I was a trance DJ back in 2002 2003 2004. Had my technics and a real nice setup, cost me over two grand. Records were very pricey, I was paying like 12 bucks a record and an additional 8 for shipping from holland. I disagree with your assertion but I also agree to an extend. I spend MONTHS learning to beatmatch, I think pretty much you have to go through your initiation if you want to call yourself a "dj" and many are too lazy to bother. But whatever, the theme of your post is that ANYONE can dj now and just spin cd's. No, most people don't even bother with actual cd,s, they have mock cd players that actually play mp3's from their laptop. Good or bad?
Most people do not pay money to see a dj anymore, they pay money to see a big name. Your big names are PRODUCERS and THAT is what killed the dj game IMO. I made 200 bucks to play at a small club but for the most part that was as far as I would go without producing a record that made it big. You need a hit, a remix, an original whatever and then start getting booked and make a name for yourself. So now people want to see big names, tiesto deadmau5 and for the most part producers are not dj's! They can certainly do it, but unless you cut your teeth as just a DJ and learn how to spin with energy and excitement, how to build and release and also which songs sound best slow fast etc you will never be a good DJ. Tiesto is an excellent example of how to do it properly, he was spinning in clubs in holland in the mid 90's and got into production. If you listen to his live sets (before he got lazy) he has an ability to generate energy with his mixes. The energy builds and peaks, very very few can do that. Its a lot artform. So yes dj'ing i motly dead but it wa the prefernce for producer spinning records that caused it. You ain't shit if you don't produce a hit no matter how good you can spin.
