it should. I mean a dj listens to music. Just listening to music will tend to make you notice things. The problem and the reason it doesn't seem so is that alot of retards start djing. Djing is the only instrument where you can really suck and still get a job. But that isn't to say djing didn't help that person learn about music and form. Sure they suck but they would suck more had they not djed.

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Originally posted by johncannons1 i found the hardest thing about DJing is playing music you dont wanna play or hear. You have to do that though because its not what you want its what the crowd wants. This one gig i played on this cruise ship on sydney harbour.. just when sexy bitch came out. I held off a little from playing it.. i did play it and then half way through some wasted people came n said oh can you play it againnn pleassse. I said the song hasnt even fucking finished!!! arrrgghhh experiances like that help my decision to stop DJing and focus on producing.. i think i will get back into it when i can play music i want i.e TRANCE!

Yes you've definately played at parties in sydney!

Seriously though, why were you playing at some shithouse party where the crowd had no idea? You should have been hitting up nights like progression project or the other couple of psy/trance nights and playing there.

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Originally posted by CalebGolston To be honest, I am not big on 'the crowd' aspect. A good DJ knows more about music than the crowd does and should have some level of authority in chosing the mood. The way I see it you have worked hard to get to that point and they are coming to see you do your thing. I have been on a Sydney harbour cruise at night (it wasn't a party) and it was spectacular. Also, I love how there are all these small islands with docks around the harbour. What a city!

Well its a matter of balance isn't it. If you play music that's completely removed from what the crowd wants and you're known for playing that style of music then its really the promoter's fault because they're the one who booked you... If an RnB promoter books a trance DJ then he shouldn't be expected to play RnB or some shit.

Its defintately a DJ's job to lead the dancefloor rather than be a jukebox who just plays tracks that are requested. You have a far larger musical knowledge than most of the crowd and are there to do a job, which is programming a set and selecting great tracks, and its just insulting to then be told how to do it. I've always told people requesting tracks to rack off for that reason, often with hilarious consequences.

But sometimes you get into a situation where you play something very similar to what the crowd wants, and the promoter books you on the basis of your demo thinking you'll play just like that, but when you get there and start playing you find that the crowd isn't quite responding to what you're doing. Thats the situation where you have to swallow your pride and play some tracks that are sure to get the floor moving. In my particular case that involved playing a Pete Heller track that I absolutely hate but has a big acid line that suited the venue really well and the crowd loved it. Its not fun but its part of the job sometimes.

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Pete Heller :O I love his song 'Simpler (New Mix)'

I agree with your thoughts. One exception to the 'crowd' thing: I remember hearing a story that Paul Oakenfold was playing a stadium and had 'Southern Sun' on and the crowd wanted it again. He literly let the record play out and put the needle back at the beggining. That is an example where I think it was incredible atmosphere and a legendary moment. Now, if they were screaming for 'The Reward Is Cheese' it just woldn't be the same

Of course, in my opinion there aren't DJs like the old Paul Oakenfold anymore (and I only know from hearing old sets, I hadn't even heard of most electronic music until 2006 well after Oakenfold 'sold out').

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Last edited by Trancelover03591 on Feb-10-2011 at 03:56

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Originally posted by CalebGolston Pete Heller :O I love his song 'Simpler (New Mix)' I agree with your thoughts. One exception to the 'crowd' thing: I remember hearing a story that Paul Oakenfold was playing a stadium and had 'Southern Sun' on and the crowd wanted it again. He literly let the record play out and put the needle back at the beggining. That is an example where I think it was incredible atmosphere and a legendary moment. Now, if they were screaming for 'The Reward Is Cheese' it just woldn't be the same Of course, in my opinion there aren't DJs like the old Paul Oakenfold anymore (and I only know from hearing old sets, I hadn't even heard of most electronic music until 2006 well after Oakenfold 'sold out').

No it was his track sabotage that I had to play. Not my fave although he does have some good tracks.

Anyway, the difference with the oakenfold thing to me is that everyone (including him) knew why he was there, and it was his own track. So it was really a complement to him as a producer even if it was an insult to him as a DJ.

