Been thinking about doing this topic for a while. There seems to be a beleif on the Northern Scene that putting a big name D.J on the Flyer attracts the crowds. O.K so Butch is god and can always put numbers on the door, but can the same also be said for other so called big names ?.

Come back Clarky!!

link

All I want for Christmas is Ian Clark and John Weston deejaying at the 100 Club in 2005 on the same line up along with Tony Rounce........and Mick H. There - is anybody listening. One of the best sets I ever heard was Ozi from Nurnberg who did a mid tempo set...........jezzzzzzzzzus - made a grown woman cry and Roger Stewart at the very last TOS - a treasure trove of music played by a maestro. And talking of ground breakering deejays (gone but not forgotten) Randy Cozens - my mentor. Jo

Keele Saturday night was IMO rammed, and for me personally the DJ line up was almost perfect (will never be as my fave DJ is no longer spinning records)

Keele was a 500 mile round trip, if the night had been split with half the DJ's who were on, with the other half being people who I have never heard DJ before I would still have gone.

But, if the night had been just one or two of the DJ's who played, and the rest being DJ's I have never heard of before then I wouldn't have bothered travelling so far. Unless! the supporting DJ's were friends (who I always try to support when they get spots) or they have some credible backing, hypothetically speaking ... If Butch said that Karen Cranes spot was brilliant at Soulsville last month and worth catching, then I would more than likely make the effort to go and hear her

Keele Saturday night was IMO rammed, and for me personally the DJ line up was almost perfect (will never be as my fave DJ is no longer spinning records) 

Keele was a 500 mile round trip, if the night had been split with half the DJ's who were on, with the other half being people who I have never heard DJ before I would still have gone. 

But, if the night had been just one or two of the DJ's who played, and the rest being DJ's I have never heard of before then I wouldn't have bothered travelling so far.  Unless!  the supporting DJ's were friends (who I always try to support when they get spots) or they have some credible backing, hypothetically speaking  ...  If Butch said that Karen Cranes spot was brilliant at Soulsville last month and worth catching, then I would more than likely make the effort to go and hear her

link

============

Karen? Spot? Catching?

Sounds a little contagious to me

Winnie:-)

IS IT JUST THE NAMES THAT DRAW CROWDS? SURELY THE VENUE COMES INTO PLAY? SOUL NIGHTS ARE BASED ON CREATING THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE WITH THE RIGHT DJ'S IN THE RIGHT VENUES,

IVE SEEN MANY SO CALLED TOP DJ'S UP IN THE N.EAST BUT OFTEN THE VENUE ISNT SUITED TO SOUL MUSIC SO THE NIGHT DOESNT GO WELL FOR ANY OF THEM, BUT IN THE RIGHT VENUE THE BIG NAMES GO DOWN WELL, AS DO THE LESSER KNOWN DJ'S SOMETIMES THE LESSER KNOWN EVEN OUTSHINE THE BIG BOYS!! SO WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU??

============

Karen? Spot? Catching?

Sounds a little contagious to me

Winnie:-)

link

Yes Winnie, its on my bum LOL

Keele Saturday night was IMO rammed, and for me personally the DJ line up was almost perfect (will never be as my fave DJ is no longer spinning records) 

Keele was a 500 mile round trip, if the night had been split with half the DJ's who were on, with the other half being people who I have never heard DJ before I would still have gone. 

But, if the night had been just one or two of the DJ's who played, and the rest being DJ's I have never heard of before then I wouldn't have bothered travelling so far.  Unless!  the supporting DJ's were friends (who I always try to support when they get spots) or they have some credible backing, hypothetically speaking  ...  If Butch said that Karen Cranes spot was brilliant at Soulsville last month and worth catching, then I would more than likely make the effort to go and hear her

link

A bit off topic but can someone give me a number of the promoter or a number for the venue at Keele.Lost an item of clothing and i can't replace it...Djs did the business at Keele on Sat..Can someone send me a email with a contact number...Cheers....stevecato64@yahoo.co.uk

Steve go look at the Keele thread on here under events contact numbers are listed (sorry cant be bothered to go get them myself)

Oh yes, a venue can really put me off going, and has done as recently as this year! the worst one ever though was the aqua, up north somewhere and no longer running soul do's there, the ladies toilets stunk of pissy week old nappies, sorry but that is the best I can describe it, I heaved walking past them, and ended up using the gents.

