An open letter to entirety of KG

[Michael_Xi]

At any dance night, the core group of attendees should:

A) Always be changing.

B) Consist of people who like to dance and have fun whether they know the song by heart or not.

C) Aren't close-mindedly stuck in the 80s/90s to the extent that, no matter how good a "new" song is, they turn their noses up at it and shut their ears.

Precisely!
I've tried MANY times to play NEW and/or "Different older" music.
Nonetheless, I seem to be known as the "DJ that only plays the same old stuff".

Every time I've taken a swing at expanding the playlist, there are only 1-5 people who dance despite not knowing every note and word of the song.
That doesn't make for much of a party, eh?
In order to restore the dancefloor, I'm FORCED to go back to "standards".

I am only as good as the crowd that I'm playing to.

[Michael_Xi]

Hell, these two items are pretty much all any DJ could ask for from his/her patrons in a night.

Basically, it comes down to the fewer people that dance to stuff, new or old, the less and less it will be played. More people dancing equals more playtime. Want newer stuff? Request it. If it fits in with the rest of the set (and the DJ has it), it will be more likely to get played. If people dance to it, it (or stuff like it) will get played more. So, even if you don't know every note and lyric of a song by heart, but you may have heard it before and kinda like it, get out there and shake your money-maker. The more people that do this, the more likely you'll be to see the set lists change over time all by themselves without any of this type of thread stuff happening.

Thanks Nephilim.
Let me add...
Some of my FAVORITE Newer CD's are collections that patrons have made and given to me. (With FULL Labeling).
If people will dance to it, I'll play it if I have it.
Getting it to me solves half of that equation.

[Michael_Xi]

2) The new camera policy. I know the row that was caused and that the policy was put in place to try and avert that situation from happening again. However, again I think that the outcome was worse than the occasional indignation. Pictures are a way to advertise the night and the people who are there. I think the pics work best when there are multiple photographers so you get more than just pics of the same people and activities. There is a fair amount of vanity for better or worse in this group and people like seeing their pics online, especially if they went through alot of trouble to look good. We want to advertise that we have people who put energy into the scene through their costumes, dancing, attitudes and presence. Its a good thing and I think we need more of it. If people think they might get their picture taken, they are more likely to dress up and look "good" in general, so play a little to human nature. Pictures also can give new people a feel for what is in store and perhaps intrigue some of them to come out and dance. Its advertising and I think we need more.

Sorry for this Series of replies, but this thread is so damn long that I keep stumbling across things that I wish to reply to, and I missed the first few days of the thread...


I agree wholeheartedly w/ the above photo-related comments.
People who go out in OUR scene Usually TRY to look their "Coolest".
The possibility of being "Captured" on Film/Digital is one more reason for them to spend that extra few minutes on their eyeliner etc, and to TRY to LOOK their "Most Cool/Fun".
That adds LOTS to the Scene, IMO.

[JaNell]

2) The new camera policy. I know the row that was caused and that the policy was put in place to try and avert that situation from happening again. However, again I think that the outcome was worse than the occasional indignation. Pictures are a way to advertise the night and the people who are there. I think the pics work best when there are multiple photographers so you get more than just pics of the same people and activities. There is a fair amount of vanity for better or worse in this group and people like seeing their pics online, especially if they went through alot of trouble to look good. We want to advertise that we have people who put energy into the scene through their costumes, dancing, attitudes and presence. Its a good thing and I think we need more of it. If people think they might get their picture taken, they are more likely to dress up and look "good" in general, so play a little to human nature. Pictures also can give new people a feel for what is in store and perhaps intrigue some of them to come out and dance. Its advertising and I think we need more.

Sorry for this Series of replies, but this thread is so damn long that I keep stumbling across things that I wish to reply to, and I missed the first few days of the thread...


I agree wholeheartedly w/ the above photo-related comments.
People who go out in OUR scene Usually TRY to look their "Coolest".
The possibility of being "Captured" on Film/Digital is one more reason for them to spend that extra few minutes on their eyeliner etc, and to TRY to LOOK their "Most Cool/Fun".
That adds LOTS to the Scene, IMO.

I wholeheartedly DISagree with the idea that everyone is just dying to have their picture taken.

I don't want my picture taken, and I'm probably not alone in that (either way you take that statement, LOL). That's reason two that I quite bringing my camera, before the No Camera policy. Reason number one is a tie between drunks I don't know pestering me to email it to them and drunks I do know taking my pause to click as an invitation to grab my ass. (That guy doesn't come out any more, YEAH.)

Anywho - relaxing the camera policy is a good idea, just don't take my pic, please.

[Michael_Xi]

this is all well and good, but your only talkng to the people who already go to sanctus. do you realy think this is going to bring the othrs back?

anyway, my two cents...get rid of michael first. he's playing the same songs since i was going to the mercury. get rid of him and play some record lable sampler each month. you play new music and dont have to worry about him getting drunk, harassing people, or hitting stop in the middle of a song.

....how many geners do you have on the flier now? just my two cents.

