A party ain't a party without the DJ.....

Saturday, August (??) 2006
My First Paying Gig .... David called me once again saying he had a friend who needed a DJ but didn't want to pay an arm and a leg. So thats where I come in. Me being the beginner (that refused to practice) that I was, would only charge but so much. Nervous doesn't even begin to describe how I felt. I'm already a naturally nervous person. I accepted the challenge and immediately fell apart at the seems. Calling my DJ support "DJ Point and Click.....the only DJ literally on the one's and two's" frantic and distraught. Feeling like I didn't have the right music or that I knew what I was doing and that these little 16 year olds that I was DJ'ing for would rip me apart into pieces if I didn't bring the instant fire...........
It was the longest 4 hours of my life that I'd like to never relive it. There weren't any complaints (that I heard of) no one really danced (not sure if that was my fault or not) and I did have a little assistance from a fellow SKILLED DJ who provided the speakers for the event (I was still working ona budget) It appeared that every one was having a "good" time and I use the term lightly. David even showed up to support...All in all it was a learning experience but I still didn't practice after that.

Saturday October 28, 2006
First attempt at a real party. This was supposed to be my “coming out” gig. Show the world (or the 30 people at the party) what I had been practicing (on and off) for the last several months. I held it down the first few hours when absolutely no one was there and my mentor DJ Point-n-Click (“The only DJ literally on the ones and two’s …..) kindly TOOK OVER (with very lil resistant on my part) and held it down for the climax of the “party” Who wants to take over after some one just finish tearing it up with scratching, beat juggling, and lil Baltimore Club Music mixed in....? Not I.....

Saturday November 04, 2006
60th Birthday party – You could have just called me DJ Random – cause I was using that feature on iTunes that night. But the people seemed to enjoy themselves. And I enjoyed the money.

Inspiration

I tear up every time I watch this.

This video is downright inspirational.

"DJ Rendezvous"

Friday, July 14 (?) 2006
Now back in my hay day (late 2005 to late 2005) I used hit the club scene with friends. Well one particular night I hit up the club and upon our departure we bumped into a newly acquired associate of my friend. His name was David..... And little did I know that David was about to (kinda) launch my DJ career (sorta) David had just started organizing dating events for young black professionals.....so you do the math....
Dating event.....romantic ambiance.......romantic music........DJ!!!
This was a good opportunity to put my "DJ skills" to use......... So after gently "coercing" David agreed to let me provide that extra gentle musical touch to his newly formed dating events.

Friday July 21 (?) 2006
After making a few good marketing moves for the event, and flexing a little of my html skills in order to help a greater cause I get a phone call from David asking me if I was ready to make my DJ’ing debut at the next dating event…. WHAT!?!?!?!?! I so was not prepared. But I couldn’t back out now.
With only a few days till the event I had to put together a “mean” playlist in order to capture my audience as well as set the perfect mood for two individuals to connect.
Picture it (if you will): Two eyes meet from across the room and all of a sudden in the background you here “Ms New Booty (Remix)” ……….. the moment officially dissipates and two souls don’t connect OR
Two eyes meet from across the room and all of sudden in the background you hear “My First Love” and instantly a connection is made.
The power of a DJ is undeniable…………………

Maybe 14 or so people showed (out of the 40 that were expected)
First round….. group discussion….. R&B and hip hop softly playing in the back ground
Second round …… games…….. some one gets the pleasure of doing a Micheal Jackson impression and I get the pleasure to provide the music and sit back and laugh. Another person (male) gets the esteemed honor of “proposing” to a female in the group….. once I get to set the tone with a little soft music conveying a message of Love
Last round was the one on one 6 minute speed dating. This is when the skills of song selection come in to play. Maybe a little D’angelo, Leela James, Floetry…….. well you get the picture.
And my job was done.

A good time was had and the music was enjoyed……

A DJ was born...... I continued doing the events FOR FREE..... because I enjoyed what I did and for whom and what I was doing it for.

The name of the events were "Rendezvous Party" so the organizers kindly ordained me as "DJ Rendezvous" .....(would the name stick?)

What's in a name....?

Now what I needed was a solid DJ name......

So many ideas jumped in and out of my head (some dumber then others)

• DJ Intel (short for DJ Intelligence)


• DJ Free or DJ 4Free (cause I'm willing to DJ for free) maybe not such a good idea


• DJ Gotcha yanked from a friend who had grandure of eventually one day, possibly, maybe, by chance be a DJ


• DJ On It ....."Don't worry because this DJ's On It" (sugesstion from the friend who forbad me to take his DJ name)


• Digital DJ cause I mixed with mp3's

Hmmmmmmm lets go against the grain.......

Middle name is Joy...... How about "Ms Joy"

Short...sweet...to the point..... and undeniable female....... =oD

Beat matching is for suckers.....

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Because of work and other life issues I wasn’t able to practice like I wanted to. One Sunday I decided to actually mix for an hour (for the first time) Burned it to a CD and listened to it.
Straight comedy…… Beat Matching? Man that’s for suckers….. Graceful transitions? What’s that?
My strategy was to play song for about 2 minutes (regardless of where it was) and just cut to the next song. Why can’t I cut from a lil Celone Dion to Uncle Luke? Who wouldn’t dance to that?
So when people ask, I say I’ve been “DJ’ing” since June 11th 2006.

Tools of the trade

Tuesday, April 18 2006

A package arrives to my apt. ….. It was a month late but a “friend” actually kept his word and got me a DM2 for my birthday. I was incredibly excited. I hooked it up and tried to make a mix immediately. In retrospect it sounded like hot steamy garbage but at the time it sounded like –beautiful- music to my ears. I emailed my DJ (DJ Point-n-Click “the only DJ literally on the ones and two’s”) immediately and notified him of the great news. I instantly became his DJ mentee. We had a bit of a struggle at first cause like most people who work hard to get something or somewhere, they’re little reluctant to give up their “trade secrets” A certain level of trust had to be built. But in time a good friendship was created and a skill was crafted.