Does the DJ matter?

[Jannah]

Okay so I have a question for you all.
When you hear phat beats and you find out the dj is hella into himself and thinks that he is the shit..Do you still listen to his music or do you find something else to listen to...

Now here is my opinion on my own question...When I hear someone play at a party I want them to be playing because well they like the music...It's just very unappealing to me when I see a dj, treat kidz like followers (although sometimes kidz make themselves out to be that way) and expect everyone to worship them because they can play records...And I feel like..although they have phat beats, I would be nursing their already inflated ego...and I'm not about doing that...So what do you think?

[theory]

the dj is simply a medium...a shaman...channeling the music and molding the environment around he/she and the crowd...it's symbiotic...there's a balance. What would you think of a shaman with a huge ego? Not very inspiring or convincing...

<just a theory>

[groovinkim]

hmm.. i've never been in this situation, because most of the dj's i know who have huge egos spin musik i dislike!

it does really irk me, though, when guys/grrls suddenly decide they are god's gift to the earth because they can beatmatch... and when
others follow them around and drool over them as they play anthem after anthem.

[Elroy]

One of the things I pondered immensly in my "close-to" enlightened state at Poop 3, was the symbiosis between a dj and a crowd.

It is a relationship like all things in nature, between self-gratification, and altrusim. Like a ying-yang, it should be the perfect balance of both. One should be both in touch with what kinds of music they like as an individual, and what the crowd actually enjoys. One must never let either force become too strong, or your music will become unbalanced: either you will be a selfish dj who plays music that is on nobody elses' wavelength, or you will become an all-anthem dropping crowd-pleaser.

When in peril, look to the ying-yang. images/smilies/smile.gif

[kimberlily]

i think that music, like any artform, is capable of amazing things...the dj can transform our minds & our world, as any artist can...i'm not willing to entrust my mind to anyone who i don't respect...it's a hard thing to decide b/c you have to make sure that you are not being presumptuous when evaluating a dj, of course it's always important not to make assumptions...but if it's clear that they're a jerk then fuck 'em...i'd rather spend my time with someone whose vision is a little closer to my own (and in that vision the dj is a guide...so they have to care about their listeners & maintain some semblance of integrity)

[Elroy]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Kimberlily rocks! images/smilies/biggrin.gif images/smilies/biggrin.gif images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Elroy]

Okay... I've done some more thinking:

A dj's track selection (although not abilities), matures when they become more capable of communicating with others. Since opinions are so variable (you can always subconciously LEARN how to like tracks), you have to let the crowd know what YOU like, and they have to let you know what THEY like. You both have to listen, you both have to respond. At that point, you can figure out if you and the crowd will ever be friends.

At naf, most of the crowd isn't going to be a friend... that's why i am not particularly eager to spin there in the future.

When you pick a crowd that you feel TRUELY comfortable with, you can be yourself, and play which-ever tracks you want around them. Anybody who is lucky enough to have this experience, get's to make-love to the dance-floor.

One could say, that it is ALL love-making... and when you drop your favorite track, you have an orgasm. But you have to be in touch with yourself to feel it. Hopefully I will come close at some point, and then remember how to get back there in the future.

(note: yes I realize how strange I am starting to sound)

[bright]

sam,

wot you said is so right on. i'm glad you are experiencing these "strange" feelings. you must have had an incredible weekend. images/smilies/smile.gif

symbiosis between the performer and the crowd is important in order to acheive spiritual unity on the dance floor. it's not like you have to go through elaborate rituals to achieve this either. it is easy if you just stop thinking about yourself, give your ego a rest. and then we can all become aware of our spiritual connectedness. the dj and the individual dancers disappear, and we realize we are all one.

- paul

[metatron]

word up to the lot of you. I love the interperation of the dj as a shaman, spinning spells for the tribe. I like the idea of a tao of djing as well, the perfect balence in a set and the style that makes the seemingly haphazard blending of otherwise every day tracks to make something more. I hope I get good enough at the mix to evoke some of these feelings in anyone, I think it would be a great ego boost, I love it already!

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Momomoto, Famous Japanese, can swallow his nose.

[teabag]

I'm have no quams with celebrity worship. I say, if you think the dj's cool despite qualities that could be construed as negative, that's fine. Worship the cool people. Part of the dj status is being elevated by your fans.

So, I say, nurse away and

"raise the roof for your local dj."

rob

[bright]

a dj should be playing for the crowd, giving of him/herself. a dj should be a servant to the music and to the dance. the music and dancing crowd should not be serving the dj's ego.

a dj's ego hinders his/her ability to take a crowd to a deeper level. i think dj's who are all into themselves actually end up sucking and it shows through in their presentation and track selection.

there is no room to uplift the spirits of the people on the dancefloor if your ego is too inflated.

- paul

[SkyCriesX]

I think it strongly depends on who the dj/producer/artist is as a person/s.

Throughout my experiences in the "electronic" culture i have come to known many a dj/producer/artist and after listening and learning a great deal about them I can generally learn what type of personality it is they have. After this i tend to judge them and it affects the amount of passion i put into following their musical career.

