In my short years of being a house music lover and devotee, I have come to realize that the people - or professionals, if you will - that work wholeheartedly and diligently to dispense and perform house music to the masses are of a unique variety. OK, perhaps I have not been exposed to the inner workings of other professionals in other musical genres, but that's another story. The following insights are taken from my experiences and observations in and around the house music industry. Furthermore, this article is based on "One Deejay's Paradigm."

Having said that let me delve into the body of this dissertation, which is pertinent to the banner.

Ever wonder what motivates your favorite disc jockey, producers, vocalists and other house music artists and businessmen and women? I am sure many, including yourself, may or may not have individual theories. Come to think about it, there is probably so much to discuss about this matter that it may take a whole series of indebt interviews and books to dissect the lot. However, to make the subject matter a significantly shorter one I will put focus on a simpler theme relevant to this subject.

Motivation, as illustrated in many psychological texts, is the factor that directs and energizes the behavior of humans. Within the concept of motivation is a distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation causes us to participate in an activity mainly for our own enjoyment while extrinsic motivation causes us to do something for a tangible reward.

What does this all have to do with disc jockeys, producers and et al.? Well, when I first got exposed to the scene, I observed that most that were involved in the business of house music were doing it mostly because of intrinsic motivation. Yes, some received well-deserved pay for what they were doing for obvious reasons like overhead costs and living expenses. But their underlining motivation for spinning records, producing and running their labels were strictly imputable to their love of house music and the enjoyment and spirituality they felt from doing it.

I have very good personal friends and disc jockey brethren that participate in the house music profession or hobby religiously because of intrinsic motivation. OK, perhaps me and my "One Deejay's Paradigm" have not truly experienced the real inner workings of the house music industry. And perhaps house music is just a meaningless categorization of what is just plain and simply music. After all, music in general is just like food in that it is a great big money making business.

In a progressive society where people are driven by a need for achievement, the tangible reward is usually money, and lots of it. More and more it has come to my awareness that there are many house music professionals that are motivated sole by extrinsic factors.

It can be said that some are motivated by both factors, but that is hard to say when the majority of the billboard charted and the radio played sounds are commercially driven. I have read and heard individuals testify that "everyone" involved in house music, including him or herself, is doing it for the money, fame and attention. Actually, I have witnessed excessive drama and arguments over this debate. I also find that many artists and disc jockeys that are extrinsically motivated actually move on to other musical genres if they think that it's a bigger moneymaker or it will garner them more attention and fame.

Deep down inside, it truly does not matter to me what the motivation of the people behind the music is since everyone's situation, background and scripting is different. What really matters to me is that the music moves me within. Nonetheless, I feel an absolute inner peace when I am in conversation or in the presence of individuals who are intrinsically motivated no matter what their forte. Much too often extrinsic factors of motivation compromise the quality of house music and the relationships within.

Kenrick Divine
May2K