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DigiNut
You kids get off my lawn!
Registered: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, Self-proclaimed Centre of the Universe
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Re: What makes a good DJ ??
| quote: | Originally posted by Yoshiesque
Ability to read the crowd / crowd interaction
They need express their desire to be there, a love of the music - an enthusiasm to make you dance. Personally if I see a performer really getting into what they are doing I can't help but do the same. In my opinion the best DJs also have an almost innate, natural musical ability (timing, tune selection etc). Communication is also very important. What makes a good DJ to me is someone who can find the vibe a crowd puts out, and build upon it. |
Yes, and let the record show that crowd interaction is more than just hopping up and down or shaking your fist in the DJ booth. Good DJs actually COMMUNICATE with the crowd - as in speak, or leave the booth, or at least register some sort of change in body language. You want to see true crowd interaction, take a look at someone like Danny Tenaglia - or our very own Deko-ze.
| quote: | Solid production skills.
The production side of things is what makes a good DJ great. If you’re only playing other people’s records.. your options are really limited. It’s no coincidence that all of the world’s top DJ’s are typically very successful producers as well.
And as any DJ enthusiast knows… there’s nothing quite like hearing your favourite DJ lay down his / her own track. |
No, that has absolutely nothing to do with DJing. You want production skills, talk to a producer.
Production skills can help, but only in the case of a DJ like Preach who uses those skills to customize unusual songs in order to fit them to a set they wouldn't normally be found in (like remixing 80's rock tracks into a techno set) - NOT the other way around, producing your tracks for resale on CD and shoving them into the set wherever they may land.
The only other case where production skills are relevant is a live PA.
| quote: | Technical skills.
Obviously technical skill plays a big part.. but when a DJ just shows up, stands behind the decks, mixes flawlessly, and then leaves.. it just doesn’t do it for me. I do appreciate good mixing but to me, it’s also a lot about DJ presence. I find it very difficult to know where the DJ is coming from if they just stand behind the decks, very little movement or expression. |
Much understated and underrated. Trance and slow druggy progressive are the only genres where technical skills have so little relevance (which is mainly because the productions are already so riddled with effects that there isn't much that the DJ can do). But a truly good DJ does more than just beat match and play with the EQ. Some layer tracks (on 3 or more turntables); some scratch; some have special effects boards that they are very proficient with; it varies depending on the DJ.
You also left out:
Programming / track selection
Which is far, far more than just picking out crowd-pleasing tracks. It's the ability to pick tracks which actually have similar sound so the transition is seamless; there's no excuse for trying to mix two tracks in a different key and introducing discordance into the sound. It's also picking tracks which are similar in energy; in a good set you have speed bumps, not mountains, and if you pick two spots in a set 5 or 10 minutes apart then the overall energy level should be similar (with a few exceptions... some DJs are able to break the rules).
___________________
My party schedule:
2009-02-21 - DJ Attention @ I'm So Popular
2009-06-18 - DJ Annoying @ People Need To Know Where I'll Be
2012-11-32 - DJ Insufferable ɸ Or At Least the Stalkers I Complain About
2048-06-66 - Spastic & Whocares ¶ Although I'm Actually Flattered
9999-45-81 - Tweaker Gimp ☼ I Probably Won't Even Go To This But I Have To Make Sure I Fill Up All The Available Space Here
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 Jan-19-2005 03:23 
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Nrg2Nfinit
ItaloDiscoAddict
Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Ottawa
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Re: Re: What makes a good DJ ??
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
Yes, and let the record show that crowd
No, that has absolutely nothing to do with DJing. You want production skills, talk to a producer.
Production skills can help, but only in the case of a DJ like Preach who uses those skills to customize unusual songs in order to fit them to a set they wouldn't normally be found in (like remixing 80's rock tracks into a techno set) - NOT the other way around, producing your tracks for resale on CD and shoving them into the set wherever they may land.
The only other case where production skills are relevant is a live PA.
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partially wrong
take a look at the big djs we're bringing in from europe. Every single one of them produces. a good chunk of djaying is track selection, therefore anticipation of a track to be played by a dj who produced it track makes them more enjoyable and therefore better.
for instance
who would you rather hear play
system f vs armin van buuren - exhale?
mark oliver or ferry corsten / armin?
obvioiusly armin and ferry since they produced the track.
Not to take away from djs who dont produce, its just that production is a huge factor, probably the highest ranking factor promoters take into consideration when booking the main talent .
A dj who is playing their own song will definatley interact better with a crowd while playing their song.. rather than a dj playing someone else's song.
it doesnt really affect a dj in technical terms (unless they use harmonic mixing) and or have their tracks completely memorized (since they are their own)
but preformance wise, im assuming this is how we are basing what a good dj is, production skills is one of, if not the most important factor
Last edited by Nrg2Nfinit on Jan-19-2005 at 11:18
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Jan-19-2005 11:12 
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Playa24_7
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Apr 2004
Location:
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| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
^ I'm sure Armin's a great guy but I really have to question the value of any information gleaned from a DJ interview. I don't mean about him not knowing how much he gets paid - that part is probably true - but all the DJs are going to say things like "I love Toronto" and "I love X club" and "I loved the crowd" and "That was such a great party". What do you expect them to say "Me fans are stupid pigs?" Or maybe "Toronto is the biggest shit hole I've ever been to, and if that dump ever wants to book me again it'll be triple the usual fee".
Want to know what I call professional? Fatboy Slim, on a weeknight, playing on a broken turnable that skipped every 2 minutes and still putting on about 2 hours of solid performance, and NEVER getting angry or shoving the DJ equipment around (as I've seen MANY DJs do - I won't mention any names but you all know who they are).
Anybody can be friendly and pretend to be into their set on a good night. The true test of professionalism is how they react under stress or pressure. |
If he asked him a direct question, then I could see your point. But after he answered the guys question, armin totally just started talking about how he loves clubs so much, why he does, just him talking about alot of stuff, without being asked.
If he was asked about a certain club or something like that, then I could totally see what your saying, but he wasnt.
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Jan-19-2005 11:17
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starsearcher
DigitalPunk on Flight643
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Toronto
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Jan-19-2005 14:35 
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and when he spins, he is a pure genius and flawless.We are VERY lucky to have him
...Although I don't blame him, if everythign got fucked up like that if I was him I'd be pissed too
(most people say i liked him then but now he's different - innovative)
