being accused of not being a "real DJ" with Ableton

[jimmynitcher]

customer control, not sure I would pay to see that

[Greeg]

I think the only problem is no one knows what you're actually doing. Playing your own stuff? Cross fading between tracks? Remixing? Or anything in between.

+1

if you're using classic vinyl, everybody has some basic understanding about what you're doing. If you're just doing some things with mouse on computer screen then virtually no one knows what you're doing. You can play even some prerecorder set and have a cup of coffee I would say that if you use Ableton Live then performance / show is very important because the other things are maintanted by ableton itself (beatmatching, some FX chains that help to make blending between two trakcs very smoooth). I'm not saying that you should wear a mask

[AceLuby]

Nobody cares what you're doing up there as far as gear or programs. Stage presence and putting on a good show goes much further than if you've got spinning discs in front of you. Most people don't know what you're doing even if you have vinyl.

[Mixikyr]

Deleted post.

[andydes]

Exactly, they don't care or even know if you're playing your own stuff. That's what I meant. Whether you should care that they don't care is another question. Hmm...

I've been accused of being a fake dj for using a computer when i'm not even djing.

[Theo Void]

Usually the people who say things like that are people who have no idea what the fuck they're talking about. They're usually not musicians or DJ's. It's 2011 man, JEEZ!!!!

So what do "real" DJ's use? 2 turn-tables and a mixer? Do they say Oakenfold and Sasha and Richard Vission aren't real DJ's because they use CDJ's?
People are just ignorant. Don't sweat it bro. I encountered this too and ended up in a two-hour argument only to discover the dude wasn't even a dj or a musician. Like you said if u just warp tracks and fade from left to right then I'd say your not really DJ'ing, but I know I use the time I gain from having pre-mixed tracks to do other things.

Beat-Matching is one single skill. That's not THE only skill. In fact I can't think of ANYONE who uses ONLY turn-tables anymore. Even scratch DJ's are switching to and combining w/ controllers and soft ware.

Anyway, anyone who feels that way can get fucked.

[memes_33]

when "real" dj'ing became popular, "real" dj's were accused of not being "real" musicians.

when the tool of literacy was introduced, it was criticized because people thought that it would allow us to lose our memory. when the eraser was invented, it was criticized because it allowed people to make more mistakes. anytime a new revolutionary way of doing things emerges, people who have invested time & money & energy into the old way have resisted it. its just a fact of life with technology.

i do agree that a greater stage presence is a lot more important as laptop dj'ing becomes the norm. unless you're someone like daedelus or edison who are constantly and obviously manipulating things with their hands, bending over a computer screen and bumping your head while occasionally turning a knob isn't going to cut it in most situations. that's always been my weak spot as a performer of electronic music.

[Theo Void]

when "real" dj'ing became popular, "real" dj's were accused of not being "real" musicians.

when the tool of literacy was introduced, it was criticized because people thought that it would allow us to lose our memory. when the eraser was invented, it was criticized because it allowed people to make more mistakes. anytime a new revolutionary way of doing things emerges, people who have invested time & money & energy into the old way have resisted it. its just a fact of life with technology.

i do agree that a greater stage presence is a lot more important as laptop dj'ing becomes the norm. unless you're someone like daedelus or edison who are constantly and obviously manipulating things with their hands, bending over a computer screen and bumping your head while occasionally turning a knob isn't going to cut it in most situations. that's always been my weak spot as a performer of electronic music.

Spot on mate!!!

[Tone Deft]

^yeah, good one.

somewhere in this forum is a thread talking about vinyl DJs starting some sort of movement against laptop DJs. as someone that hacks away at guitar I had to LOL at that whole scene. the vinyl guys were using the same angle on the laptop guys as musicians use on DJs. no talent gig stealers.

don't mean to start shit, try to read that objectively. or start shit, I don't care. DJ worship bores the hell out of me.

[Theo Void]

Ya, I make electronic music, I play guitar, sing, play piano, violin, drums, etc.

I love all kinds of music but honestly I'd rather go to a show and watch a performance by a band or "live" group than watch a DJ behind the decks(whatever "decks" entails.) Maybe that's why they call it dance music, because you should be dancing rather than watching the DJ or expecting a performance.

[Tone Deft]

as long as your audience enjoys your work; that's what matters.

/hits play on the DAT, twists knobs like mad, bobs head, waves to audience. lots of stories out there about big names completely faking concerts. we've all probably been fooled a few times.

was at a laptop night, one guy was rocking Korg Electribes, FWIWas, a cool set. audience was stone cold until he looked up while twisting a knob, then the chicks went all 'WOOOOOO!!!!'

I guess it's all part Barnum & Bailey, part Evil Kinevil.



I'll just stick to playing bad Metallica tunes in my Mancave, where I RUUUUUUULE!!!! \m/

[Tone Deft]

Dunno how they are now

as far as I'm concerned they stopped making albums when the Black album came out. I saw the Master Of Puppets tab book in a used book store and I snagged it. back in the day I was playing grunge, not metal, time to catch up. really really well written music, IMO, freaking fun to play at least (hooray for Live slowing the song waaaaaay waaaaaay down!) also grabbed the tab for the entire Wall Album, used.

anyone else remember what a book looks like?

[Theo Void]

Dunno how they are now

as far as I'm concerned they stopped making albums when the Black album came out. I saw the Master Of Puppets tab book in a used book store and I snagged it. back in the day I was playing grunge, not metal, time to catch up. really really well written music, IMO, freaking fun to play at least (hooray for Live slowing the song waaaaaay waaaaaay down!) also grabbed the tab for the entire Wall Album, used.

anyone else remember what a book looks like?

omg I remember those things!
werent they made outta like paper or something?

[Tone Deft]

they're like a bricked iPad that never run out of batteries.


BAT-TER-REY!!!

[pix]

I didn't read the whole thread but just want to answer the OP's original post by saying that the more I grow in my professional career (non-music related) the more I realize the world if full of mediocre people that can't stand anyone with true talent.

"If they come at you, you're probably doing something right"

First time I heard this I thought it was an awful way to relate to others. Not anymore, specially in competitive situations like the one you describe.

Keep your mind on the prize, and don't let dicks like that ruin your nights anymore.