how essential is the MC to a live dubstep event?

[mattlab]

Not essential but can defo add a different element / tempo... g double / purple / flo dan / sgt pokes 4 me

Always wanted to hear scratchy d ( roll deep ) on set as well...

[joekool]

I think that especially with dubstep, having at the very least a host is CRUCIAL


I've been to too many events with no MC whatsoever , and the vibe is always kind of disjointed, people don't know who's playing or what's going on , so people can lose interest really easily if there's a less than perfect transition, or even a minimal tune with a lot of space. I've even seen nights where there was an MC present, but they didn't do a good enough job of letting the crowd know what was up and basically the same thing happened. people lose interest, if theres a sloppy mix everyone hears it and there's no way to smooth it over. If there's a sound issue or whatever you just get dead air. It's just not a good look.

I think MCs are very important, the problem is as has already been said, there's too may mcs who just want to flex their talent and dont know about the flow of the music or how to connect with the crowd.


A good MC should always big up the DJ, big up the crowd, tell them what the party is, who the dj is , ideally they should big up the tune and the producer if they are knowledged in the music.

this is what im talking about. they need to just be natural and laidback and let the tracks play and give a shout out here and there and maybe throw a little joke in every once in a while to keep the mood fresh.

[jolly wailer]

also really agreeing with the pragmatic aspects of having an MC/Host that Tacospheros is speaking on

[knivez]

i think it matters. when rod azlan came down its was sick....and it was super dope to see nomad so it def helps

[abZ]

I am pretty anti-mc myself. I'd rather there not be one. We rarely have them at events in Pittsburgh and that suites me just fine. I have given it a shot when playing in other cities but it just reaffirms my beliefs every time. If you could actually get someone that is good at what they do and also realizes that the party is not about them then I guess that would be ok but honestly I have yet to see it.

[sanjion]

you dunno MC'ing til u've heard Nomad

THIS. There it fuckin' is. Bing (afuckinling) O.

Oh yeah.. Me, when I still MC'd (4 years ago).. in case you were wondering (should be a video on there): http://www.myspace.com/thedriftmc

But yeah, that's all behind me now, what?

[ShoTown]

Mate no matter what anyone says you need an MC. Even if it's just some fool bouncin' throwin the odd shout-out on the mic but if you don't have the MC you don't have the hype, you don't have the hype you don't have the rave, you don't have the rave then you've just got another club night so what's the point. Jungle and dubstep, always have an MC at hand or risk it turning into a vanilla student night. Oh and I dunno what the scene's like in the US but make sure you get hold of a club MC, not some mug who fancies himself a rapper who's gonna bang on all night. Decent MC has a few solid bars here and there and knows when to big-up the skankas then keep it schtum, otherwise you're less focused on the bass and more on how much you'd like to choke him on the mic lead.
A dubstep night can be done without but to be honest the MC is usually the line between the ravers and the clubbers . . . and you know which side you'd rather be on

[gettingcolder]

Especially with the deep dark dungeon halfstep I like, a good MC can add an extra drive to the set. He can foreground and unfurl the humour, the sparkle and the vibrating energy inherent in all the seeming gloom. Task was very good at that. And now is Toast.

What I don't like is too much blatant animation of the crowd. A good DJ doesn't need a carnival barker.

[theedman]

Like em when there good, azlan, pokes and nomad, probs everyone else gets on my tits, its turnin into what drum and bass is on some hype nights, all that shit like "ahh cheww ahh cheww, better get ready for the swine fleww" I mean...WTF, seriously, what happened to just vibing with the rhythm of the track and helping everyone enjoy the night

[sanjion]

Like em when there good, azlan, pokes and nomad, probs everyone else gets on my tits, its turnin into what drum and bass is on some hype nights, all that shit like "ahh cheww ahh cheww, better get ready for the swine fleww" I mean...WTF, seriously, what happened to just vibing with the rhythm of the track and helping everyone enjoy the night

[twentyOneDummies]

There's a pretty vibrant local scene around here but emceeing isn't a major part of it. Usually I'm fine with that but I've definitely seen quite a few shows where the MC contributed a lot. Case in point: when Synkro came to town he played a set with basically NO midrange. Now that could have sparked a cool meditative vibe in and of itself but the MC kept things moving and energetic without making an arse of himself and it definitely contributed to the vibe.

On the other hand, MCs+midrange wobble=headaches, particularly if they don't know when to shut up (a recurring theme in this thread I know). There should still be a host on hand to keep things moving between sets though.

As for radio shows, I love hearing Mcs give shoutouts. If I wanted to listen to just the tunes, I'd download any number of instrumental mixes. When I listen to Rinse I want the whole pirate experience.

[bagelator]

yanks lol

[saha]

"know when to shut up."

wish the chick knew how to do this on friday night.
couldn't help but walk out. singing show me love on top of joker tunes.

buzzkill.

[tacospheros]

yanks lol

like you guys dont have shit mcs over there

[bagelator]

yanks lol

like you guys dont have shit mcs over there

lol yanks

[tacospheros]

yanks lol

like you guys dont have shit mcs over there

lol yanks

i cant tell if you're trying to be an asshole or if you are an asshole, so just tell me ...

[ghst]

when Synkro came to town he played a set with basically NO midrange.

No snare or hi-hats?

[ht2]

deffinetly not essential

[LA_Boxers]

They are required up to the point where it still more about the music than the MC. As soon as the MC tries to be more important that the music its too much.

[flint33]

Apart from few ones that everyone cited (flow dan, sgt pokes, crazy d, ...), I think the majority of the MC's out there don't get it. They ruin the vibes, so you just want them to STFU so you can enjoy the music. I'm against MC's in dubstep, especially when I see how they ruined some great performances during Outlook festival last year (ffs the dj plays for only one hour, so let him do his thing) ... I think of the poor Martyn for example who was stuck with such a pathetic MC yelling near him, so please don't let MC's ruin Outlook festival again ... Also I think they can learn so much from dub MC's ...