Special Sub-Topic: "How to DJ Right," F. Broughton & B. Brewster Authored by: neon000 Sub-topic of: Non-Fiction

Turntables and vinyl records are still staples of the trade for many DJs. The book opens with a guide to using this gear. Turntables spin because of a mechanism called a drive. What type of drive do the authors say you should choose?

Direct. Belt drives are best for people who only play records at home; they are no good for use by club DJs, the authors warn, because they include rubber bands and are ineffective for mixing. Elephant and choo-choo drives do not exist.

The warm-up or opening DJ does exactly what it sounds like they do - play before the headlining performers. Which of the following is *not* a trait the authors say the opener's music should have?

Faster tempo. Broughton and Brewster recommend slower music for the first DJ on tap. If you play all the fast-paced music first, the crowd will be tapped out by the time anyone else takes the helm. It's more fun for everyone if you build from one pace to another.

What are "tweaks," "bubbles," "chirps" and "orbits"?

Types of 'scratches' used by DJs in hip-hop and electronic music. Scratching is the process of moving a record back and forth by hand. It's used in combination with the fader, which switches back and forth between the two players on a turntable.

Before a DJ goes to a gig, he or she must select the records for the set. There's a tendency to write down one's favorite tracks of the bunch, and plan to play them in order. According to the authors, how many songs should be on such a list?

Just a few, at most. The authors urge the beginning DJ to shun the habit of using static lists. Strict plans make the event dull for you and the crowd alike. Take a lot of records, with a variety of styles, and you'll make yourself "think on your feet."

As your musical skills grow, you may want to add special effects to the music. Which of these is *not* the name of an effect mentioned in the book?

Burbling. An echo is one repeating sound. A reverb produces many echoes at once. Flanging is the addition of a "whooshing" effect to the music. Burbling is a term I made up.

The prospective DJ must take care to avoid common mistakes. Which of the following do the authors of the book consider a serious error?

Playing too loud. Turning up the sound as far as it can go, for long periods of time, is not a good idea. It may damage the club's equipment, which is not your property, and it's annoying for anyone who has to play after you. The authors recommend that, volume-wise, you "leave yourself somewhere to go."

Broughton and Brewster say there is an odd but real benefit to playing a turntable in a room where they're also using strobe lights. What is it?

You can see whether or not the turntable is balanced properly. Look at a turntable made for professional DJs. The dots around the edge of the platter aren't just for fun. If you see them dipping and weaving while a record is being played, there may be something wrong with the setup, and you can know to fix it.

How do the authors recommend that a DJ accept payment?

Cash. Checks may bounce; less-than-honest promoters may try to get out of paying you at all. Get paid in cash and you avoid these issues.

Sometimes DJs can get on mailing lists, by which record labels send out free promotional copies of songs. According to the authors, what will happen if you accept these giveaways?

You miss the chance to build your own identity by finding unique tracks. Even though it's tempting to make use of free stuff, promotional records aren't such good additions to your collection. The better DJs want to expand their horizons by seeking out remixes, imports and other original material.

Every DJ needs to get to know people in the industry. How do the authors say you should go about this?

Work for a club, record store or music magazine. These types of jobs allow you to meet plenty of people. You can also learn about club operations and other phases of the music business from the ground up.