I Don't Understand Why...

[solar twin]

... I see so many threads on here and other forums about how the new influx of EDM DJs are 'killing the art of DJing' because they don't learn the basics etc.

I don't understand what the problem is with this tbh. I do not care if there are 1,000,000,000,000,000 other DJs that aren't learning the basics and aren't being creative etc. because i didn't start DJing to compare myself to other people. I purely do it because I love music, I love listening to music, going to shows, producing music, mixing, reading about music, pretty much everything to do with music.

The point I'm trying to make is: why does it bother you that there are lots of DJs who don't want to learn the basics? As long as you are happy with what you're doing and you're happy with your technical ability isn't that all that matters? If you truly love music and the art of DJing then i don't think you should bother yourself with what other people are doing.

Or am I missing something?

[TheRabbitMonk]

your not mate! i couldn't agree more or careless about other peoples going's on

[Sigma]

If you truly love music and the art of DJing then i don't think you should bother yourself with what other people are doing.

You think there are people that love the art of DJing who don't even learn the basics? Why did you start a thread saying that you didn't like using auto-sync, so you switched to trying to learn beatmatching? It seems to me that you're making a conscious effort to learn the basics.

Loving music and the art of DJing is the perfect starting point. Not being overly concerned with what other people do isn't a bad thing either, necessarily. But to set the bar so fucking low for yourself is a poor show IMO. If you love the art of DJing you would be striving to be the best you can be in all areas (or several of them at least).

Once you start DJing for an audience, whether it's playing gigs or putting mixes online for people to hear, you're going to be compared to other DJs, even if it's indirectly.

What you're asking me, basically, is "why do I care what other DJs are doing?". It's because I like to see/hear passionate DJs get good and do well through putting the effort in. I could say "do what you like! Fuck it!", but then if we all thought like that we might as well shut most of the site sections down right now.

[Jimanee]

Well you can have any attitude you want in your own bedroom.

It's when you are playing in clubs and parties, you start caring about what other people think...

And if you skipped on the basics, you could end up on the receiving end of real abuse. I've seen it many times, it can be quite nasty.

I remember one "no skilled, I just play music because I love it" DJ in tears (this was a man), because a party turned on him and threw food at him.

Anyway that's one reason why you might pay attention to those threads, there's many more, I hope you find them.

[disparate]

Once you start DJing for an audience, whether it's playing gigs or putting mixes online for people to hear, you're going to be compared to other DJs, even if it's indirectly.

That's it. I like what you're saying but if you want to take your love for music to the level of getting gigs then you'll realise you're up against these guys or at least being compared to them. It's all well and good to say "it's ok, I'm in it for the love" but it might be hard to not get pissed off when some kid who doesn't care about the art gets the gigs you want... it would take a strong person not to. It can be frustrating to see the majority of people listening to talentless vapid music and objectively crap DJs when you KNOW you're better than that; it can feel soul destroying when some guy playing crappy "EDM" tunes gets everyone dancing then you come on and play the music you've spent hour after hour and hundreds of £/$/whatever tracking down and it goes down like a lead turd.

Not saying that should stop you - it should encourage you to keep trying - but it can be hard not to care especially when you're so passionate and invested in something.

[solar twin]

You think there are people that love the art of DJing who don't even learn the basics? Why did you start a thread saying that you didn't like using auto-sync, so you switched to trying to learn beatmatching? It seems to me that you're making a conscious effort to learn the basics.

Loving music and the art of DJing is the perfect starting point. Not being overly concerned with what other people do isn't a bad thing either, necessarily. But to set the bar so fucking low for yourself is a poor show IMO. If you love the art of DJing you would be striving to be the best you can be in all areas (or several of them at least).

Once you start DJing for an audience, whether it's playing gigs or putting mixes online for people to hear, you're going to be compared to other DJs, even if it's indirectly.

What you're asking me, basically, is "why do I care what other DJs are doing?". It's because I like to see/hear passionate DJs get good and do well through putting the effort in. I could say "do what you like! Fuck it!", but then if we all thought like that we might as well shut most of the site sections down right now.

Yeah, you're right, I am making a conscious effort to learn the basics because that's what I want to do. But I don't care if other people don't want to learn the basics. As long as everyone is happy doing what they're doing then I'm fine with that.

