How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records

Book Description

DJs have gone from being underpaid live jukeboxes to becoming premier entertainers, producers, businessmen, and musicians capable of commanding admiration from thousands and earning serious money. Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton's Last Night a DJ Saved My Life was the definitive history of the DJ. Now they gather their mastery of the artistic and technical aspects of being a DJ into a clear, accessible, and entertaining guide. How to DJ is the perfect guide -- from the most basic keys to establishing a music collection and a distinctive sound, to elementary record-spinning, to the complex skills of scratching, hot-mixing, and beat-juggling, as well as the inimitable art of creating an evening of sound that is perfectly timed, balanced, and unforgettable. Diagrams throughout illustrate phrases, beat timing, and song structure with no reliance on music theory, and resource lists recommend everything from which songs are best (and most fun) to learn with, to good sources for building a library of disks, CDs, and MP3s. For those who want to turn pro, the authors give sage advice on the vagaries of the club and music business. Short quotes, anecdotes, and photos of famous DJs such as Grandmaster Flash and Derrick Carter are featured.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome...it's a "must have" for every dj..........2007-09-26

Although I'm a digital dj and laptop performer and this book is more "turntablist" oriented...I found it very interesting, every page you open has something to teach you...

Good pick and this is why............2007-08-09

I found the book to be very insightful and easy to understand. I would recommend this book to both the beginner and the advanced Dj.

"Show you how to party right".......2007-08-05

Very funny and informative guide to running the turntables. It takes a lot of work to make things happen in a club. This book takes you step by step through everything from how to find the best gear, to how to add special effects, scratching on beat, and making sure you get paid. There are plenty of pictures. The stories from real DJs such as John Digweed, Grandmaster Flash and more are laugh-out-loud funny. Go from dreaming of greatness to moving the crowd, with clues from the best.

Everything you'll ever need to know and how to love it.......2007-03-31

I had DJ'd for years prior to picking this up. Front to back in 2 days. I learned a lot of new technique and cleaned up on some of my old habits. The greatest thing I learned was how to get myself 'in'. I was a bedroom DJ all those years. This book taught me to grab the bull by the horns and show the world what I've got.

That was all great, but the true lesson was not something I learned from the book, but what the book reassured me of and demanded that I maintain.

Love for music.

The consistent undertone was that of a "you are a DJ, you have the duty to show the world this music and take them on a journey through it the way you see best".

If you own a single piece of vinyl or have been collecting for years and stuck in that bedroom, read this. If you've thought about being a DJ and have no vinyl, read this. If you have always wondered what "beat juggling" or "crab scratching" was, read this book.

Peace, Love and Jellybeans!

Good laugh and great start.......2006-11-11

Great book to get you on track if you're a beginner, or to give you a few new ideas if you've been spinning for a bit. Hilarious book, and you're sure to just sit there and laugh, then bust out the tables and try some new slip-cueing techniques. Recommended, highly.

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey

Average customer rating:

Great History, Writing Talent Lacking
Thoroughly researched, well-written history of the dance/club DJ
Written With Passion
Read The Real History Of Disco
Must Read for DJ's, Dancers, Music Heads

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
Bill Brewster , and Frank Broughton
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802136885

Book Description

From the first time a record was played over the airwaves in 1906, to a modern club economy that totals $3 billion annually in New York City alone, the DJ has been at the center of popular music. Starting as little more than a talking jukebox, the DJ is now a premier entertainer, producer, businessman, and musician in his own right. Superstar DJs, from Junior Vasquez to Sasha and Digweed, command worship and adoration from millions, flying around the globe to earn tens of thousands of dollars for one night's work. Increasingly, they are replacing live musicians as the central figures of the music industry. In Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, music journalists Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton have written the first comprehensive history of the mysterious and charismatic figure behind the turntables -- part obsessive record collector, part mad scientist, part intuitive psychologist of the party groove. From England's rabid Northern Soul scene to the birth of disco in New York, from the sound systems of Jamaica to the scratch wars of early hip-hop in the Bronx, from Chicago house to Detroit techno to London rave, DJs are responsible for most of the significant changes in music over the past forty years. Drawing on in-depth interviews with DJs, critics, musicians, record executives, and the revelers at some of the century's most legendary parties, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life is nothing less than the life story of dance music.

