Does it take any skill to be a "DJ"?

Absurdum · 16-08-2011 01:15PM

Black Flag are ****in legends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCOGM7PL8gY

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 16-08-2011 01:16PM

only the guys who can do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU5Dn-WaElI

the rest - forget it

HoggyRS · 16-08-2011 01:19PM

In most clubs, certainly in urban areas (maybe not out in the sticks where they finish up with the national anthem), djs mix most tunes. That is they beatmatch them. That requires a level of skill that takes a bit of practice and is not something you will be able to do adequately first time round.

You must also be able to read a crowd but also create a build up of tunes, a progression of bpm and genre. You're not gonna drop your end of the night tunes at 11.pm and work backwards.

So yeah theres skill.

vangoz · 16-08-2011 01:23PM

</Thread>

HoggyRS · 16-08-2011 01:25PM

Absurdum wrote: »

Black Flag are ****in legends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCOGM7PL8gY

.....and this guy was criticising electronic music? :eek:

ottostreet · 16-08-2011 01:26PM

Depends entirely on the venue/night in question. For most commercial pubs/clubs, genuine skill is not an essential, experience is. Basic knowledge of commercial music (and no, not just the current Top 40) is an essential. An ability to be able to pace a night properly is essential. The venue I'm resident in at the moment is one of the busiest bars in Carlow, and would require experience and knowledge more so than skill. 'Atmosphere' is more important than dancing in a bar, and so that is where the DJ comes in. How many times have you walked into a bar and just...didn't feel it? There is almost a visible lethargy in the air, and that is an example of the DJ not quite getting it right.

A point to note is that most commercial pubs have a music policy and that while you think the DJ is ****e, and that 'They Shoot Horses Don't They' or 'Jar of Hearts' is a perfectly good song and there is no reason at all why it shouldnt be played, even if the DJ wanted to, he more than likely won't be allowed because the management want a good atmosphere.

Clubs are a different ball game altogether, as there is a big dancefloor there, and nowhere to hide if no-one is dancing. Proper mixing skills are required, a greater ability to read a crowd, and, if its the right kind of place, excellent mic skills. I used to work for the company that ran the Coca-Cola/Cidona Roadshows for teenagers, and sheer nerve is required for those nights, as well as most theme nights, as it will frequently involve you being on stage alone, talking to the crowd, getting them revved up, doing competitions etc. all without the comfort of music to hide behind.

Unfortunately, DJ'ing is one of those particular jobs that everyone thinks they can do, which can be a little bit irritating, but luckily, is one of those jobs that not a huge amount of people can do well.

Forest Master · 16-08-2011 01:31PM

1210m5g wrote: »

You understand it takes skill to be a talented dj so your question is does it take skill to be a crap dj? Erm no, no it doesnt.

That's not what I said at all - try again.

I'm saying there are 2 types of DJ - one that has a sense of rhythm and a sense of melody - they have musical talent that can be tangibly applied to scratching percussively, or mixing & composing their own tracks, interesting use of samples & tempo, etc - basically, they can carve electronic beats & sounds/samples into music. This is 1% of the DJs I've seen. I even gave 1 example.

Then you have Djs who just buy a load of records, stand there with one headphone up to their ear, and just play other people's music - sometimes they even try to "blend" them together (is it called beatmixing?) as a transition to the next track - not exactly hard to do when they're all 120bpm.... Anyway - this type takes no skill, IMO. And this is 99% of the DJs I've seen.

So essentially what I'm proposing is that 99% of DJs have no skill at all. They buy records & just play songs back to back. They get hired because they have a big collection of music and maybe their own equipment too. Or they may just know the promoter.

HoggyRS wrote: »

In most clubs, certainly in urban areas (maybe not out in the sticks where they finish up with the national anthem), djs mix most tunes. That is they beatmatch them. That requires a level of skill that takes a bit of practice and is not something you will be able to do adequately first time round.

You must also be able to read a crowd but also create a build up of tunes, a progression of bpm and genre. You're not gonna drop your end of the night tunes at 11.pm and work backwards.

So yeah theres skill.

^^ Exactly the type of DJing that takes no skill, IMO. Described to a tee.

Run_to_da_hills · 16-08-2011 01:34PM

Real DJ's use 1210's or CDJ1000's any idiot can use a laptop.

abouttobebanned · 16-08-2011 01:36PM

Don't blame the DJs. Blame the idiots (usually women) who, while the band are on, say things like "I don't know any of these songs" "When is the DJ on".

The DJ exists because there is a market for one. People, believe or not, think that bands can be too loud and in many cases, too in love with themselves to play what people want.

Like everything though, it comes down to the individual. A cocky, in love with himself DJ, is just as annoying as a cocky, in love with himself barman, gym instructor, bouncer, guitar player..banker...whatever.

Richard Hillman · 16-08-2011 01:40PM

Actual dance music DJs yes. For Birthdays, weddings and a lot of nightclubs no. Most night clubs just play Rihanna, The black eye peas and then some random RnB acts that are in the charts.

