WHO AM I?
I am a househead who, accidently, became a DJ because of my frustration of not finding the music I wanted on cds. It was all on vinyl. Now, it's an entirely different story. MP3s are the norm now.
MY DJ JOURNEY aka How I Got To This Point.....
Before I start, I must give A BIG HUG AND THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND CATHEY ... for possessing a positive spirit, for being my advocate and believing in me when I was full of doubt and ready to throw in the towel.
SO HERE'S THE STORY....
One evening, I went to a club after many, many years of being a stay-at-homer, and heard housemusic being played. It was classic house music but I used to dance to this when it first came out and didn't know they had given it a name.
Thought it was TOO fast at first but after going back a few more times, I began to look forward to it and eventually was able to dance through more than one song after I gave in to the fact that I was going to sweat. Looking cute and dancing to house don't mix.
Wasted money buying house cds - found a few that had nice mixes but the rest were very disappointing. Discovered Erick Morillo and Bad Boy Bill mixes. They have good mixes you never get tired of hearing.
Went shopping with my sis for cds and walked into this store that was selling record players. Didn't know they still made them. Haven't seen one of those since the Jackson 5 were together.
We went downstairs to the cd section and they had VINYL records - and a huge selection of HOUSE on Vinyl:))). I walked out of there with the record player and some records -with no idea of how I was going to hook this stuff up.
Finally, had someone else hook it up to the stereo system and I made tapes - recording one record at a time. Slow process but I was happy.....
After a while, I wanted to make cds - so I bought a cd recorder and hooked it up to the record player. I was happy....... but I wanted to make mixed cds so I can enjoy it nonstop.
Shortly after, bought a "DJ-in-a-Box"----- Eventually, I learned to mix (lots of tears and frustration). I must give a special thanks, to my son, the young men in the records shops, and friends who were patient and answered my questions with a straight face, showed me how to find the beat, gave me lots of demonstrations and assured me that I wouldn't electrocute myself if I removed the headshell without turning EVERYTHING off......... I was clueless - but I was going to mix enough to make my cds......
In a year's time, I was ready for the Technics and speakers and so on.
I've been playing in my livingroom for the last 5 years, collecting house music (mostly, the classics), exploring deep house (discovered Kenny Bobien, BeBe Winans, Big Moses, Kerri Chandler and Chance (she sounds like Aretha Franklin - no lie), gospel house, disco house, hard house, latin house, some freestyle and trance and then branching out and trying r&b, hiphop, etc.
Just recently started playing in public and I am enjoying the experience. I've always been very shy so this was a BIG accomplishment.
The first night, I was so nervous that I played everything off beat and dripped sweat until I couldn't see. I would have disappeared if it was possible :))) But I came back (with a towel) and pretended I was in my home, with my disco light going, and playing for myself. It worked (after a few more times)..
I started doing this at the age of 42 which proves that you are never too old to try anything (except maybe breakdancing....)
When I first started my DJ Journey, there were lots of smirks, laughs and comments about "mid-life" crisis ...... even now..... but if you want something or feel something bad enough you will find a way to do it in spite of the naysayers and sometimes you just have to be your own cheerleader.
I must give a special hug to my son "DAVID" (you'll see him in my top friends under "David A. Bynum"
His support and encouragement and sheer pride at his mama being a DJ - (I know his friends have got to be tired of his bragging, lol) - has been invaluable. He even wrote a song about it due to the sheer belief his friends expressed upon seeing the DJ equipment...entitled - My Momma, My DJ..(you can check him and the song out on www.myspace.com/pricetobeman. It's on his latest cd - which is available on ITUNES)
So, here I am:)) anybody need a DJ who specializes in house music and who is not going to show you anything more her skills, a good time, a smile and MAYBE a little cleavage?
HERE'S A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS I'VE BOUGHT
(that I didn't need) Because I didn't know any better -
Hope this helps somebody:)
A DOUBLE CD PLAYER - LIKE THE DJS USE... Got that shortly after the DJ-IN-A-BOX. I could use it now but someone got it for cheap when I sold it on Ebay. Could hardly mix on vinyl at that time. Definitely should have left that alone...the concept is you mix by pressing some remote control. Too much headache and frustration. EBAY, here I come, lol.
A NEW CARTRIDGE AND NEEDLE EVERY MONTH - Never a need for that - my son told me after I've been doing that for about a year.. I just happen to mention it in a conversation and he said "WHAT!!??", lol.
A COMPRESSOR - I felt I needed that to make the music sound better in the mixes. I had DJs on conference calls trying to help me figure out why I couldn't hear any sound -font color=Red> BECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR WAS COMPRESSING IT, LOL.... My son now has it.
WAX PAPER and SPECIAL MATS To take me into "SCRATCH" heaven. Bad idea. First you should know how to scratch without it before you put wax paper to make it harder for you to grasp the record. Wax paper went towards someone's baking project and the mats were discarded long time ago.
