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

[Have a disco]

After reading the subject matter at hand I take no offence as every DJ is diferent, some are stuck in a time warp and play the same set virtually at every mobile disco. But some really keep astride of possible new modern classics to be ie promos.

It also depends wether the client wants to hear, well known mainstream classics or certain genres of style through the night (not many ask for goth and R'n'B for instance), but most want cheesy party sounds or in total reverse No cheese?? But we are there to please the client 90% to 95% of the time, a perfect 100% is a always wanted pinicle of DJing.

In my eyes a DJ that does the same thing week in week out without wavering musically should be thinking of retiring or at least have a kick up the butt as audiences change weekly.

I know one guy whom does a local pub basically does the same set week in week out and strangely enough the pub is full of winging customers whom never get there requests???

But another disco I know selects different DJ's upon there ability and musical knowledge to certain customers needs?? You would not send a DJ whom is more suited to do a 70's / 80's old school party and reggae styled night to do an R 'n' B Hard house and current night. As they would be out of there depth

I believe that a DJ is there to educate wether the music is new or old popular or lesser known, We are teachers and there to make someones night memerable if not unforgetable for the right reasons... This is a hard enough task most of the time for most DJ';s as you cant force customers to dance

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

It also depends wether the client wants to hear, well known mainstream classics or certain genres of style through the night (not many ask for goth and R'n'B for instance)

Not many ask for R&B? You obviously don't do 18ths, 21sts or teenage parties then?

In my eyes a DJ that does the same thing week in week out without wavering musically should be thinking of retiring or at least have a kick up the butt as audiences change weekly. )

And that is the exact reason you can play the same tunes each week, 'cos punters change. How many people do you think would be at a wedding at the same venue, the next week? People in a party enviremont, want to hear tunes that they know and if they know the songs they are more likely to dance.

Perhaps in a club this would be different as people go to a club specifically to dance.

I know one guy whom does a local pub basically does the same set week in week out and strangely enough the pub is full of winging customers whom never get there requests??? )

So the pub is full then?

Pubs are different and you can get away with playing all sorts of different tunes, old and new. The last time I had a weekly pub, I'd have an hours worth of new tunes every week and the punters enjoyed it, however this is a different scenario to DJing at a one off wedding or birthday, where people want to hear familiar music or their requests.

But another disco I know selects different DJ's upon there ability and musical knowledge to certain customers needs?? You would not send a DJ whom is more suited to do a 70's / 80's party and reggae styled night to do an R 'n' B Hard house and current night. As they would be out of there depth

Very true.

I believe that a DJ is there to educate wether the music is new or old popular or lesser known,

No, we are not.

We are there to entertain people, not educate them.

[PropellerHeadCase]

"Educating punters" is for DJs in trainspotter genre-specific clubs.

Double D & Steinski 'Lesson 1', 'Lesson 2', and 'Lesson 3' being favourites

[Boogie Boy]

I've never ever believed that a DJ is employed to just play everything and anything that is requested, popular, or remembered. Quality control should come into the equation at some point and that is generally to do with the education of the clientele by the DJ. It doesn't automatically mean an empty dancefloor, nor does it have to be done in such a way that it's overly noticeable. It certainly shouldn't stop DJs from being adventurous from time to time, or stop audiences from having just as good a night as they might otherwise have had, IMO.

I'm possibly one of those guys who should retire, according to some on this forum, because I'm not likely to change my ways just to accommodate punters...however, maybe my working methods are already far more stimulating to punters than the average DJ and allow me to play a far more danceable selection of tracks anyway. Who knows?

[Have a disco]

I've never ever believed that a DJ is employed to just play everything and anything that is requested, popular, or remembered. Quality control should come into the equation at some point and that is generally to do with the education of the clientele by the DJ. It doesn't automatically mean an empty dancefloor, nor does it have to be done in such a way that it's overly noticeable. It certainly shouldn't stop DJs from being adventurous from time to time, or stop audiences from having just as good a night as they might otherwise have had, IMO.

I'm possibly one of those guys who should retire, according to some on this forum, because I'm not likely to change my ways just to accommodate punters...however, maybe my working methods are already far more stimulating to punters than the average DJ and allow me to play a far more danceable selection of tracks anyway. Who knows?

Accommodatting can breed familiarity leading to that common thing called a DJ RUTT

Now Quality control can be defined in many ways??????????????? Some customers just book you too be there????? And do nothing but play music?>? Others expect you to be the life and soul of the night>?????

[Have a disco]

But whatever most of you may think DJ's are eductors /Teachers of new sounds??? this is the way WE STARTED????: and this is the way we will all finish?????..... Yes lots of question marks as some of you wish too answer???
As DJ's we are a very limited CAREER SPECIES?????

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I've never ever believed that a DJ is employed to just play everything and anything that is requested, popular, or remembered. Quality control should come into the equation at some point and that is generally to do with the education of the clientele by the DJ. It doesn't automatically mean an empty dancefloor, nor does it have to be done in such a way that it's overly noticeable. It certainly shouldn't stop DJs from being adventurous from time to time, or stop audiences from having just as good a night as they might otherwise have had, IMO.

I'm possibly one of those guys who should retire, according to some on this forum, because I'm not likely to change my ways just to accommodate punters...however, maybe my working methods are already far more stimulating to punters than the average DJ and allow me to play a far more danceable selection of tracks anyway. Who knows?

You are basing this on clubs though and that is a completely different animal. Mobile discos and working in a bar/club is a completely different thing and takes a different approach.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

But whatever most of you may think DJ's are eductors /Teachers of new sounds??? this is the way WE STARTED????: and this is the way we will all finish?????..... Yes lots of question marks as some of you wish too answer???
As DJ's we are a very limited CAREER SPECIES?????

You may be...but I will continue to build my business by evolving and not by saying the same thing over and over.

Mobile DJs are not educators of music. Club and bar DJs are and have always been.

There are too many people getting confused between the 2 businesses and types of DJs.

[Corabar Steve]

I wouldn't say bar DJs are necessarily either. A hell of a lot of bars do nothing but retro nights

[Boogie Boy]

Mobile DJs are not educators of music. Club and bar DJs are and have always been.
There are too many people getting confused between the 2 businesses and types of DJs.

I'm sorry, but that seems like a cop out to me.

IF mobile DJs are lampooned by the likes of certain comedians (and the general public's perception of us is similar?) it's entirely due to the fact that they tend to play too safe and are therefore a sitting target to be stereotyped. I believe there is plenty of room for manoeuvre to stay away from that stereotype and the ability to do so is somewhat linked to a person's DJing ability, in its purest sense. Even when I was a club DJ I never played safe and you know what? It never did me any harm. It may prove a less popular, less lucrative and less punter friendly approach (however, there are plenty of star DJs who have this attitude), but it ain't necessarily wrong and if every DJ had the attitude, mobile DJs might actually have a better press and a lot more respect shown them.

DJing is DJing is DJing, so far as I'm concerned.