The Dome is also a cesspit in the ladies toilets, and that was one of the reasons myself and other girlfriends didn't make the effort to go anymore, toilets would be actually broken and water pumping out all over the place, and other toilets blocked up to the hilt and overflowing, it still amazes me to this day how women can throw away certain things on the floor of a venue, I quite often look at other women dancing and thinking wonder if it was you being a dirty bitch in there, and no bloody toilet seats ... ok, I don't personally sit on public toilet seats, but surely there is a basic hygiene law to cover things like this?

My uncle used to keep pigs. The gents toilets at the Dome are the closest I have come to that smell since.

The Dome is also a cesspit in the ladies toilets, and that was one of the reasons myself and other girlfriends didn't make the effort to go anymore, toilets would be actually broken and water pumping out all over the place, and other toilets blocked up to the hilt and overflowing, it still amazes me to this day how women can throw away certain things on the floor of a venue, I quite often look at other women dancing and thinking wonder if it was you being a dirty bitch in there, and no bloody toilet seats ... ok, I don't personally sit on public toilet seats, but surely there is a basic hygiene law to cover things like this?

link

Totally agree with you Janine,the toilets at the Dome were horrible, no seats,no locks, most likely no paper,water all over the floor.I know we don't go to a venue for the toilets but there are limits to what people are prepared to put up with IMO

Totally agree with you Janine,the toilets at the Dome were horrible, no seats,no locks, most likely no paper,water all over the floor.I know we don't go to a venue for the toilets but there are limits to what people are prepared to put up with IMO

link

It's only like a European train station. I once walked into the blokes bogs at Venice station and thought I'd walked into the shower block by mistake, then slowly it dawned: foot holds in the 'shower pan', handles on the sides of the walls - 'The Golden Shot' sprang to mind. Bloody dirty foreigners. Cave Men.

Anyway, back to the DJ's......

Bloody dirty foreigners. Cave Men.

In this season of goodwill Jamie, I wondered if you had any generalisations regarding the Scandinavians, for the enjoyment of members of this forum, regardless of nationality ?

Edited December 20, 200420 yr by BLADEFORLIFE

Right, let me think. They've all got really fit birds . Expensive lager :angry: . They Love Porn . Horns sticking out of their Helmets . Pretty good at Football. Mullets. Big Axes. Big Moustaches.

And they make crap cars like this one:

Mainly speak (and spell) better English than we do.

That should do for now.

Jamie

Edited December 20, 200420 yr by Jamie

Oh yes, a venue can really put me off going, and has done as recently as this year!  the worst one ever though was the aqua, up north somewhere and no longer running soul do's there, the ladies toilets stunk of pissy week old nappies, sorry but that is the best I can describe it, I heaved walking past them, and ended up using the gents.

The Dome is also a cesspit in the ladies toilets, and that was one of the reasons myself and other girlfriends didn't make the effort to go anymore, toilets would be actually broken and water pumping out all over the place, and other toilets blocked up to the hilt and overflowing, it still amazes me to this day how women can throw away certain things on the floor of a venue, I quite often look at other women dancing and thinking wonder if it was you being a dirty bitch in there, and no bloody toilet seats ... ok, I don't personally sit on public toilet seats, but surely there is a basic hygiene law to cover things like this?

link

The toilets make quite a difference to a lot of people,some spend a lot of the night in them..To wash,change,chat and all the rest..How far would you travel for a decent toilet???I'm with Janine on the use of public toilet seats in most places..Squatting is very good for the calf muscle....

