Consider me a total newbie. If anyone can explain how turntablism (if I'm even saying that right...if not, I apologize) works? What do you use/need equipment wise? What do you do? Is it splicing samples? Songs? Do you always need two tables?

The more the better! What's it all about?

I'd appreciate your feedback.

Sometimes I say it wrong too, turntablism, in my mind it is turn a b lism (turn-AAAA-BEEE-lism). And it does make full sense after you hear it a couple of times. I have seen a local girl in AZ (cant remember her name) at a club doing this with just one, but she had also been doing her deal for many years. Maybe with more it gets hectic and takes a little more time getting used to it??

I like the way Wikipedia describes it as the art of playing a turntable like a musical instrument (something like that...lol). I have seen it done with one or two, depends on the style of the turntablist and what effects they are going for. If anyone wants to see some pros going at it, check out http://turntablism.com.au - man, can some of those dudes play!

I guess I'm just an old timer. But I definitely think it's cool, just not into it. Over the years we've seen so many changes in music. Go figure. Look at all the amp, effects, and cabinet modeling things out there for guitarists.. You used to scour the classifieds to find an old cab you could experiment with, now you buy one unit and you got it all. Will be keeping an eye on the turntablism-ists... LOL

I think of this word and D.J. comes to mind when the D.J. would turn records. Boy I am aging myself. I remember my own wedding when the D.J. had to bring all the music all on separate tapes, etc so he could play all of my requests

Believe it or not Luvs, there's a niche market for DJ's who still do that, especially when someone wants a purely '50s themed wedding or party or what have you. I don't know how much they make, but I know there are still some out there.

Pretty cool, huh?

I mean, I may be only in my 20's, but that was my first experience with the word D.J., so that's the image that I get too. It kinda makes me sad that I wasn't born in the 60's sometimes, or maybe in the 50's so I could've been old enough to go to Woodstock and not get drowned in mud haha.

Well, I got married in 1989, and the DJ still spun records. We had to make a list and the DJ brought all the singles to play. Nothing was easy back then and the records even skipped sometimes. It was fun in the day.

We have a local club that has a turntablist two nights a week. I enjoy going. It really is a unique talent and much more difficult than it may seem.

I should have put my turntablism thread here- sorry guys...

Basically I think that it offers new avenues to explore, especially if you combine it with whatever music you normally play.

The more I watch DJs who really know what they are doing, the more I appreciate the skill involved in the craft. It has many possibilities i think...

Yes, the art of a good D.J. will never go out of style. Trends may come and go, but the D.J. will always live on, no matter what new fads come and go.

I agree on that but still some of my friends who are into being a DJ even when they try to find better paying places to work at, are still quite broke. Why are they paid so bad if they are so well needed?

Depending on what venues a D.J. plays, they can make quite a bit of money. D.J's are very costly at affairs such as Bar Mitzvah's and weddings. Live bands are rarely seen these days playing affairs, but I have not been to any weddings lately.

I think the ability to negotiate a good rate goes into being a good DJ. And having a good variety of music to spin; you need to go out and get good gigs.

I do believe the money is in the weddings. My friend is getting married and she paid a pretty penny for her DJ. She couldn't believe it. Here we were figuring a couple hundred dollars because it's only for 4 hours. Ya, right--try $600 and lets not forget the tip. OUCH!

I would think a DJ that has a regular gig in a night club gets paid less.