one of the best nightlife experiences i've ever had was an underground party in mexico where the dj booth was actually in a sunken area, 3 feet below the dancefloor.

for most of the party i couldn't find the dj, only the vj.

everyone was dancing and making party with each other. none of this concert-style face-the-dj and cheer bullshit



the dj does not necessarily need to be seen. The DJ as the focus of the party is the reason the scene leaves such a bad taste in my mouth now. The DJ is just another person in the party as far as I am concerned.

To those of you in favor of the DJ 'working the crowd' with antics, you must never have been to a party where the dj works the crowd with his music... it sickens me when deejays do poses and what not for a cheap cheer, spoon feeding the crowd..."this is when you are supposed to put your hands up", "this is a good song". "this is when you are supposed to be happy" etc etc

it's no different than pop music in how it standardizes the response. a lot of people think this is great because they feel like they belong to a crowd, maybe they were never accepted as themselves or something

but it's all fraud

we need a culture that responds to music on an individual level. it is the universal acceptance of every individual responding to the music in their own way without someone forcing a crowd to face one direction or do one thing that is beautiful

it's also the only sustainable dance culture. otherwise it's just going to get old quickly and remain a juvenile, escapist hedonism - when it could be a positive, meditative, interpersonal, spiritual experience

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec one of the best nightlife experiences i've ever had was an underground party in mexico where the dj booth was actually in a sunken area, 3 feet below the dancefloor. for most of the party i couldn't find the dj, only the vj. everyone was dancing and making party with each other. none of this concert-style face-the-dj and cheer bullshit the dj does not necessarily need to be seen. The DJ as the focus of the party is the reason the scene leaves such a bad taste in my mouth now. The DJ is just another person in the party as far as I am concerned. To those of you in favor of the DJ 'working the crowd' with antics, you must never have been to a party where the dj works the crowd with his music... it sickens me when deejays do poses and what not for a cheap cheer, spoon feeding the crowd..."this is when you are supposed to put your hands up", "this is a good song". "this is when you are supposed to be happy" etc etc it's no different than pop music in how it standardizes the response. a lot of people think this is great because they feel like they belong to a crowd, maybe they were never accepted as themselves or something but it's all fraud we need a culture that responds to music on an individual level. it is the universal acceptance of every individual responding to the music in their own way without someone forcing a crowd to face one direction or do one thing that is beautiful it's also the only sustainable dance culture. otherwise it's just going to get old quickly and remain a juvenile, escapist hedonism - when it could be a positive, meditative, interpersonal, spiritual experience

agree with most of what you're saying, but whats wrong with a bit of juvenile escapist hedonism? thats what this culture is based on for the most part lol-

not that i dont see it the other side as well, i think it will always just be a combo of both

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Fortuna Favet Fortibus.

you're right - the hedonism is great

but not the narcissism and groupthink

i guess i meant 'childish' in the sense of 'listen to your parents and do what you're told'

not in the sense of innocence and creativity, which i think is important always

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec To those of you in favor of the DJ 'working the crowd' with antics, you must never have been to a party where the dj works the crowd with his music... it sickens me when deejays do poses and what not for a cheap cheer, spoon feeding the crowd..."this is when you are supposed to put your hands up", "this is a good song". "this is when you are supposed to be happy" etc etc

Calm down. No one in this thread, or in the aforementioned interview, are suggesting that antics make a good DJ (or that they make anything other than a retard behind the decks).

'Antics' and 'technical skill' are entirely separate things. When a trance DJ does a Jesus pose or climbs up on the turntables or some other stupid shit, you'd call it 'antics.' And yes, it's pointless and embarrassing. When a DJ like Jeff Milligan (the one in the interview) starts mixing on 4 turntables, that's 'technical skill,' and that's what is good for a crowd to see. Did you even read the interview? His whole point in suggesting the DJ be where the crowd can see is so that the crowd can better appreciate what the DJ is doing to create the sounds vibrating throughout the dancefloor. Not because the DJ is some hero worthy of worship, but because the more people know about and appreciate things like skillful DJ mixing, the more they will appreciate the music and the scene.

This is Jeff Milligan (click)

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NEW MIX [Feb/March 2008]

Good interview, but he's somewhat hypocritical on certain issues, such as the business/economical and vinyl vs digital arguments.

nrjizer - you misinterpreted what i was saying a bit:

nothing wrong with seeing the dj. just don't put him on display

in the example i gave you could easily watch the dj mix because you could look into the sunken dj booth from all sides. and indeed i did watch him for some time because it was really quality

Still sounds more like a DJs DJ than a clubbers DJ to me.

Don't get me wrong, respect is due, but it seems like we have a difference of opinion on this.
When I DJ, I like to see the place, it's nice if people want to see me too but not the be all and end all.

I accept that technical skills are a major part but to me it actually kills the atmosphere if you have guys standing round with note pads staring at the likes of Halliwell and Zabiela. I can appreciate that people want to learn it because it sounds good but a DJ should play to the whole room, it's important to know what is going on in the whole room not just the first couple of rows.

I also am in the belief that the bigger a venue is, the more important it is to have the DJ booth raised, otherwise people tend to just mill about, get distracted and kill the atmosphere.

Cheers
Nem

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https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec one of the best nightlife experiences i've ever had was an underground party in mexico where the dj booth was actually in a sunken area, 3 feet below the dancefloor. for most of the party i couldn't find the dj, only the vj. everyone was dancing and making party with each other. none of this concert-style face-the-dj and cheer bullshit the dj does not necessarily need to be seen. The DJ as the focus of the party is the reason the scene leaves such a bad taste in my mouth now. The DJ is just another person in the party as far as I am concerned. To those of you in favor of the DJ 'working the crowd' with antics, you must never have been to a party where the dj works the crowd with his music... it sickens me when deejays do poses and what not for a cheap cheer, spoon feeding the crowd..."this is when you are supposed to put your hands up", "this is a good song". "this is when you are supposed to be happy" etc etc it's no different than pop music in how it standardizes the response. a lot of people think this is great because they feel like they belong to a crowd, maybe they were never accepted as themselves or something but it's all fraud we need a culture that responds to music on an individual level. it is the universal acceptance of every individual responding to the music in their own way without someone forcing a crowd to face one direction or do one thing that is beautiful it's also the only sustainable dance culture. otherwise it's just going to get old quickly and remain a juvenile, escapist hedonism - when it could be a positive, meditative, interpersonal, spiritual experience

+20

I actually like a really high and far-away DJ booth. I like when they aren't the focus of the party, when you're just in a sea of people dancing and going nuts and you occasionally look up during a huge, long, building mix and see some guy's head up there concentrating.

I guess I'm really talking about Digweed, since thats the vibe I got last time I saw him on his own.



I dont really like the idea for a sunken booth, because imo the DJ should have a reasonably good view of the room, to be able to guage the space and the atmosphere.

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quote:

Originally posted by ******** Seplling don't demonstrate intelligence and educatoin - knowing does.

quote:

I dont really like the idea for a sunken booth, because imo the DJ should have a reasonably good view of the room, to be able to guage the space and the atmosphere.

maybe for someone like digweed going to a new club for the first time, but it's cool for a residency at a small club with a proper scene.

[Random Booth Related Post]

My favorite booth to have played in so far has been this one:









Which was the way it was set up for Funk D'void this past June. There was a dancefloor right in front of the booth, then steps down to the bar. Great vibe, great crowd interaction, and the place felt like it was packed from open to close.



Love the booth on the floor.

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