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I've been at this one location going on 3 years now. I reinvinted myself God knows about every 6 months ( including video ). I'm a top 40 dj there. My concern is am I just getting burnt out and just feel like I play the same stuff all the time or should change my style again. I figured at a rate of a true club DJ spins ( 25 - 30 songs hr ) x 4 = roughly about 130 songs every weak which to me and the staff seam like I play the same songs over and over. We all know we get the same old request of music. So out of the 130 songs being played I may play about 30+/- of the usual every weak (damn limings). To me I feel I'm getting redundant.

When I started there I worked on a saturday for as a filler ( 1/2 payment to me and 1/2 to the contracted person ). Well, I built such a following that he let the other person go and hired me fulltime 2 years ago. Then I switched to Fridays because fridays business sucked and I wanted the challenge to do better than Saturdays business. Now the Saturday's business is nothing compared to my Fridays. During this process I've dipleted 2 other local clubs nearby and from what I hear, I'm the club DJ to go visit on the south side.

So the question is Do I reinvent the wheel again? or just make minor adjustments with my game. Maybe going with a different equipment - ICDX's, new set of pioneers (400's), maybe the RMX or something. I have CDJ 1000 but mostly use hercules being that my space is getting smaller and smaller in the booth due to satelite receivers and such.

In the past I have always kept in good contact with the GM and ask how things are going about every 5-6 months. I haven't done this in about 8 months now. I think it's time, you never know when you will get the infamous call " I'm sorry, but I decided to go in a different direction."

This place is 10 minutes walking from my house so it's like my home or bread and butter. This place is a gold mine with the woman, location and atmosphere. I get recruited every other weak to go somewhere else but I politely turn them down.

I'm I burned out or just need to change my attitude... Oh, by the way, I've worked there every weakend for 3 years. Is it just time to take a mini vacation ( holiday )?
 
Posté Sat 04 Oct 08 @ 12:46 pm
I would say try some old school sets during the night to change it up.
Patrons may be just as tired of the sos as you are.

At the club I work at, they had a big name HH dj from NYC come in for a weekend.
Interesting story in the article below.

His quote below the link is forever stuck in my head now.




http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/ENTERTAIN/808280320


There's another secret to his success: Trust yourself.

"Stay in your zone, don't listen to people. Don't break the zone," he says. "The people that make requests almost never get out on the dance floor. Trust yourself. In the beginning everybody wants to go to the bathroom, check their hair, get a drink and check out everybody else's clothes. I save the hotter stuff for later."
 
i was in that zone last night, and it was GREAT, until about 1230 when the manager started to put his 2 cents in about the music.
"gotta play requests, gotta keep the customers happy"
whatever. from 930 to 1230 we had excellent floor rotation, people having a good time, dancing, drinking, no fights, no arguing, calling their friends and telling them to come out.


and right after that the trickle out the door started.

i say if you can get away with it and not get fired - do it as long as it keeps your customers there. and it's really hard to re-invent yourself in an established club. habit is a killer, and you have to fight with yourself really hard sometimes to not fall back into that rut. i keep a log in the booth of everything i play between 10 and 2. (and yeah i know VDJ does too, but i'm old and mean and cranky and hey you kids get outta my yard!) that way i can flip back a few days and see what i was playing so i dont play it at the same time, same order, etc.
playing music in a country nightclub is difficult around here - they like what they like and you ain't gonna change it. and lately i've had to piss off more than a few or our regulars - if you're gonna make the same request night after night, you either get here really early or wait till its really late. i've got other customers bad requests to play too.
our other thing we've been trying to tweak lately has been our format (which has pretty much been unchanged for the last 10 years, and has made some serious $$$) but we have to do it gradually - the long time regulars HATE change, even tho the management is convinced otherwise. a good slow country waltz gets people laid and is a style of country dancing that allows them to show off to the ladies. the old good dancer/good in bed thing again. well management told me not to play so many of them, and i nothing but constant complaints and more than a few of them leaving for other clubs. i'm playing them again...

