I've only been DJing for 8 years and into house music for around 5, so I'm in no way professing to be an expert on the field, but here are my thoughts.

I'd have to say I'm a little hesitant towards the idea `When it comes to getting paid for playing music - it clearly is the punter that demands to be entertained.'

In the literal sense, there's no point a DJ playing music and the only person in the room enjoying the music is himself, but...

Maybe I'm being a tad idealistic, even naïve, but I'd prefer to think of pure DJs as artists. They have a specific craft and a style of craft too. I'm a fan of Bill's philosophy `build it/play it and they shall come!' I think most people have the intelligence to associate styles of music with places and DJs and if given enough incentive and enjoyment from those styles, return to those artists to hear their craft again. I know when I have a night off playing, there's a specific DJ I enjoy hearing and will find out where he's playing and follow him for a good night out.
(Shout out Ezee G!) I'm aware that my level of interest would be higher than the average punter...but still, people come up to me and ask me when I'm playing next...must be doing something right! The sort of people that stumble in to one night venue after the other, dancing to pop stuff and ignoring house music are not really the people I am trying to appeal to or who's opinions I value highly.

On the other hand, playing music, even music you don't like is quite simply a better job than most. You're surrounded by women and drinking free booze. Not stuck tossing burgers, stacking shelves or a myriad of other horrible jobs we Uni Students do to survive. Not too long ago I found myself at a gig playing crap off CD players. It honestly was one of the most horrible nights of my life, and the only way I got through it was reminding myself I was getting paid $125 an hour and in a far better environment that some of my less admirable jobs as a youngster...

As for playing for 7 hours in one night. You're a better man than I! I find my 2 hours sets leaving me wanting to squeeze in a tad more tracks, but the 3 hour sets see my energy levels fading in the last half hour. I suppose the 2 hour sets are the way to go then, leave you wanting a bit more...like a nice meal.

In regard to `how great it is when you see a person that just danced to Erick Morillo dance to Havana Funk.' I'm not totally comfortable with this. If a DJ plays Beyonce, Usher, then whacks on a Tribal house tune, does he have the right to legitimately say the crowd is dancing to it? There's always going to be a punter or two stuck on the dance floor chasing skirt. They'll probably dance to anything. That said I realise there are ways to lead into non-commercial tracks and the placement of them lead to their demise or success. That in itself is a skill, which from what I can gather (from the limited information of the posts)... you have a high degree off.

I think Bill summarised my feeling with the paragraph `I respect what you say and that you have a different view, that's cool - each to their own. I suppose it really comes down to the point about what role you envisage for yourself, what your purpose for being there is, what perception you want to create and the impression you wish to leave on people.' Just like I have no right to criticize a baker or retail assistant or a clerk...they are all different jobs. Which is how I see DJ's who play what the crowd wants to hear. It's not my thing, but that doesn't mean they aren't skilful in their own way.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I've said anything of interest. I guess I just wanted to post to see where my own thoughts took me, but it's 2am and my eyes are closing over.

I suppose at the moment I'm in a position to, and do, turn down gigs which dictate to me what style of music they want, and am being offered enough gigs where I can play my true loved style of house music. I understand I'm pretty lucky in that respect, and appreciate some people are forced to play other styles than their preferred ones to provide income. It's hard to proudly state `don't sell out to the crowd' but it's a different story when you've got bills to pay and mouths to feed. Luckily I haven't....

Anyway, till next time, take care.