ODYSSEY - A Short Film About the Art of DJing 

Danny hits it on the head about the club closing times - here in NJ it was 2am - so you would spin from 9pm to 2am, about 5 hours. But in Hoboken it was 3am and you definitely would get more latitude and story telling ability there. Never spun in NYC, but went to all the big clubs in the 90's and 2000s and have to say that when you do leave and the sun is blasting, it is an extraordinary experience. I started DJing in college at my fraternity in the early 90's and the minimum I would play is 5 hours, close to 6 hours most nights we had parties/mixers.

Great video. Mark Knight's actually a great presenter as well - really good when talking to/talking on camera. Get him on This Morning.

Wow 🥺 inspiring and beautiful 💛 just what a begginer DJ needs to hear and learn about!

I always felt that listening to the story the Dj was telling or the feeling they were expressing through a musical narrative... was what made those experiences what they are, that you felt a part of something. I think today people have lost that connection you get through dancing.... the only form of artistic interpretation left that is free... no clicks, clubs or fees to join... just take the invisible, the sound, the music, the feeling ... and turn it into something visible... dancing! So dancing for a 60-minute set is as fulfilling as calling chewing gum, food... if that's your thing, who am I to tell you otherwise...but personally, dancing is the only reason I went clubbing... that feeling of freedom and one of the easiest ways to be present.. Then you go on this journey with the Dj stitching together a selection of tracks to create a symphony... but instead of all the orchestral instruments, its the tracks they choose to tell that story... Maybe I'm sounding judgmental or ignorant..but it's about the music, and the difference between listening to one track and a mix is like living for a day or a decade...it is an experience, that in my humble opinion, is so liberating, especially when done by a dj who understands the value of this or has the time. I'm not saying it's better, it's just a place you can go on a journey, all while feeling it, being part of it... and dancing is where I find this... one song can make you put your hands up in the air... but an amazing multi hour set, can give you moments that are so much more than that... emotionally, physically, personally and of a beauty that words fail to describe... that's why you need to experience it yourself... So I wanted to do it on my time and with the music I loved... so I then started dj'ing ..😂Problem solved....😂 The hours I've spent playing music, dancing and getting lost by myself or with others, is such a gift and I honestly don't know what I would have done with that time....especially the difficult times. So while I'm one person and what do I know, I can say that all the phones on dancefloors are maybe making people miss that connection to the music and the story the dj is communicating... I'm not saying it must be done my way... or that I'm right...I can say though, from experience, that there is place that you find only through dancing to a set that isn't restricting a dj to 60 minutes but rather giving them the time to express something that can never be experienced in 60 minutes...its just like you can't experience a whole football season by watching one game, it's also impossible to explain the whole season to someone else... and having any hope of even trying to convey all you experienced, emotionally, personally and collectively, so they feel and experience what you did.... There are places and moments that can only be found through stepping on the dancefloor as the lights go down, the dj pushes play and all you have to do, is close your eyes, let the music guide you and if you do, you get given the easiest way of being present... isn't that awesome... and you get to dance, becoming the visible translation of the invisible mind massage that is music! 🙌Music is Freedom 🙌

A great short film about the "art" of djing! Hearing Danny Tenaglia at club Vinyl play an 8 hour set (maybe longer than that) on a Friday night was an event!!! You knew he would bring it but you didn't know "how" he would bring it!!! To me, that's what made me go back to hear him and the other djs from my hometown! Peace!

Roger Sanchez,Danny Tenaglia,and Mark Knight. When you've seen these guys live,you just know that there's knowledge,history and skills behind those cats.Seems like these newer guys just get behind their laptop & Ableton to make a quick track for a quick buck without really knowing about the true art form these OG's trailblazed.

Soaking up the good vibes. I just had my 2nd tech house & melodic mix played on a radio for an hour in my city. Felt so pumped that I ended up looking for more inspiration and I found it right here☀️ Wishing everyone a top 21 and hope you all get those graveyard shifts 😂🤟🏽 much love from 🇿🇦 &🇳🇱 forward , we go.

