Electronic Music 411 - awesomely empty!

07/04/08 + geargasm

I've been thinking about this quite a bit, and what IS DJ'ing really anymore? What's the difference between a performance and dj'ing?

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07/07/08 + monkvolcano

what's the point in labeling it? Is there some kind of ultimate truth that defines what's a performance and what isn't? i just say do what you do. Both djing and production (or whatever) come from a deeper place than just words anyway.

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07/07/08 + nightowl

curtismayfld said: "
That is a musical performance to me, even though Im not using sounds that I made myself."

i have to agree with you here, because those of us who use samples or sample-based programs
like fruuity loops are also using sounds we did not make ourselves. so everyone, except those who play hardware,
is playing with pieces of other people's creations.

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07/07/08 + nightowl

i would certainly consider DJing a performance, because a performance does not, by definition, have to involve music the DJ made himself.

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07/08/08 + papalote

this question would typically ruffle some feathers in an "electronic music" forum where responses would range from 'what is the definition' of this vs. that down to the very ontology of sound; but to be honest, lately i've been going to shows where the performer walks to his/her macbook between tracks, clicks on a few things, then returns to the mic ... all the while i'm just thinking what's the point...

number one rule on stage is NO LAPTOPS, even if it is your own material, but that's just me, and i hope i'm not digressing...

07/08/08 + oxymoron

Except a DJ can't copyright to his or her "performance" and cannot exploit it further with the underlying protection of intellectual property law. That is, you cannot get copyright of a set-list, no matter how inspired. It's like copyright in recipes (1 egg, 1L milk, 1 kilo almonds, 1 kilo butter etc even if it's for the best damn almond croissants in history, the list gets no copyright protection; the directions may get it).

A techno composer, once any rights to samples are cleared, can license the music inclusion on recordings, film soundtracks, etc and gets paid each time the piece is played on a radio.

Sure, superstar DJs can make money at live shows or on branded compilations ("Seb Fontaine Presents") or as song suggesters to films; but they earn under a services contract: as performers or expert consultants (not much different "Pricewaterhouse Coopers Presents" if that firm had partners who specialized in song selection and presentation) or as brands/trademarks.

So legally and commercially, the two are different activities. Artistically and live-performance-wise, I think there's more of a kinship than many would admit.

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07/08/08 + adcBicycle

DJ: a musician who plays one note every 3 minutes.

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edited: Jul 09 2008 + ercoa

yes of course

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edited: Jul 08 2008 + ercoa

yeah yekker of course it's called mixing- but promoters often want to know more precisely what you're gonna do if they dont know you, ime.

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07/08/08 + yekker

ercoa said: "there must be a term for the hybrid of live performance and djing"

"mixing" ?

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07/08/08 + implexgrace

this thread is kind of ridiculous.. there's no need to pigeon hole your art, whatever it may be

07/09/08 + yghartsyrt

do you think is google a search engine or more and what may it be.

couldn't care less.
if it rocks it fuckig rocks. period.

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