Dontstayin Spotter Review (apologies if it seems a bit drawn-out!)

As a DJ in a Bar in Chesterfield Town Centre who`d long since given up going to the Nightclubs locally, due to them either not playing much Dance Music or simply the attitude problems (Pint and a fight, a great Town Night) of many of the customers in them, I noticed with interest a lot of promotion for the new BluSky event around Town. Glossy flyers and posters, articles in the newspapers, and then I found the DontStayIn website a couple of weeks ago.

I know what the problems are in Chesterfield, and that is that anything not bang in the Town Centre has had trouble attracting support as a good chunk of `revellers` just will not try anything new musically or Venue wise, aimlessly following the hordes in search of Commercial or Cheesey Music and the cheapest drinks. DJing in the town myself, I know exactly how many people think. They go to the same places to hear the same music and drink the same drinks and see the same people standing in the same spot every night!

So, could BluSky work? I`d be a total hypocrite if, after hoping for so long that something independent playing good Dance Music would come along I didn`t go along to support it, especially when the people involved have spent so many hours and so much money promoting it!

I got our Assistant Manager to come along too, got to Erotica at 1.15 for the first time ever in this Venue. Easy parking over the road, and a friendly welcome later from the Doorman, in we went, to be greeted by a cracking Laser show, DiscoDown on the decks seamlessly knocking out a full range of House from Dennis Christopher to David Morales and (for those interested) Bar prices on drinks, not Nightclub prices. The first thing you could see was that people were there for the music. No attitudes, no shoving in at the bar, just a full range of people from all walks of life there for a good time without interfering with anyone else. Huge grins on the Dancefloor, applaudings for the DJs, excellent.

Jay (BluSky) then walked round with a pack of Mixed CDs for everybody there, making every single customer feel valued and welcome, which you just don`t feel often, if ever, in many Clubs, where you feel more that you are treated like Sheep! He then took the decks, playing a deeper groove to DiscoDown, and the contrast in styles between DJs kept everyone dancing, nodding heads (me), whatever! Both Jay and DD (the two DJs that were on whilst I was in, as we didn`t get in until late) played storming sets, with Breakdowns and Bass Drops in just the right places

I got some cracking photos of the event which are now up and online on site as well.

Later on quite a lot of people came in, and the turnout was very good indeed. The music was absolutely spot-on, the DJs animatedly whipping up the crowd (in total contrast to my own Paul Glazby-esque stone faced mixing!) the crowd all friendly and responsive to every tune, the bar service quick and efficient....I could go on but you get the idea!

Summing up, this was a real quality night. The music, the DJs, the crowd, the atmosphere were fantastic. For people in Chesterfield who want a Dance alternative to the mainstream, get along to the BluSky events. And even for those who may just be bored of the clubs, open your eyes and ears to something new. Dare to be different. Even for lovers of Trance and Hard Dance like myself, this was not lightweight Dance in any way at all, this was quality Music with quality DJs. Above all, everyone who went in was instantly made to feel a part of it all!

Count me in for the next one!

your cheques in the post!

thank you so much for that review, it means a lot to us. we've worked long and hard to make blusky happen and finally we feel like we're getting there. the crowd were awesome and they just inspire me to play better. we're going to get better. we're putting more money into the event, we want it to be better, safer, busier, more fun, more tolerant. we want to create a place full of possibilities where everyone can come and dance and have a good time.

the thing is we can't do it without the peoples support. we are only as good as the crowd. please keep supporting us and bring your friends and we'll make the parties happen for you.

next up is the huge double header in september.

on the 29th we are at the loft where its the official preparty for our new monthly residency when we'll reveal our plans for the loft and whats going to happen there. we then start the residency properly on october 6th and the first friday of the month thereafter.

on the 30th we are back at our spitritual home of erotica on marsden street. expect that big sound system and the lights and the music and most importantly the blu-sky vibe.

remember its your night we just organise it!

thank you so much for that review, it means a lot to us. we've worked long and hard to make blusky happen and finally we feel like we're getting there. the crowd were awesome and they just inspire me to play better. we're going to get better. we're putting more money into the event, we want it to be better, safer, busier, more fun, more tolerant. we want to create a place full of possibilities where everyone can come and dance and have a good time.

...ditto all of the above!

It was a crackin' night, and things can only get better from here, spread the word, we're gonna be huge!!!!

Yes, shame I didn`t get to hear your set too Kirsten with arriving after we had finished! Without wishing to sound in any way sexist, I think having a Female DJ is a huge draw, especially for female customers, and something BluSky could really find an attraction in, again offering something unique in Town.

I remember going to the old Sports Bar in Skegness in the late 90s when they used to play some amazing Dance, one night they had a female DJ in there who was superb on the decks and it brought in a lot of custom. Maybe it is the fact that women would be less scared to ask for requests, I don`t know, ( I know my `concentrating` look makes me look like I`m scowling now it comes to it) but boy, it worked!

I totally agree, if the crowd are with you, you play better, mix better, get more into it. Like I said in the review, from the DJs to the crowd, everyone deserves a huge pat on the back for Saturday, looking forward to the September nights!

P.S. If I spotted anyone else at BluSky or the TP don`t forget to tag your pic!

