In my opnion, i think it’s mostly about what a dj knows about his or her music and how he or she puts them “together”. For example, the key or the intensity of songs. I’ve come across alot of people who say djing is easy 
because they all think “we press play”. But in reality, it actually takes alot of hard work and dedication to turn an ordinary song/songs, into n insetnse remix or set
Most of the time I pay to go see a big DJ, it’s more because they’re good producers\remixers that I go to hear in the big venue environment… and not because of live mixing/mashups/etc skills. I do like it when they bring fresh material… but honestly I am going for the experince of seeing them live (the sound system, the lighting/video, the experience with the crowd, dancing, etc).
I did go and see DJ Shiftee reciently… and he was more to see the DMC skills that he brings, as I’m not at all a fan of dubstep (which is mostly what he plays). Unfortunately he only showed off his DJC (scratch, juggling, etc) skills for about 10 minutes… then it was a pretty generic (boring) dubstep set after that.
So maybe for me it’s just because the type of music that I going out to the club\event for, that I’m not really concerned about seeing technical DJ skills rather then just someone who knows how to play to the crowd (see Armin van Buuren’s interview… he hits it right on the head).
Off topic: was there another comedian opener before Russel, or just his DJs? I’m getting to see Russel Peters this Friday. Looking forward to the show… and I’ll totally make sure to pay attention to his DJs.
The constant(s) in threads of this sort have always been the DJ (you) and the music (what you play).
Everything else is an uncontrollable variable.
Wouldn’t it just be a whole lot easier to just “be the best DJ ‘YOU’ can be”. The more you know the better off you’ll be. I know that sounds kinda childish, but IMO the DJ’s worst enemy is himself and other DJ’s.
Listen - I get the distinct feeling that there’s some turntablist bashing going on here. “Yeah they can scratch, but they’re programming sucks!” I keep hearing.
If Jazzy Jeff, or Spinbad, or A-Trak are playing, shall we say, “poorly” selected tracks - it’s because they have taken 1 look at the crowd (not “read the crowd”, or “planned to take 'em on a journey”, just taken a cursory GLANCE), and relised that 90% of them are idiots that wont know any Roots, Diamond D, Das-EFX, etc… So they have to throw on Gin n’ Juice so that these idiots can feel like a part of the event (“Hey! I know this song! Aren’t I cool!!!”)
Track selection, understanding the crowd, programming a set - it all comes natuarrly with time. The “blow you away” skills take 1000’s of hours of hard,dedictaed, focused practice. You can’t compare one with the other.
You can build up to a massive crecsendo (take the crowd on a 5 tune “journey” leading up to a fuckin’ HUGE TUNE) doing A>B mixing, or even quick cuts. But throw in a juggle routine immediately prior to that crescendo and you’ve got a room full of people bouncing up and down with the hairs on the back of their necks standing on end! (Don’t you DARE spoil it by sticking a flanger over the first 8 bars!!! 
)
Demand MORE of yourself as a DJ.
You know? This is a really interesting topic, and I actually did spend the time and read through all of the pages. This is something near and dear to my heart, and something I constantly talk about with my friends who are also quite into the EDM scene. I’ve been going to shows for over 11 years now (since I was 16, I’m 27 now). And seeing so many artists, DJ’s, and performances… it’s enlightening to a degree. It’s also shaped how I’ve wanted to spin, and do spin, differently than how some of my friends do.
There is beauty in telling a story. That is the crux of it I feel. What do YOU want the audience to feel, to understand, to groove, to funk to? What is the overall message you are trying to convey? Are you trying to bring them up for an intense moment, or bring them down into a mindless trance? I like to use the metaphor of the ocean, having high and low tides, but constantly moving, with waves crashing against the shore. Is this something you think about? Or are you just about showcasing yourself and the tracks you are playing, over and over?
I’ll be honest and say, I look at a DJ such as Dieselboy as inspiration. Who has been doing it for long time, and who’s mixes I used to be incredibly excited to buy at the local store (and still take every chance to see live, and follow on soundcloud with a vengeance). What was it about those mixes? Why did I really love them, even though I didn’t get to see exactly what he was doing to pick it apart technically? Not only is it killer selection, but it’s also building those peaks and valleys of emotion, and bringing you along for the ride.
I constantly listen to mixes from other DJ’s, and I constantly go out to events locally… not only just for listening pleasure, but to see what other people are doing. And so that I can do it better, smoother, funkier… hopefully.
