Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
TWO DISC jocks will go home and two will live to play another day when the Heineken Green Synergy quarter finals begin at Weekenz, Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, on Friday evening.
Ferland 'DJ Trinity' Salmon from Clarendon will square off against Kingston's Julion 'DJ Jubby' Jones, while Kayan 'DJ Masterlee' Lee and Lansfield 'DJ Gemini' will do turntable battle in the first of three consecutive Friday playoffs among the 12 quarter-finalists, which will be reduced to six for the contest's next stage. Also in the Heineken Green Synergy quarters are Ricardo 'DJ Redbull' Reid from St. Catherine, St. Andrew's Darren 'DJ Monk' Dixon and Kurt-Michael 'DJ Kurt' Hyatt, David 'DJ David' Dwyer and Jerry 'DJ Jerry' Whyte from Kingston, Andre 'DJ Fire Chief' Bryan from St. Thomas and the St. James pair of Soyinka 'DJ Soyinka' Davis and Nicholas 'DJ Nicco' Rasiniki.
The draw for playing positions, as well as the announcement of details for this year's competition, were announced in studio at the Lyndhurst Road, St. Andrew, offices of the RJR Communications Group on Tuesday afternoon.
But it was not only a matter of match-ups, as there was a healthy dose of advice for the participants. Gareth Geddes, Heineken brand manager, told them that they must try to be distinctive and "you can't just put in your CD and stand with your hand on your hips, or put in your CD and run the mix".
The match-ups will also be carried on radio and Paula-Ann Porter-Jones of FAME FM said "it is one thing to play at a club or session. It is a totally different thing to play on radio". She advised that a song being fit for airplay does not only mean no bad words, but the songs must be in good taste.
"We will not romp to flick the switch and turn you off, but please don't let it get that far," she said.
VOTING
After the DJs have finished playing there will be half an hour for votes to be sent in by text message 444-MYDJ, with each DJ on the night being assigned a number. Maurice Ryan, Digicel's sponsorship and promotions manager, said that votes can be sent in from any mobile network and there will be prizes for some voters. A panel of judges will also look for things such as music selection, crowd response and technique.
As for the contestants' rewards, Geddes said "this competition is not about money. What we hope to deliver to you is experience and a platform for your talent". Still, the top three contestants will get DJ equipment at various standards, the winner also getting a one-month internship on FAME as well as going to the Bahamas to represent Jamaica in the regional showdown.