A DJ COFFIN WITH 8 SECTIONS - not only did I not have enough equipment - I figure it would help as I grew and added more equipment. It took up so much space and half of my equipment didn't fit the compartments... That went to EBAY also... UPS had to come to the house to pick that up. No volunteers for the back-breaking task. Even the nice man who owned the laundry next door gave me dirty looks for weeks because he agreed to accept it until I got home.... It was so big that it was sitting on top of the washing machines....and the laundry assistant scolded me because he lifted it despite the fact that he had severe arthritis in one hand....Boy, talk about feeling bad...I cancelled my subscriptions to the dj catalogs shortly after so I would not be tempted with the newest "got-to-have" equipment that I really did not need to have... :))
A BEATKEEPER.....Need I say more....EBAAAAAY, LOL
AN EQUALIZER - I almost forgot about that one....On a visit, my son asked why I needed a separate equalizer when it was one of the features on my mixer. I said I needed more bass cause I wasn't 'feelng' the music... He said you want to hear some bass - turn up the amp, duh, lol... and showed me that I had some powerful speakers that I didn't know about because I didn't play my music that loud - good thing - because I had been planning to get more speakers - just in case I did a party, I would be ready......:)
TWO COPIES OF EVERY HIP HOP/R&B record that was hot...even to the point of engaging in fierce bidding wars on Ebay trying to outdo my competition and paying twice the price for them. Some of those are with me now, some made their way to EBAY...at 1/4 of their price. And some I couldn't give away....So, if you think your record collection is priceless you might get a rude awakening.....I did....ouch! - that was my pocketbook talking, lol
MY EXPERIENCES SINCE I CAME OUT OF "THE LIVINGROOM" AND "INTO THE LIGHT" :))
(Things that are not mentioned in the previous paragraphs)
Before joining myspace I had the opportunity to become involved with an upcoming Internet Broadcast Station - (which was new to me)... It was short -lived since my mixes were being played with no acknowlegement whatsoever... So, if any of you approached me early on about sending mixes for your stations, don't take it personally...I was in no hurry to repeat that experience and had been warned about doing that..especially on Myspace...I probably missed out on lots of opportunities - but you learn as you go along....
My mixes have been played on the following internet stations...
www.soultounite.com, BACK TO HOUSE with MrMusic and Friends, Chicago's Party Mix Radio, Radiokissfm.net, Facethebass.com, Kaixta.com, Solarradio.com, pressureradio.com and Soulfeeder.com and are currently on
RHYTHMFLOWRADIO.NET
Every Friday - 10pm -midnight EST
2 Hours of soulful house mixes
RHYTHMFLOWRADIO.NET
Every Saturday night - 8pm -10pm EST
2 Hours of Dance Classics
WWW.DJRENAY.LIBSYN.COM
Podcasts with a wider variety of Housemusic with the focus being on uplifting house mixes. Also features mixes from Guest DJs - You can also subscribe to this podcast through ITUNES
I've met people "in the business" I would never had the opportunity to meet - one of whom opened my eyes to using mp3s as well as vinyl...(Thank you!, I am forever grateful).
I've also made new friends and met some very talented people. All of this would never had happened if I was not "wasting my time" on Myspace...did not change my name because it was corny and played on inspite of it all - and the journey is still continuing :)) I can't wait to see what's up ahead :))
Soulful and deep house music reaches into my soul and spreads warmth and good vibes throughout. Good soulful house makes my toes tingle. IT'S TINGLING NOW.... :))
House music inspires me. It soothes me when I'm frantic.
A strong beat, along with the right chords, allows me to escape and be whoever and whatever I feel at that moment.
House music is sexy, indulgent, gratifying, motivational, inspirational, inviting, spiritual, funny,...and the list goes on.
Gospel house music assures me that it's gonna be alright when I am frustrated and unsure of my next step. It deposits my troubles in a safe place until I am ready to pick them up again - mostly in a better state of mind than when I started.
Garage house makes me want to do the Funky Chicken or anything my body is able to do. I don't care who watches and laughs cause it feels so good to me. I don't see you -I am in a world of my own.
Disco house makes me feel like doing the Hustle or something like that - or doing that John Travolta pose under some flashing lights. Find the platform shoes and miniskirt and it's on. Oh, and a partner.
House music speaks of love, heartbreak, joy, sorrow, hope, dreams, happiness. It brings back good memories of basement parties where we did flips, splits and backward bends -(and drinking waaaaay too much beer - Old English and Colt 45 (yeah, I did it))- while dancing to house music in preparation for party night at the Paradise Garage.
It also brings back memories of my sister, Starr, whose basement we partied in while her DJ boyfriend played house music so loudly that he blew amps and speakers. She would be so happy and proud right now and dancing right along with me. When I play classic house, I can picture her dancing and it's all good. R.I.P (I miss you).
Jungle and Bass, Hardhouse and Trance will take you to another level where you are one with the music. These are the reasons that I love house. It allows me to dream and believe I can accomplish anything I want to. For when I close my eyes on the dancefloor, I am a Nubian Queen from head to toe. And all eyes are on me as I work it out:)))
Go, Momma, Go!
My mom because she showed me that you can survive and be strong in any situation and also that your dreams never go away and you can realize them at any age if you really want to. She rekindled her dream of singing at the age of 65 and is still going strong.
My children because they are all a "work of art" (to me). They all possess a passion and drive for whatever they want and need to do in life.
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