D-Jam

DJ Stone Crazy, post: 33960, member: 79 wrote: This what this reminds me of: How many of you had a gig double-booked with someone’s party or other kind of celebration? Or during a gig, a huge group shows up? You already had your mind set on what you’re booked for. (For me it was 80s music.) Now, the group wants you to change your music. Both spots that did me like that is now either suffering financial difficulties or is closed. I predict the same fate for clubs who kick big name DJs off the deck.

I remember being hired as a resident DJ in a lounge out in the suburbs. They wanted me to come in and play deep soulful house to help build a nice vibe.

Third night they booked a birthday party for a 50 year old woman and her family. They all came in only wanting to hear rap, “dusties”, and 70s poppy funk. They thankfully had some CDs to help me, and I made due. At the end of the night, I quit, telling the owner that if he wants a more versatile DJ, then I’m not the guy for him…and me driving 30 miles each way and not being able to 100% dictate the music wasn’t going to fly with me.

I wasn’t mean or snippy about it. I just simply told him he would do better with someone more local who plays weddings and bars if this is the direction he wants to go. I made it clear he can’t have the “downtown underground Chicago coolness” and yet please opposite crowds like that at the same time.

My rationale for mixing tech house is more on song selection. Too often I’ll see DJs into tech house play these long bland boring sets of minimal or near-minimal tunes.

My way is more to find energetic music, and more interesting music in production. Like any genre, you’ll see loads of bland copycat stuff. Take the time to really seek out the gems that will play well in front of a crowd…and don’t listen to the “music nerds” or “music snobs” who act like you betrayed the sound by infusing a little energy into it.

Long blends help as well. Tech house isn’t a music you do short blends on. So hold your beats (or use sync) and really practice on manipulating the EQs so it’s all fluid.

I think Vegas and Miami need to stop trying to be “about the music”. Clearly the bottle service high rollers want only the easiest-to-swallow mainstream for their Barbies, so this conflict will never end. I would honestly not be surprised if most of these instances were the “trophy girlfriends” of the high rollers making a stink, thus said high roller demands mainstream music so he can get laid later.

As for DJTT’s article, I put in a comment. I think when you’re a no-name you have to adapt…but when you’re a big name with a fully established brand, you can’t conflict that just to please high-rollers. I also disagree with the article and support when the headliners call out this BS on Twitter. Clubs like Mansion and promoters like that need to be embarrassed and humiliated in the scene so they can get it in their heads they have to make hard choices…the music or the high rollers.

Hey, if you want to DJ and promote, then the owner should be ready to pay you way more than he would pay a DJ. That means you get a cut of the door, the bar, etc…because you’re bringing him busines.

On top of that, if you’re planning/promoting the event, then he can’t tell you what to play or how things will go. So if you pack the room with die-hard underground folk who drink like fish, but he’s complaining there isn’t enough pop music and hot girls…too bad. His girlfriend runs up demanding to hear Call Me Maybe…tell her no.

Frankly, I would not mess with that venue. It clearly shows he’s not serious and won’t be in business for very long.

Looks like the RIAA has struck again.

That’s tough. Outside of Amazon and iTunes, i have now clue.

Pretty much all my old new wave and disco were from old vinyls. Beatport and Traxsource does get many house classics though.

Kent Sandvik, post: 33341, member: 3967 wrote: As a footnote: as a small label owner I don’t mind giving promos to anyone who want to play the music we release (just email me.) However, we are not fans of such promo music ending up in bittorrents or re-sold for 0.25$US at certain web sites in the east, added as free downloads from blogs and so on…

I agree…didn’t take that into account.