The Passionate DJ Podcast

In Episode 73, the gang is all together celebrating the holidays with a record exchange! We each went digging through the crates of our local record stores, thrift shops, and personal collections to find records that reminded us of each other. Did any of you get any wax or new tracks? While many of these tracks aren't particularly relevant in most club settings, we had a lot of fun recording this episode, so we're hoping you have just as much fun listening! No matter what you celebrate over the holidays, we hope the season finds you all happy, healthy, and spinning! Ludacris - Ludacrismas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tiw3ueH3EI Warren G - Regulate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plPyJdXKIY Isaac Hayes - Shaft Theme Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvRvSxsW-I Submarine - Sunbeam (Deepsky Remix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t82puE16kts (Way Out West Remix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP8f5ZMJzdU Manuvers X Sharpsound X Louie Arson - Bangin Like a Dilla Instrumental https://soundcloud.com/thelovebelowparty/bangin-like-a-dilla-instrumental-mix-vol-1 Bob Seger - Shakedown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3MTFJz50qc Twelvetrees - The Lost Tribe (Ming & FS DnB Remix) https://www.discogs.com/Twelvetrees-The-Lost-Tribe/release/2887743 Kurtis Blow - The Breaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZDUEilS5M4 Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dZW1C3neao Groove Armada - Superstylin' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KABmnF2T6M Snoop Doggy Dogg - Santa Claus is Going Straight to the Ghetto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVkg5FM59NA Family Guy - Michael McDonald Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0B6nxPfcCM

In Episode 72, we're coming up on the holidays and the end of the year, so we thought this might be a good time to do some reflecting. In doing so, we talk a little bit about the habits that we have now and wish we had earlier. First, we hit some of the major news affecting DJs, right now: 1. Soundcloud now allows DJ mixes - this is HUGE, but is it too little, too late? 2. A bankrupt SFX re-emerges from Chapter 11 with a blank slate and new leadership as LiveStyle Inc. What does this mean for EDM in America? 3. A fellow Midwest DJ and old friend of @TripTurlington's, @TheBlackMadonna broke the Resident Advisor DJ Poll top ten! And, almost right after this episode was recorded, she was also named Mixmag's DJ of the Year for 2016. She is one of the hardest working DJs in the industry, ever since Trip can remember playing dirty warehouse raves with her over a decade ago. She's been at the forefront of the Chicago club scene, traveling the world sharing her sound, playing Boiler Room sets, and standing up for women's issues in the music industry, and life, in general. CONGRATS MAREA! Very well deserved, and there's still nowhere to go, but up. So, as mentioned, this episode is about habits we wish we had before now. 1. Using the cue/mix function on mixers that support it. 2. Looking at, or interacting with the crowd. 3. Get out of your comfort zone. 4. Scheduling and time management. 5. Take a little time before purchasing digital music. 6. Mini-Practice sessions (especially useful for learning to scratch). 7. Learn to make a mix sound good without effects. 8. Live in the moment! Enjoy yourself! 9. Know your tracks backward & forward. 10. Protect your hearing! 11. Contracts to protect yourself. What are some habits that you have established that took your game to another level? What are some you wish you had?

On the flip side of Episode 68's coin (Baller on a Budget), we decided it might be fun to give ourselves an imaginary $10,000 budget, and build some bedroom setups where money is less of an object. Of course, we tried to take some different takes on our setups, rather than all of us going straight for the industry standard all Pioneer NXS setup. We'd love to hear what you guys think about these setups, or what gear have you splurged on when you've had the scratch to spare? @TripTurlington (2) Technics SL1210M5G ($2000/ea) (2) Ortofon Nightclub MKII ($300/pair) Pioneer DJM-900SRT ($1500) Pioneer HDJ-2000 MKII ($350) Serato DJ Club Kit ($170) (2) Peavey RBN112 active monitors & (2) Peavey RBN215 powered subs ($3800/total) @Tony-DeSaro (2) CDJ-2000NXS ($1400/ea) DJM-900NXS2 ($2200) (2) Kontrol X1 ($400) (1) Technic SL-1200 MKII or higher ($500) Pioneer RMX-1000 ($800) Yorkville EXM400 Mini PA System ($2100) Sennheiser HD25 Plus ($200) Odyssey Flight Cases & Cables David Rane MP2015 Mixer ($2349) Pioneer PLX-1000 turntables x3 ($2091) Kontrol D2 x2 ($998) Raiden RXI-F1 portable fader ($129) Ortofon Concorde S-120 Twin Pack ($285) Ortofon Qbert ($125) Focal Alpha 80 Studio Monitors ($1098) Yorkville NX720S 15” sub ($1078) @MoDingo Pioneer DDJ-RZX ($3000) MacBook Pro ($3000) 2 QSC K12 and 2 QSC Ksub Subwoofer's ($3800) Shure SE 215 ($90)

