It's an old joke ... but it always makes me laugh

So,

Taike messaged me and reminded me of a post I made back in 2010...not much changes 'round these parts does it:)


"by Tonewheeldude:
I holded off posting to see what you guys thought. And its the same reaction here as everywhere else. For some reason musicians have a lack of respect for D.J's. Maybe its because the 80s and 90s saw musicians being pushed out of WMC and function rooms in favour of more up to date sound and light shows by some guy with a turntable or two, a volvo estate and 4 lights who would do the gig for half the money.

But the truth is many DJs these days are at an advanced level where they not only out shine a guy with an arranger keyboard, they are being truly creative. There is so much more to a DJ than playing and merging tracks. Some have a library of loops and effects to help with their task, they not only skilfully merge tracks, but remix, loop, add samples, voice over and work the audience all in real time. And then there are studio DJ's who take a piece of original material, dissamble and remix into something completely original.

The question is really - are D.J's artists? and should they be respected as such?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uegxzljHu1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGUsHAFLEA

As it happens I don't know any DJ that would call himself a musician, however they do want to be respect as artists. By the way, the myth that musicians union is not for DJ's is untrue.
[This message has been edited by Tonewheeldude]"

Here is a list of the highest paid DJ's.

http://www.thisisvibes.com/news/30-highest-paid-djs-in-the-world-416/

Couldn't locate a list of highest paid arranger players.

Just sayin'

chas

We are a very PRIVATE bunch !!!

Chas,

Can you imagine how much BullS**T a DJ has to invent to make $65 million. Think Rush Limbaugh for example. At least he gets all the help he needs by getting up early in the morning and reading from the 2 dozen or so newspapers that he says he reads every day. Man this is a lot of help for him.

Where do you suppose the DJ's get their help. WOW I guess they are just born with the BS. Like I keep saying "Some got it and some don't."

I wonder if you're making a thousand million in you life time, if you could wind up with more needle marks in your arm than Howard Hughes?

Donny, I hadn't a clue that you could be making a million+ a year. Couldn't you just loan me a few thousand to get my HOT DOG CART? I could make $100 profit a day they tell me.

Man I want a Hot Dog CART bad. I'm down to begging one of my best friends on the forum for money. What is this world coming to. I mean how low am I going to go? WOW, I'm glad my wife doesn't even know how to turn the computer on, Gary can you imagine Penny reading this post? WOW

First, BOO, I'm REALLY glad you are back....hilarious stuff!

Speaking of entertainers, I think you've missed your calling...BIG TIME! (At least, Saturday Night Live could use you as a head writer).

On this installment of the "musician (purity and skill are the only significant factors) vs. entertainer" (play tin cans...whatever, to get over) fiasco, I think it comes down to primary focus.


The worst entertainers (me, by a long shot) concentrate on what they can do....practice...practice...practice. They get better...so good that they play themselves out of a job. They work for nothing. They become resentful of the success of the "bubble gum" players, who they think have sold out and play crap, often using tricks to hide lack of talent. Or, they "sell out". To a certain extent, I've done that, and I'm not proud of it. But the "bread" is so good, I just hide my head on the way to the bank.

Likewise the entertainer concentrates on the entertainment aspect and, in my mind, at least, does not try, or puts musicianship on a back burner. I have to remind myself that
it is that individuals choice (or maybe, the limit of their skills).

Because of their choices, each claims that they made the only true choice. Musicians look down on the folks who use "gimmicks" and entertainers say the purist is a dying breed who is destined to starvation.

I'm guilty of position number 1. I think that some of the "entertainers" here are pretty lame in the musicianship area. Maybe it's just that they concentrate completely on the "show" and think that being able to play is unimportant. Or, maybe they can really play and simply believe it's not worth the effort.

Whatever. I'm thinking we'll never agree on the fundamental issues. I'll NEVER use a chicken hat, MP 3's or sequences of any kind. Donny and others will think I'm out of my mind and destined to starvation (believe me, one look at the waistline and you'll know that ain't happening anytime soon).

My choice is the right one for ME and me ONLY. Donny's choice is right for him.

But, we can still enjoy our time here, talking about tunes, equipment, gigs, etc.

I'd jump on his bandstand in a heartbeat. I LOVE to back others, and spent 15 years backing one of the best and funniest entertainers in this area.

I wouldn't (and couldn't) do what my partner Preston did, but, playing off of him as straight man, I had a ball.

Next year, this same argument will come up. I'll be "locked at the hip" with Chas and Diki. Donny and others will be in the opposite corner. BOO will be circling in the ozone somewhere, breaking both sides up (actually, he's a GREAT musician and I welcome him on "our" side).

And, you know what? If we stay courteous, it will be a HEALTHY dialogue, addressing fundamental issues relative to the music business.

The best thing is to define where we are on the spectrum, and make the best of it. That means that purists starve and pure entertainers sometimes show their A****. We're ALL somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. The trick is to make the most of our choices. And, there are compromises for everyone, regardless of your position on the "grid".

Keep up the commitments, all. State your beliefs when the subject comes up (and, believe me, it WILL), but do it with
courtesy and kindness.

After all this time, we owe it to each other, don't you think?

Best to all,


Russ (group hug) Lay

Wow!!!!!!!! Can someone publish a list of the VIP's that these two guy's DJ weddings for to make this kind of money.

02: Paul Oakenfold Net Worth – $55 million
01: DJ Tiesto Net Worth – $65 million

Rush Limbaugh makes this much money a year. I wonder what his net worth is eh? And he can't even play a comb and tissue paper let alone have the experience, knowledge and expertise to play MP3's for weddings. Ha ha!

Man if I were a DJ making this kind of money, I could find some place else to spend my time than on this forum with a bunch of under worked poverty stricken wanna be famous arranger keyboard players. LOL

If these guy's are making this money doing weddings, stealing money from us arranger players, I'll kiss your A$$ on Broadway in the middle of the day night or whenever and give you a week to draw a crowd. Ha ha!

Man can you believe how naive a person has to be to think these guys make this money playing MP3's at weddings. This is funnier than, Laurel, Hardy, Martin, Lewis, Abbott and Costello all put together.

I'm having a great time with this one!!!! Can ya'll tell?

chas ... are these the people YOU are going to hire for a wedding or other type of affair?!? ...

Just askin' ...

I found it interesting that all the names I 'googled' were from England or continental Europe ... don't know what that means, but ...

Let's be REAL ... when we - no, let me make that I (don't want to speak for anyone else) talk about "musicians" vs "DJs", I am talking about the guys some people here compete with for gigs ... I am not talking about guys who DJ in big city 'dance clubs' where you have to be one of the "INS" or know the bouncer to get in ... The guys in the big clubs are professionals who have honed their craft ... it might not be for me, but they know what they are doing ...

I STILL want a live band !!!

BTW ... can someone tell me just what a DJ does to command $500,000 a show ?!?!?!?

Tony,

I can't believe you haven't heard, "there's a sucker born every minute." Ha ha!

What about "A fool and his money are soon parted."

Does either of these ring a bell and sound like Casino people? I used to pay my rent and make my car payments off of nine ball just at the local bars in New Orleans!

Does either statement bring to mind the saying that "there are people who have more money than brains."

I don't think that they are so stupid as to pay a DJ $500,000 to play a Nursing Home, (I mean a wedding), it's just a simple fact,
"THERE REALLY ARE PEOPLE WITH MORE MONEY THAN BRAINS.