DJ [Archive] - SLIMELIGHT Forums

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sekrets

29-08-2004, 02:12 AM

So, how do you get into DJing?
Ive always bee interested, but I dont want to pay out so much money for the equipment only to discover its something that I wont be very good at!
Is there anywhere you can go to get taster for it ?
And how do you learn? are there classes specifically for DJing? Or is it just something that you learn through experimentation?

Blink

30-08-2004, 11:55 AM

Ways to try it......

Borrow a friend's equipment
Buy some cheap computer program like Traktor and mess about with MP3s on your PC (I have seen DJ's at Slimelight just DJing from their Mac)
Go to a class (yes you can find them)

Eventually, like any hobby, you have to invest hard cash into it

I, personally, think that there are three skills to DJing (in my order of importance)

i) Song selection and ordering.....does Kylie really follow on from Aphex twin? When you are constructing a tape for your car, does the song progression make sense, does the music "lead" you somewhere, or does it chop and change moods and tempo.

ii) Mixing....getting tracks to flow seemlessly...more important to the dance genre, but I think it is always good to be bringing in the next song before the "fade-out" of the previous song. But then some people just treat DJing as being a "glorified jukebox", play one song, let it finish, play the next song.

iii) Playing to the crowd...if you don't play what the audience wants, then you aren't making them happy. The big question is how much are you there to entertain, and how much to educate.

The only skill you really need the equipment for is the mixing part.

sekrets

30-08-2004, 12:14 PM

Alexander

30-08-2004, 07:27 PM

Actually playing the songs isn't that difficult with about 5 minutes in front of some decks; which basically means knowing how to insert a CD, press play at the right time, press stop at the right time and eject the CD. As Blink said; the "glorified jukebox" approach.

Of course it's not that simple, you can train a monkey to change CDs. Sometimes you have to start or stop songs at a particular point, cue them up, fade in, fade out, mix songs, even beat match. Doing that is the skill part of DJing and takes a lot longer to learn and master.

To add to what Blink said you also have to have the material. Depending on what you're doing you'll probably need dozens of CDs to start off with. "Best ofs" and compilations are a good way to cut down on that but ultimately if you want to do it seriously you'll have to look at buying the latest albums, EPs and singles from the bands that you'll be expected to play. As you get into it you might be lucky enough to recieve free CDs from some bands, but it's only the top DJs that'll receieve material from the bigger bands.

If you've already got hundreds of CDs at your disposal then great, but if you don't then it's probably not worth trying to start; it'll cost money to buy the CDs and time to learn how the songs work/start/stop.

I got into DJing from a tip off from a friend who was a DJ at a club and was going to leave. He put in a good word for me, I sent in a demo tape, and I was asked to do a 30 minute set which got longer with progressive slots. Then I did other clubs, gigs and even a festival over the years.

The other thing to be wary of is club politics. As soon as you start DJing everything you do, or don't do, will be under somebody's microscope. If your setlists are too restricted then you'll get a label as a genre DJ. If you don't have a regular club night then you'll find it quite difficult to get anything else. You will have to deal with insistant punters that want their songs played or complain about how bad you are to everyone. Some clubs are also quite picky about using DJs that DJ at other clubs. It can be quite stressful, there's a lot of traps and pitfalls to avoid on your way up the ladder, and if you get on the wrong end you may wish you never got into DJing at all. :wink:

On the other side it can be very rewarding; it's a lot of fun, a good way to meet people and if you do quite well at it then it can become quite lucrative; you might actually get paid enough to make it worthwhile, it's always nice to get a slot, or even on the guest list, at other clubs and/or gigs especially when they're in other parts of the country or even other countries. :)

sekrets

30-08-2004, 07:40 PM

Thats cool. I'm not really considering it as a career tho, it might be interesting :) Just something that ive always fancied having a go at, but never had the facilities to do.

So do most DJs use CDs these days? I always thought that vinyls were prefered, but then times are changing i guess.

Another thing, If i ever got good enough to DJ at clubs, would i need some kind of broadcasting liscence or permission to play songs?

