Arrogant DJing or Crowd pleasing slave!??

Dave just brought something up that I kinda feel strong about...

where do u stand...
Play what the fu** I want, don't care if the crowd likes it.. or
play what the crowd wants...

Ok these r extrems but I'm quite sure u'd place yerself closer 2 one that the other...

Personally I feel the dj is an artist and if he has worked 2 create a definition/ sound of his own he is intiteled 2 play what he feels like... I mean would u expect going 2 a Slayer concert and hearing samba or classical music or what ever other than Slayer sound!?!

Sure U should work the crowd with what u got in yer crate... but my crate has only stuff that i like I dont' carry any "I really don't like this but gets the crowd moving" records!!!


Z

I play what the crowd is reacting too until i know theyre in the palm of my hand and i can throw whatever i want at them....
its a mix of both cos i cant play a set of tunes i love but that no one is reacting too you know?? then again, if the crowd likes it then i get into it too....tough call!

I would say you need to find what the crowd like then play around that.

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Originally Posted by DJ Ze MigL

Dave just brought something up that I kinda feel strong about...

where do u stand...
Play what the fu** I want, don't care if the crowd likes it.. or
play what the crowd wants...

Ok these r extrems but I'm quite sure u'd place yerself closer 2 one that the other...

Personally I feel the dj is an artist and if he has worked 2 create a definition/ sound of his own he is intiteled 2 play what he feels like... I mean would u expect going 2 a Slayer concert and hearing samba or classical music or what ever other than Slayer sound!?!

Sure U should work the crowd with what u got in yer crate... but my crate has only stuff that i like I dont' carry any "I really don't like this but gets the crowd moving" records!!!


Z

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yes mate im with you, i also belive strongly in not giving people what they expect.

giving people what they expect to hear is hardly inspiring, if every dj didnt give people what they expected to hear we would have a better scene.

i recently played a set in a pub situated on a council estate, the customers are used too hearing cheese rammed down throats constantly, and thats how they like it too, sadly they didnt get what they wanted. i played a techno set and it went down just like the titanic! if there too narrowminded to try & understand/respect the music then fu*k em. it doesnt deter me though, ill always play what the fu*k i like :twisted:

i think the whole point of a dj is to make people dance
i mean would you really take a gig at a jungle club if you were playing hard trance?

i sometimes think people forget the whole role of a dj.

it's all about understanding, you have to meet the crowd in the middle.

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Originally Posted by wenna

it's all about understanding, you have to meet the crowd in the middle.

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well said.

I say play what u like, not what peolple expect u to play and furtheremore i think it's up to promoter to put u in a line up where u belong and where u can make your set closer to artistic one.
I think if u play what the crowd wants (for instance just big dancefloor killers) than u become nothing but a cheese commercial motherf***** and that's where underground stops, if we can even talk about techno being underground these days. 8)

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Originally Posted by Gloomy

I say play what u like, not what peolple expect u to play and furtheremore i think it's up to promoter to put u in a line up where u belong and where u can make your set closer to artistic one.
I think if u play what the crowd wants (for instance just big dancefloor killers) than u become nothing but a cheese commercial motherf***** and that's where underground stops, if we can even talk about techno being underground these days. 8)

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but surely he wouldn`t play a set in a club where everyone just wants the big floor fillers?

plaing what only you want to play is ok if you already produce and you're getting booked for your production style. but if you only dj, you have to compromise or you don't get booked, which in turn defeats the object of getting ppl into your sound (why else whould you dj huh???). my big thing is to get ppl on side and then occasinally go left of centre. mind you, if i played some of the shit i sometimes like listening to at home, i'd be shot. i think being clever about the way you 'tell' ppl about your sound is the way forward.

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Originally Posted by MARK EG

plaing what only you want to play is ok if you already produce and you're getting booked for your production style.

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True!!!

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but if you only dj, you have to compromise or you don't get booked, which in turn defeats the object of getting ppl into your sound (why else whould you dj huh???).

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This can be a problem, yes. But in my opinion it's better not to play at all than to become "a request DJ".

