Wiganer1 Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 got a lot of time on my hands at the moment and was thinking about the scene the other day and reminiscing about the ups and downs on this enigma called Northern Soul of which im coming upto 25 years soon ive dj'ed ever since i was 16 and dj'ed in nearly every pub and club in town and have had many soul nites over the years ,some had 400 in some had 40 in and yes on occasion had 4 in!!! however ive never really made it into the big arena and reading some of the mails about guys not getting a break ,or guys with exellent records who cant get a look in and the old boys network etc i thought back in time and remembered some instances (some funny looking back but not at the time) and i thought id share them with you... nearly made it - part 1 its hinckley leisure centre (2nd time around) circa 86/87 and steve croft who used to run Warrington all niter of which i used to be a regular and i was asking him if there were any spare spots and he said you can have the 12-1 spot and the next all niter.. so all lined up for my first major break and i was living in a bedsit at the time and had an old Ford Capri...so we were ready to go at 10.30 ,,,5 of us in the car,,it was p'ing it down with rain and we rushed to get into the car for our 5 mile journey to hinckley,got into the car set off and thought whats that funny noise and we got out to check and i had a fooking PUNCTURE!!! tried to sort to no avail and then rang every taxi in Nuneaton toget to hinckley and then thought -get real 11pm on a Saturday and obviously we didnt make it for 12am and it was too late all the other dj's turned and the chance had gone!! nearly made it - part 2 a well known Dj had took over bretby and had opened the 3rd room for up and coming dj's and i think had put a flyer out and i rang him and he said yes u can have a spot as long as u get a mini bus of about 14 people ,,,well i can see his thinking but most of the nuneaton crowd went anyway so couldnt manage this so in the end didnt bother nearly made it - part 3 there was an advertisement asking for djs at the cricketers in wigan about 95/96 and just to bring a box up and because it was wigan (have always felt like this towards this town since 1981) and apparently the dj who got the best reception got a spot later in the night..well i did my usual spot of old stuff ,forgotten oldies ,instrumentals etc,, and did really welland it was looking good ,,needless to say didnt get the spot and in the bargain due to the smallness of the dj area we were crushing to get on the decks for our half hour to shine and i was struggling to get my 45's out and i broke my Patti Labelle - You make it hard to say no in the process...it was at this time i said to myself 'am i really this desperate to dj' 'am i this desperate to play my records, for no money,travel the other side of the country ,leave your family?' - whats your answer??? nearly made it - part 4 finally another well established monthly venue were asking for guest dj's and i put my name forward as you do (talk about glutton for punishment) and was booked for a certain date whcih was quite a few months ahead and as the time neared to the date , i noticed that my name wasnt on the flyer and when i questioned the promoter they had forgotten,,got onto the venue at a later date and was squeezed in and squeezed on in two half hour spots both when noone in the room!! so some of the not so happy experiences there ,so if any of you enterprising dj;s out there dont make it first time out ,keep trying as you never know one day it just might be YOU! keep on soulin' Mark
Guest Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 got a lot of time on my hands at the moment and was thinking about the scene the other day and reminiscing about the ups and downs on this enigma called Northern Soul of which im coming upto 25 years soon ive dj'ed ever since i was 16 and dj'ed in nearly every pub and club in town and have had many soul nites over the years ,some had 400 in some had 40 in and yes on occasion had 4 in!!! however ive never really made it into the big arena and reading some of the mails about guys not getting a break ,or guys with exellent records who cant get a look in and the old boys network etc i thought back in time and remembered some instances (some funny looking back but not at the time) and i thought id share them with you... nearly made it - part 1 its hinckley leisure centre (2nd time around) circa 86/87 and steve croft who used to run Warrington all niter of which i used to be a regular and i was asking him if there were any spare spots and he said you can have the 12-1 spot and the next all niter.. so all lined up for my first major break and i was living in a bedsit at the time and had an old Ford Capri...so we were ready to go at 10.30 ,,,5 of us in the car,,it was p'ing it down with rain and we rushed to get into the car for our 5 mile journey to hinckley,got into the car set off and thought whats that funny noise and we got out to check and i had a fooking PUNCTURE!!! tried to sort to no avail and then rang every taxi in Nuneaton toget to hinckley and then thought -get real 11pm on a Saturday and obviously we didnt make it for 12am and it was too late all the other dj's turned and the chance had gone!! nearly made it - part 2 a well known Dj had took over bretby and had opened the 3rd room for up and coming dj's and i think had put a flyer out and i rang him and he said yes u can have a spot as long as u get a mini bus of about 14 people ,,,well i can see his thinking but most of the nuneaton crowd went anyway so couldnt manage this so in the end didnt bother nearly made it - part 3 there was an advertisement asking for djs at the cricketers in wigan about 95/96 and just to bring a box up and because it was wigan (have always felt like this towards this town since 1981) and apparently the dj who got the best reception got a spot later in the night..well i did my usual spot of old stuff ,forgotten oldies ,instrumentals etc,, and did really welland it was looking good ,,needless to say didnt get the spot and in the bargain due to the smallness of the dj area we were crushing to get on the decks for our half hour to shine and i was struggling to get my 45's out and i broke my Patti Labelle - You make it hard to say no in the process...it was at this time i said to myself 'am i really this desperate to dj' 'am i this desperate to play my records, for no money,travel the other side of the country ,leave your family?' - whats your answer??? nearly made it - part 4 finally another well established monthly venue were asking for guest dj's and i put my name forward as you do (talk about glutton for punishment) and was booked for a certain date whcih was quite a few months ahead and as the time neared to the date , i noticed that my name wasnt on the flyer and when i questioned the promoter they had forgotten,,got onto the venue at a later date and was squeezed in and squeezed on in two half hour spots both when noone in the room!! so some of the not so happy experiences there ,so if any of you enterprising dj;s out there dont make it first time out ,keep trying as you never know one day it just might be YOU! keep on soulin' Mark link Mark Do not despair mate, it will all be worth it when you have finally 'made it' when you DJ at our weekender in Northampton! Cheers Paddy
