Then again, there are some, perhaps many, who view the use of Arranger Keyboards as yet another dumbing down as well.

Perhaps the DJ is but another level of the same thing.

As far as real music and real musicians go, it is still the case that the way to get to Carnegie Hall is to Practice, Practice, Practice.

Donny,

Most of the clubs in Baltimore's Fells Point and Little Italy areas use live bands and OMBs. They will, on rare occasions have a DJ or KJ, but it's indeed rare.

For the big wedding outfits, such as Martin's, which are massive complexes that do up to a half-dozen weddings at a time, they give the bridge and groom (and parents) an option of live band or DJ. A significant percentage go for the live band.

As for the DJ being lively, well, I guess it all depends upon the venue. The folks that lease out the halls for weddings, parties, etc.. all tell me that when a DJ or KJ shows up, the first thing he does is usually get out of his tuxedo jacket and tie, then head for the bar--all before he even starts setting up his equipment.

Now, for the music teachers at the independent stores. The only one I have any first hand knowledge of is Music Land in Bel Air, Maryland, which does an outstanding job. They primarily teach middle and high-school kids how to play, and every person that I know that sent their children there to learn was very satisfied with the instructors and what their kids accomplished. My daughter, at age 10, learned to play a clarinet in just a few months, and she can still play it very well.

My son, who for three years had his own rock band, is a self-taught guitarist. His fingers move over that guitar neck at lightning speed and he never hits a bad note. His band played a type of music that I couldn't stand to hear (grunge) and was booked every night in Baltimore's biggest and most popular clubs several nights a week. The only reason he got out of show biz is because he got tired on the crazies and druggies.

Like I said, things must be different in Jersey. The DJs have not cornered the market here, and hopefully, they never will.

Gary

That's been going on for years ...anything that supposedly takes away work for a band by a OMB or so called talented Arranger keyboard artist is frowned upon by the so called "real musicians" in pure jealousy and laziness for them to go with the flow and try to do other things to survive in the music business game versus complaining why they ain't working....nothing new there.

You know this is nothing new. DJs first appeared in discos in the late 70s and also took many jobs away from live bands.

During the 70s the UK Musicians Union tried to block the use of synthesizers in union controlled venues saying that the synthesizer was taking away musicians jobs by imitating other instruments.

Live bands can also point the finger at OMBs as many gigs and weddings etc. can hire a OMB at a lower rate than they would have previously paid for a full live band.

It is simply changing times adapting to new technologies and tastes. It has been that way before and will still be in the future. There really is little to gained by being concerned about it just simply adapt and try to survive. Sorta like a musical version of "Death Of A Salesman" where Willy Loman is a musician

Hip Hop and Electronica are fundamentally digitally contructed forms of music using sequencing and sample loops so can't be performed faithfully live anyway. Even the artists that perform this music live depend on computers provding much of the backing on stage. The wedding reception that chooses to use a hip hop or electronica DJ was never going to hire you to play anyway, your material isn't their taste. So you didn't lose that job to a DJ ... it was never yours to lose. If you see more and more of these jobs being filled by DJs it just means there are more people whose taste isn't something you can satisfy. That simply is life.



[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 08-08-2010).]

A lot of the weddings around these parts are going to DJs too. Many of the folks who are going for DJs are usually looking for a “total entertainment package”, which includes disco/stage lights most of the time, a horrendously loud bass thumping sound system, and a huge variety of song choices. Many of the DJs around here show with a truckload of amps, lights, and many throw in the Karaoke theme as an option for part of the night. Some of the DJs provide “charismatic control” of the event…. Although I attended a wedding recently where the DJ sat at a table w/his laptop and read a book and cruised the ‘net while working the gig. Yes, times have changed! Like Nigel says….adapting is the key.

Precisely and my point has been made.

Seems like the DJs are now going to get the same treatment from the Autoaccompaniment Keyboard Players.

And so it goes.


--Mac

Younger crowds want to hear what they hear on teh radio period!! An arranger KB player cannot provide that no way...If you can't provide that somehow you LOST that gig simple as that.....you need to choose your venues wisely & age group, and be good enough and "unique enough" to be IN DEMAND!
They should be looking for you to play not the other way around...if you can do that then your doing it right ....if you have to beg for work there's something wrong.........it's like a good restaurant, if the food is great you always go back and tell your friends to go there too....if the food sux......see ya, no one returns...

Trust me....they are. It's a free-for-all in the tri-state area!

Lucky

Another clipping:

ASBURY PARK, NJ — Brace yourself for the sacrilege: This is no longer Bruce Springsteen’s Asbury Park.

The boardwalk area is no longer the worn boot-heel town of Springsteen’s youth. The Pony has a summer stage, draped in sponsor banners. Wonder Bar is freshly minted in Palace Amusement green, Tilly and all. Fluorescent mood lights illuminate the refurbished Empress Hotel, which for years had mattresses and broken furniture piled on its balconies.

And on this Saturday night, as whispers on the boardwalk said Bruce would make a late-night showing at Wonder Bar, the big draw in town was….

a Dutch DJ named Tiesto.

….He was in the electronic cockpit of a sold-out rave at the Paramount, a retinal and tympanic membrane assault of laser lights and synthesized thumps, playing to kids whose parents were teenagers back when Bruce put out "Greetings ..." in 1973.

No, this is not your father’s Asbury Park

Asbury Park & Long Branch are totally renovated with new clubs & restaurants..in fact 2 weeks ago Bruce Springsteen surpisingly dropped by the Stone Pony to jam with a friend on stage for 3 songs WOW!!!
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/new_jersey/bruce-springsteen-stone-pony-20100728-lgf

What I think is so often overlooked here on this forum regarding DJ's is that they're just like any other performer. You have your good ones, and your poor ones. Same can be said for keyboard players.

The problem I notice is that quite a few here have reduced the modern DJ to someone who just essentially presses, START, STOP, PAUSE, and NEXT. That's not the case at all. Many of today's DJ's are actually quite skilled. How many of you guys here can "scratch" and do it well..?? Have you ever tried it? (it's not as easy as it looks). How many of you guys here know how to take ANY song out there..., chop it up.., add your own flavor to it, and turn it into a dance hit? Better yet.., how many here consider themselves skilled enough to even run a modern sampler, turn-table, or groovebox?

Before you guys trash the DJ.., first try and do their job and see if you can keep up. You'd be surprised how many DJ's are REAL musicians too.

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 08-09-2010).]