Do we need the DJ with today's technology?

[Mac Attack]

I'm certain that everyone who posts in this sub-forum knows a bit about I-tunes and DJs. In todays world I think the DJ is highly overrated because of the ability to create different playlists on your Ipod. It is so easy in todays world to plug in an Ipod player and have it play your playlist. So then I ask the question why have a DJ?

If we can have all the songs we want on a playlist why go to the extra extent to hire someone to do something that can be done with relative ease? Personally I strongly believe there is no reason for the DJ anymore because of this. I realize it can be more efficent especially if the DJ brings the sound system however once again it is relatively cheaper to plug in an Ipod and link it to your sound system. Also a DJ I think is extremely overrated because they generally don't do much besides play music. I also belive there is a difference between an MC and a DJ as a MC can also attempt to get people more excited with words.

So I ask DJ or no more DJs?

 

[Cookie]

You're making a sweeping generalization here.

There are a lot of different kinds of DJs and many DJs (unless you've hired them for your wedding or bat mitzvah) do a lot more than press play on their laptop, even if they are a computer-based DJ. It's not that easy to just pick up the equipment they use and match beats or scratch records or produce your own stuff... it does require skill and a vast knowledge of new music, old music, and music composition in general.

There's a negative stigma around the term "DJ" for sure. Because, like you, majority of people think that it's easy and anybody can do it. It's a fair assumption, because it does seem simple on the surface. Even DJs and producers (deadmau5 comes to mind) purposely stray away from the term because of the negative connotation and because they obviously do much more than just play popular music tracks off a Genius playlist.

 

[Big Sexy]

Goddamn you are severely underrating what DJ's do. It isn't just some guy that comes to parties and plugs in an ipod. DJing is an art form especially in the hip hop culture. Legends like Jam Master Jay, J Dilla, and Jazzy Jeff didn't just play records, they added their own flavor with the use of turntables during production and performances. Jam Master Jay was just as important to the success of Run DMC as Run and DMC were. And do you think it's a coincidence that Will Smith's albums without Jazzy Jeff were no where near as good as the great ones he put out in the late 80's and early 90's?

You also fail to realize that with hip hop especially, some of the best producers start out as DJ's. Producers are basically just DJ's with a lot more equipment and technology at their fingertips. Maybe at your local high school party you have some dude just standing there with an ipod but you are completely generalizing the true art of the DJ.

 

[Shotlycrue]

I have to agree w/ the ppl that have already posted here. I DJ'd at a night club in a midwest town for nearly 3 years and it's much more difficult than you would think. The entire mood of a club is set by the DJ. Song choice, beat matching, energy curve, are all tools that a DJ uses to bring across what that club wants to the customer to feel. Not to mention the fact that a DJ has to be good on the stick as well. Interaction is essential to a successful DJ