Digital DJ’s of urban…

[ska invita]

I literally often don't know what I'm playing next as I keep changing my mind. I try to be totally guided by the crowd so am always ready for an emergency genre switch!

Market House in Brixton was the toughest gig for that: get one song wrong and the crowd would stampede to the bigger downstairs bar - and the demographic would keep changing in front of my eyes!

Thats a great skill to have...Its my idea of hell...I cant do it for the life of me

 

[editor]

Thats a great skill to have...Its my idea of hell...I cant do it for the life of me

I'm still utterly rubbish technically, but I'm pretty good at reading a crowd and it helps that I really like a lot of modern-ish pop music. I played something like 75 shows last year so I guess I must be learning something on the way.

Plus, I've never heard a pop song improved by it being beatmatched over another or - heaven forbid - reduced to chorus snippets played over a never ending, never changing beat. Play the song as the band/producer intended, say I!

 

[ska invita]

I'm still utterly rubbish technically, but I'm pretty good at reading a crowd and it helps that I really like a lot of modern-ish pop music. I played something like 75 shows last year so I guess I must be learning something on the way.

Plus, I've never heard a pop song improved by it being beatmatched over another or - heaven forbid - reduced to chorus snippets played over a never ending, never changing beat. Play the song as the band/producer intended, say I!

for sure - each type of djing is its own skill - i think of it as the differences in martial arts - weddings and crowd-pleasing fills me with dread - nothing but respect for those who can do it

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Do you plan playlists in advance? I know loads of DJs do but for the crowds I play to, it would be a disastrous strategy!

I have to be nimble like a frolicking lamb, ready to bin cued-up songs and then scrambling to find a better choice as the clock runs down

Never planned in advance, I’ve never understood that. Like you say, you need to respond to the crowd!

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

for sure - each type of djing is its own skill - i think of it as the differences in martial arts - weddings and crowd-pleasing fills me with dread - nothing but respect for those who can do it

Years of doing corporate parties has honed my skills

 

[ska invita]

That's one of the many things that stopped me pursuing it. That and not being arsed to rip my vinyl.

I did think of taking a pic of the sleeves but then it all just seemed like hard work

it does show artwork, and adding it is drag and drop off discogs image

but it is small and not the same
im used to just text now

and no need to rip, can download near enough everything you have

best pic I could find online with artwork displayed as a little square

 

[RevolutionSound]

I'm still utterly rubbish technically, but I'm pretty good at reading a crowd and it helps that I really like a lot of modern-ish pop music. I played something like 75 shows last year so I guess I must be learning something on the way.

Plus, I've never heard a pop song improved by it being beatmatched over another or - heaven forbid - reduced to chorus snippets played over a never ending, never changing beat. Play the song as the band/producer intended, say I!

Reading the crowd is a really important skill, probably more so than technical skills.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Reading the crowd is a really important skill, probably more so than technical skills.

I think it’s partly down to genre - I’d quickly get annoyed at a techno set that wasn’t at least competently beatmatched, even if it was a great selection. For other styles a simple fade up/down is pretty much all that’s needed if the tunes are good.

 

[RevolutionSound]

I think it’s partly down to genre - I’d quickly get annoyed at a techno set that wasn’t at least competently beatmatched, even if it was a great selection. For other styles a simple fade up/down is pretty much all that’s needed if the tunes are good.

True. However, if the tunes and vibes are good, I can forgive sloppy mixing. Last House of God I went to in November, in the Wonky Disco room, there was a bit of sloppy mixing later in the night, about 4am. No one minded as the tunes and vibes were so good. I'd rather hear a badly mixed set of good tunes than a perfectly mixed set of dull ones.

 

[editor]

for sure - each type of djing is its own skill - i think of it as the differences in martial arts - weddings and crowd-pleasing fills me with dread - nothing but respect for those who can do it

Weddings are awful and incredibly stressful. I've only ever played them as a sort of wedding gift for couples I know.

 

[editor]

I think it’s partly down to genre - I’d quickly get annoyed at a techno set that wasn’t at least competently beatmatched, even if it was a great selection. For other styles a simple fade up/down is pretty much all that’s needed if the tunes are good.

Well yes. Techno and house music etc need to have a flow., but then DJs start fucking about with great songs to fit their 'mix' they can GTFO.

 

[editor]

Years of doing corporate parties has honed my skills

Corporate gigs are my kind of nightmare too!

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Weddings are awful and incredibly stressful. I've only ever played them as a sort of wedding gift for couples I know.

Worst bit about doing weddings is when the couple give you a huge list of tracks they love and want played, but you know will absolutely clear the dancefloor