Boring?

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Another thread got me thinking about the discos/work i currently do and i must admit i find it occasionally boring. Ill give a bit of background to justify my reasoning, then ask the quetsion.

When i started, it was helping my step-dad with his discos (i know realise the only thing he wasnt doing was the horse and stetson), at 16-17 i started helping out in a pub, where i was taught the pub/club side by a now good friend. We were probably the most cringeworthy cheesy djs about. " madio mics, singing to the songs, getting the crowd involved, me playing music and him running round the place getting coustomers on the mic. It even included having wigs/simple costimes up there that we would shove on for specific songs...Shaak Ya Tail Feather with Hat and sunglasses etc. We were also on a free bar!!! the owneres idea, not ours but we we going to say no..... :D

All of the above made sure that the place was the most packed out on a Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun.

Anyway, he retired to have babies and i moved on when the owner sold it and the new bloke wanted just dance music...(its now shut). So to get back to what i was saying. After experiencing all of that, quite early on, i find alot of mobile work to be quite boring. I enjoy playing the music and keeping everyone happy and the attention to detail. But that level of interaction/cheesiness (?) is just missing. Part of the problem is that i miss djing with my partner as we just bounced off eachother.

So, can anyone else think of a time when they had MORE fun in what they were doing? (It probably doesnt come across as well as i want it to :) )

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I know what you are talking about Steve.

The business has changed beyond recognition in the last 15-20 years.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Just gotta roll with the times. Your best bet if you enjoy that is prehaps a local pub/club that is just all out cheesey. If it comes naturally and you enjoy being "cheesey dj" then you can do that week in week out?

[Excalibur]

I know what you are talking about Steve.

The business has changed beyond recognition in the last 15-20 years.

Amen, Brethren. ;) Still, it makes you appreciate the good ones even more. :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

When I first started doing my Alternative Nights many moons ago playing Indie/Rock etc...the nights had a kind of underground feel to them because the music wasn't as popular as it is these days. There were Indie Kids, Punks, Skinheads, Rockers, Goths, Crusties etc etc and it was really cool. Every night was full of these people (known as 'wierdo's' to anyone that wasn't one of the above unfortunately). It was exciting playing these nights because it was like our very own community.

I still do the nights and don't get me wrong, I still enjoy them but I do not get the same buzz as I used to. I know times change and you change with them and the different generations I have seen over the years is cool but nowadays it seems that the music is so much popular and your 'average joe' on the street is into it too. It isn't as exciting as it was, it isn't as underground as it was and it really doesn't feel that alternative anymore...well, not to me anyway. When you get some chav coming up to you wearing his burberry baseball cap and talking like some kid from N Dubs ask you for "Arctic Monkeys innit blud" then you know times have changed far too much. That may sound stereotypical but I am going on experience. Of course, the bands in question don't care who buys their music..it's all about unit sales but to me, it's lost the charm.

One of the reasons I got into DJing in the first place was to play music that other venues wouldn't play, or didn't have anyone around that could play it. I've heard of the local cattle market clubs like Liquid etc playing some of the stuff I play at my Alternative Nights. There is obviously more interest in it these days and whilst their playlists are mainly Chart, RnB and Dance..it seems that even they set aside 20/30 minutes of what they call 'Alternative'.

So, I would say that it's not just you mate...As Darren said, things have changed a lot. I think there are people out there that are almost "Too cool for school"...Some people are scared to let themselves go and enjoy a party for what it is sometimes. The word 'cheese' is thrown about allover the place and sometimes....sometimes...if you play some 'cheesey' tracks, you are classed as a cheese DJ, more often than not by the club DJ's (and I have been one for quite a few years), who SOMETIMES also think that they're 'too cool for school'.

Also, when did the word 'cheese' start being associated with party songs? Who was it that suddenly decided to label classic party tracks, tracks that get people up on the dancefloor enjoying themselves and letting themselves go...cheese?

Things have definitely changed. I'm only 40 but I have been doing this half my life and a bit more. I sometimes wish it was like it used to be but then other times...I'm glad it's not!

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Just gotta roll with the times. Your best bet if you enjoy that is prehaps a local pub/club that is just all out cheesey. If it comes naturally and you enjoy being "cheesey dj" then you can do that week in week out?

I, in all honesty, wouldnt enjoy it as much without the second half :D I still keep my hand in with the clubs around here. Theres one where i honestly prefer playing the party room than the dance room. On the flip side, ive gained a life by going mobile. I occasionally get a weekend off now, and the mobile work is still enjoyable...its just a different enjoyment, if you know what i mean.

Its rigtht that everythng changes, and i just wanted people stories/impressions on it.

Cheesy - Well, you ask one of the assistant managers what cheesy party music is and he woukld tell you 80s stuff, because thats the geneartion he grew up with. Cheese, imo, moves with the generations. Im now playibng "cheese" from the 90s, as that what folk who go to the club remember. I think ceese can be defined as them "older" tracks from when your growing up that you remember and dance around like a nooob to :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Well can blame mtv for that. People want to hear songs that they know and rarely does playing a track they've heard for the first time get much of an reaction. The whole labelling party songs as cheese is purely because "cheese" works 95% of the time and its a word most punters look for at 12/1am.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I don't think you can define 'cheese' really as what some people class as cheese, others may like big time.
Someone once asked me for 'Wake me up before you go go' by Wham. I said "Yeh, I'll play that when I do the cheesy section" and the look on their face was sheer horror, almost as if I had sworn at them!
You talk to a Drum n Bass specialist and (in my experience), they'll say that Pendulum are cheese.

