Are we not DJs? No, we are Entertainers.

[Excalibur]

Apologies to Devo there, for borrowing inspiration from them. :)

OK, once more with feeling. In response to Darren opining that the subject deserved a thread of its own, "ask and ye shall receive".
The age old question, last aired when one of our former members was still with us. His premise that though his company provided entertainment, he wasn't an Entertainer. We had lots of fun with that one. :D

My thoughts on the subject are no secret, but let us widen the discussion to what our customers :
1) Expect from us.
2) Require from us
3) Forbid.

Point 1) The caricature shown by Peter Kay may easily in some peoples minds be an accurate representation. I know they exist, I've seen 'em.
Point 2) The $64,000 question. The definitive answer to that is our Holy Grail.
Point 3) It can be so many things. Cheese, use of mic, deviation from playlist ( which could easily be in 2) and so on.


I have often assisted John Brown (Twinspin ) at his functions, and in many ways his way of working is the complete opposite of mine. He's not in danger of wearing his microphone out with overuse. :D Unlike me. And I've been at his functions where he's done his regular thing, and at the end the customers have come up and said "best disco we've ever seen". You can't argue with success. The lad's definitely doing it right. Which could imply that I'm doing it wrong.

So, is there still a place for the "personality" ( a term I hate, by the way ) DJ? Are we a niche market? Are we a dying breed? Do we need to adapt to changing times, or can we continue "steady as she goes" ?

Right folks, plenty for you to get your keyboards into there. I'll sit back and watch the show. Should be fun.

[Shaun]

I think the 'entertainer' DJs are a dying breed, things have changed a great deal over the last 20 years.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think the 'entertainer' DJs are a dying breed, things have changed a great deal over the last 20 years.

So what is entertaining about just playing pre-recorded music?

I'm trying to get my head round it!!

[Excalibur]

I think the 'entertainer' DJs are a dying breed, things have changed a great deal over the last 20 years.

Indeed they have. But is it cause, or effect? Are they (we) dying out because newer DJs work differently and don't offer this, or because customers are asking for wall to wal music, mixed into virtually one long track? I like to think there's a middle ground somewhere. I like to think that. ;) Am I wrong?

[Shaun]

So what is entertaining about just playing pre-recorded music?

!

I guess its up to each individual what they would class as 'entertainment'.

If we were to strip it down and phsyco-analyse the definition it could come down to the individual guest and whether they feel they have been 'entertained' by someone just playing per-recorded music. I've seen a few DJs that used the mic very little and I've went home feeling entertained. I've also seen"personality DJs" and went home cringing at what I'd seen. I guess it's all down to the eyes of the beholder and what they class as 'entertainment'.

[Excalibur]

. I guess it's all down to the eyes of the beholder and what they class as 'entertainment'.
The crux of the matter, in many ways. Me, I'd say that using the mic sparingly, not interacting with the crowd, and just playing music incessantly wouldn't entertain me, unless I were a clubgoer.

Mind you, some of the truly cringeworthy DJs i've seen don't do a lot for me, either. ;)

[safdiscos]

I'm fairly new to the mobile disco's.. I went into it expecting everyone to want constant mixing and no chat (like a club DJ) but so far I've found the complete opposite, and people have wanted me to use the mic quite a lot and be dare i say it a 'personality DJ', I class myself as an entertainer. Oh and chatting to some people after a Disco last weekend, they said the last guy they booked was 'rubbish, he never said a word', so perhaps people do expect us to be like the peter kay DJ. I'l always go the entertainer route, as thats what I enjoy. anyway theres my thoughts on the matter :)

[BeerFunk]

First of all, I think it's rare to find a mobile DJ with excellent mic skills these days. Most of the ones that do try to inject a bit of personality over the mic fail miserably. Because of that, I find a lot of clients specifically forbid 'lots of talking on the mic'.