Oh yes, a venue can really put me off going, and has done as recently as this year!  the worst one ever though was the aqua, up north somewhere and no longer running soul do's there, the ladies toilets stunk of pissy week old nappies, sorry but that is the best I can describe it, I heaved walking past them, and ended up using the gents.

The Dome is also a cesspit in the ladies toilets, and that was one of the reasons myself and other girlfriends didn't make the effort to go anymore, toilets would be actually broken and water pumping out all over the place, and other toilets blocked up to the hilt and overflowing, it still amazes me to this day how women can throw away certain things on the floor of a venue, I quite often look at other women dancing and thinking wonder if it was you being a dirty bitch in there, and no bloody toilet seats ... ok, I don't personally sit on public toilet seats, but surely there is a basic hygiene law to cover things like this?

link

=============

The aqua was in Hednesford. Obviously never went into the ladies, but as I remember the blokes was ok. But what a dance floor, absolutely gorgeous. You sure it wasn't cos the bar shut a couple of hours before the venue wasn't the reason you disliked it?

Really good venue in my opinion.

Winnie:-)

============

Karen? Spot? Catching?

Sounds a little contagious to me

Winnie:-)

link

Karen u got some great records even Butch said so if u can get Geraldine Hunt-Never Ever Leave Me-Roulette I will be your number 1 fan.Billy P.S great night at the Marrs John Vincent is at the next 1

=============

The aqua was in Hednesford. Obviously never went into the ladies, but as I remember the blokes was ok. But what a dance floor, absolutely gorgeous. You sure it wasn't cos the bar shut a couple of hours before the venue wasn't the reason you disliked it? 

Really good venue in my opinion.

Winnie:-)

link

Not sure who it was now but one of the women with us that night KTF or a partner was opening the toilet door and spraying her expensive purfume in first then putting a tissue over her mouth and still not being able to go all the way in and use the toilet! And no it had nothing to do with the bar times, as we were staying in a very flash hotel just down the road who stayed open all night for us after the do

The venue otherwise was indeed very good, an almost perfect layout for the bar and seating/dance floorareas, unfortunatly not many places like that are being found/used for soul do's.

Oh yes, a venue can really put me off going, and has done as recently as this year! the worst one ever though was the aqua, up north somewhere and no longer running soul do's there, the ladies toilets stunk of pissy week old nappies, sorry but that is the best I can describe it, I heaved walking past them, and ended up using the gents.

The Dome is also a cesspit in the ladies toilets, and that was one of the reasons myself and other girlfriends didn't make the effort to go anymore, toilets would be actually broken and water pumping out all over the place, and other toilets blocked up to the hilt and overflowing, it still amazes me to this day how women can throw away certain things on the floor of a venue, I quite often look at other women dancing and thinking wonder if it was you being a dirty bitch in there, and no bloody toilet seats ... ok, I don't personally sit on public toilet seats, but surely there is a basic hygiene law to cover things like this?

Wish you had the opportunity to go to the Casino Janine, I wonder what you'd have thought of the loo's there and if you'd have gone back again LOL

Gaye

Kev Roberts is wrong. Butch does deliver - try going to the 100 Club.

Hippo mentioned Dick Coombes - whatever happened to him?

link

If it's the same Dick that i know, he now lives in Galway after moving from Dublin.

Danny D

Kev Roberts is wrong. Butch does deliver - try going to the 100 Club.

link

He certainly delivers at Lifeline too, floor packed whenever he's DJ'ed there! If he doesn't deliver why book him for Stoke Kev?