There have been some producers that i come to known to have great ego's or are burnt out in which case i usually become bored with their music. In the other case i find producers who touch me personally and i go to great lengths to learn about them and their inspirations and in some lucky cases talk to them personally and find out they are amazing people are truly putting their heart and soul into their musical career.

In those cases i tend to "worship" but not in a blatant way...more so in a personal private way?

[TheKow]

Honestly, someone's status as a DJ doesn't mean jack shit, unless they're very upwardly-mobile or already famous (i.e. their status pays their bills). If my dancing to their music makes some jerkoff egotist think he's even specialer than he already does - that's fine, because once he leaves that party, he's Joe Shmoe, who plays records. If the music's good, it's good. There's a slightly different virtue to a DJ than there is to a live performer, because the DJ is selecting other people's music - acting more as a catalyst for the good music than he is as a bearer of it. I admire any DJ who has a good track selection, a good ear for good music, and knows how to keep a crowd moving. However, in the same vein, I would admire a messenger who could deliver a message to me quickly, without losing anything in the translation, and so on. So again, if a DJ takes a big ego trip off of a bunch of partykids dancing to the music he brought to the party, it strikes me as similar to a girl thinking I'm love-stricken by her because I took a second to look her over.

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To build a giant castle, and in it sign his name, sign it with complete community.

The Kow

[Elroy]

Big ups to Skycries.

I think that all djs can be amazing, brilliant people, and people should try to be in awe of that as much as they can. But if the dj ever starts to truely believe they are better than the dancers, the balance is ruined.

[theory]

TheKow rules!

[soopa]

I dunno really how to express myself on this subject. I know some really humble DJ's and it is so cool to see some one that has talent that balances it with humility. That creates more respect in my mind for an individual more than any record they play. but as far as bringing me to shows....I am gonna go to the show that has the best music. I go to hear the music. so the DJ beter play some stuff I am gonna like. almost every party i have been to is a gamble.
you're never SURE if the music will be good or not.
but usually my experience with MOST dj's is me watching them spin. I neve russually have to spend time around them. If they are spining good beats and are into communication with the crowd then I will come back. I love to see DJ's that look up from the tables every once in a while to calp their hands and smile at the crowd and get people hyped.
so I guess bottom line, I don't have to experience their jerkness, I just come to hear the good beats, it doesn't matter if they're a jerk or not. But I guess if I was around them and having to deal with their love for themselves it would bug me and I wouldn't promote them to others.
-N8

[Jannah]

I guess what I'm saying is when someone is up on the tables because they love the music and glorify the music, instead of glorifying themselves...
Like hearing...
"Did you see how I had the crowd dancing!!!"
No, it was the music that had the crowd dancing.
It's easier for me to listen to music if I know that the person loves the music...And usually that becomes pretty obvious when you listen closely. images/smilies/smile.gif

[TrippEVixen]

Yeah it's sort of how I treat my respect toward bands. If they are asshole *coughBLINKcough* I will lose respect for what they do. If they are cool and keep their goals as MUSIC and not seeing how many playboy bunnies they can fuck then I like them. GARBAGE is and will be the best band musically (my opinion) and in personality EVER! I have never met cooler people then them and I've met quite a few professional athletes and musicians and what have you. they KICK ASS!

I can see some of my friend's starting to get big headed and I'm the ego popper.

[soulmantra]

go ego popper go!

ego's do not belong anywhere near electronic music.


though if you're hungry then eggo's might...
soulmantra

[TheKow]

egos belong on the dance floor, where it makes all the cocky dancers look even better, hehe :-P

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WTF
The Kow

[DjMascara]

I LOVE to watch djs who are really into the beats they're spinnin...
E G O S blow...I hate hearing someone CONSTENTLY talk about their set and their new records and their feelings on everything in the industry....yet you keep your mouth shut because this dj is being hypocritical and it makes you laugh.

Someone who smiles images/smilies/smile.gif images/smilies/smile.gif images/smilies/smile.gif that is truely passionate to me...I know you have all heard those songs that you can't help but smile...so yeah...PLEASE MR. DJ, show me you love it like I do!

~Jaime

[Elroy]

Mascara ~

Huh?

Granted, yes, egos are fucking annoying. But how does talking about their set's, their new records, and everything going on in the industry make them egotistical?

Last time I checked, that made them intrested.

I am not sure what I have to say about the whole smiling thing... but I think that is a tad narrow minded as well. Sure, I love it when i get to play a set, and am happy and smiley the whole way through. But if the crowd isn't diggin' it (or I don't think too much of the crowd), and I feel like I'm doing my best... what can I do? What can any dj do under hose circumstances, other than to finish their set?

You can't ALWAYS be a perfect, fun loving, happy dj. It just doesn't work. You have to be playing at the right party, with the right people dancing, and be in a good mood. It IS participatory.

Just my take, not to say that I know anything more than you...

[This message has been edited by Elroy (edited 05-18-2000).]

