Ficklefingers

Can't figure out if your posting is a general opinion, but I feel it bears several direct references to my main posting in this thread so can only assume your opinion is directed at me (but please accept my apologies in advance if I've got that wrong) and feel it necessary to comment thus: It seems quite apparent (and understandable when a topic contains so many responses) that some people either don't read some postings properly - or simply fail to ingest what is being read. From a personal perspective, neither am I inexperienced nor do I 'expect' any promoter to initially afford me a prime time slot at their venue. No need for me to repeat what has already been written here earlier in the thread about where I am coming from. And I think I would stand more chance of putting a winning bet on my lost digits growing back than I would finding a DJ that, at sometime, hasn't mis-cued a record regardless of if they are a 'household name' or not... each and everyone! Some still, and will continue to do so. As for 'get down your local and sort your own slots out' - what do you class as local? For me to hear music I want to when I go out I have no other choice than to travel out of town! As my 'local' do's are only of a nostalgic or motown nature. So that don't exactly make local do's the best place for me, does it!?! (Flyers/posters... never been easier.... What has never been easier???) CD's are a good wayof demonstrating the sort of collection a person has - it doesn't mean the cd is the spot they would play out (or am I just a complete nob and everyone else's cd offerings are exactly that!) but, at the same time, you can't exactly put every single record you own on to a cd to hand out, can you? If a Dj has any sort of nounce whatsoever, if the floor empties, or a previous DJ has spun some of the discs you were toying with spinning, annoying punters.... whatever - you spin alternatives! Take a look at at some of the earlier postings from successful jocks and comments such as 'ear', and 'feel' are mentioned, coupled with the fact that (unless you are deejaying at a venue which is also seeing your inaugural attendance) you, surely, will have a fair idea as to what proves to be acceptable there anyway. Only time I could see that being a problem for experienced and not so experienced jock's alike is if they only own 20 records. Fingers

It's a boot!!!!!!! (yesterdays Phonetics thread refers ) Fingers

Mr Big Daddy... I'ts a privelage! Thanx for your observations and comments and it sums things up ,I feel, very well indeed. Apprrenticeship is certainly a good comparison - just seems that I keep choosing to restart my apprenticeship on each of the two occassions of my return which is only right! The reason you get repeats is certainly no less than you deserve and is indeed proof of you having 'served your time'. I, for one, have always been a 'fan' as you play the sort of stuff I wanna listen to... but with that bit extra... that Oomph! along with the likes of one of my other 'highly rated' jocks - Dave Rimmer. Top Marks Guy's!! (by the way Mark... if you could just drop my name to... and... ooh!, and don't forget... ) Fingers PS: Entertaining??? How much more entertaining could it be than watching a geezer with no digits trying to handle and cue up 45's!?! (maybe I should've called meself Thumbs!)

I can possibly see where a couple of things I wrote could be misconstrued: By 'mainstream' I refer to the venue rather than a dj time slot. Where I say, 'obviously the first hour or two..' in relation to open mike spots - it is just that. the relationship between open mike spots being the first spots of a venue... I felt I was stating the obvious but just reiterating it. The ultimate DJ aim, surely, must be to get the best times... for me, my first stage which is where I am at, again (as I've never felt it proper to use any of my 'associations' or 'contacts' from my many years on the scene - it should only be on merit, not favour), I'm quite prepared & confident of being able to prove my merit and would welcome accepting any first spot opportunity thrown at me! I wouldn't expect it to be any other way. In my paragraph relating to venues I attend I felt that having already mentioned my return as being quite recent it would carry that, at present, I can't be classed as a regular at any venue! But, as stated, venues I have been to thus far will certainly be seeing my continued support but, as I did mention, it takes time don't it? (most have not since had another night for me to attend anyway given the timescale). When I say (Quote) 'select one's that have the appeal to me' (unquote) I mean just that... I don't want to be going to a pure motown or nostalgic northern do preferring instead to travel to listen to more 'recent' oldies, bit of modern, bit of r'n'b and class rarities - not every venue can or does offer that. And just look at the events calendar to see the multiple choice venues available each week, so isn't it important to try to reduce the risk of attending a venue I ain't gonna enjoy? I think so, and it is obviously working for me as there isn't one venue that I've since been to that I won't, eventually, become known as a regular... as has always been the case with my attendances, as several 'regulars' would attest to. Hope that clarifies matters to save me having to apologise to everyone that reads my previous posting Fingers

Got to agree Mr Anderson certainly responsible for an abundance of stuff... but I think it more reflective to say East Anglia, as a region, because one only has to look at people the likes of Kev Draper and, in particular, Glen Bellamy - who has never been a 'bragging' type but has been responsible for a whole plethoria of discoveries over the decades.

