TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 00:14 Episode overview 01:13 The three main types of DJ 13:51 Five things I learned from DJ Jazzy Jeff 31:54 The problem with USB drives for DJing
One important aspect that often goes unmentioned in DJ courses is the fact that pioneers like Jazzy Jeff and other old-school DJs had no formal training. They either possessed innate talent or learned by observing their peers, then honed their skills on equipment like the Radio Shack Realistic Lab 390 turntables and the Realistic Audio DJ Mixer-32-1200B. In my neighborhood, DJs weren't preoccupied with music theory; our focus was on ensuring that snares and claps synced perfectly while mixing tracks. The key was to have the hottest and rarest 12-inch singles and to emulate the techniques of legends like Grandmaster Flash and Cool DJ Red Alert. If you could engage the crowd with phrases like "Say party over here, ain't nothing over there," or "Say Ho, Ho, now everybody scream," you established your reputation and solidified your status as a DJ. Today, however, the scene has shifted dramatically. What was once an organic and authentic experience is now being dissected and commercialized through books, courses, and university programs, resulting in a more mechanical atmosphere. The rigid rules about mixing-like only transitioning during choruses or avoiding vocal overlaps-have made the art predictable, especially in genres like techno and house. This record truly captures the essence of what DJing was all about.th-cam.com/video/IB3qxa3wi2A/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TommyBoy
When I started spinning in 1980, me and my DJ friends didn't worship just GMF and hip hop DJs, they were too far on the eastcoast anyway, we worshiped the local DJs: disco, freestyle and electro DJs like Cameron Paul, Randy Wong, DJ Hodel (female/lesbn), and even one guy that looked like Homer Simpson. There were even awesome DJs that didn't announce their names at Club DV8, the best underground club in the SF Bay Area. They were in a dark booth. We went to that club because the club was awesome: Music, venue and people. That one guy in the booth was probably my main influence, just clean mixes and bangers, and the incredible soundsystem. We watched them like a hawk. But that's just us as fledgling DJs. The rest of the clubbers were too busy getting down. Now, everybody worships the DJs. The focus in the dance scene now is wrong.
I think you'd enjoy Jeff's approach in his courses, he knows this and is careful not to let this point get lost. (As do we of course, as that's how we learned too.) DJ courses can shorten the trial-and-error for the baseline skills but style is something only each individual can develop.
Boom! 19:40 I worked at digital recording studio as an intern in the early 90's, and I was asked to bring my beloved 1200s to the studio as contribution to the studio, as many of the other employees had done with their synths and samplers. I told them that I can't do that because my best ideas pop up when I'm at home just chilling out, and that I need my decks "at arm's reach" at all times, not at 30 minutes drive away to the studio. It took me about 5 years to save up for those decks so I did a lot DJing inside my head before then. I've heard of Russian computer programmers in the 70's and 80's who couldn't afford computers so they coded in their heads and they were awesome. So my workflow remained that way, it starts in my mind and heart first, and I need to be able to jump out of bed or off the couch and snatch that idea from the ether and work it out on the decks before I lose that one idea. Taking notes helps, too. But my hand writing is horrible, and there are times when I read my notes but can't remember what I meant. I liked drawing as child so I created my own DJ musical notations to express long transitions, or slam mix, or bring up/down the tempo/energy. I also listened to Mozart and that influenced my DJ sets to be dramatic, not monotonous. I just remembered one of my favorite Bugs Bunny moments, when he assumed the character of Leopold the orchestral conductor, and he was fnckin with the opera singer making him do ridiculous things. That's what we DJs do, we fnck with people lol.
@@digitaldjtips Oh.. that's amazing! Surely there must be a name for this phenomena? If not, I shall coin one. "The Funk Phenomena" Oh, wait... Never mind..🤭
I worked in all 3 stages for almost 40 years and absolutely must agree. The clubs (formerly called „Disco“) in 80´s and early 90´s I was the „resident DJ“ luckily have been known for their own style (in which I was glad to be a part of creating), yet the main task was to keep the audience consuming drinks and food - and music was just the instrument to make turnover. So when I was in a bad mood, the total income of all employees was accordingly decreasing. So I/we had great nights (which I miss), but also mornings after of total despair. Then, life stepped in my way and I gave up due to „normal“ life. Decades later I started the „weeding and party“ business - the hardest part (due to requests and whishlists by clients) and the endless repetitions of the famous „classics“ (Prince, Earth Wind and Fire, etc.pp). Now I consider myself as „hobby“ or „bedroom“ DJ , still having app. 3.000 pieces of vinyl (Suoer-Sound, Maxi, Special Editions and remixes) plus around 20.000 mp3. And yes, I absolutely agree: Once a DJ - always. I still cannot join a party without watching the performance and thinking what I myself would play next to fit in style, beat or key- or please the crowd….
