DJ OR JUST RECORD PLAYER ??

[Steviehay]

Having promoted events all over the place since the late seventies, i have recently noticed a new phenomenon in deejaying lol,its where the guest deejay or even the resident dj puts on records for an hour without saying a word and then gets paid for it.Now back when i first started i was always told don't be afraid of the mic its your tool to use at will,.Now i'm not being funny but i have been to 4 different venues recently and even though the music has been ok ,the atmosphere has been to say the least shite.....i'm very sorry 2 of these record players i would have asked to be future guests but due to them miming its there loss not mine,so to promoters please ask the guest if he/she is mic friendly before hiring save me the bother of entrance fee and come on if your missus or best mate is one of your resident jocks at least get em to say hello,its the polite thing to do ...thoughts anyone or is it just little ole me again ????

[Olivernyikos]

I don't really think I'm in a position to say too much about deejays, as I've only very recently started playing gigs. But what I will say is that I wholeheartedly agree with you. Personally, I really enjoy using the mic—I think it makes your set more personal and definitely helps create a better atmosphere. I've been to a lot of nights but have only played a handful of gigs. A few of those were just records played back-to-back with barely any talking in between. In my opinion, if you're going to do that, you might as well just plug in your phone and play a playlist.

[Valentina]

12 minutes ago, Olivernyikos said:

I don't really think I'm in a position to say too much about deejays, as I've only very recently started playing gigs. But what I will say is that I wholeheartedly agree with you. Personally, I really enjoy using the mic—I think it makes your set more personal and definitely helps create a better atmosphere. I've been to a lot of nights but have only played a handful of gigs. A few of those were just records played back-to-back with barely any talking in between. In my opinion, if you're going to do that, you might as well just plug in your phone and play a playlist.

Well said and you did a great work with MIC when I saw you djing x

[Solidsoul]

I agree with your comments and observations on dj'ing.

If the person doesn't talk on the mic, they are not dj'ing, they are just playing records. 

If they haven't got to courage to talk on the mic, they shouldn't be allowed behind the decks. 

Edited Friday at 15:26 by Solidsoul

[Dobber]

When I got into northern at 15 and starting going to allnighters in the mid 80’s,all the djs were showmen on the decks and mic,so for me the northern soul dj was my new pop hero,they were something that felt out of the sky! Full of mystery to how they had all these records etc….so in answer, I absolutely agree that if you don’t work the decks and mic then dont dj! A dj that doesnt talk ,well we may as well just put a cd on

[Quinvy]

It’s a nightmare as a promoter.

I used to have to arrange the timetable to make certain that we never had two non speakers on one after the other. Otherwise it would kill the night.

[Lionelonthevinyl]

To be honest I can never understand what's being said anyway, or very little. I still like to hear something though. Thank you Rob

[Chris Turnbull]

1 hour ago, Lionelonthevinyl said:

To be honest I can never understand what's being said anyway, or very little. I still like to hear something though. Thank you Rob

Reminds me of Rob Smith, always great to hear him on the mic, whether or not you understand a word of it 

[Chris Turnbull]

No excuse for not getting on the mic - all part of the show

Who’s been the best at it over the years?

Keb
Roger B
Butch is good 
Richard S 

[Steve L]

What the point? You can't hear what they're saying most of the time..

[Chris Turnbull]

1 minute ago, Steve L said:

What the point? You can't hear what they're saying most of the time..

Just a theatre thing imo, no mic = no atmosphere, as someone else said may as well put a CD on 

[Steve L]

1 minute ago, Chris Turnbull said:

Just a theatre thing imo, no mic = no atmosphere, as someone else said may as well put a CD on 

In 50 years I've probably heard 20% of the words spoken by all the DJs Ive seen, it is probably better with  them speaking though

[Simsy]

I always speak and announce the track being played every other record. Don’t like too much chat, through fear of losing momentum and clearing the floor.

Despite being born in London and living in the South for the majority of my life (currently 10 years in the Midlands) I find myself drifting into a Northern accent whilst on the mic. Just something about Northern music intro’s in a Southern accent - heresy!

Agree with Steve though, it is important. I’ve a clear memory of Danny Everard at the Fleet in 86’. “Thanks to Dave for the last hour, you got me for the next and er as usual a few oldies, a few new stuff and of course, for those who wunnit, a few modern sounds”. “Kicking off with this one, Rufus Lumley and I’m standing”!

Edited Friday at 20:13 by Simsy

[Richard]

My favourite bit of the night when the meat raffle results are announced

[The Tempest]

Keb Darge at Glenrothes YMCA - played the Fabulous Impacts ( Moments ) three times in his spot - 1st Anniversary almost bullying you onto the dance floor with the immortal words - Stomp You B******s ! Great days and memories ! 

[Chris Turnbull]

Keb at Stafford last year to Butch - “what’s your name son? I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more from you”

[Quinvy]

That’s the other problem with promoters and Dj’s.

Most haven’t got a clue about PA, they can’t set one up, and they just turn the gains up, until it's making your ears bleed.

They think nothing about paying thousands for a record, but buy the cheapest pile of crap to play it on.

Including the microphone,

[Roburt]

It's what's in the grooves that counts ... 

