Since I spin largely CD's, I am able to take a BIG bag of tricks to any gig I play and I usually have around 500 discs at any gig I go to unless it is something very specific. As Mark points out, there are those DJ's who work a relatively small box of records and who know the music well and have their set down pat but who operate in genre patterns, personally I like the challenge of being as spontaneous as possible and being able to move in several directions and I play everything from some very funky music all the way through to psy-trance and beyond. Since my radio show has been rooted in ethnic (largely African) music, I am very comfortable with that music but I really like to mix things up and I always try to make sure that the dancers on the floor have dancing experiences that are as transcendental as possible and that incorporate music that appeals to the whole body and also the mind. Over the years I have developed some sequences of music that work very well and I try to incorporate whatever new stuff I am getting into the mix as quickly as possible, its really a thing that grows out of experience. There are DJ's out there whose technical skills far surpass mine but I like to think that the depth of musical knowledge that I have allows me to fly in any sort of weather and I am working pretty steadily as a DJ at a wide variety of parties. Having the ability to drop unusual things into your sets is something that comes with knowing the music and having a feel for the crowd. It is possible to learn the technical side of being a DJ but the feel for it is innate and evolves out of experience, you either got it or you don't but it cannot be taught. To me the challenge is being able to take people on a journey and to push the envelope at the same time. I really love the rush and thrill of having a bunch of people tripping out on the music I am spinning and seeing the dancers go absolutely off, there is nothing quite like it for me
leslie/The Power of Sound
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