DJ got his feelings hurt!

Bass2Bass7 · #1 05-17-2010, 03:00 PM

This band I do some gigs with has a DJ. We played 3 nights over this past week and when we got paid he was upset because I made more $$ than he did! Now feel free to let me know if I'm wrong about this. But as the bassist in the band, I actually plays every note of every song and then some, over a 3 hour gig night. So I actually play an instrument! Are you kidding me! I remember when some people and companies actually would refer to DJ's as musicians! WHAT!?! I had a bit of respect for the DJ's back in the day when they actually brought out cases of records and did their thing! But when I actually got a look at what the DJ's are useing now I lost all respect. So they have turntables that LOOK LIKE records and the rest is a computer program that looks like your screen when you're running Protools or Acid. Don't know about you guys, I would rather watch a real player play than watch and listen to some wankster with his pants hangin off has A** move a computer program around. "Not Sayin I'm just Sayin"

JohnMCA72 · #2 05-17-2010, 03:25 PM

You should have told him to learn to play an instrument.

P-oddz · #3 05-17-2010, 03:31 PM

Well... (and please don't take offense to this)... personally I think it's ridiculous you guys got paid at different levels to begin with. Seems kind of silly to say we played a gig TOGETHER, but I do more than him, so f*** him.

Regardless if he scratches records, or scratches software, he still was on stage playing with you guys right?

Just sayin'....

ghiadub · #4 05-17-2010, 03:36 PM

We have a guy that scratches on a few songs, he gets paid less. But that is because he only plays on a few songs.

Plus, he helps with the PA (setup, mixing). He leaves early, so he does not help break down.

BroKenSticKs · #5 05-17-2010, 03:46 PM

I think you should learn a little more about DJing if you don't think it requires much skill.

My band has a DJ/Keys guy and he does a lot of work in the band. Theres no way we would even consider paying him less. He has a right to be upset if you ask me, especially since you don't seem to have much respect for what he does. That would bother me more than the money thing if i was him.

P-oddz · #6 05-17-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroKenSticKs

My band has a DJ/Keys guy and he does a lot of work in the band. Theres no way we would even consider paying him less. He has a right to be upset if you ask me, especially since you don't seem to have much respect for what he does. That would bother me more than the money thing if i was him.

AGREED.

MooseLumps · #7 05-17-2010, 03:59 PM

Man, don't let my guitar player read this thread. I have to pay rent.

He thinks along these lines, but to the extreme. He feels that because he is the majority songwriter and singer, he should get paid more. I do harmonies and the rhythm guitar and drummer are just dong their thing.

I posed him this. "Ok, so you want to pay me less for not singing every song.That's cool. how much more am I going to be making than Ed?(the drummer)"
"Umm... None"

"Well, that hardly seems fair...I write and sing more than he does, so according to your logic, I should get paid more than him."

"Ooh... well, that's odd.."

_________________________________

Would the music be the same without the DJ? I should say not. The final product changes because of his influence, Just like if you don't play, the song changes.

Pay everyone a full share unless they leave early or some such extenuating circumstances. Everyone has rent to pay.

Meatbass · #8 05-17-2010, 04:03 PM

^^^I agree with brokensticks / mooselumps!^^^

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass2Bass7

...But as the bassist in the band, I actually plays every note of every song and then some, over a 3 hour gig night. So I actually play an instrument! Are you kidding me! I remember when some people and companies actually would refer to DJ's as musicians! WHAT!?! I had a bit of respect for the DJ's back in the day when they actually brought out cases of records and did their thing! But when I actually got a look at what the DJ's are useing now I lost all respect. So they have turntables that LOOK LIKE records and the rest is a computer program that looks like your screen when you're running Protools or Acid. Don't know about you guys, I would rather watch a real player play than watch and listen to some wankster with his pants hangin off has A** move a computer program around. "Not Sayin I'm just Sayin"

How can you say a DJ is not a musician?! They are producing live! Just because they use different tools to make music than you do (mixer, turntables, whatever other input they choose) does not make them any less of a musician!

I've heard DJ's hold a groove, compose, and produce better than most musicians I've seen live.

Bass2Bass7 · #9 05-17-2010, 04:07 PM

Lots of bands play TOGETHER and don't all make the same amount. If you're in a situation where you do LESS you should not be paid more or as much as the ones that do. I'm thinkin that if you work in an office the guy in the mailroom more than likley dosen't make as much as the guy in accounting. I have respect for anyone whos good at what they do. BUT! Scratching a computer program in 5 songs and jumping around yelling "Put your hands up" dosen't really seem to me like it's worth the same amount. Either way I'm not the one who cut the checks. But I do feel that if you don't do as much you don't deserve as much..

Bass2Bass7 · #10 05-17-2010, 04:15 PM

DJ! A Musician!?! Ok what instrument is that he's playing? What chord changes and voicings will he be using tonight? OH! And that song that someone else actually played a guitar and bass on that the DJ's scratching over? It's all clear to me now! Thanks Meatbass

jady · #11 05-17-2010, 04:17 PM

So you are saying that the singer should make less than you because you play every note in every song but the singer lays out during guitar solos?