& any announcements such as AND NOW MY LATEST C-U, Dougie & the Doggies  ... give it a rest please.

[Julianb]

You could never get Martyn Ellis off the microphone!

[Solidsoul]

It's so frustrating when I used to hear a record I really liked, waited till it finished to find out what it was, then the DJ didn't speak

Edited yesterday at 09:08 by Solidsoul

[Modularman]

1 hour ago, Solidsoul said:

It's so frustrating when I used to hear a record I really liked, waited till it finished to find out what it was, then the DJ didn't speak

You could always just go and ask them? 

[Steviehay]

13 hours ago, Quinvy said:

That’s the other problem with promoters and Dj’s.

Most haven’t got a clue about PA, they can’t set one up, and they just turn the gains up, until it's making your ears bleed.

They think nothing about paying thousands for a record, but buy the cheapest pile of crap to play it on.

Including the microphone,

not here matey tech decks allen and heath mixer all top gear even styli

14 hours ago, Steve L said:

In 50 years I've probably heard 20% of the words spoken by all the DJs Ive seen, it is probably better with  them speaking though

hence my picture above of norman !!!

[Chilli]

15 hours ago, Chris Turnbull said:

Reminds me of Rob Smith, always great to hear him on the mic, whether or not you understand a word of it 

Was it Steve Smith, the Scottish dj who used to dj at Clifton Hall. I could never understand a word he said, but loved his enthusiasm and energy. Then he'd put a record on a scratch it half way down .

Used to love him.

[Siz Sale]

As a former "Soul promoter" and "3 times winner of UK DJ of the Year" i hope i can speak with a bit of authority on this subject.

When i go occasionally to gigs there seems to be 3 kinds of DJs on the cuircuit.

1) Old school DJs who look at the audience and read the room confident on the Mic and you can here what they are saying prime example "Richard Searling".

2) Collectors who DJ   all you can see when they are on the decks is the top of there heads when they are on the Mic as they are not confident enough with the equipment to look up, varying degrees of clarity of voice as they talk to fast in general due to nerves, public speaking is one of peoples biggest fears  this may improve with time. In general do not read a room.

3) Collectors who play records   have not got the confidence to speak but want people to hear there treasured tunes  this creates no atmosphere and they play them in no discernible order plus no one knows what they are playing unless you know the track or "Shazam" them don't deserve paying in my opinion.

The last note is off topic but gets my goat is this i still occasionally work and can earn 100s of pounds with kit that cost me £5,000.

DJs who can play in 60 minutes in some cases £100,000 worth of Vinyl and earn nothing uo to the top rate i have heard is £150.

Its nuts and they get paid that because people moan at paying £5 to get in to a soul night, they should be getting paid at least double and door charges should be a £10.

[Solidsoul]

2 hours ago, Modularman said:

You could always just go and ask them? 

I shouldn't have to, if the dj's are doing there job properly!

Imagine a big venue, getting through all the dancers, finding a way onto the stage, past all the hangers on, to ask what was that record you played two records ago? Then all the way back when you want to find out what another record is!

All because the record playing person is too scared of the mic!

 

[Rick Scott]

One person i remember very well who Loved The Mic was BUB, you Just new that Arthur And the Coalminers were going to get a mention, and no that was not a cover up , many of our older Soulies on here will have many a fond  memory or story about him and yes, he always found the time to tell you what he was playing and to get on that ******* dance floor.   

[Dogsarse]

4 hours ago, Steviehay said:

not here matey tech decks allen and heath mixer all top gear even styli

hence my picture above of norman !!!

Want to hear some crap DJ s, then come to Germany and the way they dress tops a scare crow i tell ja

[Jessie Pinkman]

On 09/05/2025 at 15:06, Steviehay said:

Having promoted events all over the place since the late seventies, i have recently noticed a new phenomenon in deejaying lol,its where the guest deejay or even the resident dj puts on records for an hour without saying a word and then gets paid for it.Now back when i first started i was always told don't be afraid of the mic its your tool to use at will,.Now i'm not being funny but i have been to 4 different venues recently and even though the music has been ok ,the atmosphere has been to say the least shite.....i'm very sorry 2 of these record players i would have asked to be future guests but due to them miming its there loss not mine,so to promoters please ask the guest if he/she is mic friendly before hiring save me the bother of entrance fee and come on if your missus or best mate is one of your resident jocks at least get em to say hello,its the polite thing to do ...thoughts anyone or is it just little ole me again ????

Norman C has a slight resemblance to legendary Scottish DJ Colin Laws in that picture Stevie.

He always had something to say over the mic and some of them 4 letter ones.

Edited yesterday at 16:37 by Jessie Pinkman

[Benji]

1 hour ago, Dogsarse said:

Want to hear some crap DJ s, then come to Germany and the way they dress tops a scare crow i tell ja

What‘s this bullshit comment all about?

[Steviehay]

Many many thanks for verifying it was not just me, most of you, seem in agreement into my comments of this subject, so any wanna be none speaking record players, you will not be guesting at one of our/my gigs cheers Stevie 

[Benji]

You guys realize it's much harder to do a decent set w/out talking than with talking?

[Simsy]

8 hours ago, Benji said:

You guys realize it's much harder to do a decent set w/out talking than with talking?

How so?