Open Format Vinyl Event in San Francisco: A DJ Experience

Recently, I had the opportunity to spin at an open-format vinyl event in El Chato in  San Francisco. Leading up to the gig, I was informed that one of the iconic Technics 1200 turntables was malfunctioning, which meant I had to bring my own. My first thought? "I already need to carry crates—now I have to haul a 1200 too?"

The night before, I prepped a four-hour digital playlist, only to stop and reflect: How often do I get to play vinyl these days? If I'm going to bring one crate, why not bring five? And if I’m bringing one 1200, why not make it two?

Despite the setup, we were ready to go well before our 4 p.m. start time. Originally scheduled to wrap up by 8 p.m., the vibe was so electric that we kept spinning until 9.

The crowd was treated to an eclectic mix of genres. We dropped funky grooves from the '80s, jams from the '90s, soulful house, and classic hip-hop bangers. It was a true journey through sound, showcasing the beauty of open-format DJing where anything goes and everything fits.

This event reminded me why I love spinning vinyl. There's something magical about the tactile connection with music and the energy exchange with a crowd when you're digging through crates, dropping needle to wax, and building sets in the moment.

In an age where digital DJing dominates, vinyl still has a way of captivating both the DJ and the audience.

Record shopping in San Jose has evolved significantly over the years, blending  old school with modern challenges like inflation. Here’s a recap of my recent visit to some of the city’s prominent record stores and a look back at some all-time favorites.

Streetlight Records Streetlight Records remains a staple for vinyl enthusiasts in San Jose. Their collection of vintage vinyl is vast and impressively organized, making it easy for visitors to browse through decades of music history. However, the stark reality of inflation hits hard when you see new albums priced at $40 or more. Personally, I’ve shifted toward DJ compilations, as they’re more space-efficient and offer a curated selection of tracks. Overall, Streetlight earns a solid 3.5 out of 5 for its organization and selection.

On the Corner Music Next, I visited On the Corner Music, a much smaller shop. While the store’s decor features old gear that adds a quirky charm, the limited space for records makes for a crowded shopping experience, especially with just five people digging through the crates. The lack of organization means serious digging is required, which might appeal to hardcore vinyl hunters but can be off setting for casual shoppers. I’d rate this spot a 1.7 out of 5.

Record Barn and Memories of the Past Driving by the now-closed Record Barn was a bittersweet moment. Once a haven for vinyl lovers, its closure marked the end of an era. Reflecting on my favorite (the best record shops) stores, Knight Sounds and Hit Factory stand out. Knight Sounds offered hours of browsing joy while you chatted with Carlos, while Hit Factory’s knowledgeable owner, Danny, always had the tracks you needed.

Final Thoughts For me, the best record stores offer curated compilations that deliver great value. As the vinyl scene continues to change, the joy of finding hidden gems and reliving musical memories keeps the culture alive.

  Be the hip planner to incorporate a vinyl dj for the event. When a vinyl dj plays at a corporate event it gives is a vintage feel that can bring back memories and it can fit the theme and vibe of the event. Also just the sight of vinyl records is appealing and add to the atmosphere of the event. Just the visual of a dj switching records for each song can create a cool ambiance.

A lot of folks say that vinyl records do produce a different sound than of digital formats. One can say that vinyl can produce a warmer, rich sound compared to digital tracks thus giving a better listening experience. It does seem there are a lot of digital djs around and hiring a vinyl dj will bring a different experience that not too many folks have experienced and it would be one that truly stands out. I do have to say vinyl djs have the experience to solidify their skills since collecting records is an ongoing mission and djs take serious since it is expensive to maintain.

There is no such thing as a sync button (to have songs seamlessly mix) so these vinyl djs are more skilled to mix by ear. In a nutshell, vinyl djs at corporate events can create a unique feel to the event and make it memorable for all those that attend. Call Black and White Affair to bring the Vintage Dj experience for the corporate event.

