I was resident DJ at Berlins „Monkey Bar“ from 2014 until 2023. In February this year I have been kicked out - and here is why:

When the Monkey Bar reopened after the first Corona lockdown, we DJs got the offer to play, but not for a fee, but for an overnight stay at the hotel. Some colleagues and I agreed to this deal, not least out of solidarity with the employer.

When covid regulations were reduced in 2021, we were offered a fee again - but it was 20% lower on Friday/Saturday nights than before the pandemic. OK, we accepted, because "economically hard times" etc. But since mid-2022 at the latest, the Monkey Bar has been very busy again. So several colleagues asked the management in autumn when our fees would be raised again to the former level. But the fees were not raised again. At the moment, the colleagues in the Monkey Bar are DJing for less money than in 2017. (I don't have to explain to you that we have inflation at the moment, increased rents, energy costs, etc. Vinyl prices have almost doubled since 2017).

This has led to a lot of resentment among us DJs. Also that the hotel management reduced the drinks budget for DJs by 30%, while the drinks prices in the bar have increased by about 30% since 2019.

So we collectively sat down and formulated a letter to the 25hours management, which over 20 DJs signed. Our only demand: a new conversation about fees.

Of course, all the DJs (around 30) have to be involved in this conversation. That's why I also asked DJ [******] by email for his opinion. [******] never answered me. Instead, he forwarded my email to 25hours management. Four hours later I was removed from the DJ pool of the Monkey Bar.

My only wrong-doing was that I asked a colleague for his opinion on our DJ fees. No more, no less. Fired within four hours, by email, after eight years of working together.

I have played 228 DJ sets at 25hours since it opened in 2014. My February date 2023 has been cancelled, so I did not even get a farewell gig. And the reduced fees haven't changed either.

So I have a request for you: If you ever visit Berlins Monkey Bar and if you like the music there, PLEASE TIP THE DJ. At the moment, their work is hardly appreciated and, measured against the turnover of this very well frequented bar, is rewarded far too little.

That said: this, of course, is only my point of view. So if you have the opportunity to talk to 25hours managers, please do so and ask them how they feel about the DJs, who have a decisive influence on the atmosphere in the Monkey Bar Berlin.

I have recorded my DJ sets at the Monkey Bar a couple of times, now I have uploaded a few of these recordings. Enjoy!

Monkey Bar 2014-2022

Monkey Bar Valentine's Day 2016 - Part4

Monkeybar 06082022.MP3

1. DJ Vas - What's Funk (EDR)
2. Moplen - Shake Your Body (GAMM)
3. Tom of Finland - Dream Again (Razor-N-Tape)
4. Nick Holder - Rock Da House (K7)
5. Digital Souls - F.U.N.K. (Digital Records)
6. Cabin Fever - Everybody Needs Some Money (RKDS)
7. Dirty Harry - Slowburn (Boombastic)
8. Kiko Navarro - Dope High ( Local Talk)
9. Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit - Claptone Remix (Blue Note)
10. S3A - Theuz Hamtaak (Uncanny Valley)
11. Brame & Hamo - Ghetto for You (Heist)
12.  Steve Murphy / DJ Octopus - Raw Escape (Chiwax)
13. Cassius ‎– 99 In The House - Krafty Kuts Remix (Big Deal)
14. Montel ‎– Ecstasy ‎(Lets Play House)
15. Phil & Dan – Regulate (Pooled)
16. Moloko – Cannot Contain This – ATFC Remix (White)
17. Axel Boman – Nokturn Grand Finale (Pampa)
18. Michel Cleis - La Mezcla - Charles Webster's Club Mix (Strictly Rhythm)
19. MG - Fakewine MJ Edit (Toy Tonics)
20. Osunlade - What Pho (Yoruba)
21. St.Germain - Real Blues (Parlophone)
22. Tommy Rawson - The Kids (Gold Finger)
23. Robag Wruhme  - Thora Vukk (Pampa)

Funk the Monkey House

Hip-Disco-House (Monkey Bar 19. Jan. 2019)

Latin, Deep & Afro-House (Monkey Bar 19. Jan. 2019)

DJ-Set recorded May 31st, 2020
Monkey Bar Berlin

Jazzy Chillout Grooves - Monkey Bar 31-05-2020

Upcoming Berlin Dates:

19.07. Dresden Palaisgarten
24.7. Hardrock-Cafe
29.7. Manon
09.08. RBB-Dachlounge
23.08. 260°
03.09. Solar
06.09. Frannz, Die Schöne Party  
29.10.-01.11. Zürich (Soil to Soul) 

Cup of Jazz aka Jazzylectro started djing in Berlin Bars and Clubs in 2005 - with a record by Fred Astaire. Maybe that's why Jazz became a major influence for him. In his dj-sets he often combines Electro sounds whith those from the eras of Swing and Latin Jazz, calling his style 'Jazzylectro' - kickin' beats from HipHop to House and Drum'n'Bass, mixed with delicious jazzy vibes. At Berlin Swing events he creates a set with BigBand-Swing bombs, Dixieland and Charleston rockers. As a journalist for different newspapers he regurlarly interviews celebrities, djs and producers of the music he's got in his record bag.

Contact: mail@cupofjazz.de