Thanks! Actually I convert all the mixtapes I recorded at the „glorious times“ (and luckily never threw away) to mp3. You certainly know these cassettes we recorded to sell to our „fans“ late at night?
I'm the middle description, playing out at venues and putting our own parties on over the summer months, and having sabbaticals over winter. The bit this description has left out is that prior to being a DJ, I've always been a record collector. My passion for music knows no bounds. I buy Jazz, House, Latin, DnB, Techno, Soul, Bass, Broken Beat, African, etc. etc. I spend every spare minute looking for new and forgotten music. Venues that book me do it with the knowledge they've no idea what I'll play on the day. I don't do requests. If people don't like it, don't book me again. I DJ because I want other people to enjoy the music I've discovered. I want to create a vibe. I'm not interested in the money, but likewise, I won't be taken advantage of. I found the 3 categories very simplistic. Too many people talk about djing and not the music.
Great tips! I love that Jazzy Jeff always has his stuff on and ready to go. If you have to take even 5 minutes to turn everything on, that creative flair could drift away before you get to making it happen.
@digitaldjtips : During the whole of your extremely interesting yarn spinning (i mean that in the most loving sense), i was having the sense of being a part of a conversation. It takes a lot have a clip of someone teaching draw me in so deep. Thank you very much. This was pure joy! ❤
An incredibly clever and insightful video. I am a hobby house DJ, who occasionally plays out to those difficult audiences and fully understands what you are describing!
Best Solution Suggestion to USB Transfer: - Wifi/Internet Transfer 1. Keep your USB/SD Card in your DJ All-In-One or CDJ/MediaPlayers 2. Connect To Wifi 3. Prepare Music on Laptop 4. It Auto-Syncs over the internet to your USB/SD (or even built in storage, like with phones, or like with Denon SSD harddrive) This seems like it should be the future, where your music selection just syncs between your 'devices' in this case DJ Gear.
Before accepting a DJ gig, I prioritize establishing clear and realistic expectations with the event promoter, nightclub, celebrant, or organizer through a comprehensive performance contract, technical rider, and hospitality rider. These documents detail every aspect of the engagement, including the music genres I will perform, the timing and duration of my set, and arrangements for transportation and accommodation. If a gig falls outside my expertise or scope, I take responsibility by recommending a more suitable DJ to ensure the event's success. My primary goal is to be genuinely helpful while promoting my work. For me, the financial compensation is simply a byproduct of pursuing my passion.
I would love to be an instructor when I come to Country Music. I have now toward the biggest stadiums and the biggest arenas as well as I currently have a residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as well as Mandaly Bay and Las Vegas all because of Country Music. If you ever need somebody to give you my advice on how I made it I would be honored to share my knowledge.
