155 Tango DJ's
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 16:04:58 -0700
From: Rick Heath <tangodude@PEOPLEPC.COM>
Subject: Tango DJ's
~~~~ Argentine Tango Is My Passion ~~~~
@-{-{-----------
I have been a subscriber of the Tango-I list for some while now but have only posted on a rare occasion..it was a while back, so not sure I am =
doing this correctly. Anyway, my guestion is :
I am considering trying my hand at being a tango dj. I would greatly appreciate any pointers anyone has. I recently purchased a mp3 =
player/recorder. I plan on using it at milongas. It has a 6 gig. hard drive and will hold about 120 hours of music. You can set up playlists, =
which I will be doing. The player is a Nomad Jukebox by Creative Labs.
Chau! Rick Heath- Tucson, Arizona
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 18:23:59 -0800
From: Dan Boccia <redfox@ALASKA.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango DJ's
Rick -
We had a lengthy thread regarding tango DJing a few months back. Stephan
Brown condensed many of the points and has it on his website at:
https://www.tejastango.com/milongas_djsrole.html
It's very worthwhile to read through this.
You'll spend hundreds of hours listening to music (above and beyond what you
listen to at practicas, milongas, house parties and personal dance
practices), getting an elevated appreciation and awareness for the
subtleties and characteristics of various orchestras, individual musicians
and singers, and I guarantee that as a side benefit your dancing will change
and improve, at least from a musicality standpoint. All the DJs I've met
are absolutely crazy about the music and will engage you in passionate
conversations about the orchestras, singers, specific musicians, specific
songs, which version of a particular song is their favorite, etc. It's a
lot of fun.
You're in for a very rewarding experience and I say, Go for it, have fun,
and good luck!!
Dan Boccia, in Anchorage, having a "Troilo kind of night"
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 00:08:42 EDT
From: Clifton Chow <TangoPassionMoon@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango DJ's
Rick and all other aspiring DJs,
I have been doing quite a bit of DJing myself recently, and in addition to
Dan's very sound advice and keen observation, I have only one to add. Put on
the music that inspires you. If you love Tango music as much as I bet you do,
then chances are good that whatever moves you will likewise move the dancing
audience. It's really thrilling when you play songs you've heard countless
times at home, in the car, and even during your workout at the gym, picturing
in your head how it could be interpreted, and then see some of the dancers
interpreting the songs in nearly the same ways you had envisioned them in
your mind's eye. And remember that you cannot please everyone so don't take
it personally if someone is displeased with your selection. I believe for
every individual who came up to me and told me they didn't like what I
played, at least 3 others more who told me it was fabulous.
Have fun and remember, we are all in this enterprise because of the music.
Without it there is no reason to dance, for without the music there would be
no story for our bodies to tell.
Buenas Suerte,
Clifton de Boston
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 20:50:53 -0800
From: Dan Boccia <redfox@ALASKA.NET>
Subject: Re: Tango DJ's
I hate to get too carried away with this, but I'd like to reply to Clifton's
note:
{"Put on the music that inspires you. If you love Tango music as much as I
bet you do,
then chances are good that whatever moves you will likewise move the dancing
audience."}
I firmly believe (and hope!) that every DJ colors their event with their own
personal musical tastes, but I have found that I have to be very careful
about what Clifton is recommending. For instance, I love passionate
vocalists, the more dramatic the better in some cases, and I can really get
high dancing to their music even though the songs I'm thinking of lack
anything resembling a rhythmic drive. However, I find that most dancers
don't connect particularly well with such music and I've cleared the floor a
couple times with it. There are other examples of music I personally find
quite enjoyable if not downright incredible to dance to that others don't
connect with. So I leave this music out when I DJ, only pulling perhaps one
such song out at a select time if I feel it might ADD to the event.
I once attended a milonga during which the DJ appeared to be paying no
attention to the fact that 60% of the people, many from out of town and
eager to dance, had been sitting out for several songs, while the DJ spun
away on a dance high. It's very frustrating, and to me as a dancer, a
ripoff.
{"Have fun and remember, we are all in this enterprise because of the music.
Without it there is no reason to dance, for without the music there would be
no story for our bodies to tell."}
Nicely stated! I could not agree more.
Dan
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 09:08:59 -0500
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: Tango DJ's
Dan Boccia wrote:
>>We had a lengthy thread regarding tango DJing a few months back. Stephen
Brown condensed many of the points and has it on his website at:
<https://www.tejastango.com/milongas_djsrole.html>
It's very worthwhile to read through this.<<
As stated in the guide for DJs, I am of the view that DJs ought to play the
classics of tango dance music rather than reaching for music that is better
suited for listening. A particular orchestra's version of a song has
become a *dance classic* for a reason. The energy of the piece inspires
more dancing--even when the dancers are tired. For that reason I have
pulled together a list of great tangos, milongas and valses for social
dancing as recommended by tango dancers and DJs from around the world to
supplement the guide to playing music at milongas. The list can be found
at <https://www.tejastango.com/classic_tangos.html>.
With best regards,
Steve
Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
https://www/tejastango.com/
A noncommercial online resource with information about Argentine tango
including reviews of instructional videos, guides to tango music, articles
about learning and dancing tango, and a comprehensive set of links.
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 09:39:29 -0500
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: Tango DJ's
Dan Boccia wrote:
>>There are other examples of music I personally find quite enjoyable if
not downright incredible to dance to that others don't connect with. So I
leave this music out when I DJ, only pulling perhaps one such song out at a
select time if I feel it might ADD to the event.<<
I am with Dan. The DJ is there to play music for everyone's dancing. As a
DJ, the challenge is knowing when you are inspired by your own tastes and
when you are inspired by the dancers. That knowledge comes with
experience. As Dan observes, you can get instant feedback about how well
you are doing by watching the dancers.
With best regards,
Steve
Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
https://www/tejastango.com/
A noncommercial online resource with information about Argentine tango
including reviews of instructional videos, guides to tango music, articles
about learning and dancing tango, and a comprehensive set of links.
