Mixing...is it really that important?

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
Scott Hanna said:
As usual, you are answering questions that where never asked.

Never said switch hitting was like mixing nor talked about it's value. Simply that you don't understand how switch hitting works, or why someone would even try to hone the skill. You don't seem to understand how baseball works at all. You suggested switch hitting is used to hit a ball to a certain field, which isn't really that useful. It's much easier to teach someone to hit to the opposite field, so to suggest that switch hitting is used for placing the hit shows a complete lack of understanding of the fundamentals of baseball. They would call that an ERROR.:)

Instead of talking about my post and debating what about my post was incorrect...which was about switch hitting in baseball, you instead try to put down my mixing skills, which you know absolutely nothing about that either....about how much you seem to know about baseball. Where did you get your baseball knowledge?:)
Click to expand...

If we can't stand the heat let's all just plop ourselves down on the kitchen floor to cry, eh?
WTF? Even toddlers don't whine that much.

You want to defend the parallel of mixing as switch hitting with no relevent experience doing either? If you could mix you might actually have something upon which to evaluate the comparison. Without any, all you have is bias speculation about a skill you've never employed.

I'm sorry if pointing out that you don't posses the skill you want to instruct us about makes you cry, ...but sometimes milk spills.

I know enough about mixing to know it has no comparison to a switch hitter. For one thing - there is no opposing team at a wedding. It's not a contest, You are supposed to be on the same team. So tell me again how the antagonism of switch hitting is supposed to be analogous to the dance floor communion of a quality mix?

It just isn't. Unlike baseball, a great dance experience does not divide the field between winners and losers.
 
Last edited:
Proformance said:
If we can't stand the heat let's all just plop ourselves down on the kitchen floor to cry, eh?
WTF? Even toddlers don't whine that much.

You want to defend the parallel of mixing as switch hitting with no relevent experience doing either? If you could mix you might actually have something upon which to evaluate the comparison. Without any, all you have is bias speculation about a skill you've never employed.

I'm sorry if pointing out that you don't posses the skill you want to instruct us about makes you cry, ...but sometimes milk spills.

I know enough about mixing to know it has no comparison to a switch hitter. For one thing - there is no opposing team at a wedding. It's not a contest, You are supposed to be on the same team. So tell me again how the antagonism of switch hitting is supposed to be analogous to the dance floor communion of a quality mix?

It just isn't. Unlike baseball, a great dance experience does not divide the field between winners and losers.
Click to expand...

Well done. Can't argue the point, so try to belittle someone and/or make up points that the other person never raised At least you are consistent.

I know you won't listen to this, as you never do, but i'm pointing this out for everyone else's benefit:

I never compared mixing to switch hitting, simply that he posts things that make it seem like he knows what he's talking about that are incorrect. He explained things about switch hitting that doesn't make any sense. When you try to let him know were he made a mistake, he starts attacking. Ironically, he'll start saying you are the one whining.....while he is doing exactly that.
 
Proformance said:
Yes, Indeed!

...Because they most often lack a well rounded experience with diverse audiences/events and are stuck in a rut of complacent routine. We know that because they even trade and recycle the same shtick with each other ad-nausea in so-called seminars and workshops. :)

By and large DJs who identify themselves as "wedding specialists" are imitative - not creative... and they are all imitating the same things. It is the number one criticism of wedding DJs among brides-to-be. Another common complaint is the trying-too-hard to be brilliant emcees who all turn out to be equally predictable and intrusive. They are all imitative - and imitation is repetition.

They are kings of the 80/20 rule: 80 percent having only 20% of the kind of consistent exposure to new experiences and events that could make them a really great DJ. Instead, most formulate a single recipe to serve over and over - never venturing out of their routine comfort zone. A DJ who calls himself a "specialist" is someone with a recipe, it's a code word for having nothing special or unique to put on the table.

The guy who's done 500 events with a wide variation of styles and types, each demanding something a little different; is far more knowledgeable and experienced than someone who has repeated his wedding recipe even 1,000 times.
Click to expand...

I (mostly) don't agree but a well thought out response. Comedians have routines that are exact and precise. From the jokes, to the "mistakes" the stutters, everything is honed down through repetition. They learn what works and what doesn't. The same can be said of any profession and indeed would certainly apply to doing receptions. With this being said there is something to be said about being well rounded. My on-air experience has helped me in terms of diction, announcing, ,word economy, etc. I think at the end of the day it really comes down to talent. There are some amazing DJ's out there who only do weddings and amazing DJ's who do a little bit of everything. As a bride I'd put a lot of importance on the initial face to face meeting and go from there
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Like Sarge,
in my neighborhood, beatmixing is just for the nightclubs.
Not saying it is never done at weddings, just saying it is not expected, or truly appreciated by the wedding crowd.
Sure, the young pups at the end of the night appreciate it...
but the 12-year old flower girl, and 80-year old grandma could care less.
I can manage a few decent mixes, and it serves me well.....IN THE RIGHT SITUATION
(where have I heard that before)
I can make my way thru a High School dance with no problem...but most of my gigs are weddings.
And like Merlin, my day job is in radio, where beat mixing is only used on the CHR stations on weekends.
So I am hired for skills OTHER than beat mixing.