Create a playlist, press play, go for a pint, say happy birthday to somebody, bar, smoke, go back to DJ box and say something, pint, smoke, go back to DJ box and say "good night Springton, there will be no encore", press stop, ride the last fat bird in the place. THE END

HoggyRS · 16-08-2011 01:46PM

Forest Master wrote: »

That's not what I said at all - try again.

I'm saying there are 2 types of DJ - one that has a sense of rhythm and a sense of melody - they have musical talent that can be tangibly applied to scratching percussively, or mixing & composing their own tracks, interesting use of samples & tempo, etc - basically, they can carve electronic beats & sounds/samples into music. This is 1% of the DJs I've seen. I even gave 1 example.

Then you have Djs who just buy a load of records, stand there with one headphone up to their ear, and just play other people's music - sometimes they even try to "blend" them together (is it called beatmixing?) as a transition to the next track - not exactly hard to do when they're all 120bpm.... Anyway - this type takes no skill, IMO. And this is 99% of the DJs I've seen.

So essentially what I'm proposing is that 99% of DJs have no skill at all. They buy records & just play songs back to back.

I think you may be slightly confused between music producers and djs?

Beatmatching is a skill as is EQing. Look them up on youtube. All tracks are 120bpm? On an average night in a club music would range from 85bpm ish to maybe 135bpm, possibly faster. Certainly when i'm playing I start off at 85bpm hip hop and work up to the 130bpm ish.

I think if you want to say that djs possess no skill you will have to first gain an understanding of what is involved with DJing. Or better yet try the job yourself if its so easy.

Forest Master wrote: »

^^ Exactly the type of DJing that takes no skill, IMO. Described to a tee.

Mixing is a skill. If you can perfectly mix two records on your first go, i'd accept it is not a skill. Fortunately I know this would not be the case.

wandatowell · 16-08-2011 01:46PM

mikemac wrote: »

Incredible skill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY17nDW-CX0

Well it got to number one for ten weeks so no denying its succuss

You see, you are confusing success with talent, its a mistake aften made by people who like chart music

Each to their own though,

NTMK · 16-08-2011 01:55PM

HoggyRS wrote: »

Mixing is a skill. If you can perfectly mix two records on your first go, i'd accept it is not a skill. Fortunately I know this would not be the case.

I think most people agree mixing is a skill but but djs ive come across in limerick and galway dont mix their sets dont flow and there has been no creative input into the songs. Djs up in dublin are better but you still come across **** ones from time to time

Logical Fallacy · 16-08-2011 01:57PM

wandatowell wrote: »

You see, you are confusing success with talent, its a mistake aften made by people who like chart music

Each to their own though,

He is also confusing producing a tune with DJing.

ebixa82 · 16-08-2011 01:57PM

People need to differentiate between professional DJs and DJs who play crap music in crap pubs and clubs.

Look at this to see a professional at work..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb4etMWgEyU

Logical Fallacy · 16-08-2011 02:02PM

Forest Master wrote: »

Then you have Djs who just buy a load of records, stand there with one headphone up to their ear, and just play other people's music - sometimes they even try to "blend" them together (is it called beatmixing?) as a transition to the next track - not exactly hard to do when they're all 120bpm.... Anyway - this type takes no skill, IMO. And this is 99% of the DJs I've seen.

The reason they are gonna have on headphone up to their ear is because you need to have one ear to the mix and one ear to the monitors. Personally when i am playing a set it's important that i respect the crowd and keep an eye on the volume and make sure the highs are not screeching. You used the headphone to match the beat and the monitors to make sure it sounds cushty.

It should be noted that when i play sets it's all stuff i composed and produced myself...so this thread makes me feel good. I'm better than 99% of DJ's.

Deadly.

ebixa82 · 16-08-2011 02:07PM

Forest Master wrote: »

That's not what I said at all - try again.

I'm saying there are 2 types of DJ - one that has a sense of rhythm and a sense of melody - they have musical talent that can be tangibly applied to scratching percussively, or mixing & composing their own tracks, interesting use of samples & tempo, etc - basically, they can carve electronic beats & sounds/samples into music. This is 1% of the DJs I've seen. I even gave 1 example.

Then you have Djs who just buy a load of records, stand there with one headphone up to their ear, and just play other people's music - sometimes they even try to "blend" them together (is it called beatmixing?) as a transition to the next track - not exactly hard to do when they're all 120bpm.... Anyway - this type takes no skill, IMO. And this is 99% of the DJs I've seen.

So essentially what I'm proposing is that 99% of DJs have no skill at all. They buy records & just play songs back to back. They get hired because they have a big collection of music and maybe their own equipment too. Or they may just know the promoter.

^^ Exactly the type of DJing that takes no skill, IMO. Described to a tee.

Forest Master tried to be cool for school and got shot down. Bad.

wandatowell · 16-08-2011 02:08PM

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

He is also confusing producing a tune with DJing.

In fairness so did i!

:D:D

stovelid · 16-08-2011 02:15PM

I'm in the in-between camp.

