D-Jam

“Alex Moschopoulos” doesn’t ring very nicely or make it easy to put on a flyer.

“D-Jam” was a name my friends came up with. It’s basically “DJ” with my initials.

I don’t know if I wish I had chosen a different one. When I started spinning, the usual template of a DJ name was:

FirstName “Stage Name” LastName

Examples:

Ralphi “Rockin” Rosario
Kenny “Jammin” Jason

It was over the late 90s that we saw the hip-hop styled “stage names” vanish and people just used more “normal” sounding names…even if they were not their actual names.

I honestly never thought of any other names to use.

Rattfink, post: 10939 wrote: Holy shit really?!

Yeah…had some Aussie DJs tell me of this.

Dj iceman, post: 10757 wrote: I noticed that every time i pick up a dj publication or go to a dj website or forum, the main focus is on edm music. im not bitter but we need to see more hip-hop djs. i know in the last 5-9 years the creativity in hip-hop music seemed to be at a standstill but there are still a lot of creative things going on in the underground!! and as long as they are still having hip-hop at the dmcs i think we’ll be ok lol whats you guys take on the lack of hip-hop djs in the mainstream media?? (i know most of you dont care but humor me)

I hear you, but the problem is for over a decade hip-hop has been shunned to the underground as poppy easy-to-digest crap has dominated the scene and even tried to call itself “hip-hop”. We might have respect for KRS-One or Common or artists like that, but the industry has been only pushing BEP, Rihanna, etc. as “hip-hop”.

I go into venues and that’s all I hear. Pop tunes with rap music beats and mashups with rap music beats.

I agree that many hip-hop DJs have been anti-digital, but that’s slowly changing with many getting on Serato. However, the issue still is how the sound is controlled by the record industry, and they’re defining it as the cheese.

Miichael Cain, post: 10584 wrote: 1) How do I find my target market and promote to them in my area?

First, think about the overall goal you have. What kind of night do you want? What kind of music do you want, and what kind of crowd do you want? Figure out what kind of atmosphere, music, and crowd can work together nicely and stay within your desired goals.
Second, seek out someone, anyone, in your town who is into the music and vibe you want to create. Find out where he and his friends go. Get to know them all and find out what they would want in an event.
From there, see how well that group would meld with the current market in your area.

Miichael Cain, post: 10584 wrote: 2) How do I convince bar owners to take a chance on something like this, short of doing free gigs?

Owners only think dollars and cents. You have to talk to them in terms of how much money they can make. I also suggest you throw an event for free on a night that venue doesn’t get a lot of people. Put all the risk on yourself.

Miichael Cain, post: 10584 wrote: 3) What are some good resources in finding remixes to mainly top 40 and current hip hop favorites?

Phil and the others will know.

Miichael Cain, post: 10584 wrote: 4) Any other input/criticism would be greatly appreciated.

Read the guide on how to throw events. Start here: http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/09/how-to-promote-events-throw-your-own-parties-part-1/

Seeing how all the top controllers are all married to certain software titles, I’d tell you to go with a Traktor-ready controller.

I only know three instances when I’d say it’s ok.

1. You put together some lights/pyrotechnics set that has to align perfectly with the music, so you have PART OF (not all) of your show be where you play this mix and let the visual show do it.
2. A “megamix” where you take 5-8 big tracks and edit, cut, and intertwine them into a 7-10 minute megamix that you can play as a block. Back in the 80s and into the 90s a lot of these existed solely fro DJs to play and move the crowd with. I also won’t condone a DJ if he makes a wild “edit intro” and plays that in the beginning of his/her set.
3. When you’re the only DJ and it’s early in the night, a dead room, etc. I did this a few times when I was hired to play all night in a lounge. From 9 til 11 the place was empty, so I played some mixes I made in the past, but when people started showing up I went over to playing live.

In the case of a big name doing it mainly to cheat, then I don’t condone it. Like how Steve Angello was doing it in that video. I agree with Mr_John that if you’re going out and getting paid thousands to be a DJ, then be a DJ. Unfortunately as Cool Cats alluded to, people also just hire producers to show up and play their tunes. We as DJs can get mad, but the scene/consumers come out in droves…so the market has spoken.

I usually wear jeans, nice shirt, and nice shoes if it’s a club that isn’t too casual. Sometimes a t-shirt with sportcoat if I want.

At more casual spots or raves I’ll wear a t-shirt, jeans, and skater shoes. Usually my t-shirt choices will be “DJ centric”. I have one shirt I wore with the London Underground logo on it, another with a design of a graphic EQ. When I played in Europe I wore a t-shirt that had “CHICAGO” on it in a beautiful design.