Re: Shrinking audiences?

[Lori M Simon <lorelecs...>]

The parents hire the DJs for the bnai mitzvot because that's what the
kids want.The kids all want to be seen as cool and be admired (or at the
very least accepted) by their peers. For many of them, having klezmer
music, this "old fashioned stuff", would probably be embarrassing to most
of them.  Having been a middle school teacher for a number of years, I am
well acquainted with their psychology at that age.

I don't think the parents know what they themselves would or should want
to celebrate the moment with.  I find it very annoying that although
these young people are purporting to be men and women, they want to play
games at these events, and that's what the DJs supply.  In our local
Jewish newspaper there was a picture of a bat mitzvah centerpiece that
was totally puerile--teddy bears and the like.  It just seems like a big
birthday party (some as grandiose as weddings), not a celebration of
Jewish rite of passage.

So, what do you do?  Go where the money is?  Give 'em what they think
they want?

Lorele


On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 18:35:34 EST AGREENBA (at) aol(dot)com writes:

In a message dated 12/13/03 6:21:05 PM, lubet001 (at) umn(dot)edu writes:



I wonder how many folks who hire dj's realize they often charge more
than entire bands?



Ah yes, but do bands offer the same freebies as the DJ's???? Last week,
no kidding, the DJ placed a pair of earplugs for each person at their
place at the table. Now THAT's service - with a grimace.....
We were "sharing" the dance-floor with the DJ and all I can say is that
we couldn't wait to be done with our portion so we could pack up and get
out before TOO much damage to our ears was done.
Oh, and the really nice part was when the party planner (did I mention I
luv party planners??) told the DJ to push up his music so as to blend
into the end of our hora set, seemless-like, in order to begin YMCA. Now
THAT was cool. Oh yes, very cool. 
No. V E R Y annoying and UNcool - as I mentioned quite (surprisingly)
politely to the PP to not ever do that again with THIS band....

Adrianne

______________________________________
Adrianne Greenbaum
www.klezmerflute.com & www.klezband.com
Associate Professor of Flute, Mount Holyoke College
Klezmer flutist: “FleytMuzik” and “Family Portrait”
Classical: "Sounds of America"
fluteworld or cdbaby