by daft punk and thought it was awesome so I tried to re create it as best I could so I knew exactly how and what he was doing. Now by doing this do I have a poor sense of creativity???
when i started out thats what i did more than once…i would buy two records i heard on a DJ mix CD and mix them together…almost like a learning tool…well…pretty much a learning tool 
those records led to other records and other mixing options…do it…don’t whore it out though…
The fact that you appreciate the mix by that DJ shows you are listening with a critical ear - delve deeper and try to understand his/her reason for the selection and technique, then use them with discretion.
I can think of a few occasions where I have been practicing and came across two tracks that went very well together. I’d make a note of it and move along. Later digging for more tracks and listening to another set, I’d run across those same two tracks, obviously not mixed the same way. Gives me a positive boost if I can come across two tracks that someone who gets paid to play is also thinking go well together.
Cheating is taking someone else mix and playing as your own. If you heard someone else’s mix and like the way those songs go together and find those songs yourself and use that combination in your own mix, its not cheating, and I’m sure you or whoever you heard it from arent the first 2 people to ever do that mix unless its like a mashup using 2 totally different genres.
^^^This!
You could do trial and error and never find a similar mixing techinique, but find many of your own or you can imitate another DJ and learn the transition fairly quickly, but be pretty much just like the other DJ. I prefer a smart mix (hahaha. Pun intended!) of the two.
scamo
Nah it’s cool - just don’t copy a mix and post it online as your own. Incidentally thoug,h a mate of mine did a series of nights in Bristol called Revisited (I think), in which the DJ’s replicated famous mix CD’s from back in the day - complete with rewinds, MC banter, the lot.
LOLz!!!
It feels a little like two people sat at a table filling out lottery tickets and one person copying the other’s numbers - there are just so many other possible winning combinations out there.
it makes good practice.
but dont do it for a gig