Northern Soul Dj-ing, Easy? Or Hard?

[Guest]

I don't know if this has been mentioned already but here goes anyway(have tried to read most of this thread!    - In my opinion the secret of being a Good northern DJ is to listen to what the previous DJ's have played so as not to repeat a record.  In the past I have been dissapointed hearing certain records played up to 3 times during a night!  Two dj's were obviously not listening to what was previously played.

There are so many great records out there it isn't necessary to play something twice/three times in one night!   

link

Just what i said only differant

[Guest]

Just what i said only differant

link

I'm sorry Kenny, you know I am blonde! To be honest my eyes started going about half way through the thread, probably didn't get as far as your comment! Glad we agree tho....

xx

[Makemvinyl]

IMHO, there are two kinds of DJs - educators and editors. Most of us fall into the latter category as the former is extremely cost-prohibitive. A good editor should visit as many do's as possible and note which tracks work a floor, then obtain them.

HAVENT WON THE LOTTERY AS OF YET

cant afford to be an Educator

costs enough to keep head above

water

[Guest]

IMHO, there are two kinds of DJs - educators and editors. Most of us fall into the latter category as the former is extremely cost-prohibitive. A good editor should visit as many do's as possible and note which tracks work a floor, then obtain them.

HAVENT WON THE LOTTERY AS OF YET

cant afford to be an Educator

costs enough to keep head above

water

link

I disagree, you don't need a lottery win. It isn't necessary to only play 'expensive' records to be an educator, I believe there are enough cheapies out there to play a cracking set with, expensive isn't necessarily good and all of us are still learning even after 20/30 years.... If i like a record enough to dance to it, I don't care if it cost £5 or £5000. It doesn't matter if it is the first time I have heard it, if it grabs me then i am there. I don't own expensive records, but I would dance to all of them. You only need around 20 records to do an hour set, you could play 20 great five or ten quidders and the dancers would be happy.

:dance:

[Guest Catfish]

Hmm, educators and editors- that is a clever way of looking at it!

Someone once said to me- 'Try to alternate male and female records'. I tried it- and it seemed to work!

I think the best DJ's have a way of picking up on the 'feel' of the room, and playing certain records they just know will excite the people there. Let's face it, you don't pay to go to a soul night and sit on your backside being mildly impressed- you want to get excited!

Sometimes it helps to be objective about record choices- perhaps even strategic. It depends what you want to achieve; mildly impressed, intrigued, excited, or outbursts of frenetic leaping- you choose! You get out what you put in, when it comes to effort and enthusiasm.

Forgetting what is in the box makes it more fun as you have to think on your feet. Personally I enjoy messing about with treble and bass to emphasise certain parts of the records.. I don't know if anyone else hears anything different, but it makes me look a bit busier, twiddling some knobs. Better than standing there with arms folded smoking a cigar. Northern DJ's don't have an awful lot to physically DO, really, do they?

[pikeys dog]

Forgetting what is in the box makes it more fun as you have to think on your feet. Personally I enjoy messing about with treble and bass to emphasise certain parts of the records.. I don't know if anyone else hears anything different, but it makes me look a  bit busier, twiddling some knobs.

link

So your the one to blame for the shite sound in venues then!

Most 'Northern' DJs don't have a clue about sound systems - I reckon there ought to be a sound engineer with a big wooden ruler sat by every set of decks... touch a knob at your peril....

Personally never have time to piss around with the equipment, too busy looking for the next tune, requests, changing my set to suit the floor

etc...

Anyone who puts their set together in the middle of the week prior to an event is no better than a Jukebox I.M.O.

[Godzilla]

So your the one to blame for the shite sound in venues then!

Most 'Northern' DJs don't have a clue about sound systems - I reckon there ought to be a sound engineer with a big wooden ruler sat by every set of decks... touch a knob at your peril....

link

Spot on. Some years ago a well known oldies DJ came to my venue, (as in it was my venue - not one hired) arrived half way through the night and altered the graphic equalizer on the mixer to "how he always set it"

He'd never been in the room before and knew nothing about the PA. I legged out front to check and sure enough it was 5K of trebble pumping out. Feckin horrible. Had to run back up, set the EQ back how it should be and insist he leave it.

