What do you expect from a DJ?

When you go and see a dj what is he/she expected to do or be able to do? basically what denotes a bad/good dj? Does the mixing matter as highly as the tunes? If the dj is playing all your favourite choons and mixing badly do you leave? What about if his mixing is hot but can't pick a decent choon?

That he hypes up the crowd!!! WOOF WOOF...

Lisa Lashes.

What like OB1? and thats it?

Personally I'd rather listen to someone who plays the tracks I like and mixes averagly than someone who mixes 'perfectly' and plays stuff I don't like.

I guess I'd rather listen to someone whos playing something 'a bit different' and mixing well to someone whos playing stuff I know really well and doing it crappily... as long as I can get into it.

Mixing matters, Selection matters.. Which matters more?.. Probably selection. Pick the wrong tracks and some songs wont mix well no matter how good you are.

depends on my mood.
sometimes I dont want to hear anything I recognise, sometimes I do. sometimes I will tolerate bad mixing most times I wont. too much jumpy needle is bad.

Good stuff phunkster, but as a dj yourself would you judge a dj on only being able to end beat match? You know what I mean just matching beats at the end of a choon not actually mixing them together to create new shit.

Yup, I know what you mean touch.

I think I'd prefer to see a DJ take more risks and make mistakes than to just mix safely and do it perfectly. Otherwise I may as well be listening to the Numark CD players mixing themselves.

A good way to liven up a mix it to cut it up a bit and really work the mix... which pays off big time if you get it right.. but it can screw up the whole mix if you get it wrong.

I'm alot more accepting of 'small' mistakes since I got my tables... makes me feel better about my own mixing.. hahaha.. I've heard gallops from some of the 'best and biggest'.. you get over it.

I saw Sample Grant galloping down the home stretch to cheers from the crowd who thought it was a cool trick.

hahaha.. Well, I didn't wanna name names.. but.. yeah.. same deal.

He was laughing his ass off as well

A DJ should be good at mixing & play good tunes not one or the other, If They're really into what there doing then it will sound good anyway.

Depends on how bad the mixing is, if it is just a few subtle mistakes then that is ok. But I agree with Odyssey a DJ should be good at mixing and play good tunes...but definately makes a big difference when you know a DJ is enjoying himself..it is contagious and the crowd can't help but get into it!

The thing that I think make a good DJ-
1)beat matching-Not much to say there
2)Tune selection-Picking the right tracks for the crowd and not just playing stuff everyone know but also throwing in suprises
3)Read the crowd-I think a good DJ should be able to read the crowd and be able to have total control over them.The crowd should never get bored.Have seen this many times and the DJ doesn't seem to notice and then there gone.
4)Journey-The Dj should take you on a journey like a good story does.
Agree with Miss M, love it when a DJ gets fully into it and feeds off the crowd

i agree with Phunkydave i love to see dj's trying something different but obviously they have to have the basics, ie. good mixing & a decent load of tunes.
But being inventive is what makes the good dj's wicked!

A Dj who plays for the crowd and not him/herself. And thats it really as well as good up for it tunes

listen most djs in auckland aint got a skill factor of 2 between em if ya ask me. no imagination. "oh here we go another dj that can mix 2 records together everynow and then .. great"

jeesus be picky folks

Well
As a DJ i think theres more to whats been said
Any DJ can put two tunes together
Its the journey that they take you on which is the skill bit
A well designed set will start somewhere and end up somewhere completly different with out people really noticing what is happening a two hours set really isnt enough to do a quality set but i do my best to cram it in.

Beat mixing and song selection go hand in hand
Dont accept shit mixing or shit songs

as for playing tunes you know...

Well you people really need to make up your minds,
Do you want us to play really new music or play the same old tunes every night?
We can play the old ones all you like
(think of all the money it would save us)
But we are trying to provide you with the newsest tracks EVERY week
Are we wasting our time and money?

i heard u mix b4 cj ur a fag .....

Nice call Siege.

My mate DJs and hes quite good - but one thing he doesn't do well is read the croud.
But I think a good DJ plays the music based on the croud and atmosphere. Thats what makes a kick arse DJ! Armand was awesome at GC because he could just psyhic up the mood with his beats and he made the peak PEAK!

The DJ should be having fun-
always good to see the DJ bouncing around like a Puffin on Speed behind the decks... anyone seen Psilo from Chch?!
He's got just what every DJ needs... boundless energy...!!! Plus he can mix, plus he has good choons....
But DJ has to be having fun too!

dear tank104 it was the drugs man. he was just mixing tunes together. for fucks sake!!

and cauld u wanna see the most charismatic energetic fullah behind the dex go see pari rip up da drum and bass and 2 step sometime itll crack u up

big ups pari

a dapper haircuts always a good start! (how
many hairdressing DJ's ARE there?)

A total and utter love for the music and the crowd.

I just think it is important that they look like they want to be there and are enjoying themselves. I saw a DJ play on Sat night and he spent the whole time he was playing texting on his phone!! Gave no response to the crowd and basically looked as though he would rather be somewhere else!

Good point Miss but where was he playing? I've seen djs playing in bars where no-one is listening and no-one is dancing, and I imagine it is awfully difficult to get up for that, also the atmos or venue you are playing at may not be best suited for your style ie if you play banging house and theres no-one there it might be better to play deep house. So you don't enjoy it as much

Oooh, who was that?

Haha, thats funny

He was playing at a small bar but the whole dancefloor was full and everyone was getting into it, he was getting a really good response, but obviously had some urgent texts to send?!?! I dunno but it just put me off.

Fair enuff! I find that kinda amusing tho!

Yeah it is pretty amusing, especially as he made no attempt to hide it :o)

To go away feeling a lot happier than when I first start dancing!!

for me, selection is most important. Style is important (hyping of crowd, fucking with music, scratching if applicable, general demeanour). And mixing well is also important, but as long as its not completey shitty, and the other factors are good, to me its not that important.