Hi all, as I said in my blog yesterday, I would be dedicating some time to actually sit down and write something. I started last night and would like to put up the introduction and first chapter to this. Not wanting to give too much away, I'm going to keep the synopsis to myself, but its actually got me looking forward to write more chapters, & am planning to do at least one a day.
So, please find below the start to this story, which I am going to call either All the World's a Stage or 15 Minutes of Fame. It is a first draft so I will be making changes to this as I go on, but I welcome your thoughts and views on it so far.
Thanks,
Jay
-----
INTRODUCTION
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances:
And one man in his time plays many parts."
- William Shakespeare, 1623
CHAPTER 1
As the blood soaked sheet was pulled back, he could see the level of damage that was inflicted. A dull pain started to throb in his temple, and he averted his eyes, choosing to look up into the night sky and compose himself. It was a clear night, and the moon seemed to illuminate this scene as if it were a spotlight. After a few short moments, he gazed down at the poor unfortunate that lay at his feet. She appeared to be a middle-aged woman and was fully clothed. Her body was warm to the touch, though it was rapidly cooling due to the cold winter weather that was approaching. Her clothing was wet, saturated with blood. The only noticeable wound was an incision on the left side of her neck, running across her throat.
He knew that this would attract media attention, as this wasn't the first murder on this street. This was Whitechapel, part of London's East End, and an area that - in 1888 - was plagued with poverty, suffering and death. Just over 124 years ago, another body lay in this position, in the exact same spot. This was Durward Street. In 1888, Mary Ann Nichols knew it as Buck's Row, and this was her final resting place. A copycat killer. There had always been attempts to follow in Jack the Ripper's footsteps, but this was different. Something just wasn't quite right about this.
His eyes checked the body for any signs that could aid his investigation. In her right hand she clutched a small piece of blood-spattered paper. Carefully unfolding it, he noted the writing it contained. He had seen this before, and it chilled him to the bone. He knew what this entailed, and he knew that there would be more...there were always more. The note contained just four words: FIFTEEN MINUTES. ANDY WARHOL.
It was shortly after 7pm. This night was just beginning.
Wednesday 17 October 2012
Tuesday 16 October 2012
New writing plans
When I started my blog back up, I planned to do so on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, other things have got in the way and I haven't had the opportunity. However, I think it's about high time that I did dip my toe back into the world of writing and utilise my imagination for good.
So this is my word that I will be writing some new stuff over the next couple of weeks that I will try to add on here - be they short stories, or a synopsis of an idea that I have.
Jay Makes Blogs will be making blogs, hopefully to showcase some of my "talent" in imaginative/creative writing, so blog you all later!
So this is my word that I will be writing some new stuff over the next couple of weeks that I will try to add on here - be they short stories, or a synopsis of an idea that I have.
Jay Makes Blogs will be making blogs, hopefully to showcase some of my "talent" in imaginative/creative writing, so blog you all later!
Friday 17 August 2012
Being a DJ - The Trials & Tribulations
I feel that having a blog could be beneficial, especially for its use as a tool to impart any wisdom that I may have. However, today's blog is not going to be full of wisdom. In fact, it's probably going to be more of a tirade about the wonderful business of DJing.
I got behind my first pair of decks way back in 1995, as a school friend of mine was learning to mix. At the time, these decks were basic turntables for vinyl, but thankfully vinyl was still widely available at that time. My DJ experience at that time lasted a grand total of 15 minutes, during which time I was unable to match 2 seperate beats to a captive audience of about 4 people. I wouldn't get behind decks again for another 5 years...
I started DJing the same way as others did - by thinking I know how to do this, its as simple as playing one song after the other, right. As I was listening to "alternative" music at the time (grunge, metal, indie, industrial, etc), it seemed like a safer bet than dance music. How wrong was I!!! When I started DJing locally I must have pissed numerous people off because I broke the first unwritten rule of DJing - NEVER PLAY FOR YOURSELF. I did that every single time. It probably took me about 6 months to learn how to read a crowd and play to their strengths (something that a lot of people I know fail to do).
After about 8 months of playing to crowds between 6 and 150 people, I felt I had some experience and could start introducing new music into my sets. Then a funny thing started happening - we started getting more people in. I had said from the get-go that I would always strive to play requests & this pleased the punters paying their funds to get into the club. After about a year, I was playing to regular crowds of about 200 people. What could go wrong?
My first tirade in this blog is against club owners. They hire DJs & staff to keep the punters entertained, but at the end of the day they pay peanuts & keep 95% of the money. Fair play to them, they have to cover all kinds of overheads, but when you know that you've brought people into a club & got them dancing all night, when you get paid £30 for 6 hours work, its a slap in the face. However, as I trust all DJs will feel, I was playing music for people & getting a real kick out of it. Then the bottom started dropping out.
