Anyone who hangs around in Second Life’s electronic/dance music mainstream will soon be aware of the existing friction and the dilemma between being a Real Life DJ or simply a “backroom DJ” or entertainer. It is obvious that is a sort of cliche, to claim being a RL DJ in order to be selected for permanent slots in well known clubs around the grid. It also seem a criteria used by some of those clubs when it comes to decide who the slots will be given to.
At a first glance it seems that there is a sort of snobbery around against those who are not so called RL DJs. However it is widely known that some of those who claim to be RL DJ’s are simply lying, although that is not always the case. Some have been spotted spinning in an almost constant basis getting as many slots as they can. Then the question; “Why are you spinning in Second Life, so often, and for so little money when a RL DJ can make a good income playing at RL clubs?” or “How do you find time for spinning in RL with all this time spent in-world considering the time you need for shower, meals and sleeping?” A Day is only 24 hours long mate!
Another thing that seems to be object of some speculation is the technical issue. Everybody seems to be using externals and even more... top of range stuff (yeah, yeah, we all have those fancy Pioneers)! Spinning live in SL using externals is virtually impossible using only one PC as the lag combined with the connection of that equipment literally freezes even the best of computers. So it makes it necessary to use a second PC, which leads us with another question; “OK, you seem to use two different PCs and top of range externals, but for the peanuts money people do in Second Life can you really afford it all?” Especially when you are in SL all the time and that prevents you from having a Real Life job. We should not be however mistaken that albeit that issue, there are in fact some people related to the RL world of music and production, even though they are more on it for promotional purposes than for L$ that some cash out into a couple of quid.
Like stylists in Second Life who assume they do not perform that job in RL but are creative people, often graphic designers; I personally think Second Life DJ’s should have the same honest attitude.Personally, I guess you can call me a backroom DJ; I am not really bothered being tagged that way. I was a radio DJ in RL by the time I finished my High School and also produced mainly Jingles, Radio Shows and Advertisements. I had to leave it behind because a career in aviation in RL would help paying my bills easily. However I am far from being called a RL DJ, producer or sound engineer.
I am Second Life DJ, and being a Second Life DJ is more about entertainment and having a good laugh. However, it is also know that some electronic music professionals (i.e. DJs, producers, sound engineers, Radio DJs) are featuring in Second Life, and being in the grid’s mainstream has given me the opportunity to come across and get to know some of them (i.e. Vitor Urqhart aka Vandalsoob from Portugal, Mantis Oh aka Carl Lekerbusch from Sweden and some others) as well as part of their brilliant work. They are in Second Life mainly for promotional purposes as is widely know that is difficult to strive in RL as musician if you’re not signed by a main label.No matter what sort of classification can be given to any DJ in Second Life, the most important thing is the quest for quality and entertainment value.
Don’t forget that if you are good enough technically and have enough charisma to perform that job and seek a career in Second Life as a DJ, you won’t be measured by the size of the baloney you can spew, but instead by quality of your work and the personality you bring along with it, and on those terms SIZE MATTERS!
PS. And for Christ sake, have at least originality and do not play other DJs pre-recorded set’s.
At a first glance it seems that there is a sort of snobbery around against those who are not so called RL DJs. However it is widely known that some of those who claim to be RL DJ’s are simply lying, although that is not always the case. Some have been spotted spinning in an almost constant basis getting as many slots as they can. Then the question; “Why are you spinning in Second Life, so often, and for so little money when a RL DJ can make a good income playing at RL clubs?” or “How do you find time for spinning in RL with all this time spent in-world considering the time you need for shower, meals and sleeping?” A Day is only 24 hours long mate!
Another thing that seems to be object of some speculation is the technical issue. Everybody seems to be using externals and even more... top of range stuff (yeah, yeah, we all have those fancy Pioneers)! Spinning live in SL using externals is virtually impossible using only one PC as the lag combined with the connection of that equipment literally freezes even the best of computers. So it makes it necessary to use a second PC, which leads us with another question; “OK, you seem to use two different PCs and top of range externals, but for the peanuts money people do in Second Life can you really afford it all?” Especially when you are in SL all the time and that prevents you from having a Real Life job. We should not be however mistaken that albeit that issue, there are in fact some people related to the RL world of music and production, even though they are more on it for promotional purposes than for L$ that some cash out into a couple of quid.