Ted Massey Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Mark Do not despair mate, it will all be worth it when you have finally 'made it' when you DJ at our weekender in Northampton! Cheers Paddy link If he gets there 1
Wiganer1 Posted September 13, 2005 Author Posted September 13, 2005 If he gets there link ====== hey too right ted dont get me wrong im not suicidal and these days it doesnt bother me anymore,, just reminiscing on what might have been and looking back i can laugh alot at it ,although it was despairing at times,,slowly learned not to take things too seriously nowadays. funnily enough all but one of those venues are gone now anyway so it would have been shortlived anyway!! lol sometimes u have to look at what you've got and appreciate it im a successful manager at Tesco but know i can do better but also know ill never run the company anyway getting a bit deep must go and do some work
chrissie Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) ====== hey too right ted dont get me wrong im not suicidal and these days it doesnt bother me anymore,, just reminiscing on what might have been and looking back i can laugh alot at it ,although it was despairing at times,,slowly learned not to take things too seriously nowadays. funnily enough all but one of those venues are gone now anyway so it would have been shortlived anyway!! lol sometimes u have to look at what you've got and appreciate it im a successful manager at Tesco but know i can do better but also know ill never run the company anyway getting a bit deep must go and do some work link Mark If it's any consolation, I loved the CD you sent me when I bought that record from you. Just sorry i won't be at Northampton to hear you. QoF xx Edited September 13, 2005 by chrissieo
Wiganer1 Posted September 13, 2005 Author Posted September 13, 2005 Mark If it's any consolation, I loved the CD you sent me when I bought that record from you. Just sorry i won't be at Northampton to hear you. QoF xx link ================ thanks chrissie honestly wasnt looking for sympathy ,,a lot of the scenes big dj's all had their time in waiting,,guy hennigan is one example who was a collector always in the record bar at wigan and had his heyday when Stafford came along.. i know im good and will have my day too,,when im 65!!! lol
Guest Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Mark If it's any consolation, I loved the CD you sent me when I bought that record from you. Just sorry i won't be at Northampton to hear you. QoF xx link Mark can also be heard at the Marrs Bar Chrisseo
Soulsmith Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Really interesting post. Just out of interest Mark, why do you want to be a DJ? For most people its solely on the basis of kudos. Respect is not something you earn by playing vinyl. I've tried it and don't like it much. For a start off you need to be sober. You're also missing the opportunity to socialise. Col.
Dave Rimmer Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 For a start off you need to be sober. Col. link Who the hell told you that rubbish 1
Guest mattmale Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Mate you hear about the DJ's DJ, well you're a dancer's DJ. Without doubt one of the best crowd pleasers on the scene. And i'm not just saying that cos you're a mate
Guest Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Mate you hear about the DJ's DJ, well you're a dancer's DJ. Without doubt one of the best crowd pleasers on the scene. And i'm not just saying that cos you're a mate link and your a jolly nice man to boot
Ted Massey Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Who the hell told you that rubbish link Ha thats why you miss cue
Ted Massey Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Ha thats why you miss cue link Wheres the CD Dave leg will be healed before i get it
Mace Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 (edited) If he gets there link Mark - you sound like a f*ckin' jinx to me mate. By reading your post I think most promoters would be worried to death if they booked you now.... Edited September 13, 2005 by Mace
Soulsmith Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Who the hell told you that rubbish link Just had this discussion with my mate Simon (Rids) tonite in the pub. I stand corrected.
Soulsmith Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Mark - you sound like a f*ckin' jinx to me mate. By reading your post I think most promoters would be worried to death if they booked you now.... link totally. I was going to book him for an all - niter. I've just cancelled the all - niter.
Mace Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 totally. I was going to book him for an all - niter. I've just cancelled the all - niter. link
Soulsmith Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 link Look fwd to meeting you sometime. I know we are going to get on well. Col.
Mark Bicknell Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Who the hell told you that rubbish link Here! Here! Mr Rimmer Sir...lol Mark Bicknell.
Makemvinyl Posted September 14, 2005 Posted September 14, 2005 " Who the hell told you that rubbish " When Mr Rimmer came to sweet soul he started p**sed and ended bladdered but those 2 fingers that place the records and needle on the records,where stone cold sober. pity about the gob though still he was realy good and have rebooked for next year, see you Sat night Dave Doug
Wiganer1 Posted September 14, 2005 Author Posted September 14, 2005 Mark - you sound like a f*ckin' jinx to me mate. By reading your post I think most promoters would be worried to death if they booked you now.... link ============= OH DEAR WHAT HAVE I STARTED Yesterday I was feeling a bit low and have some big issues at the moment similar to a friend of mine who turned his back on the scene in to spend more time with his family but when you've lived,breathed eaten northern soul for 24/7 for over 25 years its not that easy just to give something up but its so hard to find the balance of enjoying yourself and obtaining a release from everyday life but not messing things up for the rest of your family every weekend.. but dont worry things always come out in the wash dont they! and also i have had some brilliant times over the years as a punter and a Dj. keep on keeping on
Guest Dan Posted September 14, 2005 Posted September 14, 2005 i've always enjoyed your sets mark...even at last hinckley! in my experience, often lesser-known djs are better, maybe because there's less ego involved (not all name djs are bigheads by any means i know) or because they don't have to meet expectations and can experiment without pressure but i could be talking cods, of course.
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