Looking at the difference between pro and amateur DJs

It all started in their teenage years when they were complete music freaks. They collected records, bought a turntable and started mixing songs.

Then they performed at friends' parties and small cafes. After that, they moved onto becoming an opening act or doing a not-so- prime-time gig in a club, before earning fame as professional, hip DJs.

Most of the well-known DJs in town have come from well-off families. They went to school abroad and went home with dozens of records. Spinning music is more of a hobby for them rather than a job. Some people even started accidentally.

"I went to this boring party where people were busy talking in their own small crowd. I then went through this music collection and started to play the songs I like. And people started to dance," said DJ "Richard", 31.

After that night, Richard was invited to friends' parties to play the music. He started to buy tapes and CDs, and has more than 500 CDs in his collection.

As he considers himself more of an amateur DJ, Richard follows people's tastes rather than playing music that he likes. He spins everything from jazz, funk, Latin-American music to even dangdut (local music with a strong Arab/Indian influence).

Although he may be an amateur, Richard earns more than enough to get by. Charging Rp 1 million (US$109) for three hours of spinning discs, he usually gets six to seven gigs a month. That comes out to more than a month's salary for an average mid-level manager at a private company.

"One day, though, I would like to take a DJ course and earn more money," Richard said.

Despite the fun and the money, the job has its downside, too.

"I used to go to a lot of (private) parties, but now I have to work behind the stereo equipment and watch the guests get drunk, flirt with one another and I am the only one who has to stay sober," he added.

Unlike Richard, a professional DJ, such as DJ Anton, has a different story to tell.

He started to play and collect music when he was 12 years old at a boarding school in Singapore. Then he played in a band and bought a turntable in 1989 when he was studying in the United States.

DJ Anton continued to spin music at private parties until 1991 when he held his own rave party and released a record. Coming back to Indonesia, he found that the clubbers had a hard time accepting his music style.

He then organized events at Parkit discotheque where he had chances to play his own music.

And nowadays, who doesn't know DJ Anton? His name is always floating around at dance parties, and he plays at some prestigious clubs, such as Musro and Embassy. But now he prefers to play at parties instead of being a resident DJ. Rumor has it that most of the professional DJs can bag Rp 5 million for three hours of nonstop play.

Are you still wanting to do that boring job behind the desk?

-- John Badalu