Editorial: The Unwritten Rules

May 19th, 2010 3 comments

A few weeks ago, in a game against the Yankees, the pitcher for the A’s was extremely upset as he was walking toward his dugout. He was throwing a fit because between innings, A-Rod has chosen to walk over “his” mound, in order to get back to the Yankee dugout. The pitcher, Dallas Braden, was screaming at A-Rod because he had broken an “unwritten” baseball rule.

Like most guys, I played a bit of baseball when I was younger. Little League, Babe Ruth, and some High School. Yet, this was a rule I’d never heard of. However, it did make a little sense. I don’t ever remember walking over the pitchers mound to get back to my dugout. Thinking about it, it just didnt seem like a natural thing to do. At the same time though, I wouldn’t think of it as a big deal. And apparently, A-Rod felt the same way. He’d never heard of it either, and didn’t understand what the fuss was.

Ever since JD and I talked about the whole “Opening DJ” thing, we’ve gotten quite a few emails from younger DJs who are worried that they may end up in the same predicament as A-Rod — getting yelled at by their peers for breaking an unwritten rule they didn’t even know existed. First off, I’d say it’s a good thing to be concerned. It just shows that as a DJ, you care about the culture and etiquette, and would like to be respected within the DJ community. Really though, many DJs worry way too much about this.

As you start thinking of the Do-Nots that exist in the DJ World, you’ll start to see that there’s a theme. They are all common sense. Do NOT play all the hot songs early as you open up for a headliner. In reality, you wouldn’t play the hot songs at that hour even if you weren’t just opening. Having a headliner shouldn’t make anything different. DO NOT start the night off blasting heavy Hip Hop at 10 P.M. when the club just opened and it’s only the workers there. It’s gonna be a long night, and no one wants to be blown away by the music before they have to be. DO NOT go to clubs trying to undercut other DJs and steal their nights. You wouldn’t want other DJs to do this to you, so it makes perfect sense.

There’s a good reason that these rules are “unwritten”. They are logical enough that no one really has to write them down. As long as you’re a good person in other aspects of life, you shouldn’t have to stress about breaking the unwritten rules of DJing. Treat other DJs the same way you would wish to be treated and you shouldn’t have any problems.

—-Spring—

www.facebook.com/JaySpringFans

Audio1

There are so many rights and wrongs in the DJ game. Just do what you got to do and treat each person with respect. I find that even haters have to be killed with kindness. Every person out there is a potential customer. Put on that smile, Rock the party, get paid and have a blast!
Brian Armand

When I was living in Florida, I attended a couple of clubs that had some top name DJs play from time to time, with of course an opening DJ playing first. What I noticed quite a few times(and usually not where I live now)is that the opening DJs would play a more laid back version of a popular or “hot” song within the 2cd hour of club opening. So lets say at the time thier was a fierce house track that was hot, and that version was understandably going to be played at peak hour or so. Then what the opening DJ would do is play, lets say a more loungy or chicago house style or just plain mellow version of that “hot” track. I never thought about it, as I had expieriences as an opening DJ, however like Spring said, You wouldnt play the hot stuff early anyway. I just Djed, playing normally my usual opening sets, staying more mellow at first, I guess its just a subconcious thing that your used to doing anyway. I never saw a reason to play an alternative mix early, cause I realize your setting yourself up for the early club goers to approach you and say “play the good mix” and play it later when I can dance to it” Meaning they want to hear it when thier well buzzed or drunk, and Ive seen this happen, So maybe some DJs in different states do this and its acceptable.
DJRivas

I completely agree but I think were most DJ’s struggle with is playing a good opening set. After all there are some songs out there that are perfect for opening but most DJ’s ignore these songs.

The list you guys put up has really helped to guide me but some DJ’s unfortunately do not have access to great tools like this site. For some I think if they are the opener they have to blow everyone away. Especially is you are just starting out you want people to think you are amazing so you can come back and be the headliner. This is were the line is crossed because most younger DJ’s want to play the hottest songs to please the crowd; but in fact they are just ruining the night.

What we can do as DJ’s is to guide these youths into the right direction and correct them of their mistakes.