Edited December 26, 200420 yr by chalky

top venue and top dj`s would be perfect, i agree venue is important but,it would be good to test this out , unknown dj`s at top venue v top dj`s at a crap place both on the same night, just for fun what do ya think ?

top venue and top dj`s would be perfect, i agree venue is important but,it would be good to test this out , unknown dj`s at top venue v top dj`s at a crap place both on the same night, just for fun what do ya think ?

link

Just a thought here, alot of lesser known D.j's would play for nothing, or just petrol money, because they just love to spin thier tunes. If promoters put so called big names on they have to fork out £100 upwards in some cases........ So surely by putting lesser names on it doesn't eat into the profits.

When you take into account that there is no evidence that Well known names do attract crowds, I really don't understand why promoters fall over themselves to put on these so called big names on.

JM

Just a thought here, alot of lesser known D.j's would play for nothing, or just petrol money, because they just love to spin thier tunes.  If promoters put so called big names on they have to fork out £100 upwards in some cases........ So surely by putting lesser names on it doesn't eat into the profits.     

  When you take into account that there is no evidence that Well known names do attract crowds, I really don't understand why promoters fall over themselves to put on these so called big names on.

JM

link

you have a very valid point there john ....promoters are scared ( probably for a good reason ) , if they don't fill the venue they lose the night BUT people do forget the point that it's the music that is king and not the person playing it ...so many good dj's with underplayed stuff not getting gigs for one reason or another .....so in turn so many new nights popping up ------------ vicious circle

Davie

i'm personally not that fussed about big name DJ's. I'm more impressed by those that can actually work a dancefloor .... name or not.

I'd also say that promotors/clubs can build a reputation for putting quality events on ... and thus draw people in. I also like a decent venue ..... I'm not a fan of "social club" type places. And a decent flyer always helps.

i'm personally not that fussed about big name DJ's. I'm more impressed by those that can actually work a dancefloor .... name or not.

I'd also say that promotors/clubs can build a reputation for putting quality events on ... and thus draw people in. I also like a decent venue ..... I'm not a fan of "social club" type places. And a decent flyer always helps.

link

well said dave , if your punters trust your judgement then they'll come regardless of the name on the flyer , but with so many do's popping up do promoters have the time and patience to build up a rep that could take years .....?

Davie

well said dave , if your punters trust your judgement then they'll come regardless of the name on the flyer , but with so many do's popping up do promoters have the time and patience to build up a rep that could take years .....?

Davie

link

the soulsville event in leeds is the smallest venue

ive ever been to,but what a crowd of people.

this event was put on almost a year ago by two

not known names as d.js go,but the likes of pat brady

are now joining these two lads cos of its great music

and be it small brilliant venue.

so really big names are not important that much if you

want to attend a good night of what we like.

Kev Roberts is wrong. Butch does deliver - try going to the 100 Club.

Hippo mentioned Dick Coombes - whatever happened to him?

link

totally agree with you mate,butch delivers allright. i think what kev means, with the greatest respect, that butch could never deliver at one of kevs nights , cos theres not a chance in a million hes gonna play gerri grainger, jimmy radcliffe....etc.etc.

no offence meant kev, i know you can pack them in. butch is not the dj for you. put him on any where else, he delivers allright.

happy christmas.......

the soulsville event in leeds is the smallest venue

ive ever been to,but what a crowd of people.

this event was put on almost a year ago by two

not known names as d.js go,but the likes of pat brady

are now joining these two lads cos of its great music

and be it small brilliant venue.

so really big names are not important that much if you

want to attend a good night of what we like.

link

Well said Pete, I think that soulsville could become a blueprint for the future of the scene. Rather than big in ya face venues playing played out repetative sounds, a small venue like Soulsville, can start off small and build a reputation playing more quality music, it doesn't need 100's of punters to be a success. Fingers crossed for the future.

JM

does quality mean rarer? .... or can some of the played out stuff be quality? ..... i prefer a nice mix myself, plenty that i know and some i don't.

Well said Pete, I think that soulsville could become a blueprint for the future of the scene. Rather than big in ya face venues playing played out repetative sounds, a small venue like Soulsville, can start off small and build a reputation playing more quality music, it doesn't need 100's of punters to be a success.  Fingers crossed for the future.