Hi Jayne, Judging from your comments it seems I should apologise, as it appears I've created the impression, to you, that I am inexperienced behind the decks, and am moaning about 'niter promoters who's venues I'm only going to to get a 'prime time' spot (& purely for my own benefit) with my only other intention being to dissappear & never be seen again. Not giving a t**s about showing support to them... Is it me? Am I missing something here... or should I just totally scrub my previous lengthy post and rewrite it?

Exactly!!

Okay, here goes... Been around on the scene since the 70's (same as alot of others probably) with a couple of breaks in between for whatever. Pretty much always resided in Cambs. Resident DJ for Ken Cox's East Anglian 'niters in addition to jocking in and around the region as a whole. In more recent years resident at Plinston Hall soul 'nites, Letchworth. Also had forays to Blackburn, Wilton plus various soul nights over the interim period. Then a break (explanations not necessary). On my recent return (essentially, last October) I had pre-determined that I would prostitute myself as a DJ with an aim to do, mainly, 'niters across the land(s?). What a mammoth task I've set myself it turns out! How do you get spots at venues you obviously hav'nt attended for at least the three years off 'the circuit'... I feel I have experience, ability with regard using the mike (yes, I f**k up occassionally with a queing error or some same thing - we are all human! BUT, I'm also capable of carrying off any mistakes as well! 'The show must go on'), a fair mixture of discs I feel are good for the benefit of others in a venue scenario, an avid collector and anorak (but what I know is, after all, only a p**s in the proverbial ocean - will be learning for an eternity!) Confidence but without (IMHO anyway...) any egotistical issues - just a passion for the music and, at best, maybe could only consider myself a 'disciple'. Dillema: you hav'nt got any spots to demonstrate your ability and it seems there is a general reluctance to award a 'mainstream' spot to someone that A) you perhap's quite likely don't know from Adam and shit! do I take the risk! - A Double Whammy!! I decided that, other than asking directly to pomoters who advertise 'open decks' (obviously the first hour or two of a function, but at least it's a chance to get up there) I should compile CD's of stuff in my boxes to hand to promoters (& any one else that would be interested - surely it could only help the cause?) to give them, at least, a chance to hear what I could play... but it still don't solve the problem of proving deck capabilities!!!! Bit of a chicken & egg type situation I fear. While I am getting to different venues I can't hit them all each and every weekend, instead select one's that have the 'appeal' to me and off I jolly well go - cd's in hand. Obviously the ones that tick the right boxes will, ultimately, see me as a 'regular'. But it all takes time don't it! Here's a couple of questions for the promoter's: 'If you are approached in this manner (as a handful have been recently - Andy, you are one of them) you play the CD, you enjoy it, agree that it's likely the majority of punters would be happy with set of similar content... then what do you do? What is it that get's you to say... yep - I'm gonna give this person a spot, even though it may only be an early one?' And one for the punters: 'If you heard someone that is 'unknown' as a DJ at your soul 'nite and enjoyed their spot.. does anyone ever think 'this person really should be spotting at so & so a/n, I'm gonna mention them to the promoter the next time I'm there!'? For any one that's interested, I'd travel anywhere for the right sort of venue. I don't look for or ask for any payment or contribution to costs (though purely 'cos I'm fortunate enough to have them covered by other means). It's purely the love for the music and our truly wonderous scene that drives my boat! I include track listings, below, for the aforementioned CD's I use for 'promotional' purpouses as I would love some feedback!! I did have the pleasure to do 2 hours of 'open mike' at last Nov's Marrs Bar A/N in Worcester - gracious thanx to Pete! Top Geezer!! Whereby I've been promised a return at some future date so I feel I can do it 'right'! Also managed to secure spots for April at the new Soulful Shack 'nites mentioned above, plus Stafford Rangers FC but the calendar is still full of blanks! I appreciate it don't happen overnight, but would appreciate some input to the questions posed as I feel getting it 'straight from the horses mouth' can only serve to either point me in the right direction... or p**s on my flames of aspiration. Thanx for your time and, please, feel free to pm me to DJ at your venue Fingers

But Andy, if no-one has booked 'em in the first place how can people get off therir arse's to go check 'em out? Surely not everyone's deejaing aspirations lay just with soul 'nites. Me for one... them 'nites will probably only ever be the only places I could 'regularly' get behind a set of decks - but the 'niters is where I aim at! My main posting, following shortly, will tell more. A very frustrated Fingers

