Everyone wants to DJ now?

DJ WALDO · 09:26 PM

I've noticed a trend lately. Pretty much anyone I meet over the last year, is trying be a DJ. Not that there is anything wrong with wanting to learn to mix, by any means, but damn at least learn the "ART" of mixing before letting people hear you. I've noticed this doesn't happen anymore, a friend of a friend of a friend, and so on get's CDJ's or turntables and what not and then the next day that person wants to play in front of people, typically friends, and expect a positive response. For the most part the new "DJ" get this positive response due to the captive audience being friends, family, etc. It's becoming almost comical to me. Your friends will lie to you and say "GREAT JOB! and THAT WAS GOOD." I can not do this in good concience, even with a friend. I typically give advise and i ALWAYS get the same response "I'm doing it for fun, not so people can hear me", then 2 weeks later they have people listening to them AND I SAY THIS LOOSLY "mix". If you're bad, fuck it I'm gonna say YOU'RE BAD! You're not focused on LEARNING if you are letting people HEAR you, listen for yourself, and just yourself. After you think you've got it down, then play in front of "non friends", OR EVEN AN ESTABLISHED DJ (who's not a friend and will be honest) and if the response is positive THEN you should try in front of an AUDIENCE.

As a DJ for almost a decade myself I remember practicing hours and hours every day, and taking advise from other DJ's in the area, and using that to "hone" my "skills". After a while I played my first club gig and was "BOO'ed" for almost my entire set. I went home discouraged, pissed the fuck off, AND DETERMINED TO LEARN THE ART OF MIXING! After a few more "no go" shows, and after MANY MONTHS of PRACTICE I finally did play a half way decent set, but by that time I had left such a "bad taste in their mouths" due to my horribe mixes in the past I was "shunned" and it was NEARLY impossible for me to get ANY bookings for a while. I had to pretty much go overboard with my style just to show that I wasn't the same terrible DJ that they had heard moths ago. My point being not to ruin your name before you have learned to actually mix.

Just so this doesnt get taken the wrong way, because I'm trying to be helpful, NOT MEAN, so please do not take this post negative. I'm trying to give the advise that noone else would because i CARE! If i didnt CARE I would let this continue, and suffer in silence. I'm saying this because i genuinly do want you guys to get GOOD!!

I LOVE EACH OF YOU, <----i mean it!
WALDO

ergOdic · 10-15-08, 09:39 PM

I think your a decade too late for this concern. This trend has been going on since I can remember. I love Richard Humpty Vissions track he put out on his Big Floor Funk album called (I Want To Be A) Drummer!
My girlfriend wants to be a dj, my cat wants to be a dj, my goldfish wants to be a dj :LOL:
I feel ya on not humoring people though. That's why resolve43 loved my criticism about her mixes cause it helped her see what needs to be improved. Of course I'm pretty blunt so eh

DJ WALDO · 10-15-08, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro

I think your a decade too late for this concern. This trend has been going on since I can remember. I love Richard Humpty Vissions track he put out on his Big Floor Funk album called (I Want To Be A) Drummer!
My girlfriend wants to be a dj, my cat wants to be a dj, my goldfish wants to be a dj :LOL:
I feel ya on not humoring people though. That's why resolve43 loved my criticism about her mixes cause it helped her see what needs to be improved. Of course I'm pretty blunt so eh

You the same "METRO" for locallvl?

ergOdic · 10-15-08, 09:54 PM

was it the gas mask that gave me away or muh pom poms

DJ WALDO · 10-15-08, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro

was it the gas mask that gave me away or muh pom poms

Errrr...............

DJ_Eezergud · 10-15-08, 10:04 PM

ya i noticed this to, its cool that people want to start getting into it,
but how many are actually willing to put in the practice 4-8+ hours a day.

it could work out two ways however, the bad ones can make us sound better.
or people will just stop listening

**FknTrev13** · 10-15-08, 10:12 PM

agreed man. i might not be a dj but one day i do want to dabble in the art and i dont want that to happen. ive heard plenty of people that get the synths and tables play and say "imma dj" but they just got the equipment about a week ago and they suck (not to be mean) yet like u said friends just cheer them on.

i hope this post gets through peoples heads

**whenyournex2me** · 10-15-08, 10:21 PM

what is this all about? no offense but the only way to get good is to practice... and eventually play out...

to hell with playing out... i may be fresh, but i know how many days i skipped work adn school jsut to stay at home and play the new tracks i get or whatnot. hours and hours and i still suck! lol

im stuck in the art as of now.... its so complex in a way. thats its hard to just actually think its good cause there are many ways to do it.

i was jsut talking with a friend in seatlle, and we were just talking about this. commercial trend. it makes me not even want to play out... alot of kids dont know what good mixing is. and yet they cheer it on.

ive been bood before and it does make me mad. but then id go home and play for hours more... everyday if i can.

penguine said, the djs out here suck, the dancers jsut come out to get messed up on drugs. and the shit has turned jaded. there isnt anyone older that been doing this for years and years, teaching the new kids on the block what its about. the fun thing to do now is to go out and make fun of hte kids messed up on e...

i was like wow! that sux

ergOdic · 10-15-08, 10:24 PM

i've seen tons of people trying to spin and just can't seem to get it. It takes a long time to learn the tricks of the trade and you have to put a lot of time into it. That's why most people put hours into it on a daily basis and it actually gets them closer to being better.
But then again some dj's that have been in it for years just can't seem to get the hang of it. Some just aren't cut out to be dj's. Take Paul Oakenfold for example. Whoah train wrecking from holland to san fran ahaha

**whenyournex2me** · 10-15-08, 10:27 PM

lmao,,, who was it talking to me about him trainwrecking...... hmm thats funny lol