Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Itchy Tasty Records Electronic Music Blogspot: Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport - Dynamite...
Itchy Tasty Records Electronic Music Blogspot: Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport - Dynamite...: Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport Dynamite Jacksin's Debut album titled "Dynamite Jacksin" was ranked in the top 5 on...
Itchy Tasty Records Electronic Music Blogspot: Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport - Dynamite...
Itchy Tasty Records Electronic Music Blogspot: Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport - Dynamite...: Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport Dynamite Jacksin's Debut album titled "Dynamite Jacksin" was ranked in the top 5 on...
ITCHIN TO PREPARE FOR DJ GIGS
As a working DJ with fifteen years worth of gigs (with bands, MCs, and as a solo DJ) under my belt – I can honestly say that the experience of gigging can range from the magical and emotional, to the down right bloody awful!
There are millions of things that can go wrong at gigs, but annoying drunken requests and dodgy promoters aside, a lot of this boils down to one vital ingredient – preparation.
This article, assuming you have successfully moved from the bedroom to the club and secured yourself a gig, will hopefully steer you clear of some of these terrible misfortunes, with some handy tips that aim to make your life that little bit easier when it comes to taking on professional work as a DJ.
Equipment
It used to be so simple – you’d get booked for a gig and the only thing you’d have to worry about was remembering your needles, records and headphones. The DJ booth of yesteryear was a relatively simple place – you’d expect to find two Technics 1210s and a mixer, and a monitor speaker if you were lucky (and the promoter had the first clue about what they were doing!)
Nowadays all that’s changed. The sheer variety of DJ equipment out there is staggering. One can never be sure what they’re going to be faced with at a venue, and this can be problematic considering the amount of music storage formats available – CD, DVD, USB, Hard drives, Vinyl, Laptops etc
CD decks that read USB sticks or hard drives are becoming more popular, but not every venue has them – especially if they have a small budget and still have a perfectly good pair of working decks.
The New generation of Pioneer CDJs can read external hard drives, but they can’t read certain formats, so if you haven’t formatted your hard drive correctly you may end up doing a John Cage style silent disco for an hour, and as innovative and ground-breaking as that may be, it’s not what you’re being paid for!
Therefore, checking what equipment the venue has prior to playing there is vital if you are relying on using a controller, laptop, DVS system, Vinyl or USB sticks. Just turning up and hoping that they have everything you need is asking for trouble.
Often, you may be better off by-passing the promoter entirely and contacting the venue directly, as they should know what they have in the way of DJ kit – usually a quick e-mail is all that’s required, or better still a quick chat with them directly over the phone.
Here are a few things you may want to ask:
What make and model are the CDJs?
What is the make and model of the mixer?
Are there working vinyl decks?
Can I use my own mixer/decks/controller?
Is there a laptop stand in the booth?
Are there are any spare power points?
Is there space for a DJ controller?Another issue nowadays is that Pioneer CD decks have internal firmware that needs to be updated. And guess what? Most promoters and bar owners won’t know the first thing about updating their decks internal firmware – they’ve got bigger issues to worry about, like making money out of your amazing DJ skills!
If you’re using Pioneer’s ‘Rekordbox’ software to organise your music and are using the latest version, but the club’s decks are on an earlier version of the internal firmware, this can cause issues. Even the older CDJ 1000s and CDJ 800s can have their firmware updated by burning the update to a CD (this is supposed to improve performance).
Do yourself a favour and take the latest firmware update for that CDJ model on a USB stick and update the decks before your set.
Monitor Speakers
I’ve played so many gigs where a monitor speaker was not provided for the DJs, when they were expected to mix – whether this happened due to an oversight or just sheer ignorance, mixing without a monitor is not much fun, as you can’t hear what the hell you are doing other than in headphones – and who wants that?!
Asking in advance if there is a DJ monitor may just remind the promoter that there needs to be one and save you struggling through your set and clanging worse than Paris Hilton on a good day.
Cash Money
Sure, you’re doing this for the love of music and all that…I get it, but if someone’s making money out of the night and you’ve played a part in it by rocking the joint, you should get your fair share.
