Alex Moschopoulos
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February 10, 2014 at 7:37 pm in reply to: Searching a specific Song (Plumb – Damaged (808 Remix) ) #1029053
Alex Moschopoulos
ParticipantI tried looking on Google, but it seems there isn’t anywhere to get this legally.
I’d cosign on ripping the video. For the few times I’ve done this, I use http://www.vidtomp3.com/ It seemingly can make a quality file.
If not, then hook up something to analog record the high quality version from YouTube.
ParticipantThank you Sir for replying the questions in such detailed manner, now I can happily slapped this statement to a young aspiring egoistic idealism DJ’s lol
I used to be very idealistic like that. I’d hate on “cheeseball mainstream” and get angry when it seemed the scene became more bottle service/glam.
The unfortunate reality though is that I wasn’t able to run with the social circles that would get me the gigs I would have loved to get. Finally, when I had met a part-time DJ who hadn’t been playing long, but landed opening sets for bigger names, I finally saw the hard reality. He had something I didn’t….he had a social circle of friends and coworkers who would all come out to hear him play. Thus he could bring 20-50 people out early in the night.
Now I have friends, but like me, they’re all older, married, and many have children. They just didn’t have the time, endurance, finances, or desire to go to the clubs…thus when I had some amateur promoters say “you gotta bring heads” when they inquire about me doing guest spots, I told them to truth and declined. I simply tell them I had no pull like that…which they respected me for being honest, since many would lie and take the spot.
When I wrote the two series on how to succeed at DJing or how to throw/promote events, I tried to lay out the hard truth I had to learn long ago. Things have become a big popularity contest, and it’s all mainly about marketing and reach. You either embrace that or you backpedal and just be a hobbyist.
Lately, I see many bashing on DJ Juicy M…but I look at her and think outside of her looks and mainstream sound, she can actually play, and seemingly puts out a LOT of content online…thus building her reach. It’s no surprise in my eyes that she’s playing all over the world…including Ibiza. She’s marketable.
ParticipantPardon me, but i would love to get a deep thought answer to this question ? As a DJ spinning that nite what do you do ?
My statement came about from the incidents involving DJs like Mark Farina and others who were booked to bring a more underground/innovative vibe to the club, but while the floor loved them, the VIPs didn’t. The VIPs pushed for more mainstream music to be played, and thus the club or promoter decided the VIP money is too big to let go over the music. Thus headliners get pulled off their sets so more mainstream residents can play.
Now…if these “rules” popped up anywhere else, then I’d have a chuckle and move on. However, the fact that this is yet another Las Vegas venue trying to go more “underground” makes me ask that question. If let’s say 10 booths are going to give the club $60,000 in revenues over the night compared to a floor that might give $30,000…would they really let that money walk out the door to maintain the music?
As a DJ, I’d say “HELL YEAH!”, but as a businessman, I’d say “no”. However, I’d probably be careful on who I book if I really cared about the VIP money. Thus I’d book headliners with some good mainstream appeal who aren’t too cheesy.
Now…to answer your question…if I was in a club playing more “underground” (and was booked for that), but the owner or promoter came over and asked me to mainstream it up to keep the VIPs in, then I’d look for a happy balance. In my book as a DJ you should have a backup plan, because I’ve only ran into too many occasions where I was booked to be underground, but ended up with a mainstream crowd.
I’ll also add I’d probably not play again in that venue for that promoter.
ParticipantI deeply agree on how a DJ should be facilitating an experience…which is why I grow frustrated at how much the “human jukebox” element has taken over. When I started, a good DJ was one who played both mainstream and underground in ways that built a beautiful night for all. The club kept an air of coolness, everyone was happy, and the party vibe grew to the point where folks didn’t request too much simply because the vibe carried them.
In my experiences, when I see DJs or promoters try to do some “underground” event and yet end up with a room full of bros and trixies screaming for mainstream, it shows they did not promote well. They just went for whoever was available as opposed to working hard to target the right people they want in their event.
ParticipantI’ve stated it all over. My only concern is what happens when the $10,000-spending high roller demands poppy mainstream EDM?
Give in? Or let that money walk out the door?
A big chunk of the problem in many LV venues that kicked underground sounding headliners off is they valued the high-rollers over the floor…and in many cases the spending in the booths will be more than the whole floor going to the bar for cocktails.
It’s all business and money…although I hope these guys set a new standard by not caving.
ParticipantI look at this year’s NAMM the way I look at tablets. We’re in a state of small growth. Part of it is the economy, but another is simply an uncertainty in the innovation and where the consumer will go.
Companies could make control systems that allow you to use your hands in the air, or tie in a display on Google Glass…but would anyone buy it?
Going back to tablets, I was given a Nexus 10 for my birthday last August…and worried if some new/better tablet would pop up and make me want to upgrade. Nothing yet. The controllers are the same issue. We’ve hit limits on what can be crammed in and it’s more now DJs have to utilize and evolve the tools they’ve been given.
ParticipantNot surprising. Many European DJs would roll their eyes when Americans would praise them, acting like dance music is some new thing…when the European DJs would say how the US invented the modern sound and has had it since the 80s.
ParticipantNot required, but I’ve been doing them since the early 90s. I mainly hate when I get a mix and then have to run it round the stores asking “what is this?”
I’ve seen some who claim they don’t want other DJs “stealing their playlists”, but I respond that if they need to hide what they play then it shows they don’t have anything unique to offer that sets them apart from other DJs.
In the long run, more exposure for the artists means they make more money in sales, and this equates to them producing more music you like…as opposed to quitting and leaving behind a plethora of mediocre and bad producers who make crap.
ParticipantThis might help:
http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2011/06/how-to-succeed-at-djing-part-12-build-yourself-a-website/
If you’re a rookie and have no clue, then try a template or simple system like Wix or Squarespace. When you’re growing and getting paid, then pay someone to make you a solid website that pushes your brand.
ParticipantMy advice:
1) Play what you love.
2) Maybe push it as “the warm up set”…giving music until people go out.
3) Have guest DJs.
4) Help local promoters you love by pushing their events…”What’s going on this weekend”. Maybe work it to get you some benefits (gigs, freebies, etc)
ParticipantSerato doesn’t have an internal recording feature?
ParticipantFree and works amazingly well
ParticipantI’d probably just go with audio CDs if you are going CDJ.
My personal advice…bring the laptop/controller when you’re playing a decent set. If someone just wants you to play for 30-45 min, then burn a few CDs of tunes.
Frankly, I like bringing a controller and laptop…get in, play, know your gear is solid, and leave when you’re done.
ParticipantBPM readouts are nice to get closer…but I wouldn’t fully trust them.
You want to go manual then it’ll just take practice.
ParticipantI generally use EQs for three things:
1) Fix the sound so bass, mid, and/or treble are balanced.
2) Blending…where I’ll lower the bass on one and raise it on the other to blend songs.
3) Low-budget filter…which I don’t do much at all.
Take my advice…don’t fall into the “must be doing something all the time” trap. Play your music, do something cool if you think it’ll rock, but don’t constantly tweak/FX/play with everything so it turns your set into a constant swoosh.
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