First, and foremost, our hearts go out to those who were lost in the Oakland warehouse party fire, and their families and friends who will be dealing with this loss, for a long time to come. In this episode, we continue with last week's episode topic, offering some tips for new DJ's (and reminders to the veterans). Tip 8: For digital DJ's: Make sure you settle on the platform BEFORE you choose the hardware. While some devices and software are mappable, they are becoming more and more locked in to each other, and sometimes mapped features don't always work correctly (or at all, at times). So, it's important to know which software platform you are more comfortable with before spending a bunch of money on hardware that you may end up changing or upgrading, down the road. Tip 9: Hone those core skills. A lot of new DJs like to rush to get on a stage or in a booth, and as a result, many do so LONG before they are ready. By staying patient, and making sure your skills are on par with the openers you see at your local clubs and shows, you ensure you're putting your best face out there for all to see. Tip 10: On the flip side of tip 9...Be Realistic & Fail Often. Take risks. You won't get ahead, if you don't give it a shot. But, know that things will happen and when they do, do your best to be graceful to recover from it. Tip 11: Brand Awareness...you are building your brand from the moment you establish yourself as a DJ. So, be sure you are always self-aware and be careful of how you handle conflict, customers, promoters, and requests, especially when it's in the public eye. Tip 12: Continuous Education...NEVER STOP LEARNING! The moment you become complacent and stop pushing yourself, that's the beginning of the end. While it's important to be as proficient as possible with your core skills, we only get better by learning new stuff and applying it to our specific work flow. There's lots of resources now, more than ever before! Tip 13: Learn restraint. This is a BIG one, for new jacks and old schoolers, alike. It's hard to not play all of your biggest tunes before it's time, but for those that can practice that patience, and drop the right tracks at the right time, it can be the difference between a good set with great tracks and a phenomenal, life changing set. Tip 14: In the same vein of Brand Awareness, but kind of in its own context, professionalism is key, if you really want this to be a business, or your career. Don't be a diva. Stay humble. We're all in this, together. Tip 15: Don't scratch melodies over melodies, lyrics over lyrics, and learn proper phrasing and measures. Tip 16: STOP USING AIR HORNS IN YOUR MIXES! -- No, seriously...stop it. No one likes this, despite it being used all the time, everywhere, by seemingly everyone, and being integrated in to several pieces of hardware. It's cliche, at this point, and just flat-out annoying. It's kind of like how so many trance DJs overused the flanger back in the late 90's/early 2K's, right @TripTurlington? ;-) Tip 17: Know your limits and deliver what you can provide. Don't over promise and under deliver. The stigma from that will follow you for the rest of your career.