If the singer plays guitar do you pay him a doubling fee?

Do you think you should all be paid by the note?

Who ever is splitting the money is doing it very unprofessionally if you are all equals in the band the split should be equal. If not then you are all just hired sidemen for whoever is cutting the checks and you have no opinion in the DJs pay, only yours.

ggunn · #12 05-17-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseLumps

Man, don't let my guitar player read this thread. I have to pay rent.

He thinks along these lines, but to the extreme. He feels that because he is the majority songwriter and singer, he should get paid more. I do harmonies and the rhythm guitar and drummer are just dong their thing.

I posed him this. "Ok, so you want to pay me less for not singing every song.That's cool. how much more am I going to be making than Ed?(the drummer)"
"Umm... None"

"Well, that hardly seems fair...I write and sing more than he does, so according to your logic, I should get paid more than him."

"Ooh... well, that's odd.."

_________________________________

Would the music be the same without the DJ? I should say not. The final product changes because of his influence, Just like if you don't play, the song changes.

Pay everyone a full share unless they leave early or some such extenuating circumstances. Everyone has rent to pay.

In a related story...

A band I was in was playing a gig, and a guy approached us during a break to ask us to play his daughter's wedding. We told him a price. He said, "Well, you guys get that for a full performance but we'll only need you for half that time, so you should charge us half that, right?" I explained that what he was really paying us for was to schlep all our gear to and from the gig; we play for free because we love it. Furthermore, if we only get to play half as long for the same amount of work, we should charge him more, not less.

He hired us for our regular price.

When a band starts to quibble over small change and who gets what for doing what, there's trouble in paradise. Pay everyone the same; if someone's not pulling his/her weight, replace them.

If the DJ in question was on stage as part of the band, he should get a full cut; if it's worth it to have him in the band it's worth it to pay him. If it's just someone spinning CD's during breaks, though, there's a case for a lesser cut, IMO.

jady · #13 05-17-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass2Bass7

DJ! A Musician!?! Ok what instrument is that he's playing? What chord changes and voicings will he be using tonight? OH! And that song that someone else actually played a guitar and bass on that the DJ's scratching over? It's all clear to me now! Thanks Meatbass

Don't get all defensive because no one here agrees with you. You are welcome to your opinion as are we.

I have heard guys make more music with DJ equipment than people with "real instruments". Also the difference between using actual albums or digital music files is pretty ignorant. they are doing the exact same thing.

Bass2Bass7 · #14 05-17-2010, 04:26 PM

Didn't know I was getting defensive. Just thought I was doin'g the same as you guys giving my opinion. No one has to agree with me at all! I've heard some DJ's lay down some pretty tight beats and do some pretty cool things. Just don't really feel that a DJ should be thought of as a musician. Is the guy at McDonalds flipping burgers a Chef?

jady · #15 05-17-2010, 04:30 PM

Depends on the job market, lol

If you do not think he is a contributing member of the band kick him out or quit. There are good DJs and bad DJs just as there are good and bad bassists.

Band members should be paid equal if they are equal members with equal responsabilities. If your guitarist and singer does an acoustic number should you be paid less due to not playing on it?

It really sounds like egos are getting in the way here. Your band will not last long unless egos can be set aside.

ugly_bassplayer · #16 05-17-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass2Bass7

Just don't really feel that a DJ should be thought of as a musician.

Fail.

Care to explain why, the more details & ideas presented the better my friend.

Meatbass · #17 05-17-2010, 04:33 PM

Bass2Bass7, your arguments are nothing but fallacious.

jady · #18 05-17-2010, 04:35 PM

What is the difference between a keyboardist making a new melody from a violin sample with a piano keyboard and a dj making a new melody from manipulating the speed of an LP or an MP3?

bigfatbass · #19 05-17-2010, 04:35 PM

I hear nothing but a whole lot of me me me 'tude and a band heading straight for this ending:

P-oddz · #20 05-17-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass2Bass7

Didn't know I was getting defensive. Just thought I was doin'g the same as you guys giving my opinion. No one has to agree with me at all! I've heard some DJ's lay down some pretty tight beats and do some pretty cool things. Just don't really feel that a DJ should be thought of as a musician. Is the guy at McDonalds flipping burgers a Chef?

Is a guy sh**ing on a piece of paper an artist? Is Justin Beiber a pop phenom? It's subjective and irrelevant.

I feel that just because you have no respect for the technique (whether there is or is not one in your eyes) doesn't make the guy who helped get a crowd to listen to you any less of a performer.

And for the mailroom/accountant analogy, I find that often the accountant thinks he's worth more than the mailroom guy, though the mailroom guy might be busting his ass just as hard or harder. Pay doesn't always equal talent.

Just my thoughts.