Alexander

30-08-2004, 08:53 PM

Vinyl or CDs depends on the venue. Every venue I've been at have had CD decks, some have vinyl decks as well but I think most DJs at most alternative clubs use CDs for the most part. The DJs at the big dance music clubs use vinyl by preference though and as has been mentioned, DJs are increasingly starting to use laptops with MP3s and the like. I've recently started using PC-DJ myself: http://www.pcdj.com/

If you get round to DJing at a club then you won't need a license to do so, I believe that's the responsibility of the club. As far as I know public performances are very broadly construed under the law and are defined as performances ''at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered.'' Therefore, events such as private parties and weddings are not required to have a license. Most so-called private clubs and fraternal organisations are ''public'' under copyright law, and do need a license. But the actual DJs don't need a license to play. At least I'm in trouble if they do. :wink:

sekrets

30-08-2004, 08:56 PM

hehe

And i guess even if it is illegal, who's gonna know, and whos gonna care? ;)

Rivetmike

30-08-2004, 11:25 PM

So do most DJs use CDs these days? I always thought that vinyls were prefered, but then times are changing i guess.

If you wanted to use vinyl you would be very restricted of what you could choose from as very little "alternative" music is ever pressed on vinyl.

Rivetmike

sekrets

31-08-2004, 12:21 AM

yeah I guess CDs would be the better choice for variety. And MP3 too.

Does any of you know where there is a demo or trial version of an mp3- DJing software?
Want to check them out cos it sounds like a good way of getting started.

snoww_wwhite

31-08-2004, 12:47 AM

hehe

And i guess even if it is illegal, who's gonna know, and whos gonna care? ;)

usually the police or the neighbours or the local security company :P

sekrets

31-08-2004, 02:21 AM

hehe

And i guess even if it is illegal, who's gonna know, and whos gonna care? ;)

usually the police or the neighbours or the local security company :P

had to put a damper on it didnt you! :p

mz_pink

31-08-2004, 01:33 PM

I just started out by playing small sets at friends partys, then my friend Mr Cyberbat started a pub night I played at, then I got asked to play Chains on Velvet by him when one of the other DJ's moved away.

Just lucky, I guess. I don't think you need hundreds of CD's, I didn't even have my own decks when I started out, just 2 CD separates and a hell of a lot of creativity. I found the more I was doing it, the more music I accumulated. I'm probably labelled a EBM/Industrial DJ, but that's fine by me as that's the music I like. I don't play goth or metal because I don't listen to it at home, so to play it in a club would feel really fake.

Just have a play around. If you've got a talent for it, someone will notice quickly enough. :wink:

31-08-2004, 03:02 PM

These is the babies to have ...

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=5528&taxonomy_id=44-106

He he!! :wink:

Crash_Dark

31-08-2004, 03:14 PM

These is the babies to have ...

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=5528&taxonomy_id=44-106

He he!! :wink:

Yep, lovely decks. Mind you, it took me a while to figure out how to put a CD on, while I played 'hunt the crossfade' LOL

sekrets

31-08-2004, 11:25 PM

These is the babies to have ...

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=5528&taxonomy_id=44-106

He he!! :wink:

Thank you very much oh glorious and wonderful SP, This could be just what I need to start out :)

01-09-2004, 11:38 AM

Thank you very much oh glorious and wonderful SP, This could be just what I need to start out :)

Well, if you've got a fat wad of cash!! :wink:

Don't know about this "glorious and wonderful" stuff though.

Skylizard

01-09-2004, 12:43 PM

These is the babies to have ...

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=5528&taxonomy_id=44-106

He he!! :wink:

Yeah those babies aren't cheap!!!! Which way do you walk home after a night of DJing....* gets balaclava and bat prepared* :wink:

01-09-2004, 01:03 PM

[colour=red]Yeah those babies aren't cheap!!!! Which way do you walk home after a night of DJing....* gets balaclava and bat prepared* :wink: [/color]

I never take them out! They're just too big & too much of a liability.

Some clubs have them though ... Slime has even had them on odd occassions ... Warp Records left a pair there for a couple of days.

Skylizard

01-09-2004, 01:06 PM

01-09-2004, 01:43 PM

Yep, they get used a lot at home. When I'm not DJing with them, they are a fine piece of HiFi.

The only dissadvantage is that you can get really quite slick with them, then have to use pieces of crap (Denons, Numarks, etc) out in a club.

I should be doing the next Perversion, and the venue they are using has the Pioneers! Yippee!! :D

sekrets

01-09-2004, 05:55 PM

do you DJ at slime, SP?

01-09-2004, 06:07 PM

Nope

sekrets

01-09-2004, 06:17 PM

Would you ever want to?

01-09-2004, 06:25 PM

Maybe!

Skylizard

01-09-2004, 06:40 PM

Maybe!