Customer Reviews:

Great History, Writing Talent Lacking.......2007-08-18

The only thing that kept me reading this book was that it contained information I didn't know. I found that skimming helped reduce the groaning and eye-rolling caused by poor organization of the material. Much of it was just fine, but parts of the book are difficult to read because the authors couldn't devise a smooth transition from one chapter to another. Other than that minor complaint, this is a great book!

Thoroughly researched, well-written history of the dance/club DJ.......2007-07-17

Written by two former editors of Mixmag (the magazine bible of club culture and dance music), this 400-page book provides a deep, well-researched history of the club DJ. It follows the evolution of the live performance DJ from a human record changer, to a macro mixer of individual platters, to a micro mixer of record segments and sounds, to a full-fledged music producer. In doing so the authors document the impact that DJs had on the music itself, first in selecting what they played, later in demanding what they needed, and lastly in creating what they wanted.

Although the book opens with a short chapter on radio DJs (all of twenty-one pages), this story is about the club DJ's rise to musicianship. The book charts the live DJ's beginnings as a record spinner in large halls, follows the DJ-fueled Northern Soul scene in the UK, threads in the revolutionary work of Jamaican DJ sound systems, and returns to the US for a lengthy exposition on disco, hip-hop, house and beyond.

The disco chapters, though at times devolving into discussion that's more of the music than the DJs, are among the book's most interesting. They explore the movement's organic New York roots, contrasting them sharply to the genre's publicly refuted commercial apogee. One might argue with their contention that the "disco sucks" backlash was a homophobic reaction (particularly when they do such a good job of describing the commercial overexposure that led to disco's mainstream repudiation), but their descriptions of the era's seminal underground clubs and DJs bring context to disco that was completely lost in its mainstream incarnation.

Two chapters on hip hop show both its evolutionary and revolutionary forward steps, with the DJ becoming a producer and musician. Fresh interviews with the major players are skillfully woven into a compelling narrative of the genre's birth and growth. Club music's transitions between house, techno, garage and other variants are layered with reporting on the stage-setting cultural environments and geographic movements of key players. These latter chapters read more as anthropological catalogs than the you-are-there accounts of disco, so while they're informative, they're a bit dry.

A good deal of the text devolves into a history of the music, leaving the DJs temporarily on the sideline. But given the intimate intertwining of DJs and music, and the reciprocal impact they had on each other, this is probably unavoidable. Unless you're an avid dance music fan, some of the authors' points, hinged upon references to specific songs, will fail to resonate.

The authors make a compelling argument for the DJ at the center of the vortex that created disco and morphed it into house, techno, acid house and more. Unlike music that was a product of artists, record companies and radio, dance music is a product of dancers, clubs, DJs and producers, with the latter two categories merging more and more over time. The added element of geographical isolation is shown to have had a major impact on numerous scenes (northern UK, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe) and the development of their respective musics, and the commercial needs for starless music created a vacuum into which DJs could step.

Though this is very well written, though there are nits to pick. Their anti-academic disclaimer is unnecessarily reactionary, and not even particularly true given the amount of original research they conducted. Their text on drug influences ignores numerous earlier drug/music interactions, such as in jazz and rock. Their lack of detail on radio DJs is a reasonable choice, but one not explained by the book's title or subhead. Their geography is UK/US-centric, and limited in the US mostly to New York, Chicago and Detroit. Whether or not those three cities were host to the only innovations worth reporting upon is questionable.

Structurally the book follows a linear timelines through the disco era, but later chapters have timelines that overlap. For the unschooled, it's difficult to really see how innovations in different places were influencing each other. The book's appendices include priceless club charts that provide useful guidance in assembling a soundtrack but it's unclear where these charts came from.

Quibbles aside, this is a great read for anyone who wants to learn about the DJ's critical role in the development of dance music. For disco, in particular, the DJ booth point provides an excellent view into the scene's true history. Brewster and Broughton write lively, engaging copy and have based it on thorough original research. Highly recommended! [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

Written With Passion.......2007-05-16

Covering a subject as broad as this is difficult and most readers will take exception somewhere since the author deals with such a subjective subject. However, I enjoyed both the exhaustive research and obvious passion that went into this work. It's a must, not only for DJs, but for any fan of music made for the dancefloor.