See my prior posts.
If you disagree, bite my ass.
SERIOUSLY.
How Often have you been out to KNOW what I've played?

I've done everything I've done with Reason, whether YOU've known it or not.
SFS.
BTW, Please tell me, what's a "gener"???
For those with a LEGITIMATE Complaint, see my previous recent posts in this thread for explanation.
I have TRIED to play new/different things on MANY Occasions.
It's my FAVORITE way to Clear a Dancefloor.
If the crowd will support the material, it will get played, and sometimes I will play things in spite of the facts.
I may be known for "playing the Old Stuff", but I'm ALSO Known as the DJ who can clear the floor the quickest, due to TRYING Different material.
I APPRECIATE CONSTRUCTIVE Criticism, but WEAK "Armchair DJ'ing" really pisses me off after all of the effort that I put forth.

[Michael_Xi]

Anywho - relaxing the camera policy is a good idea, just don't take my pic, please.

W/O your permission, I would hope that it wouldn't happen.
I Do have a couple decent pix of your beau though.

[Michael_Xi]

Unfortunately, that is the DJs job, keeping people on the dance floor.

This is debatable. At a Top 40 "meet market" dance club, yes, that is the DJ's job. Traditionally, as far as I have seen in the past, the job of a DJ at an "alternative" sort of club night is simply to play good music.

Honestly, if you walked into a club with a huge dancefloor, the Dj's playing certainly dancable music and no one was dancing, rather they were sitting around like it was a coffee shop, what would you think....honestly?

I would think "Cool, maybe people are actually communicating and connecting with each other rather than posing on a dance floor like a bunch of fashion whores."

I have been to many - many - goth nights in large cities, usually held at clubs that are exclusively goth clubs, and the overwhelming trend was that there were maybe a dozen or two dancers max, and most people were socializing.

By all means, if you want to have a goth night that is basically Liquid or Michael's with black lipstick on, don't listen to me.

On these points, I disagree.
It's a CLUB... Not a Coffee-Frickin' Shop.
Yes, people are more Lazy these days, but the Purpose of the "Club" Environment is for Dancing.
"Fashion Whoring" is not a Sin.
It's an Inherent part of our scene since the late '70's.
I THINK you meant "Meat" Market, and not "Meet" Market.
In our case, Both apply.
Where the heck has the Decadence gone?
Bunch o' Damn "PC" Goths...

Where's my "Sex, Drugs, and Rock'N'Roll"???
Oh, I forgot, we live in a time of "Sexual Harassment, Drug-Free, and Rock = Old".

Any time I've been to Goth clubs in cities like NYC, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, or Nashville, you couldn't hardly Move because of a packed dancefloor, and skin was EVERYWHERE, because people were there to have FUN, WHILE being "Pretty" instead of acting like they'd melt if they were seen or if they danced.
Grow up, Conservative children...
Your upbringing is giving you away....

[Michael_Xi]

Cheaper drinks would mean more people coming out, because at least half the times I've not attended Sanctus it was because I thought "Well, fuck, I really can't justify spending upwards of $20 or $30 to listen to a bunch of songs I either have heard a million times before or don't like, on the off chance that Michael will hook me up with 'The Passenger' or 'No New Tale To Tell', talk to a few good friends over loud music, and endure the scoffing stares of girls who think I wandered into the wrong bar when I was actually listening to goth music while they were still convinced that Korn was the coolest band on Earth."

(Damn, we don't have "Thumbup" smilies on this archaic board.... )

[Michael_Xi]

Sooo, I kinda don't get it.

I see alot of refferences to people saying "support the scene or it will go away" type stuff. But what I don't understand is...if for some reason, Knoxville loses a goth night, it doesn't mean the whole scene ceases to exist...cause if that happens, wouldn't it make us all posers? I mean, do we stop being what we are just cause we can't go out and party on a certain night at a certain place? (Not that any of that has to do with anything...it was just me thinking.)

I will admit that I haven't attended Sanctus in a while, mostly due to the work situation. But even if I didn't work on Mondays, I still may not go. Nobody needs an excuse to go or not go. And nobody has obligations to go, either. However, I do think that changing Sanctus from a Sunday night (if at all possible) would probably help alot. It seems to me that's the biggest weak point, so far.

Without some means of congregation, you ARE less.
What is one ant vs a colony?
If the colony is busted up by an M-80, the ants don't become non-ants if they survive the blast...
Nonetheless, their situation in life is forever altered, and they have no place as lone ants in the yard w/ no point of congregation.

Also, This BS I'm reading about Guilt, Obligation, etc....
WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
We are HERE.
If you don't come, we WON'T be here.
How to accomplish this goal is up to discussion.
The "If You Don't, WE Won't" part is a FACT.
If you want to waste energy busting your balls over the semantics...

