663 the art of the DJ
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 13:33:02 -0700
From: sarah La Rocca <danzisima@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: the art of the DJ
Hello Dear List,
I am lucky to live in a tango metropolis with many
excellent DJ's offering a variety of stylistic
approaches to the milonga. I am the organizer of the
monthly All Night Milonga and I hire a different DJ
each time to give fair exposure to them all and make
the milonga different and exciting each time.
DJ's should be respected as professionals. Therefore I
think it is wrong to make requests or give them
suggestions. A good DJ watches the crowd for flow and
energy. They play for the dancers, not for themselves.
The arrangement of tandas and the selection of
cortinas is an art. The greatest offense is handing
the DJ a CD to play, as a good DJ will not play music
they do not know or have never heard and risk it being
a song that sucks. DJing is a giving experience not a
self centered one. It is a joy to give the crowd a
wonderful night of dancing.
If there was a performance would you say to the
dancers "Can you put some back sacadas in your
performance?" I hope not.
Sarah La Rocca
NYC
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 23:03:04 +0200
From: Chris Luethen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: the art of the DJ
Daer Sarah, dear List!
On 11 Jul 2002, at 13:33, sarah La Rocca wrote:
> I am lucky to live in a tango metropolis
You are!
> with many
> excellent DJ's offering a variety of stylistic
> approaches to the milonga. I am the organizer of the
> monthly All Night Milonga and I hire a different DJ
> each time to give fair exposure to them all and make
> the milonga different and exciting each time.
>
> DJ's should be respected as professionals.
To be underlined! But he/she also has to act that way!
> Therefore I
> think it is wrong to make requests or give them
> suggestions.
Suggestions, perhaps "no". I they are meant as 'feedback', may be!
Constructive "criticism", better "input" should be valued!
Requests perhaps "yes".
People can 'request' ... but a request is by no way compulsory for
the DJ. Sometimes it could fit in, then: why no. But a good DJ
would be able to know/feel when the music is not appropriate!
> A good DJ watches the crowd for flow and
> energy.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Blessed with one of the best DJ's here in Europe
there was a guest DJ the other night ... . The guest DJ danced
himself quite some dances at the beginning of the night - instead of
watching and trying to get a feeling for the *guests* ... which I
considered as not caring for the people. Even later, I would say, a
good DJ should not dance him/herself, because the crowd will
change during the course of the milonga. And also the people's
feeling will change (even if it stays the same people).
> They play for the dancers, not for themselves.
Bravo!!! You hit the nail!
If the DJs do not the dancers ... how do they expect to be
respected!
> The arrangement of tandas and the selection of
> cortinas is an art.
And a quite difficult one!
> DJing is a giving experience not a self centered one.
Bravo!
> It is a joy to give the crowd a wonderful night of dancing.
Absolutely right. And if the DJ excelled in his/her task: Just
another reason to honestly aplause at the end of the milonga! (and
not just leave during the last two songs - announced as the last!).
> If there was a performance would you say to the
> dancers "Can you put some back sacadas in your
> performance?" I hope not.
Great comparison!
Sarah, thank you very much for your clear and precise posting!
(makes me eager to come to NYC again) I hope that as many DJ's
as possible will read it! And as many as possible dancers (who are
put of if "their" music hasn't been played).
Christian
Rotterdam, the Netherlands
[blessed with some of the best dancing and DJ'ing ... once a month]
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 16:22:07 -0500
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: the art of the DJ
Christian Luethen wrote:
>The guest DJ danced himself quite some dances at the beginning
>of the night - instead of watching and trying to get a feeling
>for the *guests* ... which I considered as not caring for the
>people. Even later, I would say, a good DJ should not dance
>him/herself, because the crowd will change during the course of
>the milonga. And also the people's feeling will change (even if
>it stays the same people).
I think it is very dangerous to ascribe motives to others, such as being
uncaring or arrogant.
Many DJs at milongas in North America consider themselves to be tango
dancers who have taken on the duties of playing music for others. In my
own experience, dancing better connects the DJ with the energy of the
group. DJs who do not dance seem to disconnected and too intellectual in
playing the music, which quickly lessens the experience for the dancers.