I wouldn't say cheese is just associated to the likes of 'Agadoo', 'The Birdie Song' and the likes of... I personally think stuff like Basshunter is cheese, others will disagree but that's because I don't particular like that kind of stuff. I would probably say all the charty dancey and RnB type fodder is cheese aswell. I think the public in general class cheese as the party classics and stuff that gets people up when their drunk.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Getting slightly off topic here already guys.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Exactly, Gary. I can se a top 10 list coming on. "Your Defination Of Cheese", (PS, i rate Agadoo as worse than cheese, sweaty socks standard.....) You and Neil are bang on, cheese is whatever works with drink people :D

Sorry Daz, my fault.

[Excalibur]

Garry, if I didn't know some of your history and ethics, I'd be tempted to call you a "Fashionista" :eek: I think I can see where you're coming from, and I respect you for that. There's definitely far too much "Follow my leader " going on nowadays, and I detest that. You keep on as you are mate, and I'll for my part carry on piling it high, and selling it cheap. :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Haha....

Oh, and it's Gary with one 'r' please!

[nigelwright7557]

If a gig is boring then shout down the mic "Who wants a fight?"
Thats generally stirs things up a bit !

[DeckstarDeluxe]

is that before or after you tried to short circuit the sound limitor nigel?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Are you backwards and forwards to the hospital much then Nigel?

What a stupid comment that is!

[Excalibur]

Haha....

Oh, and it's Gary with one 'r' please!

Oops! :o :o I even checked your profile for the correct spelling. :o :o :o
I'll have to play the age card, as a facesaver. :D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Im not saying a recent gig is boring, but they just dont have the same level of interaction as ive had in the past. Mobile and pubs are intergrally different too though.

I thionk alot of it has to do with the fact it was my formertive years. Im sure everyone wishes they were 17-18 again, it just happens that at that age i was doing stupid things in pubs and getting paid for it :D

[Charlie Brown]

Although I have not been in the "game" or "disco world" all that long, I do understand where you are coming from and in a way I feel the same. There are some functions where the crowd are dead and the atmosphere is non existent, which disables any form of Cheesy DJ mode. There are one or two gigs a month where you get to really shine, and show the crowd what you actually can do. The "dead" functions don't allow us to do this. Imagine running around a room with wigs on when there are 3/4 people on the dance floor...it just cant happen. Although you say the industry has changed...is it not peoples attitude or the way modern society has changed? From peoples taste in music to the way people NOW like to have a good time. If that makes sense?

[Dynamic Entertainment]

It does make sense, bearing in mind this was only 6 years ago. It can still work in a pub environment, and ive found, round here, that the "cheesy" djs just happen to be the £60 sids.....Funnily enough. Seems they are trying to be personality djs and (generally) failing miserably :)

[Charlie Brown]

Haha yes that is true...most do fail rather miserably, which is either very funny or incredibly frustrating. This has been an interesting post, and it just makes you think, what will it be like in another 10 years.

[Kernow]

If you want an exciting night......offer to roadie for Charlie Brown ? ;)
:)

[Dynamic Entertainment]

If you want an exciting night......offer to roadie for Charlie Brown ? ;)
:)

Lol, may end up banged up :D

[Penfold42]

If you want an exciting night......offer to roadie for Charlie Brown ? ;)
:)

:lol:........hope you go to the gym. ;) :D

[501damian501]

why, whats so fantastic about it ?

[Shaun]

:ontopic:

[Steve the DJ]

So, can anyone else think of a time when they had MORE fun in what they were doing?

When I first started there were two of us, I concentrated on the music, audio and clients whilst my business partner focused on lighting.

He moved down to the coast about 9 years ago and is now a resident DJ at a venue with a full install.

To this day I still miss having someone around to bounce ideas off of, have available as a back up if you are not feeling well and of course to help shift the gear. DJing for me these days is a fairly lonely business.

The other thing I thought about was when I did a 50th Birthday Party last year. It was in a pub function room in my home town, the kind of event where I started my DJ career but something I haven't done for a long time.

Needless to say the music was incredibly cheesy, the banter flowed and I played for an hour over just because I was enjoying myself so much, a real change from the "sanitised" Weddings I usually find myself at.

It brought back loads of memories about why I started DJing but unfortunately this type of work just isn't good enough to pay the bills.

I DJ for necessity these days and often find myself thinking that this or that is "boring". In fact I would have quit by now if I could afford to. I still plan to retire before I'm 40 though and do something related to the business apart from the actual DJing.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

You sound in a fairly similar position to me Steve, a hell of a lot more fun, but like you say it doesnt pay the bills :)

[nigelwright7557]

To this day I still miss having someone around to bounce ideas off of, have available as a back up if you are not feeling well and of course to help shift the gear. DJing for me these days is a fairly lonely business.
.

I do all my gigs alone these days.
The trick is to keep the gear light and dont carry too much gear.
I wont do upstairs gigs.

In contrast to that I used to work for a disco that could have upto 4 DJ's.
We had a rule that if anyone of us pulled the rest loaded up the gear and waited.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

and waited.

That quick eh Nigel..........:D

[nigelwright7557]

That quick eh Nigel..........:D

Often rolled into the house at 4am and had to be up at 5:30am for work !

[Dynamic Entertainment]

No point going to bed...few strong coffees and a pack of pro-plus and your sorted!

[nigelwright7557]

As Tavares say in their song "Dont take away my music, its the only thing I have got."

[Corabar Steve]

As Tavares say in their song "Dont take away my music, its the only thing I have got."
Apart from software design, sound equipment desigen & construction, being a carer..........