Famous Parents and No Discernible Talent? Become a DJ!
Sure. It makes perfect sense that Tom Cruises son would get 10K a gig right now
Read the whole article at NY Times
Hundreds of guests recently browsed the latest collaboration between Target and indie labels like Odin and PatchNYC, including the celebrities Jessica Chastain, Hailee Steinfeld and Lauren Bush Lauren, all of whom wafted through like angels in the food court.
There was another winsome scion there: Alexandra Richards, 26, a daughter of the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. Ms. Richards wore a gauzy bustier-like blouse and a starry skirt, by Target of course.
But after posing on the red carpet, Ms. Richards wasn’t browsing the racks or sipping cocktails. Rather, she stood behind a small folding table, propped before two turntables and a laptop, playing classics from her father’s generation (Led Zeppelin, the Spinners, the Clovers) and hits from her own (Azealia Banks, M83, the Black Keys).
“I love playing the classics that everybody recognizes but mixing it up a little with obscure tracks,” said Ms. Richards, headphones wedged between her shoulder and ear, as models and shoppers walked by.
Ms. Richards is one of the many children of celebrities who have turned to turntables to eke out a living. And why not? As a party D.J., the hours are easy, there is not much in the way of formal training, the pay can be pretty good and, best of all, a boldface last name all but guarantees a gig.
A scan of party invitations in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Las Vegas reveals a growing list of D.J.’s with celebrity parents: Connor Cruise, 17, the son of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman; D.J. Demetrius Mosley, 20, a son of the record producer Timbaland; Hannah Bronfman, 24, an heiress to the Bronfman family fortune; and Pierre Sarkozy, 27, a son of Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France.
They are joined occasionally by Richard Hilfiger, 22, a son of Tommy Hilfiger, and Chester Hanks, 22, a son of Tom Hanks, though they are more rapper than D.J., technically speaking.
“A lot of people think D.J.’ing is easy, and a lot of people think D.J.’s are cool,” said Rob Principe, a founder of Scratch DJ Academy, a decade-old D.J. school with campuses in Los Angeles, New York and Miami. “So I can see how it would be appealing to pursue it as a profession if you don’t have to worry about income, like these kids.”
Being a D.J. also lets them set their own path to fame. “These children might be trying to avoid Frank Sinatra Jr. syndrome, that is, becoming a second-rate imitation of their parents,” said Dr. John Altman, a psychiatrist in Los Angeles who treats many children of celebrities. D.J.’ing, he added, “puts you in a powerful and protected position for that moment.”
That might explain the allure for the young Mr. Cruise, 17, who often sports a mohawk and is frequently photographed flashing a peace sign. He celebrated his birthday in January with a party in Los Angeles at the chic Hyde Lounge at Staples Center, where his birthday cake was shaped like two Pioneer CDJ-2000 turntables and a mixer.
The party was sponsored by California Superstores, an auto dealer chain, and Just Dance 3, a Nintendo Wii video game.
Since then Mr. Cruise, who performs under the name D.J. C-Squared, has hit the corporate D.J. circuit. In July, he performed at American Eagle Outfitters’ store in Times Square, playing an eclectic mix that included Whitney Houston, Gotye and Coldplay, according to an article in People magazine devoted to his store appearance.
He has also played at Comic-Con for the gaming channel IGN, and for the opening of a Katsuya, a Japanese restaurant, in San Diego. According to The New York Post, Mr. Cruise’s fee for a two-hour set is $10,000.
With fees that high, “it’s easy to see why these D.J.’s perform at corporate events,” said Emily Bungert, a partner at People’s Revolution, a New York public relations firm that specializes in fashion events. “That’s where the budgets are.”
Unsurprisingly, there has been pushback from the traditional D.J. class. Online message boards dismiss their lack of technical acumen, with messages like “IPod DJing for $10,000 per gig.” And they are regarded more like dilettantes than peers.
“That’s why you don’t see these guys getting booked at places that are serious about D.J.’ing, like Pacha, the Sullivan Room or Cielo,” said Jim Tremayne, the editor of DJ Times, a trade magazine. “The audience is there to gawk at the famous people, not to dance.”
“People like Connor Cruise might have a pretty face,” added Randy Reyes, who performs as D.J. RaiZe. “But they can’t rock a crowd.”
Source:
http://four80music.com/famous-parents-and-no-discernible-talent-become-a-dj/