To busy looking good to want to hey? :wink:

Blink

01-09-2004, 08:00 PM

Maybe!

To busy looking good to want to hey? :wink:

Is SP ever in a fit state to DJ at Slimes?

Skylizard

01-09-2004, 08:36 PM

Maybe!

To busy looking good to want to hey? :wink:

Is SP ever in a fit state to DJ at Slimes?

I'm surprised he even makes it to Slimes some nights... :roll:

Blink

01-09-2004, 08:45 PM

I'm surprised he even makes it to Slimes some nights... :roll:

Still waiting to see him in trousers!

Skylizard

01-09-2004, 09:01 PM

I'm surprised he even makes it to Slimes some nights... :roll:

Still waiting to see him in trousers!

Me to , he keeps saying that he wore trousers but I have yet to see that, i think he lies just a little bit...... :P

sekrets

01-09-2004, 11:19 PM

oh he sounds like a right lil problem child

Blink

02-09-2004, 12:58 PM

Me to , he keeps saying that he wore trousers but I have yet to see that, i think he lies just a little bit...... :P

It was always last weekend, the one when you weren't there

sekrets

02-09-2004, 01:22 PM

I think i may have seen him at slime, in a skirt...

Crash_Dark

02-09-2004, 01:57 PM

I think i may have seen him at slime, in a skirt...

I think that, if you've been to Slimelight in recent years, you've most likely seen SP in a skirt (unless you left early!).

He does own trousers though, honest! I know, I've seen them. But why would he want to wear them to Slimelight when he can wear a skirt? :?

sekrets

02-09-2004, 02:16 PM

yes, why would anyone want to wear trousers when they have such lovely legs!

02-09-2004, 02:32 PM

You lot spoil me with your lovely words!!

Incidentally Sekrets, I used to be in a band called Problem Child.

:roll:

sekrets

02-09-2004, 02:37 PM

maybe i knew that already ;)

02-09-2004, 02:45 PM

maybe i knew that already ;)

Did you see us play?

sekrets

02-09-2004, 02:53 PM

maybe i knew that already ;)

Did you see us play?

Nope

02-09-2004, 02:56 PM

maybe i knew that already ;)

Did you see us play?

Nope

Then, maybe you didn't know that already!! 8)

sekrets

02-09-2004, 02:58 PM

maybe i knew that already ;)

Did you see us play?

Nope

Then, maybe you didn't know that already!! 8)

surely you couldnt have forgotten your bandmate already ;)

Skylizard

02-09-2004, 03:41 PM

You lot spoil me with your lovely words!!

..............Problem Child.

:roll:

No change there then ??????

02-09-2004, 05:00 PM

Runnin' wild!

sekrets

03-09-2004, 06:02 AM

surely you couldnt have forgotten your bandmate already ;)

meh was just pissing about here. I actually didnt know about your problem child band.

what kind of music did you play?

03-09-2004, 11:23 AM

Erm ... take a guess!!

Flidcania

03-09-2004, 12:47 PM

Erm ... take a guess!!

advert gingles???
maybe you were on the back-up group for the sesame street

sekrets

03-09-2004, 01:12 PM

Erm ... take a guess!!

ok, no need to be sarcastic :p

Loki

04-09-2004, 07:36 PM

thanks for this very useful information. I will look out for a computerized DJing package to play around on.

I want to make some decent Stuff tapes for my long car journeys, but I dont want breaks in beetween tracks :)

well PCDJ is a good programme to try and if I can remember correctly there is a free version available, it's built for mp3's

The main thing I've found about dj'ing is you must enjoy it . . otherwise it becomes a chore . . and I do still enjoy it ;-)

sekrets

04-09-2004, 11:00 PM

monkeytronic

05-09-2004, 02:40 PM

Hello. I've recently been looking into this whole DJ malarky too. I found a free mp3 mix program called OTS turntables. There is a version available with a few more features but you'll have to pay for that one. The free version seems pretty good as a starting point.
Here's where you can find it...

http://otsturntables.com/

Have fun with it.

mz_pink

06-09-2004, 02:15 PM

well PCDJ is a good programme to try and if I can remember correctly there is a free version available, it's built for mp3's

The main thing I've found about dj'ing is you must enjoy it . . otherwise it becomes a chore . . and I do still enjoy it ;-)

I tried PCDJ and really couldn't get on with it at all - I used Atomix to start off with - it's pretty simple but does the job just fine! The default skin is ikky, but you can get some other ones that are good.