DJs...

[squirrel]

The club I go to has one of the worst DJs I've ever seen...
Not only does he play solely the music he likes (and not the audience) but he also mixes it badly!
For instance, he plays 3-4 turbo Salsa songs in a row (so that we dance our hearts out) and then keeps on playing Salsa for about 1/2 hour... then it's merengue time! One hour of merengue... and then cumbia... and barely any bachata or cha cha... :(
Hard-core salseros get very bored... one hour of merengue! Come on...
What are your experiences?

[tj]

Yeah, I’ve heard some bad DJ’s over the years. This one DJ in Denver was so full of himself. My friends would go around asking everyone else what they wanted to hear, of which the 10-20 of us all said, “More salsa, less merengue/no merengue.” So they’d go tell this particular DJ, and what would he do? Play more merengue just to spite us. It was this sort of antagonism that made him very unpopular in the salsa scene. But he was good at marketing himself to the club owners, so he got (and still gets) a lot of gigs.

[Patrick]

Hello everybody,mine englisch is not perfect :cry:
We have a Dj in Hollland who is very good and upcoming(Dj Andy)

Very good mambo and he don't playing for himself.
We have in Holland a tradition in merenque,now its changed :D

[MacMoto]

My no. 1 favourite club has a really good DJ team, who are excellent at reading the floor. A night there typically consists of no more than 3-4 non-salsa songs (either cha cha cha or merengue), and the rest is salsa of varied styles and speed. I find it really difficult to sit any song out at this club.

Of course, we have our share of some pretty dire nights...

[peachexploration]

Hi Patrick. Welcome to the SF family!! :)

[Patrick]

Thanx,
I find it a good forum,same as in Holland,I think also the same design.

salsaforum.nl :wink: I hope its not forbidden,it is not a promo.

Okay ontopic
I find dj Robby also a very good dj he is from L.A I was 2 weeks ago in Sitges and he played his music,and it was good :D

There was also a dj from Valencia I don't now his name :(
Past weekend I was also in Hamburg dj Henrey Nowles played there,it was good onley he mixt the music :shock:

greetings from the south of Holland(not Amsterdam)Roosendaal :D

[borikenSalsero]

Past weekend I was also in Hamburg dj Henrey Nowles played there,it was good onley he mixt the music :shock:


I'm still wondering, seemingly, every time Henry Nowles goes some where big he mixes... the times he's DJed here at Flamingo's in NY City, he hasn't mixed... Hmmm

It is so annoying to mix music, especially when the they mess the flow and from beat one the music comes on beat 3... AhHHHHHHHH

[tj]

Past weekend I was also in Hamburg dj Henrey Nowles played there,it was good onley he mixt the music :shock:


I'm still wondering, seemingly, every time Henry Nowles goes some where big he mixes... the times he's DJed here at Flamingo's in NY City, he hasn't mixed... Hmmm

It is so annoying to mix music, especially when the they mess the flow and from beat one the music comes on beat 3... AhHHHHHHHH

He mixed a lot when he was in Seattle and Vancouver, and I gotta admit that I (and several of my friends) didn't care for it. How interesting that he doesn't mix in NYC...

[borikenSalsero]

Past weekend I was also in Hamburg dj Henrey Nowles played there,it was good onley he mixt the music :shock:


I'm still wondering, seemingly, every time Henry Nowles goes some where big he mixes... the times he's DJed here at Flamingo's in NY City, he hasn't mixed... Hmmm

It is so annoying to mix music, especially when the they mess the flow and from beat one the music comes on beat 3... AhHHHHHHHH

He mixed a lot when he was in Seattle and Vancouver, and I gotta admit that I (and several of my friends) didn't care for it. How interesting that he doesn't mix in NYC...

At least the times I've heard him at flamigos he hasn't mixed, but he did at el congresso in NY City, the mixing enfuriated a bunch of people!

[tj]

He mixed a lot when he was in Seattle and Vancouver, and I gotta admit that I (and several of my friends) didn't care for it. How interesting that he doesn't mix in NYC...