It started gradually - one week the owner would say "don't play Pantera", then the next it's "don't play Machine Head or Metallica". This went on for about 2 months before the bombshell was dropped - I was asked to completely change the music policy. No more was heavy metal or classic rock required, now it was emo music & indie.
This really got to me then (12 years ago) & still does now, as there are still club owners doing this. Why would you want to change the music policy that could alienate the entire paying crowd for this particular night? Why advertise a Metal/Rock night for at least 3-4 years then change it with no notice to the public? Sure, it could pay off in the long run, but thats a risky concept. In the end, it didn't pay off, as crowds started dwindling and within 5 years the club closed to be replaced by a bar with a jukebox. To this day, it's still a student hangout but nowhere near as good as the place it used to be.
So, one year after I started DJing, I felt that I had made a name for myself so I decided to quit rather than change my music policy. I was sure that I could get gigs elsewhere locally. Unfortunately, the name I made was only applicable in certain areas, none of which resulted in permanent residency. So, despite having some minimal experience, I started where the majority of DJs did - at the bottom of the ladder.
I went for spots that paid no money & only lasted 15-20 minutes at a time. I was always the opener & never played to a crowd. However, this was a humbling experience, & I got to watch many DJs, & in doing so I picked up a few pointers. For the next 3 years I was DJing locally &, whilst not getting paid, I was getting a bit more time & some much needed experience.
My big break came when I moved to Australia. I frequented a bar in Syndey at the Kings Cross Hotel. Every Friday they would bust out a damn good metal night, & this was one of the only clubs in Australia that didn't contain tourists, so being the only pom there helped me. I made friends with the DJ to the point where I was asked to DJ at an aftershow party for a band who - back then - were my favourite band. They were Arch Enemy, & here I was, DJing alongside the band to a packed house. I had finally arrived...at least in Sydney! From there I was able to get gigs elsewhere & even managed to persuade the DJs in a Melbourne club to give me a shot. During my travels I watched many DJs work their magic, and it brought my passion back for playing awesome music.
When I returned to the UK, I decided to start my own night up, rather than go through the rigmorale of trying to find a residency elsewhere. At least this way I could be in charge of my career, or so I thought! Being a promoter was a lot harder than getting behind the decks, & I combined the 2 as often as I could. After 3 years, it put me off of club DJing and playing the same tunes again & again. However, I did get the chance to hold a residency at our "local" alternitave club, playing great music alongside some good good people - we got people in, played requests & got paid for it. In the last 3 years, that was definitely the most fun I had behind the decks - no promoter pressure, just playing awesome music.
Since stepping away from club DJing in 2010, I've stepped into the world of mobile DJing. I thought it would be a lot easier & a better chance of getting paid higher amounts. In a way it has been - myself & my fellow DJ have our own equipment, a musical library spanning 60+ years, plus the know-how & experience to put on the right event for our clients (be it a wedding, birthday party, function, etc). However, in the past year, we've had about 10 gigs (as well as residency in local pubs & clubs) charged at mates rates in order to get our name out. Its a tough business, because we're starting at the bottom again, and we have been stiffed for payment & paid out more than we should have. Its like every career though, there's always ups & downs.
Here I am, 12 years after I first started DJing. I own equipment & still get offered to perform at places, which is very flattering. However, this was only ever a hobby for me. I don't need the drama that professional DJing can bring - I just want to play music & get paid something for it. Hopefully by next April we will have the whole business going (if we do, expect a blog pimping us out!) so I can start getting more money in.
For those of you that have read this blog so far & thought "why the flip would I want to read about what you did or didn't do", then I give to you below my do's & don'ts for anyone thinking about getting into this line of work:
1) Get yourself a DJ computer program that doesn't require any midi controllers - something like Virtual DJ would suffice. You can use this to mix songs together & work out timings. I use this a hell of a lot before a gig as it is a helpful tool to let you know what works together. It also helps you work out sound levels, which are very important, as every song can be recorded at a different sound quality.
2) If you want to see how DJs work, ask them! I've had a few people sitting in booths watching what I do. Hell, if they're like me they may even let you get involved!
3) Get your own CD/MP3 collection - never turn up at a gig without them & ask to borrow another DJs music collection. This is a big No-No as a DJs tunes are theirs & theirs alone. This also shows that you are not prepared.
4) If you get a spot, remember that the chances are you will be playing to no-one or a minimal crowd at the start of the night. You may not be paid, & you may not get the chance to play again. However, take it for what it is - experience.
5) Never DJ for yourself - you didn't pay to be entertained, but the crowd did.
