educating the listeners

[LiamStyles]

I think its about striking a good balance between the 2. I agree with Jimmy to a degree, music and being a dj is all about making people dance etc. Music is just fun. But i do like to make it a bit more interesting. I, as a dj, would like to think that if i was booked for a specific event I would know and understand what sound the clubbers there are into. But would then put my own spin on that sound, therefore still pleasing the crowd (hopefully) but without resorting to the same old, same ols shite.

[BenRW]

I find that there is a huge change in the dancefloor from track to track. If its an anthem, the dancefloor will fill up (i've seen a dancefloor go from 2 to 20 people in less than half a minute just cos of a track) and the dancing will increase in energy.

 

If its an unknown track or doesn't really go anywhere then everyone just seems to bob along aimlessly for the duration of the track.

 

My style of mixing is primarily anthems as it is what i like to dance to but i do throw in a few lesser known tracks as long as they're within a similar style to what i've decided to play

[Phil rr]

QUOTE (benrostwood @ Feb 16 2004, 12:05 AM)

If its an unknown track or doesn't really go anywhere then everyone just seems to bob along aimlessly for the duration of the track.

yes exactly Ben you've hit the nail on the head.

 

but this is the 'thing' - WHEN ppl ARE bobbing aimlessly to a filler track, there is a HUGE amount of un used energy. when they are sitting down bored in a filler, there isn't.

 

that's why DJ's often play a long filler track, and then drop the BLINDER. you need to bring the crowd to the point where they have the energy ready to use. the TRICK is to play filler tracks which people LIKE. because if you play the wrong filler track, people will NOT bob endlessly, they'll get dis interested and walk off.

 

as long as you get the RIGHT filler track, people will bob endlessly, but importantly, they WILL 'bob'.

 

in my opinion it's one of the biggest DJ skills to have, to pick these very very important filler tracks (maybe tracks no one has ever heard of) - tracks which have just the right speed, style, and sound (and this is why the DJ needs to find out a bit about the night, and what the clubbers are expecting -- to know WHAT this speed style and sound should be), tracks that keep the crowd happy, interested and moving, and bring them to the exact, delicate, fantastic point, where they are ready and gagging to hear THE tune being dropped

 

everyone knows 'the dawn' or 'airwave' will get people with their hands in the air, or boshing away, but it's the track before that which get people, 'ready' for something, and also the track played afterwards is damn important. cos after, people have just exploded, and have loads of energy to go somewhere. which is why floor fillers should hopefully have something fast n pumping after

 

 

example (if ya want): PVD (i know..) @ mark spoon birthday party, (12/02/2000).

35 minutes in. he goes from 'ID' - to 'Autumn'. ie, i dunno what the filler tune is called. but autumn is a fookin lllursh track. this is one of my favourite track changes ever. followed by poltergeist - vicoius circle (moogwai remix), which is quite a speedy rolling trance track. i have the set listing for this btw, am not just magically id'ing tracks

 

 

Edited February 16, 2004 by Phil rr

[Uncle John]

Personally i like djs who play all different styles in their set,but the djs i like the most r the 1s who play hard&fast,like Paul Glazby cause thats my personal prefrence.

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Jimmy @ Feb 14 2004, 15:32)

if i wanted to educate people id be a teacher.... djs play tunes that make people dance..... they dont play tunes to educate people..... music is about enjoyin yourself and having a good time not learning stuff.

Laurence: totally agree. The notion of "educating" people isn't something pretentious or snobbish. When I first used to go clubbing, the whole point of seeing a "big name" DJ was that it was more than just a load of tunes, it was an education. House music didn't used to be so pigeonholed into narrow genres.

 

Jimmy: I do agree that, first and forefost, the DJs job is to *make people dance*. Then again, you could just put a CD on, and that would make a lot of people dance.

 

I think what this goes to show is that clubbers have changed. Or at least, there are several different breeds of clubber.

 

Some clubbers are content to watch some egomaniac bash out a load of anthems (which anyone can do, as long as they can beatmatch). Especially if they are off their faces... but let's not get onto that old thing. However for me, the spirit of "proper" clubbing is to hear a load of stuff you've never heard before, from a (relatively) wide range of music, that otherwise you would never get the chance to hear.

