Introduction
I had been looking forward to my second International DJ
Expo (sponsored by DJ Times Magazine) not too long after my first Expo
experience in 2008. Having had DJ Ron Slomowicz as my “guide” the
first time around, I had a better idea and gauge as to what I wanted
to gain the second time around, specifically that I would now be up to
my ankles, as opposed to having just gotten my feet wet, in this
fantastic industry. Also, as I get ready to celebrate my two year
anniversary being a wine bar DJ, I felt that going back a second time
to the DJ Expo to learn more about the marketing aspects of promoting
yourself in addition to a slight itching to become a Mixshow DJ, I
wondered whether the interest to become more involved in Dance Music
had waned or if this industry was something that I wanted to delve
deeper into. The answer is ‘Yes’ on both. In the end, my appetite not
only had been further whetted but I wanted to entrench myself on a
whole new level and I think I networked myself accordingly but as the
old adage goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ One of my long-terms
goals is to become more involved with future editions of the Winter
Music Conference, specifically as the 25th Anniversary of the WMC is
right around the corner. Between now and then, let’s see what can
happen… For now, here’s my 2nd DJ Expo wrap-up. Enjoy!
Sunday, August 9
Hed Kandi/Ministry Of Sound Party @ Harrah’s
Just like my first DJ Expo in 2008, I arrived a day
earlier so as to settle down and mentally prepare for the long week of
seminars, panel discussions and networking parties ahead of me, but
unlike the 2008 edition which didn’t have a pre-party, 2009 was a
different ballgame.
Aurelia Entertainment’s CEO Lainie Copicotto and her Hed Kandi / Ministry Of Sound brands had many feet and bodies grooving when she threw one helluva party at Harrah’s, or as one friend kept on mispronouncing the resort, “Hurrah’s.” The weather that evening comprised of only one of the H’s: Hot, and that described those in attendance- but the weather did play a key role in trying to disrupt things and yet at the same time, it didn’t seem to faze too many people because when you’re ready to get your swerve on, you learn how to roll with the punches, or, in this case, work around Mother Nature.
Lainie’s soiree was being held outside on an adjacent deck space to Harrah’s ginormous indoor pool. When two of my fellow DanceMusic compadres and I arrived from the Showboat, the weather had turned rather dark and ominous and yet the weather seemed to take a backseat as we listened to some high-energy beach tunes, which was more than enough to cool me down along with my perennial favorite Jack Daniels and Ginger Ale. As DJ Prime surged wave upon wave of deep, disco house music, above us, the skies were tumultuous with rapid displays of lightning and deep crackles of thunder.
As timing is everything, Lainie saved the venue not with a Hail Mary pass but with a game-changing decision that literally saved what otherwise would have been a soaking affair. As the wind began to whip up, it was announced that the party would be moved right inside to the second floor balcony overlooking the ginormous pool but stressed that no one was to go into the pool.
This room resembled the coolest of club venues as it was enclosed in a clear glass canopy that when you looked skyward, besides seeing the sky, you also saw Harrah’s main hotel building but a stone’s throw from this canopy that was beautifully lit up with electronic light paneling that cascaded in a bevy of designs and patterns. Coupled with the crazy lightning, Mother Nature finally and officially had her say, and doused the exterior of the canopy and yet the exquisite music that was being piped through the modified sound system indoors was fun and inviting. I was duly impressed with the way this party set the tone not only for the rest of the night but also for the week ahead. One of the stand-out songs that DJ Prime played during his set outside on the patio before the rain rolled in was his beautifully mixing in Spiller’s “Groovejet,” featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor on vocals, a song that originally came out in 2000 but has been wonderfully resurrected in 2009. Sometimes described as a mid-tempo House track, I liken it to the House-Disco hybrid genre known as “Nu-Disco.”
