You say dont' play for DJ's well guess what.....

[richierich]

If I happen to pay to get into a party (90%) of the time and I come to dance(100%) and I happen to be a DJ... why wouldn't you play for me. I have often heard this statement "I don't play for DJ's" I at one time might have thought this as well. You'd be surprised as to how educated your dancefloor crowd actually is. I know a lot of people men and women whose collections are as tight or tighter than the DJ that is spinning at the party and they know the difference between sing-a-longs and what have you and they came to hear what you're gonna do. They don't want to be DJ's they just want to got to a party and get down but you can't just give them anything. They don't come for bullshit when they've got cuts at home. I've heard cats say stuff like "They're not ready for that".. to this I say how do you know? To say that you are only concerned with the people on the dancefloor is like preaching to the choir they are already dancing and they might be DJ's. I say "Go there" and see what happens. People are just up on their music more than you may realize so don't assume that only the DJ's are listening with a critical ear. I was at a party and overheard this girl say "He plays some alright music but he needs to work on his blends" so you see people are educated when it comes to music so don't assume you can be a lazy jock and only play what is familiar.So if I a DJ come to your prty to get down I shouldn't expect you to play something that will make me getdown?? Shit... I know a whole lot of DJ's that dance their asses off . Give us your very best every time because everybody in the party is listening to what you are playing not just DJ's. We in Chicago have been spoiled by a lot of very good DJ's and expect shit to be tight. I wanna dance all night as well!!
Peace
P.S. I hope this doesn't cause any drama

[ May 14, 2003, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: richierich ]

[liL Ray]

...

[ May 14, 2003, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: liL Ray ]

[RX]

i really don't think that's what a lot of these cats are saying by not playing for dj's...

what i've observed is that most of these posts about dj's falling short and dj's being outdated are coming from dj's themselves and we all know that being an artist AND a critic is highly impossible as you can be seen as a "hater", so to speak...not only that, but most consumers have no problems with the technicalities of dj-ing at a party - only when we hear dj's expressing how dumb this and that is that a particular dj did at the party, are we aware that anything bad happened at all...

it's like women who dress for women instead of men - some women dress just so another woman can say, "GIIIIRL, you look good!!!" instead of making her man happy - and HE'S the one supplying the goods! :eek:

i say to all dj's - DON'T play for dj's because you'll never be the king/queen of them all and win all of them over - be concerned with us little people that pay your bills...

[Mike Sarkus]

To a large extent I agree w/ you rich but I also think its more difficult to walk the line between getting music out to the crowd that you want them to get to know and also feeding them with some music you know they'll lose their minds to. To do this usually you need to play a weekly spot so people come to know to expect a balance between classics, some more popular stuff and new dance music. I find it very difficult to break in new music with an hour and a half or 2 hour guest spot. Also to agree w/ Ray if you play to a room full of DJ's you're running the risk of having no dancefloor at all. To the folks who come out and all they want to do is criticize every record a dj puts on and every mix.....all I can say is stay home.......or better than that go out and do something about it.....if their collection and skills is that deep then why are they at someone elses joint instead of using all their mixing abilities and better record collections to do their own party? All in all when you come out remember the key word "party".......thats what its all about.

-Mike

[richierich]

I agree!!

[KragShot]

I have said this before and I'll say it again...

A DJ is no longer just a guy (or gal) who just plays popular records for a party crowd.

The mix DJ has evolved into a performance artist.

The US is one of the last places in the world that recognizes that fact.

Part of what creates our style is the music that we play. The other part is how we play it.

I play a very esoteric variety of music and use only a small number of "DJ tricks" to do what I do. I work from how and what I feel.

And far as "playing for DJs," well forget about it. When you are on the tables, you are the only DJ in the club at that moment. Anyone else who spins are only potentials awaiting their moment. Play for your crowd, play for the manager...hell, play for your mamma if she's in the joint. But whatever else, play for yourself.

KragShot

[djmarbll]

I think the best dj's are the ones who cater to their crowd AND play something the collectors appreciate. That's the game.

[older&wiser]

be true to yourself, even at the expense of losing some to gain others.play what you like,and if they dont like it find someone who will.life is too short.make yourself happy first,people especially your friends and supporters can sense it when you are on some bullshit.play the best music you can get your hand on. no.......regrets.
i aint playing bullshit music for anybody. ;)

older&wiser

[Lincoln]

Originally posted by older&wiser:
be true to yourself, even at the expense of losing some to gain others.play what you like,and if they dont like it find someone who will.life is too short.make yourself happy first,people especially your friends and supporters can sense it when you are on some bullshit.play the best music you can get your hand on. no.......regrets.
i aint playing bullshit music for anybody. ;)

older&wiser Yeah but then you won't get any work (at least in Miami) cause the owners want you to play what they like and envision their place to be. They pay your bills which allows you to buy the real music that you like to listen to. Are you selling out, yeah but so is everyone else that gets up for their day job.

