MY FIRST SONG

MY FIRST SONG.....

I am a horrible athlete. I can’t shoot, I can’t throw, I can’t run....just don’t pick me for your team, I won’t be offended. But I do respect athletes. Basketball players in particular, I’m fascinated with. Just looking at the game now filled with so many mini cultures and having such a variety of people that are able to play at all different skill levels and styles. I look at the ones that made it to the professional level. The NBA players. They work hard, they’ve trained for years and years, practice after practice, game after game, they’ve given every second, emotion, pain, struggle, happiness, sacrifice, good times, bad times, just most of their lives to the game and continue to do so, just to stay at the level they’re at and be able to share their gift with others.

Most of those players started playing when they were kids. They played in town basketball, for middle school, high school, played in college, and after college they could’ve done some semi pro, and then eventually the NBA....most. Now sometimes, there are exceptions. A Prodigy. A Lebron James. That still had to work as hard if not harder, but was just able to do it a little faster. Lebron James, is one of the best and most wealthiest players in world. Yet with all of his fame, fortune, and skill the one thing that I’ve noticed was when he plays, he takes none of that for granted, and treats each game as if it was the first and last one he’ll ever play. That, is respect for the game. It’s understanding what it takes to get to a certain level, and loving the game enough to go thru that process to achieve it. Now there are other people that play basketball that don’t want to be Lebron James. There’s street ballers with a more underground style. There’s entertainers, that use basketball for more of a show then an actual game. There’s people that are in leagues, that play at the gym, and theres some that just like to shoot around in there drive way. So what makes someone a basketball player? A ball, a basket, and a court right? If I went and bought a ball, a basket, and a court, and now am a basketball player, would I be ready to play Lebron James? The answer is no. But, if I played basketball through out my life, gave my time, passion, sacrifice, and natural ability, while working day in and day out, playing games for free, playing morning, noon, and night. If then, I decided to play him, I might have a shot to win or at least be able to handle the competition. Now I’m not saying that I couldn’t do those things eventually, even without doing what was mentioned. I could have a try out, I might play basketball and if I knew somebody that knew somebody, I could set up a game. But if I was to go in there and playing as is, my basketball career would be short, because I couldn’t deliver what was necessary for that level.

I look at DJing the same way. Being a DJ has as many levels and meanings as being a Basketball player. There are turntablists (street ballers), DJ’s that instead of a basketball, use records to do tricks, make sounds through the manipulation of a record (wicka wicka) and really focus on the creative element. There are private event DJ’s (entertainers), that involve more of a show to their performance. There are people that play in the bedroom for fun, or play in the backyard for bqq’s and do it more as a hobby. There’s also another level. A NBA for DJs. DJ’s that do it for a profession. That have worked for years and years at a skill. That gave they’re lives to it and now are in “ The League.” Now like the NBA, not everyone can be Lebron James. I myself feel that I made it to the NBA, but still have a long way to go to achieve that status. So what makes someone a DJ? Now and days, let’s say a laptop, a mixer, two turntables or cd players and a speaker. Oh wait and a Facebook, a Twitter, a Youtube, website, blog, stickers, t-shirts, business cards...but we’ll save that for another blog and yes I have all of them. The point is that lately, what’s happening to the game, and I feel its happening to the music industry as a whole, is that people are not willing to put in the effort, and when they get their try out, when they go to the NBA and play Lebron, most of the time they loose.

I write these blogs mostly to inspire new DJ’s and people in general. I’ve traveled a long road and am still running, but my advice to someone that just went out and bought a laptop, turntables, a mixer, and a speaker, is that you should practice everyday. You should play gigs for free...I still do. Play as much as possible. Play every party, every crowd, play, play, play. You are never too good for any gig. If you really feel this is what you are meant to do, then achieving that level is not impossible, but you have start from the beginning and work your way up. The reason I say this, and I tell new DJ’s this all of the time, is that you only get one shot. You get one try out to make an impression. You can talk your game, you can have all the equipment, you can even be almost there....but unless you’re ready for the NBA, the opportunity to play Lebron won’t be as helpful to your career if can’t do anything with it when it comes. And it will come. And when it does, and every time after that, think of it as if it was the first day. Think of all of the parties you played, the equipment you carried, all of the sacrifices, the good times, the bad times, think of your love and passion. Most importantly, respect the game and the people involved.  Anytime you play at a new spot or get an opportunity, be thankful. Be prepared. Be humble. Remember what it takes to get somewhere  and respect the ones that already are there. And always play your first song like it was your last, and your last song like it was your first.