Read The Real History Of Disco.......2006-10-25

This book is pure magic and brought back some happy memories.

Wannabe Club DJs please read this and understand how it all really started.

Mobile DJs? Give up and let iPod reign...

Must Read for DJ's, Dancers, Music Heads.......2006-04-05

It is pretty well know that this book is a must read for DJ's, Makers, and Fans of all forms of electronic and dance music.

Excelent histories of Dub, Hip Hop, Disco, House etc. While many of the adherents of these sub-cultures don't necessarily appreciate the others, the histories outlined in this book show how they are all inherently connected.

My only issue with this book is that the West Coast is totally ignored up until the turntablist revolution of the late 90's which the authors regard as mostly mastabatory as the writers' bias is toward DJs as providers of a dance environment.

No matter ...
There are vital histories here.

READ THIS BOOK!

DJ, Dance, and Rave Culture (Examining Pop Culture)

Average customer rating:

DJ, Dance, and Rave Culture (Examining Pop Culture)

Manufacturer: Greenhaven Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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ASIN: 0737725478

Book Description

DJ, Dance and Rave Culture examines the underground dance gatherings, or raves, that initially emerged as a fringe form of youth culture in the 1980s and 1990s. Particular attention is paid to the history of electronic music, the controversy over club drugs, the role of the DJ in popular culture, and the experience of the dancers that continue to keep the beat alive.

The DJ Cookbook: Business Start-Up Guide

Average customer rating:

If You Plan to Be Successful, This Book is for You
Mobile Beat Magazine, March 2003
I Got a Loan and Bought My Gear by Reading This Book

The DJ Cookbook: Business Start-Up Guide
Dan Titus
Manufacturer: Venture Marketing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582911088

Book Description

Okay, so you wanna be a DJ. You bought the rig. You studied the moves and now you want to get down to business; the only problem is, you don't know how. Enter The DJ Cookbook Business Start-up Guide.

The DJ Cookbook: Business Start-up Guide - How to start and run a mobile DJ service for profit.

This definitive industry guide will take you through the essential techniques needed to start a mobile DJ service. From the business plan right on through to optimizing the sound system, tips and strategies offered will have you making $$ quickly and easily.

The book connects to a special Internet Web site where users can download a complete editable sample business plan. Financial spreadsheets are also included. Users also get, as an added bonus Ebooks: How to Get a Trademark, How to Get a Patent and The Government Loan Resource Guide! Couple this together with downloadable sample contracts and you will be making money in this lucrative business.

Written in a user-friendly format, this book will answer your questions and provide you with the confidence that you will need to move forward with your goals.

- Professional Advice - Sample Business Plan - Revenue Forecasting - Operating Tips - Financial Advice - Equipment Buying and Setup Tips - Business Checklist - Free Web site Connection and Free Software… - And More!

Customer Reviews:

If You Plan to Be Successful, This Book is for You.......2003-04-29

I learned to spin records, but I did not make mony until I bought this book! NOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY TOO! Like they say, "YOU'VE GOT THE TALENT, NOW GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!"

Mobile Beat Magazine, March 2003.......2003-03-27

Using a well structured down-to-earth approach...this guide on how to start and run a successful Mobile DJ service is right on the mark!

I Got a Loan and Bought My Gear by Reading This Book.......2002-11-09

I got this book and put together my business plan by using the example plan provided in the book. The business plan is in a file that can be edited by downloading it from a Web site that goes with the book - It was a snap, after I downloaded the biz plan example. With my finished business plan in hand, I secured a loan that financed all my pro equipment purchases.

Book Description

The first book in the Marijuana Tips series, this accessible guide shows indoor cultivators how to refine their gardening techniques in order to markedly improve their crops. With an emphasis on organic methods, author DJ Short addresses every aspect of cultivation, from sprouting seeds, to lighting and temperature, to harvesting and curing. He also provides a wealth of information on marijuana breeding and plant selection.

