How Do You Define A Good Dj?

[dj stevie dee 0]

DAVE MOODY..... WHAT ARE YOU THE FASHION POLICE

HERE I MUST QUOTE YOU....

"Still see DJ's wearing jeans and stupid tee shirts and then they wonder why

they can only get £50 a night!!!!!"

I always think that people do not give a monkey's about what

you wear as long as you are doing your job....

 

O KAY weddings might mean wearing a tie.

so chill man

[Andy Westcott 0]

Quote:

"Still see DJ's wearing jeans and stupid tee shirts and then they wonder why they can only get £50 a night!!!!!"

 

I sometimes wear that, and have commanded more than 50 quid!!

 

Heck! You have to be so careful not to upset anyone on here, don't you??!

[UKHero 0]

Quote:

"Still see DJ's wearing jeans and stupid tee shirts and then they wonder why they can only get £50 a night!!!!!"

 

I sometimes wear that, and have commanded more than 50 quid!!

 

Heck! You have to be so careful not to upset anyone on here, don't you??!

 

 

Dunno I have never offended anyone on here..... Laptop DJs are the best :dan+ju:

 

 

Nik

 

[Dukesy 0]

Now consider that the room holds 300-350 people and what he had was a pair of moonflowers and a pair of 200w speakers running full blast and distorting to hell.

 

I wasn't criticising people who take out just 2 lights but if it is for a group of up to say 100 in a pub then yes anymore would be overkill but in an upmarket hotel where people had paid a lot of money to be entertained, I would not be impressed if I had that for my entertainment.

 

Fair enough he played a few good tunes but couldn't get an atmosphere going.

 

I think we have seen examples (even piccy's) on the forum where less is more....and apparently works.

Have also driven past and noticed form the outside (via the windows) as well as on the odd occasion inside hotel+function rooms and pub+conservatory venues where the DJs lighting looks like the landing sequence from Close Encounters!

We as DJs will notice other operators DJ equipment - that's understandable. But I don't think it matters really how much gear or how little is used. Let the DJs jury decide on the night, then we can judge!

Mind, saying that, there will be those who believe that pound for pound, all Mobile Discos should 'look like a proper mobile disco'....whatever that is....... smile icon

 

In Dave's exampled instance, if the Hotel insisted on what was required (eg a room that can hold up to 350 people) then there would probably not have been a problem.

Then again, has there been a breakdown in the communications between the agent and the hotel or worse still, with the artiste??

Who knows. There could be any number of reasons why the DJ only had a particular sound system on the night.

Looking at a 100% great night; if a DJ delivered his/her 50% on the night then the other 50% is from the audience = 100% good night.

I believe most DJs try to deliver 100% on the night but there is a difference (I feel there is a great divide actually especially with age...) between 'punters' getting ready to go to a function and 'punters' dressing-up ready to hit the town and p a r t y.

 

As Mikeee would put it, not all DJs are bad and I think it's about time we embraced one another and tickled each others fancy with a large pink feather between the teeth.

No?

Right, carry on as before. All together now.....

"Anything you can do.........." :karen:

 

 

 

 

[andyw 0]

quote dukesy

As Mikeee would put it, not all DJs are bad and I think it's about time we embraced one another and tickled each others fancy with a large pink feather between the teeth.

 

dan please try and make the dju sw meeting on thursday and dont forget your feather.im looking forward to being tickled pink but no photographs please :ads:

 

quote dukesy

Have also driven past and noticed form the outside (via the windows) as well as on the odd occasion inside hotel+function rooms and pub+conservatory venues where the DJs lighting looks like the landing sequence from Close Encounters!

 

its you is it.i wont call the police next time then :bouncy:

[davemoody 0]

I still have to say that a DJ who wants to act professional and be more professional should NOT work in jeans and tee shirt. It doesn't cost much or take much effort to get dressed up....does it?????

[KrazyKaz 0]

Time for my tuppence worth with regards to what you wear when doing a gig - LOL

 

I would say, IMO, it depends on the gig.

 

I am always professional (I don't pretend to be the best by any means) but....... I WEAR jeans/trousers and a logo'd polo shirt to all my gigs!!

 

Please bear in mind 90% of my gigs are kids parties. At least the kids know who I am - ie. the entertainment crew.!!

[DJ Ben 0]

if you are playing the correct music you should not be having loads of people comming up for requests.

That's utter s :cense: t.

 

Ok, you're playing the right music, so people are dancing to it, but you can't possibly know every song which people want to hear without them telling you.

Edited January 14, 2007 by EdBray

[Andy Westcott 0]

I agree here.

