Master of the Fixed?

    I have to start of with disclaimer; I am not writing this because I am bitter, nor do I resent the criticisms from the panel of DJ’s of Master of the Mix given to me for my presentation (as it was edited to make things appear that way). I am writing this so that folks better understand the “Wizard behind the curtain” so to speak. I waited to publish this until they aired the auditions (and a few episodes) because I wanted to see if they were going to be straight about what really took place. Were they truly judging DJ’s on their talent, technique, performance and execution of their routines, or (as I saw and heard for myself) a simple “slight of hand” in the editing room for folks to believe this was a “real” open audition for a “real” DJ “reality” show. You will get the rest of the story behind the West Coast auditions from my perspective, and other DJ’s whom I spoke with (most of them shall remain nameless).  Let me start from the beginning! May 12, 2011, my brother (DJ Pos Red) and I were joking about auditioning for Masters of the Mix. Not in a demeaning fashion, but more along the lines of “There isn’t room for both of us”. Pos Red has quite a few more “wins” under his DJ belt than I do. I thought it would be fun to push each other for greatness (that’s what brothers do). The plan was to drive from the SF Bay Area to the audition in Hollywood, CA (the morning of May 19, 2011) after my gig (the night of May 18th) and make it to Hollywood for the auditions scheduled for 10am. I know it may sound like a lot, but when you believe in yourself…you get the point, right? We left the Bay Area at 3:30am and made it to Hollywood for 8:30am, washed up, changed clothes and showed up in front of The Hollywood Supperclub. The time was 9:15am. No one was in line, so we waited in the parking lot. About 9:35am we made our way to the club and got in a very small line of 6 DJ’s. Pos Red was #7 (10007) and I was #8 (10008). I figured from the from the looks of things, even if 75 DJ’s showed up for auditions got in line after us, and if they were auditioning DJ’s in order of registration numbers, and taking into consideration the time it takes for the production crew to set up for the taping, we would be finished by 12pm. What actually occurred was something very different. 10am: The line of DJ’s grow as registration is not open. 10:30am: line continues to grow, registration still not open. A young DJ walks up with his “taco meat” out, boasting and bragging about how everyone should go home now because the winner has arrived. Red busted him out by saying “I just wanna know where did you get that ‘Chest Hair Grease’? Is that your own product too?”Everyone laughed! 11am: stuff begins to happen. Kid Capri shows up and well and Vikter Duplaix. Moments later DJ Revolution arrives. 11:30am: still waiting in line to be registered and watching it grow to about 50 DJ’s At this point I’m grateful to be #8. A film crew begins make its way around talking to DJ’s in the registration line. I start realizing that most of the DJ’s are LA based (some well known in LA, some well known throughout the world). Where are the rest of the West Coast DJ’s? 12pm: I make way to the rest room. I walk by the production room where the stylist is working on some of the panel (cast), and they are also staging a food area. I thought to myself this was a good idea as, it may be a long day for  folks standing in that long line. 12:15pm: I noticed production crew members pulling some DJ’s out of line and taking them inside the club. I thought the same thing a few other DJ’s echoed “Very interesting”. 12:45pm: Another film crew and Kid Capri make their way outside and to the line of DJ’s waiting to register. Someone introduces him to a known LA DJ. He is pulled out of line and inside with a few more DJ’s. We are still in line waiting when the film crew begin to set up a shot on the sidewalk for Kid Capri’s intro of the LA auditions. They then move the line we are in down the block to become part of the shot. Of course, we were all out of order after the shot was done. 1:30pm: We (Red & I) finally make it to the registration table. We could hear the music from the start of the auditions through the open doors of the club. They presented us waivers to sign and no time to read them (very interesting). They also asked for SSN #’s which I don’t see the point! I autographed it, took a picture for their files and was shuffled into the lobby of the club. We were hungry and dehydrated. They did however provide water. I just knew this would be over real soon so I stuck it out. We sat for another hour waiting for our numbers to be called. There was a production crew member calling DJ’s up to load their music  into the computer (an older Macbook) all DJ’s were to use for their auditioning routine. They would not allow us to use our own computers which meant they kept all of the music. Very interesting indeed! We waited and watched as several DJ’s were put ahead of us for whatever reason (one was wearing a wrestler’s mask. Red said he must’ve had a great agent). They piped the music from the audition room into the lobby, so all the waiting DJ’s could hear everything excepted the judges comments. Yes, we heard the “applauds” track, the “buzzer” and all of the DJ’s routines right there in the lobby. DJ’s entered through the right door of the club, auditioned, and came out of the door on the left. There was a camera waiting in the lobby as DJ’s came out after your audition to capture their thoughts and feelings. We saw and heard as the DJ’s were filmed. About 2:30pm something very interesting happened. The DJ that Kid Capri had the conversation with in line was up for his audition. We heard his