From Sunday night - "I'm also a DJ"
- Thread starter rickryan.com
- Start date
Whenever someone requests a song and wants to hear it immediately, I always tell them that when I see them on the dance floor, I will mix it in. 
Some will actually respond with, "Oh, I don't want to dance to it, I just want to hear it." Then I say something like, "I only play dance requests but that is a great driving tune. " or something to that effect.
Some will actually respond with, "Oh, I don't want to dance to it, I just want to hear it." Then I say something like, "I only play dance requests but that is a great driving tune. " or something to that effect.
K
Kirby Ball
Guest
From this Saturday night:
And Then There Were 3
No, we're not talking about Genesis!
Last night I had, not 1 but 3 different guys come up and introduce themselves as a DJ. Thought I was at a convention or something.
One of the guys is engaged to the Maid of Honor and they came from Peoria (about 90 minutes from here) for the wedding. He only requested 1 song the whole night (some god awful T-Pain song) that I put on the list but never played..
He never bothered me after making his request and was quite polite in his approach. In fact his fiancee asked for a business card from Coreen and he later asked me for one also. So either they liked what we were doing and may give us a call or they didn't like us and will "spread the word!"
On a side note, this guy and his fiancee were on the dance floor most of the night, so he was definitely "appearing" to have a good time.
Second guy said he was a radio DJ, and I so wanted to say something along the lines that "I was so sorry he was working in a dying industry,"
but held my tongue. He requested "Kiss From A Rose by Seal" which I dropped into the dollar dance rotation which made him very happy.
Third and final guy approached me near the end of the night and starts asking for stuff I've never heard of and I asked him if he was from the "big city" and yes, he was from Chicago.
I explained that down here, South of I-80 the club music, etc. he was looking for didn't really play that well in our neck of the woods. He stayed there for a while "babbling" drunk-talk, while I just nodded my head and played along.
I felt sorry for the owner of the venue as she was talking to me (gasp! she usually ignores us and pretends like it's the first time we've met. But for some reason she checked with us 3 different times, asking us if we needed anything and if everything was going well. I wonder if aliens came and got her and replaced her with another person in her body?) Well this guy is yakking away and doesn't even notice her (she's about Anna's height) and pretty soon she's squished up against the wall and behind me trying to gracefully escape. Coreen came to the rescue and guided her out the other side of the booth to safety.
I played nothing this guy asked for and in fact I only ended up finding one song in our database that he requested. I just politely explained that we were winding down and already had the last songs in the queue and that I would check "his" song out when I got home....Not!
And Then There Were 3
No, we're not talking about Genesis!
Last night I had, not 1 but 3 different guys come up and introduce themselves as a DJ. Thought I was at a convention or something.
One of the guys is engaged to the Maid of Honor and they came from Peoria (about 90 minutes from here) for the wedding. He only requested 1 song the whole night (some god awful T-Pain song) that I put on the list but never played..
Second guy said he was a radio DJ, and I so wanted to say something along the lines that "I was so sorry he was working in a dying industry,"
Third and final guy approached me near the end of the night and starts asking for stuff I've never heard of and I asked him if he was from the "big city" and yes, he was from Chicago.
I felt sorry for the owner of the venue as she was talking to me (gasp! she usually ignores us and pretends like it's the first time we've met. But for some reason she checked with us 3 different times, asking us if we needed anything and if everything was going well. I wonder if aliens came and got her and replaced her with another person in her body?) Well this guy is yakking away and doesn't even notice her (she's about Anna's height) and pretty soon she's squished up against the wall and behind me trying to gracefully escape. Coreen came to the rescue and guided her out the other side of the booth to safety.
I played nothing this guy asked for and in fact I only ended up finding one song in our database that he requested. I just politely explained that we were winding down and already had the last songs in the queue and that I would check "his" song out when I got home....Not!
I deejay just as many white weddings as blacks and I have NEVER had this happen to me. To answer your 2nd question, it certainly can happen, but never has to me.
I have done weddings, mostly black (maybe 3), where they have a separate MC, which I always laugh at. Even now that I offer uplighting and monograms, I get hired for a lot of lighting only weddings and laugh to death (inside of course) when the DJ isn't doing so well. I won't even tell the DJ that I am a DJ too...
I have actually had other DJs come up and take a spin on my system. My ego ain't that big! Its just a piece of equipment for cripes sake! But don't mind me..I am always unusual! Plus side is I get talked about in a positive way. Its always nice to have a DJ come up to me and say "I've heard about you......"
Plus side is I get talked about in a positive way. Its always nice to have a DJ come up to me and say "I've heard about you......"
