Why Do DJs DJ? The "Cool Factor"

[abletony84]

DJ House Shoes On Non-Vinyl DJ's & J Dilla:

http://vimeo.com/12300884

[PieterC]

I don't agree with this superficial article at all.
Something more than 1.5 years ago, I started producing electronic music, after a while I really started feeling an urge to get creative with music in some other way, this brought me to dj'ing. I had a lot of fun just dj'ing in my bedroom, and had little intention playing gigs, and I really dislike the idea most ppl have about dj's, like people trying to be cool.. most can't just see dj'ing just as doing something musical. Now, by coincidences, I started getting asked on parties, and everything is advancing fast (also with my productions), without that is ever has been my intention (with both) to actually earn something or go out playing, it was just like playing the piano for me. Now I do feel some new people I meet initially have some prejudices when they learn that I dj.

[doghouse]

What a bunch of blather. There are two reasons to DJ, just like there are two reasons to do just about anything:

1. you can make money at it

2. you can have fun doing it

Anyone who gets into something only to be cool will eventually hang it up, that's not really enough to keep you motivated when you learn how much work you have to put in.

[doghouse]

The bad thing is that all the "cool kids" being out there, and the general status of being a DJ, makes it harder to get gigs, and it's hard enough already.

Funny...live musicians post this same complaint on their forums too. Seems like everybody is watching their backs for posers/wannabes these days.

[Joe Moriarty]

Life can be hard and depressing and sometimes music is
only thing we can count on. In this day and age so much music
is being produced and distributed globally over the interweb
that we need full time DJ's that we trust to sort through it all.
If all the DJ's stopped listening to other peoples music and made
their own music then we would have tons of new (potentially bad)
music everywhere and no artistic selectors to help sort it for us.
Some people just don't have the time to spend 10hrs a week looking
for that one excellent song. For these people a DJ provides a
valuable service.

Here here!

[yur2die4]

The problem is that with your typical club audience, you get enough alcohol in them, and have enough people around them being into it, they are likely to enjoy it too. Particularly of note is that the most common denominator person will probably be easily seduced by overly obvious trendy shit. As a result, any monkey can entertain them. In fact, a monkey at the decks would be highly entertaining! Gotta find yourself an audience that wants more.

[nezzyidy]

Good point! I suppose much of the bad music can be attributed to the cycle alcohol culture.

[kraze]

Because all a dj needs to do is to love music.

We on the other hand, are technics-people and nerds who also like music and get excited by alot of things that normal listeners couldn't care less about.

[nafe]

I have a bit of an issue when a DJ who plays shitty chart music that they dont even like describe themselves as "Professional Musician" because they "play" music for money. the same people often are in a pokey little corner in a bar playing shitty music. most people in the place dont realising they are there and the only reason they are there is so the bar management can have a sign outside saying "live DJ's".
How good a dj is or what they actually do is becoming less and less important. Places want to have a Dj to get the punters in but then they lay down what they want being played by the Dj.
I think the blurring of the lines between the Dj and a musician has become ridiculous. A shit musician cant get a gig, if they can get a gig they wont get too many after when the place becomes empty and there are no drinks sold. A shit DJ can get gigs and continue to get gigs just from how nice they are to promotors and other people who do the bookings because what they do isnt important its the fact they are a "DJ" when actually the vast majority have never picked up a 12" or touched a set of 1200's which is pretty essential to be a "Disc Jockey".
Why this has happened im not 100% sure. my best bet is that it has been the popularisation of "DJ's" to the extent that they have moved from real clubs, that are there for people who go there to listen to music (where a shit mix is picked up by the punters), into pubs and what are now called clubs that are filled with girls in short skirts being followed by blokes with wallets and a desire to shag the girls with the short skirts. take away the DJ and plug in an ipod and the results would probably be similar once the punters are in the door. only problem is you cant put on the sign outside "ipod playing untill late"
Downloading music that you have been told to play by bar management, listening to it a few times, putting it into traktor auto, pitching it and badly mixing it together without any care for changes or drops in the music is not being a proffesional musician, its not even being a "DJ". Its one step away from being a professional I-Tunes player. But that wouldn't look so good on a flyer.
Dont get me wrong, a good DJ is an awesome way to spend a night. i went to miami wmc this year and was exposed to the extremes of the trade, if anything i feel sorry for the good DJ's who are having there profession cheapened by the pretenders who are stealing their gigs.
2c

[5meohd]

^^ so if someone is absolutely killing it with ableton and an apc40 but they never touched a turntable you wouldn't like them? or the performance?


fu%k

[Cool Character]

I disagree with the article.

Being a DJ stopped being cool about 20 years ago.
Even the most out of date DJ realizes this.

[Guff Tong]

Cool stopped being cool in the 1950's.

Who says 'cool' anymore?

Imagine, if you will, actualy being called 'cool'?

Imagine further that you were also a DJ?

Just imagine....

[Cool Character]

Cool stopped being cool in the 1950's.

Who says 'cool' anymore?

Cool is back pretty strong, broski.
You gotta be a kool doodster to say it with any resonance, though.

Imagine, if you will, actualy being called 'cool'?

Hmm...
After pondering the thought for a while, I realized I AM called cool!

Imagine further that you were also a DJ?

Just imagine....

I think there are plenty of cooler paradoxes.
Like, for example, drummers are pretty cool. A "good" drummer is just way cooler than a "cool" DJ.

[Guff Tong]

Touche!

[wehkah]

pleeeeeeeze post similar threads in the lounge! its not technical or a tip/trick . its a senseless discussion.


thanks