Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ…
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ

Morrissey sang those lyrics in 1987, and at the time it was all a bit of cheeky good fun. Yet, we now live in a world where the idea of an audience lynching their DJ may not be as far-fetched as it once was. Where there was once a distinct sense that artist’s speech was protected, and we were expected to laugh at jokes, even those made at our expense, there is now a greater sense that it’s okay to punch someone with whom you disagree. Look no further than last night’s Oscars for proof of this.

Yes, I’m writing about “The Slap.” I won’t dwell on the topic, as it has already been discussed and dissected ad nauseam, but as DJs we are performers, and that can make us vulnerable. If Chris Rock can get smacked for making a joke at the Oscars, a DJ can certainly be on the receiving end of a violent act in a night club or bar.

And while we’re on the topic, like most people, or so it seems, I think Will Smith was 100% in the wrong for what he did, and is lucky he wasn’t arrested for assault.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get back to how the slap may affect you, the DJ.

Lately, violence has become more tolerated as a response to dissatisfaction. Whether it’s the “it’s okay to punch a Nazi” excuse that some were using to punch anyone with whom they disagreed, or the “keep your wife’s name out yer mouth” excuse we just saw, people are visiting violence upon others who have in some way, shape, or form offended them.

How would you react if someone requests a song that you can’t, or won’t, play, then takes a swing at you when you don’t play it? What happens if a club-goer swings a chair at your head for playing a song they dislike? Those may seem like unlikely scenarios, but then again, had I told you ten years ago that the Fresh Prince would go onstage and hit Chris Rock at the Oscars, you’d have laughed at me. We are living in an angry, divided society, and people are seeing examples of violence celebrated on a regular basis. The idea that a drunk bar patron might assault a DJ for playing the wrong song, or not playing the “right” one, is not so far-fetched.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you have a plan in mind for what you’d do if someone attacks you in the DJ booth? Have you every been attacked whilst DJ’ing? Years ago, someone came into the DJ booth and pulled a knife on me, but that’s a story for another time. Right now, let’s hear your stories!