Yes and no. This is the problem not only with being a DJ, but even a musician.
Look at bars. They always book local rock bands, but I’ve seen many musicians lament on how they can’t go in and play “unknown stuff” or even their own stuff…because most of the bars and audiences want cover bands who will play Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, etc.
It’s the same with DJs. I would love to be able to go out all the time and play sets like the ones I record and put on my website, but unfortunately most venues and the audiences want mainstream pop music that they know. That’s life.
Yes, there are areas where a musician or a DJ can be an artist, but those are very few spots compared to the masses of spots where they just want a “jukebox” of sorts. This is the life of a DJ, and if you can’t accept that…then go “starving artist” or “bedroom” like I do. I fully know that my own viewpoint on music and what I’m willing to play means I won’t hardly ever play out at all anymore…but I accept it and embrace it…because then I’ll love DJing in the end.
The worst thing is when one wants to complain that they can’t be an artist when the masses do not want it. Either starve and push to grow, or find a happy medium of sorts where you can love what you do.
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