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The role of a DJ or Live Act at a party
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Omega
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61
Posted : Jun 21, 2010 20:37:12
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So (partially as a reaction to the recent Post Gemini thread) I've been thinking a lot about exactly what roll a DJ or live act can/should play at a party. There seems to be 2 general sides to this issue:
1. Primarily that of the entertainer, where the focus is on creating a certain type of experience for the audience - be it a very positive, happy, uplifting experience, or a mind-bending gauntlet of insanity, or anything between or otherwise.
2. Primarily that of the artist, where the focus is on creating/expressing something deeply personal and unique. While there might be the hope, on the part of the artist, that the audience will understand/enjoy/find some value in the art, such concerns are not sufficient that the artist will modify what they are expressing.
I'm really torn on this - generally, I think I gravitate more towards option 1. I know there are many artists out there who at least profess that they would continue creating their art, even if they knew for an absolute certainty that no one else would ever see/hear/experience it. It seems like many folks consider this sort of artist to be creating the most "true" Art - and think of those who let concern for the audience shape their creation as "sell-outs". To be honest, I find this perspective to be somewhat distasteful.
I tend to have about as much use for the concept "Art" as I do for the concept "Truth" (none). Attempting to disregard context - i.e. "creating something just for myself" sorta feels to me like a very egocentric, self-indulgent solipsism (particularly when it's done on a stage, in front of a crowd, through a huge sound-system). Whether we like it or not, just about everything we do exists within, and is to some extent dependent on, a context - our parents who created us (or at least our bodies), the planet we live on, the electricity we power our computers with, the people who created the software we use, the artists who came before and inspired us, etc, etc, forever.
...But, all that being said, I can't shake the feeling that option 1 must at the inception be sparked by a little bit of option 2, because however much the focus of the creative process might be on effectively communicating, there must at the start be something that I feel is worth communicating. And it seems to me that this spark comes from a place inside which is not context dependent, but is utterly unique and special. I'm purposefully avoiding loaded words/concepts like "soul", "god", "muse", etc. but obviously some folks would attach these words to this idea.
Thoughts...?
  Original Tracks and Remixes:
http://soundcloud.com/omegadubstep
http://omegadubstep.com |
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Ascension
IsraTrance Full Member
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170
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Posted : Jun 21, 2010 21:06
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I feel that in the end, your number 1 concern as an artist is to be happy with what you've done yourself. No message will ever be 100% perfectly conveyed through a medium (music, art, spoken word, etc), so I wouldn't gauge success/failure based on a reaction (especially with such subjective mediums). However, (as per the first sentence) if you gauge your own level of satisfaction based on others' reaction, then you'll be looking to a different place.
When I'm making music I try to make something that people will enjoy, but in the end I need to be happy with it myself. When I throw parties, I aim to create something that everyone will enjoy, but I also feel that it is something I should enjoy myself. When I dj, I try to put together tracks and mixes that people will enjoy, but I must also be happy with them.
Now that I've given my opinion, I will say that opinions on this matter don't mean anything. Subjectiveness rules this realm. People are gonna do what they're gonna do (and of course, haters are gonna hate). Some will like it, some won't, that's the only thing you can count on happening every time. If you get caught up in trying to please everyone you're doomed to fail.
http://soundcloud.com/ascensionsound
www.chilluminati.org - Midwest based psytrance group |
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Maine Coon
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
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1659
Posted : Jun 21, 2010 21:19
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Well said.
Last time I danced at a party with a DJ was in the 20th century. And it was no psy in any way (although some characters did seem like hallucinations  ). What I am trying to say, I may be seriously out of touch with realities of modern parties or The Scene or whatever, so my opinion is not worth the electrons I wasted on expressing it.
