DJing is about more than huge LED screens, costumes and sparkly outfits, as Paris Hilton probably learned recently.
Socialite Paris Hilton’s debut as a DJ unleashed a firestorm all over the internet. Most of it was negative, a tiny bit was positive, but overall her debut was as we pretty much expected: Mainly flash, little substance.
It’s been a few weeks, and recently the thought hit me to explore what I would actually tell someone like Paris Hilton if she were to ask me how she could be taken seriously as a DJ.
Before we begin…
You might be wondering why I would even explore this, and I understand. I know Paris Hilton notoriously appears to get involved in music, DJing and so on not because she feels it’s her calling in life, but for attention from the media. I fear she has no real intention of actually trying to grow into being a good DJ.
I guess what really drives me to talk about this is to help all those out there who might be starting out as a DJ…
I guess what really drives me to talk about this is to help all those out there who might be starting out as a DJ, or thinking of trying to be a DJ.
Paris Hilton approaches DJing with what I see as the viewpoint of an audience member: It appears she doesn’t see the push to learn skills, explore music, or build a scene, but rather brightly-lit stages, massive crowds, and some figurehead doing poses while pressing the play button.
I think anyone out there who might think that’s all that DJing is about should perhaps get a glimpse of the real picture, which is really the purpose of today’s article. At the same time, this might help those who idolise Paris Hilton begin to understand why her shoddy performance warranted such angst from the DJ community.
Here’s how to do it, Paris…
So here are my six imaginary pieces of advise to my new student, Paris Hilton. Are you sitting comfortably, Paris?
- Have skills, and show it – I don’t care if you’re a famous celebrity or a total no name. When you climb into that DJ booth, you had better know how to use that gear. I honestly think if Paris had applied herself, she could have gotten down the basics and then made her debut. I’ll even be nice and simply just say she should have learned how to control her sound and levels, cueing, and launching. I’ll give her the benefit of sync even, but manual beatmatching helps as well. That or learn how to scratch and surprise everyone!
- Start smaller – A massive festival gig is a temptation for any DJ, especially amateurs who fall in love with the visions of large crowds and Jesus poses. However, as the saying goes, “you only get one chance to make a first impression” – and Paris’s first impression wasn’t good. Since this “exercise” is in trying to make her legitimate as a DJ, I think she should have started smaller. Rather than the fest, perhaps play a small club and invite all her friends. So if her debut in front of let’s say 200 people flopped, then she could have regrouped and tried again in another spot. In the end, starting smaller would have allowed her to learn and grow as a DJ
- Diversify your music – From what I’ve seen on the videos and read online, Hilton’s set was nothing more than anthems. Pop tunes everyone has heard to death. We see a bevy of angst against Avicii’s Levels, but she played it. She played a Rihanna tune that’s been played to death. She pretty much played any music you could get off a Billboard chart. When you attend a festival or any big DJ-oriented night, you go to hear something new. Even when you go see a mainstream music even, you want to hear some promo or roughly finished new tune that no one has heard. With Hilton’s connections, you know she has to have access to new stuff. DJs become famous when they debut new tunes that become anthems. No one becomes big playing tired-out music
- Gig in unexpected places – This can kind of go hand-in-hand with “start smaller”. Rather than show up to the typical fancy see-and-be-seen spots to play, perhaps Paris should do something more unexpected. Show up to a store and play… unannounced. Let the media suddenly go nuts and people rave how they saw Paris play at a boutique. That or surprise a high school somewhere outside of the typical major cities and play their dance. Even people who hate her would still have to admire how she simply stepped out of her ivory tower to play for the “lowly peasants”
- Support the scene – In almost any music culture out there, there has always been an angst aimed towards those known as “robber barons”. At the height of the first Summer of Love, the hippies and bands of San Francisco saw the major record labels as this. They felt they were outsiders trying to milk money out of their scene. The same thing happened in punk rock and even in disco music. How do you think Paris Hilton is being be viewed? One solution would have been for Paris to use her wealth. Throw a music festival and make sure there were respected names on the line-up. So perhaps Paris would still have played a set on the big stage, but how much less hate would have been generated if she also booked credible scene DJs too? This goes for anyone wanting to be a DJ, on any scale. Support your scene, and you’ll win hearts and minds
- Consider an alias – When one thinks of “promotional power”, it would seem ridiculous to tell Paris Hilton to not be Paris Hilton. However, if someone is looking to break into a scene where they are normally disliked, the idea of branding needs to come into play. What is Hilton’s brand image? What do we know her for? Sex tapes, wild club nights, celebrity hobnobbing, reality shows and so on. Does that image make one think “yeah, she would rock as a respectable DJ”? If Paris Hilton really wanted to break into the scene and be respected as a DJ, then perhaps putting her reputation on the shelf and becoming someone else might have worked. One could then question what she would do when she shows up in person, but she could dress “casual”, tie her hair back, or even wear a wig. You can even put on costumes nowadays, like Daft Punk and Deadmau5. The end goal is to build a likeable brand, and if your current brand will not be liked, you have to try to redefine it or make a new one
Finally…
Of course, this is all hypothetical, and Paris Hilton is highly unlikely to do any of it. But there are lessons here for all DJs starting out, and for anyone wanting to break into their local DJ scene.
