Petitetonya wrote:Wow...cool topic.
I think it is so ironic like Mike was mentioning, that playing classic swing (aka lindy hop music) is considered a "niche". I love old music cause it IS lindy hop music. I have been frustrated lately cause I feel like I get pressured to mix in "groove" music (whatever label fits) into my sets here in LA, I would have never been pressured to do this in Seattle so this is new to me. I could easily mix in some gene harris or lou rawls cause I have it in my dj collection, but I feel like I would be selling out. I feel like playing old music is so important in a lindy hop scene, especially if it is a scene that isn't as exposed to it much. Where is the compromise? Why should there be a compromise? Should a dj be allowed to have their own style of djing without being asked to compromise that? Or should a dj always mix it up...but then there is the risk of dj's being the same if everyone plays a little bit of everything. I feel like I really mix up my set a lot...not all old music sounds the same or is the same tempo, so I feel like I am doing a good job keeping variety strong in the genre that I prefer.
AAAACK! This topic has actually been troubling me for a while now...any advice or opinions on this matter would be welcomed.
Well, as an advocate for "Back to Savoy," I have to admit that what I consider to be quality, classic period swing music generally
is not what the dancing public considers to be classic. I could play
Doggin' Around or
Who Ya Hunchin'? and get blank stares, whereas
In the Mood will pack the floor every time.
In a nutshell, I think you might have to adjust to your new scene. I guarantee my sets would alter dramatically if I moved to Houston and kept DJing. If you're feeling pressure to add more [insert title here] to your sets, then maybe you're in the wrong venue for your preferred style. Or maybe your style needs to adapt if you want to continue to be a powerful DJ. Without a read of the floor, that's a really tough call to make and it's not mine to make in the first place.
Still, it comes down to knowing your book, as Rayned suggested. You can play a wide mix within a classic set and fill the floor. This, of course, begs the question of DJing to the crowd or DJing within a theme and all that crap.
I do find it annoying when siderooms swing more than the main room at some events. That blows my mind.
Kalman