Ingo|B
About
Ingo B (aka Jeff Lee) has been spinning since 1986 and can usually be found working the San Francisco and South Bay hot spots. While loyal to his hometown, his sound has global appeal and he has spun sessions as far as mainland China.
The SOBAD Interview
Below is a sample interview that could happen if Ingo B were to somehow hit the big time...
Interviewer: Thanks so very much for meeting with me. I know you're a busy guy. Let's just start from the beginning. What got you started?
Ingo B: Back in the day, I'd go to dances, hoping to hook up, but soon noticed that most all the cute chicks were up on stage with the DJ.
I: So, you bought the gear, practiced a bit, and the rest is history?
IB: Well, not quite that simple, but yeah, essentially, two other buddies and I pitched in for two JVC belt drive TT's and a Numark 1150A, which I still have, by the way….that thing should be in the Smithsonian. Anyway, they just couldn't catch onto the whole mixing concept, so they sold me their share. I started out really small. I think my first gig was this girl's 16th b-day party, held in her garage. Pretty ghetto, but I had fun. I mean, all my friends were there, right?…great showoff opportunity.
I: How long ago was that?
IB: I started spinning in 1986, so had to be around then. I remember, I had no amps or speakers, so I used my mom's home receiver, and my buddy's 10" MTX car subwoofers…..pretty sad, man.
I: Favorite gig ever?
IB: I spun in Xiamen, a city in China, while there on business. There was this nightclub in my hotel's lobby, so I popped in, and met the DJ there, just to see what kind of equipment they use over there. Once he found out I was a US-bred DJ, he hooked me up with a Friday slot. Pretty cool of that guy to do that. There's much less of the playa-hatin' politicking happening over there. I had a great time….well, I better have…the company I worked for sent me over there a lot.
I: Oh, so you have a job?
IB: Yep. Djing for a living would've resulted in one hungry Jeff Lee. It did, however, provide an awesome extra cash opportunity for me, while in college. I went to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where at the time, hip hop was just coming up. We had that urban/house market all wrapped up for most of my college career.
I: Favorite part about Djing?
IB: I'd say it's making people happy. Nothing beats hyping up a crowd. That roar of approval when you do something dope….nothing can touch that rush. I also dig music's ability to unify. During my Cal Poly years, I remember getting an African American frat gig thru a mutual buddy. I was the ONLY Asian there, and this was my first African American party. . I could see the thought bubbles: "man, we asked for a DJ, not a math tutor…"
After a few songs, I think we made our point. It wasn't about race, it's about the music. I really dig destroying stereotypes….almost like saying, "see? We're not ALL math whizzes, doctors, and engineers!" That was fun….it's all about diversity, man. We ended up doing a bunch of their events.
I: Least favorite part about Djing?
IB: Folks that come up and request "good music". Or fools that try really hard to "talk DJ" by strategically inserting a few "yo's", or "hey bro's", or "funky music's" into their sentences. I hate that. Of course, there's that whole "hauling your crates back to the car at 4AM" deal that gets old. I swear, the earth's gravitational pull must triple that time of night, especially on vinyl.
I: DJ's exist in huge numbers. What separates you from the others?
IB: You mean aside from my good looks? (laughs). Seriously, I do my best to NOT sound like the other guys. Anyone can emulate a radio station's mixshow format. Admittedly, playing a few commercial tracks is inevitable, but I don't think that's the end-all. Wanna hear how I evaluate my performance work? I dig it when other DJ's or customers run up to the booth, asking what it was that I just played, where I got it, etc. Means I'm doing my job, when that happens. Playing something first, before it blows up, is a source of major satisfaction for me.
I: Rub elbows with the rich and famous?
IB: I met Jocelyn Enriquez a few times, and, literally, ran into MC Hammer. Oh, and I took a picture with Wayne Brady…..other than that, not really. I don't get out much (laughs)
I: meet a lot of chicks?
IB: Yeah, but most of them intoxicated.
I: Get picked up on?
IB: More like, "picked on"….(laughs)
I: What skills, outside of Djing, do you boast?
IB: I can dance like Carlton from the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Oh, and I like to Snowboard, play volleyball, whatever is fun. I hold down a day job, so time is usually fleeting….
I: How long do you think you'll be doing this?
