ON POINT! I find it hard to give the title "DJ" to anyone who has some music and is willing to play it. Opening sets are by far much more difficult and sensitive than any headlining set. Anyone can bang the shit out of the peak time jams, but it takes someone who can read a room and spark the party into a frenzy as the main talent goes on. Its nice to see some credit given to opening dj's as it seems to be taken for granted these days. Just my 2 cents.
Totally agree with both the article and clint. nice to finally have some credit given to the real art of djing. taking it from nowhere to right where it needs to be and no further.
I might be accused of having violated a few of these principles in the past. But you gotta learn somehow... Mostly, I have always felt that you have to set the vibe for the DJ behind you, and not overshadow too much; but I've always compromised between this and the urge to play harder sounds, by allowing myself to go harder in the middle and take it up to maybe 8/10 (but never more), but always leave the next guy in the 5/10 zone. As long as you leave a clean slate behind for the next guy, what you do in the middle shouldn't be much of an issue. That's how I used to think.
Now: I believe in the same approach, but have replaced that "8" with more like a "6.5". One part, because it is just better that way in the long-term progression of the evening (as this article really hits on well); but also because I have gradually enjoyed playing deeper much more. It's funny.. when all you do is open, all you want to play is hard shit; and once you start playing late, you want to play deep... Personal preference or not, "7" should never be crossed. There's just no reason for it.
The only point in this article I would disagree with is what seems to be a (very slight) disapproval of contrasting sounds in the opening DJ's set. Yes, if you're opening for a hard techno guy, you don't want to go playing some breaks shit, but... nothing is more boring to me then hearing each DJ on the bill play the SAME sound for the whole evening. NOTHING. This has happened a number of times, and well, it's lame. By providing appropriate contrasting material, you are helping the audience's perception of the evening along, but also making the headliner's set and sound more impactful by not ruining the surprise too much.
I'm glad this was written. Good stuff.
(We'll see what happens when I put my $ where my mouth is when I go back to opening spots every first Friday for the new Blipswitch party at 222. It's on son!)
ON POINT! I find it hard to give the title "DJ" to anyone who has some music and is willing to play it. Opening sets are by far much more difficult and sensitive than any headlining set. Anyone can bang the shit out of the peak time jams, but it takes someone who can read a room and spark the party into a frenzy as the main talent goes on. Its nice to see some credit given to opening dj's as it seems to be taken for granted these days. Just my 2 cents.
Clint Stewart (Auralism Records, Nightlight Music)
clint@auralismrecords.com
www.myspace.com/clintstewartsounds
www.blue-collarent.com
Totally agree with both the article and clint. nice to finally have some credit given to the real art of djing. taking it from nowhere to right where it needs to be and no further.
Agreed.
I might be accused of having violated a few of these principles in the past. But you gotta learn somehow... Mostly, I have always felt that you have to set the vibe for the DJ behind you, and not overshadow too much; but I've always compromised between this and the urge to play harder sounds, by allowing myself to go harder in the middle and take it up to maybe 8/10 (but never more), but always leave the next guy in the 5/10 zone. As long as you leave a clean slate behind for the next guy, what you do in the middle shouldn't be much of an issue. That's how I used to think.
Now: I believe in the same approach, but have replaced that "8" with more like a "6.5". One part, because it is just better that way in the long-term progression of the evening (as this article really hits on well); but also because I have gradually enjoyed playing deeper much more. It's funny.. when all you do is open, all you want to play is hard shit; and once you start playing late, you want to play deep... Personal preference or not, "7" should never be crossed. There's just no reason for it.
The only point in this article I would disagree with is what seems to be a (very slight) disapproval of contrasting sounds in the opening DJ's set. Yes, if you're opening for a hard techno guy, you don't want to go playing some breaks shit, but... nothing is more boring to me then hearing each DJ on the bill play the SAME sound for the whole evening. NOTHING. This has happened a number of times, and well, it's lame. By providing appropriate contrasting material, you are helping the audience's perception of the evening along, but also making the headliner's set and sound more impactful by not ruining the surprise too much.
I'm glad this was written. Good stuff.
(We'll see what happens when I put my $ where my mouth is when I go back to opening spots every first Friday for the new Blipswitch party at 222. It's on son!)
DJ-Producer-Promoter
myspace.com/DJjrogers
jrogers.net