Like stylists in Second Life who assume they do not perform that job in RL but are creative people, often graphic designers; I personally think Second Life DJ’s should have the same honest attitude.Personally, I guess you can call me a backroom DJ; I am not really bothered being tagged that way. I was a radio DJ in RL by the time I finished my High School and also produced mainly Jingles, Radio Shows and Advertisements. I had to leave it behind because a career in aviation in RL would help paying my bills easily. However I am far from being called a RL DJ, producer or sound engineer.
I am Second Life DJ, and being a Second Life DJ is more about entertainment and having a good laugh. However, it is also know that some electronic music professionals (i.e. DJs, producers, sound engineers, Radio DJs) are featuring in Second Life, and being in the grid’s mainstream has given me the opportunity to come across and get to know some of them (i.e. Vitor Urqhart aka Vandalsoob from Portugal, Mantis Oh aka Carl Lekerbusch from Sweden and some others) as well as part of their brilliant work. They are in Second Life mainly for promotional purposes as is widely know that is difficult to strive in RL as musician if you’re not signed by a main label.No matter what sort of classification can be given to any DJ in Second Life, the most important thing is the quest for quality and entertainment value.
Don’t forget that if you are good enough technically and have enough charisma to perform that job and seek a career in Second Life as a DJ, you won’t be measured by the size of the baloney you can spew, but instead by quality of your work and the personality you bring along with it, and on those terms SIZE MATTERS!
PS. And for Christ sake, have at least originality and do not play other DJs pre-recorded set’s.
DJing in SL HAS to be for entertainment value only because there's no other reason to do it. Look, anyone can be an SL DJ. But those of us who are asked to do it a lot, who get nominated for awards and things like that, it's not because we're running around yelling "I'm a RL DJ!!" Personally, I've never been to a club or an event where the DJ is mixing on the fly at all, so I've just always assumed that those people are few and far between. If you could do all that, why would you do it in SL anyway? LOL
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I've always giggled at those who keep having to tell us what fabulous RL DJs they are. If you have to advertise it, it's probably less than true anyway. Just have fun playing songs for people in SL. Fun is what it should be about!
I have been Dj'ing in SL for over three years. I have also dabbled in RL DJ'ing in the clubs I have worked in RL as well. I also teach free DJ'ing classes here through GQ Start. My experience is the DJ'ing is an art and it does not matter whether you are a RL or a SL DJ, if you do not have the talent you cannot make it. SL is a place where people are RL behind the avie and judge SL dj's as they would in RL. Therefore, if you suck in RL and SL, you suck. Period. But just because one is a RL Dj in SL does not make them any better than those that are SL only DJ's. I know this because I have worked with meglomaniac RL Dj's and they just love to hear themselves talk talk talk over the cyber waves here. As for me, I am mute in RL and let my music speak for me. Just like in taking my work seriously in RL, I take it just as serious here because otherwise, I would not be spinning 15+ hours a week in SL.
ReplyDeleteIve been now over 12 years rl dj...
ReplyDeletei must say every rl dj can made realy good money with that but it is hard to get a name as dj in rl...and when i hear some dj's with a big name i dont realy like them because they doo that all only for the money and thats not the sinn....ok everyone is happy when he gets money for his set but where is the fun?!?
i play now from last year on in sl first no one would let me play because i'm normaly a electro minimal techhouse dj and in sl plays everyone house *good to know that something have change* but i think to dj in sl is a good way to play for international peeps and to get a smal international name...every rl dj knows that problem it gives not realy many clubs where let play a dj with no name it is realy hard i think to be a rl dj is one of the hardest jobs in the world....but nvm it gives in rl also in sl alot of good and bad dj's and i think whe want al the same fun, presenting our mix and getting a lil bit famous or is it not so?!? ok it gives ever stuppid kinds they says sl dj's are no dj's but absolutly this peeps are they where play all the time mp3's so what should that shit?!? i think deejaying have startet with vinyl and for me personaly is it the best way to spin and think mp3 deejaying is only another step to a other level!! but i hate it when i read notices in sl where it means vinylspinning and they spins with timecode vinyl....than can everyone spin because a synch button can everyone touch *and that is nothing against mp3 dj's but that he than spin vinyl is not the truth*
but respect to every real vinyl dj *not timecode vinyl* because it is not so easy at it looks and i known from what i talk!!
greatings our
dj blacky
Well rod congrats by this fantastic blog, are these attitudes that makes the music in-world increase quality. in my humble opinion and we discussed this sometimes, I believe that sl is a good channel for the djs put its music and do what they like. here I spend my personal experience since I am dj rl and sl. sl only for fun in rl the act takes different dimensions, and for this reason that I believe that in sl the fun is the most important. goodbye friend
ReplyDeleteEphram Magic