That’s me DJing at… hm… not sure where. MLX? Probably – looks like a set list there next to me, and I’d’ve been doing band breaks.
A good friend, Scott (big, not scribbler) took that photo. See my hand – it’s tappa-tapping. I’m actually DJing, right there, in that photo.
See my generous bum, hips and legs? That’s professional DJing gear, that – for when you do 4-hour late-night sets. I could stand, but that’d suck after a while.
See those headphones? They’re sennheisers. And the best bit about them is that they reduce sound, so I can put them on if I’m finding it all a bit noisy. But don’t tell anyone – they think I’m previewing. In that photo, I think I am previewing, because you can see DJ1800, which I use to preview.
See that microphone, there? I don’t use them. I’m afraid of them. Also, you can see my imic – a tiny little external sound card. It’s round and white. You can also almost see my green and red alligator necklace – that’s the most important accessory in this photo.
I wish I was sitting up properly in this photo. Right now I have a sore right arm from DJing at a table that was too high for me. I look at this photo and think about how great the sound set up is at MLX – the bestest ever, of any of the places I’ve ever DJed. Brian yells at you if you touch the set up. And justifiably so, I guess. Some people need a good yelling at – some DJs in particular. Especially the ones with alligator necklaces. But that’s mostly because they a) have work-place related industrial deafness, or b) have forgotten to take their ear plugs out.
Another thing about that photo – I remember doing that set in something of a rush-and-panic. You can’t DJ on a weekend you’re running, even if you’re not running that night. Well, I can’t – there’s always something that needs fixing, or someone who needs your help. The best was that same exchange, when I was DJing in one room, the DJ from the other room came in and was all, “hey, who’s DJing after me?” about 10 minutes (3 songs) before their set ended. I was all “woah, shit. How will I fix this?” I reassured the other DJ I’d fix it, if he wouldn’t mind doing an extra 10 mins or so if it took a while, set up a song, then ran to find out who was rostered on to DJ next. Then I went back, set up another song, checked the sound, etc, and ran to find the missing DJ. He was asleep on a beanbag. Then I woke him up, scolded him, and sent him to DJ. I assume it worked out ok – he was in there DJing when I finished my set. It was about 3am, so he shouldn’t have been asleep – he should have been dancing!
But that’s the thing about DJing – you know where the music comes from, so there’s no more mystery. And it is possible to drink and DJ. I once saw a DJ drink a rum and coke, a beer, a scotch and dry and then another beer in 15 minutes, while he was DJing. Then he ran a competition, then he had another beer. I was all ‘woah, he’s brave. I wouldn’t leave an open drink near my laptop like that.” But then, I guess he didn’t let them sit there long enough to risk a spill.
The most important thing I’ve learnt about DJing? Go to the little DJs’ room before you start a set.
