xcakid
Over the past month I have seen a few threads asking how to do a gig. Rather than responding to each and every thread, although I have responded to a couple, I will post my take on here. Take it for what its worth.
First my background:
I started DJ'ing in H.S. mainly proms and school dances. In college, I DJ'd at various clubs in S.F., CA I then went in the military and put DJ'ing on hold. After the military, I resumed DJ'ing again. Primarily at bars and clubs in SoCal (Orange County) but did mobile DJ for corporate events and private parties. I moved to Dallas and again put DJ'ing on hold for about 5yrs to focus on my career. I got back into DJ'ing again about 2.5 yrs ago. Again with clubs and bars and bit of mobile DJ doing private parties, corp event and school events.
Notice I do not have any wedding experience and my mobile DJ experience is very limited. So some of what I have to say may not be applicable for mobile DJ work.
So here's what my advice. Very Simple!!
1) Know your music. Know the songs in your library. Practice mixing them forwards and backwards. I would even go as far as suggesting to specialize in specific genre's. This may not be advisable for the mobile DJ, but it would certainly make you an expert.
2) Learn to read the crowd. You can only get this experience by going out gigging or going to clubs and seeing how people react to songs. Use the first hour to poke and prod the crowd. What I mean by this is throw different songs at them. And see what the response is. They may not dance right away, but you can see head bopping if you are pushing their dance buttons. You don't have to play the hits right away to get them to dance. You can see their reaction on what they will like. Go with the majority. Meaning if you see one person bopping his head to hip hop and the rest are just sitting there. It does not mean you play hip hop all night. If you see half the crowd bopping their head to hip hop, then you may have something there. Still does not mean you play hip hop all night, but you tend to skew your selections to that genre. In a club environment, you have what called rotating the floor. Your job as a club DJ is to keep people there by creating and atmosphere, but more importantly, you are there to get people drinking. If they are dancing, they are not at the bar buying drinks. So if people are dancing to hip hop, throw in Top40. This will allow the hip hop people to leave the floor and get a drink and the top40 folks to dance.
3) This lead me to requests. In my experience. The better you read the crowd, the lesser the requests you will get. Also the better you know the crowd you are playing for, you will find that a good percentage of the request you get are songs you are going to play anyways. As an example. I play 2X a month at club here in Dallas. I would confidently estimate that 90% of the request I get are songs I would be playing so I just tell them to wait. 5% are crap songs I know will clear the dance floor, I just flat out tell em no! We don't play that music here. 5% are the ones, I would say, "hmm. that's a good one, forgot about that song". In a typical 4hr set night I would probably get 3-5 people come up and request songs. If I get more than that, I know I am not doing a good reading the crowd. Last Sat. I had one request. And oddly enough it was for a song I was playing next. Knowing your crowd is only learned by going out to parties and clubs. If you want to know what 18yr olds are listening to, go to an 18 and over club and see what songs they react to. If you are going to be doing a 40+ yr old party go to an older bar and see what they react to. Listen to the radio. I subscribed to satellite radio which is a great source cause it broken out by genre and era.
3) Mixing. If you are going to be a club DJ. Learn to beat match. The crowd may not mind if you can't but the club owner or promoter will definitely mind. I have seen DJ's get thrown out of the DJ booth for having some whacked out mixes. Typically if a new DJ is playing, the resident will be there helping evaluate you and if you mess up bad enough he or she will step in. Music selection is also very important in a club. You should not play all the hits in the beginning hours but you also don't want people that are there to leave early. You need to learn to balance things. Now as a mobile DJ, beatmatching may not be as important. Although reading the crowd and music selection definitely still applies.
4) A DJ is not a paid jukebox. Have some balls to say no to request. You can't please everyone. When I was green I made the mistake of taking a request for Motley Crue at a birthday party. Cleared the floor. That one goof is the only thing everyone remembered about the party. "The stupid DJ played Mortley Crue and no one could dance to it" Took a while to get em dancing again. I will never forget it. If it doesn't fit, have the balls to say no!! If you can't say no, say you don't have it. You can't please 100% of the people at the party all of the time.
