when ur DJ'ing...

[Phil rr]

how much of a "zone" do you get in?

 

eg...mozart got on a 3 day bender when he was writing one of his pieces, and couldn't remember writing half of what was actually in it.

 

so when ur in the middle of a set, it's all in full flight, and you're picking the right tunes to build up to hostile or agnelli&nelson, can you actually remember what you're doing and what you're thinking, or does it all become a flying blurred trip? (no dr*g references intended)

 

and after you're done, could u write a tracklisting, or do u generally have no idea what actually went out

 

[pls move forum if u think]

Edited April 15, 2004 by Phil rr

[LiquidEyes]

I get into the zone in the sense of being very absorbed in the music ...

 

But DJing isn't exactly rocket science ... the level of concentration / absorption / intensity is nothing compared to what I have to do in my day job.

 

I'm sure Mozart could have DJ'd with his hands behind his back (not that I rate Mozart that highly).

[Lisa]

QUOTE (LiquidEyes @ Apr 15 2004, 21:26)

I get into the zone in the sense of being very absorbed in the music ... But DJing isn't exactly rocket science ... the level of concentration / absorption / intensity is nothing compared to what I have to do in my day job. I'm sure Mozart could have DJ'd with his hands behind his back (not that I rate Mozart that highly).

yeh but it's easy when you know how!! Not if you dont!!

[Louise]

QUOTE (Lisa @ Apr 15 2004, 21:41)

QUOTE (LiquidEyes @ Apr 15 2004, 21:26) I get into the zone in the sense of being very absorbed in the music ... But DJing isn't exactly rocket science ... the level of concentration / absorption / intensity is nothing compared to what I have to do in my day job. I'm sure Mozart could have DJ'd with his hands behind his back (not that I rate Mozart that highly). yeh but it's easy when you know how!! Not if you dont!! this is soooo true, iv got some DJ mixing thing on my PC.....all i can say is phil & tonys job are well and truly safe

[Lisa]

Definately!! The one's who can mix, make it seem so easy, but is it shite!!

[LiamStyles]

I have to disagree with andy on this one, for me its not the technical side of things that gets me "in the zone" but the actual music itself. I do get lost and just let myself get carried away. Sayin that, Its not something that happens when im playin a 1hr set somewhere. theres only so much you can do, and i always find that as im getting into it my set is over.

 

I played a 7hr set at an ilegal warehouse party the week after tidy, and like phil said I couldnt honestly give you a track listing (granted its made harder by the sheer amount of of records i played). Neither could I even tell you an hours worth of tracks and what order i played them in. I got into the set in the sense of as i was enjoyin the music like the people on the dancefloor, it was just i was in control. I always feel taken aback by these kind of sets, Its best described as me letting off steam.

 

I suppose not all DJs will feel this way, but thats what its like for me. I feel like im giving more than just other peoples music when I play out. And also feel that when i get into "a zone" I can give more to the crowd.

 

DJing means differnt things to different people, both DJs and clubbers

 

 

 

P.S. Sorry for the long-winded reply.

Edited April 15, 2004 by LiamStyles

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (LiamStyles @ Apr 15 2004, 22:47)

for me its not the technical side of things that gets me "in the zone" but the actual music itself.

That's sort of what I meant really. I get very absorbed in the music ... especially if playing on a "proper" club sound system!

 

Also I think nerves play a role ... all my actual gigs have been total adrenaline rushes! It's a totally different kettle of fish to playing in your bedroom.

 

I haven't done any marathon sets like yourself; I can imagine that's quite a unique experience.

 

When I think of the expression "in the zone", I think of the state of mind I'm in when producing (i.e. when I've got a tune idea vividly playing over in my head, and I'm trying for hours on end to recreate it) or when I'm computer programming in my day job (thinking very intensely about very abstract, intangible designs and tasks). After being "in the zone" in this sense, sometimes I can barely hold a conversation, I've got so much shit going round my head!

[Ian Cashman]

i just need a couple of beers, a receptive audience and half decent monitors. once the nerves are gone and fretting about what the monitors are like, im there

 

i never really dj for myself (or just play on my decks for the sake of it).

only really when ive bought some new tunes i play around to get the feel of them.

 

once they're on a cd they dont get touched until ive got a set to play

Edited April 15, 2004 by Ian Cashman

[Tony P]

i find i mix much better when i'm left to get absorbed into the music i'm playing. But this is very hard to do in a club situation at the level i'm playing at, as you spend half the set being pestered by people talking shite. i find that i mix best at home where i have no disruptions.

 

I guess once you get to that level where you are a big enough dj you will actually be left alone in the dj box to play your set

[Lisa]

fat chance then!!

[Tony P]

ha ha, thats what i was thinking

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Tony.P @ Apr 16 2004, 10:44)

you spend half the set being pestered by people talking shite.

Ugh, tell me about it!

 

"Are you going to play some hard house?"

"Can you play some vocal stuff?"

etc etc.

[Aaron]

I'm very new to the playing out in clubs side of djing, but i do find that my best gigs are when i zone out and go on autopilot, not only do the right tracks seem to get played but the quality of my mixing tends to improve greatly too. the crowd have to be up for it though for me to get into that frame of mind...

[Phil B]

as soon as the first mix is off then im there, its like a switch that gets flicked and im away.

 

as for track listings.....i got asked for my wildchild listing, i think i named all the tunes but have the feeling i played one that i didnt mention, and i struggled to get the order right and im not very confident i did

 

every gig has a different feel to it, the tunes just come out of the bag as my hands find them and i progress through the order of sounds until my set is over. some may say from this no thought goes into putting my sets together but if i have to think what tunes to put on then usually im struggling. all the preparation is done in setting my bag up right.