But hey who am I to say what's right & what's not it's up to one self to decide although I think it's those who played what they liked that became big (at least for me). :wink:

some good points from everyone here. These days, production gets ur name about and usually promoters will be more likely to book you if youve had a couple of releases over a dj who hasnt yet developed a profile for themselves, but a good example of where this doesnt really come into play is with Dj Rush. If you listen to most of Rush's production, its very funky but still with a hard edge at times, depending on the label etc, but his dj sets are alot lot harder.

i say that you should stick to your sound no matter wot. Wots the point in getting your name about as a hard techno dj, only to compromise your sound simply because say a more trancey nite wants u to play there club? I know Mark does both, but he has worked hard at this any everyone knows that there is more to Mark than just a trance or just a techno Dj.

hope that makes sense haha

:D

thanx eyes!

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Originally Posted by eyes without a face

some good points from everyone here. These days, production gets ur name about and usually promoters will be more likely to book you if youve had a couple of releases over a dj who hasnt yet developed a profile for themselves, but a good example of where this doesnt really come into play is with Dj Rush. If you listen to most of Rush's production, its very funky but still with a hard edge at times, depending on the label etc, but his dj sets are alot lot harder.

i say that you should stick to your sound no matter wot. Wots the point in getting your name about as a hard techno dj, only to compromise your sound simply because say a more trancey nite wants u to play there club? I know Mark does both, but he has worked hard at this any everyone knows that there is more to Mark than just a trance or just a techno Dj.

hope that makes sense haha

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made perfect sense scott.

no worries mate, credit were credit due

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Originally Posted by DJ Ze MigL

Dave just brought something up that I kinda feel strong about...

where do u stand...
Play what the fu** I want, don't care if the crowd likes it.. or
play what the crowd wants...

Ok these r extrems but I'm quite sure u'd place yerself closer 2 one that the other...

Personally I feel the dj is an artist and if he has worked 2 create a definition/ sound of his own he is intiteled 2 play what he feels like... I mean would u expect going 2 a Slayer concert and hearing samba or classical music or what ever other than Slayer sound!?!

Sure U should work the crowd with what u got in yer crate... but my crate has only stuff that i like I dont' carry any "I really don't like this but gets the crowd moving" records!!!


Z

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Topic and a half mate....

give and take imo...dont think ive had enough experience really too give a good answer, but from the gigs ive had in the last couple of years, ive always went for a happy medium personally, i ave a wide range of tastes, through most forms of trance and through tech house and hard techno, so i dont think it is as hard for someone who crosses over, but for specialist djs, i can imagine it being tough too give a crowd wat they want when they personally are only playin out the one genre.

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Originally Posted by Gloomy

I say play what u like, not what peolple expect u to play and furtheremore i think it's up to promoter to put u in a line up where u belong and where u can make your set closer to artistic one.
I think if u play what the crowd wants (for instance just big dancefloor killers) than u become nothing but a cheese commercial motherf***** and that's where underground stops, if we can even talk about techno being underground these days. 8)

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damn right mate :wink:

I think you should play what u like and what u usually play. After all that is why you have been booked. You are not gonna get a booking without someone listening to your style.

If u get booked in a techno club u play techno, and a trance club, trance. If however it is a techno and trance night, you play what ppl least expect to hear and throw the bastards

Bloody he** just came back and saw the feedback... :shock:


My thoughs... U have worked and taken a lot of sh** 2 b able 2 only play what I want...(of course being very carefull 2 explain what u r about and making sure u only get booked at the proper places is of crucial importance!!)...
Mind u that with in your scope U should do absolutly everything 2 get the party going...
Sure I like stuff that I don't even think of playing but that goes well down 2 thinking a bit when U prepare yer bags...

I've always believe in crafting yer style ... but I've always prefer "...breaking 2 bending!!..."

I would rather have people calling me ugly names (after I'd try everything 2 get' em moving) than playing cheese on toast!!


I think that if u play 4 the crowd only u get bigger & faster.. but the bigger u get the bigger the venues u play.. the bigger the venues... the more cheese ..