I am sure people will disagree with me and some will agree. Much like in DJ'ing. But that is my take based on my total of 10+ yrs of gigging. I don't know it all. I know more that some and less that others. I am not a big time DJ. I have played for crowds upwards of 500+ pll. And as little as 30 ppl. I have been fired from club residencies and I have replaced resident DJ's. Hope this helps at least one or two of you that is just starting out.
First my background:
I started DJ'ing in H.S. mainly proms and school dances. In college, I DJ'd at various clubs in S.F., CA I then went in the military and put DJ'ing on hold. After the military, I resumed DJ'ing again. Primarily at bars and clubs in SoCal (Orange County) but did mobile DJ for corporate events and private parties. I moved to Dallas and again put DJ'ing on hold for about 5yrs to focus on my career. I got back into DJ'ing again about 2.5 yrs ago. Again with clubs and bars and bit of mobile DJ doing private parties, corp event and school events.
Notice I do not have any wedding experience and my mobile DJ experience is very limited. So some of what I have to say may not be applicable for mobile DJ work.
So here's what my advice. Very Simple!!
1) Know your music. Know the songs in your library. Practice mixing them forwards and backwards. I would even go as far as suggesting to specialize in specific genre's. This may not be advisable for the mobile DJ, but it would certainly make you an expert.
2) Learn to read the crowd. You can only get this experience by going out gigging or going to clubs and seeing how people react to songs. Use the first hour to poke and prod the crowd. What I mean by this is throw different songs at them. And see what the response is. They may not dance right away, but you can see head bopping if you are pushing their dance buttons. You don't have to play the hits right away to get them to dance. You can see their reaction on what they will like. Go with the majority. Meaning if you see one person bopping his head to hip hop and the rest are just sitting there. It does not mean you play hip hop all night. If you see half the crowd bopping their head to hip hop, then you may have something there. Still does not mean you play hip hop all night, but you tend to skew your selections to that genre. In a club environment, you have what called rotating the floor. Your job as a club DJ is to keep people there by creating and atmosphere, but more importantly, you are there to get people drinking. If they are dancing, they are not at the bar buying drinks. So if people are dancing to hip hop, throw in Top40. This will allow the hip hop people to leave the floor and get a drink and the top40 folks to dance.
3) This lead me to requests. In my experience. The better you read the crowd, the lesser the requests you will get. Also the better you know the crowd you are playing for, you will find that a good percentage of the request you get are songs you are going to play anyways. As an example. I play 2X a month at club here in Dallas. I would confidently estimate that 90% of the request I get are songs I would be playing so I just tell them to wait. 5% are crap songs I know will clear the dance floor, I just flat out tell em no! We don't play that music here. 5% are the ones, I would say, "hmm. that's a good one, forgot about that song". In a typical 4hr set night I would probably get 3-5 people come up and request songs. If I get more than that, I know I am not doing a good reading the crowd. Last Sat. I had one request. And oddly enough it was for a song I was playing next. Knowing your crowd is only learned by going out to parties and clubs. If you want to know what 18yr olds are listening to, go to an 18 and over club and see what songs they react to. If you are going to be doing a 40+ yr old party go to an older bar and see what they react to. Listen to the radio. I subscribed to satellite radio which is a great source cause it broken out by genre and era.
3) Mixing. If you are going to be a club DJ. Learn to beat match. The crowd may not mind if you can't but the club owner or promoter will definitely mind. I have seen DJ's get thrown out of the DJ booth for having some whacked out mixes. Typically if a new DJ is playing, the resident will be there helping evaluate you and if you mess up bad enough he or she will step in. Music selection is also very important in a club. You should not play all the hits in the beginning hours but you also don't want people that are there to leave early. You need to learn to balance things. Now as a mobile DJ, beatmatching may not be as important. Although reading the crowd and music selection definitely still applies.
