What do you picture when you think of a SL DJ.

I am curious. What images come to mind when you think of DJs in SL? What things, or images do you most associate with some one being a DJ? I am interested in knowing what generic images come to mind when they think of DJs.

a dark skinned dude in dredlocks wiggling and jiggling all over in spasmatic type dancing, whilst pretending to spin records on a podium stacked with speakers and other techinical looking gadgets, with lights swirling all around him to highlight his every move.


no wait, that's the roller skating rink.

Someone (usually, but not always, a male avatar) who stands around next to a large, unattractive box or rectangular sign that is scripted to accept tips, and occasionally mumbles something incomprehensible into the music stream.

(I DJ at my own parties but I never talk into the stream; if I have anything to say about the music I'll say it in text chat. I don't know what people at large prefer from their DJs, but as someone who has never tried voice, I find human voices coming out of SL surprising and jarring. )

I don't like to talk when I dJ, but I find people like it generally . One time my mic refused to work so I carried on without it and the complaints I got! I just kept getting asked "Why aren't you talking"? "LOL DJ without voice" So I do talk.


Anyway I don't have any particular image in my head of what an SL DJ should look like. Sorry I was no help at all! I look different according to where I am, or what music I'm playing (might wear an 80s inspired outfit for 80s night, for example)

Little off topic, and no offense to you Madhu Maruti, or other DJs, but if they are mumbling something you can't understand into the stream, especially in the middle of a track, they are not a terribly good DJ in my book. BTW, May have to talk my partner into changing her tips poster. LOL Nah would likely jazz it up nice for her.

Well, I probably don't fit into any stereotype as a typical SL DJ

First, I play a 10yo Kid avatar (Yeah, im NOT a real kid, so let's not start that topic) but its interesting when I do speak over the stream during my sets, mostly since I don't use any voice mod equipment, I am never sure what people think I'm gonna sound like but I usually get the "wow I didn't think you would sound like that". Luckily I have a good voice for Djing and people think its cute! WOO HOO GO ME!

So imagine a blonde boy kid avatar with headphones mosh hopping during his sets and thats me!

Hmmm... Got all my fellow DJs coming out of the woodwork. LOL

I DJ in SL (or did, at the moment am not, due to situation with my PC)

anywho... I am a 43 yr female in RL, and ppl are not sure what to expect when they see me DJing
once they hear me they say I have the right voice for it (whatever that means)
I was told by a guy who works in the movie industry as the sound manager/mixer etc that I have the voice that is perfect for radio, the perfect 80's rock chick voice LOL (whatever that is)

anywho as for what do I picture... nothing really, I do not stereotype dj's they are who they are, nothing more

what do I expect from a DJ, well do not talk over the music, have a good selection, and smooth transaction from one song to the next, know the music, talk to the crowd but not too much, and do not constantly ask for tips.

once in a while a friendly reminder that if you like the music tips are welcome and indicate where the tipjar is, is plenty for me
if a DJ asks too much I tend to not tip

during a 2 hour set I might remind folks 2 times about tips...

and for the love of god, if you mumble do not get on the air

Me, I wound up working almost every place BUT a furry club (I use a "furry" penguin avatar.)
I also don't like to talk, sometimes I do if inspiration strikes. Nobody has ever gotten after for me for not voicing. Maybe I'm just embarresed by my voice, I SOUND like a kid! D:

But I don't have a set "image" in my head for an SL dj, I've seen too many types to form one.

LOL We are a terribly varied crew, aren't we. But yeah, I am hoping for a stereotypical image, something some one would at a glance associate with a DJ, and for the before mentioned reason.

I don't go to dance places to look at the DJ. In many cases I haven't even bothered to look around to see where he/she is unless I can't find the tip jar or I have a request.
Unless they are hugely entertaining between songs (which I have not encountered in SL) they're part of the attraction, not the star of the show. I would think that a DJ should look like they belong in the place where they're working, whatever the theme may be.

If a DJ decides to talk they should sound like a DJ, not like someone huddled in front of their computer making self-conscious comments punctuated by hysterical giggles.

I prefer it too when the DJ doesn't talk, but does take requests.

The talent of a DJ is to use music selections to create moods at an event, which is far more important than to hear someone pontificating unintelligibly (which often reminds me of what it sounds like when the airline captain gives his welcome speech on the plane... ).