Having said that, I think everything is good in a right balance and proportion. Humans are creatures of habit, just like cats. You can not just drop a ton of avant-garde stuff on their head and expect them to enjoy it. At least not right away. I found Axis Mundi’s experimental music interesting – when I listened to it for the third time in my living room. But I would leave the floor the second it started playing, if it were at a party. I think he understands this very well about his music, so he does not market (sorry for a dirty word) this music as a dance party material.
Why do people go to parties and festivals anyway? Isn’t it about hanging out with your tribe mates and enjoying your time at least as much as it is about expanding your musical horizons and discovering the newest developments in the genre? So, I am not saying a DJ or an artist is supposed to pander to the masses or try and earn himself popularity points. I am just saying there are more subtle ways of introducing new ideas and musical experimentation to the listeners than playing two hours of avant-garde stuff.
It’s all about the right thing at the right time in the right place, isn’t it?
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MR VOMERS
Moderator
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2094
Posted : Jun 21, 2010 21:30
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nice one, i was about to say the same thing that you summarized your msg up with Omegapants.
WARNING: The Reality Master General has determined that Mr. Vomit may significantly alter your reality. Usage of the knowledge provided by Mr. Vomit may be perceived as dangerous and subversive by those in authority. |
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Meta
Meta/Boomslang
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24
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1045
Posted : Jun 21, 2010 23:42
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paradigm
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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1098
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 01:20
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Brilliant thread Omega. Glad someone else brought it up and not me.
As we are speaking about festivals and events, and not coffee house poetry readings, or open mic nights... per say what i will say pertains to that realm and that realm only.
First off their there is a difference in the roles of a DJ and a live act.
(By the way, all my points are geared towards a main stage DJ, not those in the chill-room, as the criteria does somewhat change.)
A DJ by their very nature is there to make people dance. That is your job. Period.
As a DJ, you have a case (hopefully) with a variety of music in it with in your own area expertise.
It is a selfish DJ who does not adapt. Does not read your crowd, and plays what you want.
Granted sometimes, there are limitations with in your style, and you can only vary so much with the music you have, BUT, as a DJ you OWE it to the dance floor and party to adapt to it and give it what it wants to the best of your abilities.
Dance floors ebb and flow however, so the normal flux of people on one, is inconsequential. However if you inherit a full dance floor from the person before, and with in 15 minutes have lost over 3/4's of it... you need to do something else if you can. Otherwise your being selfish.
Live acts are different. A live act can not really change the direction of the set or material. It is more or less set in stone. Therefore both the dancers and organizer must be somewhat aware of what they are getting before hand.
The live act must be aware of the event and crowd they are playing for.
A live act by its nature is more artistic. It is a presentation of your own art and work.
However, a event (especially a mixed style event) is not the place to experiment.
The dancers and party goers are not your human guinea pigs.
More often than not attempts to experiment on unprepared or unwitting dancers ends in disaster.
Be experimental on your album. Push the envelope where, it is not forced upon people, and they have the choice to not listen.
However some producers make music, that simply is not dance music. In that case it is the responsibility of the promoter to know this, and to book those acts on a stage with out dance music, or at a seemingly appropriate non-prime time slot... ,unless the event itself is geared towards more avant-garde styles
Logical Light Music - SF
Straylight Productions -SF
Sound/Mind - Denver
Xcience - Midwest
mixes for dl at :
http://www.thehothouse.net/straylight/paradigm/index.htm
"He who ha-ha's last, ha-ha's best" |
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nappy daze
Started Topics :
0
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9
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 02:28
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Quote:
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On 2010-06-21 23:42, Meta wrote:
There's a lot of different ways to think about this, but I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that this thread was my idea and that I deserve all the credit.
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typical dj / producer mentality... i see what you did there. |
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MR VOMERS
Moderator
Started Topics :
36
Posts :
2094
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 02:32
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Quote:
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On 2010-06-22 01:20, paradigm wrote:
Live acts are different. A live act can not really change the direction of the set or material. It is more or less set in stone. Therefore both the dancers and organizer must be somewhat aware of what they are getting before hand.
