quote:

A good talented DJ is someone who is able to listen to and communicate with the crowd and feel exactly what they need to hear at that special moment, and not just play music for themselves. - Misstress Barbara

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.


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.


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.


So those are a few of my criteria for what makes a “good” DJ. I’m sure I’ve left out a few key points… but I'll leave those for you to fill in.

So let me know.. what makes a “good” DJ to YOU ?

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).

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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

a good dj (armin) is the one who stays and dedicates time to the fans , gives them a word of advice, a hug, and a handshake not only a signature.... a dj who does not run away with the cash after set is completed....

quote:

Originally posted by arek a good dj (armin) is the one who stays and dedicates time to the fans , gives them a word of advice, a hug, and a handshake not only a signature.... a dj who does not run away with the cash after set is completed....

he doesnt even know what he gets paid for each gig he does, his manager doesnt tell him. he does it that way so he plays the best he can everytime and doesnt let the money he gets paid weither its small or big, get in his head and affect his performance. another reason hes awesome. he loves to be done close to the crowd, loves the club as much as we do. according to an interview I watched haha

^ 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.

___________________
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

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut ^ 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.

Absolutly...And your point about Deko-ze? I totally agree there as well...He's SO approachable & one of the nicest guys you can ever meet and when he spins, he is a pure genius and flawless.We are VERY lucky to have him

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Originally posted by DigiNut ^ I'm sure Armin's a great guy but I really 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).

reminds me of a rumor that tiesto kicked or threw a turntable because it wasnt working?

.. i heard this somewhere not sure if its true.. but it seems pretty funny

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.

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

what makes a good DJ?

two things - track selection/programming (a must) and technical skills.

reading the crowd should be considered as a part of programming, since it relates to picking out the right songs for the right moments...

and technical skills? well, he should be able to mix and beat match, right? other than that, if he's able to add some of his own personal touches, as in mixing 3 records at the same time, adding some effects here and there, that's just a bonus.

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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.

I think producing can make you a better DJ, whether you are playing your productions or not. It all speaks to a better understanding of the music.

However, there are many excellent DJs out there who are not producers. I think the fault lies in your wording, Yoshi - producing improves ones understanding of the music, therefore making them a better DJ, but that doesn't mean they weren't excellent to begin with.

quote:

Originally posted by Nrg2Nfinit reminds me of a rumor that tiesto kicked or threw a turntable because it wasnt working? .. i heard this somewhere not sure if its true.. but it seems pretty funny

That was during Gatecrasher NEC last year - probabbly the last Gatecrasher NEC event, everything went wrong there. Tiesto didn't actually throw or kick the turntable but he was really pissed off. Apparently the private plane that was supposed to take him to the event from Dublin, arranged by the Gatecrasher people, was majorly late, then there was another problem, when they finally got him to the venue the equipment wasn't working...it wasn't only 1 TT, i think half the stuff was not working...he couldn't play a normal set, he was pissed already as it is, so he's had it and let it out on one of the TTs lol... ...Although I don't blame him, if everythign got fucked up like that if I was him I'd be pissed too


Oh yeah...and what makes a good DJ...

1) Ability fo read and play for the crowd - entertainment factor
2) Someone who enjoys the music as much as the people do (not just stand and mix records *cough* diggers *cough* that's boring - a dj is a performer )
3) ...someone innovative...Ferry Corsten and Tiesto are good examples (most people say i liked him then but now he's different - innovative)

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