Questions I like getting asked:

"I really liked you DJing. Can you come back and do it again?"

"You have awesome taste in music--what is this track?"

"Can I give you $5 to play "Genesis" by Justice?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

God bless Pride weekend in San Francisco. Everyone is happy. It's an expression of being free--the idea that it doesn't matter where you shove your show or with whom you bump your fuzzies. You are who you are, and you are amazing.

So when I got asked to DJ at a dive bar where I had previously DJed for a friend's art show, I was ecstatic. Of course, I did want to go out and join the festivities, so I asked, casually, "How much are you going to pay me?"

And then another question I love getting asked: "How much do you want?"

My first paid gig. At least, I was paid by someone who isn't one of my best friends who hired me to DJ at a house party. Sure, the place was depressingly divey, but everyone was grooving, which is all that matters.

I ended up DJing, collectively, for 9 1/2 hours on Saturday night and Sunday during the day. It was a fantastic time, though the Saturday night was pretty dead.

It was strange to go from a near-empty bar on Saturday night to a packed house on Sunday at noon; obviously, unless, there's a huge sports event, people getting their drink on at 11:00 is a rare occasion, unless you're Irish*. But Pride was all about celebration, and people did, indeed, celebrate. People poured into the bar with the sun high in the sky to aid their drunken meanderings through the streets of downtown SF with the brightly decorated people marching in unison during a wonderful gay parade. And I was there to provide some decent tunes, woven together with decent skill, bringing energy that was, in the least, decent.

Nothing strokes your ego like getting hit on by members of both sexes, by the way. If sexual advances by someone of the same sex freaks you out, get over it. It just means you're a sexy bitch; take the attention when you can. It's not every day that everyone in the room gives you the "eye," regardless of what they're packin' in their pants. Just play them Donna Summers' "I Feel Love" and everyone will have a great time and give you some great nods.

Some of them might even come up and feed you drinks. Or give you money to play their favorite song. Or ask for your phone number.

It was the most wonderful kind of exhausted after I was done. My actual DJ times went from 8:30 p.m. - 12:45 a.m. Saturday night and then 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday. It was, without a doubt, the longest I've DJed in a 24 hour period. I don't know how many times in a row I could do that, and I'm glad I don't do this for a living.

Dance on, people. Dance on.



*Please excuse this author's bigoted attempt at a joke. I love the Irish and I'm actually aware that not all of them are drunks. O'Hanrahan is back on the wagon, right**?

**No, really, I promise I'm not bigoted.

I wish there was a little 'Like' button for threads. You know, like they have on Facebook. Pride weekend always sounds like an exciting time to be in San Francisco and it's cool you got to be a part of making the weekend more special for a lot of people. But DJ'ing for that long is just too long, man. I need to take a little old lady nap just reading about that!

WhiteNoise that Life Is Sweet video is a priceless step back into time. Tom and Ed were just babies, all wide eyed and innocent!

doctor doctor, that's so awesome! rock on! did u play Swoon?

Yo Pooter I didn't know you were a DJ!! I would love to go to one of your gigs. I happened to assist the pride celebration this weekend. Both saturday & sunday. Saturday wasn't all that great mostly because I went by my self ...I was just walking around and eventually I left early. Saturday was better, I met up with my sister & a few of her friends (but sis needs to control her drinking LOL) While the parade was going on sunday morning I was walking around & outside a shop there was a dj playing house music. He had a whole crowd around him dancing to his music (i think he was really good). Here's a picture of him, perhaps you know him since you're in the area? (although its a long shot).

I don't think I recognize him. But glad you got to experience a good DJ vibe!

@JacksRevenge: Yes.

@Whirls: You're no old lady, baby! You're a funky, happenin' mommy!!!

@Whitenoise: Life is, generally, sweet, indeed. Details to be worked out, pain to get through, but mostly things are moving along wonderfully.

Once again I enjoy your new journeys on the DJ scene. Your hitting up alot of places and you've been DJing less than a year. Now that's taking initiative!

MadPooter, on 01 July 2010 - 01:46 PM, said:

That is an awesome point of view indeed. Feel the love where ever you find it!

Indeed!

@Inchemwetrust: Glad you enjoy reading about my efforts. I try to amuse. ;-) Seriously, my very small achievements make me proud. I'm only sad that Law School will put an end to Dr. Awesome.