By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
I was at an event last weekend, well attended by over 200 people. The awards were handed out, and dinner was served, and then it was time to dance. I always think back to the days when I would be that disc jockey in charge of providing the entertainment and keeping the party running smoothly. Things have changed in the entertainment industry since I DJed at parties and clubs in the late ’80s and ’90s. Back then, the disc jockey was primarily the choice for those who couldn’t afford a live band. The thought was that a great band would provide more excitement for all those at the party than a single DJ could. Once the 1990s began, the disc jockey became more popular, since there were many benefits over the performance of a live band.
First, the songs were the original hits—the way you remembered them and danced to them at home. The disc jockey also had an almost endless selection of songs in every genre to choose from. Live bands would take breaks; the disc jockey played continuously, only taking a break for a bite to eat while playing a mixed dinner tape when the food was served. A great band would charge accordingly, and they might not be available for your event unless you booked them well in advance.
As the disc jockey gained popularity, it was no longer a one-man show. Today’s DJs usually have one or two others with them to work the crowd and keep the excitement going. Back in the day, we’d play the full version of the songs. Today, shorter parts of the hits are mixed together. It’s high energy all the time! Although the DJ mixing equipment and music library take up a fraction of the space they did in the past, the speakers and lighting equipment can take up a large amount of real estate on the dance floor. Playing loud seems to be the trend today, too.
There’s some great dance music that I played that still gets people on the dance floor today, but with a much bigger selection of music available now, the hardest part of entertaining the audience has to be what song would mix in the best next. Somewhere during the event, the disc jockey still has to get some slow songs on, because despite the many dance styles out today, a great slow dance or two is still the best way to enjoy the evening and show your date the way you feel about them.
