English for…
Die Schallplatte kehrt zurück und wird von DJS zu allen möglichen Anlässen aufgelegt. Auf diesen zwei Seiten dreht sich alles um nützliche englische Vokabeln rund um die Vinylkultur.
Dj’ing
Now that the vinyl revival is in full swing, many of us may regret having thrown out our record players and given away our old singles and LP records. But this has led to a new kind of retro act: the vinyl DJ. Especially popular with those who bought the original vinyl albums, a vinyl DJ can expect to be booked for “special” birthday parties (50, 55, 60…), as well as wedding anniversaries and local events. If lucky, they may even get a regular-paying gig, such as a pub residency.
A good DJ will offer a theatrical show to get people in the mood, and not just provide wallpaper music. He or she will involve the listeners by telling humorous stories or anecdotes, providing interesting facts and background information about the songs or artists they are playing, and also encourage people to dance — or, if they prefer, simply sit and watch and listen to the show.
Successful DJS not only show their own love of, and enthusiasm for, music: they also brand themselves and their work. They may have a particular stage set-up of lights, tables and projected images, and wear a recognizable stage costume. And they probably have a stage name and persona as well as an original logo and brand. All this might even lead them to become a member of an actors’ union.
In order to tailor the show to the customer’s wishes, the DJ meets the client a few weeks before the event to find out about their taste in music, whether there are any songs that have a special meaning for them and what music they’d like for their first dance if it’s a wedding or anniversary. If the booking is for a charity or other organization, the DJ will try to put together a set that is relevant to the event being celebrated.
During the gig, which often lasts for anything from two to five hours, the DJ will usually take requests and fit these into the set when possible. The DJ might use a special request as a connection between music genres or to change the pace of the music.
Unlike an Ibiza club DJ, who may carry all his music in his pocket on a flash drive, the vinyl DJ must carefully consider which of his thousands of heavy records to take along to each gig. And playing at a variety of venues means that the stage must be set up before each show. This can involve a lot of time and the need for a strong assistant.