DJ Culture Growing In The US?

[CHRles]

I'm looking at Paul Van Dyk's itinerary. Aside from playing the usual big cities and festivals I see that he's even got gigs lined up in Indianapolis and (gasp!) Oklahoma City. These are big US markets that rarely see big EDM events, let alone one of the world's biggest DJs.
The number of big EDM acts in cities like Portland, Sacramento, and especially Salt Lake City is also on the rise.

 

[Silkie]

Wow - when they start doing that they are usually on their way down. One of those last gasp to hang on deals. Dancing will always be; however, what is called dance today is not.

 

[Dancerev889]

Wow - when they start doing that they are usually on their way down. One of those last gasp to hang on deals. Dancing will always be; however, what is called dance today is not.

What?

 

[instigator]

Nope it means dance is getting better and more widespread across the US....and most of all people are getting tired of being force fed hip hop!!

 

[nd2023]

There are people who like dance music that don't live in "dancey" cities. For example, there are 2 dance-formatted pirate stations in small towns in Minnesota. Z107.7 in St Louis played some dance music (not Cascada or September or David Guetta) on a weekend mixshow.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

I wouldnt say its growing;
but advertisers are finding it faster....

 

[nd2023]

I wouldnt say its growing;
but advertisers are finding it faster....

Dance music would be a booming success if the dance station located in the heart of the Moapa Valley, too far away to be heard at the nearest slot machine, is able to sell enough ads that people complain about too many ads.

 

[lalumia]

I'll have whatever you all are drinking...gotta be good stuff

 

[CHRles]

Nick, I dont know about pirate radio stations in MN being good barometers, but Z-107.7 St. Louis has been playing Dance music on its Saturday night mixshow for years (pretty much since the station debuted). I also completely agree with your assessement of Vibe 94.5 Las Vegas.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

sidebar/ about vibe.in vegas:
First, we are all adults, and this topic, will remain professional.

Las Vegas, will be a HARD sell, for any Radio station.
Why ?
-
it is # 38, according to the market size, but has a top10/maybe top5 feel
and big market . . . nightlife/lifestyle, but here is the kicker,
...
the biggest/best things in town, are off limits for advertising dollars and revenue.

think about it:
the casinos and shows dont advertise IN vegas / maybe some where in NV,
but def...not vegas!

 

[CHRles]

Wow - when they start doing that they are usually on their way down. One of those last gasp to hang on deals. Dancing will always be; however, what is called dance today is not.

They are not on the way down. Anyone who wanted to get into to see PVD in Nashville on the day of the event, a Tuesday night no less, had to shell out something close to $100!
Following in PVD's footsteps, it looks like Tiesto has now been booked to spin in Oklahoma City as well. When worldclass DJs start getting booked in America's heartland that tells you that the EDM scene has grown, and is now more accessible.

 

[lalumia]

and so, obviously, are the drugs....

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

numbers vs #

Ok, so there is no denying the $100. ticket price
(day of the event), however...that may be disputed.
1. tickets go up, day of the event.
2. day of tickets, to see something (non-sports)
say the Trans-Siberan Orchestra, is a ACTUAL EXAMPLE
applying to this - - - the day of the event, only seats
left $85...the previous 15weeks the people wanted
the lesser priced(non VIP,first row) tickets....got 'em!
all that is left, the "best in house"/the "worst" on the wallet.

i say non sports, cause teams-players,/playoffs,etc spike demand.
(in an already established market/city).

3. the numbers (say all seats, $100), . . . you must
look at the number # of seats sold.... example, to see
me fumble over the beats, i will charge $150/any all seats...
so, on my website, i can (legally)brag-or be discussed in a forum,
my seats are $150/per ticket/per show... (the fact the attendance
was 11 guests)will be *coinci-dancely* left out (sry, bad pun).

4. also, the venue.. it self.
when established bands, such as the (non-dance)group,
CHICAGO lands a gig at a fairgrounds in mid size America;
and when the same band is playing a smaller seating capacity
but makes more revenue [ie: Indian Casino Stage]... it wont be
fair to say, the $215(ticket average) is necassarily what *the artist* wants to charge.
(but needs to at the 'expense' of doing business).