It’s really interesting since for the past two years, I’ve really been going out to a lot of events. 3-5 events a week, constantly, for this period of time. I do promote, and so that does come into play, and I am networking, which is also very important, but a lot of it is listening to what the others locally are doing.
People generally go to events for a few reasons. Firstly, they really like the production of a certain group. That sells, and those are generally the biggest players. Secondly, they like the style of the line-up and particular DJ’s, and the crew that is throwing the party for the overall experience. This is very important, branding if you will, for the crews that are working hard to throw events. The third thing is if a particular bar/club is a place they frequent on a regular basis.
The big thing I am always asking myself, and my friends and people I talk to about getting into DJing… What makes you special? Why should you be booked? Do you want it to be because of the number of facebook friends you can get to check “yes” on an event invite, or do you want it to be because people really dig what you are doing?
It’s not simple.
I generally prefer to spin in a “traditional” sense. I use two 1200’s, with Serato (because I can’t afford to keep up with vinyl costs, nor do I really have an amazing backlog of vinyl to work from), and whatever mixer is in front of me. Playing songs out, pulling them together… but getting smooth and groovy.
Generally speaking, I’ve been promoting myself spinning breaks. I love breaks. But it’s NOT what I had honestly originally intended to spin. I’ve always loved DnB, and I was really into Dubstep, and I also listen to a lot of house. But finding a niche of something you really like, that you can play that other people AREN’T bringing to the table? That’s my perspective on it.
I have a close friend who used to spin on 1200’s, and is just getting back into it with a controller. I’ve always enjoyed his mixes, he generally spins house, but listening through to some of them recently… it’s honestly apparent that he’s not been going to many shows recently. Those “killer” tracks that people get sick of? He’s not sick of. And I see this over, and over, and OVER with DJ’s who don’t go to other shows, or don’t really listen to mixes all the time.
What are you doing that is new to the table? Is your selection killer and you’re always on the cutting edge of what is coming out? Are you layering things wildly while yet still keeping it danceable? Are you working with some really neat fast transitions, perhaps even between genres? Are you producing your own edits, remixes, or original tracks?
These are all questions we really just need to ask ourselves, as DJ’s, so that we don’t settle for mediocrity. Because it’s easy to do.
Being fluid and controlling a crowd is an artform. It’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Whatever style you choose to spin, that is the keystone.
I’ve gone to shows and been very disappointed in producers who don’t tell a story, but just play track after track. And I’ve been amazed by kids just getting up on the decks whom I’ve never heard of, for bringing me on that mental journey.
Case and point, I don’t listen to trance… really at all. But I had the pleasure of seeing a 3-hour set from John 00 Fleming the other night at a local show… and fuck man, it was breathtaking. I’ve never enjoyed trance so much in my life, because he was telling a story, bringing the crowd up and down, and doing it well.
I think a lot of people get too caught up in the technology and lose sight of the bigger picture. Always ask yourself, is this danceable? Would I personally enjoy hearing someone else spin like this? If your answer is anything but yes, you’re doing it wrong.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that I love to bullshit and criticize. But it’s something that I also feel comes from a lot of time spent listening, and knowing what I look for in a set. Technically, I’m not where I want to be yet, and so it’s a constant battle to get the level of total control, mindless automaton over the turntables, that allows you to truly focus on the important things.
That’s my addition to this thread. People are losing sight of the bigger picture, showcasing themselves like rock bands, and it’s not meant to be that way. It can be that way, it pays, but should it? That’s the decision we have to make in ourselves.
Felipe Esparza opened for him, he was pretty funny! Be sure to show up like 30 mins to an hour before the show is supposed to start if you wana catch the dj set (imo its really worth it)
also i think a lot of people are misunderstanding what i’m trying to say. song selections is by far the most important aspect of djing and i’m not downplaying that. however, i find that a lot of djs don’t go beyond developing song selection. they don’t make the effort to learn any technical skills. A lot of newer djs make a mess when trying to be technical (which is ok, its the same way with any other instrument when you first start). But I do think that if we want to push djing as an art and if we want people to understand the difference between a solid dj and an aoki, then regular djs need to start “playing with the songs”, rather than playing songs (as said by z trip). i think this is a solid article on the issue http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/53490/DJs_should_bring_back_the_danger
That was a cool article. Love the high-wire comparison - DJ’ing with a net…
I really believe that to a certain degree, and the more I discuss this subject on here, the more open I am to it…But it always amazes me (and some of you may have seen me mention this dozens of times already) that it cost’s so much money and takes so much equipment just to mix two tracks together…And I always joke about that to my friends.
