Re: WCS DJs at clubs and social dances

Date: 02 Jun 2003 06:12:16 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.arts.dance
Size: 2,894 bytes

Larry Gantman wrote:
[a number of things he looks for in a dj]
Larry,
I agree with much of what you wrote and try to follow those general rules.
However, with regard to the following:
>. The DJ keeps an eye on the dancers to make sure they're happy (for
>example, if a DJ starts some music and less than 10% of the dancers are on
>the floor within 15 seconds, the DJ immediately pulls the song and plays
>something else; and if particular dancers that usually dance a lot are
>sitting out the dances, the DJ knows why)
I tend to agree with Asya's comment:
>That sounds like a horrible thing to do. I would think the
>appropriate response would be to not play the song again, but once
>started, you have to let people finish. Or do the few that
>start dancing not deserve the courtesy?
When I see that a song isn't working, I do fade it quickly, but not as quickly
as you say- i.e., I'll let it go for about 2 minutes. I also then move it to my
"by request only" list. I also like to hear from the dancers. A couple of
months ago, I tried out a new song. One of the dancers (a top competitor) came
up afterwards and said the beat was hard to follow and I should not play it
again. I had screened it, but then re-screened it and decided he was right and
haven't played it since.
Larry, I particularly agree with the following:
> If it's truly a WCS venue, the DJ will play no more than two or three
>songs per hour that are not WCS, and the non-WCS songs will typically be no
>more than one each per hour for dances that most of the dancers present will
>dance (for example, in many SoCal venues, these will include Hustle, NC2S,
>Country 2S, and an occasional salsa)
A dance should be "as advertised". Not only no more than one per hour of each
type of non-WCS at a WCS dance, but no consecutive non-WCS songs (i.e., a
country two-step followed by a night club 2-step).
I also strongly agree with playing a mix of styles and tempos. My own
philosophy of djing is based upon my experience as an attendee at WCS dance.
Too much in a row of any style is deadening to me. The ability to dance WCS
to many different types of music is one of its main attractions, and IMO a dj
sells his or her audience short by presenting an "all-blues" or "all
contemporary" format. My two cents anyway.
David Koppelman
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