5. and finally, how many tickets were *SOLD* at $100 ?
a certain sports team, with a CEO who filed for bankruptcy
(in the good times), claimed an unusual #number of sellouts for a small size
hockey town...which was valid, all seats-tickets were accounted for...
in a sense, another sell out for the team......
*WHAT*wasnt said, was how many tickets, given away/how many purchased ?!
seating capacity, 18,600 at this hockey arena...so if a certain game only sold,
8600 tickets...well, 10,000 were given away(sure a nice gesture : ) but also bragging rights:
"...yet, another sell out, filling all 18,600 seats."

and yes, more problems w/ the drugs * great~

 

[CHRles]

With all due respect let's not compare Tiesto to the band Chicago, who have been around since the 60s. Apples and oranges, and Chicago's primary concert-going audience is much older.
Look, you live in Toronto, and Lalumia is in the NYC area, and both cities have had flourishing Dance and club scenes for ages now. So you might not be the best people to take note of these trends. It's definitely not just about the drugs when people in places like OKC are attending these events (yes, I know there's plenty of meth labs in Oklahoma too, LOL). There's kids, even in the heartland, that are digging this music. In large part b/c of this, the internet. They can be just as exposed as the rest of us to internet Dance stations. OKC also isn't too far from Dallas, and all the big DJs have been getting booked there for eons.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

dont read between the lines, i merely picked chicago(the band)
as an example....as when (any) band plays a smaller venue,
a more expensive venue, and a large arena...if i just said, think
of a band, it may look im making sh--t up! lol...
-
sooo,
is it good that tiesto/oak,etc. . . are charging (and i presume)filling
$100.seats ? or is that too much of a turn off for the avg fan?
(and perhaps holding back the artist to reach more of an audience)
at less of a cost.

look at daRude, in 2002, he played a big venue, the cne-toronto.
walk up and watch the free*(w/paid admission)...it was soo quiet,
i got to talk to the on-aire staff at CIDC and met him...

-
maybe some one can tell me how this happens:
how does one bring, atb-daRude ( at the height of their popularity),
dj-jazzy jeff..a few years ago, come to a bar, for a nominal fee...
while others, charge 3-figures (5 figures, if u count the decimal, lol),
to big stage arena's ?
hmm

 

[CHRles]

You're confusing DJ status with producer status.
ATB was at his peak in 99-2000 as far as crossing over to the Pop charts with songs like "9 PM (Till I Come"), which went to number one in countries like the UK, and got some airplay on influential stations in the US. He's still making records. In fact, his sound has matured a bit, and I think he's better than ever. As far as his reputation as a DJ is concerned, he's never been all that great at spinning records - his transitions leave a lot to be desired, but his DJ reputation has grown in the past few years as well. Still, nowhere near that of the status of guys like Tiesto, Oakie, or PVD.
Darude peaked in 2000-2001 following the commercial success of "Sandstorm", which went to number one in countries like Denmark, and he too received significant airplay in the US. In fact, moreso that ATB. Like ATB he's had quite a few gigs around the world since 2000, due to his producer status, but booking him at the time was nowhere nearly as expensive as booking Oakenfold, Sasha, or Carl Cox. His DJ repuation has slowly but surely grown, but he's still not a Top 10 status as far as clubgoers go.
The people who go out to see DJs aren't necassarily those who follow the Pop charts. They've known about some of these DJs for a long time. Tiesto, for example, was already had a massive cult following before his record "Traffic" went to number one in Holland back in 2003.
Deep Dish were well known DJs long before a couple of their records, including "Flashdance", went Top 5 in the UK.
Ferry Corsten is actually a decent comparison to Darude and ATB. Back in the late 90s to early 2000s is when he peaked as far as crossover status on the Pop charts. A good number of his records all charts on the UK charts, and his remix of "Barber's Adagio" by William Orbit even made the Top 10. But he didn't really become a high paid global DJ till a few years later.

So while you asked me some questions, maybe I should ask you some as well. How many of the world's leading DJs have you seen? How much did you pay to get in? What was the cover charge for ATB and Darude back in 2002?

Tiesto is playing at a lot of stadiums and arenas these days, even in the US. Go look at his itnerary. In orlando he'll be playing at the UCF arena, in Houston at Reliant Arena. He's playing three nights back to back in NYC at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Obviously the clubs aren't going to be empty, and obviously the reason why the promoter in Nashville could charge an arm and a leg on the day of the PVD event is b/c most tickets had already been sold, and the club was at capacity. Booking someone like Paul is expensive for a club promoter, let alone one from Nashville, and the fact that he has money to book Tiesto several months later means the PVD night was a success.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

CHRles,
I always respect your opinion, and this is not a statement
with a *but* in fact, the lengthy and informative reply
adds to your knowlegdge and credibility! thank you
for taking the time *to explain* with factual info, instead
of "cuz i said so/or the im right you suck" reply you tend to find
her, by the 'so-called' experts. again, thanks.

to me, this does not warrant
further discussion...i retract my comments now that I'm more educated...
Producers, and/or dj's I have seen: atb/daRude, at a low-cost entry fee...
even back then at the height of the success. ( maybe $20,atb, at a buffalo
club)?maybe ?$10. as daRude was *included w/ the $9cdn, entrance fee to
the cne-toronto,ontario.

others: dj-danny d, at summerRush
mark oliver, at a buffalo club *the cost was waived as i entered
w/ the kiss-krew...thinking that may be it . . . no one of the elite status.