At least the times I've heard him at flamigos he hasn't mixed, but he did at el congresso in NY City, the mixing enfuriated a bunch of people!

What I find interesting is how none of us (out of my Seattle/Vancouver friends) had the nerve to tell him, since we figured he was "a celebrity". Lol!

I wonder if *anyone* has given him any negative feedback about mixing? I would think not, considering he's doing it every where he visits.

[borikenSalsero]

He mixed a lot when he was in Seattle and Vancouver, and I gotta admit that I (and several of my friends) didn't care for it. How interesting that he doesn't mix in NYC...

At least the times I've heard him at flamigos he hasn't mixed, but he did at el congresso in NY City, the mixing enfuriated a bunch of people!

What I find interesting is how none of us (out of my Seattle/Vancouver friends) had the nerve to tell him, since we figured he was "a celebrity". Lol!

I wonder if *anyone* has given him any negative feedback about mixing? I would think not, considering he's doing it every where he visits.

yeap, I don't think he has... when there is someone who seems "higher" than us in a social status we tend not to second guess...

I bought one of his CDs from an old congresso, I felt like throwing it in the garbage... the mixing was horrible! He might have chosen a good song or two but then killed it, as soon as the song got cracking... bang! the change of songs and flat on my face... Yuck!!!

[ThatHaitianSwede]

I know a DJ that has fairly good taste in latin music (cumbia bachata merengue y salsa) but will mess it up with "booty time" as he calls it and play 45 minutes of reggaeton... :evil: and this is towards the end of the night too...

[squirrel]

hmmm I can see some of you had their share of bad DJs...

[JaneMas]

Wow I see this is an honest crowd. Almost everyone had something to say about the work of a DJ. I sympathize with all of you. I too get disappointed with almost every dj I heard spin for the same reasons most of you mentioned. DJ plays what THEY want to hear. The DJ can't mix, the DJ does not know the music (a former rap/hip-hop spinner). The norm here is 2 Salsa, 10 merengue and bachatas, then 5 more hip-hop/reggaeton. 1 1/2 passes before you get to hear 2 more Salsas. The worst part is that when you finally get your chance to hear it again the 2 salsa they play are mongas. I'd rather stay home.

I don't consider DJ's Celebrities. To me they are employee's of a club doing either a great or bad job. I leave that title for someone who creates music in this field.

Cortijo once said, "DJ's (meaning playing records at a dance club) will put live music out of business. There will come a time when the people won't care for live acts. I see it coming.
________
Marijuana Bubbler (http://bubblers.net/)

[borikenSalsero]

Cortijo once said, "DJ's (meaning playing records at a dance club) will put live music out of business. There will come a time when the people won't care for live acts. I see it coming.

In NY City it is already here. All of the "salseros" i have spoken rather dance to a DJ than to a live band... :cry:

I would never want to listen to a DJ over a live band. I don't care how many good songs and how varied they can be in salsa selections, but being there, with a live band, and one the liks of Willie Rosario, Johnny Pacheco, EGC, Eddie Palmieri, Sonora Ponceña, nothing beats it!! Even if the songs are 40 minute long. hehe

[ThatHaitianSwede]

Well if it's a fairly good band or one that can also reproduce old favorites very well then live bands are all good and well, (especially in swing and whatnot with the long improvisation... do they even have improvisation sections in salsa? Don't hurt me I'm new to this :P ) But some bands are really bad. I mean really really not my taste. In those cases I have to say I prefer the DJ... poo on me I know :(

When you think about it, so many people want to be musicians and there is at the same time so much room for them to make money... But they are being ousted by people who suck and give DJ's more employment vs giving live bands a chance to perform all over the place. Everyone who wants to go into the arts should be able too, economically we are set up that they *should* be able to survive on gigs.

[tj]

You know, THS has pretty much nailed it.

