Portable music devices, like iPods, are nothing new in today's world of music technology. But they could be working their way into the Memphis bar scene just as they have in other cities across the nation.
The idea is that people can bring their iPods to their local watering hole for an amateur disc jockey night, when they can be DJ for 15 minutes, an hour or maybe an entire evening.
Some bars in Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C. have already started holding such events.
Will McElroy, a sophomore recording technology major, recently took part in an amateur DJ night at Murphy's. Although the event was not iPod specific, one participant was using the handheld device.
Using the iPod appeared to be frowned upon by the audience, McElroy said, but he also noted that the mood of the crowd can vary each night.
"It was kind of funny watching this guy just standing over his iPod," McElroy said. "It almost seems too easy to DJ with an iPod."
The plus side to using small portable music devices is they can allow for a wider range of music, McElroy said. Songs that are hard to find on vinyl or may be out of production can sometimes be downloaded from the Internet.
McElroy was turned onto the event by Scenestars.net, a Memphis-based Web site that helps amateur DJs find gigs in local area bars.
People can send in burned mp3s for review by the site's publisher Rachel Hurley, a freelance music writer and production coordinator, as well as local professional DJs.
Amy Brooks who handles music booking for Murphy's on Madison Avenue said an iPod-based amateur DJ night is something she would consider but probably not do on a regular basis.
"There are lots amateurs who probably think they are good DJs, but not everybody is," Brooks said. "But it could be something interesting to do maybe once a month."
Although he wouldn't participate, John Paul Miller, a junior English major, said he would be interested in checking out an iPod DJ night as long as there was no charge.If there was a cover (charge) I would be mad," Miller said. "The bar is already making money on drinks. Something like (an amateur DJ night) should be free."
