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Dealing with "Musical Deserts"

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  • August 21, 2011 at 9:52 am #6104
    NewportDJ Drew
    Participant

    When in rome do as the romans do, but be unique. Play other stuff mixed in.. ‘dip your toe’ so to speak. You can always blend out if they dont like it. I had fun in the mid 80’s introducing imported EDM to an isolated country area of australia where ‘kenny and dolly and julio iglesias ruled the roost. (male stripper, pump up the volume, grand master flash, bronski beat, and holiday rap shocked the crowds) , 12″ singles had just been born then! Even bands that seemed ‘all synths and drum machines’ like eurythmics were frowned upon!

    August 21, 2011 at 2:34 pm #6114
    Fxn-L
    Member

    When in rome do as the romans do, but be unique. Play other stuff mixed in.. ‘dip your toe’ so to speak.

    I guess that’s a really good way of looking at it. I’m just not sure how I’m going to pull this off having no experience mixing anything else except stuff with four-on-the-floor. I don’t even have 90% of the music they’re looking for and the gig is this coming Friday. It just feels like I’m setting myself up to look like a fool who doesn’t know his ass from his elbow.

    August 21, 2011 at 4:29 pm #6122
    Emma Partnow
    Member

    Fxn-L, post: 6094 wrote: I go to school in Buffalo, New York in the USA. I live in York County, Virginia…also in the USA. Both of which aren’t especially known for their appreciation of the musical arts. The crowds in Buffalo exist solely to consume Billboard Top 100, dubstep, and electro. York County doesn’t even know what EDM is.

    This makes a sticky situation for an aspiring EDM digital DJ like myself. Does anyone else experience this where they live? EDM DJs in Europe, Canada and the UK should consider themselves lucky; you all are placed in what appears to be the heart of EDM consumers.

    Just recently I was offered to open for my DJ friend at a private party. I was so excited! An opportunity to play EDM on a decommissioned US Navy Vessel with a good friend? Who’d say “no” to that? Then the sound tech gives me a call and rattles off a list of what they’re looking to be played including Insane Clown Posse, Jimmy Buffet, “I’m On A Boat” by Lonely Island, Top 40, and dubstep “that girls would like”. To top it off, he tells me if I’ve “got one or two tracks to play too, that might be okay.” I don’t even know how to feel about that.

    Does anyone else have to deal with their location being a non-optimal zone for their chosen style of DJing? If so, how did you deal with it? Saying “Move to Europe” isn’t a great answer.

    Hello my Friend :);
    I Understand and Empathise with your Situation 🙁
    However; we Must Attempt to Help You Feel Comfortable; and The Customer Satisfied;
    When you received the Phone Call with the ‘List’ Of Tracks they Wish You To Play – You Must Get These Tracks
    As in an Indirect/Direct Manner you have been ‘Ordered’ to;
    This Has to be your First Step;
    The Words ‘Play Some Dubstep’ can mean Anything; and is Extremely Ambiguous; as the Dubstep Genre is Vast;
    If you played ‘Figure – The Monster EP’ (including ‘The Werewolf’; ‘Zombies’; ‘Aliens’; ‘Frankenstein’); you would Tear The Roof Off; ‘Excision’; ‘Liquid Stranger’ and ‘Danejah’ are also Classic Dubstep ‘Bands’
    However; Your ‘Object’ as a DJ is to Introduce some EDM into your Set; and I would like to Help You With That 🙂

    First of all I would like to deal with Mixing Dubstep ‘Into’ House/EDM;
    House/EDM is ‘Usually/Always’ Constructed using a 4 x 4 Kick Drum Pattern
    Dubstep is Constructed in a Slightly Different Way; where the Bass Line follows a 4 x 4 Pattern;
    In order to get an Idea ‘Where’ this 4 x 4 Pattern of the Bass Line is; we Follow The Snare;
    The Snare Always Hits On The Second Beat; so;
    1 = ? – 2 = Snare – 3 = ? – 4 = Snare
    The Bass Line in Dubstep follows a 4 x 4 Pattern; such as this;
    1 = Bass – 2 = Bass ‘And’ Snare – 3 = Bass – 4 = Bass ‘And’ Snare
    Now; bearing in mind that in House/EDM we have a 4 x 4 Kick Drum Pattern;
    We Mix Dubstep into House/EDM; This Way:

    1 = Bass – 2 = Bass ‘And’ Snare – 3 = Bass – 4 = Bass ‘And’ Snare
    1 = Kick – 2 = Kick – 3 = Kick – 4 = Kick

    When You Do This (if you Choose to) During Your Set; the Clientele will be Not Only ‘Amazed’; but also ‘Very Receptive’ to the Change In Style (though I would Suggest once you have Mixed From Dubstep into House/EDM; that you Mix ‘Back’ into Dubstep; and then back into House/EDM; until you ‘Feel’ The Floor has ‘Accepted’ and are Enjoying the 4 x 4 Kick Drum Pattern) 🙂