[psyanide]

well said Elroy. There have been numerous times were I felt like I was doing a great job, but the crowd wasn't getting it. The reverse has also happened. I mean, I'm willing to adapt, but I can only go so far....and about the talking about records/sets/industry: that is what dj's are all about!! It displays a passion for what they do.

Joris

[Headphones Dude]

It seems that everbody with the cash flow can buy 1200's and a mixer, and gobs of records of the style they like, and call themselves a dj, once the beat mixing is down and they're off to make a name for his or herself....But what you don't see enough out there, are the people with the ideas in their mind to make their own music...It would be nice if instead of everybody trying to be a dj, that instead, people out there were scouting the pawn stores, looking for cheap electronic toys, and making music from that. It is true that after a few years of dj'ing, that eventually they have the desire to produce, once they know what their crowd likes to hear. But that's just it. They have to spin other people's tunes for a few years before they even bother to buy a few pieces of gear, and make their own tune....How many of bought a sampler or drum machine the same day you bought your decks and mixer? Well not too many I imagine. It probably wasn't the first thing on your mind, and I'm not blaming you for that. Afterall, for the price of what you have to pay, you could have bought every import record you'd ever need to spin for the next few weeks....Oh well, just trying to mention too many people take one route to electronic stardom...being the dj, yet nobody does the opposite, and create before they spin other people's tunes...

[taos]

I worked on with gear for like 5 years before I started spinning, But I know that Spinning records helps my Producing out like crazy so I think its important to do both. and as far as the DJ with attitude Yeah I hate that and that shows that they are really self absorbed, but I don't usualy listen to DJs like that or I havent noticed myself doing that. But I know Derrick Carter gets really drunk and miss matches beats all the time and peaple call it beat jugling when he does it, and I still love him as a DJ he is into the music and in touch with the vibe.

taos


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<A HREF="http://www.euphoriachicago.com
http://euphoriachicago.com/djtaos" TARGET=_blank>http://www.euphoriachicago.com
http://euphoriachicago.com/djtaos</A>

[DjMascara]

WELL...

alls I am saying is that is the kinda dj I like to see...GeEeEEeeZz

And I said I don't like it when I am CONSTENTLY hearing the dj talk about himself and his sets...meaning they talk about nothing else EVER. *shrug*

I don't expect them to be happy all the time...Like I said...I LIKE TO SEE the happy djs...they make the set (TO ME) a whole lot more interesting...

~Jaime

[TheKow]

Aaron - so you're saying it's wrong to be a DJ for a while and then become a producer? I think yer freebasing on that one, dude.

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WTF
The Kow

[Elroy]

Aarron~

I think that a lot of people become djs because they want to get involved with the music, and it is a way to do so that is pretty clearly mapped out for you: You buy decks, a mixer, and records (headphones too images/smilies/wink.gif).

I think that a lot of people initially want to produce electronic music from the get-go, but have no idea where to start. That's the way it was for me... so I started spinning because it looked fun, and got completely addicted.

Anyhow, I believe we were talking about Djs' egos... not "producers vs. djs".

Does anything have anything else to contribute?

[This message has been edited by Elroy (edited 05-21-2000).]

[RiceDiva]

i think djs that talk about their set or rekkids constantly maybe egotistic...

but, when a dj just talks about their set, to recieve a review...thats different. they wanna see what the crowd liked, and disliked. and maybe they can improve on the dislike parts. also, asking or telling people about your new rekkid coming out, maybe a way of advertising. if you dont tell anyone your rekkid is coming out...whos gonna know, and then whos gonna buy it??

&lt;3 Tamme

[RavenGrrl]

I don't think that DJs conversing about records, or their sets, or equipment is egotistical at all. For the most part, the reason *why* DJs talk about such things is because they genuinely, TRULY love the music they hear and play, as well as the interaction they have within it. *shrug*

Being an egotistical DJ doesn't stem from the music they play, most often times. Though the attention generated from playing music may bolster a existing pretentiousness, I don't think that spinning records CREATES that pretention.

-Brenna

[Tech-Support]

Before I heard electronic music I said I didn't even like music (seriously).
It has opened my mind to other genres though and I tend to like music as long as it is good. But there will always be a very special spot in my heart for my love of electronic music. It is the closest thing that I have had to express myself to others.
Because of this I decided I wanted to create and express myself like I heard others do (insperation). I made beats on my old Sound Blaster pro MIDI (good old beeps and dings) =). I remember when I got an AWE 64 and it was the shit (to me). I actually sounded like an instrument. From there I took a leap of faith and purchased my first synthesizer. And from there more equipment. (yes it takes money but if you ask my friends I am a really good money saver, sometimes I won't even eat!). I worked hard and virtually all my money has gone into my equipment. Now I have prepared MY arsenal, my pathway to express myself. The first time I touched turntables was this mid-year. I see how I people could like spinning, but for ME I made the right choice. I like and respect both if done "correctly"...

Well, I am an example of someone who created before the even touched a turn-table. (so you know theres people out there that do just that =D )

Hopefully I will be able to play a live PA this summer, if I make the right conenctions.
I hope you guys are as hungry as you say you are for live acts. =)


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Tech-Support
-It's really fast... I dunno what-