For me:
I'd prefer a great band over a great DJ
A good band and a good DJ are about the same
I'd rather have an average DJ over an average band
And I much prefer a poor DJ over a poor band

It's a consistency thing. I've only seen a couple (IMHO) great bands over the years. And even then, it's often at a concert location rather than my favorite salsa clubs, which means the floor sucks. Also, bands tend to draw in more people, and there's even less room to dance.

So when I wanna satisfy my dance cravings, usually DJ's work better than bands.

[borikenSalsero]

You know, THS has pretty much nailed it.

It's a consistency thing. I've only seen a couple (IMHO) great bands over the years. And even then, it's often at a concert location rather than my favorite salsa clubs, which means the floor sucks. Also, bands tend to draw in more people, and there's even less room to dance.

My dear friend then you have to put your foot down and stay in Jersey. hehe...

Here all we have is one great band after another... WOW!!!

The other night I went to see Orlando Marin... he is an old schooler that was there when the 3 big guns of the 50s ruled. Well, he was off the hook, I mean, hot hot hot... but since he isn't known but to a very few hardcore salseros... a few of the poeple I spoke didn't think he was good... I found it funny that the people they mentioned weren't even close to as hot and spicy as this guy got. I got so tired of listening to mentions of bland salsa by ears which have still to grow that I had to step away and enjoy descarga full songs, with beautiful follow up of touches of guajiras, sons and guaguancos... God, a band that can play all that... boy... not many left...

anyhow, THS, yes live salsa do the improv thing, the good ones at least... bands are complained about because they usually go all out and imporvise almost the entire song which leaves us dancers exhausted after one song... but if you want a rush of blood from head to toe go listen to one of the big name bands... the wayne gorbea's, spanish harlem's, Willie Colon's of the world....

[tj]

You know, THS has pretty much nailed it.

It's a consistency thing. I've only seen a couple (IMHO) great bands over the years. And even then, it's often at a concert location rather than my favorite salsa clubs, which means the floor sucks. Also, bands tend to draw in more people, and there's even less room to dance.

My dear friend then you have to put your foot down and stay in Jersey. hehe...


Lol!

I hope you realize, my friend, how lucky you are to live in such a focal point as NYC. It's much harder to find quality once you get into the smaller scenes.


Here all we have is one great band after another... WOW!!!

The other night I went to see Orlando Marin... he is an old schooler that was there when the 3 big guns of the 50s ruled. Well, he was off the hook, I mean, hot hot hot... but since he isn't known but to a very few hardcore salseros... a few of the poeple I spoke didn't think he was good... I found it funny that the people they mentioned weren't even close to as hot and spicy as this guy got. I got so tired of listening to mentions of bland salsa by ears which have still to grow that I had to step away and enjoy descarga full songs, with beautiful follow up of touches of guajiras, sons and guaguancos... God, a band that can play all that... boy... not many left...

anyhow, THS, yes live salsa do the improv thing, the good ones at least... bands are complained about because they usually go all out and imporvise almost the entire song which leaves us dancers exhausted after one song... but if you want a rush of blood from head to toe go listen to one of the big name bands... the wayne gorbea's, spanish harlem's, Willie Colon's of the world....

That sounds awesome!

Wish I was staying, but gotta go where the work is, you know? ;-)

If/when I get my next chance to come into "the city", I'll make sure to PM you.

[youngsta]

The DJ's here in Denver are horrible, all of them! If we got some good DJ's this place would really be hoppin. I've thought about doing it myself, but that would cut into my dance time!

[SDsalsaguy]

Sorry to hear that youngsta... my sympathies! :cry:

Having clueless DJ's is soooooooooo annoying! :x

[danceguy]

*-*

[squirrel]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: you have a lady dj???

[danceguy]

*-*

[squirrel]

well.. you're lucky to have good DJs!

[youngsta]

Interesting this topic would jump back up to the top. I was just asked to DJ an event in Feb. I accepted to, I'm sick of these non-dancer DJ's that don't have a clue how to work salseros.

