Q&A: DJing 101 – Equipment, Music, and Promotion Tips?
Question by Ed Bob: DJing 101 – Equipment, Music, and Promotion Tips?
Hello All,
Im a 25yr young wanna be musician, but non the less music fanatic. I have been compiling my MP3 music library for about 10 years and have always gotten compliments on my diversity of collection.
In College I was “That Guy” who always had the mix CDs, or was on the Computer making the playlist on the fly during parties.
I already possess the ability to read a crowd and the environment to determine what genre, and tempo of music to play, because I have been doing it for years at Parties and family functions.
I was really into the Hip-Hop DJs Dirty Harry, Vlad, and Green Lantern to the extent that I made my own 20 Mashup/Blend CD called “Wasted Talent” complete with 5 Interludes, though it mainly appeals to the HardCore Rap audience.
I wanted to know if anyone could give me advice on
1) the pros and cons of different types of music media (Vinyl, MP3 on CD, MP3 On Laptop)
2) Equipment based on which media you Recommend using
3) Self Promotion (business Cards, doing gigs for Free, how you get paid)
The Genres I know, Best To Least are:
1) Hip Hop and R&B (Jay-Z, 112, Slick Rick, RUN DMC, NWA, Michael Jackson, Rick James, Bel Biv Devoe, Mary J Blidge, Drake, Mariah Carey, Tribe Called Quest, Tupac, Heavy D, Salt n Peppa, Lil Wayne, Maxwell, Mase, Notorious B.I.G., Erykah Badu, The Roots, Tone Def, Dead Prez, Diplomats, Kanye West, D’Angelo, Xecutioners, The Fugees)
2) Rock (Beatles, My Chemical Romance,Billy Joel,Nirvana,30 Seconds to Mars, to Richie Valens, GNR, Aerosmith, Elvis, War, Saliva, Creed, Cream, Lynryd Skynrd, Blue Oyster Cult, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Panic at the Disco, Slipknot, Linkin Park, Jefferson Airplane, Boston)
3) Rhythem and Blues and Pop (ABBA, James Brown, Jackson 5, Beach Boys, Carol King, , Stevie Wonder, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Knarles Barkley, Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, The Whispers, Roberta Flak, Five for Fighting, Switchfoot,)
4) Reggae, Soca, Calypso (Rihanna, Bob Marley, Damian Marley, Collie Buddz, Sean Paul, Lil Vicious, Elephant Man, Rupee, Wayne Wonder, Lady Shaw)
5) Jazz & Vocal(Mostly Older Jazz, Miles Davis, Billi Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse)
5) Blues (Etta James, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, John Lee Hooker)
6)Country (Johnny Cash, Josh Turner, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks, Pat Green, Martina Mcbride, Allison Krause, Trish Yearwood, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley)
7)Latin (Shakria, Enrique and Julio Eglesias, Ricardo Ajurano, Selena, Marc Anthony)
7)Arab Influence (Fairuz, Amr Diab, Cheb Khaled)
6)Techno, Trance, House (Tiesto, Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, SandStorm)
To name afew artist from my collection.
Please let me know
Best answer:
Answer by Melissa
you need some dancehall for your reggae list.
Vybz Kartel
Busy Signal
Movado
Gyptian
Elephant Man
to say the least.
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