D.J's

[dovesong]

Does anybody agree that some of the best D.J's aren't the ones like Kingy,Searling and co,but dedicated,average collection local lads

[tonymorales]

The best DJs are those who can:

string a logically sequenced set of records together with both imagination and taste whilst at the same time engaging in basic Djing techniques like cueing records up properly, making sure the levels aren't all over the place, not leaving empty, silent gaps between records and other such basic requirments of Djing. An average collection surely means an average set..who wants to listen to an average set when you can hear an exceptional set instead!!!? I also think the worse Djs are collectors who stick their first record on and then put their heads down and plow through their box as if they were playing records to themselves at home. Lot's of (very) average collection local lads out there ruining lots of people's entertainment time by offering a shoddy 'product' (for want of a better word) Also the worse DJs are 'method' djs who will already have in mind the rubbish they're going to foist on the public, which means they're dish up something tuneless from the Casino era, then some screechy R&B, then a token 'rarity' or two which more often than not turns out to be drivel, before switching styles completely throwing on the latest soft and soppy 70's muck that they've been told is good, before finally inflicting a few 4-5 year old 'soulful house' records (ala Kenny Thomas Crazy World, Angie Stone.....you get the idea) These morons should be cut down in their prime, told to go and listen to a bit more than the last DJ they heard who's set he's just cloned and come back when he's got an imagination.
Just my thoughts on the matter.

[muppet]

I've never quite got me head around this dj adulation thang.......seems to me most have the same records.....and when it comes to an Oldies Night I reckon any of us would get the floor rocking with a pile of widely available cd's.......and of course the main criteria is having the ability to mumble incoherently into the mike......

[PROPERSOUL]

GOOD SOUL COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART. ITS SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURAL WITH THE MUSIC, AND IT STAYS WITH US FOREVER. WE ARE ALL DJs. THOSE OF US WHO ARE GENUINE AND TRUE. THAT IS. THESE ARTISTS BELTED THESE AWESOME TUNES OUT SO WE COULD ALL LISTEN TO THEM AND HAVE ACCESS. NOT TO COVER THEM UP SO OTHER POLITICAL LOADS OF MONEY SO CALLED DJs WILL PAY UPTEEN AMOUNTS AND BRAG OFF THAT ONLY ME N SO AND SO HAVE THIS. ONLY 2 COPYS IN THE WORLD:...............spherical objects.. YOU KNOW WHO THERE ARE .

[mel]

as a non dj- non technical -no knowledge of labels/rarity blah blah individual- but I know what I like individual... a good dj has to play their stuff seamlessly, make it look easy, make us forget they are there at the same time put in their charisma and talent into making a moment, making us love em!!!

[nottslynne]

Got to agree with Mel on this. I too am not full of knowledge but do know what I like. I will admit to being an oldies lover so tend to go to those sort of do's - why do I always feel I have to apologise for that? - To me a good DJ keeps the floor full from start to finish. If he/she plays something you haven't heard of in the middle you will carry on dancing because it fits in with the rest. My fave DJ is Kenny Burrell but there are many others that provide a brilliant night for me

[mel]

Yeh, you cannot beat the oldies, I too get fed up with feeling like i'm not cool cause I prefer the olduns, saying that some DJ'S have the talent to play some 'other stuff' that fits in well for us dancers so we don't mind a bit of 'this an that', if yoy know what i mean.........we're never too old to be educated!

[steve womack]

Good thread Dovesong you certainly opened up some weeping sores here!!!!
Mel and Lynne please never ever feel you need to apologise for loving the oldies (which means nothing anyway) cause when I started going around 74 these were modern and the 'oldies were stuff played at the Wheel and Torch (Mr M's) etc and I loved them too, as I have grown to love so many later/modern sounds.

There are crap from any time period so enjoy what you like and don't care.
The best DJ's to me are the ones that are playing sounds that I like whether they're rarities, new releases CD or whatever.
Strange though how a lot of times it's just me on the dance floor hitching up my trousers.
Steve

PS I also like Angie Stone and Kenny Thomas what a crazy man I am, Brip Ding Wheeer!!!

[mel]

yeh, I mean I liked to dance to oldies at St. Ives in that small dark room and at Wigan, but then , yeh some that were 'new' are now 'old' sometimes I wanna dance but no one else is and i'm shy, well I was back then, but I had dutch courage..............or something. Too young for the torch,

[girldancer]

Mel. We seem to be on the same wavelength. I feel excatly the same. I'm not as knowledgable as some, but I know what I like and what I like to dance to. I've been to a couple of venues lately where the DJ just played what HE liked to a virtually emply floor. My head is just screaming " PLEEEEEEZE look at the dancefloor, are you blind?, put something on we can dance to"

[mel]

Too right, although I have been 'educated' with some new(to me)sounds from the likes of Dave Whooley(master dj) no sarcasm here........ at the end of the day they are there to play stuff to dance to, aren't they? Thats what its all about isn'it?

[steve womack]

Mel,
sure cure for shyness -Close your eyes and no one can see you ;D only problem is you keep crashing into things i.e. tables full of drinks, that person next to you doing acrobatics, the DJ podium etc the secret is to look as though its all part of your routine

[mel]

yeh, iv'e never been good at looking cool...not very good these days at dancin 'sober' if you know what I mean, takes some getting used to

[chevez]

mel said:

Too right, although I have been 'educated' with some new(to me)sounds from the likes of Dave Whooley(master dj) no sarcasm here........ at the end of the day they are there to play stuff to dance to, aren't they? Thats what its all about isn'it?

Kind words Mel... thanks.
I am lucky enough to play at a couple of events where I can do what I want, but as you say, the dancefloor has to be the main consideration.... and you soon learn which lesser-known tunes can and can't be played.

[mel]

I suppose thats a sign of a good dj, someone with foresight, intuition, ability to 'feel' the mood of the dancers, and ability and knowledge to open us up to new experiences

[girldancer]

Quite right all of you. Well said!!!

[nottslynne]

I am lucky enough to play at a couple of events where I can do what I want, but as you say, the dancefloor has to be the main consideration.... and you soon learn which lesser-known tunes can and can't be played

Quite right!! But there are still those that clear the floor with one record then carry on regardless. I have been to places where a "DJ" has played for an hour and never had more than 5 people dancing. If there are records being played that I don't know and the dance floor is still full then I don't have a problem at all. Obviously I am then in the minority but when the floor is cleared for an hour why do they carry on regardless

[makemvinyl]

come and see the roly polies at Horny in Sept
3rd Anniversary

[mel]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[girldancer]

And the roly polies are?