Who Is A Disc Jockey?

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M

Mr. K

New DJ
Aug 7, 2006
4,215
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Who, here, is a DISC JOCKEY?

I am asking because, in our efforts to be "more" than "just" a DISC JOCKEY (MC, Wedding Coordinator, Project Manager, etc....), I believe many of us have lost sight of our DISC JOCKEY ness.

For example, I am a DISC JOCKEY because, if I spend 40 hours coordinating a wedding, then I am going to spend 80 hours coordinating my music. At the wedding, if I am going to stand around, MCing and/or hosting games, then I am going to bloody well mix my own music and pay attention to the crowd when the dancing is on.

I might not be as good as other entertainers. I might not make as much money as other entertainers. But these other entertainers are not DISC JOCKEYS. They are two different occupations--similar, but DIFFERENT.

Who else is a DISC JOCKEY?

Because, even if you are a FULL TIME DISC JOCKEY, and you are spending most of your time coordinating weddings, then you are NOT a FULL TIME DISC JOCKEY! And that is because you are not spending most of your time DISC JOCKEY ing!

And, upon review, I believe that this is what is hurting the DISC JOCKEY industry.

You wanna be the galloping gourmet? Then DON'T be just a cook in a restaurant, and DON'T criticise those who just want to be just cooks in a bloody restaurant.

You wanna be David Suzuki? Then go get your own show and let those who just wanna teach be!

Get my drift?

Eh?

Thanks.

I did not know whether this should be in the BIG DEBATES or the FUNNIES, so I placed it in the BIG SHOW (plus, I really just want to see who considers him/herself to be a DISC JOCKEY).
 
I always considered myself a disc jockey for the 30 odd years I did it.

I played music, thereby entertaining the crowd with my incredible knowledge of both popular and non-popular music, and the ability to play it in some sort of order that they found entertaining :sqbiggrin:

I was never a wedding coordinator, although many of my gigs were weddings.

I believe some people call DJs like myself bottomfeeders, as we can do our job for less, because we have less to do :sqbiggrin:


My experience with JOATs (Jack Of All Trades - master of none), usually showed a tradeoff in quality in certain areas... :sqwink:
 
I am an Entertainment Host.

I am my client's entertainment choice for their event. It includes any and all services revolving aroung disc jockeying that they want to keep their guests entertained.

In some cases it is straight DJ work and in some it is a hybrid.

I do build a playlist for each event based on client and guest input as well as experience.
 
Randy Allen said:
I think the term Disc Jockey has evolved over time and what you believe it means, may be completely different from I believe it is.
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Absolutely.

And therein lies the problem.

A DISC JOCKEY means something else to you.

A DISC JOCKEY means something else to me.

A DISC JOCKEY means something else to everybody else.

So, when somebody looks up DISC JOCKEY in the phone book, on the internet, or whatever, he/she/it has to deduce what the person means by calling him/herself a DISC JOCKEY.

"Hi, are you a mechanic?"
"I'm kind of a mechanic, but I specialise in detailing."

"Hi, is this a restaurant?"
"It really is a club where you pay $50 for a plate of food and watch go-go girls."

Do those examples sound ridiculous?

"Hi, are you a DISC JOCKEY?"
"Yes! Of course! But I'll spend most of my time coordinating your wedding, and I'll just set my laptop on autoplay during the dance, because that part is not my specialty. My specialty is managing your wedding!"
 
I think it's a problem for those that believe it's a problem. We're a service industry. Just because we label ourselves as a disc jockey doesn't mean we all offer the same services. So, are you a disc jockey if just specialize in a certain style of music --- per say, oldies, country, rap, etc.... Trying to put a definition to a service industry is just not worth the time because there are entirely to many variables to the service.
 
I really want to know who considers him/herself a DISC JOCKEY.

I don't care if you think that "record player" has evolved into something like "an iPod that PLAYs RECORDings".

I just want to know who is a DISC JOCKEY.
 
Randy Allen said:
I think it's a problem for those that believe it's a problem. We're a service industry. Just because we label ourselves as a disc jockey doesn't mean we all offer the same services. So, are you a disc jockey if just specialize in a certain style of music --- per say, oldies, country, rap, etc.... Trying to put a definition to a service industry is just not worth the time because there are entirely to many variables to the service.
Click to expand...

Posted same time! Ha ha!

I'll tell you why I think it's a problem.

Next post...
 
There were a couple of things that I read this morning that caused me to think (I hate that!).

I will not say what they were, but Goodknight's and SoftJock's post clarify the point that I was trying to make very well.

But I really did want to know WHO is a DISC JOCKEY.
 
If we use the classic definition (I'll lift this one from wikipedia):

A disc jockey (also called DJ) is an individual who selects and plays prerecorded music for an intended audience.
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Then we have something to base it on, without it getting too murky :sqbiggrin:
 
SoftJock Rick said:
If we use the classic definition (I'll lift this one from wikipedia):



Then we have something to base it on, without it getting too murky :sqbiggrin:
Click to expand...

But it doesn't say anything about being the #1 most important aspect and the boss at every wedding!

THERE IT IS!

I know that some DJs think that the ENTIRE WEDDING depends on them, when they are not even focussing most of their energies on the music! And they should either: a) call themselves something else, or b) stop criticising us simpletons and telling us to charge/provide more services.

Why don't brides hire a band to coordinate their wedding?

Why don't brides tell the caterers to coordinate their wedding?

Hire an ENTERTAINMENT HOST, eh?
 
Randy Allen said:
Explain? I don't see how a person deeming themselves as a dj has any relivance (sp?) with that.
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I cannot explain. You've either missed hundreds of posts or you just don't see it as an issue.
 
I Believe Many (Not ALL) Of Us Have Lost Sight

The Vinyl Spinner said:
I am asking because, in our efforts to be "more" than "just" a DISC JOCKEY (MC, Wedding Coordinator, Project Manager, etc....), I believe many of us have lost sight of our DISC JOCKEY ness.
Click to expand...

Randy Allen said:
So, a person that may go above and beyond the simple definition of what a dj is, is not a dj?
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That's what I meant, for that's what I wrote.
 
The Vinyl Spinner said:
I cannot explain. You've either missed hundreds of posts or you just don't see it as an issue.
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No, I've seen many posts where others thrashed someone for what they charged, what they drove, their mic skills, the clothes they wore to an event, etc...but, I fail to see how calling yourself a dj has anything to do with the way your treat someone else that calls themselves a dj.
 
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