100 things in 100 days - number 8

8. I used to DJ in my spare time.

When I joined the military, I started a music collection. Bought a stereo system. When we finished our trades training, my class had a party to celebrate. I was asked to provide the music. And so it began...........

Word got out that I had a decent collection of music. I got hired to DJ at other course parties. That allowed me to buy more music and equipment. Win - win! All military bases have a Junior Ranks Mess, where the lower ranks go to party - on the cheap. I got into rotation to DJ there. I enjoyed my DJ gigs because they allowed me to 1) introduce folks to music they'd never heard before, 2) meet lots of interesting people and 3) control the mood of the crowd. And that's a very powerful feeling my friends - and tons of fun to boot.

I also managed to get hired as a DJ at a rock bar in downtown Kingston, but that job didn't last because I was always going away on exercises with the military - makes it hard to keep a job on the side - you know? I even got hired to DJ at a strip club. That lasted one pay period - but not because I didn't like it. They were late paying me, so I walked. But it was an..... interesting experience, let me tell you. When I met Darlene, I just couldn't handle the hectic schedule of DJing 4 nights a week anymore, so I sold my music collection (all vinyl) and equipment to a partner.

I got another chance to spin the vinyl (but by then, it was mostly CDs) when I did my tour in CFS Alert. We had our own radio station (105.9 CHAR-FM) - I became the programmer, which meant I got to train folks who wanted to have their own radio show. We still had to follow CRTC rules, which meant no inappropriate content, etc. Plus I had my own radio shows - of course. It was a blast.

I'd still like to DJ, but it would be in a cozy, intimate lounge / restaurant / joint that needed a 'live ambience adjuster' (my made-up coolspeak for DJ - that would be me). Canned music is fine, but sometimes you need a live person to play the tunes according to the existing or required mood of the people in attendance.

Photo by shapeshift.