performance. A few moments passed and he came into the lobby where the camera was waiting to catch his reaction. He talked about somethings he could have done better, but held up his ticket to a second audition. He then went back inside and we listened to his “second” audition. Wait!!! You mean, the first DJ’s haven’t had an audition, and you cats are giving out “second” auditions already??? Red turned to me and said “I smell a rat!” and we (all of the waiting DJ’s) laughed. Later it proved to be no laughing matter. Mind you, while all this is going on, production people were going up and coming down the stairs with big plates of food in front of starving DJ’s, waiting patiently and anxiously for their numbers to be called. The DJ panel and production crew members took a lunch break. Enough was enough. Red begin to preach to a young production staff member about how unfair it was to not provide at least “snacks” for those who have been waiting since 9:30am. She was so shook that she managed to rustle up some chips and pretzels and threw them out to the starving crowd. Later, that same young lady took it upon herself to order pizzas for the DJ’s. Being Vegan, I couldn’t partake, but it was still nice of her (after Red lit a fire under her ass). 4:30pm a production guy comes out and informs all remaining DJ’s that “due to time constraints” they are no longer allowing us to use our own vinyl, needles and scratchpads for the Serato setup. DJ’s using real vinyl must use the existing needles and scratchpads as well. I definitely had something to say about this (as did Red). In the digital realm of today’s DJ, not being able to use these personal tools is the equivalent of using someone else toothbrush. It may be effective, but it’s just wrong (especially after this was a part of the rules they created)! We presented the argument and won. About 6:30pm, the same production guy told one of his assistants to pull us from the pool of (now angry and frustrated) DJ’s and put us on the fast track to audition. Really? How nice of you! Of course he wasn’t aware I had driven 300+ miles on no sleep and no food for my shot in this “fair” DJ competition. He didn’t realize that we had been there since 9am, number 7 & 8 in line and had been put off for 7+ hours to audition. None of those things matter to anyone, and at this point not even to me. My job was to go in there (as nerve-racking as the energy in the room had been all day), do my absolute best and earn my spot in this show. I had bats in my stomach, but I was ready! Red went on before me. I heard his routine (especially because he used vinyl). It was good but there was an issue. We had chosen the same record in our routine. I didn’t know how mine would come off after he did what he did. At this point, all I could do was make it happen. The time was 7:05pm. I was fitted with a lapel mic to pick up my comments for the taping, ushered into the club and quickly starting setting my tools under the cameras and bright lights. A familiar voice asked me my name. While remaining focused on setting up I replied “C.J. Flash”. I looked up and caught Vikter saying “Your name is Flash with this man on the panel?” (pointing to Kid Capri). “I am well aware of Kid Capri’s legacy” I chimed. “Well, if your name is Flash, you better bring it! Where are you from?” Capri retorted. “Berkeley!” I said with a smile as I counted to set up. “What are you gonna do for us today?” said one of the panel DJ’s. “I’m gonna get down for y’all!” I said with confidence. At this point I realized that the DJ computer was set up far to the right (a lot of DJ’s like this set up). I set mine up directly in from of me between the turntables so I can move a little faster. It proved to be an issue but I left it as I felt rushed under the circumstances. I began my 2 minute routine and all bats disappeared. As I began to cut up a Grandmaster Flash record, I looked up to catch Vikter’s head nodding. It seemed to flow pretty smoothly until the very end when I got to the record Red & I used. It came off but not my absolute best. I heard the “applauds” track play (I never got buzzed like they edited in on the footage), stopped the record and waited for comments from the DJ panel. “You had some cool parts, but you’re not ‘Master of the Mix’ material” said DJ Revolution. “Yeah, it didn’t do it for me either” said Kid Capri. I missed Vikter’s comments. Not remembering I was mic’d, I started breaking my tools and said, “It’s cool, I’m sill a ‘Master of the Mix!” “What’s with the attitude?” said Capri. My response was automatic. “I don’t have an attitude, you guys are more than entitled to your opinion”.  “It’s not nothing to take personal”  said Capri. “No no no brother, I’m not taking it personal at all. I appreciate your opinion!” I said as I gathered my tools and made my way out into the lobby. It seemed to me like the cameraman couldn’t wait to get my reaction. He asked “What happened in there?” “I don’t know what those guys were talking about” and began to laugh. “Hahahaha! They said I wasn’t ‘Master of the Mix’ Material. That’s funny!” In the end, they (especially DJ Revolution) were right. As great of a DJ as he is, they let him go in the first round of Season 1 (which didn’t make since to me at all). After catching a few episodes of the latest season, I just don’t fit what the brand feels is a master of the mix. I’m still not sure what that is, or that an alcohol company knows DJ talent (maybe Amber Rose does???) Don’t get me wrong, there are a few talented folks on the show, but some really didn’t get picked for their talent. One of the things I said that they edited out during my walk out interview was “No matter what they said in there, you will see me again!”