I'm not saying why do you care what other DJs are doing, sorry if it came across that way. I'm saying, why let people who obviously have no love for the music or for DJing itself bother you? (not you personally, just in general)

[solar twin]

That's it. I like what you're saying but if you want to take your love for music to the level of getting gigs then you'll realise you're up against these guys or at least being compared to them. It's all well and good to say "it's ok, I'm in it for the love" but it might be hard to not get pissed off when some kid who doesn't care about the art gets the gigs you want... it would take a strong person not to. It can be frustrating to see the majority of people listening to talentless vapid music and objectively crap DJs when you KNOW you're better than that; it can feel soul destroying when some guy playing crappy "EDM" tunes gets everyone dancing then you come on and play the music you've spent hour after hour and hundreds of £/$/whatever tracking down and it goes down like a lead turd.

Not saying that should stop you - it should encourage you to keep trying - but it can be hard not to care especially when you're so passionate and invested in something.

I guess my opinion will be different to other peoples as I have no intention of getting regular gigs or anything like that. I just want to learn to DJ to a level that I am happy with. Kinda like when people learn to play guitar but have no intention of joining a band. That might sound weird but i don't mean it to.

I didn't think about the fact that people who are less talented than you getting gigs because they will accept a lower rate, I can see how that would be infuriating.

So, is the reason people have a dislike for people who don't care for the basics/the music/whatever because they are accepting cheaper fees and therefore forcing more talented DJs out of work?

[disparate]

That's fair enough then, no need to worry yourself with the fakers.

I guess for me playing out was always an ambition and I consider learning to play to a crowd to be part of the art, if you're just in it to have fun and mix tracks then it's not as big a deal. Sounds a lot less frustrating than trying to get gigs.

[Sigma]

I'm saying, why let people who obviously have no love for the music or for DJing itself bother you? (not you personally, just in general)

Because it's a small part of something that over time, lowers the bar for what DJs are, how much they get paid, what people think of them and so on.

Plus, I'm a fan of listening to other DJ's mixes, watching their battle/scratch routines and what have you, so even if I never get to see any DJs on here play live, I can still see/hear what many of them are up to and enjoy what they're doing. I check out a lot of mixes and delete most of them after one listen. A few of them become "keepers" and I'll listen to them fairly regularly, so from a selfish point of view I'd like to hear more keepers and fewer throwaway mixes.

Also, you have more of a connection with people if they share the same love for things as you, so I like to see people who put effort in do well. There's a guy on my forum that went from being a below average DJ to placing well in the DMC comps, living off gigging, and supporting some well known artists, all because of the effort and focus he put into DJing over the last 3-4 years and I love to see things like that. D Reddi on here is another example - I've watched his vids and listened to his mixes for ages and when he posted that he'd landed a decent residency, I was made up for the guy because I felt that he really deserved it.

[solar twin]

Because it's a small part of something that over time, lowers the bar for what DJs are, how much they get paid, what people think of them and so on.

Plus, I'm a fan of listening to other DJ's mixes, watching their battle/scratch routines and what have you, so even if I never get to see any DJs on here play live, I can still see/hear what many of them are up to and enjoy what they're doing. I check out a lot of mixes and delete most of them after one listen. A few of them become "keepers" and I'll listen to them fairly regularly, so from a selfish point of view I'd like to hear more keepers and fewer throwaway mixes.

Also, you have more of a connection with people if they share the same love for things as you, so I like to see people who put effort in do well. There's a guy on my forum that went from being a below average DJ to placing well in the DMC comps, living off gigging, and supporting some well known artists, all because of the effort and focus he put into DJing over the last 3-4 years and I love to see things like that. D Reddi on here is another example - I've watched his vids and listened to his mixes for ages and when he posted that he'd landed a decent residency, I was made up for the guy because I felt that he really deserved it.

Thanks for good response. I completely understand what you mean about lowering the bar for other DJ's, I never really thought of it like that.
I imagine that your views change depending on whether you see it as a hobby or a profession too.

Which forum is your forum?

Also, I'm in Worcestershire for a few weeks (not far from Stafford) and I'm really struggling to find good events to go to without going to Birmingham (which seems to be mainly drum and bass and really bait dubstep). Are there any good nights going on in Stafford? (I noticed it said you're from Stafford on your soundcloud btw)