6) If you get asked to play a venue, check it out beforehand to determine the music policy & to get an idea of what works & when.
7) Always keep a list of songs you're playing - some venues may let you open but the other DJs won't be by the decks, & the crowd may not take kindly to songs being repeated.
8) If you get a paying gig, make sure that you get an invoice printed for payment, or get payment in cash confirmed prior to your spot.
9) If you are getting into the mobile DJ trade, make sure that you have a contract completed to provide clients with - failure to have this will result in you possibly being screwed over.
10) If you have the experience, be wary about mentoring others. DJing is a ruthless business and you will be surprised how many people are willing to undercut you - I've taken the time to mentor 2 people, both of whom have tried to utilise my clubnight for their own gain to take spots elsewhere. Be wary of who you work with. I have worked with a large number of DJs over the years but would only ever consider working with 2 of them (one is my former Decibel/SNAP/Pink Toothbrush DJ, and the other is my current fellow mobile DJ).
11) Never piss off a promoter! They booked you to perform so don't hassle them for money or get pissed off if they only offer you certain spots.
12) This is the main one - ENJOY IT!
I would love to hear from other DJs that may have blogged about their career or the high & low points of the business, so please feel free to comment!
I got behind my first pair of decks way back in 1995, as a school friend of mine was learning to mix. At the time, these decks were basic turntables for vinyl, but thankfully vinyl was still widely available at that time. My DJ experience at that time lasted a grand total of 15 minutes, during which time I was unable to match 2 seperate beats to a captive audience of about 4 people. I wouldn't get behind decks again for another 5 years...
I started DJing the same way as others did - by thinking I know how to do this, its as simple as playing one song after the other, right. As I was listening to "alternative" music at the time (grunge, metal, indie, industrial, etc), it seemed like a safer bet than dance music. How wrong was I!!! When I started DJing locally I must have pissed numerous people off because I broke the first unwritten rule of DJing - NEVER PLAY FOR YOURSELF. I did that every single time. It probably took me about 6 months to learn how to read a crowd and play to their strengths (something that a lot of people I know fail to do).
After about 8 months of playing to crowds between 6 and 150 people, I felt I had some experience and could start introducing new music into my sets. Then a funny thing started happening - we started getting more people in. I had said from the get-go that I would always strive to play requests & this pleased the punters paying their funds to get into the club. After about a year, I was playing to regular crowds of about 200 people. What could go wrong?
My first tirade in this blog is against club owners. They hire DJs & staff to keep the punters entertained, but at the end of the day they pay peanuts & keep 95% of the money. Fair play to them, they have to cover all kinds of overheads, but when you know that you've brought people into a club & got them dancing all night, when you get paid £30 for 6 hours work, its a slap in the face. However, as I trust all DJs will feel, I was playing music for people & getting a real kick out of it. Then the bottom started dropping out.
It started gradually - one week the owner would say "don't play Pantera", then the next it's "don't play Machine Head or Metallica". This went on for about 2 months before the bombshell was dropped - I was asked to completely change the music policy. No more was heavy metal or classic rock required, now it was emo music & indie.
This really got to me then (12 years ago) & still does now, as there are still club owners doing this. Why would you want to change the music policy that could alienate the entire paying crowd for this particular night? Why advertise a Metal/Rock night for at least 3-4 years then change it with no notice to the public? Sure, it could pay off in the long run, but thats a risky concept. In the end, it didn't pay off, as crowds started dwindling and within 5 years the club closed to be replaced by a bar with a jukebox. To this day, it's still a student hangout but nowhere near as good as the place it used to be.
So, one year after I started DJing, I felt that I had made a name for myself so I decided to quit rather than change my music policy. I was sure that I could get gigs elsewhere locally. Unfortunately, the name I made was only applicable in certain areas, none of which resulted in permanent residency. So, despite having some minimal experience, I started where the majority of DJs did - at the bottom of the ladder.
I went for spots that paid no money & only lasted 15-20 minutes at a time. I was always the opener & never played to a crowd. However, this was a humbling experience, & I got to watch many DJs, & in doing so I picked up a few pointers. For the next 3 years I was DJing locally &, whilst not getting paid, I was getting a bit more time & some much needed experience.
My big break came when I moved to Australia. I frequented a bar in Syndey at the Kings Cross Hotel. Every Friday they would bust out a damn good metal night, & this was one of the only clubs in Australia that didn't contain tourists, so being the only pom there helped me. I made friends with the DJ to the point where I was asked to DJ at an aftershow party for a band who - back then - were my favourite band. They were Arch Enemy, & here I was, DJing alongside the band to a packed house. I had finally arrived...at least in Sydney! From there I was able to get gigs elsewhere & even managed to persuade the DJs in a Melbourne club to give me a shot. During my travels I watched many DJs work their magic, and it brought my passion back for playing awesome music.