4) A DJ is not a paid jukebox. Have some balls to say no to request. You can't please everyone. When I was green I made the mistake of taking a request for Motley Crue at a birthday party. Cleared the floor. That one goof is the only thing everyone remembered about the party. "The stupid DJ played Mortley Crue and no one could dance to it" Took a while to get em dancing again. I will never forget it. If it doesn't fit, have the balls to say no!! If you can't say no, say you don't have it. You can't please 100% of the people at the party all of the time.
I am sure people will disagree with me and some will agree. Much like in DJ'ing. But that is my take based on my total of 10+ yrs of gigging. I don't know it all. I know more that some and less that others. I am not a big time DJ. I have played for crowds upwards of 500+ pll. And as little as 30 ppl. I have been fired from club residencies and I have replaced resident DJ's. Hope this helps at least one or two of you that is just starting out.
Posté Tue 18 Oct 11 @ 3:56 pm
DJECoast
"4) A DJ is not a paid jukebox. Have some balls to say no to request. You can't please everyone. "
Cant agree more! And yeah, some will disagree with that, but everyone runs their show their way.
After years of negative, ignorant & insulting comments, people disrespecting my equipment and trying to take advantage of my generosity, I find myself caring allot less about pleasing everyone.
Its a business, you cant get overly attached to it or fall in love with it. And your ego is only as big as last months profits.
Cant agree more! And yeah, some will disagree with that, but everyone runs their show their way.
After years of negative, ignorant & insulting comments, people disrespecting my equipment and trying to take advantage of my generosity, I find myself caring allot less about pleasing everyone.
Its a business, you cant get overly attached to it or fall in love with it. And your ego is only as big as last months profits.
Posté Wed 19 Oct 11 @ 12:18 am
Rickd423
I haven't been dj'ing but less than a year & I do take requests but if it's something that I know doesn't fit I will just say " Let me look 2 see if I have that......oh I'm sorry I don't." get's me out of a lot lol. Of course I just do mobile gigging.....afraid of the clubs right now for some reason......the most recent experience I had tellin someone that I didn't have a song was I Dj'ed a wedding & it was an interracial couple & the dad asked for some country song...No1 else there would've have wanted that song played because the way they ALL were moving to the songs that I was playing, but I really didn't have the song that he wanted as I mainly do top 40/rap/hip hop/r&b...don't go me wrong I do like country music but those aren't the gigs that I get booked for so I don't focus time or money into getting those songs...
Posté Wed 19 Oct 11 @ 12:38 am
xcakid
OH wanted to add, but can't seem to edit my original post.
DJ's have pride in your profession. QUIT DOING GIGS FOR FREE!!
I know if you are starting out you want to get as much experience as possible and willing to do it for free if need be. I know, I have been there. But have some pride man, charge something. Gas money, $50, etc. Show em you value your services and that you are a pro.
I charge friends and family to DJ. I DJ'd an 18th birthday party for co workers kid this past weekend at a sushi bar. I got them to pick up my bar tab and $150. I will be DJ'ing my best friends brothers wedding in Feb. I am charging him $300. One of my best friend own a bar and he has me DJ there whenever he can't book a band or another DJ or on special occasions. I charge him 10% of bar sales. Works great for both of us.
DJ's have pride in your profession. QUIT DOING GIGS FOR FREE!!
I know if you are starting out you want to get as much experience as possible and willing to do it for free if need be. I know, I have been there. But have some pride man, charge something. Gas money, $50, etc. Show em you value your services and that you are a pro.
I charge friends and family to DJ. I DJ'd an 18th birthday party for co workers kid this past weekend at a sushi bar. I got them to pick up my bar tab and $150. I will be DJ'ing my best friends brothers wedding in Feb. I am charging him $300. One of my best friend own a bar and he has me DJ there whenever he can't book a band or another DJ or on special occasions. I charge him 10% of bar sales. Works great for both of us.