It’s things like this that separate the Pauly Ds from the Richie Hawtins.
If that’s you, it may help you to think about some of these factors when you go to DJ or if you’re thinking of getting into this. It’s things like this that separate the Pauly Ds from the Richie Hawtins. Unlikely though it no doubt is, if Paris Hilton is truly serious about being a DJ, then she will want to think about some of these things.
If you were Paris Hilton, what would you do to rescue your DJ career after a less than auspicious opening set? (You have seen the YouTube clips, haven’t you?) Does it annoy you when you see celebrities jumping on the DJ bandwagon, or do you think it’s fair game? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments…
Now go to:
7 Big Mistakes I Made At My First DJ Gig (And Why It Was Still Great Fun)
11 Tips For Surviving A Festival DJ Set
How To Promote Events & Throw Your Own Parties: Part 1
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Tags: beginner digital dj tips, dj career, paris hilton
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Although I hate to touch this topic with a barge pole, you are quite correct D-Jam.
With even a modicum of preparation she e could have gone out on that stage with a Traktor and a controller and ripped the floor up. It seems though that she put absolutley zero effort into her prep for that gig, and if she had someone guiding her before the gig then they failed miserably.
[ link ]She should have lost the costume. A simple shirt and jeans would have made her much more relatable. It seems like 90% of djs just wear a t-shirt and jeans and I think that would have done better then the super hero costume she wore in that photo.
Also if she was going to dj a festival they should have put her on a side stage. Putting her on the mega stage is a giant F U to all the other guys playing smaller stages and who played before her.
[ link ]7. don’t show up drunk
[ link ]Well, she certainly showed that you can’t just jump into international DJ superstar because you’re famous, you have to have skills to go with that fame.
I appreciate that you want to help Paris, but every now and again, we need someone to reach farther than they could grasp to show everyone else why you pay your dues. Additionally, Paris must have felt humiliated for failing on stage even though you know there was a team of people willing to train her so that she actually had skills.
Personally, I would have put Paris onstage to look pretty and had someone else control the music backstage… OK, maybe give her some knob twisting and possibly a turntable to scratch, but that’s about it.
Paris is the “Poor little rich girl” who never had to do anything to get what she wanted which insulted everyone else doing things the right way. Why (in her mind) should this be any different?
Paris now has two options: Get better or Go away… both will be welcomed by people who love pretty blond girls and music (but for different reasons)… maybe she can go hang out with Traci Lords now?
[ link ]I think my goal is more to help new DJs understand why many hate on Paris and others who do this crap…and what it takes to earn respect.
[ link ]D-Jam, I respect everything you’ve written. I see this Paris Hilton fiasco just like a lot of hard-working DJs do… she tried to skip too many steps and didn’t respect the craft. I’m sure a lot of people are jealous of Paris Hilton, but she did start off with a (subjectively) A lot of money, a Hot Body and a Famous Name. Even with those advantages she failed to lay the groundwork for her new career and was justifiably ridiculed.
Many people want to have sex with Paris Hilton and Hillary Duff, but they’ve gone crazy from having everything handed to them. In that light, maybe we have the advantage over her in that we HAVE to work for what we get and don’t have to wonder if it’s our good looks or our tabloid name that got us what he have.
If only someone insisted that Paris actually do what you said to do, she might actually be a worthwhile advocate for Controllerists. Sadly, it appears that she thought DJing would be fun and easy and blew off all of the help she was offered. I can’t think of a person today that respects someone who was handed something because they had connections vs. the person that had to work for it… and I think that’s at least one of the things you were speaking to.
[ link ]Might also be that the guy trying to teach her DJing is a bit light-weight in way of talking to celebrities.. as in “not want to bug her too much with technical details” as if she was made of thin glass.