ramble ramble ramble.... i need a nap before work. later kids
 
Its not hard to get burned out Fat. God knows I did after ten years in the clubs.....only you can say whether its time to re-invent or to quit. I recently told a good friend that one great crowd makes up for 36 bad ones. Follow your guts Fat, you know what to do, its learning when to listen too yourself that counts.....if you need anything let me know brother....T
 
So funny, I have been going through the same thing. What do I play next? I hate everything that is out there in top 40 and hip hop. So I have been playing more old school(thats my shit and people know that I know it well), and that is why I just picked up 2 karaoke gigs. People say why are you going to do karaoke? I say because it is something different, tons of bars around here want it, and it is a different way for me to run the show, I am not afraid of a mic, I am on the radio 5 days a week for the last 2 1/2 years. I feel you and have been going through it for a couple of months now.
 
honestly I say look at people like Mix Master Mike and Dj. AM. I am currently progressing towards that now. Rock the crowd. Do a show Don't just play songs make it where the crowd comes to see the DJ.
 
Sometimes Change is better than a vacation.
Others it makes things worse.

You might want to have a meeting with your manager to discuss your concerns. He might continue to let you do your thing as long as the ring outs at the end of the night don't slip too much.

Then again he might tell you to jump in the nearest lake.

Multiple years in the same location gets you familiar with the clientèle, staff etc.
To tell the truth - If it ain't broke - maybe you shouldn't screw with it.

Everyone wants to be the DJ, Everyone has an opinion of how to DJ.

Everyone except the DJ is allowed to voice those opinions, Especially when he's working.
 
when you are working YOU AND ONLY YOU ARE THE BOSS ... nobody can tell you nothing about your music .
 
Unfortunately, the business side of being a club DJ is that you often have to do things to keep the managers/owners happy that might be different that where you might want to go musically. You also have to play the hits that the crowd is expecting, seemingly over and over. There is a lot you can do to switch things up though. First off, use your friend youtube.com and check out a lot of video of mixes and equipment reviews. The new hardware and software out there is incredible! You can completely remix any song live with looping, sampling, and a hundred different effects. There are also programs like Ableton Live where you can also add multiple layers of tracks, beats, sounds, etc... Also, for the songs you have to play over, find different mixes of them so you don't have to play the exact same one every night. I would always try to limit the songs I played more than once a night to 4 or 5, and I would always play a different version of those each time. Lastly, put some extra effort into learning other music. I have over 20 years experience of club DJing and that puts all of that music in my head when performing. I might layer the Rob Base "It Takes Two" beats behind Glamorous (Fergie), to change that song up - but you wouldn't think of that if you don't know the music. Getting burned out is a common occurrence in this field, you just have to keep finding things to make it new and exciting again, while also keeping the Boss and customer's happy.

Good Luck,

Taipanic
 
Update some of your hardware and sets, but stick to the basics. There is a reason why folks like Little Louie Vega, Funkmaster Flex, Grandmaster Flash, and Dj Premier and many others endure, they move with the times but keep their foundation intact. Old School to get the floor moving and to break the audience from feeling they are hearing the same thing over and over again, then you can hit them with the top 40 stuff. But mix it up with one or two reggaeton, dancehall, house, or baltimore house tracks. Folks go to the club to have a good time, your job is to make the crowd happy - period. If you are spinning, its to create an atmosphere, an environment, where those dancing feel that the Dj is spinning the best music he can to create that feeling, etc... There's a reason why Mancuso, Levan, Tenaglia, Pete Rock, Kid Capri, and so many others are legends, they simply rock the crowd and keep it consistent.

Hope that helps.

VDJ Batibiri
 
Thanks guys for the replies. Some of the response got me thinking about things. Just for the future of this thread. I wasn't looking on how to be a DJ. I started DJing when the tv and record player was one unit... just some thaughts or advise from fellow DJs that may have been around the block a time or two.

Well, I thaught about at least two things that got me into a "rut".

1. VDJ is so easy that we / I can simplify the searching for songs so easily that I tend to go whats in my head which is usually filled with all kinds of rhythms and maybe too cluttered. Back in the day you physically searched and tested your brain to come with ideas. So my answer is that I'm going back to a playlist of songs that I would like to fit in that night. If I don't thats great but at least I will create ideas and get the sparks flying again.