Customer Reviews:

* * * * * Exceptional Cannabis: No Kidding! * * * * *.......2004-07-23

This book will lead you to the bushel of buds at the end of the rainbow! It takes you through all of the necessary (and not always obvious) measures you need to take to grow some utterly mind blowing pot. DJ Short takes you on a magical cloud walk through the realms of safety and sprouting. From there you fly through the land of the dirt covered hands where you learn about all the aspects of raising a pot baby of your very own. Then, as you stroll across that wonderful rainbow, DJ discusses the many aspects of curing, and enjoying the bushel of pot that you are about to harvest. If you so desire you can stay and soak up DJ?s knowledge about breeding or cloning your little ladies, and even learn something about choosing the color of your flowers.

I Give this book five stars from my cannabis sky because I?m on my way to the bushel at the end of the rainbow! Thank you DJ, I'll see you there!

Check out DJ Short.......2004-02-14

First off, DJ Short is an unbelievable breeder. This guy is an artist, really, and I've been reading his stuff for years. So I guess you could complain that a lot of what's in here has been published elsewhere but even as a fan of the guy, I'm not going to spend all my time flipping through hundreds of magazines trying to find all his articles. So if you want to hear what Short has to say about anything and everything- and believe me, you should- this book is where to find it. Also, the pictures are phenomenal and only DJ Short would have a flavor and olfaction chart centerfold. You've got to love this guy.

Great book about breeding.......2004-02-14

This book has good information from a solid breeder and it looks good too. A crazy purple budding plant wraps around the entire cover and it looks tasty. Inside there's useful charts and illustrations. PLUS, the color photo section has some nice photos.
Sure, this information has been in Cannabis Culture Magazine, but I don't have time to read through back issues and find all the articles (if I even saved them all). I like having all this information in one place.
I like this book. If you want to know how to go about breeding and stabilizing marijuana, you will like this book. DJ Short knows what he's talking about. His writing style is casual and straight forward. The book answered all of my questions about breeding and had some interesting asides and thoughts from DJ Short. Good stuff.

Rip-off.......2004-02-14

Before you condsider wasting your money on Dj Short's book consider this: This book has nothing new it is just a compilation of Dj's articles that he wrote for cannabis culture, thrown together in an effort to make money. All of these articles can be found online at CC. The book looks as if it were thrown together in an hour, there are pages with only a sentence or two. There a few pictures that were also already in CC. Dj Short is respected in his trade as one of the best but he is not an author. If you want detailed information, this book is not the right one. I suggest reading one of Mel Frank's or one Ed Rosenthal's books.

Raw Music Material: The 50 Most Famous Electronic Music DJ's of the World

Average customer rating:

Sound and vision
A cutting-edge showcase of modern popular culture

Raw Music Material: The 50 Most Famous Electronic Music DJ's of the World
Scalo Publishers
Manufacturer: Scalo Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3908247519

Book Description

Electronic music over the last few years has conquered the Western world with the force of a thunderstorm. It has created a new movement that expresses itself in Love Parades in Berlin and Zurich and in club scenes that fans of the "old" rock and pop music scene never even dreamt of. Zurich, Switzerland has become a European center for electronic music, and one of its most popular nightspots, founded in 1997, is Rohstofflager ("warehouse for raw material"). The club has invited almost every DJ of importance to spin there: world-famous Jeff Mills and Curtis "Cajmere" Jones from Chicago, Kevin Saunderson , Derrik May, Juan Atkins and Robert Hood from Detroit, Laurent Garnier from Paris, Claude Young from Glasgow, Richie Hawtin from Windsor, Canada, Luke Slater, Dave Clarke, Kevin "Hype" Ford, Ray "Grooverider" Bingham, "Goldie" and Roni Size from the United Kingdom, Cisco "The Advent" Ferreira from Lisbon, Helmut "Hell" Geier and Maximilian "Westbam" Lenz from Germany, Cari Lekebusch and Adam Beyer from Stockholm, and more. The stars of the international electronic music scene are represented in this book, not only through panoramic color portraits, but also in statements explaining why they do what they do, what happens with them while entertaining the feverish Saturday night dancers of today, and what happens when they make the people fly to their rhythms. This is a book for club-goers who want to know what their DJ's really feel and think when they are in action. And, last but not least: readers become listeners with the two music CDs included in this must-have publication, which brings the energy of the dance floor to your book shelf.

