Alex Moschopoulos

The only rule is “it has to sound good”.

When I do trance, I try to figure out which tunes musically meld and thus try to keep “dead points” from happening. I mentioned to you before that if you feel the tunes you’re playing aren’t arranged the way you prefer, then go into a sound editing program and make your own edits. It’s a long tradition in DJing, and you’ll see many of your favorite trance DJs doing this like crazy.

I’m sure when we see more trance releases as STEMS, this will become much easier to do live.

In my book, trance blends should be smooth, and especially try to time them so one tune “lets off” while the new incoming tune “kicks up”. Beyond that, don’t pressure yourself too much. The crowds aren’t as picky on all this as we DJs are. I’ve been into ReOrder a lot lately, but even I’ll notice his blends are simplistic and fast. Not how I’d do things, but then again, I’m not ReOrder and he’s not me.

I think all over it’s just changing times. Here in Chicago, the biggest club closed down to new owners and we’re not even sure what’s going to happen there.

I work in a company loaded with 20somethings, and for them it’s all about bars now…even ones where you pay up the arse for “craft beers” and “craft cocktails”. Beyond that, they’re all going to festivals.

In my opinion, clubbing has spent too long in the “VIP Bottle Service” lifestyle. I remember from the early 90s all the way until 2001 or so the clubs didn’t push the tables/bottles thing. The best spots were more “dank warehouse” than “super elegant” and people just went to dance all night to the best music.

Granted, the “VIP Bottle Service” happened and blew up for a bit. Folks wanted to dress up, be seen, and have elegant nights out. However, I think ever since the 2008 crash that all changed. There aren’t enough trust fund babies out there to fill a swanky spot on a regular basis. Lord knows I’ve seen many spots constantly open and close and reopen with a new name. I think the wealthy have moved on to lavish vacations over hot clubs, and the rest of everyone else simply are not in the mood to pay $20-$30 USD to get in and $8-$15 USD for a drink.

Plus…the festival scene has more or less built a new rave culture. There aren’t really spots looking to build that lifestyle in their venues, as they’re still trying to milk the last remnants of “VIP Bottle Service”. Even in that video you see it with the warehouse party guy. MOS I think remains viable because of the big names and it’s tourist appeal.

The youth right now are going to bars…many of which have DJs.

OK…FIGURED IT OUT.

Apparently my output routing was all killed when I installed the new 2.9. Now it’s working perfectly.

I remember a club that put a limiter on the amps. You push it too far then the music shut off.

The club would let a DJ screw up once, but multiple times and you’re fired.

REGARDLESS…it comes down to the venue and promoter to hire professionals who don’t go into the red. If a greedy amateur of a promoter hires Mr Popular who blows out a system, then it’s on him.

In my experiences, it’s ego.

I remember when I used to play at a European-style cafe and bar, I never “pumped it loud”, since my role was more background atmosphere. I’d play smooth deep house and lighter flavors, but when colleagues wanted to come play a guest spot, they would crank up the volume to the max and play big room bangers or wild techno…then have the audacity to get angry when a manager told them to turn it down or the crowd wanted the music to change.

This is the difference between the experienced and the amateurs. The amateurs who go red are only thinking of themselves, as you might notice many of them won’t play to the crowd. They want the fantasy of the big room explosion and yet can’t accept the venue isn’t that and they are not playing a big massive.

The worst part are how many of these red-pushers have skilled themselves in internet popularity, so they’ll bring heads out and thus get booked…despite their poor sound skills. I don’t know if you can educate them. I’d more say the venue needs a sound board as the go-between their mixer and the speakers, so when they go the maximum on volumes and gains the sound guy can still limit them.

It would be nicer if they just stopped booking these amateurs.