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A DJ's Dilemma
An interesting thought occurred to me recently, and I thought I'd share it with you...
Suppose you are a "bedroom DJ," just starting out and developing your own style, and hoping to become known someday. The first step will probably be getting hired at a local club. Well, no matter what subgenres of Trance you enjoy, you'll almost certainly have to spin cheese like Darude and Ian van Dahl and Fragma if you're to be hired at most clubs, at least in the first stages!!! You have no choice! 
And also, if you make a demo mixtape and give it to somebody from the local clubs, they most likely won't understand -- or appreciate -- the type of music you've chosen, because they're expecting cheesy pop-trance like Alice Deejay and stuff. I'm not saying I'm totally against "cheese trance," but do I have to buy more pop-music records just to be able to make it?
These are my thoughts 
what do you all think?
Re: A DJ's Dilemma
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Eugene And also, if you make a demo mixtape and give it to somebody from the local clubs, they most likely won't understand -- or appreciate -- the type of music you've chosen, because they're expecting cheesy pop-trance like Alice Deejay and stuff. I'm not saying I'm totally against "cheese trance," but do I have to buy more pop-music records just to be able to make it? These are my thoughts what do you all think? |
it sucks
i dont think thats true eugene... well, it all depends on where youre playing... like if you are looking for a club where the crowd expects shit like ian van dahl and fragma, then you have to spin it... but why would you look for a gig there when its not something you enjoy playing?
This is the paradox of spinning professionally... and you have described the situation quite well.
So, speaking from my own experience (not extensive... but enough) it basically depends on the type of club/crowd, how you (or the night actually) are promoted, and the promoter (assuming the club has one).
In the US, the masses and many promoters tend to consider trance (as we know it) a specialized niche. In large US cities, your first gig probably won't be the largest, most happening club... but since there's more clubs in urban areas, you may have more opportunties to play your sound.
Clubs and promoters are businesses and the bottom line takes precedence over individual creativity. You could maybe do 2 demo CDs/mixtapes - one that includes some cheezy tunes and the other with your true sound... but label the non-cheeze one as "progressive".
Your first dance club gig will almost definitely be playing to a mainstream crowd who want (demand!) Sandstorm-esque tunes. The same crowd who will refer to your set as "techno". The whole art of dj-ing is to work in the good stuff and have them begging for more. Even on a good night you might have to throw a cheezy song to get them to the dance floor. Just hope it's not a crowd that wants Brittany Spears.
However, it's possible a club/promoter might want to introduce a new "trance" night, for example. You might have more leeway in this type of setting.
The best setting for an aspiring professional to throw on an awesome trance set might be a non-dance scene. Most larger nightclubs have a separate lounge area. Without the demands of filling the dancefloor, it can be the perfect venue to feel things out... and to prove yourself to the promoter or whomever.
Lastly, depending on how well connected and involved you are with local clubs... you could always promote your own night. I would love to do this sometime, but just haven't pursued it...
My most enjoyable playing has been at large private events where I'm fairly tight with hosts and many guests, all who I KNOW will connect with my music.
Good luck!
www.intrinzic.net
I agree some cheese might be necessary to land the gig, but I also think if your set is bangin', they should dig it, just like you might have when you were initally exposed to trance -- and someone such as a club owner who likes dance music and is only familiar with cheese, they should be the easiest to impress and win over. I agree with whoever said to probably make 2 CD's -- call the first 1 the actual demo and fill it with what you would play if you were there, and then fill the other with the best shit you can throw at them and call it something cool and ominous.
First of all, I wouldnt consider stuff like Darude or Ian Van Dahl "cheese". 
It's just that these tracks get appreciation from a much wider audience (at least in north america). And secondly, you do really need some of these popular tracks, because that's what people like. I was at a house party once, the floor was pretty dead with playing crazy underground tracks (like DJ Pure and Sensei), so I broke out a crazy remix of Sandstorm, and the dance floor was instantly filled. Then I started adding some pounding trance anthems after, and the people stayed on the floor.. at least for awhile, then I through down some Safri Duo, and it filled up again. 
You gotta play what the people like, but don't be afraid to mix in your personal favs.
Fair enough. "Cheese" has probably morphed into a catch-all word. For the sake of this discussion, "commercial" would probably be a better word.
These songs in and of themselves may indeed be good songs, but their wide appeal indicates that the song has been around for awhile... they've probably hit the radio and are usually overplayed in clubs. Thus, these songs have lost their "edge"...
...but they might just be the songs that the crowd will remember the next day... when they're telling their friends about that incredible DJ they heard.
A little "commercial" can go a long way...
www.intrinzic.net
i like those songs, but thats just personal preference, you gotta play what you want but at the same time keep it w/in the crowds appeal.. just remember that some songs that we appreciate for their artistic beauty will probably not go over w/ the average "commercial" crowd because its not something they are used to hearing..
Interesting thread as im in this position right now. Im wantin a gig but dont know what to put onto a demo cd or who to send it too. At the moment im thinkin put on my fav's and the latest tunes and try givin it to the bigger clubs where im less than likely to get a job but only because i dont know if i could cope wiv playin commercial all nite! The other thing is that if u get a job spinnin in a local small club playin commercial then theres not much chance of gettin a job anywhere big without having any contacts.
Just a few of my thoughts there
Peace 
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