80 color.
9.5 x 12.5 in.

Customer Reviews:

Sound and vision.......2003-04-16

fantastic book with great portraits of some of the most important people in electronic dance (mainly techno) today. Each artist describes in their own words what is going through their mind on the topic of techno/dance music - where they came from - how they work - etc. These are true techno artists. You won't find any Paul Oakenfolds or John Digweeds in this book which is such a relief. The bulk of the book is Detroit (Jeff Mills, Rob Hood, Derrick May, Saunderson, Larkin) Northern European (Heiko Laux, DJ Hell, Mss Djax) artists but there are a few d&b/junglists like Ed Rush and LTJ Bukem towards the back. The two CDs included are an excellent way for those unfamiliar with some of the profiles to place face, name, and sound together. Highly recommended for anyone interested in electronic dance music.

A cutting-edge showcase of modern popular culture.......2003-04-14

Compiled, arranged, and edited by Walter Huegli (in collaboration with Martin Jaeggi), Raw Music Material: Electronic Music DJs Today is an impressively presented archive featuring color photographs, personal interviews, enhanced with exciting music on two accompanying audio CDS. Presenting a cohesive and upbeat portrait of electronic music DJs in the modern age, Raw Music Material is enthusiastically recommended as a cutting-edge showcase of modern popular culture and rhythm.

How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories: The Standard Reference Guide For Brides, Party Planners And Anyone Else In The Market For A Mobile Disc Jockey

Average customer rating:

Substituting opinion for fact
Must read for all brides and DJs too!
A "MUST HAVE" for anyone looking for a DJ!!
From a pro - DJ, BUY THIS BOOK!!
An indispensable shower gift!

How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories: The Standard Reference Guide For Brides, Party Planners And Anyone Else In The Market For A Mobile Disc Jockey
Jeff Harrison , and Dave Westenbarger
Manufacturer: Jeff Harrison and Jon Paul
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0966817206

Book Description

How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories is among the first books to specifically tackle the issue of choosing a mobile disc jockey for social events. Written by an actual DJ, who knows the industry, this book debunks common DJ-related myths; alerts consumers to the sleazy tactics used by ethically-challenged DJ services, while also teaching them to spot those all-too-familiar cheesy DJs. Now consumers can make an informed, confident decision regarding the most important element of any event--the music.

Customer Reviews:

Substituting opinion for fact.......1999-12-06

Mr. Harrison is probably a good mobile dj but he makes the mistake of assuming regional preferences (such as clients not wanting lighting) and that most weddings go 4 hours is true all over. More importantly, there are numerous occasions where he states his opinion as fact. If these were truly facts, there would be documentation to back them up. There is a lot of good advice in this book but it's mixed in with a lot of opinions and outdated information which the target audience would like have difficulty sifting through.

Must read for all brides and DJs too!.......1999-12-01

I love this book! As a DJ with 15 years in the business, the author has said what everyone else was afraid to say. This is the all-out truth about DJ myths and marketing. Highly recommend this book.

A "MUST HAVE" for anyone looking for a DJ!!.......1999-10-28

In such a vast field as DJ services, it nice to be able to find the true gems among the pack. This book was instrumental in helping me select a DJ for my wedding, and I was EXTREMELY pleased with the results. If you want to know how to identify a "line" when you hear one from a DJ, GET THIS BOOK!

From a pro - DJ, BUY THIS BOOK!!.......1999-09-09

I've been a Disc Jockey for 25 years and have seen it all - this is hilarious - be careful who you book though. Read this and you should get a good Disc Jockey and have a great wedding/party!

An indispensable shower gift!.......1999-04-15

I received How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories as a shower gift. As a bride-to-be, this book quickly became my best friend! It is as funny as it is informative. (The cartoon illustrations are really funny!) I learned so much from reading it that when it came time to interview DJs, I was able to spot, ahead of time, some of the myths and sleazy tactics referenced in the book. It actually saved me time (a precious commodity when planning a wedding). I especially liked Chapter 13, AFAQs (Answers to Frequently Asked Questions). The author literally answered every question that crossed my mind. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy the book was to read; it felt like the author was actually talking to me. How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories is a "must have" for any bride going the DJ route. Highly recommended!!!

