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Re: To Mix Or Not To Mix?

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Posted by Olaf (24.128.35.68) on October 12, 2002 at 20:18:48:

In Reply to: To Mix Or Not To Mix? posted by Rob on October 12, 2002 at 11:21:50:

Hey, HERE THIS! No DJ's that cut off the ends are working with SBC! All dancers know THERE'S A DIP AT THE END OF EVERY SONG! Not having the end, and thus no dip, is like, well, er, uhm... well, we'll just leave that in the bedroom.

The flip side of the argument is that DJ's like to mix, since that gives them something more to do than just flip CD's and hit play. *That's what DJ's do* in just about every traditional nightclub scene. At least that's the base argument. The good Salsa DJ's know however that they are spinning for a particular audience (and definitely not for themselves), and that audience wants the ends of the songs. So instead, where DJ quality comes in is in the selection and smooth queing of music, and moreover in keeping up the right amount of energy on the dancefloor.

The particular argument about the end of the song is that at some point I'm basically choreographing my dance with someone to the music, especially if I know it. My favorite songs have a lot of dynamic elements to them, like some softer romantic parts and then some much more energized sections, so if the end is cut off I feel like I'm left dead in the water.

Occassionally I've been fooled myself when the end of the song doesn't come and we go right into the next number without really noticing. That can be good or not depending on the partner... ;-)

: Some DJ's mix one song right into the end of another so the music is continuous. Others allow the first cut to completely end before they start the next and usually have a couple of seconds break between cuts. Personally, I really prefer the non-mix approach so I can dance the song to it's full conclusion, thank my partner and have an opportunity to stop dancing or invite a new partner for the next song.
: There's an interesting discussion on this at http://www.dancefreak.com/stories/DJ_mixing.htm.
: What's the consenus in Boston? (Olaf, this might make an interesting poll).
:

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: Hey, HERE THIS! No DJ's that cut off the ends are working with SBC! All dancers know THERE'S A DIP AT THE END OF EVERY SONG! Not having the end, and thus no dip, is like, well, er, uhm... well, we'll just leave that in the bedroom. : The flip side of the argument is that DJ's like to mix, since that gives them something more to do than just flip CD's and hit play. *That's what DJ's do* in just about every traditional nightclub scene. At least that's the base argument. The good Salsa DJ's know however that they are spinning for a particular audience (and definitely not for themselves), and that audience wants the ends of the songs. So instead, where DJ quality comes in is in the selection and smooth queing of music, and moreover in keeping up the right amount of energy on the dancefloor. : The particular argument about the end of the song is that at some point I'm basically choreographing my dance with someone to the music, especially if I know it. My favorite songs have a lot of dynamic elements to them, like some softer romantic parts and then some much more energized sections, so if the end is cut off I feel like I'm left dead in the water. : Occassionally I've been fooled myself when the end of the song doesn't come and we go right into the next number without really noticing. That can be good or not depending on the partner... ;-) : : Some DJ's mix one song right into the end of another so the music is continuous. Others allow the first cut to completely end before they start the next and usually have a couple of seconds break between cuts. Personally, I really prefer the non-mix approach so I can dance the song to it's full conclusion, thank my partner and have an opportunity to stop dancing or invite a new partner for the next song. : : There's an interesting discussion on this at http://www.dancefreak.com/stories/DJ_mixing.htm. : : What's the consenus in Boston? (Olaf, this might make an interesting poll). : :

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