For the record, I truly admire anyone that can do it well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
I hope I get a hit with that deadhorse around here - its getting pretty old now!

you either beatmix or you dont

plain and simple

oh and stop telling others they MUST DO AS YOU DO!

have a nice day
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
eddieyourdj said:
The next person that post on this thread, may your 12" skip while you are in the restroom!!!
Click to expand...
If that happens she will get real mad with me. She does not like interruptions while I am performing! Eruptions she does welcome! :cheers:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
mikemerlin said:
I (mostly) don't agree but a well thought out response. Comedians have routines that are exact and precise. From the jokes, to the "mistakes" the stutters, everything is honed down through repetition. They learn what works and what doesn't. The same can be said of any profession and indeed would certainly apply to doing receptions. With this being said there is something to be said about being well rounded. My on-air experience has helped me in terms of diction, announcing, ,word economy, etc. I think at the end of the day it really comes down to talent. There are some amazing DJ's out there who only do weddings and amazing DJ's who do a little bit of everything. As a bride I'd put a lot of importance on the initial face to face meeting and go from there
Click to expand...

The thing about comedy is that the jokes aren't as funny the second and third time around. That's why comedians move around the country. It works once on a new crowd and in a new place but, then it's time to move on or create something new. Wedding DJs don't seem to get that. They find "what works" and then bury their head in the sand while a new crop of younger competitors with fresh ideas takes over. That's when they start whining and blaming customers that "don't get it, or aren't smart enough to recognize real quality, etc." LOL.

The fact is most never bother to advance their skills, alter their routine, or truly improve their presentation with credible effort or resources. The same DJs who couldn't mix 20 years ago still can't mix today. Instead it's off to the seminar or chat room for a pat on the back and recycled 30 year old shtick they're hearing for the first time in this one hour they pulled their head out of the sand. Then it's back home to keep doing "what worked" in a different place and time, ...that first joke that now everyone knows by heart.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Proformance said:
The thing about comedy is that the jokes aren't as funny the second and third time around. That's why comedians move around the country. It works once on a new crowd and in a new place but, then it's time to move on or create something new.
Click to expand...

You realize you just made my point? Comedians who are successful use the same jokes on different people. Successful DJ's use the same material on different people. Through experience you evolve and add to you routine.
 
mikemerlin said:
You realize you just made my point? Comedians who are successful use the same jokes on different people. Successful DJ's use the same material on different people. Through experience you evolve and add to you routine.
Click to expand...

I don't agree. The comedian often has to leave the city, state, or cross the country to find different people. And even then, once seen on broadcast TV, published or syndicated in any way the life of the routine rapidly deteriorates.

DJs mostly work within easy driving distance, and from referrals which routinely place them in the same circle of community and acquaintances. I literally can see some of the same families at 3 consecutive Bar Mitzvahs in the same week. I see the same corporate clients and contacts at a variety of civic fundraisers, banquets, and meetings. I see bride's again at their girlfriend's or sister's weddings and engagements. It doesn't take long to see there's no change up if you're cooking an old recipe.

Multiply that by the number of DJs in any given area all doing the same unoriginal thing and you can see why the brides have such low expectations.
 
Clean up in aisle 4
 
Proformance said:
I don't agree. The comedian often has to leave the city, state, or cross the country to find different people. And even then, once seen on broadcast TV, published or syndicated in any way the life of the routine rapidly deteriorates.

DJs mostly work within easy driving distance, and from referrals which routinely place them in the same circle of community and acquaintances. I literally can see some of the same families at 3 consecutive Bar Mitzvahs in the same week. I see the same corporate clients and contacts at a variety of civic fundraisers, banquets, and meetings. I see bride's again at their girlfriend's or sister's weddings and engagements. It doesn't take long to see there's no change up if you're cooking an old recipe.

Multiply that by the number of DJs in any given area all doing the same unoriginal thing and you can see why the brides have such low expectations.
Click to expand...
Consider this. Most people have never booked a DJ before and don't know what to look for. When you see the thing DJ that automatically puts in peoples minds a person that plays music. If it's on the radio, bar, club or private event. So brides don't know what to expect a DJ to do beyond playing music.

Do remember this and that is that most people go to one or 2 weddings in a lifetime. Nobody goes to a wedding once a month unless you're a DJ working and get to do weddings that often. Think of how often someone goes to an event they are invited to where there is a DJ. Not to often. So at best if they do go out they might see a DJ playing in a bar or club. My point is that they mostly don't know what to look for. It's not that we lower brides expectations but most don't know there are all kinds of different DJ's.

Some might be better at doing a wedding then others. Some are better at playing in a bar/club. Some are better at doing a birthday party then say a wedding anniversary. Then some will only play a certain style of music or don't have any other styles of music to play but just one particular style. Some may have different styles of music they could play but only are good at playing one thing. Anything else and they are lost. Certain styles of music may work in one arena and not be good for another. So not all DJ's are the same.

It then is up to you to show a bride why you're the right DJ to come do their wedding and how you can make their day a memorable one. Without bashing another DJ it's up to you to show them how you're different from other DJ's. If you can't do that then it's not the brides fault their expectations are lowered but yours.

One last thing please and do remember this. Our primary job is supposed to be us playing music. How you do that is up to you. After that anything we do is extra gravy. Of course some do more then just play music. Some can MC very well. Help coordinate an event and even help with planning the event. Meaning helping a bride out if they need help with getting vendors to come do their wedding.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back