Blog entries
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DJ'S - COMMON MIS-CONCEPTIONS
Sunday, Aug 3, 2008 1:51AM / Standard Entry / Members only
1 commentHI THERE PEEPS.
a friend of mine who is currently researching dj culture found this online and sent it to me,, and i just wanted to post it here as i think alot of people suffer from the same stereotypical views of people in our profession, so have a read, and hopefully it will enlighten you ...As a DJ I am aware of many common misconceptions of my trade. I am faced with them whenever I get behind a set of decks. So, to save public embarrassment and future argument, I shall dispel these myths one by one.
1. DJs are not talented.
I've heard this a million times, mostly by people who have spent years learning to play the guitar only to find they can't get booked for a gig when people who 'only spin some records' or 'only pick tunes' play on a weekly basis. I have spent years learning how to mix records properly, how to construct a set which flows and how to keep it going for hours. It's hard work, and takes a lot of talent to pull it off. Each DJ has their own style, and that's not just what kind of music they play. There are many more things to consider when DJing than merely 'what tune shall I play next'.
2. DJs are not musicians.
Granted this may be true of some DJs. However, a good DJ should be a musician on the decks as much as they may be on any other instrument. Consider a scratch DJ, someone who can turn any sound on record into an instrument. This takes considerable skill, and a LOT of practice. This I know from personal experience. If anyone reading this thinks that a DJ is not a musician, go and check out DJ Kentaro or Q-Bert. Then you will see (and hear) how turntables are instruments. I write electronic music as well as DJ, and I put just as much time and effort into both.
3. Any idiot could do that.
OK, go and try it. Even simple things like beat matching (making two records go at the same speed) aren't easy.
4. DJs have, and are willing to play, anything you ask them for.
If I'm playing at a party or a private function or something like that, then I'll put on any requests if I have the record. Chances are, however, I won't. In a club, however, I will generally have prepared the full set beforehand, working out every detail to make sure it sounds perfect. So in a club, all requests become null and void. It's the equivalent of being at an Oasis gig and asking them to play a Blur song you really like halfway through their set. It's not going to happen I'm afraid. Also, any DJ playing from vinyl will only have a select few records with them for the event. Vinyl weighs a ton, anyone who has a DJing friend will appreciate the weight of record bags after offering to carry one after a gig. To have any tune that anyone is likely to ask would would be back-breaking.
5. DJs are only in it for the money, and they make a lot of it.
Again, this may be true of some DJs. However, most DJs play because they love the music, and love playing it to people. I personally find only one thing more enjoyable than making people dance when I'm DJing, and that's making people dance when I'm playing my own music live. I currently organize a monthly night-club event from which I take no money at all, and it takes up a lot of my time and energy. This I do because I love doing it. I, like most DJs I know, have a day job. Granted, the top DJs in the business live in the lap of luxury, but the majority of us work in the same rubbish jobs as everyone else.
I hope this has cleared up a few things for some people reading it. DJ culture is something to be truly admired, as much as any music scene. If you take the time to look beyond the common misconceptions, you will find something you enjoy greatly. Guaranteed.
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- DJ J-CUE: biography...DJ J-CUE: biography
NAME : John Flynn
DJ NAME : J-Cue
DJ STYLE : club/party dj, turntablist, scratch artist
MUSIC STYLES : hiphop rnb house electro rock funk disco 80’s mash up
EXPERIENCE : 15 years plus rocking parties around the UK and Asia, ex Hip hop radio dj
PREFERRED EQUIPMENT : technics 1200 turntables, rane ttm56/57sl, pioneer 909 mixer, shure m447 cartridge and stylus, serato scratchlive
BRIEF HISTORY OF J-CUE:
John Flynn, aka DJ J-Cue, has been rocking parties and cutting it up on the 1’s and 2’s for several years now.
His name has become associated with many high profile artists and events, being the DJ of choice for all kinds of corporate gatherings, exhibitions, parties, sponsored events, touring artists and popular clubs.
In november of 2004, J-Cue arrived in Beijing China with the hope of making his mark on the Beijing club scene.
After his first few weeks in Beijing he settled at Club Mix in sanlitun, the biggest spot in mainland China, if not the world! for Hiphop and rnb music, where he rapidly became the star attraction in the booth, and gained a huge loyal fan base.
He has now played several show cases and club sets in just about every city in China and the asian region and successfully held down his weekly residency at Club Mix in Sanlitun for over 3 years ,every wednesday, friday and saturday, before moving to Shanghai to take up a residency at Club Bonbon. After spending a few months in Shanghai, and further cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the dj booth, J-Cue started receiving many requests to dj in HongKong and macau, Where he later relocated to, and has been based since early 2008. J-Cue has continued on rocking the biggest and best parties all around Hongkong and asia ever since.
In September 2008, DJ J-Cue was requested by UK beat box legend Killa kela to perform alongside him in Hongkong on his asian tour at the 20th anniversary bash for the hongkong fashion giant I.T.X.X. A corporate event which drew almost every single hongkong celebrity out of hiding! This was truly a star studded event, with over 1800 people in attendance and several hundreds more who just weren’t lucky enough to gain admittance. J-Cue was also requested to accompany killa kela on the shanghai leg of his tour. However, due to other work commitments this was not possible.
J Cue has shared the stage with, and/or toured extensively with some of the worlds finest artists and djs, such as
DJ Woody
DJ Blakey
DJ Revolution
DJ Netik ( 3 times)
DJ Bunty
DJ Ritchie Rufftone
DJ Shorkut
Dj I-DEE
DJ Wordy
DJ DSK
DJ ND of the world ortofon guild crew/mp family
DJ DADDY-K
DJ Dopey 2003 dmc world champ
DJ kid fresh
DJ rafik
DJ Total Eclipse,roc raida and DJ boogie blind of the Xecutioners,
the legendary dj Rectangle (twice!)
Mr. thing of the scratch pervertz
MC YUNGUN
DJ kofi
DJ krush
DJ tashi
hongkong celeb DJS DJ Ulysses, DJ yeodie, DJ doze
The legendary DJ CashMoney!
The world renowned and legendary DJ KOOL!
Jin tha emcee
Gold Mountain
Beatboxers:
Killa Kela
Dres tha beatnik
INK of hongkong
and so many others!
While on the road to dj success, J-Cue has developed his skills to a level where he is heavily respected by his peers around the world.
In sep 2008 J-Cue UNANIMOUSLY won the title of HONGKONG PIONEER DJ QUEST SCRATCH CHAMPION.
Which was filmed and broadcast by asia’s channel V.
January of 2009 J-Cue completed a very successful 2 week tour of western Europe with Belgium’s DJ ND. Having secured dates in Brussels (4 shows. 3 different radio stations guest performance and interviews),Antwerp, Rotterdam,Paris, and played for crowds of up to 3000 people!
As a direct result of this tour J-Cue is now in negotiations with ORTOFON for sponsorship.
A south-east asian tour with Killa Kela for around may of 2009 and african tour for end of 2009 are now under construction
Whether its show casing, or just dropping a heavy party set! J Cue is down to rock any party to the foundations and back up again!
J-Cue is represented by premiere artists group.
The largest and most well known booking agency worldwide for hiphop / turntablist djs!
Online sources for DJ J-Cue:
www.myspace.com/dj_jcue
www.youtube.com/jcue
facebook – jcue deejay
For further information, mixtapes or bookings
Email:
Sondra@premiereartistsgroup.com.
Or visit the premiere artists group website
www.premiereartistsgroup.com
or contact J-Cue directly on
johny_f@hotmail.com
- Occupation: DJ
- Gender: Male
- Total visits: 9,972
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