2. I analised my audiance and for the 1st hour to 1 1/2 hr I have mostly that 30 something crown then it switched over to the mid 20s and they are the ones that want the same music every weak. As soon as I transition into an older song, example maybe a song that's 5 yrs old which is fine but don't let me play 2 back to back. Now they come up with that famous question " are you going to play anything current?" I want to say "damn girl, you can't wait 5-6 minutes for the next rotation. Funny how 5 minutes makes people think its forever. With that being said, I really prefer the 30 something crowd. At least they are more open minded.

3. Half of the room has come to feel the excitement that I create (personal opinion) and I think I get caught up in playing to the few instead of the masses. I think I got caught up in my own ego and neglected why I'm a good DJ and just as important why I lasted so long in one location. I'm going back to my roots again or my personal style.

Just a side note: Most of the younger dancers just want to bump and grind which is not dancing its really just dry humping. So they like having that 80 - 100 bpm played. The girls have to dance like they are on a hip hop video. Thats why I don't do elementary and middle school dances any more.

This is just my experience in my location. This is not sterio typing in any way.
 
Well, my gut feeling played out. I got that infamous call today. I wonder if he read the forum...LOL

The good news is that I can go to my son's hockey tourney in Aspen without feeling guilty one way or another. Any DJs in Aspen? I'll stop in and support the cause.
 
sorry to here it mate, just pick up the phone to one of those poachers and tell them you are looking for a fresh challenge & start a fresh, this time you be emptying your old place, lol, just make sure your new venue gives you plenty of advertising space for your new night(s)... goodluck
 
Sorry Fat....I'm sure you'll land on your feet though...like the old saying goes..you can't keep a good man down...
 
Thanks guys, goes to show it does matter how good you think you are or even if you fill the room. It's ultimately up to the ear and vibe of the manager / owner. If he's looking for that particular sound. It doesn't matter on the equipment or the greatness of mixing. Your not going to please him.

The funny thing is that I almost baught a couple expensive items this weakend. I'm glad i'm frugal!!!
 
I agree that as much as we DJ's like to think we are in control of the situation, the bottom line is the person doling out the cash at the end of the night is DA BOSS! I've been running my DJ service & spinning in clubs for over 20yrs. Most club owners are the most fickle people there are and think they know what their clients want. Not necessarily the case in most instances, however it is their baby and cash that goes into the place.

Lately I find myself more and more going back to weddings as they pay more and are actually less hassle than the club thing. I was at one club years ago 6 nights a week and for just over two yrs. Talk about playing the same stuff and getting that burnt out feeling-whew!

Just started a country night and is so refreshing to be playing a different format than the house, top 40, r&b fare. Also agree that playing that 80-100bpm stuff all night as many clubs now want is no fun. At least with house you can play around some and get creative. I've re-invented the wheel several times over as a DJ and know if I want to keep on with what I love doing-will have to do that yet again.

Not many people can say they love their jobs and while there are times we as DJ's get frustrated, it is still the best "Job" in the world. Just think that everyone wants to DJ and I get paid good money for doing something I enjoy. When you stop enjoying it, it's time to get out.

Keep the beats going gang. Clubs will come and go, there's always a gig to be had if we want it and are good at our craft.

Cheers!
 
fatkatzdj wrote :
Thanks guys, goes to show it does matter how good you think you are or even if you fill the room. It's ultimately up to the ear and vibe of the manager / owner. If he's looking for that particular sound. It doesn't matter on the equipment or the greatness of mixing.



Or how cheaper he can get your replacement for.

I'm sorry to hear your bad news mate.
 
One club owner was behind in his payments and halfway through a night where we were packed he decided to renegotiate my fee. So I packed up my gear in the middle of the night & walked out. Funny part was he said that I can't so that to him. He actually wanted me to leave MY equipment there to boot-lol. They were using my 1200's and cd players. Club closed two months later-there is a thing called Karma.
 
I guess the only thing now to do is pack up my lights and wires...LOL
 
fatkatzdj wrote :
I guess the only thing now to do is pack up my lights and wires...LOL


Be careful wrapping those cords Fat, you can't afford to replace them now... lol
 
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