DJ MAX RODRIGUEZ
MAKING A SPLASH
by Jay Jimenez
Max Rodriguez is a happy man. Born in New Orleans proper, the hardworking Piscean, from Cajun-kissed South Louisiana, has always adhered to a simple philosophy: "If you can't get along with Max, you can't get along with anyone." As a Friday night mainstay at the Splash Bar - practically since the opened - Max has called the comfortable Chelsea establishment his DJ home-base for years. "You have to kick the crowds out at 5 AM," says the former broadcasting major. The son of his hometown's chief of police, Max jokes with an inimitable drawl, "I crawled out of the swamp and took the first bus to New York."
"What was your first club experience like?"
Back home I used to play records for these lesbians I knew. The girls talked to the owner of Pino's, a club in New Orleans, and I got the job. It was great playing in a club where I was friends with many of the patrons. I was often asked to dj part-time as a standby at some of the men's clubs. Unfortunately, a full-time job in the men's clubs never materialized. I got impatient and left for New York.
"How do you personally describe your sound?"
I would have to say I'm slightly below commercial. I like dance, high energy, classic disco–a little bit of everything. A DJ should take you on a journey and very few of them can with only one sound. I'm able to blend high energy with hard house or classics–I love fluid transitions.
"What was you most thrilling DJ moment?"
When I did the Men's Room in 1990, I had only been a DJ about three years. This place had a big, dramatic, Saint-like space with 90 foot ceilings. That night I did a mix of a Pet Shop Boys song. I got so hot in that space that it was actually raining form the ceiling inside the building! (Laughs.) Near the last break in the song I suddenly slammed it from 45 rpm to 33 rpm. The song has this big symphonic ending and now that it was on 33 rpm, the ending seemed even more grand. As the final notes were hit, I turned up all the lights and everything came to a screeching stop. Everybody started screaming with their arms in the air cheering for about three straight minutes. I realized I made my entrance into the DJ world–it was a magical moment.
"What was your most humiliating experience as a DJ?"
I had just completed a night of playing in The Men's Room. I took a little too long packing up and security locked me inside. There were no windows anywhere and the doors had big metal bars going across the fronts. (Laughs.) Luckily there was a payphone and I had a quarter. I called the promoter and he in turn called the owner who had to get out of bed to let me out.
"What's it like working at SBNY?"
It's been a wonderful experience. And though I have had many opportunities to leave, I have no desire. At Splash I feel relaxed and I play what I want. The dance floor response has been incredibly warm and supportive. Brian (Landache) has been very good to me and we have a great working relationship.
