Donny,

Most of the clubs in Baltimore's Fells Point and Little Italy areas use live bands and OMBs. They will, on rare occasions have a DJ or KJ, but it's indeed rare.

For the big wedding outfits, such as Martin's, which are massive complexes that do up to a half-dozen weddings at a time, they give the bridge and groom (and parents) an option of live band or DJ. A significant percentage go for the live band.

As for the DJ being lively, well, I guess it all depends upon the venue. The folks that lease out the halls for weddings, parties, etc.. all tell me that when a DJ or KJ shows up, the first thing he does is usually get out of his tuxedo jacket and tie, then head for the bar--all before he even starts setting up his equipment.

Now, for the music teachers at the independent stores. The only one I have any first hand knowledge of is Music Land in Bel Air, Maryland, which does an outstanding job. They primarily teach middle and high-school kids how to play, and every person that I know that sent their children there to learn was very satisfied with the instructors and what their kids accomplished. My daughter, at age 10, learned to play a clarinet in just a few months, and she can still play it very well.

My son, who for three years had his own rock band, is a self-taught guitarist. His fingers move over that guitar neck at lightning speed and he never hits a bad note. His band played a type of music that I couldn't stand to hear (grunge) and was booked every night in Baltimore's biggest and most popular clubs several nights a week. The only reason he got out of show biz is because he got tired on the crazies and druggies.

Like I said, things must be different in Jersey. The DJs have not cornered the market here, and hopefully, they never will.

Gary