I've been banging on for months about the phrase "painted on ears" - for decorative purposes only

Godz

[Makemvinyl]

point to remember

visit loads of venues agreed

keep an open mind agreed

still have to spend money to obtain relevant tunes

[Guest the dukester]

I don't know if this has been mentioned already but here goes anyway(have tried to read most of this thread!    - In my opinion the secret of being a Good northern DJ is to listen to what the previous DJ's have played so as not to repeat a record.  In the past I have been dissapointed hearing certain records played up to 3 times during a night!  Two dj's were obviously not listening to what was previously played.

There are so many great records out there it isn't necessary to play something twice/three times in one night!   

link

See the Whitby thread on multiple plays from the named djs

[Little-stevie]

I disagree,  you don't need a lottery win.  It isn't necessary to only play 'expensive' records to be an educator, I believe there are enough cheapies out there to play a cracking set with, expensive isn't necessarily good and all of us are still learning even after 20/30 years....  If i like a record enough to dance to it, I don't care if it cost £5 or £5000.  It doesn't matter if it is the first time I have heard it, if it grabs me then i am there.  I don't own expensive records, but I would dance to all of them.  You only need around 20 records to do an hour set,  you could play 20 great five or ten quidders and the dancers would be happy. 

:dance:

link

Good post Annie,very good post...Thats the point, the dancers would be happy and thats what counts..Not the chin strokers in the shadows....There are more and more collectors/djs now and not enough punters who just come to dance all night....Like i said before,we should be there to have fun,some of them lot around the record bars are no fun at all,chill out and smile a little or stay at home I hate the words like cheapie etc...I just say good record or bad record,end of...

We can use the word dj without thinking sometimes though...To get a mixed crowd in a room and keep them happy can be the hardest thing in the world sometimes..We have all seen djs die just like some comedians if they dont have the right tools for the right job...

[Guest Baz]

So your the one to blame for the shite sound in venues then!

Most 'Northern' DJs don't have a clue about sound systems - I reckon there ought to be a sound engineer with a big wooden ruler sat by every set of decks... touch a knob at your peril....

link

A favourit seams to be to turn up the bloody gain :angry: we find tapeing things like this up stops the bloody fiddlers, and if you need extra sound later on due to volume of people use the amp

[Steve G]

  A favourit seams to be to turn up the bloody gain  :angry:  we find tapeing things like this up stops the bloody fiddlers, and if you need extra sound later on due to volume of people use the amp

link

Yes this is what the boys used to do at Soul Essence - lots of tape. Designed to stop a certain (and nameless) "knob-twiddler" from practicing his trade. Anyway he managed to rip all the tape off and still adjust the controls I do agree though, most DJ's are tone deaf so should leave settings where they are. If they think the sound is muffled they should 'ave a word with the promotor' and let him / her sort it out. It may be the settings need adjustment - it may be simply that the speakers need coning and are fcuked.

[Guest Baz]

Yes this is what the boys used to do at Soul Essence - lots of tape. Designed to stop a certain (and nameless) "knob-twiddler" from practicing his trade. Anyway he managed to rip all the tape off and still adjust the controls  I do agree though, most DJ's are tone deaf so should leave settings where they are. If they think the sound is muffled they should 'ave a word with the promotor' and let him / her sort it out. It may be the settings need adjustment - it may be simply that the speakers need coning and are fcuked. 

link

And what alot of 'DJ's' dont realise is when your sat behind the speakers it will sound a little muffeld and not as loud......same thing was at a do recently and a very well know 'DJ' got the fiddling bug then proceeded to slag the promoters off for having shit equipment, what alot of poeple dont relise to if you turn somthing up and it 'peeks' you have to turn it down a bit at a time, turning it right back down again can have just a bad effect

[Pete S]

Come along friday night and you'll hear: no modern shite, no 70's shite, no crossover shite, no beat ballad shite, just uptempo 60's northern soul. You see, northern soul djing is actually easy if you actually play northern soul

and if you don't like things like

honey bees

monique

mikki farrow

betty turner

moses dillard

ty karim

sterphonics

emanuel laskey

you won't like wot I play

p.s though I do play Pyramid usually

[Pete S]

Sits in wait for the abuse to start

[Steve G]

Sits in wait for the abuse to start 

link

Ignoring your somewhat aggresive "come and get me" rhetoric at the beginning of your post - I cannot quibble with the quality of those sides Pete.

[Pete S]

Ignoring your somewhat aggresive "come and get me" rhetoric at the beginning of your post - I cannot quibble with the quality of those sides Pete.

link

How do you mean? Whats aggressive about saying 'come along on friday night'?

Sometimes I think people on this site read a bit too much into what certain posters say!