Vinyl Djs are not as common as they were years ago! (Bay Area Dj serving San Jose, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and Gilroy)

With technology it has become very easy to become a dj. Djs do not need to carry milk crates of heavy records to an event. Now they can carry usb sticks or laptops with so much music. Newer djs never had the struggle of carrying 6 boxes of records upstairs to a venue and the worry of forgetting their needles!

Cost is a big difference. With digital djing, djs can get libraries of music by joining digital record pools. When djs in the late 90s and early 00s had to get music they had to go to stores to find tracks. Sometimes they would have to spend 50 to 300 dollars in one shopping trip.

The skills of mixing vinyl compared to mixing digitally is way different. Mixing digitally can be taught pretty quickly and you can use digital tracks that make it easy to mix and there are ways to automatically sync the beat so they are the same speed. With vinyl you have to mix by ear and it’s a more difficult skill to learn.

You can call random 20 djs to do a digital mixing and all of them could do it. But if you called the same 20 djs to do a vinyl set then maybe 1 out of the 20 may know someone who does it. It is not easy and most old school djs sold their collection. But a few still kept their collections and still want to share their love for vinyl with the world. Give Black and White Affair to do your vinyl event.

Vinyl records have had a resurgence in the last few years, but there are still many people who don’t understand why they’re so great. However, if you ask any music lover, they’ll tell you that playing records at parties has an unmatched charm and energy. Let’s take a look at why playing records is a lost art—and how you can bring it back to your next gathering.

The Experience of Listening to Vinyl Records

Listening to vinyl records is an entirely different experience than listening to digital music. With digital files, there are no physical artifacts involved—no artwork, no liner notes—just the sound of the music itself. With vinyl, however, you get the whole package; from a visual standpoint as well as an auditory one. You get to appreciate all of the artwork and liner notes that come with an album, which makes for an immersive experience that digital files simply can’t provide.

The Quality Difference

Vinyl also provides superior sound quality when compared to digital music. Because vinyl records require more data storage than CDs or digital files, they contain more information and details about the audio than their digital counterparts. This means that when played on a good system, vinyl recordings often sound clearer and fuller than their digitally-recorded counterparts. And because vinyl requires more careful handling than digital media, it also offers less distortion and noise interference than CDs or MP3s do.

The Social Aspect of Playing Records at Parties 

Finally, let’s not forget about the social aspect of playing records at parties! There’s something special about having friends over and sitting around while someone plays some tunes on a turntable. Not only does it provide everyone with something unique and interesting to talk about (especially if you have some rare albums!), but it also creates an intimate atmosphere that just isn’t possible with streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. Plus, if you have any friends who play instruments or DJ themselves, they might even join in by bringing along their own equipment!

Playing vinyl records at parties is a great way to bring people together while enjoying some top-notch sound quality. From the visual aspect of admiring all of the artwork included with albums to sharing stories about rare releases with friends and family members alike, there's nothing quite like spinning wax for your next gathering! So bring back this lost art today—you won't regret it!

Do You Mix the Music?

Mixing is a skill that not all djs have. It’s a skill that needs to be worked on. Some djs play songs and just fade out the volume and fade in a new song. Some djs will play the whole song then start a new one when the other one ends thus killing the momentum of the night. The purpose of mixing is to keep the energy consistent on the dancefloor.  The mixing of music helps keep the floor with the seamless transition from song to song.  Each event is not a Night Club demo but rather a custom playlist based on the client’s playlist. We do not try to experiment with new music that no one has ever heard up but play tracks that are tried and true to the original form. We focus on the flawless transition from song to song to help maintain the dancing.

Do You Bring Vinyl Turntables to Your Events?

My pride and joys are my custom made SJSU Technic turntables. They are very pretty to look at. I do still own vinyl but rather use my dj controller at dj events. A dj controller is an all in one dj set up. It contains turntables and a built in mixer.  I am able to hold tens of thousands on songs on my hard drive and only 100 records in the record boxes I can physically carry. It is easier to update music on a hard drive. I can easily do an old school party with vinyl. We do have lots of funk, 80s, 90s and the 2000s. How time flies when someone mentions the 2000s being old school. There is something magical about vinyl. Maybe it can be too  hard to find.