JM

link

Nice to know that venues such as this continue to spring up. There are a few around that probably fit into this category already, offering something different to the rest of what usually goes on in the area. Would guess that The Union or whatever it will be called once it moves to it's new venue could well be the one that attracts most travellers.

Would love to try out more but the one problem if you're talking soulnights is that they can be a long way to travel, so definitely need fairly local suport too.

We've found this with the Station in Dudley. I would say that the best soul night of music this last year for me has been at the Station when Keith and Kenny travelled down from Scotland. Here's the answer to the question do big name dj's attract crowds. For a soul night here were two big name dj's playing fantastic music but did they bring in the crowd. No unfortunately, due to various reasons we had changed the night of our do to the beginning of the month, one of the reasons being so that we could get Keith. The attendance however was one of the poorer ones. Pity really, people don't know what they missed.

So long as we have enough in to cover our costs the Station goes on. There is definitely a need for places or rooms within bigger venues offering that 'x' factor in my opinion of course.

Gaye

Regarding which DJs attract crowds, it depends which part of the country you are in and what kind of crowd you are trying to attract. The soul scene - sadly - is full of people who can't get the blinkers off and listen to a record on its merits. For them it has to have been played at a certain club, at a certain time by a certain person for it to be accepted as a scene record. When booking DJs, rather than telling them what they can I can't play, I've tried to get guys (and gals) who I know can do the business and play broad sets that go across meaningless categorisations of oldie,newie, biggie, crossover etc.

Some DJs I really respect for their commitment, knowledge, integrity and passion are Kitch, Andy Dyson, Liz Foster,  Dean Anderson, Kenny Burrell, Chalky, Keith Money, Lenny Harkins, Mark Wilson,  Fraser Dunn, Colin Law, Butch because all of them have seen it, done it and got the t-shirt. When I've book a DJ, I tell them to play what they want. To me, the music policy of a venue is set by who you book. What's the point in booking guys and then telling them what to play?

As for adding people to the door, Scotland can be a bit different - Jock's pointed out that Scotland has a history of innovation and progression that is sometimes forgotten. DJs from the Shotts era are the ones who tend to pull people out of the woodwork in my experience. I was too young to go to Shotts and Wigan but if I had to pick which one I prefer it's Shotts - judging by the music policy, the DJs and the opinions of those people who went.

allright hammy , at last some c**ts gave us the recognition we decerve, i dont think i belong in the same list as andy and butch, but thanks anyway it makes it all worthwhile.i promise me and mark  will do the taxi this year , the thing is hammy ma newie mate ,me and mark were classed as newies scum [mabye 10 years ago] me playing the tiaras and mark playing the track[ as sold him by cliff[nicest guy on the planet ]camfeild . a hard thing to play down. but f*** it, big mark has got some fuckin crackers, he spent his fuckin whack in the early 90's on unkowns, when big rob sold up , think april and blackwood acetates ,. the thing is hammy ,nae c*** wanted tae no us [ have ye got spooky and sue...f*** off].........[wit aboot , band a gold] kiss ma hole!

but nae disrespect hammy , every c*** in edinburgh wis greetin when clouds finished, f*** OFF!!!get tae allanton  , 1990 hearin the nurons and the 4 tracks for first time,    thats what we were about. lenny

Hammy0

link 0

Regarding which DJs attract crowds, it depends which part of the country you are in and what kind of crowd you are trying to attract. The soul scene - sadly - is full of people who can't get the blinkers off and listen to a record on its merits. For them it has to have been played at a certain club, at a certain time by a certain person for it to be accepted as a scene record. When booking DJs, rather than telling them what they can I can't play, I've tried to get guys (and gals) who I know can do the business and play broad sets that go across meaningless categorisations of oldie,newie, biggie, crossover etc.