Looking for the Perfect Beat: The Art and Culture of the DJ

Average customer rating:

I expected more!
Great Light Reading.
Beginers Only
DJ's and non-DJ's will truly love this book.
Almost interesting, not too helpful

Looking for the Perfect Beat: The Art and Culture of the DJ
Kurt B. Reighley
Manufacturer: MTV
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0671038699

Book Description

"It's your soul playing with the rhythm, flying around in the beats." -- DJ Q-Bert They are music's vanguard. The reshape today's sounds -- house, techno, hip-hop, rock -- direct our feet on the floor, and influence the way music is represented in our culture. "Don't look at the turntable as just this mechanism that you play records on. Apply yourself to it as if it were an instrument, and you can express yourself through the turntable." -- Rob Swift, The X-ecutioners From the rapid-fire editing of MTV videos, to underground parties and world-famous clubs, DJs have altered the course of music and video, moved into new media, and turned our generation on its ear -- literally. Meet these creative artists -- many of them celebrities in their own right -- who line up the most infectious beats, mix and program them, and make us dance talk and think about music -- and the world -- in entirely different ways. "We like to mix it all up and have a good time, a bit of a laugh." -- Ben Dubuisson, Purple Penguin Discover how they select their gear and choose tunes -- and pick up tips on how to mix.

Customer Reviews:

I expected more!.......2003-02-07

For those wishing a more comprehensive history on DJ culture, you will be better served by reading "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life". I expected a lot more from this book, although I did like the informal structure of the book as it reads as if the author was having a conversation with a room full of DJs. But it contains so many DJ's that no one has ever heard of...and I get the feeling that the nightclub DJ is not well represented...nor is the music industry itself. The section on record pools is abysmal! After 27 years in the music industry, I may be a little jaded, but I expect a person to at least get it right.

Great Light Reading........2002-08-14

This book is great for picking up between breaks from spinning, or for reading on the way to work on the train while you think about your turntables at home, but it's not an in-depth account of DJing like "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life."
I felt the author was enthusiastic about the music and was knowledgeable of its history, but the "Meet the DJ" sections and the hundreds of quotes sometimes hindered the flow of the mix.
I consider this book a companion to other DJ books.

Beginers Only.......2001-08-26

I've been spining records for well over 15 years in one of the hardest and most competitive markets in the USA(SF,Ca). It is a good book for the clueless DJ, but I wish there where more profiles of the Pioneering and Independent Blue collar DJ's less on the DJ as part of a band(DJ with a major label contract). And where is the LARRY LEVAN, WALTER GIBBONS, RON HARDY, FRANKIE, TONY, JELLYBEAN and GRANDMASTER FLASH profiles, ommiting these guys is a sin. Also the author should have included a section on the DJ as producer (D.I.T.C. crew). The words of wisdom by Fracios K and David Mancuso are the only redeaming factors of this book. It seems this book has a hidden agenda, promote dj's who are who don't need it. Most of the profiles and quotes are from New Schoolers who were never into music until they took there first "E" (Dj Rap). This book has a good idea but it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the craft.

DJ's and non-DJ's will truly love this book........2000-11-16

I am going on my 2nd reading of this book and I got 10x more out of it the second time around, it's truly fascinating how it takes you on a journey from early 70's and the first "true" DJ's all the way to the present state of dance music. Meet over 40 DJ's in interviews from all types of genres along with comments from the cream of the crop in the DJ world throughout the entire book. If you are a DJ, this book is a MUST....if you are thinking about getting into DJing or love the dance music scene this book is also a must (but in small letters). Every DJ is in search of that perfect mix and not the "train wreck" and this book is far from a train wreck like some of the other reviewers had referred to. I'm sure if you appreciate the DJ culture that you will also appreciate this great read.

