SwingDJs

I like previewing more because I like to know whether the song's sound quality is ok or not. In order to combat this I've began catologuing all my music. What this means, though, is that I have to listen to EVERY song in my collection, I BPM it, take the time, and write a little note about the song,...

I've been paid once. I'm doing another paid gig this weekend. I think it depends on the dance you're DJing at. If you're only DJing an hour, then free admission is perfectly fine with me. When you start pulling an all nighter, though, I think the DJ ought to paid something, because the DJ has invest...

I've been really enjoying Ellington pre-1940 lately. I've been playing him the most for sure. But it all depends on my mood.

Harrison

There's a group here in Victoria called The Flying Saucers. Unfortunately, they don't have a CD, but they are awesome and they really swing. There are lots of other groups too that are great, they mostly play hot jazz, and I love it, but I forget a lot of their names because they seldom play except ...

Generally the same here. The other DJ here just has the total opposite, generally, tastes then I do. I was hoping that I could hear more of the music I liked and so I decided I'd give DJing a try. That's why I started. I was never pushed, but I wanted to give it a shot, and I would say that personal...

And given most dancers probably collect music, most non-DJ'ing dancers don't have enough music to really DJ for any interval longer than about 20 minutes (i.e. lack of critical mass). See, I don't think most dancers collect music... or at least they don't here and they didn't when I started. When I...

One should always be unique. There are enough different DJs for different tastes in music out there that we ought to not have them all trying to appeal to all the dancers. Instead, we have people who like different eras and such. With that much variety in DJs, everyone can get what they want without...

I voted never, I can't get inspired to dance to music I don't enjoy.

Harrison

I've been enjoying it, but so are the dancers. Yesterday it was mostly newer dancers there and they all got excited when I announced it was my weekly history lesson. It's been very successful. For me because I've been both enjoying sharing and learning Jazz history. The dancers have been all enjoyin...

Depends on where I get into my set. I find a few stories and when I come to a song that is done by an artist I am about to talk about, or that there's a story about the song itself, I talk. I don't talk for any more then one minute usually. So far it's been going really well.

Harrison

I only do it once a night. If I did it before every song there would be no flow what so ever.

Harrison

One thing I have been really enjoying lately is doing a history lesson every week when I DJ. What I would do is before I play a song related to what I'm about to say, I say a little something about the song or artist usually. I wasn't sure if people were enjoying it or not, but the beginners last ni...

Almost forgot to add...

Why should I buy music I don't enjoy? I want to be able to enjoy the music I buy. I rarely get paid to DJ, so I should NEVER be expected to spend my own personal money on music I don't like.

Harrison

It's very simple. I say "I'm sorry, I don't carry that." If I'm DJing locally and there's a lot of ECSers out, I just say that. They looked shocked at the fact that I don't carry any neo-swing. I try to meet them half way and play some Mora's Modern Rhythmists. When it comes to the groove,...

My first gig was in Vancouver, before I even DJ'd in my home town. Apparently I did really good, I can't exactly remember it perfectly, but I remember people telling me that it wasn't too bad. I remember having a lot of fun doing it though :). I have tried the set list thing, I'm not a big fan of it...