Some DJs I really respect for their commitment, knowledge, integrity and passion are Kitch, Andy Dyson, Liz Foster,  Dean Anderson, Kenny Burrell, Chalky, Keith Money, Lenny Harkins, Mark Wilson,  Fraser Dunn, Colin Law, Butch because all of them have seen it, done it and got the t-shirt. When I've book a DJ, I tell them to play what they want. To me, the music policy of a venue is set by who you book. What's the point in booking guys and then telling them what to play?

As for adding people to the door, Scotland can be a bit different - Jock's pointed out that Scotland has a history of innovation and progression that is sometimes forgotten. DJs from the Shotts era are the ones who tend to pull people out of the woodwork in my experience. I was too young to go to Shotts and Wigan but if I had to pick which one I prefer it's Shotts - judging by the music policy, the DJs and the opinions of those people who went.

Hammy

link

Been thinking about doing this topic for a while. There seems to be a beleif on the Northern Scene that putting a big name D.J on the Flyer attracts the crowds. O.K so Butch is god and can always put numbers on the door, but can the same also be said for other so called big names ?.

link

[/quot

butch touched ma couch, is he really god gis cos of the delark,s.

The toilets make quite a difference to a lot of people,some spend a lot of the night in them..To wash,change,chat and all the rest..How far would you travel for a decent toilet???

link

The best toilet i've come across was probably at The Locarno, Birmingham years ago. It was massive with a huge changing room with full length mirrors attached where everyone would practice dancing before hitting the main room.

The best toilet of the last few years is at Kings Hall Stoke, another toilet bigger than my living room (come to think of it maybe my whole house!).

M.

Edited January 4, 200520 yr by mattmale

The best toilet i've come across was probably at The Locarno, Birmingham years ago. It was massive with a huge changing room with full length mirrors attached where everyone would practice dancing before hitting the main room.

The best toilet of the last few years is at Kings Hall Stoke, another toilet bigger than my living room (come to think of it maybe my whole house!).

M.

link

The worst toilet is Sheridans, which is y u get ladies weeing in the sink, however Sheridans is one of the best venues. great. dedicated northern soul club, run by soulies, frequented by soulies, u can feel the soul, and it has some great names on, including Lizz Foster, Paul Sadot, Kev Murphy, Tim Brown- when he turns up! Andy Dyson and lots more but u feel like u've gone home when u walk thru the door. Love it

well we will find out in january as we will have soul sam as guest at the greatstone.

i personally do not think it makes a great difference for the smaller clubs but for the larger nights i would imagine they are needed

mark

well we will find out in january as we will have soul sam as guest at the greatstone.

i personally do not think it makes a great difference for the smaller clubs but for the larger nights i would imagine they are needed

mark

link

mark, he went a bit doolally at derby mate, and there have been some eye raising moments at sheridans. generally he's 1 of my faves but sometimes he flies off on a disco tangent.

john you keep saying " these so called big names " i can tell you for a fact so called big names put arses throught the doors at lifeline ! tell me who you'd replace and keep on for the ultimate upfront line up - i won't be offended in the slightest you have my word ! but thgink very hard who can play a hour of top notch unknowns ?

has for money that don't come into it all my dj's are proper passionate that's why they keep finding things - strap back do you honestly think £100-150 is anything like appropriate wages ? it's a joke ! but that proves they aren't in it for the money - you can't cut costs at quality events ! fire away let's oen up.

john you keep saying " these so called big names "  i can tell you for a fact so called big names put arses throught the doors at lifeline ! tell me who you'd replace and keep on for the ultimate upfront line up - i won't be offended in the slightest you have my word ! but thgink very hard who can play a hour of top notch unknowns ?

  has for money that don't come into it all my dj's are proper passionate that's why they keep finding things - strap back do you honestly think £100-150 is anything like appropriate wages ? it's a joke ! but that proves they aren't in it for the money - you can't cut costs at quality events ! fire away let's oen up.

link

course they draw us in, Lifeline is one of THE best nights in the country, and the DJ's are excellent. u just don't travel if there's betty, fred and jim on

I agree with what you say Andy,

however to add another slant, last year at our anniversary do at the Friendship we had Soul Sam who for me is one of the greatest, however some find him radical we actually had reduced numbers at the venue for that night many of the regular supporters saying they weren't coming to hear his style of sounds (for me their loss).