    I Hope that this Post Helps You in Some Small Way 😎

    August 22, 2011 at 2:04 am #6138
    DJ GRE
    Member

    I live in Anchorage AK which is very small (no matter what anyone says otherwise) and the scene we do have is severely splintered – rivaling DJs badmouthing each other, promoters scheduling 4 EDM events on the same night pulling the crowd in all different directions, a crowd that only goes out on the weekend – just a ton of different things that cause for a really disorganized scene. The big clubs DJs mix only either top 40 or hip hop. Theres nothing wrong with that and I can tell the DJs try to tease little beats of EDM into their sets but they are generally not well received – not bad tracks, just the crowd is not very appreciative of the tracks and they end up going back to the same tracks night after night.

    August 22, 2011 at 6:03 am #1001464
    Jack White
    Member

    I DJ primarily in a gay bar (where I also work).

    All the customers want there is Top 40 and club classics. Whilst I do like the club classics, I don’t like an awful lot of pop songs. So basically I find house remixes of them, which I do like.

    August 24, 2011 at 1:03 am #6223
    Fxn-L
    Member

    Thanks Emma for helping me to understand that method better. I tried it out with some of my record box and it sounds great! I’m going to practice to get better at it and try it out on my next recorded practice session.

    And thanks DJ GRE and Jack White for sharing that. I see similar trends where I live too; it seems the clubs are only a physical place to gather and listen to the radio around here and when a DJ actually takes the steps to be unique and insert his own style…the crowd becomes unresponsive and sends some negative body language out. It’s a shame, but everyone is entitled to their own taste in music.

    I actually already do what Jack does and find remixes of Top 40, and I do find them enjoyable also. It puts a breath of fresh air on what I believe to be stale radio. Though it’s a shame that most of them are either electro or dubstep remixes. I would love to hear a funky or soulful house remix of some contemporary R&B or something.

    Just an off-topic update on the gig, I ended up not taking it. They did not make it clear that it wasn’t a paying gig, and after corresponding with some members of the crowd it became very apparent that they would not appreciate a dip into EDM. At all. I withdrew my stance as the potential opening DJ (even though I need the practice) because I wouldn’t be practicing things I wanted to work on. One could argue I still need to practice reading the crowd and song selection, but I’ll save that for when I can practice with music that I can understand. Maybe a rookie mistake, but that was my choice.

    August 24, 2011 at 2:45 pm #6254
    Emma Partnow
    Member

    You are Very Welcome to any Assistance my Friend 😎
    And for not taking the Gig; I Completely Agree; because without a Concrete Payment Method; and your Current Feelings about what you Wish and Don’t Wish to Play; this is All Our Own Personal Perogative 🙂

    August 24, 2011 at 9:06 pm #6290
    D-Jam
    Participant

    This is maybe when you should find like-minded people and make your own night happen at a small spot.

    There has to at least be ravers in your neck of the woods. Every small town and city has them.

    August 24, 2011 at 9:16 pm #6296
    U31
    Member

    D-Jam, post: 6285 wrote: This is maybe when you should find like-minded people and make your own night happen at a small spot.

    There has to at least be ravers in your neck of the woods. Every small town and city has them.

    Set up a Facebook group for the locality?

    August 24, 2011 at 9:49 pm #6298
    D-Jam
    Participant

    Try that…look at NY rave message boards. I know they have to exist. Get to know the scene outside of the scene. I know if I wanted to know about the rave scene I’d look for “Midwest ravers” on Google. You also might want to just see what’s going on in NYC. Promoters and DJs who share your tastes.

    Just feel around…social media…message boards…etc. Find those few like-minded folks. From there, either throw events or move around or even try other things like online shows or producing.

    I’m working on a series on how to throw and promote an event. Been busy, but giving Phil part 1 this week. Stay tuned for it.

    August 24, 2011 at 11:15 pm #6306
    Fxn-L
    Member

    That’s an EXCELLENT idea!! I can’t wait to see your content on it, it sounds very interesting!

    I was also considering tapping into the myriad of ethnicities at my university. Sure, the local crowd might not be into EDM, but what about all the international and transfer students or the ethnic clubs? I could network and try to promote my DJ friend’s next rave event so see if we can get some more guests either through Facebook or open announcement at club meetings.

    Thanks for all the input, everyone!

    August 24, 2011 at 11:42 pm #6307
    Michael Fuchs
    Member

    Fxn-L, great choice on not taking that gig in my opinion. Do what you feel is right, and only give away your talent if people are willing to compromise with you to let you slip in a little bit of what you love.

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