End of An Era For Me

Chuck The DJ · Sep 25, 2018

I was contacted today to DJ a High School dance, they have been a great client over the years but I have finally made the very hard decision not
to do any more school/youth events. At 63 the reality is I just am too old. I don't like the music and I feel the kids just don't appreciate anymore
what we do.

Some of you may know that schools were my big thing. I was the guy for years at DJ Times Expo, Mobile Beat Expo, writing for both mags on how
to do school dances. Could I still do them? Sure, but with so many weddings and private and corporate parties that I enjoy more, why?

Time moves on, and even though it's hard to say, so must I...

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rickryan.com · Sep 25, 2018

For some reason, I keep having Sinatra's "My Way" playing in my head....................

Albatross · Sep 25, 2018

I'm not your age yet, and I wince when I get a call from a school. I accepted one for this fall (October 20) but I was pretty hesitant. There are some nice kids... but in a group, they are very difficult to deal with. It's almost a lose/lose situation to DJ these dances right now. I'm either going to disappoint the kids, the admin, or both simultaneously.

Handinon · Sep 25, 2018

Wow! From those pictures, you have certainly done it all, and that is a lot of lights!!
One door closes, another opens - at 63, why not do what you enjoy most?

adj2ent · Sep 25, 2018

I did same sort of thing a couple years ago except I just stop promoting that I DJ to the schools & colleges. Of course I'll still do the Throwback Video Dance Parties and all the other events. To me it's fine. The only issue I have is my son 15 is going to miss out on DJing the school/college parties. The few he worked he was pretty young so he really remember too much. He really hasn't said much about it but I always try to put myself in the other persons shoes and I would be disappointed

But another way to look at it is it's better to walk out the door than be carried.

DJ Bobcat · Sep 25, 2018

@Chuck The DJ; your decision is certainly understandable. What’s most amazing is that you were able to hang in there THIS long! I didn’t start my DJ business until I was about your age, but I decided from the beginning that I couldn’t do teen events, or even weddings for early twenty-somethings. I don’t have an appreciation for most of their music, and I think they deserve to have a DJ who does.

The good news is... there’s a bunch of other opportunities out there. Kids don’t have a corner on the music market. In my area, those high school dances never paid that well any way. Certainly not enough to make it worth the hassles.

Good luck to you my friend.[emoji4]

Scott Hanna · Sep 25, 2018

I'm doing a school dance this weekend. I normally have some of the other guys do them. But it just worked out that way. I was going to take the weekend off and booked everyone else.

Not my first preference and am working on training a few new guys. But I still have no problem doing them when needed.

redhotdj · Sep 25, 2018

Chuck I know how you feel. I did a lot of school dance's also, now I feel like the kids are saying who's grampa is here. This business is for the young

MIXMASTERMACHOM · Sep 25, 2018

That stack of 8 speakers is through the roof!!!!!! I hate that the music has changed so much that you have to make sure you play a clean version of a song. Most of the music the kids listen to today is stupid to me, made by mostly no talent artists.

redhotdj · Sep 25, 2018

I also have a homecoming this weekend. After that we'll see how i feel to do anymore of them

Chuck The DJ · Sep 25, 2018

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
That stack of 8 speakers is through the roof!!!!!! I hate that the music has changed so much that you have to make sure you play a clean version of a song. Most of the music the kids listen to today is stupid to me, made by mostly no talent artists.

at one point in time, I had four of those stacks....

Chuck The DJ · Sep 25, 2018

This is a really embarrassing video from about 1991, the guy who shot the video was a friend and oddly enough when I used it for promo, it got me some gigs! LOL You never see the speaker stacks but it was cool.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sSbIJJ5Ns4

djrox · Sep 25, 2018

I don't miss these:

ittigger · Sep 25, 2018

Chucky, how is Kajira doing?

Handinon · Sep 25, 2018

Chuck The DJ said:
This is a really embarrassing video from about 1991, the guy who shot the video was a friend and oddly enough when I used it for promo, it got me some gigs! LOL You never see the speaker stacks but if you pause it at about 2:55 in, you can see the sides of the stacks that MixMaster was talking about.

That video is from 27 years ago? Dam good job I think!

Jeff Romard · Sep 25, 2018

adj2ent said:
I did same sort of thing a couple years ago except I just stop promoting that I DJ to the schools & colleges. Of course I'll still do the Throwback Video Dance Parties and all the other events. To me it's fine. The only issue I have is my son 15 is going to miss out on DJing the school/college parties. The few he worked he was pretty young so he really remember too much. He really hasn't said much about it but I always try to put myself in the other persons shoes and I would be disappointed

But another way to look at it is it's better to walk out the door than be carried.

Same with me but I'm about to start looking for them again since my daughter is very interested in the business. I'll help her with some gear and let her do the hard work

DJ Ricky B · Sep 25, 2018

Chuck The DJ said:
This is a really embarrassing video from about 1991, the guy who shot the video was a friend and oddly enough when I used it for promo, it got me some gigs! LOL You never see the speaker stacks but if you pause it at about 2:55 in, you can see the sides of the stacks that MixMaster was talking about.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sSbIJJ5Ns4

The Zooming in and out at 3:30 into the video is FUNNY!

I love how the teenagers in the video are like "The DJ was HYPE!" LOL ...Hey you even had the Teachers saying you did a great job!

The Teenagers in that video are like 44-45 years old now. I should show this to my bro. He graduated class of '91

I love the use of Silly String. Silly String could still go over well today! ...Just gotta clean up the mess!

DJ Ricky B · Sep 25, 2018

I have to add that I am surprised you are have done any school dances the past 3 years. I can't see myself doing any school dances in my 60s. I don't really want to bother with them now. I'm certainly not marketing to them.

adj2ent · Sep 26, 2018

That video was actually really good, I watch the whole thing. I'm willing to bet most don't realize how difficult it was to edit all of that stuff together back in 1991 with videotape. I like where you put the quick interviews with the students and teachers in there. One thing I miss from those days is to able use fog without a issue. The fog made any light look great. We had to retire our fog machines in the late 90's when all our venues upgraded their fire/smoke systems. The procedure to be able to use fog after that was problematic.

Chuck The DJ · Sep 26, 2018

ittigger said:
Chucky, how is Kajira doing?

The short story is if you met her today you would never know anything happened. To some doctors she is a walking miracle. Truly amazing. Mahalo for asking.

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