OK folks, I am back but not back DJing.
I have not set up the gear at the lodge in close to a month and the only thing close has been doing karaoke for the veterans at Perry Point VA Hospital. I do that once a month. Yesterday we had over 42 vets and about half of them sang so it was a pretty good two hours.
Now, the title here is, "What Drove Me?" That is, what drove me as a DJ and what drove me to DJ.
The second question is actually easier to answer; ego drove me to DJ. Like it or not, that is probably the same reason for most of you as well. Think about it; you are either up there in front of everybody or sitting in a booth behind some glass but no matter what, you are in charge. You can say, "I'm just playing music", but, what you play impacts what is happening on the dance floor and, admit it, when that floor is full and they are grooving to what you are laying down then you get a rush. That rush is just not that head rush from the moment, it is an ego boost. And you want more! That rush drove me to DJ.
What drove me as a DJ included what drove me to DJ and several other factors.
1. I enjoy music. But, the last ten years or so have really sucked as far as music is concerned. That is probably one of the contributing factors to me leaving. Yesterday I sat in the lounge of the lodge relaxing and there was a baby shower going on in the lower lounge. They were playing mostly Hip Hop and Rap and I have to tell you that it turned me off. I could not relax and I could not stay, so I left. When I was doing Friday nights at the lodge for a while it was the same way. I would be playing Classic Rock, Southern Rock or Country and somebody would ask for Eminem, Lil Jon, or somebody like that, I'd play it, and my desire to keep playing would go out the window.
2. I enjoyed the planning, especially for weddings. I just liked doing that. I liked working with the client to make their day a great one.
3. I liked working with my clients.
4. I liked coordinating the events.
What I did not like was the administrative end. I hated the marketing and everything that I had to do to get clients. I especially hated those times when I chase clients for days on end only to find out that they hired a DJ for $100 that said they would do exactly what I said I would do for $700 (or whatever).
And, as I said, the modern music started to drive me away. Towards the end I started pursuing older couples but they are few and far between.
Do I miss it? Honestly, some elements I do miss. I will break out the gear from time to time on a Friday night at the lodge and play but, I can almost guarantee you, as soon as the folks start asking for the modern stuff, if I can't get back to the rock or country then I'm shutting down.
I have not set up the gear at the lodge in close to a month and the only thing close has been doing karaoke for the veterans at Perry Point VA Hospital. I do that once a month. Yesterday we had over 42 vets and about half of them sang so it was a pretty good two hours.
Now, the title here is, "What Drove Me?" That is, what drove me as a DJ and what drove me to DJ.
The second question is actually easier to answer; ego drove me to DJ. Like it or not, that is probably the same reason for most of you as well. Think about it; you are either up there in front of everybody or sitting in a booth behind some glass but no matter what, you are in charge. You can say, "I'm just playing music", but, what you play impacts what is happening on the dance floor and, admit it, when that floor is full and they are grooving to what you are laying down then you get a rush. That rush is just not that head rush from the moment, it is an ego boost. And you want more! That rush drove me to DJ.
What drove me as a DJ included what drove me to DJ and several other factors.
1. I enjoy music. But, the last ten years or so have really sucked as far as music is concerned. That is probably one of the contributing factors to me leaving. Yesterday I sat in the lounge of the lodge relaxing and there was a baby shower going on in the lower lounge. They were playing mostly Hip Hop and Rap and I have to tell you that it turned me off. I could not relax and I could not stay, so I left. When I was doing Friday nights at the lodge for a while it was the same way. I would be playing Classic Rock, Southern Rock or Country and somebody would ask for Eminem, Lil Jon, or somebody like that, I'd play it, and my desire to keep playing would go out the window.
2. I enjoyed the planning, especially for weddings. I just liked doing that. I liked working with the client to make their day a great one.
3. I liked working with my clients.
4. I liked coordinating the events.
What I did not like was the administrative end. I hated the marketing and everything that I had to do to get clients. I especially hated those times when I chase clients for days on end only to find out that they hired a DJ for $100 that said they would do exactly what I said I would do for $700 (or whatever).
And, as I said, the modern music started to drive me away. Towards the end I started pursuing older couples but they are few and far between.
Do I miss it? Honestly, some elements I do miss. I will break out the gear from time to time on a Friday night at the lodge and play but, I can almost guarantee you, as soon as the folks start asking for the modern stuff, if I can't get back to the rock or country then I'm shutting down.
