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Show Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 WeekendDivenions Page 5 A day in the life of a DJ Cantonese House Restaurant BY COURTNIE PACKER sen/or writer Fine Szechwan Mandarin Dining HI North Main. Smithfield,UT 84335 (435) 563-8088 The car is loaded with turntables, microphones and boxes of records, while hours have been spent thinking up the perfect mix. This is just the beginning of a typical day for disc jockey Jules Berger. Six years ago, Berger said he was given $1,000 from his parents to go toward a car of choice. His decision? Buy a set of turntables instead. "I had never really heard anything about DIs, I didn't know anything about it. But I ended up really liking it." Berger said. "1 generally do house parties, and occasionally I'll play at bars. But I am not really a dance DJ." Becoming a DJ was not just a divine and natural gift, but Berger said it took him some time to really perfect his skills. "It took me years to feel confident enough to go out and perform. When I would tell people I was a DJ, I got the reaction of, 'Oh. you're a DJ, that's great.' People DJ JULES BERGER SAID he spends hours thinking about what he will be playing for an event. PATRICK were very indifferent." ODEN photo A typical gig day for Berger, he said, starts out as any normal Being a DJ, he said, may sound day, with a big breakfast and a Once the actual mixing and perlike the perfect solo job, but it is list of odd and end things to do. formance begins, the decision of definitely far from it. However, as the day proceeds, it what and how to play comes into turns into quite the event. "Doing this job by myself is a effect for Berger. very arduous process. It's usually "I basically spend hours think"You have lo read the crowd five or six hours which can quickly ing about the set I am going to and feel them out," he said. "If become a long night. I have sevplay that night. I'm a little bit they don't like one style of music, eral friends that are OK, and my different of a DJ. I generally don't 1 will try and steer away from brother recently started to DJ, so take requests; I choose what I am that. I'll test them out. I'll try one they come with me and I let them going to play that morning, while record that the majority of people perform a little." I am doing other things. It is more enjoy and feel them out from of a performance to me. I need One of the greatest parts of that." the time to think about what I am being a DJ, he said, is that it gives Berger said he has a wide assortgoing to play that evening, how I him the excuse to spend the ment of music and has a wide am going to mix it together, and majority of his time practicing and selection of'80s dance pop, hip how to make it a good show." perfecting his mixes. hop, classic rock and others. Using his multitasking skills, "Every day I get to practice for "My favorite part of being a DJ Berger said he spends the early an upcoming show," Berger said. is listening to music, but more morning as preparation time. "I try different combinations of specifically my music," he said. I take the time to gather the records to see what sounds better "During the gig, I play the music, equipment: turntables, microand just have fun. Being a DJ is not listen to the music and get people phones, and records," Berger said. really a job, it's more of something to dance. Sometimes even I'll sit "I am very limited on taking any there and dance. But my favorite is I enjoy doing. I don't really have a special equipment, which makes title or get paid much money. It's to yell at the people in my microthe packing process easy. And I just something I love doing." phone. I just basically go and have then load my car and go." -courtnk.packer@aggiemailusu.edu a good time." Dine in & Take out Monday-Thursday 11 am-9 pm Friday-Saturday i I am-10 pm Monday & Wednesday Tues. &Thur 15% off Free Drink your ticket with each dinner entree purchase 10% off expires 10/31/07 Fri. &Sat. expires 10/31/07 your ticket expires 10/31/07 Coupons for dine in only Guaranteed Aviation • Tuition Assistance For more info contact: Capt. Brandon Knotts Officer Selection Officer United States Marine Corps toll free: (866) 607-5567 knottsbs@marines.usmc.mil •No Obligation •Starting Salaries from $40,000-$50,000 Marines www.marineofficer.com The Few. The Proad. CELEBRATE A M E R I C A PERFORMERS sing and dance to an arrangement of 18 songs spanning over the big band era. All the costumes were special to each dance.Two more performances are scheduled for this weekend. TYLER LARSON photo Celebrate America Review BY RANAE BANGERTER staff writer The plain blue walls of the Taggart Student Center Ballroom were hidden behind the bright lights, partner dancing and exciting music accompanied by loud brass instruments for the Celebrate America Show student night Wednesday. A stage, complete with staircases going up and down the north wail, surrounded the live jazz band in the large room. Three hundred students attended with friends, a date or to support a friend who performed in the nonstop, upbeat show. Susan Evans, a junior in music therapy, said she liked how the show was different than other events on campus. "It was awesome," Evans said. The show opened to the theme song, "Fascinating Rhythm," and the performance included bright blue sequined dresses, dancers doing the can-can and men in fancy suits. Every song following the opening had new costumes and new arrangements of big band tunes. Almost all of the 18 songs were accompanied by dancing, but some were sung a capella. Sara Cox, also a junior in music therapy, said she loved the a capella songs because she enjoys the barbershop type music. Another audience member, Andi Howell, said she has done some singing in the past and thought the musical arrangements were incredible. A few special performers were brought in for some tunes, such as Lyle Allen, who played the banjo to accompany Valerie Harris, who yodeled. Another soloist, Aprilrae Anthony, came to the performance and performed a solo bluesy jazz song, "This Time the Dreams on Me." In the middle of her performance, professional dancer Seth Nydegger walked down the aisle to the stage in a tuxedo, grabbed her hand and danced with her while she sang. Another performance, Pennsylvania 65,000, included all 10 dancers wearing short blond wigs, polka-dotted dresses and red headsets. A telephone switchboard was behind the dancers, and they each took a wire off of it halfway through the performance and danced with it. All of the costumes were special to each dance, which added to the show. "The costumes were pretty true to the era," said Nicole Hicken, a senior in English teaching. Hicken said she also knew many of the performers, whom she went to support. Another combined dance was the "Chattanooga Choo Choo," in which all the dancers wore engineer hats and striped overalls. Before the show ended, the cast brought out 10 American flags, sang an armed forces salute and \1 See AMERICA, page 6 For Your Princess Store Hours' Monday-Saturday 7yflm-//;m 7he diamond Engagement Ring Store...since 1896 141 North Main • 752-7149 www.seneedham.com et '** *'»" •/ lfct *'«* |