I’ve even met some people that said “I don’t beatgrid in traktor or use the Sync feature, because it’s cheating and I want to keep my skills sharp”…And I always find that foolish, because while it may be “cheating” in a way, it frees up your hands to do other things like sampling, cue point juggling, looping, and even scratching. And as robust as Digital DJ software is, it’s such a waste to not use any of the “additional” features.
It’s almost like saying you’d prefer to wash your laundry by hand, so you don’t forget how to do it. Plus for me, beatmatching is like riding a bike.
That being said, I’ve been just as impressed with people that use their digital DJ software to the fullest, like some people on here do. I came on here because I was first discovering controllerism after using vinyl and CDJ’s for so long, and thought it was amazing. Girl Talk is a perfect example of an artist that I appreciate like any top turntablist, because I think it takes serious talent to take a bunch of clips from different songs and mix them up like they were made to be like that.
In terms of DJ’s that just do straight up mixing and track selection, I feel like they’re at the bottom of the totem pole.
I’m actually not far from that, in fact I’m very close to it, and maybe that’s why it’s turntablists are so revered for me, because I’d love to do it, and sometimes I’m not even sure if I ever could. Same with controllerism, or finger drumming, sometimes I wonder if I have the rhythm for it.
Nope. That’s the music industry.
The thing that comes to mind here with the comment is settling for mediocrity. Good DJ’s have good track selection AND interesting technique that sounds good as well. The fact that so many people are content to just hear smooth mixing of good tracks is a symptom of the larger problem… shitty DJs have flooded the market, and made boring old A<->B mixing something to look forward to.
just play some good danceable tunes and don’t pretend you play guitar.
I think another point of contention (which is correct to a point) is how only DJ’s appreciate all the “skill”. For the most part, it is right. 90% of the people don’t need, want, or care about all the bells and whistles of what a DJ can add beyond basic mixing of great music. Where I think a lot of people are missing the importance is the few who feel extremely passionate about the creativity.
Look at it like this… Part of the reason we a lot of us are here right now is because someone inspired us by doing something that made us go “whoa”. That’s the creativity and inspiration that propels the FEW, who are likely to push the boundaries and break the mold. If someone didn’t do something new that was “crazy” that didn’t sound good to most, the Roland TB-303 might never have been used to make acid house, which was one of the foundations of the summer of love.
To wish for more “skill” from DJ’s, is only to wish for more inspiration from our peers. I think interviews with guys at the top of their game (like A-Trak) speak to this when they complain about how there is a lot of new guys who play it too safe, to paraphrase him.
Most DJs should learn to become entertainers which is the key thing when up on stage, anyway.
I like DJ’s that play good music 
i was thinking about this a bit more and i wanted to go further into something i touched on in my earlier posts. the best musicians and djs i can think of know how to utilize the breadth of their knowledge at the proper times. they know when to push the boundaries and when to play it safe. they know that there is a time to let the beast out of the cage and a time to rein it in, allowing the music space to breathe. to me this lends context to the more advanced techniques and gives the music various dimensions that i really enjoy.
…cool… fire juggling, the odd blue joke, balloon animals, wear a stupid mouse hat, throw cake at punters… oh wait… 
Sorry I couldn’t help myself 
Too tempting to respond, not an attack on your comment ksandvik, just trying to add a vaguely amusing interlude… carry on…
the thing is that most people that notice something like this are DJs themselves which again is the minority of people going to the shows. most people have no damn clue what you are doing. most people just want to enjoy some choons, dance, whatever. not saying that this should be a motivation to be lazy though.
only having great track selection results in this
I generally use cdj’s and a mixer. When I mix a track in I generally press play at the right moment, beatmatch, bring it in if it’ s timed properly, EQ and mix to the track slowly. Rarely do I use loops, samples, cue points or any of that and I’ve NEVER received anything but positive feedback.
I do however listen to the music, look at the vibe around me, the crowd and think about what next track will be best fitting.
In my opinion those tricks and doodles don’t really add much or anything at all most of the time, which is why for me controllers would be useless. I think it’ s cool to see someone do that kind of stuff but I’ m a DJ myself. Does the average person who goes out to dance to good music? Hell no.
A DJ isn’ t a performer, or an artist, it’s someone who is good at controlling vibes and moods at party’ s and try’s to make some damn special moments. Not by using insane controllerism tricks and skills, but by doing the right things at the right moment.
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