[SteveM]

Yes this is what the boys used to do at Soul Essence - lots of tape. Designed to stop a certain (and nameless) "knob-twiddler" from practicing his trade. Anyway he managed to rip all the tape off and still adjust the controls  I do agree though, most DJ's are tone deaf so should leave settings where they are. If they think the sound is muffled they should 'ave a word with the promotor' and let him / her sort it out. It may be the settings need adjustment - it may be simply that the speakers need coning and are fcuked. 

link

You mean Soul Sam don't you ?

[Little-stevie]

Come along friday night and you'll hear: no modern shite, no 70's shite, no crossover shite, no beat ballad shite, just uptempo 60's northern soul.  You see, northern soul djing is actually easy if you actually play northern soul 

and if you don't like things like

honey bees

monique

mikki farrow

betty turner

moses dillard

ty karim

sterphonics

emanuel laskey

you won't like wot I play

p.s  though I do play Pyramid usually

link

Uptempo 60s northern all night....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH you are so last week ...I know you are all bark and no bite and a real nice guy that love mankind..Some people think you are a monster Pete and quake every time you let loose on here..I will have a look in events to see what you are shouting about this Friday...

[Simsy]

Uptempo 60s northern all night....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH you are so last week ...I know you are all bark and no bite and a real nice guy that love mankind..Some people think you are a monster Pete and quake every time you let loose on here..I will have a look in events to see what you are shouting about this Friday...

link

Sounds like a good do to me. All sixties - Pyramid fave sound. If I wasn't going on hols, would like to come along with some of the boys. Would be good to meet Pete-S & others etc.

Tip for successful northern dj'ing - don't play any crap!

[Guest Baz]

Tip for successful northern dj'ing - don't play any crap!

link

The best tip yet

[Guest dundeedavie]

i think promoters should make sure the decks are sturdy enough for me to dance behind so i don't have to stand like a chuffin idiot in between tunes .......

gotta say hipshaker is great for that and believe me i gave it some stick ....

a tip for october steve lol ....i'm gonna be dancing mate haha

Davie

[Craig W]

Come along friday night and you'll hear: no modern shite, no 70's shite, no crossover shite, no beat ballad shite, just uptempo 60's northern soul.  You see, northern soul djing is actually easy if you actually play northern soul 

and if you don't like things like

honey bees

monique

mikki farrow

betty turner

moses dillard

ty karim

sterphonics

emanuel laskey

you won't like wot I play

p.s  though I do play Pyramid usually

link

Sounds great to me Pete

I was under the impression you were going to play stuff like The liquidator . The Iresaletis and Uptown top ranking.

PS Ill give you a ring tomorrow.

[Pete S]

Sounds great to me Pete

I was under the impression you were going to play stuff like The liquidator . The Iresaletis and Uptown top ranking.

PS Ill give you a ring tomorrow.

link

No I was going to slip a few things in like Man In The Street, but me playing Liquidator is like you playing Footsee

[Dave]

Come along friday night and you'll hear: no modern shite, no 70's shite, no crossover shite, no beat ballad shite, just uptempo 60's northern soul.  You see, northern soul djing is actually easy if you actually play northern soul 

and if you don't like things like

honey bees

monique

mikki farrow

betty turner

moses dillard

ty karim

sterphonics

emanuel laskey

you won't like wot I play

p.s  though I do play Pyramid usually

link

If you said you were going to mix in a bit of R&B, the oddy funky tune and some of your rocksteady, you might tempt me

[Guest]

Pete if you don't play re-issues/boots/dub plates and the whole fucking enchillada.....i for one will be disappointed.........you've a reputation to uphold.....Good God this is still England you know !

Ps........UPTEMPO....Jesus anyone under 60 who has to put their belt on with a boomerang........IS NAILED ON FOR A HEART ATTACK...

[Craig W]

No I was going to slip a few things in like Man In The Street, but me playing Liquidator is like you playing Footsee 

link

I played Footsee at the Derby Alldayer in May but it was'nt that dreadful Wigans chosen few on Disco Demand it was The Chosen Few's load of Wank on US Roulette.