Promoters (bad ones at any rate) can be slippery customers at the best of times, and especially hard to locate when the time comes to hand over your fee. Getting things in order in advance can save a lot of hassle if you play it right.
Tips
Agree your fee, set time and length of set in advance
If you are playing for free, try and negotiate free drinks and the cab fare home
If you don’t know the promoter, try and get part of your fee up front – then if the gig gets cancelled or the night ‘loses money’ and your fee suddenly evaporates into thin air, at least you get something.
If you’re being paid on the night, tell the promoter in advance that you’ll need it before you play or straight after your set (make something up like you have another gig to get to if necessary). You don’t want to be hanging around until 5am to get paid because that’s when the venue cashes up.
If you get asked for an invoice in advance – send it as soon as possible! If you slack on this you may miss the boat for a whole month, and will be waiting for payment for far longer than necessary. Some venues even require you to bring your invoice with you to the gig and if you forget it, you ain’t getting paid!
Music Requirements
Depending on what/where/when the gig is and what time you’re playing, asking the person who booked you if there are any special musical requirements or definite no-nos is just common sense.
Use your own judgement from gig to gig – you don’t want to appear that you have no idea what to play if it’s obvious, and also I assume you would have done your research about the night if submitting a mixtape, but here’s a few things you may want to ask.
What style would you like me to play?
What’s the overall vibe/ theme for the night?
What time’s my set?
Are there any particular genres I shouldn’t play?
What styles do the other DJs play?If you’re playing and there are other DJs on before you, get there early and listen to the other DJs set. Turning up ten minutes before you’re due on the decks means you won’t have a clue what’s been going on and whether you are about to drop a tune that was already played twenty minutes ago. Sometimes this is un-avoidable, but if you are spinning in between DJs that play a similar style to you, it’s likely they may have some tunes you have, and you don’t want to be seen as the DJ that just copies everyone else.
In conclusion…
Preparation will make your life easier but with all the planning in the world, things can still go wrong – that’s life after all! Bad gigs can be great learning experiences and will ultimately make you appreciate the gigs that go well.
*Sources
http://www.ItchyTastyRecords.com
Itchin to hear some tasty beats?
-Itchy Tasty Records
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport - Dynamite Jacksin TOP 5 Ranking
Minimal :: Top 100 Releases :: Beatport
Dynamite Jacksin's Debut album titled "Dynamite Jacksin" was ranked in the top 5 on Beatports official top 100 Minimal releases in october 2013. Dynamite Jacksin - Is doing amazing for their debut album, help them get to the number one spot with your support!!1
http://www.beatport.com/genre/minimal/14/top-100-releases
Itchin to hear some tasty beats?
-Itchy Tasty Records
http://www.ItchyTastyRecords.com
Dynamite Jacksin's Debut album titled "Dynamite Jacksin" was ranked in the top 5 on Beatports official top 100 Minimal releases in october 2013. Dynamite Jacksin - Is doing amazing for their debut album, help them get to the number one spot with your support!!1
http://www.beatport.com/genre/minimal/14/top-100-releases
Itchin to hear some tasty beats?
-Itchy Tasty Records
http://www.ItchyTastyRecords.com
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Dynamite Jacksin ranks in beatport's - TOP 100 minimal Releases - as well as - top 10 must hear tracks -
Dynamite Jacksin just released their highly-anticipated first album last week . Dynamite Jacksin's Album is one of the best Tech/Minimal House album of 2013. All the tracks are as unique as they are awesome. It has now even made it to the TOP 100 minimal Releases for beatport with their current rank is at #40.
Dynamite Jacksin’s track Tunnel Vision From the album was placed on Beatport’s official chart for the TOP 10 Must Hear Tracks for week 41 2013.
