plus, you asked me earlier – (and i’m kind of surprised you’ve returned to this website that you find to be “ridiculous”) – why don’t i purchase turntables and get up there and DJ. well, i don’t have to do that. any time i’ve done a skate event in this city i’ve used a DJ … my brother. so i don’t have to do that – he has turntables and he has the skill and ability. so if you think that is the solution – why don’t you suggest to the sunday night organizers that they let him get up there and DJ and try to satisfy an entire crowd.

it was really a tremendous FEAT just getting him in on 3rd sunday and he stood and withstood a whole lot of BS but he didn’t get punked or run out of the rink, packing up his stuff in the middle of a session. so, that’s my answer to your question. now …. are you going to address the topic? please tell us about the good roll you’re getting every sunday.

thanks.

it’s funny you bring up the “old school” issue about the manhattans, dells, etc. because that was an issue with the third sunday. the organizer of that “old school” night wanted music from the 60s- on up to be played but the crowd that is coming out now just isn’t a fit for that. big mike sensed that from the beginning and intended to keep the music primarily from the late 80s into the 90s but conflict arose when “A”, the organizer, kept wanting older stuff … even tho a lot of members of his own group didn’t want to hear that stuff, like kc & the sunshine band, tower of power, artists most skaters weren’t even familiar with, etc. so that ended up being a problem.

i think that’s another issue with the sunday night – the difference of ages and music preferences. it’s supposed to be 21+ but the age limit isn’t enforced so a lot of the 18-20 folks might like all that club, “booty shake” music but people 30+ want something different, of course there’s always exceptions to the rule….LOL …. some of the 40+ sistas like to try “booty shake” too. but i think the music definitely caters to that younger set of folks, sometimes whom are even less than 18.

so, it’s gonna be good for the area to have another type of adult session that’s gonna cater more to “mature” skaters … if that’s the right word.

i also believe that ego and pride are a factor in the matter and only resorted to the 2001 petition because DJ1 was unwilling to hear what skaters were saying. it was some weeks/months after that petition that DJ2 was brought in for “change.” unfortunately, not much change happened. and for me, like i told DJ2 yesterday, it’s a matter of the fact that sooo many skaters have stopped coming over the years and don’t intend to come back, and many – when other events are scheduled – say they’re not coming if DJ1 and 2 are the ones playing. so i guess it’s the bad reputation thing that prevents me from seeing any hope for change with these particular DJs. over the years, there have been reports of people getting cussed out or told off for making requests or suggesting ways the sunday could be improved.

then there’s the things of – to me- if a skate DJ, after 10-20 years still doesn’t know how to do it, i just don’t think there’s any change coming. none of us would be allowed to remain on a job 10-20 years with consistent poor results. if i find myself not being productive in a thing or activity, i move on because i know i can find other things to do that i can be efficient at. i’d like to believe that i wouldn’t be found trying to hold on (and certainly not for 10-20 years) when all signs were showing me that it was time to move on.

i sense that DJ1 wants to be honored as one of the ones who, i understand, got an adult skate going back in the 80s, and he should be honored for that but that doesn’t make him the “king of skating” in colorado. i don’t know if he holds on like this because of the $$ … maybe what he’s getting is helping him pay his mortgage or car payment every month. i hope that’s not what it’s about.

but it’s for somebody else to deal with because after almost 10 years ….. i’ve done what was put on my heart to do and i’m going to move on. it’s for others to take it further on up to the next level. maybe the 2 sunday DJs plan on holding on for another 10-20 years and, if so, more power to them. i won’t be hanging in there with them.

on another note, there is a new group who will be starting an “every first friday” skate this week, on apr. 2. i’ve been helping spread the word on that and hopefully it will be “off the chain,” and a lasting alternative for the many people who would like one. so once it gets up and running, hopefully you and others from your area will come down for a visit.

and for others who might be interested, do you plan a full weekend of events at some point? i’d like to come out and hopefully get 2 nights of skating. is there a nice sunday session in the area?

I had my event last night. My DJ was all over the board. He advised me that he’s a skater DJ. He played old school music and some 90’s and current. But his flow was inconsistant. A lot of folks was sitting and waiting for some song to get them back on the floor.

The biggest problem you will need to overcome is the DJ ego and pride. You need to estiblish a common ground with the. My last event, I had a skate DJ from LA. The majority of the skaters “loved” him. But there was 2 issues with him. 1.) He talked too much, 2.) He played too much old school music, i.e. The Dells, The Manhattans, etc. That music will work with his crowd in LA, but not here in Sacramento. So, he asked me how did he do and I was very honest with him. I could tell that in his voice he was shocked, but he was willing listen and make the next adjustment for the next event.

So, if you go the “high road”, maybe that DJ is willing to listen and have an open mind. Check out my Facebook page, I have some videoes of my March Skate Jam. And leave a comment I would like to hear your comments.

q, as i continue sharing the “soap opera” of what my experiences have been here since 2001, it might become clearer why, after almost 10 years, i’ve said “i’m through.” back in 2001-2004, i was very active on the national skate circuit and attended a lot of events, some with dr. brokeankle (bandele) – and we made quite a few friends across the country and were able to see how people from other areas skated and what really nice sessions other areas had. i always wanted to see that for this area but, like i said in an email to bobby yesterday, i don’t believe skating here in this area is going to get to the next level with him and kevin sitting in the seat that they’re. it’s just not gonna happen.

the DJ crew has been invited to post in their own defense if they’d like to but i wanted them to get it directly from me that i am posting on this site and have decided to tell “my story” – some of which, unfortunately, is not going to be favorable toward them.

the “hits” for this post have skyrocketed so i imagine they may have spread the link to their network. which is fine but let me say …. well, let me put it this way ….

this incident will be more detailed as i continue telling “my story,” but around 4-5 years ago, another skater here organized some late night saturday sessions that were well attended. BS ensued all throughout that process but continued into one of the sessions when friends/supporters of the current DJ crew came to the session and 2-3 of these men stood at the back of the rink and started booing. also, one of the current DJs and another person were constantly up at the booth trying to tell the DJ what to do, how to do, what he wasn’t doing, etc. unfortunately, the DJ playing (who was not my brother, but someone else) got so shook, he packed up his stuff and left in the middle of the session, accusing me and the event organizer of “putting him in the middle” of some mess. after all that happened, a member of the current DJ crew took it upon himself to get in the booth, as tho he was going to be playing the music, even tho the whole point of the night was to provide an alternative to what the regular crew had to offer. i ended up telling that DJ to get out of the booth and yes, i was very angry and “hot” over that incident. more on that later.

anyway – my point is this: i’ve seen the foolishness and silliness that supporters of the current DJ crew resort to at times in their efforts to “defend” their friends (the current DJs) and/or sabotage anyone else’s efforts at trying to do something with skating. if any of them have that in mind, i.e. bringing some foolishness to this comment section, it’s not going to happen.

so, if any of those “defenders” are reading and contemplating posting here, keep it mature and on topic and if you can’t do that, don’t bother posting because you will find your comments deleted and your ability to post disabled.

thank you.

maybe it’s upsetting to you and others that this topic is being discussed but, as you say, “how dare you criticize” anyone for doing what was put on their heart and mind to do. …. and people accuse me of taking this “personal.” looking at some of the comments that you critics are posting, it appears some of you are taking this personal and not me.