Yes, shame I didn`t get to hear your set too Kirsten

you missed nowt she was awful!

thats a blatent lie, she was, as always, excellent and you'll be chuffed to know shes playing both nights at the double header weekend.

Well I missed it! But we were in there on the Thursday night (random I know!) and the week before and recognising that me and my mates wanted a good old stomp to some hard tunes a certain DJ Chris dropped some absolute classics!!! Paul Glazby 'Hostile' certainly scared some of the more tamer peeps in there!!

Keep up the good work...it's a great alternative to the mainstream bars and clubs in Chesterfield, and a great place to go for a good stomping session (especially that last hour when the commercial tunes have disappeared!). Off to Polysexual Presents The Birthday next weekend at Air....get yourself down there it's gonna be PHAT!!

Yes, shame I didn`t get to hear your set too Kirsten with arriving after we had finished! Without wishing to sound in any way sexist, I think having a Female DJ is a huge draw, especially for female customers, and something BluSky could really find an attraction in, again offering something unique in Town.

yeah that's kind of the idea - hope it works! Have had a few people a bit suprised to see a woman behind the dex but i've had a lot of positive feedback which is good!
Shame you missed me, but only just, as i finished at 1 - but there'll be other opportunities i'm sure cos we're gonna keep 'em coming til Chessie sits up and takes notice big style!! :-)

I`ve added a review on our website in the `DJ Diary` pages about BluSky (and a groovy picture), we will do our bit to support you all the way!

Now three of my five favourite DJs are female, Anne Savage, Lisa Lashes and Lisa Pin-Up, with Lashes being possibly the best live mixer I`ve heard. Maybe the girls really do have more rhythm hehe!

Bit if a ladies revolution I think, I would agree with Lashes, Savage and Lisa Pin Up being amongst the best there is, they are awesome! And I'll def be keeping a look out for you Kirsten, good on ya honey!

its obvious girls are going to be good dj's. doing more than one thing at once comes naturally to them. its the boys who have to work at it.

kirsten also has a theory, good dj's are also good cooks and great in bed. i can only speak for myself but the theory is true!

I'll third that !!! - yes its me stalking you all from the sunny shores of tenerife ha ha!!!!

what can i say to all you guys for helping pull together something really special !! A *** BIG, BIG THANKS *** to you all !!!

Specially Steve (disco), Kirsten (best female dj in chezzy!), Julz and Chris and Steve/Kam for spotting us - cheers guys keep up the good work.

It simply serves as a testement to all our continuning hard work, love, support and dedication from each other and the people and the one true belief in what we all love...the music..!!!

Town is changin forever and we endeavour as a team to make a difference in this town, give the people a viable alternative to leaving chesterfield and provide a solid base for new, exciting and fresh local talent to be nutured, supported and delivered to you all.....There is a new dawn in clubbing.... Blu - Sky !!!

Jay when you get back let me know, I`ll have a chat to you about the next Erotica event and supporting it. Tenerife? Lucky git. I have managed a whole day yesterday in the Costa Del Skegness as this year`s holiday. Sacrifices we have to make I guess..grr!

Certainly Chris, my door is always open mate and i'll give you a bell as soon as the plane touches tarmac. Got a beer here for you all as well....burp....

if jay agrees chris you could talk to me. i like to think i'm in charge when hes not around!

At the risk of accusations of us on here `congratulating each other`, and slightly off topic, if everything people are working so hard to do comes off Chesterfield is going to really change in the future, and the best thing is it will be by people working together who want change!

Anyhow, sorry for that. Just thought I`d add it!

That`s sound Steve, cheers mate!

if everything people are working so hard to do comes off Chesterfield is going to really change in the future, and the best thing is it will be by people working together who want change!

very true, chessy is changing already. things are happening. i don't wish to show off but blu sky has raised the bar and we'll continue to raise it. we'll drag chessy kicking and screaming into the 21st century. so far its going well we're going to continue innovating and changing and getting better.

blusky isn't random chance. we have a plan.

for world domination mwahahahaha!!!

Bloody hell, do we expect Donald Pleasance doing a set in September stroking a white cat? Heh!

There`s a lot of things happening which I didn`t know about until finding DSI a couple of weeks ago, and it`s all about education and gradually changing people`s perceptions of music, clubbing and standards!

Bloody hell, do we expect Donald Pleasance doing a set in September stroking a white cat? Heh!

i'd quite like to spin records and stroke a pussy at the same time...

the point is there are a lot of things happening. people are getting the idea. you don't need to leave the town for the right music or the right attitude. its there for you. pretty soon the big boys will come sniffing, they'll start to imitate. over the next few months chesterfield will never, ever be the same and its going to need all the promoters and djs working together

Quite right. The nice thing is, I doubt many of the Clubs could ever risk a whole Night or Room devoted to our brands of Dance Music, as the customer base is either too young or too mixed. They made Price the main issue, making a lot of good people go out of Town, and those people will be very wary of the Clubs in future.

3 for 1 is ok if you don`t care what you are listening to, and if you don`t mind the odd good tune being followed up by Rihanna...but for the people who want purely Dance for their night out, they will have to know where to go!