Top 100 link
http://www.beatport.com/genre/minimal/14/top-100-releases
10 must hear link
http://www.beatport.com/charts/10-must-hear-minimal-tracks-week-41/221377
Full Album Link
http://www.beatport.com/release/dynamite-jacksin/1161306
Dynamite Jacksin’s record label Itchy Tasty Records for more information.
http://www.ItchyTastyRecords.com
Get The Physical Cd Deluxe Edition Album On Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Dynamite-Jacksin-Deluxe-Edition/dp/B00F8OOTQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381945319&sr=8-1&keywords=Itchy+Tasty+Records
Dynamite Jacksin - "Dynamite Jacksin" Full Track List
If you love edm, but you feel like so much of 2013's music has been lacking in awesomeness, creativity and style. Don't worry your little head about it. Dynamite Jacksin's new album really does deliver exactly what the Dr ordered. This album is great electronic dance music that even fans of other genres of music will love!
Dynamite Jacksin’s track Tunnel Vision From the album was placed on Beatport’s official chart for the TOP 10 Must Hear Tracks for week 41 2013.
Top 100 link
http://www.beatport.com/genre/minimal/14/top-100-releases
10 must hear link
http://www.beatport.com/charts/10-must-hear-minimal-tracks-week-41/221377
Full Album Link
http://www.beatport.com/release/dynamite-jacksin/1161306
Dynamite Jacksin’s record label Itchy Tasty Records for more information.
http://www.ItchyTastyRecords.com
Get The Physical Cd Deluxe Edition Album On Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Dynamite-Jacksin-Deluxe-Edition/dp/B00F8OOTQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381945319&sr=8-1&keywords=Itchy+Tasty+Records
Dynamite Jacksin - "Dynamite Jacksin" Full Track List
Feed Me - Calamari Tuesday - New Album That will Blow You away
Feed Me - Calamari Tuesday - New Album That will Blow You away
Wow this is one album that really has 5 out of 5 Itchy Tasty Records thumbs up. Out now is Feed Me‘s highly-anticipated album Calamari Tuesday on his new imprint, Sotto Voce. DAD has been enamored with this project and its many colors, ranging from trap and dubstep to more emotional numbers and even some enticing house numbers. Itchy Tasty Records Personal Fav tracks from the album are Chinchilla and Orion.
Really showing the kids how electro-house should be done. Good work feed me.
Very Clean and crisp sounds and great mixdown. Only falter with the album is that the mastering engineer really played it safe so the bass may be lacking he and there. Never the Less one hell of an album! Feed Me – Orion (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Death By Robot (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Lonely Mountain (Original Mix)
Feed Me featuring Tasha Baxter – Ebb & Flow (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Rat Trap (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Dazed (Original Mix)
Feed Me featuring Yadi – Ophelia (Original Mix)
Feed Me – In The Bin (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Chinchilla (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Fiasco (Original Mix)
Feed Me & Crystal Fighters – Love Is All I Got (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Short Skirt (Original Mix)
Feed Me – No Grip (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Onstuh (Original Mix)
Feed Me – Last Requests featuring Jenna G (Original Mix)
*sources
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Wh1ch House? Psychological Games Beatport Release 2013-10-15 - Download your Wiccan Beats Today!!1
More...
http://www.beatport.com/release/psychological-games-e-p/1165856
A note from Wh1ch House? about psychological games.
Wh1ch House? - Psychological Games E.P. - This is a perfect Itchy Tasty mix for your electronic Halloween pleasure. Prepare to be awesomeified by Wh1ch House?'s new E.P. Psychological Games. A Special message from Wh1ch House? - Wh1ch House? gives you top notch wiccan beats that will make you wanna hip hop to your room and fap'n trap yourself off. But, chillout, get yourself a girl/guy and bring it downtempo for a second. Make sure you break beat that B*tch hard style and always take it to the bass. Dont' mean to get all tech on you, but when you've finished choppin and screwin your gonna wanna make sure you wipe off all that sticky ghetto grime. With your daily dose of Wh1ch House? it is guaranteed that you will deliver boat-loads, all of the time, every time.
sources -
http://www.ItchyTastyRecords.com
http://www.beatport.com/label/itchy-tasty-records/33841
http://www.beatport.com/release/psychological-games-e-p/1165856
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