Almost interesting, not too helpful.......2000-07-21

I guess I just don't get it. Maybe my man was firing up when he wrote this. It's got stuff about some DJ's doin all this stuff but it didn't help me none and I am a DJ! Curt just got to realize that most odf us DJ'S are not superstar and we can't get away with all that in our real DJ jobs. He kind of just talks about all this cutlure stuff on and on. Its OK but I just didn't think this was to helpfull.

How To Be A DJ: Your Guide to Becoming a Radio, Nightclub or Private Party DJ

Average customer rating:

Weak on realness - strong on overview
NEW EDITION AVAILABLE!
Simply the best DJ book available.
Very Good, but with Caveats
For experienced DJs....not for beginners

How To Be A DJ: Your Guide to Becoming a Radio, Nightclub or Private Party DJ
DJ
Manufacturer: Brevard Marketing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1929554109

Book Description

For the first time ever, author and DJ Chuck Fresh completely covers breaking into all three DJ disciplines in this comprehensive book. Fresh explains what you need to know to get into the radio business, then continues to share all the tips and tricks he used to become a successful mobile DJ, and finally gives the secrets of the nightclub and bar DJ business. Fresh explains that most "experienced" DJs seem to have reservations about sharing their secrets with newer DJs, so Fresh has shattered the secret society and provided all the trade secrets new and experienced DJs will need for success in their particular field. How To Be A DJ completely explains how to properly DJ just about any private party, including weddings, sweet 16s, bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, and more. In this edition, Fresh has included several popular songlists including rock, disco, house, trance, oldies, latin music, along with explaining each of these genres in detail. Finally, Fresh has included sneaky industry advice and marketing tips and tricks that will help any prospective DJ avoid all the costly mistakes most new DJs make.

Customer Reviews:

Weak on realness - strong on overview.......2006-11-10

This book provides a great overview of all the different ways a DJ can position him/herself in the marketplace. Of course, they leave out the newest opportunities like retail stores, cafes, and restaurants and instead concetrate a lot on being a mobile DJ for parties and weddings. You're way better off getting a book that specializes in one type of DJing and spending your time and money pursuing that.

NEW EDITION AVAILABLE!.......2004-11-12

Please enter "1592005098" in your search to find the NEW latest edition of this great book - newly revised and expanded to over 300 pages! Thanks again for your support

DJ CHUCK FRESH

Simply the best DJ book available........2002-11-21

I have been searching for a book that clearly defines each type of "DJ", and this book does it incredibly well! I am considered a "beginner", and How To Be A DJ explained the skills, music and equipment I needed to get started. I have now been hired to DJ at two weddings which went really well, and the marketing tips in this book were very helpful to me, allowing me to book four Christmas parties! The marketing information in this book is priceless; no other DJ in my town offers what I offer, but I imagine they'll copy me once they find out what's going on! Great explanation on the pros and cons of vinyl too. I almost went vinyl before I realized the benefits of CDs, and now you can even play and scratch with CDs too. The music lists in this book are from a few years ago, but that is actually a bonus, because most of the folks at my mobile DJ gigs are a little older and complimented me on my (well, the author's) music selection. I am quickly building a profitable business that would have taken me much longer without the information in this book! I would give it 10 stars if I could! I HIGHLY recommend reading this book, even DJs who think they already know everything. This was the best [money] I ever spent!

Very Good, but with Caveats.......2002-10-26

Chuck Fresh's book is a very good book on the DJing scene, although with a few caveats. The book's scope covers the three types of DJs (Radio DJs, Mobile/Private Party DJs, and Club/Bar DJs), the promotional aspects individual to each DJ type and common to all types, and information on valuable resources for any DJ (web sites, publications, trade shows).

Particularly valuable in this book are vital technical aspects of DJing that must be learned on the job and wouldn't just normally occur to a DJ. For instance, the 'Beatmixing 101' section is invaluable to the new DJ about how to link outgoing and incoming songs (mixing), appropriate and inappropriate songs to link together, and other technical must and should knows. Considering the topic, the book is appropriately written in a very colloquial, humourous tone, although there are enough spelling errors to detract from the book's professionalism somewhat.

