When disco's were very popular, record companies would go out of their way and make sure that the d.j. had received a copy of their record. Sometimes the record promoter would make sure that two records were available to the d.j. Now this wasn't available to every d.j., but to those they thought could help sell records, or to the Billboard reporter. In addition, the extra record would also be given to d.j.'s who played at big clubs, especially those that were open several nights a week. Why? Just to make sure if he or she played the record, there would be another copy to work it and the dance floor.
There were times I remember walking the streets on hot summer days and freezing cold days from record company to record company in search of records that weren't sent to the record pool. (That's another story in itself) There were times when we would see another d.j. headed to a record company with an arm full of records and then we would pick his pile to find out what he had and where he got it.
You may ask then, how can a d.j. break a record? If the record promoter is in good with the d.j., chances are that d.j. would play his record. Now you may ask, "what if the d.j. doesn't like the record, would he play it?" The answer is simple. If any given record is not liked too much by the d.j., he or she might play it so they would be on the list to get the next record especially if it's fierce. Relying on the promoter is very important. Sometimes a promoter can come in to a club, hand the d.j. a record and he or she will play it with only one listening to. The promoter needs to understand the d.j. and fully know the type of music the d.j. will play.
Next week I'll continue about breaking records in underground clubs. For further information on house music, visit http://users.erols.com/djrene.
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