The Iron DJ Record

“The DJ’s took pills to stay awake and play for seven days”
-Jim Morrison (c. 1969)

What initially started as the product of mass insomnia (and possibly drugs), the infamous DERAILED IRON DJ RECORD has been a prize that many DJs have dreamed of…yet very few have attempted this test of endurance.

The standard was originally set when DJ [Daemon] Chadeau performed for 7 hours one night in the summer of 2008 during the club’s early existence.  The record would not stand for very long as DJ Ware would provide one of his many “Ware-a-thons”, with the longest being at 9 hours and 30 minutes.

That record would stand until the weekend of Derailed’s one year anniversary, when DJ Shortwave himself, Jayson McDonnell, performed a 12 hour set to kick off the festivities.  That record was part of the breakthrough that Jayson made last summer as a DJ on Second Life.

The record stood until January 6th, when Derailed’s General Manager Donna Heartsdale would use her own insomnia to drive her to edging out Jayson’s old mark by about 14 minutes.  Her time at the top would not last very long though…

Two weeks later, a new DJ on the scene, DJ EquineMaster Starship (commonly known as DJ EQ) openly challenged the newly crowned Iron DJ, and 14 hours and 3 minutes later the thoroughbred DJ eclipsed Donna’s mark and then some…etching his name in Derailed immortality…but for how long?

As the shifts come harder to come by thanks to the hiring of more DJs, many see the window for the Iron DJ title closing quickly albeit still possible.  The bigger question remains:  Why do these DJs do it?  And what does this record mean to them?  Most say it’s a test of their own mettle to keep a party going for hours…and to make a name for themselves at the same time in this highly competitive DJ market on Second Life.  Some do it for the mere bragging rights…being able to endure such time listening, choosing, and keeping the people in the club at the same time.  Others well…just happen accidentally lol.

While success is immortalizing, failure is demoralizing…which is why many train for this occasion.  Derailed, like many clubs, discourage its DJs from spinning longer than they have to so they can prevent burnout.  However, unlike many clubs on SL there is no rule AGAINST it…and won’t necessarily stop it from happening as long as the DJ can perform at his or her best.  Whether on accident or intentionally, it’s very unclear who will be next to attempt the Iron DJ Challenge.