when shopping for a usb disk, people (like DJs) need to learn to look past capacity or physical footprint of the device. speed should really be your top criterion. maybe get a NVMe SSD enclosure, put a 2TB NVMe SSD in it and you can store your entire life's music collection on it. going for higher capacity also means it will have faster reads/writes. as for SD cards, i guess they can be fast enough these days (make sure your card reader can actually operate at the top transfer rates your SD card is capable of), but i'm not sure i'd trust their longevity, they just might wear out fast.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:14 Episode overview
01:13 The three main types of DJ
13:51 Five things I learned from DJ Jazzy Jeff
31:54 The problem with USB drives for DJing
One important aspect that often goes unmentioned in DJ courses is the fact that pioneers like Jazzy Jeff and other old-school DJs had no formal training. They either possessed innate talent or learned by observing their peers, then honed their skills on equipment like the Radio Shack Realistic Lab 390 turntables and the Realistic Audio DJ Mixer-32-1200B. In my neighborhood, DJs weren't preoccupied with music theory; our focus was on ensuring that snares and claps synced perfectly while mixing tracks. The key was to have the hottest and rarest 12-inch singles and to emulate the techniques of legends like Grandmaster Flash and Cool DJ Red Alert. If you could engage the crowd with phrases like "Say party over here, ain't nothing over there," or "Say Ho, Ho, now everybody scream," you established your reputation and solidified your status as a DJ. Today, however, the scene has shifted dramatically. What was once an organic and authentic experience is now being dissected and commercialized through books, courses, and university programs, resulting in a more mechanical atmosphere. The rigid rules about mixing-like only transitioning during choruses or avoiding vocal overlaps-have made the art predictable, especially in genres like techno and house. This record truly captures the essence of what DJing was all about.th-cam.com/video/IB3qxa3wi2A/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TommyBoy
When I started spinning in 1980, me and my DJ friends didn't worship just GMF and hip hop DJs, they were too far on the eastcoast anyway, we worshiped the local DJs: disco, freestyle and electro DJs like Cameron Paul, Randy Wong, DJ Hodel (female/lesbn), and even one guy that looked like Homer Simpson. There were even awesome DJs that didn't announce their names at Club DV8, the best underground club in the SF Bay Area. They were in a dark booth. We went to that club because the club was awesome: Music, venue and people. That one guy in the booth was probably my main influence, just clean mixes and bangers, and the incredible soundsystem. We watched them like a hawk. But that's just us as fledgling DJs. The rest of the clubbers were too busy getting down. Now, everybody worships the DJs. The focus in the dance scene now is wrong.
I think you'd enjoy Jeff's approach in his courses, he knows this and is careful not to let this point get lost. (As do we of course, as that's how we learned too.) DJ courses can shorten the trial-and-error for the baseline skills but style is something only each individual can develop.
Boom! 19:40 I worked at digital recording studio as an intern in the early 90's, and I was asked to bring my beloved 1200s to the studio as contribution to the studio, as many of the other employees had done with their synths and samplers. I told them that I can't do that because my best ideas pop up when I'm at home just chilling out, and that I need my decks "at arm's reach" at all times, not at 30 minutes drive away to the studio.
It took me about 5 years to save up for those decks so I did a lot DJing inside my head before then. I've heard of Russian computer programmers in the 70's and 80's who couldn't afford computers so they coded in their heads and they were awesome.
So my workflow remained that way, it starts in my mind and heart first, and I need to be able to jump out of bed or off the couch and snatch that idea from the ether and work it out on the decks before I lose that one idea. Taking notes helps, too. But my hand writing is horrible, and there are times when I read my notes but can't remember what I meant. I liked drawing as child so I created my own DJ musical notations to express long transitions, or slam mix, or bring up/down the tempo/energy. I also listened to Mozart and that influenced my DJ sets to be dramatic, not monotonous. I just remembered one of my favorite Bugs Bunny moments, when he assumed the character of Leopold the orchestral conductor, and he was fnckin with the opera singer making him do ridiculous things. That's what we DJs do, we fnck with people lol.
I love this. Interestingly, Jeff also says DJing starts in his head - he can "hear" his mixes before he does them.
@@digitaldjtips Oh.. that's amazing! Surely there must be a name for this phenomena? If not, I shall coin one. "The Funk Phenomena"
Oh, wait... Never mind..🤭
I worked in all 3 stages for almost 40 years and absolutely must agree. The clubs (formerly called „Disco“) in 80´s and early 90´s I was the „resident DJ“ luckily have been known for their own style (in which I was glad to be a part of creating), yet the main task was to keep the audience consuming drinks and food - and music was just the instrument to make turnover. So when I was in a bad mood, the total income of all employees was accordingly decreasing. So I/we had great nights (which I miss), but also mornings after of total despair.
Then, life stepped in my way and I gave up due to „normal“ life. Decades later I started the „weeding and party“ business - the hardest part (due to requests and whishlists by clients) and the endless repetitions of the famous „classics“ (Prince, Earth Wind and Fire, etc.pp). Now I consider myself as „hobby“ or „bedroom“ DJ , still having app. 3.000 pieces of vinyl (Suoer-Sound, Maxi, Special Editions and remixes) plus around 20.000 mp3.
And yes, I absolutely agree: Once a DJ - always. I still cannot join a party without watching the performance and thinking what I myself would play next to fit in style, beat or key- or please the crowd….
Brilliant thanks for sharing that journey, I felt every sentence of it!
Thanks! Actually I convert all the mixtapes I recorded at the „glorious times“ (and luckily never threw away) to mp3. You certainly know these cassettes we recorded to sell to our „fans“ late at night?
