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Surviving in a ‘tight’ entertainment industry- the DJ Commodore story

DJ Commodore, born Ian Thomas, has become a household name in the Virgin Islands and very popular in the entertainment industry. He can be easily regarded as one of the longest serving disc jockeys in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided
According to DJ Commodore, the entertainment market in the VI has become a very tight one for disc jockeys as compared to many years ago since there are quite a number of persons who have taken on the profession. Photo: Provided
According to DJ Commodore, the entertainment market in the VI has become a very tight one for disc jockeys as compared to many years ago since there are quite a number of persons who have taken on the profession. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – DJ Commodore, born Ian Thomas, has become a household name in the Virgin Islands and very popular in the entertainment industry. He can be easily regarded as one of the longest serving disc jockeys in the Virgin Islands.

Mr Thomas recently granted Virgin Islands News Online an exclusive interview where he shared his story about his passion as a disc jockey and some of the challenges he has had to overcome to survive in a very competitive entertainment industry.

Disk jockeying is an art form that responds to the social needs of persons in the area of entertainment.

According to DJ Commodore, the market in the VI has become a very tight one for disc jockeys as compared to many years ago since there are quite a number of persons who have taken on the profession.

He recalled that back in the days in the VI being a DJ was a “hip” thing and provided a more comfortable environment for persons in that field of work to expand and enjoy themselves while working. That has all changed over recent times, he said, since the market has become flooded with many persons taking on the craft as a career and more importantly the Government’s move to institute laws that eventually stifled the industry.

Speaking about the Noise Control Abatement Act of 1996, Mr Thomas said the wings of the entertainment market were clipped since the act was instituted and has put severe pressure on persons doing disc jockeying as a career. “Our night life in the BVI is extremely dead… it had a little bit more life many years ago,” he said.

DJ Commodore reflected on the days when socialising in a party and open events required the presence of a DJ and added that those days of persons looking forward to choice events and activities on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and even Saturdays are no more. “I don’t know that we could even say that we really have night clubs here,” he added.

This has resulted in a scattered reach of line of events today. “The numbers are scattered. There are too many promotions going on at one time. That’s one thing and two, you have had the Noise Act that limits the lateness of the amount of noise you can make in certain areas, whereas many years ago it really didn’t matter much.”

Meanwhile, Commodore said he could not and still cannot sit down and depend on the space within the small borders of the Virgin Islands if he is to realize his ultimate goal and dreams as a disc jockey. Over the past two years he has intensified his travelling to other Caribbean countries and North America as he pursues new and additional ground that has the potential of taking him into his retirement aspirations.  

“This year I re-expanded again where I was going more inter-Caribbean and slightly international like America and just DJing. I have been involved in a lot of events abroad in St Maarten, Dominica, America, Texas and a few slots here,” said Mr Thomas.

He said today he is at a stage where he could say “when I feel like it” when it comes to his choice of playing at the local clubs here in the VI.

Mr Thomas said that the next chapter of his life would see him leaving the borders of the Virgin Islands to a place or places where the option of literally professing in the field and him growing to the stage of producing his own thing is possible.

Over the years he said despite his initial reluctance to follow the trends of advancing technology, he has gotten on board as he had to quickly come to grip with the fact that in order to stay in the market it was necessary for one to progress with the current pace of the advancing world of DJ technology.

While stating that every experience in life should be seen as a building block for one’s foundation, like he does, everyone should never fail to daily give thanks to the father above for the life he has blessed them with. He side that today he has grown to love and cherish life.

Today he is also enjoying the new flare that he has introduced to the line of music that he plays at selective events, especially the Bomba Shack moonlight parties. He also said that it is time for a new line of music as today one type and trend of music exist on the market. And he has been doing just that.

“Yes, I have been one to introduce a new line of music to the fans of good music,” DJ Commodore stated.

17 Responses to “Surviving in a ‘tight’ entertainment industry- the DJ Commodore story”

  • . (20/08/2013, 09:36) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Commodore priced himself out of the market because at one point he was charging just as much as a band..Leh he cut style now!
    • Tru but not so (21/08/2013, 13:39) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      I agree and disagree, here’s why... Back then you had no musical downloads, that means you had to be on a boat weekly buying records to keep up to the times . Records and turn tables vs a laptop and a jump drive (weight). No auto mix to correct your live gigs it was all about skills and talent. No powered sound system, so you had to walk with heavy tops and bottoms. More man power. I agree times have changed but the cost weekly to be the #1 in the country was really high. I am not guessing I was in the bizz too, today is like pressing auto focus on a camera and claiming you are a photographer. It’s not a level playing field
  • Niceness (20/08/2013, 10:58) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    I have worked with Ian since the early days and I can honestly say that he is one of the most gifted DJs I have ever met. Alongside the likes of Ronnie Rascal, Ice Kid, and Admiral, he is elite. Keep up the good work!
  • dude (20/08/2013, 11:01) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    THe Laptop programs made ppl who otherwise have no idea about the craft be able to auto mix 2 songs together & call themselves "DJ" & play for beer so it cut out what otherwise took yrs to learn, & it is an artform with do's & don'ts but the virtual dj has no idea about these things which is why the majority of post 1999 djs are terrible.

    Also there is no night clcub here nor night life & the governments have contributed to stiffling entertainment promotions & dances. It is more profitable to promote & dj off island. Much more profitable.

    The BVI is not the place for any quality dj or promoter, you'll just be wasting your time here.
    • bite the hand that fed you (22/08/2013, 14:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      All that talk and you still on here in the bvi blogging
  • qc (20/08/2013, 11:24) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    too much hip hop music
    • same (20/08/2013, 15:46) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
      all deeds dj plays the same kind of music
      • SP (20/08/2013, 16:58) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        The word is these.
        • san jose (20/08/2013, 21:04) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
          ok grammar police!!
          • Mick Mars (20/08/2013, 23:55) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply

            You's a friend of that clown who keep sayings "Deeds" like an @$$? I still don't know why the moderator allows this person to comment while still blatantly spelling that word wrong like them head ain't no good.

  • Bouncer (20/08/2013, 11:38) Like (9) Dislike (41) Reply
    The BVI is not a place for young people period!! Blame the VIP Party!!
    • Blak (20/08/2013, 12:48) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
      I agree here.
    • billyb (21/08/2013, 09:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @bouncer, I agree and I like it that way. Can't you see that most of the "young People" on a fast train to meet Lucifer???? Let them go!!!! Move to another country and have your wild parties, leh we stay here in a "some what" still civilized environment. Dem trying to stick night club all over the place, now tell me, what a night club doing on the busy, conjested, narrow streets of Humtum's Ghut???? Please.
    • Yes Bouncer (21/08/2013, 11:54) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      They are the ones who put that law in place and not only that the market usto be a place where farmers, bands and djs would go to display their kills and they shut it down for no reason. Thats a fact upto this day
  • santana (20/08/2013, 15:33) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    All the political parties are taking about tourism, what do we have to offer these tourist when they spend a week here.
  • Pitt (21/08/2013, 11:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm still a fan. Good story


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