Question for the DJs

[Phil B]

if you was looking for work but struggled would you compromise your music to try and get work?

[Mr_Happy]

very good question phil.

 

i think it depends on how much you had to comprimise. if it ment playing music i didnt like then i would rather go gigless. but i wouldnt object to watering down my style a little if it ment playing.

 

having said all that, i'm not playing out, and have changed my mind about ever wanting to play out (at least for the near future ne way)

[LiamStyles]

I have such a broad spectrum of styles that i like/would play out so its quite hard to find a set (within reason) that I wouldnt want to play out.

 

Having said that, if it was a huge comprimise I wouldnt do it. But just say for instance, a promoter wanted me to play but didnt want me bangin out hard techno. I would just see it as a challenge and find good techno like stuff that does fit the bill but still falls into my sound.

 

But a set of pure cheese filled charty trance bollox would be a definate no.

[Maria]

Im not a DJ but here is my 2 pennies worth.

 

If I WAS a DJ, I couldn't change my set style to something I didn't enjoy. But then as Mr Happy said, it depends on how much a compromise you are making.

 

What's the point in getting work when your style has had to slightly change to something you "deep down" don't like, or can't reach and grab that passion that fullfills you when you are behind the decks ?

 

If your not "into" it, then you're not going to enjoy it. Which, imo, is a bit of a shit change for the DJ !

Edited March 15, 2004 by Maria

[Mr_Happy]

QUOTE (Maria @ Mar 15 2004, 00:02)

Im not a DJ but here is my 2 pennies worth. If I WAS a DJ, I couldn't change my set style to something I didn't enjoy. But then as Mr Happy said, it depends on how much a compromise you are making. What's the point in getting work when your style has had to slightly change to something you "deep down" don't like, or can't reach and grab that passion that fullfills you when you are behind the decks ? If your not "into" it, then you're not going to enjoy it. Which, imo, is a bit of a shit change for the DJ !

totally agree with you there maria. in someways i do see it as selling out, but then thats harsh accusations to start throwing out

[Maria]

QUOTE (Mr_Happy @ Mar 15 2004, 00:10)

QUOTE (Maria @ Mar 15 2004, 00:02) Im not a DJ but here is my 2 pennies worth. If I WAS a DJ, I couldn't change my set style to something I didn't enjoy.  But then as Mr Happy said, it depends on how much a compromise you are making. What's the point in getting work when your style has had to slightly change to something you "deep down" don't like, or can't reach and grab that passion that fullfills you when you are behind the decks ? If your not "into" it, then you're not going to enjoy it.  Which, imo, is a bit of a shit change for the DJ ! totally agree with you there maria. in someways i do see it as selling out, but then thats harsh accusations to start throwing out No, your right.   The DJ's potential lies in what he is best at. Which would be the music he loves to play and plays to the crowd that love it.   It's like someone asking you to change your interests.   I.e - if you're good at mixing hardhouse and hardhouse is what you love, then stick to it. Don't change one of your interests to something you don't think you like, because you might end up losing the passion for it all.

Edited March 15, 2004 by Maria

[BenRW]

for the cardiff uni maths society i dj'd for their halloween party as a favour for a mate. Started off housey and then moved into the commercial dance after 1.5 hrs and then moved into cheesy shite for the rest of the night.

 

I think it worked well and i've been asked back for next year.

 

As for whether i had to cut back on my music style i didn't mind. Whilst i hate cheesy shite and found it far too easy to mix (press play and slap the crossfader across) i didn't really care. I mixed some stuff earlier on which i liked which was fine by me.

 

The cheesy cds were all supplied by a mate so i didn';t have to build up my own collection, but i do have the house and commercial dance cds

[Maria]

QUOTE (benrostwood @ Mar 15 2004, 00:17)

for the cardiff uni maths society i dj'd for their halloween party as a favour for a mate. Started off housey and then moved into the commercial dance after 1.5 hrs and then moved into cheesy shite for the rest of the night. I think it worked well and i've been asked back for next year. As for whether i had to cut back on my music style i didn't mind. Whilst i hate cheesy shite and found it far too easy to mix (press play and slap the crossfader across) i didn't really care. I mixed some stuff earlier on which i liked which was fine by me. The cheesy cds were all supplied by a mate so i didn';t have to build up my own collection, but i do have the house and commercial dance cds

What is your style ?

[BenRW]

QUOTE (Maria @ Mar 15 2004, 00:19)

QUOTE (benrostwood @ Mar 15 2004, 00:17) for the cardiff uni maths society i dj'd for their halloween party as a favour for a mate. Started off housey and then moved into the commercial dance after 1.5 hrs and then moved into cheesy shite for the rest of the night. I think it worked well and i've been asked back for next year. As for whether i had to cut back on my music style i didn't mind. Whilst i hate cheesy shite and found it far too easy to mix (press play and slap the crossfader across) i didn't really care. I mixed some stuff earlier on which i liked which was fine by me. The cheesy cds were all supplied by a mate so i didn';t have to build up my own collection, but i do have the house and commercial dance cds What is your style ? hard but i do have an extensive trance collection and also a house and commercial dance collection   altogether its 4X 264 cd wallets. Not all are full tho but some are getting there

[Maria]

Well at the end of the day I guess it's more based around the fact, you enjoy variations of genres / are open minded to all music genres.

 

If you are not into something, then you are deffinatly not going to enjoy it.

[LiamStyles]

QUOTE (benrostwood @ Mar 15 2004, 00:17)

for the cardiff uni maths society

Sorry, I fell asleep at this point.

[Maria]

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Maria @ Mar 15 2004, 00:02)

If your not "into" it, then you're not going to enjoy it. Which, imo, is a bit of a shit change for the DJ !

Agreed. Like Liam I "deep down love" a whole range of house/techno/trance music, from deep funky stuff to hammering dark stuff. Being able to play several different styles doesn't necessarily mean you're "watering down" in any way.

 

Besides, I think DJs should have an appreciation for music outside their "main" genre(s). I think it's great when you go and see a techno DJ, but you can tell there are loads of influences from other stuff he appreciates.

 

I hate all this pretentiousness about "selling out". That expression should be banned. Yeah, if you play Spice Girls or something, maybe you're selling out. But people are very quick to bandy that expression around, for no justifiable reason (e.g. a DJ has "changed their style ... so what?) It just comes down to genre snobbery.

[Tony P]

Ver good question Phil, it think it depends on what your reasons are for dj'ing???

 

do you do it for the glory/fame...if you get what i mean

of do you do it for the love of your music.

 

i definately fall into the second catergory, I do play funky and trance which i'm not as passionate about as the harder side, but i still do enjoy it, alot.

However i wouldn't play RnB or HipHop or pop music just for the sake of being a DJ.

[Phil B]

cheers for the answers guys. it does back up my own thoughts but ive been questioning things lately, think im maybe just hitting that brick wall again