the rix mix

Last night of the two week  WFMU Fund-raising Marathon, when the party moves to Maxwell's in Hoboken featuring live DJ karaoke with the Hoof 'n' Mouth Orchestra.  I did Hoof 'n' Mouth once, in 2004, when it was broadcast from Studio A  & the only audience was whatever other staffers & volunteers could crowd into the room. I did it to undergo the same initiation rite as younger , newer DJs.  Now you gotta perform for a multitude on a real stage with a spotlight. A number of other DJs apparently feel the same way about the larger venue & no longer participate. A shame since many  DJs are not extroverts.  Radio is a great medium for people who get serious stage fright, providing intimate one-to-one communication.  Even so, I always had a small case of butterflies before a radio show,  usually led off with almost 30  minutes of music,  & even before I turned on the mic for the first break had to take deep breath & think, "O.K. here you go." After that I was fine. The reality is the better WFMU does during the the all stops out fund-raiser when everyone is pulling together,  the less the station has to rely on gimmicky money making ideas at other times during the year.

Labels: WFMU