While DJing a sorority party last Friday in Durham,NC, I must say that I felt like I was a part of the traditional sense of what the DJ art form is all about. Back in the day the DJ was more than a jukebox or radio, he was the entertainer/performer for the evening. I’m not much of a club hopper and I think a lot of it has to do with the lackluster performances that I feel today’s DJ’s give. It takes more than a nice mix, fancy tables, or the latest version of Serato to say that you are a TRUE DJ. You must know how to work that crowd. At the end of the night the crowd gave me a round of applause and even the staff said that I put on a great SHOW! Now those that know me know that I’m not a bragger and am a very tough critic of myself, but out of the 5 years I’ve been DJing “professionally”, I must say that that was the first time I realized that people still have respect for the DJ. I didn’t do anything fancy, no mic yelling and no getting out in the crowd; just pure crowd reading and song selection and using the mic to help transition and/or get the crowd back re-energized when necessary. So to all of my fellow DJs, keep doing what you do but don’t lose sight on what we were put here for, to entertain! An average DJ will play what’s known to be hot because he or she is afraid to clear the dance floor. A TRUE DJ will take the risk of clearing the dance floor because he/she is confident enough to know that they can bring them back.
LG
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