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Selling Out (pg. 2)
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| AMP |
It really shouldn't be about the money, and though money helps, that is by far the furthest thing away in my mind.
All I know is, regardless of if I am getting payed... It is a good rush to go out and play a crowed and get responses.. |
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| Matthias |
| quote: | Originally posted by AMP
It really shouldn't be about the money, and though money helps, that is by far the furthest thing away in my mind. |
I agree with this to an extent. Personally speaking, if my primary motivation in life was the money...I would NOT look for it in the music business; rather I woulda busted my ass and studied to be a doctor or lawyer or something. Music is one of the hardest things to make a living unless you have the talent and heart to persevere, or unless you "sell out".
If I had all the money in the world, I'd never seek compensation for playing out. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing an entire room dancing to what I'm doing behind the decks. But...I live in the real world. Gas driving to austin and back costs money, and since I work overnights I have to take off work to play out; not requiring compensation for that is foolish...seeing as I have bills and 4 outta 5 charge cards are maxed (with interest).
It's all subjective. |
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| Dirk W. |
| quote: | | It really shouldn't be about the money, and though money helps, that is by far the furthest thing away in my mind. |
I run a successful small business... Money really isn't the issue. Getting gis and playing out is. I like DJing, but if there isn't a demand for the music that I enjoy playing I have to change to what the demand is if I still want to get booked. Also, being in business, I do have a tendency to look at Return On Investment. I am not in this to make a ton of money or even to make a profit. But, to make my money back on the equipment I have purchased someday would be nice. If I don't then I don't.
As Matthias says, you have to look at things realistically. I don't think I am good enough of a DJ to make a lot of money doing this. I enjoy working in my business and making investments rather than having hopes of going anywhere as a DJ professionally - not in my cards. I would, though, enjoy playing out when possible.
I said earlier I was selling out and I really shouldn't have. I think the term "selling out" is kind of cheesy to begin with. There is nothing wrong with making money. There is nothing wrong with doing something you love. There is DEFINITELY nothing wrong with making money doing something you love. Selling out gets tossed around a lot, especially in the music business and I think it is more used by the envious.
When I hear people say, they suck, they sold out -- I think thats one of the most naive statements I have heard. Just because they got signed or changed up their style a little to address a larger audience and make a living does not mean they suck. Just the opposite, it shows a great ability to recognize demand and adapt to situations which is crucial not only in business, but if ya want to look at the picture in a larger sense (ie: nature), necessary for a species to survive in a changing world.
That's like saying if Gatorade made piss (which some would argue they do) and everybody hated it, they would be "selling out" if they changed their formula to something people enjoy. They are just adapting. They are still creating a thirst quenching fluid, but have just changed it up to make it more acceptable to a larger group.
I have no idea where this came from now that I think about it, but I guess I am just saying I don't really look at myself as selling out. Just adapting. As I said earlier, I don't have plans on doing this as a profession, I just want to be there and see what its like playing out. Maybe I might be able to make some of my money back as well.
So, once again I appreciate all the positive comments and who knows what I am going to end up doing or even if I will get booked with my new style. My business does keep me busy and so promoting myself as a DJ or going out every night to get the word out is already difficult as it is. I'm sure I am destined for house parties and my bedroom which in the end is fine since that is what I bought everything for in the first place. |
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| DJ_Octane |
Nice words...SELLOUT!!!
LOL
Think of it in this way, you'll learn to work a crowd at least. Maybe when you get back to Big D, we can work on finding a spot to play at. I wouldn't mind making a monthly trip with the DCS boys to play up there.
Maybe we can get the other Dallas boys (Mark and Andrew) involved. |
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| Dirk W. |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ_Octane
Nice words...SELLOUT!!!
LOL
Think of it in this way, you'll learn to work a crowd at least. Maybe when you get back to Big D, we can work on finding a spot to play at. I wouldn't mind making a monthly trip with the DCS boys to play up there.
Maybe we can get the other Dallas boys (Mark and Andrew) involved. |
biatch.
yea, when i get back to dallas i know of some people to talk to. hopefully we can get some kind of deal going. school is going to be taking up a lot of my time i think so it will be interesting to see how much free time i will be working with. |
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| Zild |
| Compromising your art for more profits is selling out, plain and simple. It sucks that to be very successful in today's pop culture goes hand in hand with selling out but that's the way it is. Think of it this way, most great artists were not rich when they died. I myself have considered playing Top 40 music and then busting out some turntablism all of a sudden but I can't bring myself to buy records I don't really enjoy. I don't think anyone ever said selling out is bad for business, on the contrary if I were to approach my art from a business point of view then selling out would be the only logical option. The price of decks and a mixer isn't a large enough investment for me to spend hours upon hours listening to music I think is rubbish. |
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| Dirk W. |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
The price of decks and a mixer isn't a large enough investment for me to spend hours upon hours listening to music I think is rubbish. |
agreed, but I don't think some of the more popular house is trash, so its not that big of a compromise.
i do not agree that playing something other than what you really love is selling out. If you enjoy the art of DJing, the actual technique, then the music you play shouldn't be the big part of it.
there are kids i know who love to work on cars. sure, they might prefer to work on lamborghini's or ferrari's because they are cool, but most of the time they will be working on Pintos. It's just the way it is. but, it doesn't mean they love it any less. they enjoy being able to use their skill.
if they get a high paying job working on some boring looking car, they aren't selling out. they're still doing what they love. |
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| DJ_Octane |
Contrary to what a lot of people would do, I would actually do what you're doing. There happen to be some Top 40 songs that jam (R Kelly - Happy People), and I could enjoy myself. Don't think of it so much as not playing your genre of choice, but as you partying and having a good time by providing good jams. Just play mostly jams you like.
Dude, I have TWDY - Player's Holiday in my head. LOL |
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| Dirk W. |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ_Octane
Dude, I have TWDY - Player's Holiday in my head. LOL |
yea, well, thanks to you I have Delinquent Habits - Tres Delinquentes bumping in my head since like yesterday.
"otra vez ya lo ves in the crew somos tres.
one blaxican on the strong you won't test
hittin hard like an Aztec swift like a Zooloo
thats what its like when I pump a shot through you"
Make the bad man go away....
Someday we will play out together and I am going to make some cheap cheesy remix of that song and throw it on just for you - my little blaxican. |
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| Matthias |
When I think of selling out, it really isn't on the music but on the person's personal integrity. If someone switches genres, but his heart's still in the music, I wouldn't call that selling out. If a person completely walks away from his art to follow the latest trends, and bases his or her music career on that...then that is selling out. 0.02
In Dirk's case it could be seen as that, but I don't necessarily see it that way. Dirk, I think the label would only apply if you planned on walking away from your art altogether, if this is just something on the side as a means to an end with your own music, then I'm sure any other true artist could understand that.
I am pursuing an audio engineering degree for the same reason. That may mean that I might be mixing down/producing/mastering other people's music that isn't in my personal interest, but at the same time is may eventually land me a job working for a label or perhaps running my own when I have the resources. Like others said just do what ya gotta do. |
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| DJ_Octane |
LOL at Blaxican again!!!
Good point Matthias!!! |
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| Zild |
| If you like the music then its cool. I don't think I would be able to be a Top40/Club DJ and please the owners of the place and the crowd that would show up without playing alot of music I dislike. I know a few mobile DJs and I don't consider they sellouts I think they're just doing they're job so I guess you could look at it from that standpoint. |
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