[MacMoto]

We also have a lady DJ, and she is a good dancer too.

I'm curious -- of the regular salsa DJs in your scene (the ones you know of), how many are also salsa dancers? Do you generally find dancer DJs to be better or worse than non-dancing DJs?

In my scene, I think the majority of the salsa DJs are dancers, some also teachers, but the (in my opinion) best DJ in my area doesn't dance at all. Some of the dancer DJs are sometimes criticised of playing the music they like rather than what the dancers want, the main complaint being too much fast salsa.

[squirrel]

:) we have 3 DJs, all men:
2 Romanians - one knows how to dance more or less, the other one is better (but not among the best)
1 Cuban - he dances Cuban, very simple... :)

[salsachinita]

I'm curious -- of the regular salsa DJs in your scene (the ones you know of), how many are also salsa dancers? Do you generally find dancer DJs to be better or worse than non-dancing DJs?

In my local scene, DJs & musicians are generally in the same boat where they don't really dance (too cool to dance :? ).........

Some DJs are more intune with the dancers than others, but most are afraid to play anything other than the songs on their regular playlist (which gets old REAL quickly :roll: )............

[peachexploration]

Orlando is pretty lucky when it comes to Salsa DJs. Very in tune with the crowd however the crowd has yet to catch up with them. There are about 10 tired songs that must be played in order to get the crowd jumping but they manage to slip the really good stuff in as well. :D

[tj]

I have an observation about one of the local DJ's. He was playing nothing but really fast salsa for the past 6 weeks, and this last Monday, he played a bunch of different speed songs.

It's a good thing. (I wonder if anyone had complained to him?)

I first noticed because there are a couple of salseras that I've only danced fast songs with, and we were talking about that.

[peachexploration]

TJ, someone probably did. :) We dancers can be pretty convincing.. :lol: An important part of an establishment being successful is having a good DJ. You certainly need to draw a crowd with at least good music. Then there's other problems but that's another thread....

[squirrel]

Well... in our club it's not working like that! Talking to the DJ won't change the music a bit!

[MacMoto]

Sometimes the choice of music is dictated by the management of the club to a certain degree. There have been cases in my area where some clubs switched from salsa to latin/world music after the owners decided playing non-salsa music attracted more drinking crowds = increased bar takings. :(

[squirrel]

Here the Salsa crowd is a drinking crowd... but we mostly enjoy beer! :)

Even though, the DJ is playing a mix of Latin and Salsa... I think it has to to with attracting non-salseros... they come if they hear music that sounds familiar... then get interested in dancing, then in Salsa... :)

But our DJ is bad because he just plays tha same CDs... I mean, after a couple of weeks, you know what is next! :shock: :shock: :shock:

[peachexploration]

hmm, a predictable DJ. That must get quite boring. :?

[tj]

hmm, a predictable DJ. That must get quite boring. :?

What's worse is when they start playing the same songs in the same sequence!

:shock: :?

[squirrel]

that's exactly what our DJ is doing, tj!!!

[tj]

that's exactly what our DJ is doing, tj!!!

It's been happening on Saturday nights, here, too!

[MacMoto]

I don't think I would mind it that much if the same songs were played in the same order every week, as long as those songs were all good, danceable salsa tracks... :roll: beats the "death by 30 merengues/bachatas/reggaetons" torture some DJs seem to love :lol:

[peachexploration]

Orlando is pretty lucky when it comes to Salsa DJs. Very in tune with the crowd however the crowd has yet to catch up with them. There are about 10 tired songs that must be played in order to get the crowd jumping but they manage to slip the really good stuff in as well. :D

Somehow, this has shifted tremendously in last year or so. Unfortunately, the kind of music I like doesn't bring in the crowd or the $$ so, it's all about Reggaeton, Bachata, Merengue and Salsa FLUFF! In order to make money in this area, you have to appeal to the masses :? :roll: Luckily, I have a good friend who is a DJ and plays what I want when I have parties. So all is not lost. :D