I certainly don't take offense and I happen to agree with you. You asked for our mental image of an SL DJ - not for our mental image of a *good* SL DJ.



That would be a nice thing to do. I don't understand why DJs have to have giant hideous rotating atrocities when a nice jar or bowl or sign on their podium or by their feet would do just fine. If I hired a DJ I would make sure up front that he or she did not disrupt the decor of my place with one of these objects; I wouldn't hire a DJ who objected to that.

I have only DJed a few times (yes I realize that's not a word), and I always DJ as a metallic android, I spin a lot of New Wave and Post-Punk so that might help. I never use Voice, I haven't even tried it yet. I have yet to receive complaints about it, but if I do, I'm not sure if I'll use it or not anyway.

For me, Voice in SL has disrupted my immersion almost every time that I've heard it used. A tiny rabbit who speaks like a drunken Johnny Rotten (on stage at full volume) might be comedy at times, but it can also be a little annoying at a discussion Event.

I have heard many more awkward and unintelligible DJs in Second Life than not...so I don't feel like I'm missing anything when DJs use text chat.

I picture a bulky guy in tribal tattoos and leather pants, w/ long black fexi-hair, spiked gauntlets, and submachineguns strapped to his legs, who never moves, yet is surrounded by horny "women" (well 'SL Women' anyway).

Oh yeah, his tip jar is almost the size of the bar. He could stuff 3 normal size adult avs in it & still have room for his 20 crates of protien powder.

We all got our own way we like ta use SL or whatever but half the DJs get on my nerves, either they can barely talk, but they use Voice (yeah which is why I dont USE Voice...I make Arnold Schwarzenegger sound like Simon Cowell), or my "good" experiences are like a guy screamin inta the mic like we're at a monster truck rally, but the guys' too blasted ta even walk to the bed after the set & you can tell. I had a DJ throw up in mid-sentence he was so drunk one time, was pretty funny.

i used to think it was a guy (or girl) with decks in real life actually spinning tunes as i sore this on a vid befor i came to SL. turns out tho most SL DJ's are unfortunatly just people with limewire and a large mp3 catalogue. sorry to those of you that do DJ like that, you do a great job, just disapointing sometimes. would be cool to see a RL DJ with all the equiptment hooked up to his computer and playing through SL ... and not just doof doof music

-Crunch

Alright since more are discussing qualities not imagery, let me rephrase the question.

IF you were not a DJ and happened by a generic, stereotypical poster about a DJ or being a DJ, what imagery would catch your eye and make you immediately think about a DJ?

it depends on the type of music..
when i hear a rock dj i picture these fun older men hip and enjoying a great time.
R&B slowjams i picture these guys laid back smooth talking and sexy..
Trance i picture someone afk while the 20 minute same drum beat and bass play over and over while they watch jerry springer lol
seriously though some trance dj's are fun and great people and change up a lot..those are some pretty sexy people..
any dj staying with the same play list for every set for months and months just reminds me of the AFK sign i guess..
the majority of DJ's remind me of someone sexy..
so a well rounded answer would be DJ's are SEXY!!! lol

I try not to picture the radio DJs of Portland Oregon

If you look into the electronic music scene here in SL, you'll find a great many DJs who do have such a setup. Not only that, but you'll find some really talented mixologists also!

Not to say that rock DJs do not have decks, etc; but since that's not my experience in SL, I can't comment on it.

Cheers

Wow, and I thought all SL bartenders were scripts that slip a drink into your inventory.

someone dancing around the spin tables with a big old 80's earphone headset on

There is no "DJ Image". I've been a DJ in SL since I became a resident. I've worked in many clubs with many different DJs (male, female and furry) and there is no one Image, although it seems a lot of the male DJs rarely wear a shirt. Most times the DJ will dress to fit the current event theme.

Djs are just residents like everyone else in a world where everyone can be sexy and beautiful.

A lot of times they'll wear headphones or hold a mike, or be in a DJ booth. My favorite was one in a huge dragon avatar smoking a cigar. The cigar smoke was music notes.

I DJ, well basically a silent DJ. I take request and usually do quite well in filling the request I get. I DJ for my own place and occasionally for a friend. I always figure ppl want to hear the music not me rattling on about something. I do talk but not often and only if I have something to actually say, such as remind about upcoming event or to wish someone a happy birthday.

I did get drunk once and sang on air..but that is something that anyone that was there would like to forget

Sexy Partridge