Respect guys very refreshing and good vibes from respectful DJ's. Playing 6 - 9 hours is a lot of fun only when you are very well prepared and most of all when the DJ has the ability to physiologically connect with the crowd "reading the crowd and harmonically connect with the crowd are totally different things" the first is a skill than can be learned the second is a talent and charisma. I personally think 2 headliners over 8 - 12 hours should be the maximum

This video is a great reminder about where the art of DJing began and where it needs to return

There is a massive difference between an hour and 4 (or more) hour set. I play every week at a local bar and it takes a lot lot of digging for music to have enough pieces of puzzle and create a nice journey.

Great DJing is all about setting the context for a track: what comes before and after. Having done many, many extended sets in my DJ career, I found that there are some amazing tracks that really work well when only when you have a long arc to set them up. There are some dance incredible floor vibes that are the same: they take a long time to set up and they can't be achieved in a short set. Of course, there's room for shorter sets also but the point of this video is that there are some very unique and precious experiences that can only develop over a long sets.

🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

I played a ton of 4.5-hour sets last year and feel everything these guys are saying. I couldn't imagine how liberating a 6, 8, or even 12-hour set would be.

A true short! Well Done. Building an ambiance is part of the technique and an even greater part of the experience.

Some of Danny Tenaglia’s sets at the tunnel in NYC during the mid 90’s were just amazing.

Really great film, thanks for making it and letting us watch :) It's not just for DJs, it's for everyone who likes electronic music. It was good to see the shine in your eyes when talking about these after all those long years (even decades) :) Thanks guys for the experience! :)

can't agree more - that's why i still love to play long sets....

That true feeling well put on this short...that's what music is about. Nice job.

Inspiring stuff. Can't wait to have the skill level to play records for 8 hour sets and create a proper journey of house musics lifespan.

Great doc

WOW I could identify with every single thing these DJs spoke about Great Film DJ MICKEY (from Trinidad and Tobago)

I've always been into house music and in college I worked at a few bars and all the DJs would play the same thing every weekend. They would do 6 hour sets and all play the same stuff. I have trade job traveling the US and with the free time and income I've started teaching myself how to mix. My friends always told me my music is unique, deep, and a vibe I really wanna share it with people.

I feel people see mainstream headliners as true dj sets. They don't get that a real DJ set is essentially a party. Not really a concert. So they get into it thinking: just press play, mix, put your hands up, go nuts. They don't see it as a different art all together. I think the reason cdjs are used so much at the festivals is because it's not hard to set up, just really quick. As with an Ableton set, or analog sets, it can take longer and more can go wrong. Plus, most artists play an hour or two, that's just how it goes. But a DJ is a conductor of the party, and are culture pollinators. It's not a job cut out for everyone. But it is vital.

So happy to see Andy C on this vid!... King of DnB!

Im pretty sure back in the (Good ol days) days we scared tourists grabbing coffee and bagels in Manhattan as we left the club looking a wreck from dancing 8-12 hours straight. Some of us still under the influence as we see sun light for the first time since the previous day. There was nothing like those marathon sets in NYC til 6am, 12am, sometimes even later.

good stuff.. every young DJ like myself should take note

Do more videos like this. This is great!

To be a DJ is an Art, they aré masters 🎶

i totally agree, ive seen too many nights or events recently advertising dj's playing for 45mins or 1hr.when i started out at ministry in the early 90's sets were at least 3hrs or all night

Proper authentic video...Good work mark.

As a dj make a history in that nigth in your set.. Mix to express not to impress.

love this...legendary DJ's in this thing too. I can sure appreciate every word. Danny makes a good point about the rave scene changing things. a lot of dj's today run out of gas and don't know where to go or what to do with lengthy sets.

this truly helped me prepare for an audition as the role of a DJ, thanks alot.

I enjoyed. Need the hype for when I play a show on Thursday. I won't be playing a 6 hour set but it's a step in the right direction for me.

Thanks for this.

Come back and watch this every now again as a reminder how it's done properly! Also Andy C is a G haha!

Toolroom, always pushing out great documentaries and of course, music

Brilliant and educational video!Keep up the excellent work

Well done Toolroom! So Amazing guys, bravo!

Wish this was longer..... Awesome stuff!

Thank you Guys.. Extremely valuable guidance... Even this video has the vibe, energy and passion like the performances you guys referenced to... 🙌🙌

Brilliant.

Here in Denver, when a DJ plays downtown, city code require them to stop and close the club around 1 or 2 am. We've got to change more than just the consumer culture, but the culture at large to be able to have these kinds of DJ sets.

Unbelievable Jeff!