[borikenSalsero]

Orlando is pretty lucky when it comes to Salsa DJs. Very in tune with the crowd however the crowd has yet to catch up with them. There are about 10 tired songs that must be played in order to get the crowd jumping but they manage to slip the really good stuff in as well. :D

Somehow, this has shifted tremendously in last year or so. Unfortunately, the kind of music I like doesn't bring in the crowd or the $$ so, it's all about Reggaeton, Bachata, Merengue and Salsa FLUFF! In order to make money in this area, you have to appeal to the masses :? :roll: Luckily, I have a good friend who is a DJ and plays what I want when I have parties. So all is not lost. :D

Knowledge is trully a killer! I read website, after website raving about a certain DJ here from NY City. However, a truly knowledgeable salsero will know that most DJs, even here in NY City, don't really know what they are doing. Which leaves the music enthusiasts/purists (not the heavy duty dancers) pleading for good songs.

At times it isn't that the all the songs stink, it is more of a when, where, and how much that kills them.

Below is the belief that every single DJ but 3 (of the ones I've heard in Salsa Dura Clubs in Manhattan) follow.

1- If it isn't from mid sixties to early 80s, the song sucks.
2- If it isn't from a member of FANIA, the song sucks.
3- Comercial Salsa all sucks.
(Sadly these clowns haven't figured-out that their prejudism blinds the truth that the very songs they play were Commercial at one point or another during the Salsa Golden Era)
4- If it isn't heavily percussive, the song isn't good.
5- The faster the better
7- Colombian Salsa stinks, if a must, only Lebron Brothers' stuff
8- If Puerto Rican Style Salsa is to be played, aside from the FANIA members, it must be from La Sonora Ponceña, El Gran Combo is too smooth for their conditioned ears.
9- ALL Salsa Romantica stinks.
10- Non-Spanish salsa is taboo.

and so on...

DJs here, more so dancers, are truly condititoned! It's as if they were institutionalized. They know nothing more than what they've heard someone else play, and the DJs that can expand listeners world, don't play outside of that "NY City DJ unwritten Code" because their intitutionalized crowd doesn't know that there is more to salsa than descargas... So we fall into an abyss of uneducation because we are afraid that mainstream thinkers will learn something...

It is a circle of mis-information that causes these guys to play crapy song, and misinformation that leads dancers to only know FANIA.

Education is the only way to get these people to break-out of their island of knowledge and into a universe of...

[peachexploration]

......They know nothing more than what they've heard someone else play, and the DJs that can expand listeners world, don't play outside of that "NY City DJ unwritten Code" because their intitutionalized crowd doesn't know that there is more to salsa than descargas... So we fall into an abyss of uneducation because we are afraid that mainstream thinkers will learn something...
......It is a circle of mis-information that causes these guys to play crapy song, and misinformation that leads dancers to only know FANIA.

Education is the only way to get these people to break-out of their island of knowledge and into a universe of... I was thinking of this earlier today soft of. But more in the realm of "I wonder how many DJs actually study their craft?" or "How many are even allowed to study their craft?" When a DJ friend of mine came to this area from NY, he passed out business cards stating what he played. Charangas, Salsa Classica, Pachangas and so on. He couldn't find a gig. He changed his genre of music and his business cards to read mainstream (insert mass appeal only here) and is now one of the top DJs in this area. Don't get me wrong, he's still a good DJ but almost smothered by what he has to play. Boriken, quite a few on your list applies here as well only a few might ask "Who the heck is FANIA, Lebron Brothers and La Sonora Ponceña? I get what you're saying though. It works from both sides. Education is certainly the key here. The best kind of DJ is an educated one or at least one that studies or allowed to study their craft. Wouldn't hurt for the dancer to study as well. ;)

[borikenSalsero]

......They know nothing more than what they've heard someone else play, and the DJs that can expand listeners world, don't play outside of that "NY City DJ unwritten Code" because their intitutionalized crowd doesn't know that there is more to salsa than descargas... So we fall into an abyss of uneducation because we are afraid that mainstream thinkers will learn something...
......It is a circle of mis-information that causes these guys to play crapy song, and misinformation that leads dancers to only know FANIA.