Live/Die....as a SCENE, it's up to YOU ALL.
As Individuals, YES, Family First.
I was told that I need to have a Greater Time Commitment to Sanctus.
You know what I said?
"Sorry.... My Son comes FIRST".
I had NO Guilt in saying that.
Luckily, my wife has offered to (starting in Jan) take 1/2 days off every 3rd Sunday to allow me to get an earlier start out the door for Sanctus.
Anyone worth a greasy spot under a bus knows that FAMILY comes first, and WORK is Necessary.
If you have nothing better to do than Feel Guilt and Obligation based on a few simple calls for Support,,, I wish you good luck in the REAL World.

[Michael_Xi]

Welcome to MY "Response/Rant" page.

[Michael_Xi]

A lot of people keep bringi up Subnday as the biggest issue...and I have to disagree with that...I know quite a few people who have 9-5's and are out at the bar well until 2 am on a fucknig WEdnesday or Thursday...i think changing the night might help get a few people out...20 or less...but not the majority.

well , its my biggest factor, and that of many of my friends to be honest
we arent 22 anymore

I passed 22 a Lifetime ago.
Sunday has been the best night for our scene since '88.
NOBODY has been 22 since '88.
The reason that it USED TO Work is that EVERY YEAR, we had as many come INTO the Scene as we had RETIRE From the Scene in the age group that was Fine with Sundays as an ESCAPE from the Fri-Sat BS of UT/Knox Clubs.
As age has settled in, more people have actually made More allowances than they Used to, but we haven't had the Infusion of, as Bone put it, NEW BLOOD.
If you old F'ers can get MORE Young folk to come out, it won't matter as much whether or not YOU can make it out EVERY Month.

[Michael_Xi]

True story: Recently this girl randomly commented on my Xanga, and I went to hers and was like "Well, she likes some good music, even stuff that most hip young kids have forgotten about or never listened to in the first place." Then she sent me an instant message, and was like "I don't know anybody who likes those bands." And I was like "Well, you're probably younger than me and surrounded by stupid kids." And she was like "Yeah." So I was like "How'd you find out about those bands, anyway?" And she says "My mom."

...

And I was like "How old are you?" and she goes "12."

...

Damn, that made me feel old.

ROFFLCOPTERS!!!!
That's because you're on F'ing XANGA!!!!!

That's where MY Daughter (13) goes online!

[Michael_Xi]

I'll wrap up my personal rant page with this one...

I was getting ready to leave when Michael Xi played a Coil song, and I thanked him profusely. He even hit some old Meat Beat Manifesto. Funny thing is, I can't find any of those songs listed on any of the setlists. All I see is the same old standards. Which are fine every now and again, but are not going to get me out every month.

I remember that night.
I'm SO glad that someone NOTICED!!!
I slip things like that In anytime that I can, but folks seem to fail to notice the GOOD things...
Forget the Playlists and take a chance....
You never know WHAT you might Hear....


Thanks everyone for your time reading my responses.

[DarkVader]

(Damn, we don't have "Thumbup" smilies on this archaic board.... )

Kiss my ass. IS here, and has been here for years.

[DarkVader]

You know, on a personal level, I think Jack is right. I don't dance, and I would love for the night to be a place where people could get together, hang out, chat, and hear some good music at non-earsplitting volumes.

But that's not what keeps club nights open. People decide that it could be done better and cheaper at home, and stop coming out. Particuarly us old folks.

Clubs can't keep the doors open without a dance floor - places like that are called "bars" - and Blue Cats isn't a "bar".

And it's not like the format hasn't been tried - it has, and it's been tried in Knoxville. It flopped. So, Sanctus is a dance night, and the DJs will play what keeps the floor going. You see, as it turns out, even the non-dancers like to see a full dance floor - it's pretty, and it looks like something is going on that's a lot of fun - and that makes people want to stay.

Although I do wish the DJs would listen to my requests more often. Most of you would probably hate that, since my standing request is something along the lines of "don't play anything newer than about '95, unless it's just amazingly good."

[junkie christ]

(Damn, we don't have "Thumbup" smilies on this archaic board.... )

Kiss my ass. IS here, and has been here for years.

and my personal favorite,

[X]

Micheal Xi...Step away from the post reply button...keep your hands where we can see them at all times

[ophelia]

Micheal Xi...Step away from the post reply button...keep your hands where we can see them at all times

Hahaha... yeah, right? Since when did you become such a chatterbox, Mr. Xi?

[Coor]

Alright...I really need to stop replying to posts with that...


But fuck XI is right. I mean is a godamned club...and just as another note. How many of you go down to the Old City on Friday/Saturday? I'll put it this way...My roomate and I started walking after it took us almost half an hour to find parking...That we had to pay 10 bucks for...On Sundays it's pretty much hassle free down there.

As for...The scene doesn't die if it loses one goth night. No, it doesn't...not immediatly. But, vendors take notice of how nights move and whatnots. They know their competition...and when their competition comes to them, and asks if they can use their venue. Prices go up...and they aren't as willing. I have a friend in FL whose been dealing with the exact same problem...

[ophelia]

Hey DJ's!...
Here's some advice from some stooge on Amazon that knows how to throw the perfect "Goth Dance Party."

Heeheehee...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/gu ... 60-1399919[/url]