Posté Wed 19 Oct 11 @ 8:00 am
kdjmobiledj
This is my first post so don't bash me to bad, I'm fairly new at Djing, I started at the beginning of 2011 and I do mobile gigs weddings, birthday parties etc. I've done roughly 15 gigs so far in 10 months time. I do offer my crowd the option to give me requests and I let them know that if I don't have a song I'll download and play it on the spot. I take a wireless hot spot with me and that allows me to be able to download songs anywhere I am for the most part, the hot spot also acts as a wireless network for me so I can use the virtual dj Iphone app when I need to walk away from the dj booth. I know that most of you are going to say that I shouldn't take requests the way that I do however I have been doing many teen parties lately and I use the song requests as one of the ways I keep my music up to date and fresh, which makes less work for me and since I buy songs a handful at a time because I'm trying to allocate my money in the most efficient way I can. It also is somewhat of a selling point when trying to get a gig to say that if they want to have the guests of the party make requests they can and if I don't have a song I'll download it on the spot and play it shortly after. And if you don't think a song will fit into the mix why use a lie? Just tell the truth to people that is what I do and it works fine, I simply tell someone that the song they are requesting will conflict with the songs that I have been playing and if more people request the same song then I'll play it. I think that telling someone you don't have a song is somewhat unprofessional way of dealing with the matter while yes it is faster and easier to say, you have to think of everyone as a potential client, especially starting out as a mobile dj, Anyway thats my two cents thanks for reading.
Posté Thu 27 Oct 11 @ 11:12 am
xcakid
kdjmobiledj wrote :
This is my first post so don't bash me to bad, I'm fairly new at Djing, I started at the beginning of 2011 and I do mobile gigs weddings, birthday parties etc. I've done roughly 15 gigs so far in 10 months time. I do offer my crowd the option to give me requests and I let them know that if I don't have a song I'll download and play it on the spot. I take a wireless hot spot with me and that allows me to be able to download songs anywhere I am for the most part, the hot spot also acts as a wireless network for me so I can use the virtual dj Iphone app when I need to walk away from the dj booth. I know that most of you are going to say that I shouldn't take requests the way that I do however I have been doing many teen parties lately and I use the song requests as one of the ways I keep my music up to date and fresh, which makes less work for me and since I buy songs a handful at a time because I'm trying to allocate my money in the most efficient way I can. It also is somewhat of a selling point when trying to get a gig to say that if they want to have the guests of the party make requests they can and if I don't have a song I'll download it on the spot and play it shortly after. And if you don't think a song will fit into the mix why use a lie? Just tell the truth to people that is what I do and it works fine, I simply tell someone that the song they are requesting will conflict with the songs that I have been playing and if more people request the same song then I'll play it. I think that telling someone you don't have a song is somewhat unprofessional way of dealing with the matter while yes it is faster and easier to say, you have to think of everyone as a potential client, especially starting out as a mobile dj, Anyway thats my two cents thanks for reading.
MObile DJ'ing, especially doing weddings where you have a variety of ages, is totally different. Notice I said I don't do weddings and that not all I say will be applicable to mobile DJ. You can't get away from not taking request at a wedding. In a small setting 50 people or less, it can be a bit more intimate and they are really tuned into what the DJ is playing, again you will get a lot of request. Its just the nature of the beast.
For what its worth I think you are handling requests in a very professional manner given your situation. I also think you are doing awesome have had 15 gigs on your first year. Congrats.
Now if you are at a larger venue or in a club setting. I still say that if you know your crowd you will get far less request and most request you get will be songs you are going to play anyways. That rarely applies to mobile gigs. YOu can't scope out the crowd prior to playing. Nature of the beast.
Posté Thu 27 Oct 11 @ 3:36 pm