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Thread: DJ Ethos (rules that DJs should live by)

  1. #1
    Deez Beats! KLH's Avatar
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    DJ Ethos (rules that DJs should live by)

    This is the DJ Ethos thread. Let's start with the definition, courtesy of Dictionary.com:

    e·thos
    [ee-thos, ee-thohs, eth-os, -ohs]
    noun

    1.
    Sociology . the fundamental character or spirit of a culture;the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs,or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions ofa people or period: In the Greek ethos the individual was highly valued.


    2.the character or disposition of a community, group, person,etc.

    3.the moral element in dramatic literature that determines acharacter's action rather than his or her thought or emotion.


    So what's the above mean? It means that this thread
    will state rules and ethics that DJs should live by. You should already know these things. I'm not your father, so if you bend a few of these rules for the greater good, only you will have to answer for your actions.

    Let's begin:

    Thou shalt NOT steal
    Do not pirate music or steal equipment.


    Thou shalt practice and enjoy

    DJing is - at its core - about performing and having fun. As with anyone else with great skills, DJs practice often to hone their craft. If you want to be good, practice. If you want to be great, Practice AND Enjoy. If you just enjoy, you'll suck like 99% of most DJs out there who "just want to have fun."

    Athletes train every day. Musicians do too. If you're serious and really want the skills, practicing will get you there.

    By the way, the phrase "practice and enjoy" was made popular by DJTutor.com. Props to all the lads over there.


    Thou shalt respect other DJs
    Respect other DJs. The sad fact is that most DJs are better than you. Show them respect until you perform regularly in front of 100,000+ crowds... And yes, that's the credibility it takes to be able to talk smack. Until you get there, all you need to do is STFU.


    Thou shalt covet skills, not tools
    This is the tenet of DJing: Skills > Tools. If there's any ONE master rule in DJing this is it. Skills, more than anything else, defines the DJ. The more you know, the better DJ you become. The more you know how to do, the better your shows will become.

    Having better equipment does NOT make you a better DJ. Having more tracks does NOT make you a better DJ. Having better skills will ALWAYS make you a better DJ, period.

    So learn the basics first, grow by learning advanced techniques, and master DJing by pushing the envelope. You will be rewarded. I might even like you eventually.


    Thou shalt save for decent equipment instead of buying cheap crap
    In the DJ world, you really do get what you pay for. This is eventually learned by everyone, but I'll try to save you time and money. Cheap stuff breaks often and is unreliable. There are certain manufacturers that are always cheaper than others, yet the same more expensive manufacturers continue to dominate in the DJ equipment world.

    It is better to save for higher quality gear than it is to spend your hard-earned money on unreliable gear. If you spend on unreliable gear, you'll often find that the gear will break AND you'll save up and buy the more expensive gear anyway. Learn this lesson early and save money.

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    Thou shalt use the highest quality recordings possible
    When amplified to dancefloor levels, poorly recorded/encoded tracks become very obvious. Experienced DJs know this and seek to use only the highest quality tracks whenever possible.

    This rule means that regardless of how an MP3 was encoded or however the track was made, a DJ uses his or her EARS to decide if a track is worth keeping or if another version is needed. Track file size does not always mean that a track is high quality.


    Thou shalt help others
    DJF is a fantastic resource for learning and helping other DJs. Be a role model and help others as you learn.


    Did I miss anything? If so, add more ethics below...

    -KLH
    Last edited by KLH; 02-27-2012 at 10:15 AM. Reason: Added high quality rule

  2. #2
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    Thau shalt learn how to run a mixer and read level meters.

  3. #3
    Very well said KLH.

    www.nickjames.ca
    → Reddit: omers on /r/DJs and /r/Beatmatch

  4. #4
    Member DJNR's Avatar
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    Thou shall not play shit quality tracks..
    Equipment: CDJ 2000 Nexus, DJM 900 Nexus, Ultrasone DJ1 Pro, AiAiAi TMA-1 Fool's Gold Edition.

  5. #5
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    Thou shalt do it for the passion of music, and not just for jesus posing with expensive gear and getting chicks.

  6. #6
    Thou shalt do at least a little homework and learn some DJ history.

    If I'm talking to a "DJ," and I make a reference to Afrika Bambaataa or Grandmaster Flash or (to a lesser extent) Mr. Fingers or a Guy Called Gerald, and that "DJ" looks at me like a deer in the headlights... it's disappointing.

    It doesn't matter if your main DJ goal is to play nothing but Lady Gaga tracks on an iPod for three hours... you should take a little bit of time to dig into the rich history of the DJ culture and at least learn the names of a few of the main players and pioneers of DJing and dance music production.

    Knowing the roots of DJing and dance music can make the experience much deeper and more fulfilling.

    Last edited by Badger; 02-27-2012 at 12:32 PM. Reason: Minor wording change.
    Old-School DJ, Remix Archivist, Vinyl Freak, and Nostalgia Addict
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  7. #7
    1.Thou shalt not follow rules associated with Djing made up on a forum as you are just limiting yourself

    For enteriament purposes I like where this thread is going and Badgers post is spot on

  8. #8
    Member fueledbymusic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Signal Lost View Post
    Thou shalt do it for the passion of music, and not just for jesus posing with expensive gear and getting chicks.
    agreed!

  9. #9
    rules for being an artist: there are no rules
    PROFESSIONAL UNEMPLOYED DJ
    ------------------------------------------------------
    PATREON

  10. #10
    Member Dj_4-$hure's Avatar
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    ^^^ This!.
    Last edited by Dj_4-$hure; 02-27-2012 at 10:38 PM.

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