Long ago, a disc jockey was considered only someone who played songs on the radio. But now, a DJ is someone who makes or breaks a nightclub, spreads the music of an artist in a grassroots effort around the world and ultimately has flow and can play what the people want to hear.
DJ-AM, DJ Skribble, Paul Oakenfold and Fatboy Slim are household names in the DJ industry, but it takes more than an iPod with 10,000 songs on it to earn the $1,000 per hour paychecks the big wigs do.
Gear
Different equipment is used by different DJs; while some opt for the traditional vinyl turntables, others use CD turntables and some incorporate laptops.
The standard equipment for a beginner is two turntables, a speaker system and a mixer, said local artist DJ Xplosive, Stu Pflaum.
But DJ Barticus, Michael Bart, said in order to be a DJ, a person also needs a love of music and a large record collection. He has close to 3,000 records.
DJs can spend from $950 to $3,200 without even buying records to play.
Usually, a DJ uses direct drive turntables that can range from $300 to $500 - an average of $800 per pair, said Kevin Boerner of Sound Ideas, Inc. in Columbus. Cartridges are needed to work the turntables and can range from $50 to $150, basic mixers are $200 to $300 and more high-tech mixers range from $800 to $900.
Renting speakers costs $50, but buying a pair can cost from $400 to $1,000 depending on how powerful they are, DJ Barticus said.
DJ T-Mo, James Moore, recommends that someone who wants to learn how to DJ find a friend that does it and get hands-on experience by playing with their equipment. Then, once someone is comfortable with DJing, they buy their own equipment.
If you want to find out how to DJ
just go where a DJ is DJ T-Mo said.
Basic skillz
DJ T-Mo started DJing at a radio station and learned the basics of music: how songs flow, how to fade and what people like to hear.
He said to get a feel for what was popular, he watches BET, VH1 and MTV. He developed an ear for what sounded good and what the crowd wanted him to play, but at first, he didn't really know what to play.
DJing, at its base, is about beat-matching. DJs count the beats per minute of each song and then decide their play list based on which beats in which songs match up. By using scratching and fading, they transition from one song to another, trying to create the effect of one continuous song.
DJ Barticus started learning by practicing scratching techniques on one turntable, and after two years he started working on two.
Once he played to an audience, he realized that DJing wasn't as much about scratching as it was playing the song the crowd wanted to hear.
I used to prepare full sets when I was starting but now I just kind of like to feed off the crowd and play what I feel like playing and improvise
DJ Barticus said.
DJ Xplosive said it took him four years of practicing until he was comfortable with playing to a crowd.
You really spend a lot of time perfecting what you do
and it takes a lot of practice. It's not something that you can just jump on and learn in a couple of minutes
DJ Xplosive said.
Free stylin'
A good DJ works hard at his craft, blends songs well, is on top of his game and listens to the crowd, said DJ T-Mo.
Some DJs like techno; some like hip-hop; some like reggae; and some just play whatever the people want.
DJ T-Mo said if he played what he wanted to hear, he'd just put on an Outkast CD all night, but instead he likes to fluctuate between fast songs, slow songs, old-school and new-school throughout the night. What makes him different from other DJs is he can look out into the crowd and tell what people want to dance to, he said.
His signature is his ability to wind down a crowd, he said. Toward the end of a night, he will stick to playing reggae and slow songs because he doesn't want a crowd to leave angry, he said.
DJ Barticus said he likes to take requests, but also show what he is into.
You're not just one band
you're a thousand bands
said DJ Barticus, quoting Rukus Roboticus, his Dance or Die partner.
Although DJ Xplosive takes requests, he likes to blend them into his pre-determined set, focusing on the flow more than song choice.
I pay a lot of attention to detail. I try to construct my sets and sort of have a game plan going for each gig
he said.
DJ Xplosive said one of his favorite records to play is Be Faithful by Fatman Scoop because of its rowdiness and smooth beat. One song that is requested weekly is Breathe by Fabulous, he said.
Anyone can be a DJ. Can anyone be a good DJ? No
DJ T-Mo said. It all depends on your personality and your music choice and your ability to take a risk; that's what sets you apart from other DJs.
Where they spin
DJ Xplosive spins every Saturday night at Evolution, 19 S. Court St., and can be heard on the Shades of Color radio program on WOUB radio.
DJ T-Mo performs every Thursday at Evo.
DJ Barticus and Ruckus Roboticus host Dance or Die at The Union, 18 W. Union St. They will soon add Chil or Die (an alternative dance party) to the schedule at 10 p.m. March 9 at O'Hooley's Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union.
(DJing) one of the only outlets that you'll hear live hip-hop
in the sense of something besides songs being played off of a computer