IT'S MY VIEW, NO MORE VALUABLE THAN ANY1s ELSE... RESPECT!

Z

Since the crowd pays to be entertained, it is my job to entertain them. No way I´m gonna piss em off by doing my thing not giving a shit about the people. The crowd always comes first for me.

it doen't matter wether it's house,garage,techno,trance..whatever


-quality production stands out a mile-especially through a large club sound system!

mok ... I see where you're comin' from BUT U wouldn't take bookings 4 a House club you ya!?!

OK .. let put it in different terms..
what if u by mistake end up in a club that is total cheesy house, U have yer regular rec. bag. so there is no way (predictably...) they'll b into your sound... the resident dj offers 2 lend u some of the cheesiest (Macarena style) floor movers 2 play...

what would u do?
Play yer records and try the best possible 2 mak' em move with what u got (I mean try for real, choosing the closest possible 2 what they might like).... or ....

Grab the cream the la creme of cheese from the resident...

?

If u aim 2 please where do u draw the line????




Z

I choose 2 b a Dj because I am addicted 2 the music, the feel of controlling the wait music is played, the possibility 2 create new from old... the sweaty, screaming euphoric club...

when I have do play music I don't relate 2 I no longer wanna b a dj.. it's just a 23h to 6 job...!

again total respect for others opinions ... It's just I don't wnat people 2 thing that some of us with a different view will only look at our belly buttons, we'll make ****i* sure u give r best 2 entertain the crow.. we just seem 2 draw the line a lot sooner...


Z

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Originally Posted by DJ Ze MigL

I choose 2 b a Dj because I am addicted 2 the music, the feel of controlling the wait music is played, the possibility 2 create new from old... the sweaty, screaming euphoric club...

when I have do play music I don't relate 2 I no longer wanna b a dj.. it's just a 23h to 6 job...!

again total respect for others opinions ... It's just I don't wnat people 2 thing that some of us with a different view will only look at our belly buttons, we'll make ****i* sure u give r best 2 entertain the crow.. we just seem 2 draw the line a lot sooner...


Z

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agreed,

i think that if you play records you dont particualy like(just for the crowd) your just as bad as judgejules and the rest of the phony twats.

I think you play what you like first and then from that you find what a crowd likes. Because realistically you can only buy records that you like , you can't go into a record shop and buy records that you think others will like.

That said though , if you were playing a Techno club the punters will want Techno. They may not dig all of it but you'll still be able to find something that get's them all going , but you will be picking those records from the one's you have with you.

But it is for the crowd otherwise it's pointless. I play techno and although I don't play to big crowds I don't compromise . I could play house in pubs to make money , but I am not as into it and I think that is reflected in my mixing of house. You have to mix what you know, love and understand.

Hope this makes some sort of sense , I am well hungover today . The Edinburgh Festival is on and I have been using this as an excuse to become an alcoholic for a while!!! :lol: :lol: :twisted:

awwww man! i wanna be in edinburgh!!!

play wot you love and make them like it too !!

It's pretty damm good at the moment. Pubs open til 3am , clubs open til 5am. There are a few problems to deal with , but they can be ignored mainly unless you are in a bad mood.

1: Tourists , not all tourists , I only have a problem with one type. The one's that bang into you and don't even bother to say "SORRY". Even if you don't speak English then a simple apologetic hand signal or even saying it in your own language is fine. But to just barge into you and not even acknowlegde it , is starting to do my head in. The worst offenders for this are Italians ( not dissing all Italians so please don't treat this as racist) , just strictly the ones that are over here and doing all the barging.If it continues to happen they will be dealt with by a swift boot to the arse.

2: Some of the performers or artists are unbelievably up their own arse and most of whom actually aren't very good at what they do , although they think they are. Some of the comedians really have been piss poor but swan about giving it " Oh Lovey , how are you......yeah the show is going great , five star reviews blah de ****ing blah".

