Things I hate about DJ'ing...

[Mad Cyril]

When I was home from University I used to roadie for my mate who was a mobile DJ who worked in and around London because 99% of the time it meant free food and as much booze as I could drink.

 

[The Artful Shrimper]

I have similar issues being in a band. We play cheesy pop/rock tunes - a sort of "live" disco if you will (alright, "wedding singers"!)

Nothing gets me more than when someone comes up to us IN THE MIDDLE OF A SONG to request their personal favourite, which invariably we haven't learned so we can't play anyway.

This reminds me of a duo that used to gig in Dagenham, they had a synth and a huge hard drive of MIDI files,thus they could play anything. The best thing was, the soft synth on the MIDI controller was a B4 Hammond Organ. This meant they could play "Anarchy In The UK" and sound like they've come from Phoenix Nights. Brilliant stuff.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Almost 20 years ago (jeez!) I once "volunteered" to DJ at an Officer's Mess do - an easy £80 I thought. I was shoved in a small library annexe off the main reception hall, probably no bigger than The Far Post bar and proceeded to start the set with a few cheesy SAW numbers which normally got the party going (especially in the Sergeant's Mess with the drunk young wives and girlfriends). No-one emerged from the reception hall except one very ****ed female subaltern who wanted 'Orinoco Flow' by Enya. I complied and she disappeared. Ten minutes later she came back and requested the same song and then disappeared. This pattern continued all night. The only other person I saw was the Mess Steward who popped his head through the door to ask me to turn it down a little bit! From approximately 9pm through to around 2am I saw two people! Never again ...

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Almost 20 years ago (jeez!) I once "volunteered" to DJ at an Officer's Mess do - an easy £80 I thought. I was shoved in a small library annexe off the main reception hall, probably no bigger than The Far Post bar and proceeded to start the set with a few cheesy SAW numbers which normally got the party going (especially in the Sergeant's Mess with the drunk young wives and girlfriends). No-one emerged from the reception hall except one very ****ed female subaltern who wanted 'Orinoco Flow' by Enya. I complied and she disappeared. Ten minutes later she came back and requested the same song and then disappeared. This pattern continued all night. The only other person I saw was the Mess Steward who popped his head through the door to ask me to turn it down a little bit! From approximately 9pm through to around 2am I saw two people! Never again ...

TBH that does sound like an easy £80 though !!!

 

[Davros]

yes and no...

earning £80 for doing nothing sounds like heaven...

But, im sure Mike would agree, besides the money (and bearing in mind i didnt earn anything this weekend) the most fulfilling thing for a DJ is to see a dancefloor heeeving to his tunes.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

TBH that does sound like an easy £80 though !!!

Yeah, it was actually! Very boring though - even when I indulged a little, the Mess Steward would pop his head through the doorway again and tell me to change the music!

;)

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

XS, did it never occur to you that they may have just wanted a party and wanted to keep you out of the way ;)

 

[chadded]

except one very ****ed female subaltern

Did you?......... :D

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

XS, did it never occur to you that they may have just wanted a party and wanted to keep you out of the way ;)

:D

Considering I wasn't an officer, I couldn't have partied with them anyway under normal cirumstances! But I do see your point!! ;)

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Did you?......... :D

The thought did cross my mind - I was single at the time and about six stone lighter so I might have had a chance! But, as you know, such intimacy between classes just doesn't fare well in the forces!!

 

[Zoot Blue]

yes and no...

earning £80 for doing nothing sounds like heaven...

But, im sure Mike would agree, besides the money (and bearing in mind i didnt earn anything this weekend) the most fulfilling thing for a DJ is to see a dancefloor heeeving to his tunes.

Same for a band. Nothing better than watching everyone getting down to the music you're making. Did a gig once for a local stuffy yacht club 'round my way. Turned out it was for their AGM. They sat around in snobby suits, had a meal then we played. It was like playing for the Last Supper - only less interesting. They didn't move or interact all night. I'm not sure they even realised we were there. We treated it like a rehearsal in the end.

We don't play that club very often anymore... :flamer:

 

[soul DJ]

all I can say it comes with the territory, It's all about reading the crowd and the more experianced you get, the less of this you will receive,

Last year I played at over 200 events, and this year I'll surpass that, only advice I can offer is if it's what you want to do then stick with it, it beats working for a living.

Also I have found the less money you charge, the dick heads seem to be there

 

[Zoot Blue]

all I can say it comes with the territory, It's all about reading the crowd and the more experianced you get, the less of this you will receive

Agree with that. Very rare that we get a damp squib of a gig anymore. Still waiting for our invite to play at the Southend United Xmas party though :D