DJ Gig

For the second time this decade I was asked to DJ a wedding. This one set on the North Fork at Founders Beach with its Southerly views of Shelter Island was the perfect setting for Michael and Brad. 4 or so years prior the wedding for Kirsten and John was set with a view of the Great South Bay. While I have done hundred of gigs in my 20’s (started around 17) include working at clubs in the 80’s it had been a while. Needed to update my gear, basically replace everything! In the 80’s we had crates of records, needed 6 to do a wedding, could get away with 4 at a club. This limited inventory made the decisions easier, would spend time at the record shops adding a few each week, I could keep every title in my head and so its BPM (beats per min), it mood, energy were know values. Curating is what a DJ’s true worth is, mixing is a part of the art but watching the crowd, how they are dressed, who is felling the music. An beginner could easily play the latest hot tune early in the night, when no was ready to dance and not have it for the crescendo. I was honored to play and must say it was as much fun as I remember.

I had received a number of complements through the night but many were from the guests who have relationship through friends, and could just have been being kind. However two complements went right ti my head. One was from one of the wait staff who had no reason to come by to speak to me but made a pass behind me and said “your killing it”, that was all I needed and I pushed the volume up just a but more. The second was from the photographer who asked me for my card. Told her I was just doing this for friends, and it has been a while and would need $5K to do again, I was joking but she responded, “people would pay that”. Since then I have had this itch…. will see if the phone rings.

• Note my friends and family rate is still the same.