The live act must be aware of the event and crowd they are playing for.
A live act by its nature is more artistic. It is a presentation of your own art and work.
However, a event (especially a mixed style event) is not the place to experiment.
The dancers and party goers are not your human guinea pigs.
More often than not attempts to experiment on unprepared or unwitting dancers ends in disaster.
Be experimental on your album. Push the envelope where, it is not forced upon people, and they have the choice to not listen.
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Live acts are FAR from set in stone i would have to say. It seems that it's twisted, a DJ can beat match in and out of the same tracks that are rendered COMPLETELY the same. Those tunes are in fact what are set in stone as (unless you loop and pitch bend/ effect) the rendered tune you are dj'ing with then really you can't do shit other than beatmatch or blend. That in fact makes what you do pretty limited unless you are a laptop dj, but even then you are still playing rendered finished tunes.
A live act can have every part of their individual tune loaded separately so you can totally remix your individual tunes LIVE, AND add more layers to such tunes and actually playing it LIVE. I think what you described seems more like those people who pretend they play live and pretty much sequence everything so all they have to do is press space bar and call that a "Live" That seems to be what you have described the live set as being "set in stone" so i'm wondering how many people you have actually seen play live that really do play LIVE.
The best live set i've ever seen played was Secret Society, they completely rip apart every tune and thrash out. No 2 sets are the same EVER.
Axis mundi is another example of an ALL LIVE artist. That kid is flying always working remixing EVERYTHING.
Just a couple examples, figured i'd blow up the stateside people whom i've seen absolutely shred dancefloors while experimenting / "jamming" in 30 minute increments where EVERYTHING is on the fly with no previous full track being ripped apart.
boom!
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konflux
Konflux
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25
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Posted : Jun 22, 2010 02:55
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My concern about remixing everything on the fly is the quality. Will it suffer? It did in many cases I've witnessed. Volume levels off, unforeseen filter artifacts and FX glitches resulting in overload, clicking, CPU choking, beer spilled on equipment, random people distracting a performer resulting in missed sequences.
Now, why do the people on the dancefloor have to go through listening to all these mishaps?
Also, are there guidelines on how to perform live? If there are, is there a clause on psytrance?
Where does the term "Live" come anyway? Instrumental music like rock, jazz and pop? Doesn't seem like we are doing the same thing with EDM.
But to stay on topic, I do believe that the role of a DJ or a live act is to play kick-ass music that makes people dance.
myspace.com/konfluxpsy | www.konfluxmusic.net | PsyTribe | Phar Psyde Recs. | Logical Light Recs.
For CD releases:
http://www.saikosounds.com/english/search.asp?search_str=konflux |
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MR VOMERS
Moderator
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Posted : Jun 22, 2010 03:12
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I'm with you for sure, but i'm of the opinion that if you check and make sure that everything is solid and your computer can actually handle the load without messing up choking, overloading, etc etc, i don't drink so no beer spilling it can be really well done.
sweet thread.
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Squee.Isme
IsraTrance Junior Member
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252
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 03:31
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i think it is solely the job of the artist or dj to be creative and it is solely the job of the promoter of the event to place music for the audience.
on the live thing though... its true mishaps are more likely on a truly live set, but it is the artists job to have some order to their chaos. to know how far they can take the chaos without it sounding like garbage. this takes a lot of practice, and even more time just sitting and thinking without a sound playing at all.
squee
SS Secret Society Portland, OR
http://soundcloud.com/secret-society-nw |
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Squee.Isme
IsraTrance Junior Member
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252
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 03:33
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konflux
Konflux
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25
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811
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 03:34
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konflux
Konflux
Started Topics :
25
Posts :
811
Posted : Jun 22, 2010 03:35
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MR VOMERS
Moderator
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Posted : Jun 22, 2010 05:35
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i like 3's triangles are my favorite..does that count?
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