Dj Chachi
@Intermodal
Don't quit on what you like doing. What happend to you has happend to all of us.
About the Reggaeton, I live were Reggaeton was born. So trust me I have to deal with reggaeton shit all the time so I can offer you some help, I can tell you what's hot here, this way if some bitch come to bitch you out with reggaeton, you slap her with the best of reggaeton.
Try this:
Lele - Pa' Que Baile
Arcangel Ft Shaka Black - Ella Pide Fuego
J-KinG & Maximan - Mami No Temas
Lennox Ft Shaka Black - Chamaca
Yaga & Mackie Ranks - veo veo
Capitan W Ft. Yandel - Estas Tentando
Arcangel Ft Jadiel ''El Incomparable'' & J King - Agresivo 3 (This track is very hot at the time)
J-KinG & Maximan - Dejame Tocarte (very hot at the time)
If you all ready have this, you are on track.
Take Care
Don't quit on what you like doing. What happend to you has happend to all of us.
About the Reggaeton, I live were Reggaeton was born. So trust me I have to deal with reggaeton shit all the time so I can offer you some help, I can tell you what's hot here, this way if some bitch come to bitch you out with reggaeton, you slap her with the best of reggaeton.
Try this:
Lele - Pa' Que Baile
Arcangel Ft Shaka Black - Ella Pide Fuego
J-KinG & Maximan - Mami No Temas
Lennox Ft Shaka Black - Chamaca
Yaga & Mackie Ranks - veo veo
Capitan W Ft. Yandel - Estas Tentando
Arcangel Ft Jadiel ''El Incomparable'' & J King - Agresivo 3 (This track is very hot at the time)
J-KinG & Maximan - Dejame Tocarte (very hot at the time)
If you all ready have this, you are on track.
Take Care
geposted Fri 05 Dec 08 @ 4:13 pm
b1shop
Here's a new ending song for you which always gets the crowd in a good mood as they leave and close out their tabs. Make it the last song of the night.
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Trust me they will sing along with it.
If you're in reach of the people and not on stage away from the crowd then that kind of thing happens from time to time. I wouldn't worry about it too much as they are not DJing, you are. Yes it's important to take care of requests if they fit the format and will work for the floor, but don't let them ruin your set. Take care of the majority. So if 10 people out of 500 don't like what you're doing obviously don't change what you're doing. Why upset 490 people for the few 10 people? Don't do it! It's going to happen just be professional about how you handle it. I usually carry a small notepad and a pen and when someone asks me for a request, I ask them for their name and give them the pad and ask them to write their song request down. When they're all done then I say "ok, I'll try and get that on for you." If I don't play it because it won't fit the room and they end up coming back then I just say one of two things. First, "I looked and I don't have that song I'm sorry is their something else I can play for you?" Then I give them the pen and pad again. OR I say "management won't let me play this is their another song I can play for you?" and once again I give them the pad and pen. Now keep in mind I'm doing this live on the Air so it has too fit both on-air and in the room. You program the room, don't let it program you. It's great to take requests as if it's slow then you can sometimes get a feel for the direction you should take the room in. For some strange reason I read all the posts on this topic so I had to put my two cents in. And yes I'm sure we all at times feel like we sucked but then have someone come to you and say you rocked. I've had it happen to me before. You're your own worse critic (Generally Speaking). As you might know what you did wrong but in actuality the average patron like 95% had no idea that you did anything wrong. Like sometimes I felt that I could have EQ'd better or I should have played a certain song later instead or earlier or vice versa. Sometimes I feel like I'm not seamless mixing but it's only in my mind but to everyone else I sounded flawless. DJing is a lifestyle and a passion. You'll never work a day in your life if you do what you love. So never let anyone make you feel like you need to quit your passion and lifestyle. Take care.
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Trust me they will sing along with it.
