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I have a playlist on my comp, can play whichever song I want, and also have a good knowledge of how to use youtube. I also know how to slide the volume and EQ sliders. Does that count as a DJ?

~N

Neimenljivi wrote:I have a playlist on my comp, can play whichever song I want, and also have a good knowledge of how to use youtube. I also know how to slide the volume and EQ sliders. Does that count as a DJ?

~N

You're actually over qualified for some night clubs :p

son goku wrote:

Neimenljivi wrote:I have a playlist on my comp, can play whichever song I want, and also have a good knowledge of how to use youtube. I also know how to slide the volume and EQ sliders. Does that count as a DJ?

~N

You're actually over qualified for some night clubs :p

Hehe, I was partly kidding, but you're right. I mean, everyone can be a DJ nowadays, it requires no talent or specific knowledge. The funniest part is, that they get hired and paid 50€ per hour (take in account they "work", i.e. drink and repeat the same playlist night after night, about 6h per night and that's 300€, don't even play the songs you request unless you are a busty blonde girl). I am in a band. When we say we want to get paid 400€ for a 2h set, most of the clubs **Filtered** about how expensive that is. Well, do the maths. 4 of us, that's 100€ per each one of us for 2h. 50€ per hour of playing (and you're always in action, not just clicking on a song and be done for 5 minutes). Then you gotta take in account an hour for set up and tone check. You're down to 33,3€ per person per hour. Count in the countless hours of practicing the set with the band and the countless hours put in to learn the instrument (and it isn't as easy as adding stuff to the playlist and fading volume in and out), countless lessons that cost money, gear related maintenance, etc., and you soon figure out just how expensive DJs are and how cheap live music actually is. Not to mention the fact that anyone can be a DJ whereas not anyone can be a musician.
DJing used to be hard back in the day, I won't dispute that (despite not actually liking that kind of music myself). But nowadays it's a joke - at least for 95% of DJs that fall into that category. I rarely go to clubs because I don't like the music and even the music I kinda like (be it remixes of some songs I like or something) and falls into the category of what's playable doesn't get played if I request it (although if my GF requests it, it gets played of course). Not to mention the drinks are way overpriced and there are usually entrance fees and music is way too loud to have any sort of conversation. All the events I've visited, I only saw one good DJ. He actually played whatever anyone wanted, regardless of the music genre (or sex of the customer), the music wasn't too loud and he wasn't pretending like he's the most important guy in the club. He still had no special talent, but at least listened to what the customers wanted.
No offense meant to you, of course

~N

I used to work 2 technics sl1200' , vinyl.

Making songs fluently pass over is something that takes some time learning, just fading is not the trick.
You need to be able to feel the majority of the crowd and play in on that.
A DJ can make a club owners night if he gets the entire crowd aroused and going dancing for hours, which will make the crowd drink more, and more.

Playing a single requested song can interrupt an entire flow.
Generally DJs accepting the requests from one of the busty blonds are looking to get laid with them.

Being a DJ has nothing to do with pleasing the customers (apart from making them go wild and thirsty). It is about making money for your employer.

Fading is what the majority of the so called DJs nowadays are doing.
Pleasing your customers is what will make them dance and sing and drink. But everything you've mentioned applies to the bands as well. The only difference is that bands need to know how to play their instruments and those specific songs, instead of just adding songs to the playlist

~N

Ingólfur wrote:I used to work 2 technics sl1200' , vinyl.

This guy.

son goku wrote:Virtual DJ through Serato Scratch Live

Not this guy.

Do it old skool Son Goku, none of those fancy little pretend scratch pads

My friend tried to teach me, on both Technics and on Serato Scratch with a miniature scratch deck, can't remember what the hardware was called.

Suffice to say, I did it for a maximum of 10 hours and gave up. I am officially tone deaf.