If you've got the evening going well, I think you can expect more people to approach you; I'm thinking this is because a greater proportion of the audience is actively participating. (dancing)

 

If you are unfortunate enough to be having a bad night, I think you'd get less requests, although the incidence of silly complainers might increase.

 

Obviously no hard and fast rule here - just an observation from my 50+ years of DJ experience. smile icon

[jamesmurphy 0]

2 things:

 

1) In my event questionairre, my client has the choice on what they want me to wear via 4 options, most are happy for me to be casually dressed, with the exception of weddings.

 

2) Last night I had a full floor for most of the night, and I had over 40 requests for songs, so I wopuld have to agree that I get more requests when things are going well

[UKHero 0]

2 things:

 

1) In my event questionairre, my client has the choice on what they want me to wear via 4 options, most are happy for me to be casually dressed, with the exception of weddings.

 

2) Last night I had a full floor for most of the night, and I had over 40 requests for songs, so I wopuld have to agree that I get more requests when things are going well

 

 

I would also agree you can be over dressed for a gig as well as under dressed... I actually like putting on my Suit for a gig it is part of the show how ever if I was doing a student bash then this would not be the right thing to wear..... Also when people are enjoying themselves they like us tend to think of songs better and come up to ask for them.... Be honest when you have a good night its just like the songs magicaly flow but on a bad night I am always scratching my head as to what to play next..... We all want our audience to have a good time... I am sure it is very few DJs activley dont want there audience to have a good night even the £50 beer money DJs....

 

 

Nik

Edited January 14, 2007 by EdBray

[C.S 0]

My 5p ? Djs should be smart and reasonably fashionable in this area , tuxedos should be avoided here as thay are not appreciated at weddings as its seen as an attempt to outdress the guests. dj ben i quite often do clubs where i have absolutely packed dancefloors all night and dont even get one audience member asking for a request , does this mean i am doing things wrong or right ? It not the type of club where djs do sets ,they just read the crowd.

[DJ Ben 0]

I never said that having requests makes you a good DJ, and not having them makes you a rubbish one, I simply meant, not having requests doesn't make you a Good DJ.

 

You cannot define a Good DJ by the amount of requests they have.

[TonyB 0]

My 5p ? Djs should be smart and reasonably fashionable in this area , tuxedos should be avoided here as thay are not appreciated at weddings as its seen as an attempt to outdress the guests. dj ben i quite often do clubs where i have absolutely packed dancefloors all night and dont even get one audience member asking for a request , does this mean i am doing things wrong or right ? It not the type of club where djs do sets ,they just read the crowd.

 

I agree with what you say about tuxedos. They remind me of bouncers when I see a DJ wearing one :hide: . Glad you said that about requests as well. I don't get many requests despite often having a full dance floor. Perhaps I look too scary

[C.S 0]

That's utter s :cense: t.

 

Ok, you're playing the right music, so people are dancing to it, but you can't possibly know every song which people want to hear without them telling you.

 

 

I never said that having requests makes you a good DJ, and not having them makes you a rubbish one, I simply meant, not having requests doesn't make you a Good DJ.

 

You cannot define a Good DJ by the amount of requests they have.

 

I didnt say anything about what makes a good or bad dj , i was just answering your statement that ellaskins comment was utter s thus meaning the opposite of what he had stated. Differnt djs fit different gigs and to be honest this thread is a little difficult because everyone has an opinion and there is not one dj here that is qualified to judge anyone else.

Edited January 14, 2007 by C.S

[Andy Westcott 0]

Quote Chris:

"there is not one dj here that is qualified to judge anyone else."

 

Probably the most sensible comment made here in recent times. :nbow:

 

Makes for good debate though, doesn't it??

[wayne_uk 0]

well i'm a good DJ, because my mom says so

[Paul Smith 0]

well i'm a good DJ, because my mom says so

My mum says you're a good DJ too (but then she says that about everyone - even me :joe: )

 

I would define a good DJ as someone who cares - cares about the client, cares about making sure the guests have a good time, cares about how he/she present themselves, cares about what they play and when they play it and cares about their equipment and how it looks/sounds.

 

There are so many ways each of us can achieve this depending on the event and our own standards but in the end our performance is judged by all that attend and they make the final decision on whether to recommend us or not - they decide if I'm a good DJ, not me, not another DJ and they certainly don't rely on a set of hard & fast rules to help them make that decision.

 

Just taking one of those topics - I have my standards which many on here might think are OTT. I arrive at the venue in a shirt & tie (nothing else but it gets people interested :joe: ) because I feel that, although jeans & tee-shirt may be more praticable, if I look like the person who has come to clean the drains that's how I will be treated (nothing against drain cleaners but first impressions count). Yes I also wear a Tuxedo at the start of all weddings (I may change later depending on the event).

 

These are my standards and some of you may think I'm wrong - they don't in themselves make me a good DJ and they are just a small percentage of those little things that help people decide - but to quote a very successful company 'Every little helps'

 

 

[UKHero 0]

Just a thought is there a difference between a good DJ and a succesfull DJ?????

 

If not then surely it is the one with the most work / Highest paid who is????

 

I dont subscribe to this but from many answers above it seems we have lost our way. The question was what makes a good DJ now is that specific as in how he uses his equipment, or the over all thing including how he runs his business and treats the customer... I do think this is a very open question... And as individuals we are all taking the question in many different ways... Great thread though and some very interesting thoughts coming from it....

 

 

Nik

 

[andyw 0]

quote ukhero

Just a thought is there a difference between a good DEJA and a succesfull DJ?????

 

If not then surely it is the one with the most work / Highest paid who is????

 

i think there is a big difference between a good dj and a succesful one, to be succesful you need to be a good business man and know how to sell himself and his business but a good dj will get a lot of recommendations but not always know how to make the most of the opportunities that present themselves.

[digitaldistortion 0]

quote ukhero

Just a thought is there a difference between a good DEJA and a succesfull DJ?????

 

If not then surely it is the one with the most work / Highest paid who is????

 

i think there is a big difference between a good dj and a succesful one, to be succesful you need to be a good business man and know how to sell himself and his business but a good dj will get a lot of recommendations but not always know how to make the most of the opportunities that present themselves.

 

 

By and large, this statement (to me) is correct. Two totally different criteria...and it is possible to be both (but rare), or neither!

[C.S 0]

Impossible question , a successful dj in Manchester might fall flat on his face in Bristol. Ads is a legend in Torquay but i bet you he will struggle in Glasgow. Different location,type of audience means different criteria. A great dj can create an aptmosphere with any crowd using any kind of gear no matter how good or bad. But as stated before none of us have the formal qualifications,experience from enough places or audiences to make these judgements.

[Dukesy 0]

Agree

 

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi all

 

Been a while...

 

how do you define a good DJ/mobile disco company.

 

At the end of the night, if the venue or the customer comes and say, thanks, everyone's been saying how much they've enjoyed themselves tonight.

 

If the customer says they would recommend you to others.

 

That obviously means you either met or exceeded their expectations.

 

Regardless of how big or small your rig is, it was spot on for that occasion.

 

Most people tend to fail because they don't realise they are there to serve the customer, they are in the business of customer service, not DJing.

 

Obviously you need the expertise and personality to do the job, but aside from that, if they like you, you're good, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

 

I also don't think a measure of a good DJ can be gaged by how busy a dance floor is, that's at least half the job of a crowd.

 

I've had many occasions where the dancefloor was pretty empty, on and off most the night, but still had plenty of comments about the music selection, sometimes, folks just ain't in the mood, or they aren't that kind of crowd.

 

if you're friendly, reliable, likeable, know your music and how to present it, you're a good DJ.

 

I also don't think that because you're getting lots of requests that you're doing anything wrong. In fact, I tend to find I get the most requests when the dancefloor is the busiest.

 

And so the debate rattles on.

 

Darren

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Hi all

 

Been a while...

 

how do you define a good DJ/mobile disco company.

 

At the end of the night, if the venue or the customer comes and say, thanks, everyone's been saying how much they've enjoyed themselves tonight.

 

If the customer says they would recommend you to others.

 

That obviously means you either met or exceeded their expectations.

 

Regardless of how big or small your rig is, it was spot on for that occasion.

 

Most people tend to fail because they don't realise they are there to serve the customer, they are in the business of customer service, not DJing.

 

Obviously you need the expertise and personality to do the job, but aside from that, if they like you, you're good, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

 

I also don't think a measure of a good DJ can be gaged by how busy a dance floor is, that's at least half the job of a crowd.

 

I've had many occasions where the dancefloor was pretty empty, on and off most the night, but still had plenty of comments about the music selection, sometimes, folks just ain't in the mood, or they aren't that kind of crowd.

 

if you're friendly, reliable, likeable, know your music and how to present it, you're a good DJ.

 

I also don't think that because you're getting lots of requests that you're doing anything wrong. In fact, I tend to find I get the most requests when the dancefloor is the busiest.

 

And so the debate rattles on.

 

Darren

 

You`ve just stole my post there Daz....SPOT ON. I would like to especially highlight the bit that some people won`t want to dance but are enjoying your choice of music being played.