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

[axeman]

sometimes a mobile dj function is just like a club/pub, or can turn into one after all the wrinklies have gone!

I did a graduation ball last night, and a 21st saturday night, neither party had anyone over 30 y/o and both were 1am finishes, and I was very pleased i stay abreast of the current musical trends, a previous thread talked about versatility, I think this is another string to as dj's bow, and you never know when you might need it!!.

If i didn't have the experience of working in a pub every sunday night, I would have looked foolish at both of these functions.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

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.

I never said anything was wrong and there is room for people not to be playing the norm, but then don't expect any sympathy when they come on here moaning 'cos they don't have any work. That is my point.

And you are basing this on what exactly? By your own admission you've only been a mobile for a short amount of time, so what are you comparing with?

There is a difference between someone who is building a business and career out of this to someone who just 'likes playing music'. You said it your self, why on earth would I want my company to be less popular, less lucrative and less punter friendly?

I am in business.

I spoke with your soon to be business partner recently and I wonder if things will change when you start trying to build your business and workload?

[Boogie Boy]

I never said anything was wrong and there is room for people not to be playing the norm, but then don't expect any sympathy when they come on here moaning 'cos they don't have any work. That is my point.

And you are basing this on what exactly? By your own admission you've only been a mobile for a short amount of time, so what are you comparing with?

There is a difference between someone who is building a business and career out of this to someone who just 'likes playing music'. You said it your self, why on earth would I want my company to be less popular, less lucrative and less punter friendly?

I am in business.

I spoke with your soon to be business partner recently and I wonder if things will change when you start trying to build your business and workload?

I doubt it. Certain things are worth pursuing. Business at any price isn't one of them, so far as I'm concerned.

I'm all for DJs getting better and being more professional in their outlook, but as an old-timer (with about 4 years mobile experience in total, BTW) I see many businesses that have a bright, fresh, confident, (supposed) customer focused ethos, that are absolute pants to deal with, 'cos everything they do is sooo regimented and sickeningly unoffensive. i.e. they have no soul, no humanity. Give me real people, who show real emotions any day.

[theoloyla]

What a load of old codswallop. Most entertainers do the same act every night: singers, bands, magicians, comedians, jugglers etc etc. They do change their act but only slowly - the band learn a new popular song, the comedian gets a new topical joke, the conjuror learns a new trick, the jugglers get new costumes etc. Many mobile dj's are like that and there is nothing wrong with that at all. Badger the reason why you whinge on here so often about lack of gigs and low fees is because you are so totally wrong focussed. You are so concerned about preaching to the world about the latest hip music that you lose the plot which is that a mobile dj is an entertainer and always has and will be. You are so completely wrong when you say that the raison d'etre for dj's is to educate. It isnt and it never ever has been. Discotheques were invented because of a lack of musicians during the war. They thrived because when the bands came back they were cheaper (thats why the Musicians Union campaigned so vigourously against them for 40 years) and also with the advent of soul, reggae and rock lots of the dance bands were simply not capable of playing that sort of music. If you want to teach thats fine but dont then come on here and whinge that you are getting the same fees you were back in the 80's.
As for you Steve you have an elitist attitude about music. Thats fine but it may limit your market. I try to vary some of the music I play for my own satisfaction and am pleased when I experiment with new tunes that work well but I am request driven even to the extent that if the audience wants Jive Bunny and the Tweets then I'll play it for them. There are several santimonious dj's on this forum that wont do that. It doesnt have to be cool and hip to be popular and successful.

[Excalibur]

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.

No idea why Darren, they're like chalk and cheese.

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

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

As with many of your posts, I disagree totally. You are as entitled to your view as I am to mine, but as a Mobile Dinosaur of thirty years standing, and a bit of lying down, I feel I'm nearer the mark re the mobile scene. ( I couldn't say much about clubs, horrible noisy places. )

What a load of old codswallop.

As for you Steve you have an elitist attitude about music. Thats fine but it may limit your market. I try to vary some of the music I play for my own satisfaction and am pleased when I experiment with new tunes that work well but I am request driven even to the extent that if the audience wants Jive Bunny and the Tweets then I'll play it for them. There are several santimonious dj's on this forum that wont do that. It doesnt have to be cool and hip to be popular and successful.

Me too.
Since I'm operating the same policy as Theo of giving the customers what they want, I shall continue to do so. Logically, that should mean I appeal to the greatest number of customers. I may not be cutting edge, or intellectually challenging, but I'll settle for bums on seats ( in a manner of speaking. )

[theoloyla]

Me too.
Since I'm operating the same policy as Theo of giving the customers what they want, I shall continue to do so. Logically, that should mean I appeal to the greatest number of customers. I may not be cutting edge, or intellectually challenging, but I'll settle for bums on seats ( in a manner of speaking. )

You do what you like but I'll have feet on dancefloors rather than bums on seats!

[Ryu]

I think there's some point missing going on...Every DJ will have a "standard" set of songs they turn to on a regular occasion there's nothing particularly dinosaur about it, its the law of averages, the most popular party songs are going to please most people most of the time.

Your audience determines how much you need to keep up with the times. If your dealing predominantly with 30+ age group, there is going to be little demand for bang up to date music, however, if you want to be genuinely adaptable, its good to be on top of thing with current scenes. If you get a younger crowd, or requests for new stuff, it makes sense to know what works, what doesnt or have some idea of what could work. 18th's are notorious for brand new music. Theo showed a few posts back that he's got enough new material to satisfy that crowd...thats adaptability. If you refuse to keep up, you risk getting less return business from younger/trendier crowd, simple as.

[Boogie Boy]

As for you Steve you have an elitist attitude about music. Thats fine but it may limit your market. I try to vary some of the music I play for my own satisfaction and am pleased when I experiment with new tunes that work well but I am request driven even to the extent that if the audience wants Jive Bunny and the Tweets then I'll play it for them. There are several santimonious dj's on this forum that wont do that. It doesnt have to be cool and hip to be popular and successful.

I realise all you're saying. However, with 1000s of great toons to play, I'd pass by on the Tweets and Jive Bunny every time. My quality control forbids me to even consider them (nope, I don't even have them in my fairly extensive library). I really don't see what the problem is with occasionally saying NO to a customer, even in this day and age (since when could anyone take umbridge with a polite apology). I certainly don't view it as being sanctimonious or elitist, it's just that I'm willing to draw a line.

For some reason I don't get that many requests at gigs. I take this to mean that I must be doing a reasonable job of satisfying people's needs. Of course, I could be completely wrong. I might look menacing, shabby, ultra cool, or not worth chatting up and don't realise it.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Or unapproachable and elitist

[Excalibur]

I realise all you're saying. However, with 1000s of great toons to play, I'd pass by on the Tweets and Jive Bunny every time. My quality control forbids me to even consider them (nope, I don't even have them in my fairly extensive library). I really don't see what the problem is with occasionally saying NO to a customer, even in this day and age (since when could anyone take umbridge with a polite apology). I certainly don't view it as being sanctimonious or elitist, it's just that I'm willing to draw a line.

For some reason I don't get that many requests at gigs. I take this to mean that I must be doing a reasonable job of satisfying people's needs. Of course, I could be completely wrong. I might look menacing, shabby, ultra cool, or not worth chatting up and don't realise it.

I think the problem is that they are THE CUSTOMER, the people who pay our wages. While they may be the most obnoxious pond life with the worst musical taste ever, " He who pays the piper calls the tune".

You do what you like but I'll have feet on dancefloors rather than bums on seats!

The exact phrase I needed, but couldn't think of. You knew what I meant.