Sams spot was out of this world and I feel the money he charged was not high at all (a pittance in fact) to hear one off gems and to be blunt I will probably book him again for the anniversary this year.

But did he put bums on seats.... not really on the night, but........ but he did attract a crowd that night who had not been to our venue before many of which have come back and swelled the normal supporters numbers so there has been a great trade off due to Sams Appearance.

So unless your running a venue and can visualise and appreciate the long term imlications and benefits a lot of these "known" DJ's can bring .... belt up and stop whinging

:angry: Geooordie

I think its very subjective of peoples tastes that perhaps determine a event of choice,firstly the quality of sounds must be paramount but then the social aspect also plays a role in the proceedings(for me it's musical quality) i am guilty of wanting to hear name DJ's, but also i like to give lesser known venues a chance, then i am able to make a judgement on whether i will attend again.

The type of dj you use is very much determined by the music policy you adopt,if you run out and out oldies nites it does give you more chance to use the lesser known names,if your looking to try to spin rarer less often heard tunes you have to lean towards the big established names.Its far easier for a big name dj to break a new sound vicious circle i know but thats how it is.Balance is the key to a good nite,but i for one would,nt fancy promoteing a nite with no established names on the lineup,that said i do beleive in giveing at least 2 or 3 lesser known djs a chance at my nites at sheridans.

The type of dj you use is very much determined by the music policy you adopt,if you run out and out oldies nites it does give you more chance to use the lesser known names,if your looking to try to spin rarer less often heard tunes you have to lean towards the big established names.Its far easier for a big name dj to break a new sound vicious circle i know but thats how it is.Balance is the key to a good nite,but i for one would,nt fancy promoteing a nite with no established names on the lineup,that said i do beleive in giveing at least 2 or 3 lesser known djs a chance at my nites at sheridans.

link

and it works... paul sadot for instance.... try little stevie on here too

The records are far bigger and more important than the guys/girls who play them don't you think?

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

link

In one sense of course they are Mark.

A decent DJ is nothing without a decent collection.

But surely the order in which they are played also plays a major part (and the correct presentation in cueing up and use of the microphone, along with a certain personality behind the decks enhances the set)

Without these attributes a DJ is nothing more than a collector with a decent collection behind the decks.

All these points combined correctly don't make a DJ a big name, but should effectively fill a dancefloor, and through time should gain the DJ a reputation and eventually a name worth booking.

Not being a prima donna twat also helps.

In my opinion anyway....

Regards

Mace.

In one sense of course they are Mark.

A decent DJ is nothing without a decent collection.

But surely the order in which they are played also plays a major part (and the correct presentation in cueing up and use of the microphone, along with a certain personality behind the decks enhances the set)

Without these attributes a DJ is nothing more than a collector with a decent collection behind the decks.

All these points combined correctly don't make a DJ a big name, but should effectively fill a dancefloor, and through time should gain the DJ a reputation and eventually a name worth booking.

Not being a prima donna twat also helps. 

In my opinion anyway....

Regards

Mace.

link

Thanks for your input there mace, I 'm a little suprised that there has been nearly 150 replys to this topic , I didn't expect so much response when I started the topic a fortnight ago.

It is difficult to sum up all the different view points. I agree with Mace's last comment, that a good D.J builds a reputation, over a long period, but must avoid becoming a prima donna, nice comment, and very true. The last thing we want on the scene is swaggering D.J's.

