Totally
Seems to me like a whole generation of DJs think this is sort of what is expected now. Embarrassing nonsense.
When your “socials” seem to determine how talented/popular you are, and are effectively a visual medium, it’s massively incongruous with being a DJ which is obviously an audio medium.
Tbf Secret DJ has got a point with his pitch black/hide the DJ vibe. Although the silly mask is a bit ridic.
So weird that people looking at you DJing (on Insta) is what counts nowadays as opposed to people actually hearing you play.
When people post The vibe in the room was
. You watch the video and it’s loads of blokes just standing staring at the dj… Lol
Or people waving their fucking phones in the air! Fucking hell I’m glad they didn’t exist when I was young.
Additionally, i strongly suspect many corporate djs and their social teams structure sets for maximum insta-impact. Periodically timed ‘drops’ to coincide with camera-friendly confetti cannons and led displays. The crowd in the room is often a mere sideshow to the ruthless marketing push.
Exhibit A ![]()

I play our quite a bit but it’s definitely not about the music anymore. DJs don’t seem phased at all if they play the exact same records the previous DJ did. It’s all very me, me, me, me.
Back to the 90s then!
It was the chisel before, now it’s Instagram. Not sure what’s worse. Maybe the two combined!
Have you also noticed that none of their videos ever show them actually ‘in the mix’?
I wonder why that could be…
Think ive mentioned this before but sets/bookings/gigs being referred to as “shows” was the start of all this bollocks i reckon.
It seems like a minor thing but things have been on the slide since then
See also ‘performances’. You’re not a fucking monkey, mate. Oh, hang on
I read an interview with Harvey some years ago were he said after a mornings surfing he would go home and ‘audition records for that nights show’ which did make me laugh.
You mean when Dirty Dave, Daddy Differently et al swing by with music they have found?
see ‘curated’ for a stage at a festival
So last night Mrs shouted at me hysterically to come look at the lights in the sky, legged it outside to see a string of lights following each other across the dark night. Maybe 10/15, like shooting stars but lined up like a train. Serious wtf moment till I twigged what it was. Didn’t say anything straight away and played along with the Alien invasion narrative my slightly stoned Mrs was living.
Much recommended next time they’re over your way.
Starlink
I’ve stood outside looking for these so many times. I’ve now given up. Heh.