cycling without stabilizers

Well, Sidney-Sussex May ball was a blast! Despite angry sound-men and a spatter of rain, it was one of the best May balls. it helped I knew a bunch of people there and we went on the swing-boats and did vodka luge and rode mechanical bull and drank lots of champagne which we enjoyed calling "champers". :)

On Friday I started my set by just spinning a few tunes while no one was about, but then just carried on adlibbing all night. It was only a matter of time before I made and started using compilation discs. I had a to give myself time to get to know the crowd, the club, what I was about, and to get to know the tunes well enough. It went well.

So glad it's over.

Clare was such an effort.
It was cold, and my partner got bored really early and we couldn't even get drunk. By the time we were on, most people had either left or where watching the cheese act on the other stage. My performance didn't even matter by that point! Ended up just messing around playing a few tracks. Couldn't play the tracks I wanted to cos my partner had made me too nervous and had thrown out a few inconsiderate comments about certain tracks he thought sucked. Shouldn't listen, but it does wear one's confidence down...

I just came here to bounce

So, Popstarz has been going well. Enjoying playing, getting used to the crowd levels - ie, not taking it so personally when the club is a little quiet. This week in particular the DJ who comes after me was late, so I had to play ad hoc. I was freaked out, but I did really well and was really proud of what I'd done on the fly. While I know I can mix, I have lacked the confidence to play impromptu in this role; It takes guts to use your guts. Enjoyed some indie dancing afterwards; We now have wristbands to get into the staff chillout area, where there is free beer. I met some of the other DJs, in particular Vic Voltaire - not only does he have the courage to play really good songs, he also mixes them! The only thing that troubles me is that he is going to be doing the warm-up in Rave room from a few weeks time... So where will I be? Absolutely Love this job, would be sad not to do it anymore.

Been panicking about Clare may ball all week, trying to put together the Uberset which is both indie, electro, mixable and flows well; banging but not too banging. Trying to work out what my half of this duo is about and what I should be contributing - all with no help from my partner. I feel that my efforts have not created a set which is really going to show what I am capable of. I've had to leave out some of my favourite tracks - Mason vs. Princess Superstar - Perfect (Exceeder) and Bodyrox - Yeah Yeah (Feat. Luciana). :(

Have been making compilations for Sidney-Sussex, so I can just play a few tracks in a more ad hoc way; We are playing between bands so it's a lot less pressure.

Paid fun!

Well, after discussing fees, I got confirmation that me and Neil are DJing at Clare May Ball! I'm so massively excited and pleased. I mean, this is the first gig I've done where I've been paid reasonable money by someone to DJ for them as a contractor. I've done lots of stuff before, but it was all little unpaid gigs or at my own clubnights. This is so huge!

In same week, I have applied to try out at Trash Palace for a slot at Popstarz, which would be sweet. Waiting for confirmation, but I'm glad to have applied. I had to send them a sample playlist, so I chopped up my Cow set to reflect the newer, dancier, gayer side to my electro set. We'll see what they think.