[Pete S]

If you said you were going to mix in a bit of R&B, the oddy funky tune and some of your rocksteady, you might tempt me

link

I'd do the R&B if I had any and I will be playing rocksteady but sod yer funky tune

[Dave]

I'd do the R&B if I had any and I will be playing rocksteady but sod yer funky tune 

link

Two out of three is a better response than usual

[Mark Bicknell]

Another topic that will simply go round in circles, who's right? who's wrong? who cares? the fact is that most DJ's try their best to entertain and often their spots are not a true reflection of their own personal taste and depth of collection it's almost a compromise meeting the dancers half way kind of thing, personally i get bored of playing even some of the big ticket items it's as though it's exspected or you are compelled to play certain tracks with the big is best attitude and a way of telling a few people often not on the dance floor what records you have, a little petty and i guess ego driven and the main reason why some records get duplicated three or four times at the gigs, a bit like saying 'look at me i got this too'

and or some DJ's not being in the venue allnight or simply not listening to whats being played.

There are enough great records out there at all prices to play making it different, interesting and exciting instead of all this debate constantly which really gets us know place.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Pete S]

Two out of three is a better response than usual

link

Craig already complained about that rocking R&B track I sent up last friday anyway

[Guest andycambs]

Hello everybody

I joined this site yesterday and thought this is a good topic to add my first post.

It was around 1990 when i had my first of three tries at DJ'ing. My first 45 on the decks was "Ken Williams Come Back", not sure of the second but the third was "Eddie Bishop Call Me". Everything was going real well until a girl came to me and asked if i could stop playing this "70's shit" and play some "real Northern".

Andy

[Dave]

Craig already complained about that rocking R&B track I sent up last friday anyway 

link

Did somebody force him to listen to it then?

[Pete S]

Hello everybody

I joined this site yesterday and thought this is a good topic to add my first post.

It was around 1990 when i had my first of three tries at DJ'ing. My first 45 on the decks was "Ken Williams Come Back", not sure of the second but the third was "Eddie Bishop Call Me". Everything was going real well until a girl came to me and asked if i could stop playing this "70's shit" and play some "real Northern".

Andy

link

That was me wearing a wig

[Guest andycambs]

That was me wearing a wig 

link

WOW

Any chance of your phone number?

[Pete S]

WOW

Any chance of your phone number?

link

01902 893569 ask for Big Doris

[Pete S]

Second thoughts better not, my missus will think it's for her

[Makemvinyl]

Another topic that will simply go round in circles, who's right? who's wrong? who cares? the fact is that most DJ's try their best to entertain and often their spots are not a true reflection of their own personal taste and depth of collection it's almost a compromise meeting the dancers half way kind of thing, personally i get bored of playing even some of the big ticket items it's as though it's exspected or you are compelled to play certain tracks with the big is best attitude and a way of telling a few people often not on the dance floor what records you have, a little petty and i guess ego driven and the main reason why some records get duplicated three or four times at the gigs, a bit like saying 'look at me i got this too'

and or some DJ's not being in the venue allnight or simply not listening to whats being played.

There are enough great records out there at all prices to play making it different, interesting and exciting instead of all this debate constantly which really gets us know place.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

link

A man with inteligence about time

[Steve G]

Hello everybody

I joined this site yesterday and thought this is a good topic to add my first post.

It was around 1990 when i had my first of three tries at DJ'ing. My first 45 on the decks was "Ken Williams Come Back", not sure of the second but the third was "Eddie Bishop Call Me". Everything was going real well until a girl came to me and asked if i could stop playing this "70's shit" and play some "real Northern".

Andy

link

Goodness! There's no answer to that. Welcome aboard.

[Steve G]

You mean Soul Sam don't you ? 

link

Couldn't possibly comment, confirm or deny.

[Headsy]

Hello everybody

I joined this site yesterday and thought this is a good topic to add my first post.

It was around 1990 when i had my first of three tries at DJ'ing. My first 45 on the decks was "Ken Williams Come Back", not sure of the second but the third was "Eddie Bishop Call Me". Everything was going real well until a girl came to me and asked if i could stop playing this "70's shit" and play some "real Northern".

Andy

link

Ken Williams is one of the best northern records of all time........!!!!!!!!

why dont you set up a ''virtual soul night'' and list 20 records each that you would play in a spot ?

[Guest]

Good post Annie,very good post...Thats the point, the dancers would be happy and thats what counts..Not the chin strokers in the shadows....There are more and more collectors/djs now and not enough punters who just come to dance all night....Like i said before,we should be there to have fun,some of them lot around the record bars are no fun at all,chill out and smile a little or stay at home I hate the words like cheapie etc...I just say good record or bad record,end of...