Someone with balls should tell her “If you’re intended to go on stage you need to learn the following; Lets get to work!”
[ link ]I totally agree. If Paris really knew what was involved with what a DJ does do you think she would have blown off instructors and performed the same?
[ link ]It was all just so horribly predictable. Had she played something unexpected it would have at least been mildly interested and gained her some respect. Imagine if she’s just taken an hour out of her time to search for a few underground tracks she liked (or even lets someone else do it for her). Imagine her dropping pounding CLR style techno…I would have forgiven her for existing.
[ link ]http://soundcloud.com/siriusxmbpm/afrojack-comments-on-bpm-about-paris-hilton-on-bpm
[ link ]Seriously…. She has all the time in the world.
[ link ]Her boyfriend is one of the most overpaid DJ’s in the world.
And all she could learn was to sometimes turn in some filter and reverb?
Has anyone seen the video’s?
It’s pittyful.
Aparantly Afrojack either was unable to tell her she sucked – or is as much of a fraud himself…. whichever it is… he should be as ashamed!
You actually believe that she did turn any knobs or pushed any button that was connected to the live system?
[ link ]I recall hearing the filter go up-up-up-up and Paris has her hands also up-up-up-up….so you can say she was involved in that process just as much as I was involved in the Mars landing.
Well, their relationship has cooled dramatically since … not sure if that is because or in spite of her public performance lol
[ link ]Nice article, D-Jam. Very helpful for starting (real) DJs.
Rich people just love doing different things. Like those guys buying seats in spacecrafts to go to the moon or something. They´re not trying to become astronauts, just paying a fortune to have a glimpse (and who wouldn´t want to?).
It was ONE gig, one-time show. No harm done, not to her, not to the scene, not to DJs of any kind. of course, it could be different. That guy Jesus Luz, the model who dated Madonna and became a celebrity overnight… He was into DJing before and did good to jump on the popularity afforded by dating a mega-diva. He still plays and some nice sets I must say, though many DJs disregard him for the way he got there.
If Paris was a less-known, less-rich girl she´d be playing her friend´s gig somewhere. She floats in another level though, things are much different for someone with that much of money, friends and popularity. She is so high up on her own universe that I´d guess she has no clue, it was just another way to get a kick – I´d say in the way of putting out a sex video on the internet!
[ link ]Personally, I had no problems with her attempts at DJing. Yea, it sucked. Still, that music she was playing? Isn’t that why some big name DJs are being kicked off the decks? Because they don’t play the BS Paris was playing? Most of the article was on point, D-Jam. Still, I wouldn’t doubt some people’s criticism of her was actually jealousy in disguise. She got a big venue and they didn’t. Also, I gotta give credit for her at least TRYING. At least, she ain’t a bedroom DJ who never had a gig. Yet, these same types are critical of other people. Still, good article, bro. In order for to gain respect, she really needs to practice.
[ link ]Stone Crazy, I don’t think Paris does anything but make sex tapes in her bedroom… and maybe sleep. She has the money to make her first attempt at anything public and I’m honestly thinking that she only did it for another 15 minutes of fame.
I don’t think we should call putting Paris in a DJ booth and having her occasionally twist knobs actually “TRYING” anymore than I would call a child with their hands on the steering wheel (while you operate the pedals) “driving.”, but maybe we have a different perspective of what “trying” is. I’m pretty sure we’re all jealous that we don’t have her money, or her fame or her hot body, but I don’t think any of us here are jealous of her skills.
If she wants to try again, the money won’t stop her, but for her sake, I sure hope she gets some practice in, she’s dating one of the best DJs in the scene.
[ link ]The funny part is, if she was advertised at any medium sized venue in the western world for a gig, the place would be full, just because she is paris hilton. now go figure..
[ link ]Paris Hilton a DJ? What a joke.
[ link ]It’s just one of the celebrities that picks up dj’ing … maybe she just said that het boyfriend is a dj and a promotor heard “dj” and asked het to do a gig. Skills don’t needed, just be pretty and bring in the crowd with your name.
There are plenty of examples worldwide … what about that running dude Bolt who is dj’ing ?
Here in Belgium there are also some fine examples of models, designers, whatever that were asked to do a dj-set. Some claim to be a dj, others just say “A dj me ?? No no I just put on tunes that I love”. If anyone else would play their set, but in a decently mixed manner the venue would be empty … but they can pull it off.