At least the DJ who dances is eating the same meal that he/she has
prepared.
Of course, mixing duties must come ahead of dancing. The DJ must assure
that the music continues without interruption while taking turns on the
dance floor.
With best regards,
Steve
Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
https://www.tejastango.com/
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 23:36:29 +0200
From: Chris Luethen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: the art of the DJ
On 11 Jul 2002, at 16:22, Stephen Brown wrote:
> Christian Luethen wrote:
> >The guest DJ danced himself quite some dances at the beginning
> >of the night - instead of watching and trying to get a feeling
> >for the *guests* ... which I considered as not caring for the
> >people. Even later, I would say, a good DJ should not dance
> >him/herself, because the crowd will change during the course of
> >the milonga. And also the people's feeling will change (even if
> >it stays the same people).
>
> I think it is very dangerous to ascribe motives to others, such as
> being uncaring or arrogant.
Before someone get's it the wrong way: *never* intended to call
someone 'arrogant'!!!
> Many DJs at milongas in North America consider themselves to be tango
> dancers who have taken on the duties of playing music for others. In
> my own experience, dancing better connects the DJ with the energy of
> the group. DJs who do not dance seem to disconnected and too
> intellectual in playing the music, which quickly lessens the
> experience for the dancers. At least the DJ who dances is eating the
> same meal that he/she has prepared.
Absolutely right: A DJ should be a dancer (yes, there's allways the
exception to the rule). Absolutely right about the energy.
> Of course, mixing duties must come ahead of dancing. The DJ must
> assure that the music continues without interruption while taking
> turns on the dance floor.
That's the point: While dancing many DJ forget their 'duties'! Not
only suddenly the music will be over, but also - quite often - they
tend to put on the music they themselves would like to dance to ...
not the one the "crowd" demandes.
Wishing happy tangoeing with well chosen music!
Christian
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 16:54:25 -0500
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: the art of the DJ
Christian Luethen wrote:
>Absolutely right: A DJ should be a dancer (yes, there's allways the
>exception to the rule). Absolutely right about the energy.
Glad we agree about that. :-)
>While dancing many DJ forget their 'duties'! Not
>only suddenly the music will be over, but also - quite often - they
>tend to put on the music they themselves would like to dance to ...
>not the one the "crowd" demandes.
Yes. I would agree there is a possibility that the DJs who dance will
their own tastes in dance music ahead of the crowd's, which would not be
good--particularly when a DJ is out of sync with the crowd... But if a DJ
is so self absorbed as to ignore the crowd's tastes, I think it is equally
likely that the DJ who does not dance will put his/her own listening
pleasure ahead of the crowd's dancing pleasure... There is likely to be
more dissonance between the crowd's dancing pleasure and a DJ who is
selecting music for his own own listening pleasure than a DJ who is
selecting music for his own dancing pleasure...
I also think it is quite possible for DJs to play music for the crowd's
pleasure... and to dance...as long as they are thinking about others rather
than themselves.
With best regards,
Steve
Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
https://www.tejastango.com/
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 15:39:02 -0700
From: Elemer Dubrovay <dubrovay@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: the art of the DJ
christian.luethen@gmx.net
Wrote
> That's the point: While dancing many DJ forget their 'duties'! Not
> only suddenly the music will be over, but also - quite often - they
> tend to put on the music they themselves would like to dance to ...
> not the one the "crowd" demandes.
>
Not only the music they like but the one that the girlfriend likes, and
of any nice locking lady bringing a CD.
Some DJs think is also their duty to educate us on how nice is to dance
tango to Astor Piazzola, Gotan project, jazz music etc. and play this
selections for one or one and a half hour.
When that happens I see that from 20 couples that where dancing, only 5
are left I think something is wrong.
Maybe I am wrong and we need that type of education.
But then the fliers advertising the milonga should read, Tango Argentine
music dancing mixed with non tango Argentine music dancing like tango
argentine
Elemer in Redmond
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 10:00:24 -0700
From: Andrew Allison <Andrew@AALLISON.COM>
Subject: The Art of the DJ
Surely it's obvious that if there are people standing than dancing there's
something wrong with the music? Andrew
