Mar/Apr 2004
BILL'S TEACHING TIPS
- con't from last issue - RST What do you think of a DJ a number of skaters aren't
satisfied with and he is told but replies ‘they'll get over it.’
Its just like me with roller skating, I love it and I want to do it to the best that I possibly know how, so I'm trying to do perfect work. When I teach, I'm trying to do perfect work, I want to give that student every chance there is to learn this technique of roller skating. Once he/she takes my class, he/she can develop any style they want because they have the ability to skate period, they have balance, they understand rhythm, they can skate pairs, trios, foursomes, they can create practice ways. I teach a student to teach themselves. I'm not like a psychiatrist that has the same person on that couch for 15-20 years, that to me, is a person that's really got a problem and is never going to get it. My advice to them is to stop. One thing that I'm not, is a magician, miracle worker. I happen to have a skill period. I teach it, I'm fortunate enough to be able to teach it because everyone is not a teacher. There are people that can look, duplicate, they can put it together, there's that person. There's that person that can look at it and take that same thing...two people can look at me skate or anybody skate and they'll both do it differently. One will do it just like that person and the other one will take it and it will look awful by the time they're done, but what difference does it make? This is the way they see it and do it, move on to the next situation. I never had a skating lesson - never. That's why I don't knock anybody about how they skate as long as they're skating up on their feet they can do whatever they want because I know how it can possibly be. You can either see it and be impressed by it and want to do it or you try your best to do it. You don't go up to the person you admire, sometimes they do, they'll come up and say ‘can you show me that?’ You've got some people who will show you and some who will tell you to ‘get lost’ or ‘no.’ They're not friendly. Do you knock it? No. You just say that's a snotty way to be. I was impressed by one person and when I wrote my book I dedicated it to him...I never met him. I knew his name from other people but he was never introduced to me, I never introduced myself to him but I admired him so that I dedicated my book to him. Right off the bat when I was a youngster, the level and steps I took right up to this interview has been one of honesty, caring, because I never saw Archie on his head, on his back, hands - here's a guy that was just unbelievable on a pair of roller skates. That's Bill Butler's version of a situation in Bill Butler's life and it ends right there. This is something I'm expressing in reference to what I do, read it if you wish, but if you do read it, understand I don't advocate anyone to skate this style but I do say it won't hurt you if you do. If anything, it will enhance your skating because it makes you bleed information, makes your body produce cause that's the way it was intended. I teach people to teach themselves, some you have to take a little longer with. Everyone is not a natural, some people have two left feet but it's all good if it's coming from your heart, the two left feet person versus one that can visually reproduce, like myself, and make it happen on his/her level, not saying at any point and time that this is the way to do it for all. This is the way to do it for those who wish to do it, why? Because I have examined it, I've created it and I know what it takes to do it and that's the way it should be for anybody especially if you're going to teach something to someone else. You can't be lazy, this is for people who do teach, if they don't know this already. You can't be lazy, can't leave information out and you've got to teach in such a way that the order of information comes in such a way that it can be put together right. It can't be helter skelter so the person can develop in the right order, then you're gonna have someone that can skate when all is said and done, and you're gonna have someone who can process by themselves this particular sport, the greatness that's gonna come from it. We all think and have these ideas, some of us have more than others so wherever you are in the mix, take that and do the best you can with it - don't be a phony, don't teach something you think is cool but you know it's not cool because you think that's the way people should do it. Get all your pins in a row, make sure you have the info right and then turn right around and be able to prove it. Ill prove whatever I've said about what I do. I don't want to challenge anybody, but that's been done to me. When I went to Columbus. Ohio, I went there to promote my book. I was 45 years old and I got on the floor to demonstrate my technique. These five little boys came out on the floor, ( I don't think there was one over 17), and surrounded me. The management said over the microphone that they should clear the floor and I said, no, don't clear the floor, what better time with this packed house for me to seize the moment and show them what this technique was all about. I said let the music play - it was unbelievable. I started to the left and they all went left with me. I went to the right and they all went with me. I faked to the left and that was the end of it. There were five of them and they couldn't catch me. I'm skating to music, not racing around, I was jammin, kicking butt....I blew everybody away in just a matter of minutes. I didn't go there to challenge anybody, I didn't go there to be challenged but they challenged me. These guys were teenagers and they had to show up, and I’ll use this term, this old guy. I know at this point and time wherever they might be, they remember that night as long as they live. I don't want to be challenged and I don't want to challenge anyone. I'm like my [column], this is good jammin news - that's it. The only thing I care about is people who care about skating whoever they are and however they do it. Love it if you're gonna do it, we just happen to be talking about roller skating but it's not about a challenge, it's about taking it and have it be accepted by a lot of people, why? Because it's a serious approach to the sport because we're all approaching this sport whatever level we're approaching it on. I just don't want to approach it on a small level, I want to approach it on a level that's gonna be here 30 years from now as something that somebody can say, ‘man, I wish I had done this when I had the chance, that's what I want out of it. Be it selfish or not, I don't think it's selfish, I think it's something that I care about that I want people to do well. The people I'm teaching now, it's only a handful but you can bet your bottom dollar, they love them some Bill Butler, why? Because they've discovered that I'm serious about my work for no other reason, not that I'm self centered or think I'm the end all, it's just that I'm serious about what I'm doing and I'm consistent about it and I want people to love it like I do. That's selfish of me, but I like