[older&wiser]

Originally posted by Lincoln:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by older&wiser:
be true to yourself, even at the expense of losing some to gain others.play what you like,and if they dont like it find someone who will.life is too short.make yourself happy first,people especially your friends and supporters can sense it when you are on some bullshit.play the best music you can get your hand on. no.......regrets.
i aint playing bullshit music for anybody. ;)

older&wiser Yeah but then you won't get any work (at least in Miami) cause the owners want you to play what they like and envision their place to be. They pay your bills which allows you to buy the real music that you like to listen to. Are you selling out, yeah but so is everyone else that gets up for their day job. </font>[/QUOTE]fortunately for me i dont have to put up with sh... like this.music has always come first for me.i could not imagine myself playing some shit just to amuse some f..king drunk ass idiots.this is the only way i know how to express myself.i dont play for the money, i play records for the love of music and the effect it has on my audience
and friends.if i had to play for the assholes you encounter and work for, i would get a regular everyday job and play what i want to hear at home or wherever i got a chance to.

peace-older&wiser a.k.a-miquifaye ;)

[Dj Alex]

Originally posted by older&wiser:
be true to yourself, even at the expense of losing some to gain others.play what you like,and if they dont like it find someone who will.life is too short.make yourself happy first,people especially your friends and supporters can sense it when you are on some bullshit.play the best music you can get your hand on. no.......regrets.
i aint playing bullshit music for anybody. ;)

older&wiser Damm Older & Wiser ,

I like your attidude especially playing the best music you can get your hands on yes sir...

Peace Alex . ;)

[Querck]

Originally posted by older&wiser:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Lincoln:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by older&wiser:
be true to yourself, even at the expense of losing some to gain others.play what you like,and if they dont like it find someone who will.life is too short.make yourself happy first,people especially your friends and supporters can sense it when you are on some bullshit.play the best music you can get your hand on. no.......regrets.
i aint playing bullshit music for anybody. ;)

older&wiser Yeah but then you won't get any work (at least in Miami) cause the owners want you to play what they like and envision their place to be. They pay your bills which allows you to buy the real music that you like to listen to. Are you selling out, yeah but so is everyone else that gets up for their day job. </font>[/QUOTE]fortunately for me i dont have to put up with sh... like this.music has always come first for me.i could not imagine myself playing some shit just to amuse some f..king drunk ass idiots.this is the only way i know how to express myself.i dont play for the money, i play records for the love of music and the effect it has on my audience
and friends.if i had to play for the assholes you encounter and work for, i would get a regular everyday job and play what i want to hear at home or wherever i got a chance to.

peace-older&wiser a.k.a-miquifaye ;) </font>[/QUOTE]Amen to that!

The was I see it, every dj has got to make a choice. If you want to live off your dj'ing, unless you're are superstar, then you'll have to play for the crowd sometimes. That means playing a Justin Timberlake remix, or Michael Jackson, or even hip-hop.

On the other hand, and this applies to me, if you are only interested in dj'ing as your artistic expression, and not to make a living, you gotta play what you feel. Of course, sometimes that will mean vibing off the crowd too. But mostly, play what moves you. Otherwise, you will only frustrate yourself.

[vinny from the Burgh]

Originally posted by older&wiser:
be true to yourself, even at the expense of losing some to gain others.play what you like,and if they dont like it find someone who will.life is too short.make yourself happy first,people especially your friends and supporters can sense it when you are on some bullshit.play the best music you can get your hand on. no.......regrets.
i aint playing bullshit music for anybody. ;)

older&wiser that is gospel

[djdeepc]

I've come to realize that if you trully feel what you are playing, the people on the dancefloor will feel it too. It oozes out of the speakers and they can feel it with the subtle twists of the e.q. knobbs. On the other hand though, playing records for a living beats a whole lot of other jobs that you could be doing so if you had to play certain music to make the owner happy and it pays your bills, more power to you. You are still playing music and sometimes you can sneak in the good shit. Otherwise, get an off night somewhere where you can play the good stuff and play the paying bills gig and be happy.

[M. Gordon]

There are also those who just play for themselfs,
dancing behind the tables and not caring that nobody is feeling it.I can tell after a while if a DJ is trying to educate or playing can you name this record.When its all said and done, if you come prepared,have crowd awarness,and hit'em with some obscure heat, DJ's and all will be grooving.

[RaHaAn81]

Well I will say this,express yourself, do what you ,don't be fake, they will love you or leave you. You don't have to play all them singadingadingalongs like "STOMP" or "Is it all over my face" to get people dancing or all new stuff just because some "BIG DJ" said well I don't do old records anymore. Do whatever you like. That how someone will get to know you as you express yourself on the tables, and like I said, they will love you or leave you...