And even on a smaller scale, in the gothic/industrial/underground electronic/EBM scene artists are asked to do dj-sets … some of them barely know what the cue button does on a cd player but they bring in the crowd.
I saw one coming in with a playlist with 4 colums :
artist – title – where to start – how much to change the pitch
and still not 1 correct beatmatch.
The only thing we can do is … live with it or become famous
[ link ]7. Do not wear an outfit that resembles alien women from Gene Roddenberry’s 1968 Star Trek series and leave the cheese ball bling headphones at home. Holy geez, ya wanna talk about over the top? Look like a DJ and try to sound work like a DJ.
[ link ]I remember ‘De La Soul’ saying 20 years ago ‘Everybody Wants To Be A Dj’-Seems nothings changed,
[ link ]If you dont ‘Love’ music & have the common decency to learn a little about the craft you are gonna get sussed pretty quick.
I would’nt worry about Paris Hilton,she will be off on to the next fad shortly,along with all the other Fake Mobsters,Crabsters & Lobsters….
honestly, i dont know why people get themselves in such a tizzy over things like this. we all know paris is a chameleon that likes to get into different things,which her money and fame allows her to do. maybe she will come to like djing and will learn how to actually do it. people need to stop overreacting to stuff like this. being a dj is no longer some secret kung-fu skill,with the accessibility of music online and dj equipment almost anyone can try it. there were probably people that enjoyed her set,just because it was her. if you’re a dj that has skills and can rock it dont worry about who is fake,and who uses controllers and all that nonsense-just concentrate on being the best you can be and let others do their thing. if they’re not in it for the love of it they will give it up sooner or later and the whole dance music scene wont crumble because someone wants to try their hand at it and are’nt very good-live and let live!
[ link ]It just seems to me ever since DJ Hero came out there has been this sure of Microwave Djs. They get there hands on Serato then they are off and running. What happened to Crate digging and finding that Gem that you know that your the only one who has it. I Use serato but I have been djing for over 10 years and won a Few DMC like battles but I say that cause I can and proud of my accomplishments. I crate dig on line and in the record stores but this shit that Pairs did is making us dj’s who have been on the grind regardless of skill look like we in it for the fad. Dj Jam big ups to you for posting this! Much love and Respect.
[ link ]I agree with this article buttttt,aren’t most so called world famous Djs(mostly EDM now) using costumes to stunts to larger then life city sucking power LED displays lol on stage now to just get fame/also using filter to reverb effects sometimes ear drum shattering and weird callabos now etc… instead of playing technical sets/dropping new tracks to loops/beats etc… I can say from experience being at events most sets now are Billboard to Beatport chart stuff and few now play out of the box like a Carl Cox or Richie Hawtin or Jesse Saunders, Icy Ice etc….. Moral is some did enjoy Paris set because it was just Paris up there and she played the bottle service crowd stuff, it don’t give credit to art of Djing/skills etc… but again she wasn’t at a World Dj battle event n most major events if you see CDJ2000s used most sets are pre cued/set up in Rekordbox then just performed at the event so you can switch tracks like Tiesto while hands in the air hence a performance you going to see and not a Dj set
[ link ]I SAW afrojack live and all that he did was smoke cigs.
[ link ]It may not be my place to say this, since im still wet behind the ears, but i think anyone who has the guts to get behind some decks with the intention of legitimate DJing should respected. That being said, the respect i’m referring to is customary, and doesn’t carry too far (after all, its just respect for the courage to do the deed). Taking that into account, whether this DJ, celeb or not,actually does the job of a competent DJ is where you really wanna look. If Paris had rocked the house like a real DJ then hey i’d go to a set, i love music and performance so i’d have no problem shelling out some cash if i knew i’d get bang for my buck. To me, i dont think celebs are “jumping on the bandwagon” but they are realizing that the dude behind the booth with the cans on deserves a bit of recognition. Once people began to realize that essentially the DJ can control the night, they wanted a piece of that too. Honestly i encourage anyone who really wants to become a DJ. It’s crazy fun and you feel good doing it. However, i would suggest she work on her foundation (if she is serious) and start way smaller. When i think of the hours a lot of us spend in our bedrooms or apartments or dorms just practicing just to be at the level for a decent gig (but not on the level she was at) it irks me that she thinks she can just debut like that. She didn’t put in the work we do, she didn’t spend hours just looking for the perfect song to tie in JRock and not get booed, so she doesn’t deserve to be at that level, yet!
[ link ]