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Okay so I applied for this DJ competition over here in Dubai. It's called Palme DJ Competition. This is their 3rd of 4th edition I think.

I'm going to post what I got in my mail and I would truly appreciate it if you guys 'n girls helped me out here. I'll colour the points that scare me the most and I'll explain at the very bottom. Here goes:

Equipment you will be playing on:
- Pioneer CDJ 1000 MX3
- Pioneer DJM-800
- Techniques Record Players if you would like to do scratching then please bring your own needles
- Please bring your own headphones

Playing Time
- You will each get 5 minutes to set up
- You will each get 10 minutes to play


The Judging Criteria
DJs may bring their own Cartridges, headphones and needles
CDs or Vinyl or a combination of both may be used during the competition
Positive Marking
- Technical
Overlay and mixing skills
Creativity
Selected Material
Interaction of various music styles
- Stage Presence
Appearance
Self-confidence
Showmanship
Negative Marking
- Abuse
Mishandling of equipment
Exceedingly high volume levels
Mismatched frequencies (Mixers are not supposed to be red at all times)
- Pre-produced music
If a DJ plays more than 2 tracks without having to move the pitch control, it will be examined to determine if it has been recorded to the correct pitch level before the competition
If a DJ is deemed to be playing a CD with more than 2 tracks without mixing live, it is pre-produced
- Bad language
Use of bad language will result in immediate disqualification

Some Tips
- Pitch Controls has to be used
- You have to eject the cd from the cd player after using the track or after facing out from the other track that is playing

The Judges
Your judges during this competition are:
- Anirban Bhattacharya (Pioneer Pro DJ)
- Tammy Tinawi (Director/Promoter Gorgeous Dubai)
- Mohammed Saad (2007 Winner of PALME DJ Competition, known as DJ Mo Tiger)
- Jamal Sichi (Managing Director of Desert Beats Trading)
- Greg Dufton (Event Manager Chi at The Lodge)

Selections
- Pre Heats
The judges will be selecting between 3 and 5 finalists for the Semi Finals per Pre Heat so that would be between 9 and 15 DJ's that will go through to the semi finals
- Semi Finals
The judges will be selecting between 4 and 5 finalists for the Finals per Semi Final so that would be between 8 and 10 DJ's that will go through to the finals
- Finals
3 Top DJ's will be selected with 10 runners up

Prizes
- Pioneer DVJ 1000
- Pacemaker
- Pioneer CDJ 400
- Pioneer DJM 800
- Pioneer HDJ 2000

The DJ Line Up
7 April
- Abdalla M.A. Khairi
- Ayyappa Raj
- Fady Zaki
- Joshua Gowada
- Mohammed Al Kaabi
- Sabrina Terrance
- Hussein Masri
- Dory Badawi
- Mitchel Mesina
- Don Sisimayi

8 April
- Khaled Ghorab
- Shefan Lantra
- Steve Riachy
- Kirk Mannion
- Khatou Faycal
- Ahmed Mohd
- Fadi Al Zein
- Ninesh Babu

14 April
- Subandrio Sinhawansa
- Samora Mlingwa
- M. Belushi
- Mohamed El Kady
- Charles Ghossoub
- Ranchamarage Aruna Chaminda
- Bader Khalil
- Eric Mbai
- Karl Edwards

Supporters
Bring as many supporters as you can, rent a crowd if you can afford it. Entry to The Lodge will be free until 10pm after that it is AED75.
If you would like to come to The Lodge, during the evening that you are not performing, please feel free. You can get a taste of the different DJ's by doing that and also see what you could be up against during the semis and finals.

Good luck to you all and I will see you at the Lodge.



Okay, so as you can see, the competition is pretty official and well done. However, the points marked in RED are pretty much what I'm nervous/freaked out about. Let's take them one by one:

o1. 10 min play time: If you're an EDM DJ, you should know that 10 minutes is pretty much 1 transition i.e. 2 tracks. 3 if you can squeeze in one more by cutting one of the first 2 by half or something. Unless you're using Ableton. The things would be slightly different. However, I wonder if digital DJ-ing is allowed or not. Check further comments.

o2. Interaction of various music styles: Okay. FUCK!!!! If this is part of the Positive Marking criteria, then I'm truly, madly, deeply fucked! I can only mix EDM's music styles. I know very well that "various music styles" means shifting between EDM, Arabic, RnB, Hiphop...etc. I'm sorry I just don't spin that kind of music.

o3. You have to eject the cd from the cd player after using the track or after facing out from the other track that is playing: I firggin use Traktor Scratch with 2 control CDs!!! That pretty much puts me in a position where I have to keep ejecting and putting the CDs back in. What if someone walks in with a MIDI cable and Ableton? I'm beginning to wonder if I would get disqualified if I told them I'm using Traktor Scratch. That is, half digital half analogue.

o4. The Judges marked in RED: Those 2 judges are pretty much some of the biggest promoters in Dubai. I WANT to impress them because these 2 are the ones behind other bookings!!! Yet, the points mentioned above are disadvantages to my ability to showcase my talent as an EDM DJ.

o5. My place on the line-up of the 7th of April: With all these things working to my disadvantage, I am almost shitting my pants by just reading that I'm going to be the first one playing on the 7th of April. Not to mention that I have less than one week to prepare for this whole thing.

o6. Rent a crowd if you can afford it: Uhhh... What?

It's funny these rules came in when the entry form never discussed any of them and totally disregarded the fact that there was a field in the form that said "Music Style".

I would not be surprised if any of the people involved in the making of this competition are reading this because I think we have a few on board. The idea here is, for an EDM DJ, these are very weird rules that would not give me the time to show these people what I can do.


I need help here people! Your immediate response will be truly appreciated!

And if you please, respond first with your help

hey crow,
the rules are very straight forward. these people not expecting you to play any edm, they looking at hip-hop rnb and anything in between..
2nd. no one will come in with a midi cable or wareva because they made it very clear what you can ONLY use..
you want to impress the judges, well let me tell you what this competition is all about.. they want to see how many people you can bring. bring as many people as you can because thats what counts there,, if they see you bringing 40 - 50 people or even more.. they will say wooo this guys can bring us money so he wins.. so i think the most important thing in this comp is to get as many people as possible
good luck man

I already gave you my opinion over the phone: I don't believe in DJ competitions, but go, you have nothing to lose. Play EDM, don't use Traktor, and even though you most probably won't win this (as it's clear who they're targeting) nevertheless this is a rare chance for you to be HEARD; as I told you, my greatest gigs came from the least expected places. And you know what? Once you're done, pass the judges a full demo mix to take home!

^ I second all that!

Thanks a mil you guys!

The good news is, although I use Traktor Scratch, I still know how to use CDJs. Obviously because of Traktor Scratch. It's not entirely digital.

I'm honestly thinking of bailing out, but then again all these promoters will be there. Plus I'm a little nervous really. I haven't prepared SHIT!

you got like a week, youll be fine. I mean your going against kids who are probably doing this to impress their girlfriends, youll kick their ass all the way to Karama !

Greg's a pretty cool guy. Chi does have house music, but forget trance.
if ur at all taking this event seriously (i.e. would like to win/get ur name across, i really wouldnt go anywhere past 128bpms).

GOOD LUCK

But ... do your really want to present this side of your mixing to promoters? I mean is it just about promoters being there, or about getting your true sound to the right people? Cause say you win this, are you really going to want to be known as the DJ who won the commercial PALME competition? Recently, and the comment came from here on TH, I hosted Amine Golestan as a guest. I think he was a previous winner of this competition, but I didnt know it at the time. Go back and read what mzy . Its your call, but think about it for a bit. Good luk!