We often get a lot of questions, especially geared toward new(er) DJs, so we wanted to take an episode (or two) and address some of the topics we feel are essential for those new to the wheels of steel with some "Essential Tips". These would even serve as a good reminder for those that are veterans behind the decks. Tip 1: Have a drink to take the edge off of your first gigs, if you want. But, it's important to know your limits and don't get sloppy drunk! You want your senses to be "in the zone", and even though you may have a moderate alcohol tolerance, the point is not to be drunk on stage...it's to perform! So, one or two drinks to relax and get rid of the jitters is typically fine, for most people. Just don't overdo it. Tip 2: Learn proper gain staging (REDLINING = BAD!)This is a hard one, especially for new DJs, or even veterans who don't take the time to learn the entire audio chain of events. It's not rocket science, but there is a science to a properly gain-staged audio signal, and the audio engineer is the ultimate gatekeeper. Work with this person to sound your best. Don't try to circumvent them, as blowing everything red out of each channel and/or the master will make you sound worse, and may even cause damage to the equipment you're playing on. Tip 3: Be prepared to play to empty rooms. We all want to be one of those big super star DJs, playing to packed sweaty rooms of admiring dance fiends. But, the reality is that we all have to play for the staff, every now and then. This will ultimately help you keep your ego in check, learn something about playing on a club/party system, network, and try new things that you may not have, before. Tip 4: Get comfortable with mixing in your headphones or with sub-standard monitors. Not all monitoring systems are set up equally. Sometimes, the only chance at a proper monitoring system you have, is your own headphones. While not ideal, sometimes it's necessary...so take the time to learn this critical skill. Tip 5: Become familiar with as many kinds of mixers as possible. While you may not have access to a lot of different gear, early on, the key is to at least become familiar with the absolute bare minimum critical functionality of most mixers, that way you can deliver the minimum viable product when you are on a piece of kit that you are unfamiliar with. Granted, this one may take some time and comes with experience, but doing so will pay off in spades, as you learn how consistently most manufacturers stick to common, familiar layouts and functionality. Tip 6: Opt for gig quality over gig quantity. If you're a house DJ, don't take a gig in a hip-hop club, just because someone offers it to you. That may seem intuitive, but a lot of new DJs will take ANY gig, just to be able to play. Unless the promoter is offering some vision or guarantee that they are trying something new or different and they think you are a good fit, know who your intended audience is, and be selective about what gigs you take. Sometimes, even gigs that might seem like a good fit, might be damaging to your reputation, depending on the reputation of the promoter or venue you're playing for...so do your homework, and be prepared! Tip 7: Avoid music piracy; Use (true) high quality audio files, not YouTube rips. This is crucial, on so many levels. One, piracy is illegal. For two, if every artist got the revenue from every track of theirs that is stolen, that would add up and be supporting the artists we all know and love. For three, it SOUNDS LIKE GARBAGE. There's real and concrete evidence that proves that YouTube rips (even the 320 ones) are not as pristine as so many people adamantly argue they are. For a little more detail on this, roll back to Episode 14 (https://soundcloud.com/passionatedj/pdj-014-all-about-sound-quality) to get a better grasp on audio quality. This was only part 1 of this discussion, there's more tips to be had, next week in Episode 70!

JUST IN TIME FOR THE BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY SALES! This episode is dedicated to everyone stackin' your chips and makin' each one you spend count. You wanna learn how to DJ, but don't have the scratch to drop on a 4-deck Pioneer TOUR1 setup? Don't worry, neither do we! One of the more common questions we get, is about quality beginner gear to get started on, that is also budget friendly. For Episode 68, we gave ourselves a (soft) $500 budget and put together 4 unique setups that would allow someone to get started DJing, learn the craft, and even play out some gigs. The only assumption we make, is that you will have some external audio source to hook up to. You'll have to listen to the show for the explanations behind each piece of gear, but see below for the list we each came up with and the Amazon links to each bit of kit. Remember, we're picking out competent gear to get started with for as little money as possible, here, not trying to list the best of the best. So, with that in mind, these suggestions are only a few of the infinite possibilities. Feel free to share your own experiences and ideas by writing or calling in! We *LOVE* your feedback! Please note that the pricing in the links below may be different from when we actually recorded this episode, and some of this gear can be easily found used on Ebay for less (which is what we did, for some of the gear we mentioned, in order to stay in the budget). Tony (100% customizable mappable midi controller geek-out): - Akai Professional Red MPK Mini MKII - $99 (http://amzn.to/2gefLlc) - NI Komplete Audio 6 - $229 (http://amzn.to/2ffaLdw) David (Bleeding Edge iPad/Traktor): - iPad 2 - $99 (http://amzn.to/2fLEzCp) - Traktor DJ for iOS - $9.99 - NI Kontrol S2 - $399.99 (http://amzn.to/2fLLwDC) Mo Dingo (Traktor Controllers, Extreme Coupon Edition): - NI Traktor Z1 - $200.00 (http://amzn.to/2geo5Bp) - NI Traktor X1 (http://amzn.to/2gejeQs) or F1 (http://amzn.to/2gepjwk) - $200.00 - Traktor DJ for iOS - $9.99 - Skull Candy Hesh 2 Headphones - $50 (http://amzn.to/2gfjrma) Trip (Traditional Vinyl Purist Route): - Stanton T.62B Turntables - $165 (x2) (http://amzn.to/2gejFu7) - Behringer NOX101 Mixer - $80 (http://amzn.to/2genMXa) - Ortofon Omega Cartridges - $32 (x2) (http://amzn.to/2gd9VzT) - Behringer HPX6000 Headphones - $50 (http://amzn.to/2gw81xj)

Wrapping up the conversation from Episode 66, the PDJ team takes a deep dive in to what makes the combination of Sasha and Digweed so legendary, over so many years. We talk about why we think these two truly understand the idea of the "musical journey", and the way their distinct sounds worked together to make magic. To wrap it up, we also threw a couple of hip hop collectives in to the mix, The Executioners and The Animal Crackers. We also touch on a topic that we'll likely take a deeper dive in to, in the future: the highlights of what makes a good tag team experience. It's important to give each other "space" when it comes to DJing in tandem with other people. We talk about some ways that we've been able to do that in the past when DJing doubles.

