Annual DJ Cookout, Ithaca, NY

July 07, 2024 | Work: 2024-02

Background

Rob Haze, whom I shared a stage with way back in 2002 in Ohio, has been doing an annual “DJ Cookout” every year for the last decade. Local and regional DJs are invited and are given slots 30-60 mins long (depending on space available). It’s meant to be a networking event – for all local DJs to meet others who work in the craft. It’s free and open to the public as well.

Setlist

I essentially used a variant of the sets I had played earlier this weekend.

  1. Kool Moe Dee vs. Bad Boy Bill - I Go To Work (Bad Boy Bill’s Vocal Mix)
  2. Wishbone - 50 Grooves
  3. A Tribe Called Quest vs. Pimp Juice - Go Ahead in the Rain (Pimp Juice’s Player Paradise)
  4. Wishbone - Sensorama
  5. CJ Bolland - Sugar is Sweeter (Armand van Helden’s Drum and Bass mix)
  6. Armand van Helden - The Funk Phenomenon (Da Hool Remix)
  7. The Bucketheads - The Bomb (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) (Kenny Dope mix)
  8. Ben Sims & Vincent Dims - Freaks
  9. Joey Beltram - Arena
  10. Starecase - Bitter Little Pill (Little Bit of Pill Mix)
  11. BT - Somambulist (Burufunk Mix)
  12. Azzido de Bass - Doom’s Night (Stanton Warriors mix)
  13. Nigel Richards - Yeah Yeah
  14. Rhythmkillaz - Wack Ass M.F.

Reflection

I was dissatisfied with how this set went. There were some (different) minor technical issues with the stage monitors, the fact that people kept walking behind me and causing minor shocks that would cause faint skips on the turntables. It was very hot and humid, I was sweating profusely, and on 2 occasions, and despite wearing a bandanna, sweat dripped onto the records. Thankfully no skips occurred from it, but it stll required intervention and broke focus.

My technical execution wasn’t great. I was tired, having been up until 2:30am the two nights prior. I tilted a bit halfway through, after munging 2 or 3 mixes. Only one friend (who is equally self-critical) noticed, but I knew I could do better. I also played a couple records that I had added that morning, and the blends had been untested.

My takeaway from that was to not book myself for another triple header!

This was not a paid event.