Consider the multitude of music styles born in the last 50 years and the many different occasions for playing that music publicly or privately. In trying to authoritatively advise in so many areas of music, I think Chuck Fresh has bitten off way more than he can chew, despite his many years of experience in DJing. As other reviewers have mentioned, Chuck certainly is an authority on DJ/MCing weddings and private parties. In fact, I highly recommend this book to anyone planning a wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah just for that section because Fresh offers many insights into how a DJ/MC can make the DJed portion truly memorable, not just because it's hitched to a rite of passage.

However, when Fresh talks about DJing in a Club/Bar, my overall impression was he was pretty out of touch with that scene, at least that in Toronto, Canada. Certainly his technical insights seem to be accurate and valuable: knowing audio equipment, working with vinyl, maintaining lighting/sound systems, etc. Fresh's suggested playlists for bygone music genres seem pretty useful. But most of the things he suggests for stirring up the crowd seem silly, contrived, and often embarrassing. I think part of the reason is that Fresh wrote this book after many years of DJing, and club/popular music increasingly became a chore for him, not only to listen for and find but to have to shell out money for. Consequently, the closer you get to the present, the less he seems to be in touch with what's what musically. Hence, Fresh's many suggestions on using hype rather than music for generating excitement in a crowd. I've been to dozens of clubs regularly for about 8 years now, and very rarely does the DJ make a peep except to mention last calls for alcohol, much less offer banter between songs or outrageous contests. Granted, socially speaking Canadians are more conservative than Americans, and so maybe these tactics actually help American DJs. I also venture a contentious claim that the average Canadian is more intelligent than the average American, and so lowbrow banter which might delight the average American frat head wouldn't really appeal to the equivalent type of Canadian.

There is so much music out there, so many genres (past, present and emerging) and so much music within those genres that one absolutely CAN'T be a jack of all music trades and expect to speak with much credibility on many of them. For instance, Fresh gives only a passing, derogatory reference to Electronic music's significance. He says, "We accurately predicated that Latin music was going to be the next "big thing" over a couple years ago when everyone else was all wrapped up in that "electronica" thing that ended up fizzling quickly". This is bogus because time has proven Latin music to be just as ephemeral as electronic music, at least in the public spotlight. His statement also ignores that Electronic music is not a recent phenomena; it began with artists like Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre in the 70's, has continually branched into subgenres since then, and many Electronic artists are now ignored who continue to put out the same quality of music that came out when Electronica was "hot" with groups like The Prodigy and Chemical Brothers "breaking" electronica to the mainstream.

I think a DJ will be losing most of the time, whether they know it or not, if they try to play the game of continually pandering to the audience, trying to play whatever genre or song seems to be `hot' and not playing (or knowing) songs solely for their merits. I recently heard Carlos Santana succinctly say a lot about musicians and the creative process: "If you don't feel it, they won't feel it". Over years of personal experience a true aficionado of a genre will unearth the gems in that genre the mainstream usually overlooked, and when that DJ plays those songs (many actually familiar to the club patrons) by and large I think the audience will feel and enjoy the music as much as the DJs. At the same time, if a DJ imposes heavily on a crowd with his own favorites, he must keep alert to crowd reactions, and Fresh gives several ways of recognizing attitudes to music in club patrons.

One thing I would have loved to have seen in the book or at least been given direction to is insight into the large question of how music affects people. For instance, how can a DJ develop a style, a pattern, a technique, which satisfies both audience and DJ? How could you effectively control a given crowd's energy over a 5 hour period (eg. 9PM to 2AM)? To do that, what sort of emotions would you want to evoke, when, and for how long, and how to fit that in with the rest of the programming? These sorts of questions are not addressed at all in the book, and although I'm sure most DJs have a few insights about this they keep to themselves, I'm betting that systematic inquiry about this sort of thing is virtually uncharted territory.

For experienced DJs....not for beginners.......2002-10-06

I just started to DJ about 3 weeks ago and I was looking for a book with techniques and guides. Although this book covers the overall issues of being a disc jockey, it doesn't satisfy my needs of information. I'd recommend it for DJs that already know what they're doing and are looking for further ways to make money or to improve even further. This is not for a true beginner!

Average customer rating:

My Dj Book
John L. Jones
Manufacturer: All Together Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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