You hear a lot of it in nightclubs as well, and more often than not, it's a case of "what did he say?!". Here's the strange thing though! Despite not understanding a word, somehow it still adds to the atmosphere. It makes it feel like more of a 'live' event (despite the pre-recorded music).

As for the question in hand - are we entertainers? Technically yes, but in a very passive way. Let's be honest, we haven't written any music, nor are we singing or playing instruments. Still entertaining the masses, yes, but let's not get carried away ;)

[Excalibur]

I'm fairly new to the mobile disco's.. I went into it expecting everyone to want constant mixing and no chat (like a club DJ) but so far I've found the complete opposite, and people have wanted me to use the mic quite a lot and be dare i say it a 'personality DJ'
Speak up son, make sure they hear you at the back. Say it loud, and say it proud, I'm an Entertainer. ( Capital E for Entertainer, if you don't mind ) I like this boy, he'll go far.


First of all, I think it's rare to find a mobile DJ with excellent mic skills these days.
You're looking in the wrong place son, I say you're looking in the wrong place.








Oh poo. So much for my resolution to be serious in this thread. From the Commitments to Foghorn Leghorn in one post. Nurse, my medication, please.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

First of all, I think it's rare to find a mobile DJ with excellent mic skills these days. Most of the ones that do try to inject a bit of personality over the mic fail miserably. Because of that, I find a lot of clients specifically forbid 'lots of talking on the mic'.


Spot on. :beer1:

[Corabar Steve]

Personally, I find recorded music highly entertaining.

I'm sure I can't be the only one.

[paulg]

The best ones are entertainers whether that's a combination of patter and music or being able to say nothing yet manipulate an audience like a snake charmer. For me it's about being confident but affable, being 'big' on stage, being relaxed, being confident in what you play and having a bit of patter when it's needed. Getting the balance right is what makes an 'entertainer'.

I sold one of the last bits of my PA kit today to a really nice chap and his dad from Staffordshire and this 'entertainer' post makes me regret it. I've been on stages/performing since I was six from playing a zippy zither at infants/junior through to clarinets/saxophone in dance bands to guitars then to vocals, jamming and then to DJ'ing. I've enjoyed the weekends off and a sun tan but, I'm missing the thrill!

Nice post, tomorrow, I will re-launch!!!!!


..............although if the sun's out, I might go in the garden

[Jonny Boy]

For me it's about being confident but affable, being 'big' on stage, being relaxed, being confident in what you play and having a bit of patter when it's needed.

That's it - my diet's cancelled! Whoo hoo! :daft:


Getting the balance right is what makes an 'entertainer'.

Exactly. Surely a skilled "performer" (perhaps a better term?) should be able to play it hot or cool, so to speak. Base your style on what input you get from your client for what they want/like. Are they booking a "soiree" or a "knees up"?
IMHO *that* is what dictates where you fall on the sliding scale between Tiswas and Kraftwerk**.

I often ask in meetings whether they've been to an event lately and what they really liked and/or really hated about the entertainment. That starts the ball rolling at least.


**I am aware these references have badly aged me.

[Javlingames]

My favourite subject.

I have always said that a personality DJ will always 'win' over a non personality DJ if the personality DJ is good at it. People often say 'nobody wants to hear a dj waffling on' or 'my clients don't want a peter kay type dj'. This is because they are just assuming that any DJ who is interactive is going to be bad at it. Yes the good ones are few and far between.

I have had the privilege of learning from some of the best personality dj's in the country (in my opinion of course). These were guys that could compere with ease, interact with the audience, were funny and made a bit of a show of it. I guess in the days when DJ's were much more respected. Maybe they were respected because they were genuinely seen as entertainers/performers and not some DJ hiding away in the dark saying 'I let my music do the talking'.

I consider myself an interactive DJ but as I have got older I think I have learnt when and where to do it. I have always said that people will ALWAYS want to be entertained, they just want to be entertained by someone good, if you don't do it well then im afraid you are going to fall into the peter kay/cheesy category.