Education is the only way to get these people to break-out of their island of knowledge and into a universe of... I was thinking of this earlier today soft of. But more in the realm of "I wonder how many DJs actually study their craft?" or "How many are even allowed to study their craft?" When a DJ friend of mine came to this area from NY, he passed out business cards stating what he played. Charangas, Salsa Classica, Pachangas and so on. He couldn't find a gig. He changed his genre of music and his business cards to read mainstream (insert mass appeal only here) and is now one of the top DJs in this area. Don't get me wrong, he's still a good DJ but almost smothered by what he has to play. Boriken, quite a few on your list applies here as well only a few might ask "Who the heck is FANIA, Lebron Brothers and La Sonora Ponceña? I get what you're saying though. It works from both sides. Education is certainly the key here. The best kind of DJ is an educated one or at least one that studies or allowed to study their craft. Wouldn't hurt for the dancer to study as well. ;)

It such a problem when we speak of mass appeal. As soon as mass is introduced into the equation, it's like introducing money to society; best becomes what makes the most money.

Hence, those few that are educated are between the wall and a sword, they can be themselves and get zero gigs, or go along for the dilluted information that attracts mass mentality.

Today- Natural Selection is synonim for Money.

How to educate then becomes the problem... There is just a terrible in-balance when it comes to wanting to learn. We become so egotistically entrenched into what we know that we refuse any foreign belief... I blame a fortified ego backed by a greater belief from a supreme religion. It is a mass-unconscious behaviour we already posses, that of rejection to the foreign. Not to mention plain ol' lazyness...

Who in the world will care to learn when they are satisfied with entertainment, self indulgance? Worse, entertaiment is such a joy that it is surely best to replace wits with more entertainment. It is a cycle that breeds dumbness, not just in salsa but in every aspect of society. The world would end if sports and soaps weren't on TV, but put a few shows with substance and the public puts and embargo on TV until quality shows come back!

A lack of education about Salsa should be a sin in NY City for a DJ. I can see a foreign culture having difficulties with the history, but NY City... boy, there should not be anyone more educated in Salsa than a NY City Salsa DJ.

The best line I've ever heard from a Salsa Dancer about Salsa was when she told me that her Favorite Singer is Hector Lavoe. Then, right after she mentioned that, La Murga goes on, to which she asked me, Wow, who sings this song? Her Favorite singer sings the song, yet, she doesn't even know his voice. That pretty much covers the mentality of the type of dancer I've encountered during my Salsa dancing life.

I'm sure 24hours for 365 days during the past 10 years wasn't enough to learn a thing about a self-proclaimed passion, which has us dancing Salsa night in and night out...

I'm not sure what bothers me more: a lack of education or excuses...

[peachexploration]

.....The best line I've ever heard from a Salsa Dancer about Salsa was when she told me that her Favorite Singer is Hector Lavoe. Then, right after she mentioned that, La Murga goes on, to which she asked me, Wow, who sings this song? Her Favorite singer sings the song, yet, she doesn't even know his voice.....

Or sometimes it's another extreme. Not even giving a certain era of Salsa a chance. :roll: I was in my office one day and playing "Para Ochun" by Hector Lavoe and one of my friends who was visiting went crazy. They were like "Who is that?!!! That is a slammin' track!" I told them who it was and they were like, "You've gotta be kidding?!?" He's old school. :? I'm like yeah, all you have to do is give the music chance even if it's not something you're "familiar" with.

I guess sometimes too, it's a matter of choice, circumstances or location, etc. Whether you are willing to go against the establishment even if it means not getting any business or just painstakingly market it until you're blue in the face and at you're own expense. Then again, that's how most ideas get started. But I'm glad I'm not a DJ. I'd never get gigs. :lol: :lol: