What are people's views on the role of the DJ within the current musical climate? Does it require talent or is it uneccessary? Are DJ's heroes or villians? I know it varies depending on what DJs and what genres we are talking about but I just want any random thoughts and ideas you guys have on this subject.

If you mean a DJ as in someone who sticks records on, talks, then plays another one, eg Terry Wogan etc, then maybe. They still provide chat for people on long car journeys and old people (sterotyping here). DJs in clubs; yeah, they have a lot of talent. Some of the segues/mixes they pull off are pretty damn good.

DJ's have a large burden to bear really, because they have to read their chosen audience, and play whatever is right. A typical club DJ wont just put on tunes that HE thinks are quality, but what he knows his audience are gonna find quality.

DJs who just put a cd on and talk between some songs =

SO can DJing be an artform in it's own right?

It's been said that a DJ is lowest form of entertainer... Having been one, I disagree... I think there have been some great DJ's in various styles of music over the years, from radio DJ's to club DJ's and elsewhere.. It can be an art form...

It has become very hard for traditional radio DJ's these days to be creative because they are basically told what to say and what to play and have very little room to bring out any personality...


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that's exactly what I thought before trying myself

Did someone say....... DJ?!?!

Heh, you have to earn those two little letters, anyone who chucks on a CD, and maybe even crossfades between tracks, isnt automatically a DJ.

IT is indeed an artform, if you've ever been to a good DJ battle you'll understand why. I'd even go as far to say 2 turntables and a mixer constitutes a musical instrument. Just think of any 'cool' scratching you've heard in one of your favourite artists songs, and see if you can recreate with your record player.

ACTUALLY, dont do that, I dont want to be responsible for a gazillion industrial sized coasters popping up everywhere.

In the case of DJ's sets (like a playlist), it is an artform as well! For the uninitiated, go to a club, and see if you can pick out when the song changes. If you cant, then the DJ has got a damn good set laid down. Of course, we all have to be crowd pleasers sometimes, depending on the venue and your audience.

I could ramble for days, so if anyone has any specific q's, Im more then happy to oblige.

I think the place that DJing has been taken the furthest has to be hip hop, Kid Koala!

For sure, but its spread to such a wide variety of music now. Punk, some rock, some pop... you name it, there's probably a turntablist who does it.