I also think that DJ's really do overthink the whole peter kay advert thing. Its a bit like ringing a plumber up and saying 'please tell me that you wont strip off halfway through and sleep with my wife'.

[Excalibur]

My favourite subject.

I have always said that a personality DJ will always 'win' over a non personality DJ if the personality DJ is good at it. People often say 'nobody wants to hear a dj waffling on' or 'my clients don't want a peter kay type dj'. This is because they are just assuming that any DJ who is interactive is going to be bad at it. Yes the good ones are few and far between.

I have had the privilege of learning from some of the best personality dj's in the country (in my opinion of course). These were guys that could compere with ease, interact with the audience, were funny and made a bit of a show of it. I guess in the days when DJ's were much more respected. Maybe they were respected because they were genuinely seen as entertainers/performers and not some DJ hiding away in the dark saying 'I let my music do the talking'.

I consider myself an interactive DJ but as I have got older I think I have learnt when and where to do it. I have always said that people will ALWAYS want to be entertained, they just want to be entertained by someone good, if you don't do it well then im afraid you are going to fall into the peter kay/cheesy category.

I also think that DJ's really do overthink the whole peter kay advert thing. Its a bit like ringing a plumber up and saying 'please tell me that you wont strip off halfway through and sleep with my wife'.

One of the finest posts I have ever seen on here. Amen to every word, unreservedly.

[mattydj50]

And the very best DJs will be able to adapt to either form of the beast.

[ukpartydj]

Personally, I find recorded music highly entertaining.

I'm sure I can't be the only one.

100% agree I don't really understand why there is a doubt as to us not being entertainers?
It doesn't matter if we ride a shopping trolley into a wall, juggle flaming sticks, tell jokes or press buttons which create sound - if it's intended to be amusing or enjoyable it's entertainment.

I think the question that is really being asked here is - how bad does entertainment have to be before you personally don't find it entertaining.

[funkymook]

I think the question that is really being asked here is - how bad does entertainment have to be before you personally don't find it entertaining.

There's a point where it tips over into being so bad it becomes even more entertaining...

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

100% agree I don't really understand why there is a doubt as to us not being entertainers?


You don't understand as you've not been DJing very long. If you had been around 10 or even 20 years ago, there was a great deal of difference.

[Excalibur]

Personally, I find recorded music highly entertaining.

I'm sure I can't be the only one.
Well yes, and then again no. The entertainment comes from having and selecting the right music for the time, the occasion, and the crowd.


or press buttons which create sound - if it's intended to be amusing or enjoyable it's entertainment.
.
Nay nay nay, Mr Wilks. ( Emmerdale reference from long long ago. ;) ) When the button presser simply relies on the tracks he played last night, in roughly the same order, with no input or interaction, he's redundant, and can be replaced by our beloved Ipod. It's a slippery slope.


You don't understand as you've not been DJing very long. If you had been around 10 or even 20 years ago, there was a great deal of difference.

My friend the young whippersnapper is totally correct. :D

Right, levity over for now. As stated earlier, each crowd and occasion requires a different approach. It may come as a shock to some when I admit ( boast? ) that recently I entertained at a function where I used the mic exceedingly sparingly, yet consider that I entertained the crowd royally. All down to the right music at the right time. If I remember correctly, I ended the night with that timeless classic anthem Crazy Frog. Yes, it was a pre teen disco.

I followed this with a wedding where for say four or five hours, I didn't entertain the crowd at all. I provided aural walllpaper (great songs but not entertaining per se. Wrong time. ) Until the point at which the time was right, and I chatted profusely, while selecting suitable music. It also went down a storm. The same end result, but achieved by completely different means.

The only aim we have is satisfied punters, and we should do whatever it takes to achieve that. If that means I have to unplug the mic, and play the beginning of a record over the end of the other one, so be it. If I have to engage in witty banter with the crowd, tease, cajole, and chivvy them, no problem. Whatever they want, they get.