DJ's in Waterford ol school.. what's happenin?

Sounds

Hey all,

I've been intrested in music production for many years,
Was in 1st year in del la salle when i purchased my 1st set of turn tables
At the time i was with a guy from same college, he had the cash for a set
of technics but poor lil me ran off and got the money for a set of belt
driven kams, even though i had years of fun mixing some solid sets.
I've kind of advanced over the years, more intrested in production than mixing these days.

I use to shop at abbey discs in dublin, and often paid a visit to bpm in
waterford, where i was told ones by new staff that i'd buy anything they
threw at me, that was after 15 years of collecting vinyl for me and one
day /week in his new job for the guy in the vinyl section.
So my visits to bpm kind of desolved after that, was goin there for years

I've been to some sessions around the country, some not soo nice some kicking,
And after parties wern't allways soo plesent either but that's youth for
you, we were all friends out for a good night of proper music and fun.

Last time i was in the city i spoke to some old buddies about the club
scene in waterford, there isn't really a scene and i know that a lot of that
had to do with the type of crowd this futuristic music brings out.
People looking for a good night with friends, you don;t have the same
vibe at your regular disco.
Maybe the city has enough of that sort of scene or maybe they are too
scared to embrace it i don't know, but really the town and sourrounding
area is full of young and older artists, what is there for dj's in waterford?
Even if you're a really good preformer and have a different outlook on
music like your tech house and progressive styles of club music, there's
nowhere in waterford for you to share the wealth.
Or is it a case that what's left is one record store and a small group of
dj's that really listen to nothing else than house music.

Is there room for another record store in waterford?

Just a few thoughts on my mind,
I've always loved producing new and intresting sounds from various formats.

There should be something for young artists in waterford, i got involved out of
my love for music production, it's allways been a hobbie and years later when you
relise you could have brough soemthing to the table in your own city, there's no good clubs.

I've seen many friends play residencied around the country for very minimum wages, they do
it out of their love for their own style of music, it's a shame to see them play before dj's that
were paid the likes of 3 and 4 grand to come over to ireland for a 3 hour set, if we were lucky.
We've had a lot of world class dj's play in our city over the years, that means nothing to many
people, but it takes a lot to get where they are and most of us will never achieve that.

The roxy was waterford's version of henry's in cork, call it what you will it was allways to
class entertainment for underground music, they took that away also, kiled a whole generation haha,
I feel that people deserve to relax at the weekend and have a wide variety of entertainment to choose from.
The bowery was ****e too.

later

Psychedelic

Sounds wrote: »

Or is it a case that what's left is one record store and a small group of
dj's that really listen to nothing else than house music.

There's lots of DJs into techno as well. In fact there is a new techno night starting tonight:

Republik Update 23-Jan-2008
Friday January 25th will see the launch of RE:TECH. Our brand new Techno and Minimal event. Launching the first Re:Tech will be one of its residents, and well known Waterford techno Jock, ALAN HARRIS. Alan is joined by another local techno act who is currently making waves on the techno scene, Gobsmacked Records' head honcho, Diarmuid O' Meara. Setting the scene on Friday is Waterford's JOE GOULD. Doors Open at The Loft from 1030 and adm is Just 8Eur.

That Gobsmacked Records label is very good with some excellent releases with some top producers.

There's also Electric Circus who have minimal/tech house/electro nights on. Untz have hard techno and hardcore nights.

The Saturday Selection Show on Beat 102-103 gives local DJs & producers a chance to have their mixes & tunes played to a regional audience each week (actually my own techno mix is being played on it this Saturday night at 11pm!).

So, all in all I think the scene here in Waterford is still very healthy, despite a few clubs closing.

Sounds

Does local radio allow new artists to play live on their show
or do they just play the dj's sets on their own shows?

And was wondering do electric picknic take on new artists much?
Can you name 3 clubs in waterford that have regular, proper club nights?

CantGetNoSleep

Can you name three clubs in Waterford fullstop?

I still don't really see the point you're trying to make Sounds

Sounds

That kinda was one of my points.

It's a healthy club scene he said, i'm just not too sure about that
There's a lot of dj's that's for sure..

I was really just wondering about the vinyl aspect of djing and if anybody
thought there was room for more specialised dance music stores catering
for the vast amount of djs with different tastes in and around waterford.
I have a few contacts myself over the years and was at one stage thinkin
about opening a store in the city, but that project got side tracked.
I do however get a few regular sales online but i am more intrested in
a real store and maybe an online presance for home catalog shopping.

I'm not into music for the money but if i could make a business out of it.

CantGetNoSleep

I don't think there is, there was already BPM and another place, was it called Rotate Records?

More and more dj's are turning to digital music formats, and music stores in general have fallen on hard times, as seen by the closure of Sinnotts in Waterford

Sounds

I'm inclined to agree with you about digital dj's
I've allways loved Sashs since i hear him at the temple in dublin, 90's
But even Sasha has turned digital now, and they still love him.

But still, not a lot of waterford djs are using mp3 to vinyl mixing.
Sinnots never sold vinyl why would they effect the music scene?
Probably through cd sales.
There's still a lot of dj's in waterford that don't use the net for ordering.
BPM are finished sellin vinyl and rotate are kind of stuck on the house
music buzz, not everybody wants to buy house music.
When we asked soydan if that room next to his tattoo store was for rent
he told us no, but the guys are now renting that small room from him.
Rotate is tiny, i wish them well but i still think there's room for bigger.
I earn quite a bit of cash online these days, it took me 10 years of learning
to get to where i am, and it's helped me progress my hobbie alot, plus
got me out of a few tight spots. also i found that other dj's were intrested
in buying from me, so i used my funds to pay for their tunes also.
I kind of allways wanted to own a record store rather than an online cart.
I've allways loved mixing too, kinda put two and two together and i'd
probably have the best job i working environment i'd ever work in.
Damn it could be soo much fun not just for the staff but customers too.

CantGetNoSleep

Thats because products such as Finalscratch for mp3 to vinyl mixing are relatively new, and getting cheaper and cheaper. With the increase of homes with broadband access I can see DJ's using these systems becoming more widespread.

Perhaps you should consider adding an mp3 download function to your existing online site? Or what about opening a store selling equipment such as Final Scratch and Traktor Scratch in addition to vinyl?

I just can't see how a vinyl only store would make enough money to warrant opening, BPM obviously closed there vinyl section for a reason.

Before you do it I would urge you to closely scrutinise the costs involved in opening and renting a shop in the city centre. You have rent, electricity, heating, insurance, taxes, wages and more to consider. I know of someone who lost everything he owned by opening a shop to sell goods he was interested in as a hobby