However, I think it is a bad idea to go into a DJ set as a complete blank slate. Often I will try to play a harmonious counter point to the band. If they are slow, I’ll pick the tempo up. If they are fast, I’ll slow it down a bit. If they are in a charleston groove, I’ll try to swing hard. Sometimes I’ll be inspired out of my mind by a song or artist (Sidney Bechet I am looking at you). I’ll come into a set with a distinct feeling and adapt it to the mood of the room. Experiment with what works and what doesn’t and try to find consistent expression of the feeling. Every musician, artists, DJ and dancer has their own form of self-expression. Each of these crafts involves sharing. Partners in a dance share their styles, ideas, and creativity with one another within the framework of the music. Musicians share and play off of one another. A DJ shares with the dancers and the dancers in turn inspire and share with the DJ. In all of these cases, a good partnership keeps the energy flowing.