IB: Djing? For as long as it's still fun. Once it becomes money-driven for me, it's quittin' time. I remember I told others that I'd probably stop after graduating college, but here I am….
The SOBAD Interview
Below is a sample interview that could happen if Ingo B were to somehow hit the big time...
Interviewer: Thanks so very much for meeting with me. I know you're a busy guy. Let's just start from the beginning. What got you started?
Ingo B: Back in the day, I'd go to dances, hoping to hook up, but soon noticed that most all the cute chicks were up on stage with the DJ.
I: So, you bought the gear, practiced a bit, and the rest is history?
IB: Well, not quite that simple, but yeah, essentially, two other buddies and I pitched in for two JVC belt drive TT's and a Numark 1150A, which I still have, by the way….that thing should be in the Smithsonian. Anyway, they just couldn't catch onto the whole mixing concept, so they sold me their share. I started out really small. I think my first gig was this girl's 16th b-day party, held in her garage. Pretty ghetto, but I had fun. I mean, all my friends were there, right?…great showoff opportunity.
I: How long ago was that?
IB: I started spinning in 1986, so had to be around then. I remember, I had no amps or speakers, so I used my mom's home receiver, and my buddy's 10" MTX car subwoofers…..pretty sad, man.
I: Favorite gig ever?
IB: I spun in Xiamen, a city in China, while there on business. There was this nightclub in my hotel's lobby, so I popped in, and met the DJ there, just to see what kind of equipment they use over there. Once he found out I was a US-bred DJ, he hooked me up with a Friday slot. Pretty cool of that guy to do that. There's much less of the playa-hatin' politicking happening over there. I had a great time….well, I better have…the company I worked for sent me over there a lot.
I: Oh, so you have a job?
IB: Yep. Djing for a living would've resulted in one hungry Jeff Lee. It did, however, provide an awesome extra cash opportunity for me, while in college. I went to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where at the time, hip hop was just coming up. We had that urban/house market all wrapped up for most of my college career.
I: Favorite part about Djing?
IB: I'd say it's making people happy. Nothing beats hyping up a crowd. That roar of approval when you do something dope….nothing can touch that rush. I also dig music's ability to unify. During my Cal Poly years, I remember getting an African American frat gig thru a mutual buddy. I was the ONLY Asian there, and this was my first African American party. . I could see the thought bubbles: "man, we asked for a DJ, not a math tutor…"
After a few songs, I think we made our point. It wasn't about race, it's about the music. I really dig destroying stereotypes….almost like saying, "see? We're not ALL math whizzes, doctors, and engineers!" That was fun….it's all about diversity, man. We ended up doing a bunch of their events.
I: Least favorite part about Djing?
IB: Folks that come up and request "good music". Or fools that try really hard to "talk DJ" by strategically inserting a few "yo's", or "hey bro's", or "funky music's" into their sentences. I hate that. Of course, there's that whole "hauling your crates back to the car at 4AM" deal that gets old. I swear, the earth's gravitational pull must triple that time of night, especially on vinyl.
I: DJ's exist in huge numbers. What separates you from the others?
IB: You mean aside from my good looks? (laughs). Seriously, I do my best to NOT sound like the other guys. Anyone can emulate a radio station's mixshow format. Admittedly, playing a few commercial tracks is inevitable, but I don't think that's the end-all. Wanna hear how I evaluate my performance work? I dig it when other DJ's or customers run up to the booth, asking what it was that I just played, where I got it, etc. Means I'm doing my job, when that happens. Playing something first, before it blows up, is a source of major satisfaction for me.
I: Rub elbows with the rich and famous?
IB: I met Jocelyn Enriquez a few times, and, literally, ran into MC Hammer. Oh, and I took a picture with Wayne Brady…..other than that, not really. I don't get out much (laughs)
I: meet a lot of chicks?
IB: Yeah, but most of them intoxicated.
I: Get picked up on?
IB: More like, "picked on"….(laughs)
I: What skills, outside of Djing, do you boast?
IB: I can dance like Carlton from the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Oh, and I like to Snowboard, play volleyball, whatever is fun. I hold down a day job, so time is usually fleeting….
I: How long do you think you'll be doing this?
IB: Djing? For as long as it's still fun. Once it becomes money-driven for me, it's quittin' time. I remember I told others that I'd probably stop after graduating college, but here I am….