Giz a spot then Davie!! I'm currently working my way thru all the postings before sticking my twopennyworth in... but can never resist asking whenever the opportune moment arrives - check out my posting shortly!!!! After all.. you wouldn't want to be the one to miss out now, would you! Posstot was very quick off the mark... best to get in early before dates become a problem! Fingers

Well at least we have established the copy I'm currently scouring boxes for is the boot to which I referred (Left hand scan). If you had supplied both scans with your original post you may have saved me appearing like the twat I am

I know I've defo got a boot somewhere in this room!! I know I have!! Don't know, off-hand, the release numbers for each side but recollect it being a two colour 45, dark blue and silver - unlike the 1005 release of 'Don't Let Love Get You Down/Pretty Little Girl' which is dark blue with silver writing(?)

My Moments say's 'You Said' 001 and 'Love You Can't You Hear' 002. As yours is the second issue with a different flip it makes sense - which leads me to think the same, then, could possibly be true with Gasher's 45!?! Although I still seem to connect this release with a boot also. Double Mmmmm!!

Got a feelin' that may be a boot Gasher? I've got one here somewhere - went to where I thought it was and it ain't! so will dig deeper and endeavour to get back (unless someone sorts it in the interim). Out of interest, what colour is the label? Is it a blue & Silver? or predominantly just blue?

That..... has just been the pinnacle of my ('till now) boring day! Thanx for that

A favourite spin of mine around '92, but just seems to lack that little extra Oomph! to help it stand out more - first played to me by good old Kev draper! But never seen a white demo before Pete, nice one!

You DID send it first class!! - only difference is you have paid extra, at your own discretion, to obtain a signature from whoever accepts the item. Tell your purchaser to sling his hook!!

Nope... that's got me too!! Sure you got that one right?

Although I don't know you and have not encountered this particular health issue first hand I do identify with you as a parent, and what you must have been going through these past few days. I wish you all the very best and for your daughters health to return to normal ASAP. That is the only thing that comes before soul music - yes folks.... I know that's hard to believe, CHILDREN! (Soul)God bless each & every one of 'em!!

Hope it's wrapped in $20 worth of packaging Willy!!!

Funilly enough, I was only reminiscing last night on my worst ever experience behind the decks. Whilst not the worst I did remember a spot at Blackburn a/n in the nineties. During my spot a young lady approached the decks (ooh! a request!... or so I thought!) and asked 'Can you play something we can dance to?'. Being a bit perplexed by this question - as, at the time, I was spinning Hayes Cotton 'I'll Be Waiting' I asked her to clarify what she meant with which she responded 'Something we know'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It led me to think more or less the same thing... that people are obviously born with a pre-selected batch of tunes already engrained on their brain and that I must be of a 'unique' minority - having had to 'learn' all of the tunes I know by listening to them time and time again! It's great when you hear a tune for the first time and it automatically becomes an engraved fave.. but so, too, can tunes 'grow on you' so they also become ensconced in the personal 'music hall of fame'. I feel this is a problem to the degree that, on promoting my deejaying aspirations today (whilst I do have 'oldies' in my box I ain't an oldies dj), I feel it necessary, but worthwhile, to give out cd's of not only my main play box but also of other stuff in my collection. That way, hopefully, people can 'identify' with me, as an 'unknown' dj, when I perform at their local soul 'nites & 'niters, and have an idea of what sort of stuff I am capable of playing. That is in addition to the normal obligatory cd's to promotors necessary when touting for spots. There's certainly a lot of time, effort and expense involved in all of this (as I write I'm busy running off multiple copies of four cd's I currently use as 'handouts') but the way I look at it... at the very least people are getting the chance to listen (& re-listen) to songs they may not already be familiar with and, who knows, they may grow to want to include some of them in that personal 'music hall of fame'! - or, some might like them that much they will request the promoter(s) to put me on!!

Agree entirely... whilst Lou does it justice Mr Hamilton's take is by far superior!

Hear, Hear, Mr Flynn!! Not forgettin' that other indelible 'big' voice: Tony Middleton Roy is my all time personal fave. Who owns the Bigtop LP!

As far as I can remember Lou onlu had the one lp - a 70's release, but defo not a Bigtop release.. although I, too, seem to recollect rumour of a 'Test' Bigtop Lp - seem to connect a conversation with Craig Butler at The Wilton ballroom a few years back!?! Wasn't it Andy Rix who originally tracked Lou Down? and Ady wanted him for Cleethorpes but because of health issues he didn't feel up to the journey???