I think a good DJ is a little bit more than (in the immortal words of Booby Gillespie) "some cunt onstage sending emails". There is a real skill involved in unearthing music that people like, finding an old tune that fits the vibe of a night perfectly and taking the crowd on a journey - not to mention the skill involved in mixing and playing the music.

Where it gets daft is when they are spoken of in the same terms as people that write and create music.

Also, as somebody who grew up with Northern Soul/Funk/early House/Acid scene, I liked it better in the more innocent times when the DJ was more like the early hip-hop archetype: rocking the party with the crowd, not some superstar sap up on a lofty pedestal doing the artist thing.

mackg · 16-08-2011 02:17PM

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

The reason they are gonna have on headphone up to their ear is because you need to have one ear to the mix and one ear to the monitors. Personally when i am playing a set it's important that i respect the crowd and keep an eye on the volume and make sure the highs are not screeching. You used the headphone to match the beat and the monitors to make sure it sounds cushty.

It should be noted that when i play sets it's all stuff i composed and produced myself...so this thread makes me feel good. I'm better than 99% of DJ's.

Deadly.

Kess73 · 16-08-2011 02:19PM

Unsinnig wrote: »

Henry Rollins says it best...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12ttbWvr3I

He is in Galway next week.

Pace2008 · 16-08-2011 02:25PM

You could give two DJs, one talented and competent, the other mediocre, the same set of tracks and the same duration with which to produce a mix. One will come out with a set that has direction, build and flow, the other a disjointed mess. There is obviously something that separates the two, and I think skill would be as good a description as any to label it.

I think some people have a narrow view of what constitutes "skill" in music - they admire trickery and flashy displays of flashy displays of dexterity, as performed by a rock guitarist or a hip-hop scratch DJ. That's not what DJing in the sense you're referring to its about - it's about a keen ear for music and a vision of where you want the set to go. You can dismiss this as pompous bull**** if you like, but it's hardly the first musical artform to be disregarded in such a manner - sure isn't jazz just random noise, and metal nothing more than people shouting?

FWIW a good number of the better DJs play live and/or produce as well. I wonder if they view DJing in a similar light to you.

Irish Guitarist · 16-08-2011 02:28PM

It takes incredible skill. How else would you explain the popularity of Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers in the late eighties and early nineties?

Tea_Bag · 16-08-2011 02:28PM

if anyone here is from Limerick you probably know what a **** DJ is. he worked at Bakers place before it closed down (go figure). had a MAC and some poor software and didn't even attempt to mix. thought he was the **** though and acted like the part.

the old guy who I've seen in the groody bar and the mill bar. god awful music and no tallent.

the **** who worked in the stables was bad but I haven't been drinking there in ages so don't know if he still does it. he would ignore requests even if you were the only people in the bar.

god Limerick is a ****hole for going out in.

Logical Fallacy · 16-08-2011 02:30PM

mackg wrote: »

It's basically means good or nice.

Only Fools and Horses.

Logical Fallacy · 16-08-2011 02:31PM

Tea_Bag wrote: »

if anyone here is from Limerick you probably know what a **** DJ is. he worked at Bakers place before it closed down (go figure). had a MAC and some poor software and didn't even attempt to mix. thought he was the **** though and acted like the part.

the old guy who I've seen in the groody bar and the mill bar. god awful music and no tallent.

the **** who worked in the stables was bad but I haven't been drinking there in ages so don't know if he still does it. he would ignore requests even if you were the only people in the bar.

god Limerick is a ****hole for going out in.

Check out the Macronite events, they might be doing something that appeals.

Standman · 16-08-2011 02:42PM

What about this for an opinion:

“It puts me to ****ing sleep, to be quite honest; I don’t really see the technical merit in playing two songs at the same speed together and it bores me to ****ing tears and hopefully, with all due respect to the DJ type that will ****ing go the way of the dinosaur, I'd like them to dis-a-****ing-pear! It's so middle man, they’re like ****ing lawyers! You need them, but they’re ****ing *****. God bless them, they’re my number one customer right, so I’m not gonna go dis every ****ing DJ. But to say you become this massive, "up on a podium" performer by playing other peoples productions, at the same speed as someone else's productions and fading between the two of them, I don’t get it...”[

Pace2008 · 16-08-2011 02:43PM

stovelid wrote: »

Also, as somebody who grew up with Northern Soul/Funk/early House/Acid scene, I liked it better in the more innocent times when the DJ was more like the early hip-hop archetype: rocking the party with the crowd, not some superstar sap up on a lofty pedestal doing the artist thing.

It's not all like that these days, not by a long shot. Not everyone wants to stand at the foot of a 20-foot podium to pay worship at the Church of Tiesto or David Guetta.

Still no lack of gigs - the best ones - in dark basements, with sweaty manglers up against the booth showering the DJ with perspiration.

As it ****ing should be.

Pace2008 · 16-08-2011 02:44PM

Standman wrote: »

What about this for an opinion:

What about this one - Deadmau5 is a knobend who long ago sold his soul for an admittedly large amount of money.

St.Spodo · 16-08-2011 02:47PM

The music they constantly play says nothing to me about my life. Hang 'em!

Does it take any skill to be a "DJ"?

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