Barry Bridges CSSC, PES’ Post

Carl Cox is a DJ legend. He’s played at midnight on New Year's Eve twice in one night (Sydney and Hawaii). Held Ibiza's biggest residency for 15 years. And his approach to DJing can teach you more about presenting ideas than any TED Talk… Carl Cox started out running a mobile disco in 1970s South London. Almost five decades later, he’s one of the world’s most popular DJs - and still enormously popular at 62 years old. How so? The guy is clearly a master at engaging an audience. But I wonder if his greatest skill is to make average material sound good, good sound great, and great… well, you get the idea. Here are two of Carl Cox’s approaches to DJing that I believe can help any of us share our work with others. Even better, they’re handy pieces of broader career guidance, too. ⏩ 1: Two tracks ahead “Every record has a beginning, middle and end. I'm thinking two records ahead all the time, rather than just reveling in whatever's currently playing. If you enjoy it too much, your next record may fall flat because you haven't prepared.” It’s so tempting to bathe in successes, or luxuriate in what feels safe and comfortable. Instead, think ahead: two slides, two concepts, two weeks, two projects… 🦎 2: Create unique blends “…unique blends are a big part of why people go to see DJs.... I do sometimes let a record do its thing, but then how am I different from the next DJ? If instead I play this record with another one that enhances it, you'll probably never hear that again. I've always thought this way… it's a big reason why people come back and see me.” Standing out is hard. Especially today. Unique blends let us stand out without have to conjure a miracle every day. Combine unexpected ideas; link concepts; show us something we’ll never hear or see again. (and do the same with skills: drawing+financial planning; DJing+writing…) Now, let's turn the tables (oh yes, oh yes): - How can you think two tracks ahead in your work? - What unexpected skills or ideas can you blend to create something unique? P.S. Like many things today, DJing is increasingly driven by technology, but the best and brightest focus on the craft first.

I feel like, for a lot of DJs in 2024, 'standing out' is less about the music and more about the 'brand', which I don't think serves the profession at all well. Great DJing is about storytelling, about creating mixes with light, shade, dynamic range. It's about learning how to take a range of 'parts' and create a new long-form context for them to thrive in. That's why you're always thinking ahead. Way ahead. I like to think of it in terms of story arcs, which is something that Carl's always been great at doing. I do fear that it's in danger of becoming a lost art, especially since people's attention spans have diminished to less than zero, and in order to hold that attention (and create marketing content/fodder) visual spectacle has become 'king'. Thoughts?

Going onto stage to Perform in front of thousands of people can become overwhelming as a DJ and music producer. Here are a few suggestions to keep you feeling confident and ready to perform 👇👇 * Understanding and feeling comfortable with your external environment around you on stage. * Having a good night's sleep the night before. * Avoiding high caffeine drinks on stage. * Practice good breathing exercises before you go on stage to perform. Simple suggestions but this can definitely increase your performance by 5% and decrease the stress response on stage. #dj #musicproducer #performingartist

The music business is so tied to the film and the content economy, it spuns into the tourism, hospitality and related industries. This is why no matter your industry, you need to be a part of Birhte Music Business School. #content #audio #music #business #filmmaking #movies #sync #tv #cmos

"What do DJs actually do?" & "Why are you pressing buttons constantly?" Are questions I get 9/10 times when I play as DJ or when one of my colleagues or friends are playing. Let's start with this: In a room where you want to dance do you prefer to just look towards a wall with speakers? Or Do you prefer to look at someone who is building up the mood, reading the crowd, interacting and choosing the right songs? In most cases the ones asking the questions will then think about it and say "ah forget about it". We DJs really are here to set up the mood of the night, we are both performers, actors, content creators, entertainers and the one you trust with the music during your event. Looking for DJs for your event? Don't hesitate to reach to me and we can find the perfect DJ who fits your event. #DJ #event #djbooking #djbelgium #trust

