Why do I need to become a producer to become a successful DJ? Part 2

Continuing from my previous blog post on "Why do I need to become a producer to become a successful DJ?"

Now my questions is, could a superstar artist like Avicii mix that type of set?

My opinion is no he could not do it.  I believe that Avicii could not work in the same club every weekend and play a 4-5 hour set, keep the dance-floor busy by reading the crowd, making changes to his set, and deliver a great mix-show.  The reason I don't believe he can do this is because there is no evidence that Avicii has ever worked this way before.  His career started from a bedroom studio to guest spots at venues, to festivals and large arenas.  He's never had the responsibility to develop and maintain a club residency.  Mix it up for the same crowd every weekend.  Reinvent his sets so that he would not sound exactly the same as before.  

Fortunately, Avicii and other superstar producers have been able to avoid this aspect of the profession which is a reality to the majority of club DJs.  

I am not singling out Avicii in order to criticize him for this.  I have great admiration and respect for what he does.  He has talent making music for a dance-floor.  The reality is that we're two different types of DJs and yet the industry seems to value and reward him far greater than a local club DJ that is the life blood of many nightclubs around the world.

Nightclubs generally rely of making money from patrons at the door (cover charge), and selling alcohol during the night.  Clubs have expenses (rent, payroll, utilities, alcohol, equipment, and the entertainment).  If a club were to hire a superstar producer/DJ like Avicii every weekend and pay his fee, they would go bankrupt quickly.  It's simple economics.  Therefore, a club relies heavily on a solid club DJ that can mix it up for their crowd at a fraction of what a superstar producer/DJ commands.  

I'm often amazed that even in my town, a promoter or night club will book a local "producer/DJ" that has very few years experience mixing for a crowd.  That local producer may have made a few songs in their studio, but how does that actually translate to whether he/she is any good at rocking a dance-floor?  It's comparing apples and oranges.  If a producer releases a song, they instantly get a status of "Producer".  The song may be obscure, or never resonate with the local crowd or even get on radio.  Regardless of this, they have the status of "Producer".  But their ability to actually "DJ" for a crowd has nothing to do with that accomplishment.  That local producer may not have much experience when it comes to knowing the different music genres, eras, and applying that knowledge in a set.  And yet, those club managers and promoters put a higher value on the fact that he/she has published a song, regardless of whether that song becomes a hit or not.

Before the EDM scene became mainstream, many of us DJs were mixing urban music (Hip-Hop, R&B) which was the mainstream music at the time (2000-2008).  It wasn't very common to see DJs as producers.  Club DJs would play and mix songs that were released by artists.  (Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J Blige, Ice Cube, etc.).  You never saw these artists coming into a club to DJ a set.  It just didn't happen.  They did their thing and we club DJs did our thing.  

But as EDM has grown and become essentially a mainstream form of music, alot of young talent that are producing music have decided to become DJs.  Or DJs, seeing the potential to elevate their careers, have taken on to producing music as a vehicle for becoming more popular and getting more gigs at higher salaries.

But this formula for success seems to ignore one important key element.  And that is the art or skill of knowing what songs to play and how to deliver a solid mix-show on demand.  This art or skill is something that takes years to understand and master.  Even if a DJ/producer makes a song(s) in a studio, they may still lack a fundamental understanding of what it takes to be a great club DJ.  Being a producer and being a great club DJ are two different things entirely.  Yet, still, the industry seems to perceive the "Producer" as having a higher value than a club DJ that may not produce music but knows how to deliver that music in a club setting.

I observe this trend with great curiosity.  I could spend the next couple of years learning how to produce music.  Or, I could spend the next couple of years perfecting the skill of rocking a dance-floor.  Because learning one will not translate to the other.  It's apples and oranges.

Please feel free to share your opinions and experiences.

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Why do I need to become a producer to become a successful DJ? Part 1

Last weekend I was in Kristiansand performing at both Tollboden and Havana Etcetera.  One night I was having dinner at a new restaurant, Atlantis, with a DJ colleague that I got to know that week.  We were discussing music, clubs, the DJ scene, etc.  At one point we got into the discussion of music production.  He asked me if I was producing music.  I truthfully answered "no".  And I got to thinking why is there such a value on whether a DJ is producing his/her own music?

Over the dinner I began to talk how it seems that today a Producer/DJ that becomes very popular with his music, can leap forward over highly skilled veteran club DJs that may not ever produce, but can pack a dancefloor.  Today, a producer/DJ can become the next superstar.  They can play at large festivals, arenas, and super clubs.  They can command up to six figures for a gig where they would play mostly their music for about an hour or two.  

I find the trend amazing.  I can see the temptation for young bedroom DJ/Producers to invest their time in creating electronic music.  They see the glitter and the dollar signs.  They follow their superstar heroes on Facebook and Instagram and dream of living that lifestyle.  I admit, I also have dreams of being a successful DJ.  But I don't dream of being a music producer.  

I've tried to produce music.  There is a big learning curve in understanding the programs, concepts, and theory that goes into making music.  Generally, it's body of knowledge that requires years of education at a school and more years of on the job training as a studio engineer.  

To me it seems ridiculous to go that route just to be able to come into a club, mix songs, and rock a party.  The skill involved in DJing such as reading a dancefloor, understanding flow in programming your music, and mixing, is what is most important when DJing inside a club.  This is my opinion but I believe it has great merit.  

For example, if a club were to hire a DJ/Producer like Avicii, they would pay him an exorbitant amount of money, cover all of his expenses related to his travel, hotel, and other items on his artist's rider.  This will set the club and promoter back tens of thousands of euros/dollars.

The artist will come to the club and play a set that may be at the most two hours.  The music will consist of only or mostly his music.  Now, the next day, a regular local DJ could come into that same club, and play every song that Avicii played during his set the night before, and in the same order and exactly the same way.  That local DJ would only get paid a tiny fraction of what Avicii made that night.  

The same local DJ, because he is a seasoned club DJ, can walk into any club and deliver a mix show for the guests, using songs from different artists and producers.  Maybe that DJ will use some bootlegs to give the guests a refreshing change from the music they are used to hearing all the time at a club.  That local DJ will be reading his dance-floor and make adjustments to his music programming.  Maybe he'll play a Progressive House set, followed by a short latin style dance set, and then sweat his dancers with a short Dirty Dutch set before cooling them down with a Hip-Hop set.  

That local club DJ may do this for 4-5 hours during the night and succeed in keeping the dance-floor busy and engaged.  For this work, that local DJ may only get a few hundred euros.

Now my questions is, could a superstar artist like Avicii mix that type of set?

Continued in Part 2

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Kato vs. Train - Turn the Lights Off vs. Hey Soul Sister (Mario Santiago Bootleg)

About two years ago, I made this mashup, which is what I call an "Inverse Mashup" where I take instrumental (A) and mash it up with a vocal from song (B).  Then, during the course of the track, I mix to instrumental (B) and mash it up with vocals from song (A) and just keep juggling between vocals (A) and (B).  I think it's a cool technique and I learned it from The Cut Up Boys who are masters at it.  

At the time, I did not release it for download because one of the vocals was not a clean studio, but a filtered version so I was never happy with the quality.  Now, I have that studio vocal so I have reworked this mashup and am giving it out for you guys to enjoy.  I have provided both the radio and club edit.  You can find it on the following link.  Enjoy!!

If you'd like a copy, please provide your e-mail address below and I will forward you a copy as fast as possible.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT THE RADIO OR CLUB EDIT

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