We can use the word dj without thinking sometimes though...To get a mixed crowd in a room and keep them happy can be the hardest thing in the world sometimes..We have all seen djs  die just like some comedians if they dont have the right tools for the right job...

link

Maybe that's a whole new discussion eh? When i first started there was much less of a gap between 'collectors' and 'dancers'. For me the scene always has and always will be about dancing and how the music makes you feel. For others its the vinyl, the rarity, the cost of it, the feel of it and the smell of it! I like records too, but I would rather dance!

[Mark Bicknell]

Maybe that's a whole new discussion eh?  When i first started there was much less of a gap between 'collectors' and 'dancers'.    For me the scene always has and always will be about dancing and how the music makes you feel.  For others its the vinyl, the rarity, the cost of it, the feel of it and the smell of it!  I like records too, but I would rather dance!

link

Yes but if there were no records what would you dance to...lol joking apart your points are very valid as most people on this scene just wanna have some fun and a dance which is fantastic, but some get off on the whole ethos of records and the bug becomes an addiction very quickly, still keeps us out of trouble and out of the pub i guess.

regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Guest Baz]

but some get off on the whole ethos of records and the bug becomes an addiction very quickly, still keeps us out of trouble and out of the pub i guess.

regards - Mark Bicknell.

link

Untill we start meeting in the pub to talk 'records'

[Guest]

Yes but if there were no records what would you dance to...lol joking apart your points are very valid as most people on this scene just wanna have some fun and a dance which is fantastic, but some get off on the whole ethos of records and the bug becomes an addiction very quickly, still keeps us out of trouble and out of the pub i guess.

regards - Mark Bicknell.

link

And better than a lot of other addictions! Then there is the other question, how many DJ's are actually dancers? I could name a couple, but thats about it! No offence guys but I think you will find this one true!

[Guest mattmale]

I don't know if this has been mentioned already but here goes anyway(have tried to read most of this thread!    - In my opinion the secret of being a Good northern DJ is to listen to what the previous DJ's have played so as not to repeat a record.  In the past I have been dissapointed hearing certain records played up to 3 times during a night!  Two dj's were obviously not listening to what was previously played.

There are so many great records out there it isn't necessary to play something twice/three times in one night!   

link

I think usually it's not a case of not listening, often they haven't arrived yet or they are in the record bar where they can't hear what's played before their spot. You're right it is inexcusible, but understandable. I think some places should get DJs to write down what they play so the next up can check what's been played.

Repeat records are more common at oldies dos i reckon or where the DJs don't own such unique sounds.

Mind you, sometimes i want to hear something twice.

Matt

[Guest]

I think usually it's not a case of not listening, often they haven't arrived yet or they are in the record bar where they can't hear what's played before their spot. You're right it is inexcusible, but understandable. I think some places should get DJs to write down what they play so the next up can check what's been played.

Repeat records are more common at oldies dos i reckon or where the DJs don't own such unique sounds.

Mind you, sometimes i want to hear something twice.

Matt

link

Yeah, I totally agree, sometimes I do! Like Jonny Rogers, could listen to that all night!

I understand that sometimes DJ's havent arrived when it was played etc but sometimes it is because the early DJ's are playing copies of records that a later DJ actually owns! Just an example:- I was at a venue once where Ken Burrell was DJing and someone who was on before him played Frank Wilson off a CD! Thought it was pretty insulting really and to be fair I think Ken did too.... He did play it again (and mentioned it was the real one) so that was fair enough really. And I know I probably sound like a real hypocrite saying earlier that you don't need to spend loads of money to get a great set together, but I still mean that, I was purely using this as an example...

Annie

[Mark Bicknell]

And better than a lot of other addictions!    Then there is the other question, how many DJ's are actually dancers?  I could name a couple, but thats about it!    No offence guys but I think you will find this one true!   

link

Or how many dancers are DJ's......hundreds it would seem...lol again your points are very valid and spot on, you simply don't see DJ's dance that much if at all so maybe here the problem lies..... oh well we all play our part in the mix i guess.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Mark Bicknell]

Untill we start meeting in the pub to talk 'records'   

link

Pub, records, beer, good company spells bliss, i'll get em' in...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

[Guest]

Or how many dancers are DJ's......hundreds it would seem...lol again your points are very valid and spot on, you simply don't see DJ's dance that much if at all so maybe here the problem lies..... oh well we all play our part in the mix i guess.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

link

Mr Bicknell sir, I beg to differ!! I have seen a quite few DJ's try and dance! (Usually after a few bottles of beer!) But you know I have also heard a few dancers try and DJ (myself included ) and, agreed not necessarily good. So what's the answer? You've either got or you haven't?

Hey Mark, Hows the leg?

Annie