So when does a DJ need to retire or you really need to stay abreast of modern music??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by charlie brown

Was?

I take it he isn't anymore?

I think the name rings a bell. I started in February 2008?

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He is still working in Essex, I bumped into a DJ on a gig at the Haverhill Rugby Club who knows him.

I haven't read all of this thread (maybe I should?), just the first page and I have to say, I agree totally with what you are saying Steve.

An example would be this.... The other week I was doing a 50th birthday party. There were no real specific requests, just good 'party music' was the way the guy wanted it to go. The average age was probably 30 apart from a couple of young-ish girls who turned out to be the birthday boys daughters. They had requested a lot of heavy (underground) RnB type stuff in advance which I was willing to play and even went to the trouble of downloading as I wasn't sure how the night would pan out.

As it happened, they were in and out of the venue all night whilst everyone else was up dancing to the 'classics'. I knew, from experience that their requests would definitely not work so I didn't play any of them and they actually didn't even come over and ask for any of them either. I had a couple of requests from a lady in her 50's which were 'Barbara Streisand' and 'Speak No Americano' and as they mix well together, I thought I would play them and mix them up. I also added in Flo Rida 'Club Can't Handle This' as that mixes in well aswell but the looks on people's faces was a sight. The lady that requested them was the only one dancing and she walked off half way through the first track. The 2 daughters were dancing but not on the dancefloor so rather than have an empty dancefloor, I said something over the mic, changed genre and filled the floor again (much to the disgust of the daughters by the looks of it).

I'm 42. I started DJing when I was 20 and I started out because I wanted to do something that everyone else wasn't doing. I didn't get into it thinking that years later down the line I would be playing what everyone else is BUT at the end of the day, if I want to make a decent living out of it then that's what I do. If people want a club style function then that's cool and I can do that and I also have the perfect guy in Mike (Ecstatic Events) who can do that for me. Just as Mike has me if someone wants an Alternative/Indie/Rock function.

The time when I wanted to be seen as 'cool' has long gone now but I do get a bit narked when people assume I am going to be the same old, same old but I guess that's something I just have to live with.

Shakermaker has really made my day !!!
:Laugh:
Who is gonna tell him then!!??

Really thought provoking post very good.
As one of the older djs i really have never thought age is a factor as long as i enjoy it and the clients enjoy what i am doing i shall keep going over the years the roll of the mobile has changed i recall in the early days get bombarded with loads of new music promos from record labels who wanted there music aired to the public nowadays this is not the case and the play lists of today give the mobile a fair indication of what is required.
Saying that i still keep my tunes on my drives bang up to date as i still do club work and young peoples party,s its there if needed ,i am lucky that i have a young assistant who keeps me informed what is going down with the youngsters and my son who still gets lots of promos gives me tips on what is new and likely to crossover.
The public are so fickle and i get a nice glow when i have a tune that is new and not main stream and requested by some hip kid trying to catch me out and i say of course i will play that for you which they don,t expect from a old git.
So to sum up i see no harm in keeping up to date with your music as long as you dont ram it down there throats at the wrong time and place and age is just a number its all in your outlook.
PS tip for a cross over tune that i have been playing for some time Martin Solveig & Dragonfly Hello (sidey samson remix) video good as well.

Did anybody read post #19????

Thing is Steve, whilst it was a very good parody, you did make too good a job of the thread subject!

:lol:

The way you wrote it was spot on, but the actual subject matter provokes a good debate. ;) :D

In that case, keep it up folks :sj:

To keep it short and sweet, my thoery is this

Modern pop music is rubbish, well 99% of it is, so i'll never play it unless specificly asked for it

Why would i want to play it though, i have an amazing back catologue of music to choose from?

Parody

1.
a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing: his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.
2.
the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.
3.
a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.
4.
any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.
5.
the use in the 16th century of borrowed material in a musical setting of the Mass (parody Mass).
6.
a poor or feeble imitation or semblance; travesty: His acting is a parody of his past greatness.
7.
Something that happens on this Forum :D :D


Daryll

I play what is required. I think its very difficult to be a master of ALL genres, and a mobile DJ has a harder life (from wildly varying guest tastes) than a club DJ.

So - I keep a fairly open mind on each enquiry. This may mean some fairly hard rock on a wedding, or "clubland" style stuff at a 50th (yes, had these gigs!)

The law of averages wins, and so we'll mostly be playing similar music at most gigs.

So - I don't think its the DJ's job to educate (as in bang the guests heads with unfamilar tracks), but its its requested and the DJ thinks it will work well, playing the odd request where it will fit, it not so much a bad thing.

This may not be full on club music, simply a brand new release that most guests will not have heard of, but kids (Radio 1 listeners) may have heard.

I'm certainly not shy of the classics - if I get a full dance-floor, my life is easy, and so providing the client is happy with this, I'll continue to happily play a mix of classics.


If I wanted to play my tastes;
a: No-one would hire me
b: I'd probably have to try to get into club work

Not to say club DJ's have it easy - I've been there, but its a wildly different set of requirements.