Hi @SNICKERS - Cosmo here. Hope everyone on your team is doing well on this Tuesday morning. I’m doing fine, thank you. And although I don’t really have the time today I think that I’ll make the time for you. Please read along and maybe float this up the flagpole.:.
@SNICKERS First let me state that I’m addressing this as someone who’s a working DJ - and now that may sound like a misnomer because too often there’s an erroneous misconception of people within my field as being lazy or not actually holding a real job but I assure you it’s hard work
@SNICKERS In fact this year marks my 30th year at this and I’m incredibly grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to entertain thousands of people on a global scale for so many years, doing something I love, and to have made an okay living while doing so
@SNICKERS Truth be told it's a blessing to be able to last in any industry for that long. I personally feel as though it's extra special considering the fact that the climate in which we work is ever changing and it takes a tremendous amount of fortitude to work within a "gig economy"
@SNICKERS Now I am grateful - I've had the support of a wide community of people who have helped me navigate my career, some lucky breaks here and there, and the determination to be the best I can be within my field. And with all that hard work, I'm nowhere near the "top of the food chain"
@SNICKERS I guess I would consider myself a "working class" DJ - someone who puts in a considerable amount of time in order to continue to thrive in my craft as well as to pay my bills. And yes, DJing has supported me and my family for years at this point. I'm grateful!
@SNICKERS So what's wrong with your tweet? I know it's a marketing campaign that's supposed to be funny / snarky and all but I'm addressing this because it IMO portrays DJing as something that is not a valid occupation or that it's a waste of time / something that is not to aspire to maybe
@SNICKERS In my case as I said I've been able to support myself and my family while using creative expression as my outlet and entertaining people around the globe. I think that's pretty cool don't you? I've traveled to 5 out of the 7 continents on this planet and made friends on all!
@SNICKERS That's not bad for a kid from South Philly! My mom and family sure are proud. And in reflection I think about how many people's lives I've touched and been the soundtrack to their "best nights ever". That's something that can't really be quantified!
@SNICKERS How many people met and fell in love on my dancefloors? Went on to have incredible kids and families, were inspired to live their best lives from the experiences that I helped create in that moment... Again, I'm grateful!
@SNICKERS Now I'm nowhere near the top of the food chain in my industry, like I said I'm just a "working class DJ" and I want to ask is there anything wrong with ANY profession which consists of a working class base? People trying to make ends meet in something that's constructive?
@SNICKERS There are many friends of mine who are DJs who are world famous, actual millionaires with incredible influence and economic means who allow their position to both further the craft as well as to create positive action within communities
@SNICKERS Doesn't really fit the "lazy kid in their poor construction worker parents basement" archetype does it? Lord knows I'm not a rich person but I don't feel that reflects upon me or my contribution to the craft. But there's more...
@SNICKERS I am MAYBE a mid-tier DJ within the weird hierarchy of my community. There are countless other working class DJs who some maybe DO live with their parents (and is there something wrong with that?) that also contribute to both our craft and greater communities alike...
@SNICKERS A lot of these people are DJs who use the art / craft as a way to subsidize their income, a means to put food on their table and feed their families in a time when people in our country work 2-3 different jobs in order just to stay afloat.
@SNICKERS They are DJs who work long and late hours with no safety net or contracts or unions or benefits or protections or corporate structure or retirement funds or advocacy groups in order to make sure they can pay rent and not go to bed hungry
@SNICKERS In a climate where the middle class / working class is rapidly shrinking I personally feel as though it's incredibly admirable for DJs to go out there and work hard, work for themselves, and do what I consider to be noble work. "Nobel" is a strong word too, so let me address that
@SNICKERS One of the reasons why I consider it noble work is because of what DJs provide. We create places of solace and joy with our dancefloors. That may sound trite but it's true. 2 of the most inherent needs of humans are the need of communication, and the need for congregation...
@SNICKERS One of the things I provide as a DJ is a sense of collective communication for those, united in mirth and in dance, who may not feel as though they have a voice. My crowds have an opportunity to sing and be happy together, which is VERY needed in hard and dark times...
@SNICKERS On top of that the act of congregating with friends AND strangers in these situations that I create / help foster brings a certain natural catharsis for those in need. I'm GRATEFUL to help that into existence. But here's the thing: historically that's ALWAYS what DJs have done!
@SNICKERS Let's look at two congruent scenes from decades ago that kind of became the bedrocks of what it is we as DJs do. Back in the 60s, DJs helped create these spaces of community that were SAFE SPACES particularly within LGBTQ communities that were Black and Brown...
@SNICKERS For these communities that were oppressed & subjugated they turned to their DJs and the dancefloors in order to find unity, solace, joy, reprieve, and ultimately empowerment! Let's not forget that the Stonewall "Riot" started actually as a dance party!
@SNICKERS But there's more - let's take it back to The Bronx in the early 70s, a community of Black & Brown folk that had been living in extreme poverty thanks in no small part to economic policies that the Ford administration held stedfast to 
@SNICKERS Again like their LGBTQ counterparts downtown, through DJing the youth of The Bronx were able to empower themselves and create unity and joy and happiness within their communities that had been overlooked by a government and economic system
@SNICKERS AND on top of that, through DJing (and other elements that became hip-hop) they created one of the most important artistic movements in the history of mankind, a movement that now influences the globe and almost all threads of culture interwoven through it.
@SNICKERS Hip-Hop has become a billion dollar industry and so has DJing in itself, especially if you factor in global nightlife industry as well as the influence that DJing has had on music in general. Not bad, right? Definitely seems something pretty cool to aspire to be a part of...
@SNICKERS And as someone who's been involved with this craft and culture for 30 years I feel GRATEFUL to be a part of it. And, it's important for me to give back. I've had the opportunity to work with people for the past several years and to show them why DJing matters...
@SNICKERS For years I ran the (now shuttered) @ScratchPhilly which was a school where we taught students not only how to DJ but also how to actually create sustainable careers - a way of me to give back to the community that had already given me so much.
@SNICKERS @ScratchPhilly To this day I visit many local schools in my area and give lessons/lectures about not only the history of DJing and what its important but also about the mechanics of DJing and how that can be applicable to so many other life skills...
@SNICKERS @ScratchPhilly Through talking about DJing with these kids and my talks I'm able to create a connection between what it is I do and the way that so many of the facets of my crate are directly applicable to STEM education.
@SNICKERS @ScratchPhilly Another great thing is, in putting it within the correct historical and cultural context, I help these incredibly talented young folk realize that they themselves are part of this ongoing story, and can on their own help create their own part of the story, and future
@SNICKERS @ScratchPhilly So yeah - I dunno I guess I did have time today! I've got to go cause I actually have a meeting with someone from City Hall today about the further development and implementation of this curriculum which I'm excited about!
@SNICKERS @ScratchPhilly Thanks for listening, @SNICKERS and have a great day. And for everyone else, give a shout to a DJ that you love / admire / has impacted you if you can. I am certain they would love to hear from you!