The fundamentals! This was so refreshing, thank Mark and Danny!

Awesome!

This is enlightening and every young generation "DJ" should be forced to watch this.

good short :D

I remember those days you're talking about...and the shopping experience as well, but here it was Thursday morning :) What I did not hear in the video is expressing yourselves during the "regular" sets. Great video! ;)

Well, what these guys are speaking, is true. I'm looking for an investor to raise an epic club here, in Romania.

Very good. The message is bang on too.

nailed it

Fantastic video!!!

amazing

this was very inspiring!

THANKS SOOO MUCH

the background music dope!

Heart Night Club come to Romania and see your record being blown away ;)

Yep agree 100%. Where are the proper DJs & promoters? Evidently they're few and far between.

Nice!

Great film super informative.

Love this ;)

Great video

that was sick enjoyed wow!!!!

Nice movie guys, well filmed. Only the audio quality was sometimes changing.. But I guess that's because of the enviroment

old dj s that where the kings

Great work you guys! Love this :)

Finally......

Nice Video!!

Couldn't agree more with the ideas in this! 60 minute DJ sets are just a cock tease for all parties involved...

I wish there were more techno/house clubs in the U.S. A lot of the clubs here cater to people who want to hear the same rap songs 10 times in one night. Nobody really dances, they just pretend to dance. There's not even real mixing, they just play one track and hard cut to the next.

Dj'ing is often portrayed as a bunch of frat boys pressing buttons and pumping their fists in the air and that is not real dj'ing. There is no grey area, it's pretty black and white. What these guys are talking about is what very few people posses or discuss. 99 percent of the dj tutorials out there are click bait. This video explains the foundation of what a dj needs to learn as an artist. If I take a few courses to learn Adobe CS suite that doesn't make me an artist. There's an extensive foundation that needs to be learned. I'm not going to get that in a few months. If you are serious about the music and learning to art of mixing records start studying this video and try to make the connections with the dj's who have cojones. Great upload! Keep on bangin!

Fichissima musica fa aballo

I used to go uptown every monday.

❤️🙏💣😘

Does anybody know where can I find the tracklist of background music??

I've never understood why nearly everything shuts at 2am in America. Why?

Jaime ta presence Mon Dieu Elle me fait ddu bien que Dieu the benisse Grace Valerie

Shame I can't do 8hr+ sets in my bedroom, I got too many mock exams and revision holding me back ;( Amazing short tho, inspires me a ton!

Odyssey

Gud!

I miss getting bootlegs and white labels and paying double for them 😂. Now you just get everything on Beatport.

Nice video! Can you share the track list of the background music?

anybody know the drop at 3:00?

It's not the same in my place. People of my place only wants to hear the same songs they know which is all bangers. If I play something different all they do is complain. They do not even have any specific genre. If I play hip hop and then suddenly change to country and then again pop, nobody complains as long as that song is known by them. So it's very tough to play for too long in my place.

First I was not a DJ for playing CDs, then I was not a DJ for using Midi, and now I am not a DJ for not playing eight hours long sets. I still make money playing other persons music though... :D - Keep it real.

Дрок-Дрок

17:15min my god that girl looks like she had a very good time

6:08 what is this banger?

Playlist please

track id: 14:00

12:41 Heart is a dope club, but you DO NOT hold the record for the longest party... The End Up in San Francisco has been opening on Friday night at 9PM and not closing until Monday morning at 2 or 3 for decades. That's over 50 hours, almost every weekend, for longer than some customers have been alive.

Some of these nu-breed selectors take note

:)

track id

So a 2 hour set is not art, but a 10 hour set IS art? umm... are wedding DJs 'art'? Or are only DJs that have to buy lots more records from say..a record label selling records...the Real Art...?

i was born in the wrong time and place

Some interesting things to think about but wow was this some of the most pretentious shit I've ever heard.

Let's call a spade a spade.. As pioneers, all you have done is hop on the trend train and in now 2017, you want to discuss the art of the djing.. It's too late, you DIDN'T do your job coming up in the scene by mentoring and keeping the street level alive. As a result, YOU FAILED the new generation.. What inner city group of kids are you mentoring?

They are raving about having really long sets. -- bunch of selfish bastards. Meanwhile there are more up and coming DJ's now than ever before trying to compete for gigs. -- (Accept Andy C. He is a beast and I agree with him.)