Len

Good point Jem, also the licence laws changed so All-nighters are able to happen in most places as well nowadays. Back then, it was almost impossible to get a venue to have an event that went on all night. Chr*t, sometimes I had to stand in front of 'The Committee' at working men's clubs to 'sell the idea' ...I won them over by saying "I don't really like the music they play nowadays, I kind of like the 60's more, do you know what I mean?"......"Woooh, yeh, now ya talking Son, that's the best blo*dy music"....It worked like a dream! All the best, Len

I think it would be healthy for the scene if some did. All the best, Len.

Yes, I think there is an 'exception to the rule' if it's an 'upfront / 'something different' night. All the best, Len.

Absolutely right, but some venues carry on regardless of low attendance which I find puzzling as it just adds to the 'splintering' of the Scene. It's good to hear you welcome feedback, whether it is positive or negative, there's nothing wrong with negative feedback as long it's constructive. All the best, Len

Us, the people on the Scene, we are entitled to make it loud and clear what we want from an event and to attend or not attend as and when we choose......Whether "Ëœpromoters' listen or take any notice, well that is entirely up to them of course. All the best, Len

I think it is. Len

Its 'rife' everywhere, worse now than it's ever been, due to the recession I suppose but some people are so tight! (Not aimed at the "ËœFree Post' post by the way) This morning I quoted a job for £3,000.00 and ended up 'bagging' the order for £2,500.00 - That's 'my bit' gone, so just my overheads it is then, great... What is wrong with people making a little bit of money ffs?! The funniest was when I put the entrance fee up to a soul event from £4.00 - £5.00, a handful of people really moaned but once in the event I would see them paying £100.00 plus for a record! You've got to laugh, although it can be irritating at times. Yes, good luck with the sale....If I make any profit; I may be interested in 'what's to come' All the best, Len

Fantastic record, I blooming well love it! I played it a while back at a local event and it completely cleared the floor....all except for one chap who danced his *rse off to it completely on his own in the middle of the huge dance floor....When the record ended he clapped so furiously, I honestly think it was a 'protest clap' at everyone who didn't dance or appreciate it..... .....Or I could be talking b*llocks..... ...Had to be there really, I know what I mean. All the best, Len

Yes, having records stolen is every D.J's nightmare. I didn't think it had actually happened until reading this thread as I kinda believed in the 'honour' thing still being alive - I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have happened years ago. Many times I have had various people round my house and even if one or two people may have come round with someone I knew, the trust thing has never been an issue. I often laugh at the state of the record room - records from everyones boxes all over the place, but 'as if by magic' they all end up back in the correct boxes at the end of the session All the best, Len.

Stop ya worrying, I bet no one else noticed......until now you've said! - All part of the 'fun' of D.Jing...I'm always getting the titles / artists wrong of the tunes I'm actually playing and no one notices, it makes me smile every time I do it - a bit like the 'Murray Walker' of the Soul Scene All the best, Len

We prefer 'Inspector Frost' in this house albeit repeats....Superintendent Mullet will catch you in the end and you know it Frost! (Tickles me every time!) Every single one of us were pulling it apart weren't we? How fantastically sad we all are - wouldn't change a thing about us! lol All the best, Len

I personally think it could be done if done correctly, nice and gradual and never dropping all the oldies because don't forget they are fab sounds, so no need to lose them completely. It could be done without people actually realising, in fact I think a bit of something away from the norm would actually be welcomed by most people in any classic oldies room. It's when it goes too far the other way, is when people lose interest and stop listening. All the best, Len

The other side is also awesome "There Must Be A Blessing" I had it for ages until I noticed that side - Ain't it great when that happens? All the best, Len

Yes they have Ian and they still do - amongst the "ËœCut "Ëœn' Paste' D.J's there are still a few that really do play "ËœThinking Man's Tunes' and these are the D.J's I like to hear as they are really inspiring, they have the ability to make an atmosphere so much better at a venue ...Ref your "ËœBig Idea' - I think we would all love that...but yeh, it's a crazy idea ....The only way it could happen is if the huge All-nighters like Stoke were gradually moved in that direction, but why change something that already works for so many people?... All the best, Len

I have to admit, I've been guilty of doing just that in the distant past - Damn, so that's why he didn't play it, I didn't realise the D.J had us sussed! lol Len.

