ooooohhhh dangerous.
Young DJs eh, not seeing too many young soul fans, perhaps why we're in mid-tempo heaven and the term stomper sounds a weee bit dated.
I'm hardly a DJ, I give it my best shot at the Attic and am there to be shot at too, but I've been around.
Good DJ = dance floor? Not sure depends on time of night too. A lot of dance floors at soul nights don't warm up until later. Doesn't mean the early spots we're poor. So appropriate timing might be a good sign. Also depends on venue and expectations, big floor without dancers looks odd and cold, particularly if circled by people waiting to dance. Small intimate venue (like ours) not such an issue, people looking happy, talking soul and stuff, having a drink, plus a conscious decision to not try to "chase the floor" to aim for a variety of sound. Although for NS, dancing is a bit like applause, so I'd lie if I said I wasn't bothered, and it does affect what I play, as indeed it should.
Good DJ = good spot. Maybe not so simple. Good DJ in front of wrong crowd? Expectation's an issue too, as is reputation.
Good DJ = Knowledge, timing, passion, awareness, understanding - builds a good reputation but doesn't rely on it.
Recently at the ATTIC
Mark Bicknell - 2and1/2 hours with one deck trashed - seamless, full dance floor, happy faces, great energy in the room, great choice of sounds for our place.
Cressy - Obvious experience, duck-to-water, natural. Great timing, great awareness and again great choice of sounds for this room.
Tats - Why isn't this guy bigger (I don't mean physically), enthusiasm, master timing - opened with some really awesome big northern, led us onto more crossover sound, was an education.
Steve Barney Lydon - well sober would be a start!!!
Ok shoot me, Dean.