Is there such thing as an entertaining DJ performance?

yanquiuxo · Post by **yanquiuxo** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:50 am

DJ Wiij:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4O2F3msBOo

Entertainment?

photonal · Post by **photonal** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:10 am

when it comes to dance music, i reckon the public on the dancefloor *is* and plays out the performance, the DJ guides and gives it shape + direction. DJs who act like they're bigger and more important than the music they play are irritating.

dave dominey · Post by **dave dominey** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:24 am

Djs should use this as a controller

http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2008/08/ ... r-yes.html

would make an awesome show

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:50 am

beats me wrote:guitar was my first instrument and I had a lot more fun on stage musically and physically than I ever have playing keyboard or DJing, but maybe that's just me.

The guitar is an incredibly sophisticated interface: up to 10 fingers + 2 arms + six or more strings + pickups + switches & knobs. Add in amps + pedals + a couple of feet + on & on. That's a TON of physical control over the shape of the music!

I'm sitting in my studio, surrounded by knobs, switches, encoders, buttons, pads, triggers, X/Y touch screens, & 3D infrared beams; but it would take a hell of a lot of programming on my part to come up with something as complex & intuitive as a guitar being played by someone who really understands it.

That's why I check out the outer limits of MIDI & other controllers, to see what's out there, or coming up, that can really manipulate sound. There are MIDI sensors triggered by heat, light, humidity, motion, pressure, etc. I'm always on the hunt for sounds that move.

MAX/MSP is probably the way to go to design super powerful control systems. That & a Lemur can create some nicely flexible systems. Racks are getting pretty complex too.

I think a lot of fun can be had when we can really control our sounds & music; especially when the methods of control don't demand a ton of analytical left brain activity, & allows the good old right brain to kick in.

Pandamonium · Post by **Pandamonium** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:54 am

Are DJs entertaining? YES - they are fucking hilarious!

michaellpenman · Post by **michaellpenman** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:32 pm

xxxmorphicxxx wrote:I've been watching a bunch of YouTube vids of DJs and solo artists playing live shows... and I am completely astounded by how boring everything is.

They either use a projector and play something that looks like Windows Media Player kaleidoscope...

Or just use a bunch of strobe/laser lighting.

The artist themselves look sooooooooooooooo lame. It looks boring enough when they are just twiddling a few knobs on their midi controller... but as soon as I see their hand hit the touch pad on their laptop... its like, OMG, it looks like he's surfing the web, checking email, working on a school project.

The bobbing of the artists head to the beat of the music does not entertain the audience.

It's ridiculous. Now I know why hardrock, jazz, or any other type of music will always find success in live music...

What can DJ's do to improve their performance? Or does anyone have any links to videos that are entertaining? I'm not asking to be mean, or put anyone down... I really want to know because I will soon start playing my electronic project live and don't want to put the audience to sleep!

Listen to the music don't watch it

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:42 pm

I love this fiction that no-one looks at the DJ and it's "all about the music".
there's always a large section of people who face the stage and are focused on the DJ.

"idiots" I think they are called

I'm a bit confused by the title though "DJ" and "performance" in one sentence?
DJ's just pick records in an order and then play them , occasionally pointing, clapping or twinkling the eye at a floozy.
That's not a performance IMO, unless "coding" and "washing the dishes" is now also a performance.
DJing is just the same as running the light show.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:00 pm

Angstrom wrote:I love this fiction that no-one looks at the DJ and it's "all about the music".

My point is that it SHOULD be all about the music, but in reality it isn't. Cheerleading has become part of the show-biz aspect of DJing. It's 21st century vaudeville.

Angstrom wrote:"idiots" I think they are called

I prefer "lemmings" or "sheep". Damn glad we've got them, though!

leisuremuffin · Post by **leisuremuffin** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:16 pm

My favorite DJ's don't do that cheerleading bullshit.

My favorite venues don't have a bunch of lasers, fog, and bullshit.

My favorite crowds don't give a shit about cheerleading, lasers, and bullshit.

You don't have to settle.

It *is* about the music for anybody who's opinion matters to me.

.lm.

ChiDJ · Post by **ChiDJ** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:19 pm

smutek wrote: I think once people on both sides realize that a dj is not a musician then we will all be better off. A dj is not supposed to be a musician. A dj is a dj.

Well said. Thanks for saving me some ink.

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:11 pm

No. In fact, there is no such thing as a DJ 'performance'. When working, a DJ is being a DJ-- that is, being involved in the act of, uh, DJ'ing. They are not 'performing'.

next question.

smutek · Post by **smutek** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:45 pm

Most of is know this but I can not think of a better time to re-post....

THE TRANCE CRACKER

[/quote]

landrvr1 · Post by **landrvr1** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:18 pm

It's just the right time to resurrect my Tiesto animated gif....

...

Dominik · Post by **Dominik** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:15 pm

starving student · Post by **starving student** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:44 am

ok for all of you saying that djs need not perform cause the dj is not a performer and it's all about the music. I have no problem with that concept at all, the problem i do have is djs giving shows. if you are against a dj having showmanship or thinking of djs in performance terms then you should have a problem with djs giving shows because in effect the blame lies with them the dj him or herself selling a fuckin ticket to a show and then having people come to see them but telling people fuck off there is no show here don't even look at me and i'm not here to give you a show.

so it sounds like there is some confusion going on on where the blame should really be placed, it's like most people in this thread are blaming the fans and calling them stupid cause they came to see a show..... maybe they are stupid for paying to see a show by somebody who doesn't want to give them a show, but then why is that dj selling tickets in the first fucking place. they should only sell cds

Is there such thing as an entertaining DJ performance?

Re: Is there such thing as an entertaining DJ performance?