In Episode 66, we decided that each of us should bring in a DJ duo/trio/group that we all admire and wanted to share with everyone. Of course, this spawned a lot of discussion around not just the DJs themselves, but a slew of topics as we talk about what we love about them. We broke off in to so many different branches with this episode, it warranted being broken down in to 2 parts (Catch part 2 in episode 67 next week!) And, for the first time, in a long time, @Tony-DeSaro is back in action, and the entire PDJ crew is together. We take some time to get caught up on current events, especially with Tony as he shares his summer full of stage managing for several festivals.

The night before episode 65, everyone was out and about. @Tony-DeSaro and David were out at the 3DMentional annual Halloween party named Yiiiikes! while @TripTurlington and @MoDingo were at uBahn. Since everyone was feeling a little rough, we decided to do something fun that we know everyone likes... a Pick 3! This time, we dug through Trip's bins, and they didn't disappoint: 1 - Paragliders - Lithium: A quintessential trance track from the late 90's. 2 - Shades of Rhythm - Dance Among Strangers: Another 90's dance track, but this one was unapologetically HOUSE. 3 - Parliament - Chocolate City: The full 1975 LP from Casablanca records. Bonus - Mos Def & Massive Attack - I Against I - from the Blade II Soundtrack. Take a listen as David, Mo, and Trip banter over some of these random pulls from the bins. If you listen close enough, you can hear the crackle of the vinyl! Disclosure: Unfortunately, some upgraded gear was not performing to its peak potential, so there are some audio glitches throughout this episode. Unfortunately we had no idea they were there until Trip went back through to edit. We have a ticket open with the gear in question and will have this issue resolved for future episodes.

In this week’s episode, we are joined by our friend Kilma! Episode 64 is all about the issues and concerns which women often experience as DJs, or in the “EDM Industry”. Kilma chats with David about several issues which she’s observed in the scene: Denial - The ability for people to admit there’s a problem. “If I don’t experience, see it, witness it… it doesn’t happen.” or “Well I know a girl that says it doesn’t exist.” Lack of Empathy - “If you want to be treated as an equal, deal with it.” Complete Dismissal/Questioning Experience - “You think you had a bad day, wait until you hear about mine.” Complaints not taken seriously, constantly questioned on whether they may have “brought the situation onto themselves.” Fear - Afraid to be boycotted, not taken seriously and even more harshly harassed many stay silent on current issues. So what are some possible solutions to these issues? Kilma offers some suggestions: Acknowledge there is an issue - Everyone needs to acknowledge this is happening! Just like racism or homophobia. Just because YOU aren’t experiencing something doesn’t mean other people aren’t or that it’s not a huge issue. Call Out The Behavior - Support one another. If you see bullying you call it out. If you see sexism, call it out. Stick up for those around you! Ask Questions - As someone experiencing or even being an ally it can be difficult to stay calm when hearing complete ignorance, but that can also be great way to open up dialogue to make others aware and question one’s motives. Become An Ally - Men are a very important part of the solution. Unfortunately sometime’s it’s not until a guy says it, that another guy hears it. Educate Yourself - Learn about the history of sexism, where it stems from, how it’s alive and well today, review the stats and studies about the effects on inequality and listen to the stories of those experiencing it. This episode features clips from the following videos: Women, STEM, and EDM (TED Talk by Dani Deahl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0uocOXDWo IMS Ibiza 2016 Panel (Diversity in Electronic Music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbP_ZiaHECg Give it a listen, and ladies, feel free to share your own experience in the comments!

A travel agent sells products and services (such as tickets to a resort) on behalf of a supplier. The tickets are bought by the agent for a discount, and then sold to the end customer. The agent’s profit is the difference between the advertised price and the agent’s discounted price… in other words, commission. But travel agencies were realized in a whole different era. These days, there are so many free alternatives to the traditional travel agent… one might wonder why they need one at all. How does a travel agent compete against convenient and free alternatives which serve the same basic purpose? A similar thing has happened to DJs. A common question is, “How can I be paid as a DJ when so many people are willing to do it for free?” 1. Sell Something That’s Better Than Free The idea: make your service as a DJ (or promoter, for that matter) something that’s worth paying for. 2. Get Serious About Your “Why” Get honest with yourself. Clarify your personal philosophies on music, DJing, and your local scene. Then, find out the best ways that you can support your music and your scene while staying true to yourself. 3. Add Value Common complaint: we have to be marketers, promoters, writers, PR experts, social media gurus, etc. This is the world we live in. Don’t lament this fact. For the first time, we are all actually in charge of our destiny. It’s easy to get jaded or frustrated, when “those darn kids” keep showing up in the booth with their laptops and 2 months of experience. But it’s important to remember that what they do has no bearing on what you do. Being shut down because of the “state of the scene” is not being fair to yourself and to the work you’ve put in thus far. Viewing this as motivation, instead of defeat, would be a much more productive use of your time.