I'm the middle description, playing out at venues and putting our own parties on over the summer months, and having sabbaticals over winter.
The bit this description has left out is that prior to being a DJ, I've always been a record collector. My passion for music knows no bounds. I buy Jazz, House, Latin, DnB, Techno, Soul, Bass, Broken Beat, African, etc. etc. I spend every spare minute looking for new and forgotten music.
Venues that book me do it with the knowledge they've no idea what I'll play on the day. I don't do requests. If people don't like it, don't book me again.
I DJ because I want other people to enjoy the music I've discovered. I want to create a vibe. I'm not interested in the money, but likewise, I won't be taken advantage of.
I found the 3 categories very simplistic. Too many people talk about djing and not the music.
Great tips! I love that Jazzy Jeff always has his stuff on and ready to go. If you have to take even 5 minutes to turn everything on, that creative flair could drift away before you get to making it happen.
Yes, it's true
I learned the art of crowd reading shortly after Djing switched from hobby to work for me; and yeah, you gotta adapt to the public's taste
You have indeed
Good to see you guys! Finally, mention of the new course, I thought you had forgotten about it......
Oooooh no but these things take time to coordinate and produce. We're getting closer though!
@@digitaldjtips Nice! Looking forward to it.
@digitaldjtips : During the whole of your extremely interesting yarn spinning (i mean that in the most loving sense), i was having the sense of being a part of a conversation. It takes a lot have a clip of someone teaching draw me in so deep. Thank you very much. This was pure joy! ❤
Wonderful! Thanks for the kind comment.
3:43 - but hey life gets in the way but you can never quite let go of DJing that's one of the truths about DJing - so true 😀😅 👍👍
Yes! Once a DJ, always a DJ
An incredibly clever and insightful video. I am a hobby house DJ, who occasionally plays out to those difficult audiences and fully understands what you are describing!
It's all part of the challenge though, right?
LOL, hardcore rave music at a wedding reception. I'd love to go to more weddings if this were the case!
I've been to a few, but sadly it doesn't really work. Funny though.
All great advice. 10/10 would recommend.
Thanks Andrew
Good Information!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Best Solution Suggestion to USB Transfer:
- Wifi/Internet Transfer
1. Keep your USB/SD Card in your DJ All-In-One or CDJ/MediaPlayers
2. Connect To Wifi
3. Prepare Music on Laptop
4. It Auto-Syncs over the internet to your USB/SD (or even built in storage, like with phones, or like with Denon SSD harddrive)
This seems like it should be the future, where your music selection just syncs between your 'devices' in this case DJ Gear.
I'm a PC DJ, I've never used stand alone decks before. I always assumed that you can play tracks straight off the USB drive.
Yes that's be cool
Jeff's Boiler Room set is iconic.
It is!
Before accepting a DJ gig, I prioritize establishing clear and realistic expectations with the event promoter, nightclub, celebrant, or organizer through a comprehensive performance contract, technical rider, and hospitality rider. These documents detail every aspect of the engagement, including the music genres I will perform, the timing and duration of my set, and arrangements for transportation and accommodation.
If a gig falls outside my expertise or scope, I take responsibility by recommending a more suitable DJ to ensure the event's success. My primary goal is to be genuinely helpful while promoting my work. For me, the financial compensation is simply a byproduct of pursuing my passion.
Fantastic to hear this thanks for sharing Jason.
SSD drive I use a one T for my music and another One T with every thing back up and i am just a beginner with no experience
Not a bad idea
I would love to be an instructor when I come to Country Music. I have now toward the biggest stadiums and the biggest arenas as well as I currently have a residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as well as Mandaly Bay and Las Vegas all because of Country Music. If you ever need somebody to give you my advice on how I made it I would be honored to share my knowledge.
Thanks for that offer, noted!
Golf is cool.
Lol I know, I'm being "playful".
when shopping for a usb disk, people (like DJs) need to learn to look past capacity or physical footprint of the device. speed should really be your top criterion. maybe get a NVMe SSD enclosure, put a 2TB NVMe SSD in it and you can store your entire life's music collection on it. going for higher capacity also means it will have faster reads/writes. as for SD cards, i guess they can be fast enough these days (make sure your card reader can actually operate at the top transfer rates your SD card is capable of), but i'm not sure i'd trust their longevity, they just might wear out fast.
That's what we do for video in our studio!
👏😮😮😮
The fourth option is to buy a portable SSD
It is indeed
❤