To just go up and ask an underground DJ in a nightclub to drop a commercial track (twice) is just really insulting and ignorant so its quite different IMO. And of course, a stadium is a very different venue to a nighclub and suits different music.

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Originally posted by Beatflux No it doesn't.

Care to elaborate?

I'm going by experience and many people have said the same in the past. M4B has just explained what I am saying. I'm certain most people who dj'd on a regular basis for a few years and then turn to producing can say that spinning records helped in some way.

It does help as you understand where to have the break, build up's break down's, what sounds you would use in a track etc etc. I'm not saying you have to dj to understand structure, I'm saying it helps. Just listening to music at home is just as good but if you are dj-ing every week then its going to give you an some understanding of what works and at least what direction you want.

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Originally posted by alanzo It's like sifting through cat shit to find a penny. In the end, it wasn't worth the effort.

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Originally posted by CalebGolston Only thing I would debate, I think 90% of people want to be DJs and 10% producers. I imagine most people try producing for a year realise it is next to impossible and give up. Also, ironically, I think it is easier for people to give your productions a chance, becuase it is so easy to tell in 30 seconds if they are good or not. Wheras a DJ set takes a long time to know. Also, I am not implying being a Sasha or Digweed at their peak is easy. Creating an amazing flawless set is really hard. Putting together a good set though, is not very hard at all.

Indeed that is true, and it probably wont change. Dj-ing is going to be the popular choice. Although Dj-ing is hard to get to a good level with so many people doing it, a lot of people give up and sell their decks when it gets too much like hard work.

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Originally posted by alanzo It's like sifting through cat shit to find a penny. In the end, it wasn't worth the effort.

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Originally posted by music2dance2 Care to elaborate? I'm going by experience and many people have said the same in the past. M4B has just explained what I am saying. I'm certain most people who dj'd on a regular basis for a few years and then turn to producing can say that spinning records helped in some way. It does help as you understand where to have the break, build up's break down's, what sounds you would use in a track etc etc. I'm not saying you have to dj to understand structure, I'm saying it helps. Just listening to music at home is just as good but if you are dj-ing every week then its going to give you an some understanding of what works and at least what direction you want.

I was a musician first and it helped me understand how to DJ. They are very complementary skills IMO whichever order you learn them in.

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quote:

Originally posted by music2dance2 Care to elaborate? I'm going by experience and many people have said the same in the past. M4B has just explained what I am saying. I'm certain most people who dj'd on a regular basis for a few years and then turn to producing can say that spinning records helped in some way. It does help as you understand where to have the break, build up's break down's, what sounds you would use in a track etc etc. I'm not saying you have to dj to understand structure, I'm saying it helps. Just listening to music at home is just as good but if you are dj-ing every week then its going to give you an some understanding of what works and at least what direction you want.

As opposed to careful listening?

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Originally posted by dj_alfi change your avatar for fucks sake.

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Originally posted by Beatflux As opposed to careful listening?

Why "opposed?"

Careful listening will help you understand structure and the basic different elements of a track.

DJ's will regularly listen to tracks very carefully, learning when phrases finish, new elements come in etc etc.

So by default, being a DJ will give you the "careful listening" that may help out when you start producing.

It doesn't have to be one or the other.

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even if it isn't careful listening, it is listening and better than not listening.

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Originally posted by Beatflux As opposed to careful listening?

Well yes. Of course listening is a given, no need to explain that. My point wasnt about which one to do, but, when you dj you also learn a lot about the music and it becomes almost 2nd nature of how tracks are built and how they progress etc. This alone helps if you was to start to produce, as most DJ's tend to move into producing these days.

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Originally posted by alanzo It's like sifting through cat shit to find a penny. In the end, it wasn't worth the effort.

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Originally posted by kitphillips I was a musician first and it helped me understand how to DJ. They are very complementary skills IMO whichever order you learn them in.

Indeed, many have said they go hand in hand. Its natural. Being a singer on stage, then to learn an instrument I'm sure has its connections as the singer would understand the harmonic's/notes from their singing to help them in some way. Everything has a connection in some way.

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quote:

Originally posted by alanzo It's like sifting through cat shit to find a penny. In the end, it wasn't worth the effort.