View full show notes & comments: PassionateDJ.com/62 This episode might get a little...personal. No, we're not going to call you out for your Brony status. What we will do, is touch on something we hear (and even say ourselves), quite frequently: "I just don't have the time." It's a self-defeating statement, and one that can be as much an excuse, as it can be the truth. Diving in to today's topic, David and @TripTurlington discuss ways of "making time" to devote to our passions. While realizing there are going to be some people out there that are in some very specific situations, the guys attempt to give some universal advice and tips for people to try and free up more time for the Passionate DJ whose time is frequently dedicated to anything BUT DJing. Fair warning, though: Nothing in this episode is revolutionary. It truly just boils down to if you "get it", or not, and how bad you want it.

For episode 61, David and @TripTurlington answer a voicemail for a new, aspiring DJ looking to fill his music collection without breaking the bank, before they dig in to this week's main topic: Gig Preparedness. There's a lot of things that can ruin your night: Missing an important cable or adapter. custom mapping disasters, and unwelcomed software updates are only but a few. Wouldn't most of things that can go wrong (or HAVE gone wrong) be alleviated by just a little foresight and preparation? David and Trip discuss lots of things that someone can do to prepare for a gig, ranging from the obvious 'day before' check in with the promoter / client and equipment checks, to the 'day of' pre-show ritual, and even the less obvious 'day after' follow up. Make sure to tune in to this episode, and let us know what things YOU do to prepare.

It's a lot of work on the back end, to make things as easy as possible for the busy or touring DJ when they take the stage. For some, it's a necessity due to schedules and restrictions, or when coordinating with other integral pieces of a show's experience, like lighting and visuals. For many DJs, pre-planning sets is a cardinal sin, and gives fuel to the "button pushers" name calling going on for nearly any DJ that shows up with a controller in tow. And, for those that encounter an issue with a pre-planned set and have to pivot their strategy for a show, that juice can be worth the squeeze when they're forced out of the box, out of their element, and have to deal with a crowd, on the fly. This was the case for Jauz at Lollapalooza, and he went as far as to be open and honest about that experience. In this episode, David and @TripTurlington sink (sync* - LOL) their teeth in to the hot button topic of pre-planned sets. We take the time to look at both sides of this issue, and even pulled some clips from major touring artists and DJs talking about it. (This link starts the video at the conversation we reference in the show, but we highly encourage you to check out the entire panel discussion...there's some really good discussion from some really big names: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmUQV48xN4Y&feature=youtu.be&t=21m10s) Where do you stand on pre-planning YOUR sets? We also review the initial announcements of the new Serato & Roland DJ-808, which is a collaborative controller that starts out around $1500. This feels a lot more gimmicky than all of the hype leading up to its release alluded to. Remember, this was going to be something so innovative, it was going to "change how we DJ". Gotta love marketing, eh? But, if you're the type that may find a use for a drum machine and sequencer in your controller sets, this may be the unit for you....though we remain skeptical (and pretty cynical, obviously) about the impact it's truly going to have on the market. In the end, we still have a lot of respect for Serato and Roland, but adding another controller in to an already saturated market that is inundating DJs with an endless sea of options and features, is not the innovative change we were expecting.

In the past few years, the market has really grown for all-in-one DJ controllers. How does one even go about making a decision these days? What features are important? How much do I need to spend? Whether you’re a new DJ, or a seasoned mixmaster simply looking for an upgrade, this episode will help you get the most for your dollar. Episode 59 is an audio companion for my Ultimate Guide to DJ Controllers. Follow along: http://PassionateDJ.com/controllers Inside, we discuss: - Tips for buying an appropriate controller for your style and needs - My top 5 picks in 3 different price points, for the DJ controller market right NOW - Modular options for people wanting to add to an existing setup Head on over to the guide and follow along, or listen to this audio version while on the go!