#34
Post
by Nate Dogg » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:54 pm
The rules that Lawrence was complaining about. Circa, summer of 2004.
Lawrence, whether he wants to admit it, follows most of them. Some DJs lacked common sense, so guidelines had to be written down (show up on time, don't play long songs, don't play too much novelty, do the traditional birthday jam at 10:30 so people can know what to expect, etc..).
In reality, only some of the DJs actually realize the guidelines exist. But, DJs are generally compliant. The most common "violation" these days is when DJs play more advanced tunes when our beginner lesson let out at 9:30. Play that stuff later.
Being a non-profit, democratic organization, no individual can just unilaterally fire a DJ. There is no single person in charge like other organizations and venues. The only reason the rules were drafted was because certain DJs were getting complaints and the Board had to take action in a fair manner. Eventually, one of DJs actually got suspended, and ended up never DJing in Austin again.
Nathan
Here are the guidelines for the djs.
The length of the Thursday Night DeeJay Shifts has been changed:
First Shift: 8:00 - 10:00 p.m..
Second Shift: 10:00 - 11:00 p.m..
Third Shift: 11:00 p.m. - Midnight.
These shift changes will be in effect starting on April 24
(when the new rotation of deejay shifts begins).
When a live band plays on Thursday nights, the deejay rotation will
be adjusted as follows:
1. When we know in advance (before a new deejay rotation is
announced) the date for the live band, the deejay rotation will skip
on that week.
2. When we do not have enough advance warning of the date for a live
band, the deejays for that night will be bumped and given a make-up
shift at the end of that rotation. FOR EXAMPLE, the rotation
beginning on April 24 is announced today, but next week we find out
there will be a live band on May 22nd, the deejays for May 22nd will
be given a make-up shift on the Thursday after the rotation finishes
in early June.
3. The chair of the music committee will appoint deejays to work
with the bands. This will be done on a rotation.
Training methods for a new deejay.
A member of the music committee will sit as a mentor with the new
deejay during his or her first two sets at the Fed.
Duties of the Deejays include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Keep most of the people dancing in the ballroom.
2. Pay attention to the crowd throughout your assigned set. Pleasing
them is more important than educating them. Deejays are advised to
not get too lost on the headphones and to not be dependent upon a
pre-arranged set list.
Playlist Suggestions for the deejays.
1. From 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the deejay must play songs that are
suitable for East Coast Swing (6-count swing). The 8:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. deejay cannot close his shift by playing a song that he might
play if he or she were signing off at midnight. The 8:00 p.m. to 10:00
p.m. deejay must remember there is another deejay following him or
her, that there needs to be continuity to the 10 - 11 p.m. set, and
that the deejay's prime directive is to take care of the needs of
the dancers.
2. A deejay on any set should work to keep the right variety in his
or her set. Variety that is desirable is to move between blues (that
swings), jazz, or neo-swing, big bands and small combos, fast,
medium and slower tempos. Variety that is not desirable is to
include more than one or two novelty songs (defined as rhythm and
blues, hip-hop, zydeco, tango, country-western) per hour of music.
3. A deejay should not play more than two 6-minute-long, or longer,
songs during any one shift.
Request Policy.
The Syndicate deejays are encouraged to take requests. However, a
deejay is not obligated to take a request. Scenarios where a deejay
may elect to decline a request include, but are not limited to, the
following:
1. The music on the request is not swing, blues or jazz, or it can
be classified as a novelty song;
2. The request is made in the last 10 minutes of the deejay's set; or
3. When the request is on a CD that is not in the Deejay's
collection.
Birthday (and special event) Dances.
There will be one per night. It will take place during the 10 p.m. to
11 p.m. shift. Only in an exceptional circumstance can there be a
second Birthday (and special event) dance on any one night; and then
the deejay should try to consult with the Staffing Coordinator or a
member of the Music Committee before doing so.
DeeJay Compensation.
<Not posted, since it is out of date>