A slight disagreement I have is on the point that a D.J must have a decent collection. IMO being a D.J and being a collector are two disciplines. usually a spot lasts for about an hour, approx 24 records, and usually a well prepared D.j will have a rough idea, as to what records he or she is going to spin, I've never understood why D.J's turn up with huge amounts of records when a box off about 100 to 150 should be more than enough to cover any eventuality. I even saw one D.J once turn up with his records in a carrier bag, and he played a blinding spot.

Anyway keep the replies coming, I've enjoyed reading all the different opinions.........

Don't think I would travel to hear a particular DJ, but I would be tempted to go to a new venue if someone like Soul Sam was DJ'ing.

On the other hand, I went to the Queens Hotel on New Years Eve, and I'm sorry if your on here mate, but I would definately avoid a do that had Ian Dewhirst at it. The bloke was very very drunk, broke a needle turned up late to his spot and played Wedding Disco Soul. At one point we were predicting the next song "I bet he plays Ghost in my House next, followed by Needle in a Haystack" and he did, so atleast he one me a few quid. But thank god Mark Ellis and Neil Henderson saved the night by kicking him off and taking on his spot between them.

Cheers

Biggie G

Don't think I would travel to hear a particular DJ, but I would be tempted to go to a new venue if someone like Soul Sam was DJ'ing.

On the other hand, I went to the Queens Hotel on New Years Eve, and I'm sorry if your on here mate, but I would definately avoid a do that had Ian Dewhirst at it.  The bloke was very very drunk, broke a needle turned up late to his spot and played Wedding Disco Soul.  At one point we were predicting the next song "I bet he plays Ghost in my House next, followed by Needle in a Haystack" and he did, so atleast he one me a few quid.  But thank god Mark Ellis and Neil Henderson saved the night by kicking him off and taking on his spot between them.

Cheers

Biggie G

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Hells Bells, Did he leave the venue alive.........

The last thing we want on the scene is swaggering D.J's.

 

  Anyway keep the replies coming, I've enjoyed reading all the different opinions.........

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Don't know about swagger, but I stagger sometimes when I've had too much ale !

  A slight disagreement I have is on the point that a D.J must have a decent collection.  IMO being a D.J and being a collector are two disciplines.  usually a spot lasts for about an hour, approx 24 records, and usually a well prepared D.j will have a rough idea, as to what records he or she is going to spin, I've never understood why D.J's turn up with huge amounts of records when a box off about 100 to 150 should be more than enough to cover any eventuality.  I even saw one D.J once turn up with his records in a carrier bag, and he played a blinding spot.

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When I said 'decent collection' I originally meant quality, not quantity John....in reference to Marks comment that it's the tunes that count moreso than the person spinnin' them.

However, in regards to quantity carried in DJ boxes, I would not feel comfortable arriving at an allniter with a mere 100 records....unless I was confident that the other DJs playing didn't have any of the tunes I was carrying.

Certain records are bankers / floorpackers, others are ones I want to try out and others perfect for changing the tempo or genre of music being played (and yes, before some one comments, some are no doubt crap.... )

To have the choice is paramount, especially if playing to a crowd you are not used to, and I don't think 100 records would give you enough choice over a period of 9 hours or so.

I've seen Dave Evison DJ with a carrier bag before now....but that's cuz we make him wear it over his head so he doesn't scare the crowd

Regards, Mace.

mmm... been giving this " records are bigger than the d/j's " angle , well it ain't that difficult , without the music the d/j would be fucked and without the d/j the music would be fucked ( in the venues obviously ) at home music is king !

so we have the music and plenty of it , by far the most important factor from then on is having capable lads on who can actually do it right...

to me the easiest events to d/j at are oldies / popular nights - lets face it it's a absolute doddle , virtually anyone can do it and do - do it

me thinks the real skill is playing to a knowledgeable crowd who need to hear new and exciting tunes from 60's ,70's and 80's - correcct me if i'm wrong but that sorts the men out from the boys... thoughts...