What Makes A "Good" DJ?
Commentary by DJ Mr. G of Funky Skates Productions, Brooklyn, NY

Posted Represent from DJ Matt Kirk

Hello Skaters:

It's so good to see that skating is still alive. I've been talking to a lot of skaters lately about music. A lot of people had a lot to say that most DJ's play the same music or they just don't like a particular DJ for some reason. So the question that came to my mind, "What makes a good DJ?"

I wanted to ask the nation that question to get an all around opinion. This should be a question asked by all DJ's. Before you answer this question, lets take a look inside some of the issues that DJ's deal with on a daily basis and then feel free to submit your opinions to SkateGroove.com.

Keep on rollin
Matt...DJ Kirk Da Captain
Columbus OH
WOW Family Fun Center

Response from DJ Mr. G

A few months ago, DJ Matt Kirk of Columbus, OH asked the question in a represent "What Makes a Good DJ?". DJ Mr. G, of NYC, addressed his question. Here is what he had to say.

You asked in SkateGroove represent what makes a good DJ? Well I can tell

you from my own personal experience what makes a bad skating DJ.

First of all music is a universal language that can make you feel good no matter what language it is played in.

The role of the DJ is to make you feel good all the time. Not just when you are skating but when you are sitting, standing still, or lying in bed. If you if hear a beat and you can stomp your feet, clap your hands, snap your fingers, or nod your head, you know the musician is doing his or her thing. I have been playing music and skating for over 25 years, traveled across this great big nation, heard many records old, new, domestic and imports and I can tell it just keep getting better all the time.

Now, you heard people say, "I am a good cook". The food may smell good, but when you taste it, it turns you off. This holds true with DJs as well. You hear DJs say they can play ok, but when you hear them after a while it turns you off.

Why? Just like in cooking you have to blend the right ingredients into the mix in order to come up with the right

flavor. With DJ'ing, you have to do the same. Come up with the right mix in order to keep the groove flowing. You see, the most important thing a DJ has to do is insert the right mix in order to keep the crowd grooving. Easier said than done.

Back in 1973 I stepped foot inside Empire Skating Rink for the first time and let me tell you I still get goose bumps when I go into the joint. Back then, all the floor guards were the DJs and always kept the crowd grooving. How? They had the right ingredients in the mix to keep everybody happy. Back then no one ever complained about the music.

You have to practice in order to get the right flow it does not come overnight like some DJs who play music and throw on a couple of hot jams and that is it. No flow.

Just like in basketball. Anybody can shoot the ball at the hoop but can they play at a level to make the players bring their game to another level. It goes back to the DJ. Can he or she play music at a level to make "ok" skaters into "good" and then "great" skaters? Ahh you see the science in all of this.

I was trained by two of the world's greatest DJs in my opinion: Tee Scott and Larry Levann. They used to play music at the legendary Paradise Garage and Zanzibar clubs. Tee Scott also played at Empire back in the days. All the DJs back then would hang out at these clubs and vice versa and share their input on all the latest grooves coming out. It was a fun time during those days, but these are the new fun times and I am carrying on the traditions that I was taught; making people enjoy music on another level that they thought could not be done. I am not saying that I am better than anyone, 'cause I am not. I only play music so people can enjoy it better and share the groove.

You have to come up with the right mix and you get the right groove in skating for all the roller rockers out there all the time keeping in mind that you can't please everyone. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. If it is and you are using the same bad ingredients in your mix, it makes for a very sad flow.

Views expressed by commentators do no necessarily reflect the views of SkateGroove.com