that selfish part of me. I want people to love it like I do, that's what I want or if you don't you should take up tennis or something else and love that. Love what you're doing and want to do it better and better. I'm very critical about it because I'm pro-technique. If you don't have a technique that develops something as an end-all, it's dead in the water, you're just rolling around, you're not roller skating - you are just having individual fun. Is anything wrong with that? Not for one minute, I'm not that guy, I want to see this thing blossom, I want to see people doing it to death, why? Because it's great. So, love it or leave it. ....I'm the last person to knock anybody or knock a style in reference to skating, I only knock what I knock and even those that I knock, I don't want them, whoever they might be, to feel any animosity, it's just my opinion. I want to make that clear, so just toss it aside, don't give me thumbs down because I don't mean it to hurt anybody, it's just my opinion. Look at me as this guy who has an opinion about something that I do and that's it, that certainly doesn't make or break that person and as far as the comments go in reference to people I speak about, that might do the things I talk about, it's a wash. Its done and from this point on I don't even want to talk about it anymore because I've said what I had to say so I don't have to say it again because it starts to be a soap box thing. Let's thumbs down on that person, I don't have thumbs down on anybody, I spoke about something and it's done, let's move on and try to make it all better.... Do you have a specific question on the above information or the Jammin technique? Ask Bill |
| QUESTIONS Q. Hi Bill...Happy New Year.I always enjoy reading your line.I've learned alot. A. Thank you very much. I like to feel that I'm getting across to the people that deserve this information that I have to give because I tell it exactly as it is and when I speak this way I speak for the sport of roller skating - how I feel about it. I don't advocate anything to anyone, it's the way I speak about it and the only reason I would be thought of as being able to speak about it is because of what I've put into it. Q. I understand what you're saying about the DJ.I've been skating at millinium,franklinville and skate 22 for the past year.All for different reasons.Franklinville plays no less than 4 slow sets.it's good for that.the sound system sux and the hip-hop is repiticious.Millinium is the closest rink to philly.the DJ seems to "play records".( the same records as franklinville),without reguards to: flow, storyline,creshendo.at both Rinks It seems as though "These are the records I play.I remember nothing,I experiment with nothing,I feel nothing from my skaters,I don't need to take them anywhere".I wonder sometimes if these DJ's even see any skaters."I'll play these and go home".Skate22 has a real DJ.I walk into that joint,and before I pay my money I'm like,DAAAMM!!!! There is a feeling you get when the music is right.you realize you've been skating non-stop,you say "OOOOOOHHH" alot,and there is a cross-section of music:old-school,hip-hop,reggae,underground,slow jams, etc.you don't mind cause the DJ is moving the crowd in a positive way.You don't feel neglected, and your'e saying to yourself "YEAH I'm Gettin' My Skate On.That's when the rink turns into a club.You know when it's happening cause people tell you.Just like they tell you when the music sux. This DJ knows his crowd and plays FOR his crowd not TO the crowd. Your article left out a very important part.The List of DJ's who are examples to be followed.and more importantly where are they????? A. I didn't leave it out, I don't know where they are. I don't have that kind of info. I know about DJs, I don't have to know where they are, it's the principle of the skill, I don't know where they are. There are different types of DJs, I say all DJs are the same until it comes down to being creative, every DJ is not creative - there's a separation there. You've got a creative DJ, one who cares, knows, understands, can feel, he knows where to make the mix, when to make the mix, you don't skip a beat. A DJ is like a heartbeat, he's got to be sturdy otherwise you have a stroke, that's a good DJ, one that can make the music, he's just got to know how to do it. A DJ is like having a horse, riding a horse and the bit is in the horse's mouth and you've got to know just how to handle the bit so you don't make the horse's mouth bleed. You've got to be that tender and that concerned, that's what that has to be. A DJ is a very important aspect, be it a party or whatever, we're talking about a serious DJ, not talking about a guy that comes with a thing full of records. My whole concept about a DJ, and I've said this before, a good DJ comes to the rink with enough records under his arm to handle the session, not crates and crates. What is that, is that his form of exercise? Of course, things can happen - you could break something, but I'm talking in general when you're talking about a DJ coming to play a gig, you don't need all those records. He knows what he's got to do, if he's done his homework, he knows what he's there for, he takes care of business with one little crate of records, he can handle it, if he knows what the job requires. It's just like cooking, either you know what the ingredients are, or you don't, to make that particular meal. Other than that, you're gonna have someone pushing that plate away. You've got to want to be a person working, so you have to make sure what your deal is or get out of the DJ business. People pay money, you know what, I think people would scrape that money up to come to a place where the music is super good, when it's knocking your socks off. You don't want nobody talking because he's on it so hip, the right volume, the right speed of the record, the control throughout the session so the skaters don't go home like a jumping bean. He knows just how to make that level - it's what you call a comfort level, what you call a comfort zone, throughout the evening, that's a good DJ. The only time you'll have that person, is one that gives a damn. I don't think it's about the money so much....that’s why I always say if the DJ is good people will pay, the money takes care of itself. DJs think they should get paid based on how many years they've been playing, it's just like natural food - natural what? It could be natural crap, don't get the word ‘natural’ mixed up with ‘good’, it's got to be the right stuff. If it's not the right stuff then it's not so natural. Let the DJ play if he knows what and how to play, those 2 things are key. How to play and what to play is the key. Q. When Ya Comin
To Philly????
Q. Where can I purchase your book Jammin. Thank you for your help. A. It can't be done, it's out of print. My book is from 1979, you've got to remember you're talking to an antique. There is access to my book somewhere on the web, or you can go to the library or check with someone in the library business to get you that book. Jammin' - it's a red, big book and you got the man on the front doing all kind of stuff |