talkmagic.co.uk

it would then mean they are a performer and not just the guy who pushes buttons and makes "Bruno Brookes" type announcements to break the sonic tedium

thats the diference between a £50 non insured disco and a £300+ pro, that said with a business thats largly based on recomendations and using the old adadge that your only as good as your last show then you need to play to the masses.

I tell my clients that "I'm not cheep, I'm reasuringly expensive", this usualy sets the scene as it were.
thats why i like to do children's combined shows as I tend to have full control over the content and sheduleing of the event, control freek as i am.

We had the same booking every New year's Eve for 6 years in succession and only stopped doing it as our Disco business was 'retiring'. The re-booking was because we did all the daft party stuff as it was a family Disco for about 100 or so every year.

All of which is completely different to what Greedo has in mind. If we're talking about club DJ's who are booked on their name and reputation for entertaining then I'd be mightily dis-chuffed if they turned up and just played Black Lace, a selection of stuff from the 60's to 90's, and perhaps the Conga at the end! Under those circumstances I'd expect them to choose all the music and play it in their style and as per their idea of entertaining just like a singer or a magish would be expected to do. Interesting debate folks, keep it going!

I see where you are coming from, however for a mobile DJ to be successful they will have to play the music that people will get people up and dancing.

If a radio DJ plays music you don't like, you just change station.

If a club DJ plays music you don't like, you go to a different club.

If a mobile DJ plays music you don't like - he has pretty much screwed up your night.

Anyone can download the tunes and play them on their iPod, but the iPod does not have the personality of a good DJ, or the musical knowledge of how to put the music together so that it flows, or the ability to read a crowd, to hype them up, to change things when they are not going the right way.

The job of a mobile DJ is to get people dancing and have a good time - you may not like the fact that more people will dance to S Club 7 & Steps than they would to Bob Dylan or Morrisey - but it is a fact!

However, if I was booked to do a gig by a group of Northern Soul fans, then YMCA and Dancing Queen wouldn't feature on the playlist.

As a DJ I don't consider myself a performer - I am an entertainer who provides a service, which is different. My personality comes through, but I am not performing anything of my own, I am playing other peoples material.

If a comedian told jokes that were not funny they would not be employed again - I have to play music that people like, enjoy and will dance to otherwise I will not be employed again.

i was going to chip in my 2 pennies, but the birdie song just came on....
da da da da da da da do do do do do do do de de de de de dum dum dum dum

A-ga-do, do, do......

push pineapple shake the tree, a favourate action song of mine that and music man.

i once had the pleasure of knocking over bruno brooks in a romford nightclub by accident...brilliant it was..

anyway, though i sympathise, i see the different as said by mental...

i was a dj for years, had my own nights, 60s soul, funk, mod, r n b (not the rubbish now - proper stuff) psychedlia, all sorts...i know my stuff...and was a massive nerd on the subject too...

we can have a nerd chat on saturday if you wanted...

but then again, if no one was up and dancing after i played The Snake by al wilson, Venus the tom jones version, spencer davis groups I'm a Man, and Black Mind Machine by the Hunger, i'd be fuming...

I can also admit to working as a DJ for several years, and like Abraxus I ran several soul and RnB nights (1960's & 70's stuff - not this modern rubbish ).

However I did my DJing apprentiship as a wedding DJ. I started off intending to play "my stuff" - from Northern through James Brown up to 70's Atlantic - but quickly learned that at a wedding reception that is a recipe for disaster. I remember one memorable night when a punter told me that is I didn't play some Thin Lizzy he was going to break my nose. That was the last wedding I worked at and I started doing club nights.

It's completely different to magic. As most of you will be aware, my magic has a definite lean to the mental, bizarre, and readings side of thing. And not once has a punter threatened to break my nose if I didn't tear and restore a dollar bill.

Perhaps people who book magicians for weddings are just generally nicer people. I do look at the DJ's I see week in week out at receptions and feel sorry for them. All that lugging in and out with their gear, having to play the same old "party tunes" time and time again, and the grief you get because there will be someone at the reception who will ask for a track that you haven't got and will give you a mountain of grief over it.

Nah. Give me magic anyday.

And anyway, what is it with magicians and DJ's? Where we all DJ's at some point? It must be something to do with being the centre of attention!

abraxus wrote:
but then again, if no one was up and dancing after i played The Snake by al wilson, Venus the tom jones version, spencer davis groups I'm a Man, and Black Mind Machine by the Hunger, i'd be fuming...

Now you are talking. that's almost music porn!

Very good points all round really especially the ones about a difference between a club DJ and a mobile disco DJ.
I actually wonder though why they should be different. Yes, with a private function you will have a greater cross section to which to appeal to but at the same time why does that neccessarily always amount to playing the tackiest, novelty, cliche ridden ditties?
I could think of hundreds of tunes that are both famous and obscure that would be just as likely to get even the grannies up and dancing.
Would it be riskier? certainly, but the pay off even more so. Everyone leaves having a good time (they may even ask the dj "What that tune was"), as a dj you have had a far more fulfilled set and no one has to endure the bad jokes and other indicipherable rantings coming from behind the gourdy lights.

I'm a joy to have about at a wedding

Some good points there about the DJ's having to play to the crowd. I was at a mates wedding last september who had a band on.

The band told one of us that it was great at the end of the night when it was just a few of us left up and we were asking for our favourite tunes. Nothing ground breaking or anything but it was a break from the usual c*** (not the best). They said it was very refreshing to not be asked to play the "old classics".

My attempt at the splits also brightened up their night as well.

I have been a proffessional DJ for about 22 years, I am a specialist and cannot be booked for weddings etc I play on radio and in most major 'black music' clubs around the world. I also own my business that hires DJ/PA equipment which gets booked to do alot of weddings, The current trend and a service we offer is having all the equipment set up and the client runs a lap top with windows media player playing the song list they have pre selected!

Hey Tricky - I have got a spare 10K sound system for sale if you're interested!

Personally i got too much gear, but what make is it so if i hear anybody is after one I can let you know. Thanks for asking