 

A good DJ should have an appreciation for a wide range of music, while accommodating the clubbers' lesser knowledge of the music; he should challenge the listeners with new combinations of sounds, without alienating them.

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Jimmy @ Feb 14 2004, 15:32)

music is about enjoyin yourself and having a good time not learning stuff.

So how would you ever get into different styles of music?

 

Lots of people are put off by a certain genre, e.g. techno or hard dance. However if you went to a funky / progressive night, and the DJ was playing the harder / tougher end of progressive or tech house, that could "ween you onto" other harder styles of music that previously seemed offputting.

 

I'm not content for my tastes to remain static. I don't understand how someone can just listen to trance or just listen to hard house or techno or progressive or drum & bass or whatever. I mean, it's bad enough just listening to dance music, which is only one of many styles of music!

 

It's like the DJ's saying, "alright, you might not think you like techno, but look at where techno crosses over with trance..." It takes an appreciation of music at a much deeper level than "this is such-and-such a genre" or "this is an anthem" to mix up different styles in a musical and accessible way.

Edited February 22, 2004 by LiquidEyes

[Bushy]

I wish i could put what i think into words like you Liquid Eyes! Fair do's.

 

I have to agree, that when i go clubbing, i always want to hear that new track, the next one i dont know, as that is how you find little gems. For example my favourite Happy Hardcore tune, is one from back in 96/97 called 'My Dreams' by Sub-zero & Aura (i think), i never heard that in the many clubs i went to back in them days, and never have, but my mate has it on 12" at his house, and every now and again i pull out this track and just listen to it.

 

At Gatecrasher NEC, in November, Glazby played the best set of the night, and the best set i've heard him play....ever!!! He was on fire, half of the tunes i dont know what they were, and still dont to this day, but the set was so fluent it just went by, and every tune was a killer tune, even if they weren't, as he just selected and mixed so well, you just went mad.

 

It gets boring if you get a set full of anthems, and as said earlier the dj doesnt have to be that talented. As long as he can beatmatch hes fine.

 

Last Tidy Weekender on the friday i heard Nick Sentience rmx of 'Hostile' played 6 times in the main arena, that works out almost once every hour. Eddie Halliwell played the last set, and he dropped the original, it was such a refreshing change, just to hear the original, as the rmx had been hammered.

 

Anthems are fine, but play them in moderation, otherwise, as has happened with Hostile (which is a good tune), its outplayed.

 

 

[Jimmy]

QUOTE (LiquidEyes @ Feb 22 2004, 22:26)

QUOTE (Jimmy @ Feb 14 2004, 15:32) music is about enjoyin yourself and having a good time not learning stuff.  So how would you ever get into different styles of music?   Lots of people are put off by a certain genre, e.g. techno or hard dance. However if you went to a funky / progressive night, and the DJ was playing the harder / tougher end of progressive or tech house, that could "ween you onto" other harder styles of music that previously seemed offputting.   I'm not content for my tastes to remain static. I don't understand how someone can just listen to trance or just listen to hard house or techno or progressive or drum & bass or whatever. I mean, it's bad enough just listening to dance music, which is only one of many styles of music!   It's like the DJ's saying, "alright, you might not think you like techno, but look at where techno crosses over with trance..." It takes an appreciation of music at a much deeper level than "this is such-and-such a genre" or "this is an anthem" to mix up different styles in a musical and accessible way. i wouldnt say that cos u get into another style of music or u like it your learning.... im not sayin people dont learn... its just laurence says it in such a snobby way typical techno nob   oh and I like techno btw

[LiquidEyes]

That's where we differ I guess Jimmy. I think a lot of the "best" music is an acquired taste. I mean, even jazz sounds a bit bollocks unless you make an active effort to get into it. In that sense you "learn" to like it.

 

A DJ can help you "learn to like" music by putting it in a new context. Compared with the humble clubber, he has access to a much wider range of music, and has a deeper appreciation for that music; it is his privelige to pass on some of that knowledge.

 

There's only one way to "learn" about music - that's to listen to it. But you are much more likely to appreciate a new style of music if you hear it in the right context.