Interview: Robin Dugas

DJing is really more of a science than an art. Well, I mean, it’s both. But it’s really just drunk psychology, or the psychology of drunk people. What I’m trying to do basically is more about creating an atmosphere than it is just putting together whatever songs … I don’t know, people have two really basic approaches to it: what I’ve seen is you either have your set planned out or you just go on the fly.

I usually try to go on the fly because when I try to plan a set it never works out. You can never predict what the audience wants, what the party wants. I'm not above pleasing the crowd just for the sake of pleasing the crowd, though within the limits of respectability, of course. All I want is for them to stay there, personally! I don’t want them to leave! What works in your room during practice may clear the floor, so you never know for sure what’ll work.

What I try to do when I spin is stop people from having conversations and standing around with cups and get them dancing. You're not supposed to be thinking right now, you're supposed to be dancing! That's why you're at a dance party! As a partier myself, I just want to forget for a while, you know, just be present … oh wait, that’s a contradiction. I mean, just forget about what the hell’s going on with school, whatever, you know, that’s why people do it. Just rock out, basically.

It’s really awesome to have all your friends at parties while you’re spinning; they’re very supportive. For one, they don’t throw bottles at you when you mess up, which is really nice. I’ve never had that happen before, but I could imagine it. But really, the worst that could happen to you is they leave.

But I do have a trick that I use, and swear by: I have all my songs arranged by key. Changing keys at the right time is crucial to having a good set, and I also use it to avoid key clashes. When I first started I didn't know how much that mattered and I wound up with some pretty lousy mixes.

I’m not sure about what’s next for me. I may be playing at the same show with Tactic in the future, that’s on November 14th. And … well, I don’t know! I don’t really have the money to throw parties so I’ll show up at whatever party people want me at, as long as it doesn’t suck and they’re not trying to turn the lights on and play beer pong in the middle of the floor. I would do Harris, a crowd that large would be a challenge. I’m not afraid of selling out. That is fine by me.

Photo provided by Kath Barbadoro '10.