Over To You: Why Do CDJ DJs Hate On Controller DJs?

Digital DJ Tips reader Austin writes: “So I recently moved to the San Fransisco Bay area. I haven’t had a chance to get any gigs here yet, but from what I’ve heard, controllers are intensely laughed upon here – especially in the rave scene. I have been told that I won’t be respected like the other DJs using CDJs. You know more than anyone that digital djing is still just as ‘real’ as any other DJing and I need a bit of advice here. What would you recommend?”

Digital DJ Tips says:

Get the gigs, then worry about what people think! Seriously, don’t go off hearsay because there’s no one single opinion out there about controllers or anything else, and it shouldn’t be something that holds you back from doing your thing, not in the slightest. To quote a favourite motivational guru of mine, “doing makes you right”.

Certain types of DJs “hating” certain types of other DJs is almost a truism of the DJ industry sadly, but DJing is about a love of music, and a love of dancing, and a love of life – not a love of this type of gear or that type of gear. Sure, there are bad controller DJs, but there are bad DJs of all types. Don’t let people’s generalising put you off.

I DJed an expensive corporate gig on an iPad just to prove a point once, and yes – there were raised eyebrows. But only till it was clear I was doing the job, and doing it well – people very quickly forget what gear you’re using once you prove yourself.

Have you experienced this type of reaction? How did you deal with it? Share your thoughts in the comments.