Thread: Why DJ-ing is no longer a cool profession.

Look, Nobody Cares That You're a DJ
You know who you are. Standing behind that deck of turntables, holding one headphone to your ear, being pretentious and aloof as you play with knobs and shuffle through records. You can just settle down, because nobody cares that you're a DJ.



1. Rave DJ -- Dude, first of all, raves were never even cool to begin with. The fact that you're still trying to "keep the party going" ten years later is bordering on The Most Pathetic Thing Ever. You can pile up all the lasers and lights and disco balls and glo sticks and pacifiers you want, but all you'll have is a big heap of Who Gives A Shit. And quit passing out all those stupid glossy promo cards announcing your latest weekly "Bliss-Chillout-Ambient-House-Electro-fest". You're 35 now -- isn't that a little old to be handing out postcards with psychadelic robots all over them? Also, your "DJ Name", whatever it is, is stupid.


2. Hipster DJ -- You silly scenesters can stand there and look as jaded and above-it-all as you want, but you're not fooling me into thinking you're some kind of fucking rock star. Say it along with me, "I am not a musician". No matter how many obscure bands you know or how big your record collection is, you're playing someone else's music. So stop acting like Mick fucking Jagger at every retarded party and gallery opening I go to. I have a pretty impressive DVD collection and know quite a bit about film history, but if I show up at your house and play Taxi Driver for you, does that make me Martin Scorsese? No, it doesn't. Also, whatever you're wearing right now, it looks ridiculous.


3. Celebrity DJ -- Hey Carlos D, Danny Masterson and every indie rocker in the world -- you're already a star. You're already rich, already famous, already spreading your "love" (and herpes) far and wide with all the groupies you could possibly want. Do you seriously need more attention? Do you need to show us that you have really excellent taste in music? Do you need to throw in an ironically bad song to show us you also have an adorable, self-deprecating sense of humor? Really, you do? Well turn off the fucking lights when you're done, assholes.


4. Angry Hip Hop DJ -- Sup dude, you're cool.


5. Angry Music Snob DJ -- I don't really care if you have rare original first-press Joy Division vinyl, you're still just a douchebag with a record player. Don't you get tired of lugging around 400 pounds of vinyl just to be ignored by bars and clubs full of people who haven't heard of -- and could care less about -- your music collection? Get an iPod, dude. And don't even THINK about launching into your diatribe about how mp3s are inferior and DJ's who use iPod's are posers. There is no "art" to DJing. I don't care if you're using turntables, iPods, a laptop or a My First Sony Record Player, you're still just playing other people's music. Get over yourself, you pretentious jackass.


The point is, while I enjoy good music in the background when I'm out reveling, I think we can all agree to cut out the lame DJ worship. I mean, think of how many people you know who claim to be DJ's. Everyon'e a fucking DJ. I'm DJing right now here in my cubicle. I just segued from Bloc Party's "Banquet" into Kings of Leon's "The Bucket" - isn't that amazing?

Don't mind me, I'm just waiting to see what happens next.

DJ Boy George. nuff said

DJ Pat,

How long have you been DJing?

How does a person "learn" to do it. How do they get "trained," to do it.

Is the income OK?


Just curious. I'll never be able to be a DJ, but I am curious.

Originally Posted by Bagwan

DJ Pat,

How long have you been DJing?

How does a person "learn" to do it. How do they get "trained," to do it.

Is the income OK?


Just curious. I'll never be able to be a DJ, but I am curious.

DJ since 1991.

A person 'falls' into it really thru buying lots of records then sees how piss-easy it is to make cash by going out and playing them.
You need to be able to play a decent selection that people like to dance to though. That's the learning bit I suppose.

Income is Ok in Thailand but excellent elsewhere, ie the UK.

As a DJ, experience is very important.

Originally Posted by PeaceBlondie

With all due respect, DJ Pat, do you have a day job?

No I haven't PB, why?

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

Income is Ok in Thailand but excellent elsewhere, ie the UK.

I guess the travelling expenses might negate the 'excellent' remunaration to some extent.

Originally Posted by LDMA

No it wasn't but there was something about 2 e's and some ketamine in a squat with a bunch of crusties that appealed to me at some point.

Crustafarians...I remember them..In fact it was our crappy lighting rigs that Tribal Gathering used to hire in the early days...and when they would come to the shop to collect them the place stank of patchuli oil and unwashedness.