Hi Dean, It ain't really worth a reply mate, not sure why someone wants to taint the thread but hey ho. All the best, Len

Yup, done that to, usually a mates request and the whole set goes off on some tangent where you didn't want it to go, just because of that damn request!!! You learn to be stronger when it comes to requests but it can still get ya sometimes! Len

"ËœThe Pecking Order' is what you mean Ian..... I actually thought Rob Thomas was Andy Rix's very own "ËœDecks Pest' for a while — Sorry Rob! All the best, Len

:lol: Strangely, it kinda makes sense if you think about it. Someone on here mentioned a while back (Chalky I think) that they thought it weird how sometimes people come up to the deck to "Ëœcheck' if a record is a "Ëœreal' one, stating — How can they tell when it's spinning round?!!! I can imagine you not saying anything to the bloke though, as that is such an "Ëœis this really happening?' moment! Len. P.s — Good luck with the book, this was actually a book idea but thought a thread so much easier!

Hi Dean, Yes I've had that....but even with the person's huge grin — "Ëœme being me' immediately got paranoid thinking to myself "God, am I really that predictable?...."Â ....My head hurts sometimes..... All the best, Len

You poor S*d - People are so unforgiving! Len.

I hope this thread gives some insight to what it's really like to D.J - From the outside, it looks easy and just good fun, but in reality there's so much to be thinking about and as you can see - The "ËœDecks Pest' really is an irritating species! Every D.J "Ëœworth their salt' never forgets that the real talent is in the records they are playing of course, but there are ways of "Ëœserving them up' correctly. D.J's develop unique ways of doing this which are so subtle; they are hardly noticeable but make a huge difference between them playing a good or a bad set. Unique is one of the most important things, I read somewhere once - "If you're going to play records in public, you must do it your way and no one else's"Â I thought that was very true. Having a decent box of records alone does not make a good D.J, if played wrong it will end up being a "ËœStilted' set. Yes, each individual record may be absolutely fantastic but if played (what I call) by "Ëœone at a time' D.Jing, e.g. — "This is good"Â....."Âoh, and this is good"Â...."Âum, this is good to"Â, it simply won't flow. There are many things that make a set flow, genre, tempo, but also subtle things a D.J can say on the mike which can also steer the set in a different direction nice and smoothly. All these things and many more are (in most cases) only developed with years of experience and is why we should appreciate the real masters, because they simply can't be replaced with just anyone All the best, Len.

Classic! - We've all done it....I think.... Len

Oh my f*ckin' god!.....Thanks for sharing that Ian.....more nightmares.....I'm not going to bed tonight.... All the best, Len.

Yes, the D.Jing off one deck is another one of the many nightmares I suffer regularly — Christ knows what my 7 and 3 year old kids think when I wake up crying and they have to comfort me — It can't be right can it?! I think it would be fair to say most D.J's get at least a little nervous before their spots, some just before, others weeks before.....and yes, some months before....most know which category I fit into (ahem)....Surffice to say, the first time I D.Jed at the 100 Club, you could say I was a tad wound up. I got there just 20 minutes after it opened, not only to be told we were on one deck but also that my first spot had already started! (Ady obviously didn't do what I did after booking D.J's and that's to ring them with the D.J times three weeks prior and then treble check they were coming on the Monday before.... ) ...This really was what my nightmares were made up of - I rushed down the stairs, everyone I passed saying "You're on now Len!"Â...."ÂI f*ckin' know!"Â (I said with my eyes because my mouth was to dry to speak) Up I went, with my coat still on, luckily the other deck had started and Russ Vickers (who was D.Jing) kindly "Ëœput me at ease' and off I went, I don't think I took my coat off for a good while as I was in shock! ....In hindsight, it was probably best it happened that way... Len.