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Hey club DJs, I have a question– Do you work for some major corporate club circuit or radio station and have a station/club manager giving you a set playlist every night?

No?

Then WHY THE FUCK DO YOU SPIN MUSIC LIKE YOU DO?!?

I’m not saying play all obscure stuff– I actually used to do that because I thought it made me a “real” DJ and that I could dictate what people would or would not like. And you know what? Nobody danced.

But you know what? I still play shit nobody knows in between the stuff they DO know.

It’s unfathomable to me when I see playlists that I know literally EVERY FUCKING SONG ON THEM. I barely even LISTEN to most new EBM/industrial these days. Why? I make it, so most of it isn’t that interesting to me. I know it IS interesting to the hot club girls who come out and dance (and let’s face it– if the cute girls come out in their New Rocks and dance then that’s all you need. Penises will follow.) so I don’t begrudge anyone playing some 4/4 oontz so the crowd can get their dance on.

But if you’re not being TOLD what to play and aren’t given a playlist…why the fuck do you HAVE to play the same shit EVERY…SINGLE…TIME?

99% of club DJs (and I’m saying club, not radio shows or podcasts) have carte blanche over what they play. You have 1 actual responsibility: Keep people there and keep them drinking. Technically playing a good song by a band most people DON’T know is a good thing on two levels: A) It exposes people to some kickass new music, and B) It gives people a break to grab a drink and make sure the bar makes the money so people can keep the clubnight.

Just because you keep a floor going doesn’t mean you’re a good DJ. Take some fucking PRIDE in what you do, you lazy pricks. Personally I don’t give a shit if every song is beatmatched, but what I care about is solid SELECTION. I love going “Oooh, what’s THIS track?” and asking the DJ what they’re playing. As a DJ you’re both an entertainer AND an ambassador. Show them what’s good, known AND unknown. I mean Christ– who doesn’t love saying “Oh, THAT band? Yeah, I’ve been playing them since their first demos…”

(I still say that about Modulate:))

Don’t be lazy and just play shit people know. People WILL burn out on it. I’m also not saying be an elitist prick and ONLY play obscure stuff– make it a 5:1 ratio or something (adjust the ratio to your audience). Like I said, losing a bit of the floor isn’t always a bad thing in terms of business.

And to those of you who whine that they can’t afford new music– YOU AREN’T FOOLING ANYONE. We KNOW you’re stealing it. Fuck, MOST DJs get the shit free from the artists or labels themselves in mp3 format. I know it’s the DJs attitude that “I shouldn’t pay for SHIT, man! THE MUSICIANS ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ME!!!”

You know what? Fuck that attitude. If you have to lower yourself and actually BUY a CD once in a while it won’t kill you, especially since you most likely get PAID (hopefully) to DJ and we artists are the reason you have any CONTENT at all.

So if you have that attitude kindly go fuck yourself. You’re no god. And most likely your DJ spot Tuesdays at DEKKADENTZ is about as attended as a fucking Caustic show in Ibiza.

We need each other. Just because you steal our music or get it free doesn’t mean you’re anything more than the music you press PLAY on. And I say this as someone who has DJ’d for over a decade. I know the attitude. I also know what it’s like to be a poor DJ. But have some fucking respect.

And play some good music, regardless of whether every single person knows the chorus by heart.

I’ve always been amused by artists whining, basically since MySpace got huge, that there are too many “bands” out there now, as if they’re in any way equal in terms of content, quality, or promotional skill. Even if there are a million EBM/industrial bands out there the vast, vast majority are pretty much the the equivalent of trees falling in the woods, just like in any other genre.

But that’s the excuse, isn’t it? “There’s just too much shit out there”. But there’s ALWAYS too much shit out there though, isn’t there? But it’s all phantoms. It’s all your perception. I say this because if someone asked me where all this “shit” is I could say “MySpace” or “VampireFreaks” because that’s where it LIVES because ANYONE can get accounts there, but if you say “name 100 bands that are stopping you from releasing your music and succeeding,” I…well I couldn’t.

And if you find any random EBM or industrial artists on MySpace or Vampirefreaks and look at their plays– guess what? Nobody ELSE is listening to them either.

It’s bullshit and a moot point as just because something exists it doesn’t mean anyone is aware of it. Stop making the excuse. Nobody’s stealing your potential fans. Nobody’s stealing your gigs. Nobody’s fucking up your party except YOU.

Maybe artists should actually be taking responsibility for getting their own music out there and gaining their own following instead of constantly bitching about all these phantoms bands diluting the scene. I mean really, if this army of shitty bands (who are ALWAYS untalented sheep who suck and use stolen software and aren’t classically trained and once sucked off Bill Leeb’s grandpa JUST FOR A FLA t-shirt!) are truly damaging your fanbase than what the hell does that say about your music?

Try harder. Sure, the cream rises to the top, but so does the shit. Show the listeners why someone should listen to YOUR music and buy YOUR CDs and t-shirts. If you’re that easily distracted by essentially a swarm of musical gnats (and this is where we ALL started, so don’t get butthurt by the expression) it’s no wonder you’re so unfocused in getting the word out on your music in any effective way.

Or maybe you’re simply not making music that appeals to the listeners you want to enjoy what you do?

I’m not really saying that as an insult. Don’t change what you do to suit what a few anonymous dweebs in hairfalls think, but don’t expect the whole world (or the Industrial Township, in this case) to necessarily collectively call you messiah if you’re not what they’re into YET. I’ve got plenty more people that dismiss what I do for being a “joke band” or “not a serious project” than who listen to my shit and GET what I’m trying to do…or maybe they think I’m a joke band but I’m funny and worth listening to. Whatever. It honestly doesn’t matter, as I’m grateful for anyone who appreciates how I express myself on whatever level. But I also have worked countless hours to FIND those people and gotten EXTREMELY lucky on several occasions.

But not everyone does, and that makes people bitter. That makes people scapegoat. And that’s seriously unattractive, especially to potential listeners who generally judge you on how you express yourself or act on a forum (a great place to start gaining support) or however else you get the word out on your stuff.

I know I’ve personally gone out of my way to not support people I think have a shit attitude, small or big. I’d rather support people that don’t try and make others feel like shit just because they aren’t where they want to be in Thee Industrial Hierarchy yet.

So don’t. Just hang in there and hope for a break and make your shit better. If it doesn’t come at least you were true to yourself, but unless you can name specific artists that are ruining your chances at teh s00parstardumb, then please STFU, keep your nose to the grindstone, and be grateful for whatever attention you DO get.