Do you scratch?

[goodknightdj]

OK, being mostly a wedding/party jock, I rarely scratch (except when I have an itch, LOL).



When, where, and why do you scratch?

[Jim Casey]

Behind me ears...and it makes me feel all cozy inside...

Uhh...

In the DJ sense, I haven't

[Glen Millar]

Scratching is truly regional.

In Canada, scratching is not as popular as it is in places like L.A., Detroit, Chicago, New York etc. Scratching is something that is synonymous(sp) with the Hip Hop culture which is really at home in USA markets. Occasionally there is call to beat-mix (yep even at weddings) here in Canada, but never seen a demand for scratching DJ's.

[Justin]

It's strange...I'm not a "scratch dj", but I love that my CD player has that function.

I'll play around with it in the basement or when we're set up early and no one's around, but not during events.

I wish I had more time to practice because if I was really good at it I might give it a try with the right crowd and at the right type of event.

[DJBIGD]

I would love to be able to scratch, I think it would add an exciting twist to one's show with the younger crowd.

[Bryan Durio]

I don't have a need to scratch other than to cover the occasional colorful metaphor, so I would say that I don't. It's so Retro Hip Hop...

[Poccnr]

We have a school here in Los Angeles specifically for scratching and battle deck arts... can't remember the name of them specifically but the clubs here; mainly the hip hop, cater to that style. I myself being a club house music style DJ don't really have the need for it, maybe at the end of a mix, I'll stroke the record backwards for a beat simply to get that rewind feel to it and to add to the set. I have been invited to some clubs in the west side that really cater to it. Those have traditionally been the type that will make you want to jump on the decks and rip the damn thing out of the mixing board simply to get them to stop over using the method. I think it kind of goes more towards the crowd your playing as well as the type of music. On one note, on KTLA, they had a grad from the school on the morning news that was teaching one of the anchors how to do it. Very entertaining morning news cast to say the least.

[KJDJ]

I use a CDN-90. Scatch or backspin are great effects for coming out of a song. For example at a wedding recpt. you don't have alot of time to play many types of tunes.
So if I need to segue out say dance to oldies I will back spin the end of the dance song and crossmix to the oldie. The segue sounds like your going back in time.
Scratch mode can also be used like a drag. If I start a tune and everybody leaves the floor I cut the song off by slowing it down to a stop and mix into a standard that grabs them back to the dancefloor .

I love effects like phaze, iso, and bleep to "moderize" classic R&B tunes.

I beat mix as much as possible. This keeps the dance floor full. I feel a dj needs to reduce as many excuses as possible for anyone to leave the dance floor. A bad seque or gap in the music seems to send a psychological signal to the dancefloor. "END OF MUSIC, EXIT NOW!!!!".

Used sparingly scratch and other effects give me the edge. Most of clients haven't been in a club in a few years. I try to take them back to their clubing days. It makes them feel young again.

[a2zmobilemusic]

ONLY after everything is in full swing. they then trust you and your "skillz". only quick lead ins as well. don't over do it, especially at a formal event.