I've recently received insight into the planning of one of Armin van Buuren's gigs. Or let's say i got to know something odd and dirty. Other DJs playing in the line-up before Armin at this particular event were advised by Armin's local booking agency (by phonecall) to play at a speed of 130 BPM (it was a all-Trance partynight!!!) and not to bounce the crowd, i.e. to play rather decent tracks. For more they were told not to play tracks issued on Armin's Armada Label. IMO this is a real cheek! I don't want to blame Armin for this, probably he even didn't know these calls were made, but this is just embarrassing for his booking agency. These people seem not to be convinced that Armin can excel in his gigs in spite of the performances of other DJs playing on the same event. It is a dirty business: either you are a star or you are treated as nothing by the ones above you. As I pointed out, I am not blaming Armin himself! His set was very good, as expected. But his managers are kind of silly people...

How do other TA's think about this issue?

BTW I got my information first-hand.

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Something interesting about Armin's gigs

quote:

Originally posted by Trancegen I don't want to blame Armin for this, probably he even didn't know these calls were made

yeah right

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when tiesto played here he wanted that no trance dj plays before him, so the warmup was slow dirty prog! not that i didn't like it :-) but i think it's normal that warmup dj's are called not try to steal the "star" of the night the show

Armin is afraid that someone could be more banging/rocking than he... LOL

i don't see why you are suprised really.

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I can understand not playing tracks from Armins label. If the warmup DJ whores all the labels tunes, its kinda stupid.

Recent stuff anyway. Playing old stuff from the label would be ok, just not the latest new promos.

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To be honest this is just standart stuff for warm up djs? It does seem a bit surprising to know the booking agency would actually tell them to do that, but it's nothing more than a warm up dj with brains would do?

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quote:

Originally posted by paranoik0 To be honest this is just standart stuff for warm up djs? It does seem a bit surprising to know the booking agency would actually tell them to do that, but it's nothing more than a warm up dj with brains would do?

Sadly, the art of warming up properly is one that less and less DJs master.. Most bedroom DJs only have that peak-time two hour slot in their minds when practicing at home.

But still, you're right.. I'd expect a warm up DJ to do what he's hired for, warming up, too. Not banging the brains out of everyone at 10 PM.

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quote:

Originally posted by paranoik0 To be honest this is just standart stuff for warm up djs? It does seem a bit surprising to know the booking agency would actually tell them to do that, but it's nothing more than a warm up dj with brains would do?

Warm-up DJs? Calling the two DJs, who played before Armin, Warm-up DJs is almost an offence.

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Something for you mind, your body and your soul
Best set ever heard live:
Randy Katana live @ MAD 16-04-2004
Best track ever heard:
Coldplay - Clocks (Marco V 1st version of bootleg)
Best mix ever bought:
DJ Tatana - Pure Elements (2000)

Something interesting about Armin's gigs

Last edited by Trancegen on Dec-17-2005 at 14:34

quote:

Originally posted by Trancegen Warm-up DJs? Calling the two DJs, who played before Armin, Warm-up DJs is almost an offence.

hate to burst bubbles, but unless it's a festival-type event, if dj x playes before dj y, x is warming shit up.

quote:

Originally posted by basdSadly, the art of warming up properly is one that less and less DJs master.. Most bedroom DJs only have that peak-time two hour slot in their minds when practicing at home. But still, you're right.. I'd expect a warm up DJ to do what he's hired for, warming up, too. Not banging the brains out of everyone at 10 PM.

absolutely correct on this. warm-up djs, like closers, are part of building up the night.

in regards to an earlier post, i've seen all types of djs open for tiesto, but he prefers proggy types 'cause he knows they work better in context; noel sanger, for example, is a teriffic dj whose style works great opening for tiesto.

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quote:

Originally posted by Trancegen Warm-up DJs? Calling the two DJs, who played before Armin, Warm-up DJs is almost an offence.

if the played before armin on the same night, then they are warming up for him. i dont think its offensive to them, its not like they didnt know they were warming up the crowd for armin