But to honest mate it's really good. The only problem is , I have to sit in work while I know other people are sitting in the Beer Garden enjoying themselves. Great chance to mingle with all sorts of people , if you get the chance to play over here during the festival (most of August) , jump at it. You'll love it!!!

well i must admit
i DON'T EVER carry records that i don't like in my box.
however i am a raver myself and i know just how shit it is when your out there having a great night and some total prick of a dj comes on and just ruins it (one way or the other)
i've got plenty of different styles in the box so i can play slower/funkier/harder/acidy and what's more is I LIKE ELECTRONIC MUSIC!!!!
ALL OF IT!! (well maybe not all but you see what i'm driving at here)
what drives me nut are the guys who only like a tiny piece of the vast array of music that's out there and that's all they have to say to you (the danceflloor)
in short if you are a dj you are employed to entertain people and it's the promoter who should concentrate on making sure you fit in.
you have to be everything flexible/proffesional/polite/freindly(even to really drunk blokes who scream in your ears)and above all

DON'T PANIC!!

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Originally Posted by DJ Ze MigL

I would rather have people calling me ugly names (after I'd try everything 2 get' em moving) than playing cheese on toast!!

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you could try literally playing a piece of cheese on toast
or just a piece of cheese, maybe some kraft slices for sandwiches
i love those...........

maaaaahahahaha

slightly off topic, but ive gotta go with dave here. Those Kraft slices rule the roost in my house. God they are nice

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OK .. let put it in different terms..
what if u by mistake end up in a club that is total cheesy house, U have yer regular rec. bag. so there is no way (predictably...) they'll b into your sound... the resident dj offers 2 lend u some of the cheesiest (Macarena style) floor movers 2 play...

what would u do?
Play yer records and try the best possible 2 mak' em move with what u got (I mean try for real, choosing the closest possible 2 what they might like).... or ....

Grab the cream the la creme of cheese from the resident...

?

If u aim 2 please where do u draw the line????

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If you end up in this situation, then, maybe, just ask the other dj to play? Such a decision, I think, would still be in-line with what makes an excellent dj. Djing, imo, is about knowing what records to play. If you think or know that the right records are in another dj's box, then why not let the other dj play. In this way, and by this one decision, you would still decide what music should be played to rock the crowd, only you would be acknowledging that its not your style of music. If you're going to have to play another djs records in order to win the crowd, then, the crowd obviously doesn't really know who you are, nor, what your style of music is about, and, therefore, isn't really going to mind if you don't play at all.

Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by Orange

If you end up in this situation, then, maybe, just ask the other dj to play? Such a decision, I think, would still be in-line with what makes an excellent dj. Djing, imo, is about knowing what records to play. If you think or know that the right records are in another dj's box, then why not let the other dj play. In this way, and by this one decision, you would still decide what music should be played to rock the crowd, only you would be acknowledging that its not your style of music. If you're going to have to play another djs records in order to win the crowd, then, the crowd obviously doesn't really know who you are, nor, what your style of music is about, and, therefore, isn't really going to mind if you don't play at all.

Just a thought.

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And a mighty thought this is. :wink:

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Originally Posted by dOn`T dO iT

play wot you love and make them like it too !!

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Well said :thumbs up:
and if you can't do that your playin in the wrong clubs!!!

i always used to play tunes that i liked. i have cleared a room of 200 people in under 5 minutes before. at the end of the day i was booked by the promoter to play my style of music, not to play the same as the guy before me.

it is sometimes hard to play after "mr dj popular" , playing weak commercial techno. But u are instantly rewarded when some punter comes up to you after ure set and tells you that u blew him away with what u were playing. or maybe bumping into somebody at another event about 2 months later and they say how much they enjoyed ure set on the previous occasion. Probably because your tunes stood out from what everybody else was playing. I have not dj'd for about 4 years now, and i still occasionaly get somebody say something nice about one of my sets that they witnessed or maybe have on tape from an event.

you have to have guts and believe in your music.

Just imagine following a DJ playing 200bpm Hardcore and opening your set with Drexciya..... I have done it..... and i dont care..... some people loved it , some people hated it ... but some people were so shocked they stayed around to hear more.

I must admit that i was tempted to "sell out" on occasion, and had a few "get outa jail free" records in my box, but i am confident that i always played from the heart and not the wallet.