Weekly Inspiration #4: The Art of Research as a DJ This last Saturday, I had the great opportunity to be booked for my first (real) DJ gig for a Brazilian party hosted by a label I have been following for a while now. The party had a great line-up, so I knew I should make the most of this opportunity and bring my best. I was a last-minute booking, so I didn't have much time to really prep my set, but I made sure to dive into my music and select some gems to bring something different and at the same time represent the beauty of Brazilian Funk music. At this moment, I again realised why, even though I love creating both as a creative, designer, and DJ, my first love still remains the research beforehand. I love finding the gems, the insights, and the unique points of view that set things apart and can give people new perspectives or generate different feelings. Looking at things from other perspectives and trying to solve challenges in ways that people don't expect, that's what moves me in all disciplines I explore. But that doesn't take away from perhaps the most important aspect that brings everything I do and love together: connecting with people and cultures. At first glance, DJs and strategists might seem worlds apart, but they share several striking similarities in their approach to their respective crafts. Both roles require a deep understanding of their audience and the ability to anticipate and respond to their needs. Both roles demand adaptability and quick thinking to keep the audience engaged or the business on track. Creativity is essential, as DJs blend sounds into a seamless experience, and strategists craft compelling narratives and solutions. Ultimately, success for both hinges on their ability to connect with people and create a lasting impact, and I hope that is exactly what I did. I think my set went great, and I'm looking forward to more different ways to connect with people in the future. #creative #dj #research #creativity

Mastering Your Craft: Key Skills for Booking Gigs Perfect your instrument and vocals before seeking gigs. Learn the importance of smooth chord changes and the impact it has on getting booked. Build your repertoire with a diverse range of songs to cater to different venues. Ensure you have at least two and a half hours of content before approaching gigs. #GigBookings #SmoothChordChanges #MusicSkills #RepertoireBuilding #VocalTraining #MusicIndustryTips #GiggingSuccess #MusicPerformance #BookingGigs #MusicianAdvice

We talked to Steph at The Surly Wench to find out everything you need to know about booking a show with them, and here's what we learned: What is the best way to get in contact with you about booking? [email protected] Do you require a link to music the performer/band makes? Yes please Do you require a media package? No media package required Should a performer/band reach out to you directly, or do you prefer managers to contact you? I prefer to work with the performers What can performers/bands expect in terms of payment? Bands split a door cover How far out should performers/bands reach out about booking? At least 1 month Are performers required to fill the rest of the bill? I prefer this. We like to keep it at 3 bands total. 2 is fine, just no more than 3 Are performers directly required to sell tickets ahead of time? No Is there anything else folks should know about the process? Anything we missed? Performers must be 21+ including any friends or merch people. Learn more about The Surly Wench at https://surlywenchpub.com/ ----- Is there another venue in town you'd like to learn how to book? Let us know!

#FunFact Studies have shown that cows actually produce more milk when listening to calming music! Find out more about the Dairy Industry! ➡️ https://bit.ly/476FKn6 #societyofdairytechnology

Mixing Tip: Utilize panning to create width and depth in the mix. From my point of view panning seems to be a little bit underestimated. You can start with the simple LCR approach in the beginning what means you only pan hard left, center and hard right. But actually there is much more space in between. At least start to automate panning. Make things more narrow in the verses and automate to hard left and right in the choruses to create more movement and more impact in the chorus. If something should sound very wide, there has to be something else more narrow to enhance the width. By automating your panning this way you can achieve this effect of everything being wider and more open in the chorus. This is just one idea of what you can do with panning. There is actually so much more. Play around with it, have fun and be creative while mixing 😉 #audioengineerlife #musiccreation #soundproducer #mixingtips #audiomixer #soundengineering #bedroomproducer #audioquality #homestudio #recordingtips #musicexperience #independentmusician #musicianlife #musicarrangement #musicexploration #audioeffects #audioengineering #musicadvice #onlinemixing #musicproduction #musictips #audiotips #soundinnovation #soundcraft #mixingandmastering #soundquality #soundscape #musicmixer #musicediting #musicskills