#WORD: MAKE I TALK - DeeJay Gosporella | @gosporellaFM

One of Naija's female artistes recently released a song tittle ' If I talk". She has since talked and the industry has been abuzz since.

This piece however, is in no way related to such shenanigans that were thrown up by the above mentioned as ours is borne out of the love for the Dj profession and always seeking out ways to make it better. 'Make I talk', therefore has to do with DJaying as a profession and peoples' perception of who a DJ is or should be.

We will start by defining who a DJ is...

A DJ or Disc Jockey is a person who introduces and plays recorded popular music, especially on radio or at a club,party or event.

By this definition, the DJ is an important, {pardon} a very important part of wherever his/her service is required. After all, he is the one that is responsible for the music that will liven up the venue. You probably are saying ,we know that na; But I don't believe a lot of people do and if at all they are aware of the huge responsibility the DJ bears,they hide it perfectly. I mean, if you know the importance of someone, you will show that person RESPECT in the manner you talk with him/her and what you pay for his/her services. MAKE I TALK?

Yes, I will. Most event planners and party organizers contact the DJ after they have made every other arrangement with a fee that I will term 'you should be happy I am calling you'. The Dj who probably has not played a party for the last month, accepts the fee and enters 'one chance'. He is told to be at the venue hours before the take off of the party with all the necessary sound and audio systems that cost him a fortune to purchase. He is responsible for transportation of these equipments and his assistants from the pittance he was paid and ensures the party is rolling long before the first guest arrives. He makes sure the guests have a good dance and he leaves the venue after everybody has left {sometimes the event manager forgets to pay the balance fee and the DJ has to wait endlessly for it}. 

He does the job of a DJ, sound engineer, event analyzer and sometimes M.C as he is sooner called upon to make announcements. All these at the same fee which most times is the least of all the other service providers at the event. And if the DJ wises up to the relevance of his craft and charges what is befitting, you hear things like 'for what?'. He is being looked upon as a charging too much for a job that is just button pushing...hmmmmmn.

Make I talk abeg. From the above definition of who a Dj is, it is clear that the Dj is an On Air Personality who introduces and plays popular music on Radio. In Nigeria, the DJ has been relegated to the background on radio.He is only allowed to play the music but not allowed to talk. While I am not blaming the radio stations totally for this as some Djs can hardly put a sentence together, it is considered an affront by some station heads if a Dj is educated enough to speak on air. No matter how good he is, they say his voice is not to be heard except his music. Why should he talk and take all the shine? Why should he be more popular than some people? He must stay in the background and be content with his role as the music maestro, earning a pittance as salary under the On Air Personality. Haba, wetin Dj take do una?

Make I talk jare. The club Dj who clearly carries the burden of ensuring that the club rocks or falls is not better treated. Does he get a good salary commensurate with the enormity of his role? The answer is a big NO. Some club owners treat Djs as nonentities making them do jobs outside of their primary role yet will not pay them well. Some Djs monthly take home is less than the price of a vintage champagne bottle in some clubs...na wa o.

Know what I think? I think people should wise up to the truth that Djaying is a noble profession practiced by knowledgable and educated individuals and that our tools of trade cost a fortune to procure(the least professional dj equipment costs six figures). They are husbands,fathers, sons who must provide shelter, put food on the table, clothes on peoples backs, roof over heads, pay school fees et al. All these from the same market, and schools shops where other professionals patronize.

The Dj at work has at least three of the six senses working full time to be effective. His hearing sense is split in two (oh! yes), without that ability, he cannot mix two songs without a clash. Which other profession requires that ability? He stands hours on end to be at alert and ensures his dance floor is turned up as that is the yardstick with which the party or club is measured and not what drink went down. His selection of music is what keeps the listeners tuned to the radio station. He is the soul of where ever his service is required. He gets the blame for whatever happens at the party. Its so bad that even when NEPA takes light or the generator goes off in the thick of the party, you will hear " ah ah! deeejay" as if na Dj dey provide electricity. God help him if he is the carry all Dj that brings generators to events and the gen set refuses to start or is stuttering....ti'e ba e niyen.

The Dj deserves more than he is presently getting. Methink the Dj should be given the PRIDE OF PLACE he rightfully deserves in the entertainment industry.

 RESPECT THE DJ......please.

Ashiwaju (DJ) Gosporella

Jagaban,Gosporella Inter'l

Lagos - Nigeria 

May, 2016