Noob DJ Question, Please Help

[Zodiak]

I apologize in advance, I know this probably sounds very stupid, but I'm such a noob...
Anyway, could someone please explain to me, what do DJs actually do during a track? I'm very new to all this, but I know that DJs make their sets, beatmatch the tunes, mix them in and out, EQ the kicks out during the first few bars, gauge the crowd reaction to choose an appropriate song etc. etc. That I know. But when a tune is actually playing, you still see them, you know, constantly turning knobs and doing other stuff. What exactly are they doing? I know you can keep on adjusting the EQ, but surely there's more to it.

Take Tiesto here for example (basically, any DJ, any video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VguK7gwMjAc
It's his track, he'd already mixed it in, and it's still far from the next track to start beatmatching it (even though that might be unnecessary in this case ), yet he's obviously not just standing there throughout the song, but constantly doing something on the decks... Could someone explain?..

Thanks

[helix]

Honestly, I like to keep everything sounding PERFECT to my ears during a mix, but while a tune is playing, I'm either vibesing or looking for the next tune to play, unless something sounds seriously off. Most DJs constantly adjust EQs in tiny amounts just to look like they're doing something. It's as much showmanship as it is technique to a lot of people.

Also, Tiesto, seriously?

[alex bk-bk]

tiesto makes a career of pretending he's constantly doing something during a track

[Shum]

tiesto makes a career of pretending he's constantly doing something during a track

he definitely isn't the only one.

[groucho_marxx]

I know that DJs make their sets, beatmatch the tunes, mix them in and out, EQ the kicks out during the first few bars, gauge the crowd reaction to choose an appropriate song etc. etc. That I know.

To ''Know'' and to do are two completely different things mate.
The thing is, when youre up there and totally immersed in the whole thing, time actually passes very fast.

By the time youve mixed the next one in, and started to cue the next one to a satisfactory level and had people comming up asking for this or that its almost time to bring it in. (unless youre mixing them mid 90's MAW 12minute style epics).

[helix]

unless youre mixing them mid 90's MAW 12minute style epics.

MAW?
And, I tend to mix very slowly, because most of my selection is DJ tool style stuff and I like doing 5 or 6 minute blends, and I like still having time to do another long blend with the same tune.

[fractal]

sometimes i mix long and slow, sometimes just for a couple of bars or measures, sometimes a blend will do, sometimes we cut it up or use a sample for a blend out...

tiesto makes a career of pretending he's constantly doing something during a track

he definitely isn't the only one.

we're all a little guilty

[jackquinox]

I think most DJ's stand around but you could take a leaf out of the book of Terrence Parker and use a telephone to monitor the record and actually have some skills in the game of playing other people records, for those that are interested selection is questionable at times but skills make up for it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYiV5z3 ... re=related

[incnic]

turn one channel down one / one channel up at the same time, in time ftw
maybe fiddle tops and bottoms
get drank

[gwa]

go mental on the fx

especially bitcrusher. that is a big look in the dance

[DZA]

go mental on the fx

especially bitcrusher. that is a big look in the dance

Why would you wanna distort the whole track

[gwa]

haha i wasn't being serious

[DZA]

Yeahhhhhh

[fractal]

maybe fiddle tops and bottoms
get drank

i usually get drank and then fiddle tops and bottoms, but to each their own

[kinggraham]

does my nut in when you see DJ's doing that stupid pinching the knobs and then pulling their hands back behind their head thing, as though they're actually doing something. I suppose it's all about showmanship but leave that kinda' shit to DJ Craze, if it really takes you that long to beatmatch and EQ then you're shit or have OCD.