When I returned to the UK, I decided to start my own night up, rather than go through the rigmorale of trying to find a residency elsewhere. At least this way I could be in charge of my career, or so I thought! Being a promoter was a lot harder than getting behind the decks, & I combined the 2 as often as I could. After 3 years, it put me off of club DJing and playing the same tunes again & again. However, I did get the chance to hold a residency at our "local" alternitave club, playing great music alongside some good good people - we got people in, played requests & got paid for it. In the last 3 years, that was definitely the most fun I had behind the decks - no promoter pressure, just playing awesome music.
Since stepping away from club DJing in 2010, I've stepped into the world of mobile DJing. I thought it would be a lot easier & a better chance of getting paid higher amounts. In a way it has been - myself & my fellow DJ have our own equipment, a musical library spanning 60+ years, plus the know-how & experience to put on the right event for our clients (be it a wedding, birthday party, function, etc). However, in the past year, we've had about 10 gigs (as well as residency in local pubs & clubs) charged at mates rates in order to get our name out. Its a tough business, because we're starting at the bottom again, and we have been stiffed for payment & paid out more than we should have. Its like every career though, there's always ups & downs.
Here I am, 12 years after I first started DJing. I own equipment & still get offered to perform at places, which is very flattering. However, this was only ever a hobby for me. I don't need the drama that professional DJing can bring - I just want to play music & get paid something for it. Hopefully by next April we will have the whole business going (if we do, expect a blog pimping us out!) so I can start getting more money in.
For those of you that have read this blog so far & thought "why the flip would I want to read about what you did or didn't do", then I give to you below my do's & don'ts for anyone thinking about getting into this line of work:
1) Get yourself a DJ computer program that doesn't require any midi controllers - something like Virtual DJ would suffice. You can use this to mix songs together & work out timings. I use this a hell of a lot before a gig as it is a helpful tool to let you know what works together. It also helps you work out sound levels, which are very important, as every song can be recorded at a different sound quality.
2) If you want to see how DJs work, ask them! I've had a few people sitting in booths watching what I do. Hell, if they're like me they may even let you get involved!
3) Get your own CD/MP3 collection - never turn up at a gig without them & ask to borrow another DJs music collection. This is a big No-No as a DJs tunes are theirs & theirs alone. This also shows that you are not prepared.
4) If you get a spot, remember that the chances are you will be playing to no-one or a minimal crowd at the start of the night. You may not be paid, & you may not get the chance to play again. However, take it for what it is - experience.
5) Never DJ for yourself - you didn't pay to be entertained, but the crowd did.
6) If you get asked to play a venue, check it out beforehand to determine the music policy & to get an idea of what works & when.
7) Always keep a list of songs you're playing - some venues may let you open but the other DJs won't be by the decks, & the crowd may not take kindly to songs being repeated.
8) If you get a paying gig, make sure that you get an invoice printed for payment, or get payment in cash confirmed prior to your spot.
9) If you are getting into the mobile DJ trade, make sure that you have a contract completed to provide clients with - failure to have this will result in you possibly being screwed over.
10) If you have the experience, be wary about mentoring others. DJing is a ruthless business and you will be surprised how many people are willing to undercut you - I've taken the time to mentor 2 people, both of whom have tried to utilise my clubnight for their own gain to take spots elsewhere. Be wary of who you work with. I have worked with a large number of DJs over the years but would only ever consider working with 2 of them (one is my former Decibel/SNAP/Pink Toothbrush DJ, and the other is my current fellow mobile DJ).
11) Never piss off a promoter! They booked you to perform so don't hassle them for money or get pissed off if they only offer you certain spots.
12) This is the main one - ENJOY IT!
I would love to hear from other DJs that may have blogged about their career or the high & low points of the business, so please feel free to comment!
Thursday 16 August 2012
Back to the Blog-ture!
So it's been quite a while since I last ventured into blogging territory. I used to blog on the odd occasion under the username "jaythegame"; however changes to Blogspot have meant that whilst my old blog is still online for you to read (jaythegame.blogspot.com) I can no longer access it. Hence my new blog with new username jaymakesblogs. Hopefully I will get round to blogging on a more regular basis with this one!
I look forward to writing some random gumpf for you to enjoy, that will hopefully be mixed with my own eccentric sense of humour! Until then, be patient, be very patient (well, not that patient I hope!)
Jaybles
I look forward to writing some random gumpf for you to enjoy, that will hopefully be mixed with my own eccentric sense of humour! Until then, be patient, be very patient (well, not that patient I hope!)
Jaybles
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