I have actually had other DJs come up and take a spin on my system. My ego ain't that big! Its just a piece of equipment for cripes sake! But don't mind me..I am always unusual!
I DJ mostly white weddings but on the black gigs, it's my impression that I'm being hired either for the lighting or because the bride wants someone who will actually show up. I've actually heard a few of them tell me the black DJs only show up about 50% of the time (believe it or not). The guests also seem to fall into two different categories. There are some groups that will accept the "white boy DJ" and will have a great time. The energy on these is fantastic and they end up being great events. The other group definitely does not appreciate the bride's selection of DJ and will let it be known by not hanging around. I've only had 2 or 3 of these events but it was plain to see that it was a racist attitude at play. In each of these cases the bride was exceedingly grateful and almost seemed like she was embarrassed and trying to keep me from knowing what actually just went down. To be perfectly honest, I feel bad for them and it feels like I let them down but in reality, I know there's nothing I could've done to change things. I will say though that on this last one the emcee/friend really blew it on the Grand Entrance. It was a big production and he just didn't have the chops to play it out. Cash the check, move on.
Rick... I can see this happening. Conversely I haven't had that happen to me with my white clients. Most of my white couples are younger. I have done some 40 & 50 year old white weddings with no problem. The key for me is hitting them hard during the cocktail and dinner hour. Once I get their heads bobbing... GAME OVER:triwink:!
I'm making an assumption that you're black. doh.
Obviously, it's a different world these days. It's not okay for whites to be racists but for some reason it's still perfectly acceptable for blacks to be racist against a white. Sounds like you have the right formula, hit it hard out of the gate and it erases any question on whether your'e the guy to direct the party. Wish it was that easy from my perspective.
You have to wear baggy pants falling off your waist, plaid boxers showing, a long white t-shirt, baseball cap backwards on yer head, Jordan shoes on yer feet and two gold teeth! Then yer in like Flynt!
For starters, As he approached I would have acknowledged him and met him at the edge of the table and engaged him in conversation. I would not simply point to a pen and paper like he was just a number. I would have asked him what kind of DJing he does, answered his questions, and let him check out the gear if he so desired. I'd have let him know I need to follow my own instincts but that I will include his requests too, and am happy to hear his ideas.
Just a comment: while your cold shoulder and arrogance about other DJs may make you feel powerful in these situations.. it actually makes you look weak - which is why this guy had no issue with commandeering your seat. Most people can sense when your control of a situation is limited to a lack of response.
You have to wear baggy pants falling off your waist, plaid boxers showing, a long white t-shirt, baseball cap backwards on yer head, Jordan shoes on yer feet and two gold teeth! Then yer in like Flynt!
Except I don't think FLYNT was black!
But then again, it never stopped Eminem or Vanilla Ice!
No doubt son! We've talked on the phone MANY times. I always talk to my peeps by saying my white potna in Tennesee
.Seriously though, don't get me wrong I have dealt with racism and don't feel it appropriate for anyone to exude. Instead of focusing on the act(s)/demeanor, I try to prove to them my knowledge of music and making people have a great time. I happen to know that you more than likely experienced this (knowing MY people) and we all may have to some extent. Next time I just want you to focus on showing them, "Look, I may be white, but imma tear y'alls A$%#& up tonight!!!" Let's get it Rick!!!
No doubt son! We've talked on the phone MANY times. I always talk to my peeps by saying my white potna in Tennesee
Seriously though, don't get me wrong I have dealt with racism and don't feel it appropriate for anyone to exude. Instead of focusing on the act(s)/demeanor, I try to prove to them my knowledge of music and making people have a great time. I happen to know that you more than likely experienced this (knowing MY people) and we all may have to some extent. Next time I just want you to focus on showing them, "Look, I may be white, but imma tear y'alls A$%#& up tonight!!!" Let's get it Rick!!!
Ah, mango......my brother by another mother! Dead on, right.
Proformance
It's 1 min and 30 seconds from the end of the song and I haven't still made up my mind what the next song is going to be but you want me to engage this guest in conversation, answer his questions on my equipment, asked him what type of DJing he was doing and give him a tour of my equipment and let him browse my library if he so desires in order to not let myself look weak.
You must DJ completely different then I do.
It's 1 min and 30 seconds from the end of the song and I haven't still made up my mind what the next song is going to be but you want me to engage this guest in conversation, answer his questions on my equipment, asked him what type of DJing he was doing and give him a tour of my equipment and let him browse my library if he so desires in order to not let myself look weak.
You must DJ completely different then I do.