What is something you wish Latin DJS would do more?

[Chris_Yannick]

For a Cuban dominated scene they're also utterly clueless about timba. It's pretty much Enrique Eglesias Bailando & Marc Anthony Vivir mi Vida on an infinite loop.

Yes! This is the most confusing thing. The Cuban/Mixed party DJs I've witnessed don't just play bad Timba, they play the same bad Timba week afer week, year after year.

There is a very strong status quo in our Cuban scene. As such, nothing changes. But what we're left with is a low level skill ceiling and the same uninspired music for a revolving door of clientele who only come for a weekly escape into something they think is culturally exotic.

 

[1derpalm]

My scene is the same. Most DJs are 'SBK' and have no clue about salsa. For a Cuban dominated scene they're also utterly clueless about timba. It's pretty much Enrique Eglesias Bailando & Marc Anthony Vivir mi Vida on an infinite loop.

So basically I am happy if a DJ rises above that.

I can only assume they play the same 2 songs over and over again for timba. And periodically "me dicen cuba" when they aren't cuban and there is no cuban in sight.

 

[eclo]

I can only assume they play the same 2 songs over and over again for timba. And periodically "me dicen cuba" when they aren't cuban and there is no cuban in sight.

Now I'm coming across a related problem, because it's been so bad for so long, we get a rare case where reasonable music is played and no one can dance to it because they're so used to crap music. Especially timba, the gears & complexity, people can't cope. The curse continues.

Yes! This is the most confusing thing. The Cuban/Mixed party DJs I've witnessed don't just play bad Timba, they play the same bad Timba week afer week, year after year.

There is a very strong status quo in our Cuban scene. As such, nothing changes. But what we're left with is a low level skill ceiling and the same uninspired music for a revolving door of clientele who only come for a weekly escape into something they think is culturally exotic.

Similar with my scene, strong status quo and dominated by once school who I am starting to question because the overall standard is so poor here. We're less a revolving door more regulars who never advance beyond the lower levels. They keep learning more moves, and the scene loves complex rueda moves but the majority still struggle to dance in time & have poor fundamentals (frame, body movement, stepping technique etc).

 

[1derpalm]

Now I'm coming across a related problem, because it's been so bad for so long, we get a rare case where reasonable music is played and no one can dance to it because they're so used to crap music. Especially timba, the gears & complexity, people can't cope. The curse continues.

Similar with my scene, strong status quo and dominated by once school who I am starting to question because the overall standard is so poor here. We're less a revolving door more regulars who never advance beyond the lower levels. They keep learning more moves, and the scene loves complex rueda moves but the majority still struggle to dance in time & have poor fundamentals (frame, body movement, stepping technique etc).

I'm. O superstar, but I was about to lament that alot of the cuban dancers in a couple scenes only learned the rueda way to dance cuban (I call "salsa en Banana) so almost fixed structure and present moves. They only learn so far tge. Stop going. And they sy they dance cuban, but when you try a finta, it's all over.
To be fair, that was me until I went to Havana.
It's different at cuban only parties, but I live 5 hour round trip from the only place that has them, and they always start late, and the crowd goes even later.
As such I am stuck on my own "I'm pretty good, but that's all" level.

 

[MamboJazz]

I'm. O superstar, but I was about to lament that alot of the cuban dancers in a couple scenes only learned the rueda way to dance cuban (I call "salsa en Banana) so almost fixed structure and present moves.

I guess rueda is alluring for improver leads because there is this one guy telling you loud which move to do next, and the moves have all been learned before so you can rely on that. In social dance they get scared by not knowing what to do next, their mind goes blank and nobody tells them how to continue. Also a bit of chaos is accepted to be normal part in rueda, and in case a follower starts looking annoyed there will be partner change within seconds anyway. I understand compared to that having to entertain a girl in social dance for several minutes with interesting moves seems frightening.

 

[matty]

wanted to reply to TurqoiseHexagon above On the topic of requests
but the "reply" button doesnt work for me, maybe im a bad member

you really say "no" as default?

I always say “yes” whether I’m going to play it or not, and hope they forget LOL.
Saying no will just provoke the person to argue which is the last thing I need LOL

its very common for Djs not to take requests, ill admit.
To be honest, maybe I’m a weird DJ, but I like requests, especially at a salsa event. mainly because they are rare anyways.
if nothing else, it shows that there is engagement with the music, which I appreciate.
I dont think it is something to be offended by, I see it as a way for the punter to tell you something about themselves
you can tell so much by a song request.

so as a DJ you can take that and you can raise it by playing songs you know they will like based on that initial request

The magic formula is something like: “Oh, I love this song + I wasn’t expecting it = massive respect for the DJ.”

all these things are very scene specific of course, and theres no right or wrong way.
but after doing this for longer than I care to share LOL, I have realised that I will never know everything
and also never to underestimate anybody in terms of their own musical knowledge. dont judge a book by its cover as they say.

in answer to the OP question "What is something you wish Latin DJS would do more?"
: get more love and more money, of course !