Monday 27 August 2012

Diary Of A Lonely DJ


The DJ is usually surrounded by some kind of entourage - be it booth monkey, trainspotter, fan-boy, fan-girl or the general hangers-on.

For the local-unknown DJ, reclusive selector or room two opener...this is not the case. That case is fuelled by naff warm up sets, the odd closer, bar gigs and many-a empty dance space.

Unplugged or malfunctioning equipment is usually next. So after lighting the back of the mixer up with your phone, figuring out what RCA cable leads where and establishing signal, you can start your set 15 minutes behind schedule unbeknown to anyone.

What I saw next was the inspiration behind this post. Before a recent cheerless-opener, I had a giggly conversation with another bedroom DJ who made the fantastic observation of worn out bass knobs on mixers - almost exclusively Pioneer DJMs (Pioneer effects knobs seem to take a fair old battering to). 

Flange Flange Flange.

If you are lucky the occasional group of dancers will sprinkle your dance floor and share a few beats with vodka lemonades in hand, only to lose interest before being able to mix the next track. 

A destitute Quantec remix to Aaron Carl’s Crucified rings out. Playing companionless dub techno has never been so much fun.

Bass.

11 comments:

  1. i think you mean 'lose' rather than 'loose'. come on mate.

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  2. actually, that entire paragraph is just absolutely terrible.

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  3. Didn't get the same impression as above commenter. Quite liked the piece actually, its nice to see a blog post about being a DJing that people that more easily relate to

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  4. Very true words!
    It does also happen to bigger names, especially after said local unknown dj turned the dj booth upside down to plug-in an overly complex setup inspired by the latest NI promo video...

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  5. Yeah, a nice true change...

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  6. Didn't get the same impression as above commenter. Quite liked the piece actually, its nice to see a blog post about being a DJing that people that more easily relate to

    --did you mean to write "being a DJ" or "about DJing". You should probably decide. Trying to write both doesn't quite work. Nor does "that people that more easily relate to". That's probably why you "didn't get the same impression". Cause you are as crummy a writer/as inattentive as the piece's author

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  7. Get off your fucking high horse.
    Anyone with any real appreciation for language wouldn't be such a pretentious prick about it. Say something constructive or at least appreciate the content. As for your need to attack the person that commented below you, who held no apparent negativity towards you, well that makes you look incredibly pathetic. Please refrain in future.

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  8. G'day Pat.

    Let's be honest. Anyone with 'any real appreciation for language' (cheers for the cliche), probably wouldn't be on this webpage. As for the person below me, I attacked them because they were disagreeing with something I said that wasn't really subjective. It was just correct. I made the comments in the first place because I like this page and there are standards in language that I think quality journalism should probably try and stick to. Whoever wrote this seems to agree, considering they reshuffled the paragraph mentioned and tidied up the 'loose' end. I'm not sure whether you have some vested interest, or are just some brave civilian, but you should be thanking me. I'm an unpaid editor. I'm constructively criticising the writing on this page. But hey - I'll never say anything as constructive as what you have. I'll refrain from now on. ;)

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  9. I'm glad my post has generated some discussion, even if it is about my writing and not worn out bass knobs.

    The mistake was dually noted. Thanks for that Ben/Anonymous, nothing like fresh and unpaid eyes.

    Although I'm not sure what you mean by “Anyone one with 'any real appreciation for language' (cheers for the cliche), probably wouldn't be on this webpage.".

    Nor do I appreciate being called a crummy and inattentive writer.

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    1. Tea, don't mind Mr. Ben. While constructive criticism is a good thing, there's nothing constructive about Ben's posts.
      You run a great, well written blog which there's a lot of us out there that are thankful for.

      Keep it up!

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  10. I'm not against criticism, without it writing would never progress, what I am against is your attitude towards criticism. Arrogance and negativity is not a necessary part of forming critique. But I suppose you are far too superior to uphold basic respect for others.

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