If you're in reach of the people and not on stage away from the crowd then that kind of thing happens from time to time. I wouldn't worry about it too much as they are not DJing, you are. Yes it's important to take care of requests if they fit the format and will work for the floor, but don't let them ruin your set. Take care of the majority. So if 10 people out of 500 don't like what you're doing obviously don't change what you're doing. Why upset 490 people for the few 10 people? Don't do it! It's going to happen just be professional about how you handle it. I usually carry a small notepad and a pen and when someone asks me for a request, I ask them for their name and give them the pad and ask them to write their song request down. When they're all done then I say "ok, I'll try and get that on for you." If I don't play it because it won't fit the room and they end up coming back then I just say one of two things. First, "I looked and I don't have that song I'm sorry is their something else I can play for you?" Then I give them the pen and pad again. OR I say "management won't let me play this is their another song I can play for you?" and once again I give them the pad and pen. Now keep in mind I'm doing this live on the Air so it has too fit both on-air and in the room. You program the room, don't let it program you. It's great to take requests as if it's slow then you can sometimes get a feel for the direction you should take the room in. For some strange reason I read all the posts on this topic so I had to put my two cents in. And yes I'm sure we all at times feel like we sucked but then have someone come to you and say you rocked. I've had it happen to me before. You're your own worse critic (Generally Speaking). As you might know what you did wrong but in actuality the average patron like 95% had no idea that you did anything wrong. Like sometimes I felt that I could have EQ'd better or I should have played a certain song later instead or earlier or vice versa. Sometimes I feel like I'm not seamless mixing but it's only in my mind but to everyone else I sounded flawless. DJing is a lifestyle and a passion. You'll never work a day in your life if you do what you love. So never let anyone make you feel like you need to quit your passion and lifestyle. Take care.
geposted Sun 07 Dec 08 @ 5:10 am
DJ-ALF
I had a situation last night, I played house, people are dancing, jumping, screaming ( especially girls :) ), and then drunk boss came and "orders" me to play some Bob Marley shit and we go into the argument that NO ONE pays me to tell me what to play. So I just played his song on theirs computer in Winamp, pack my stuff and go home. People are looking at me, like "What happend?", and I just pointed them to the boss.
I am DJ for more than a 15 years. And NO ONE ever can tell me what to play and have me to DJ for him again. Simple as that ;) There is always new club...
I am DJ for more than a 15 years. And NO ONE ever can tell me what to play and have me to DJ for him again. Simple as that ;) There is always new club...
geposted Sun 07 Dec 08 @ 8:54 am
dj-e-lectric
DJ-ALF wrote :
I had a situation last night, I played house, people are dancing, jumping, screaming ( especially girls :) ), and then drunk boss came and "orders" me to play some Bob Marley shit and we go into the argument that NO ONE pays me to tell me what to play. So I just played his song on theirs computer in Winamp, pack my stuff and go home. People are looking at me, like "What happend?", and I just pointed them to the boss.
I am DJ for more than a 15 years. And NO ONE ever can tell me what to play and have me to DJ for him again. Simple as that ;) There is always new club...
I am DJ for more than a 15 years. And NO ONE ever can tell me what to play and have me to DJ for him again. Simple as that ;) There is always new club...
This is the attitude that gives Djs such a bad name with club owners. Your boss, the guy who signs your paycheck, has EVERY RIGHT to tell you what to play, it is his business, his investment, his license, his livelyhood
Yes, you have every right to decide not to work for anyone for any reason, but to walk out in the middle of a shift because you didn't like what he wanted you to play is just childish.
He is the one who wins in the end as he only looses an employee (with thousands waiting to take your place) but your action cost you much more like the loss of respect of your crowd because you ruined their night, possibly get a bad name with the other owners because you are a loose cannon, you lost a paycheck, you lost your integrity by running out on your responsibility and your commitment to do a job you agreed to accept but could not finish as a professional...yes you had the right, but that doesn't make it right.
The arrogance of Djs never ceases to amaze me. We get paid to do a job we agree to do when we accepted the offer, the owner is in charge as long as they don't ask you to do something outside the job description, illegal or something unsafe. He told you to play a song, that is what you are being paid to do......can you imagine what would happen if a sales person at Toyota told his boss he wasn't going to sell any cars except the red ones and if you wanted him to sell a black, green or white one he's going to pout like a baby and go home cause he didn't get his way.....
On behalf of all of those struggling Djs who can't find work in this piss poor ecomomy where bars are closing left and right and those that are open are down an average 40% in sales in the last 6 months thank you for giving them a new opportunity to find a job opening.
I hope you find something.........don't know where you are but in the US 553,000 people lost their jobs last month due to cutbacks and closings.....biggest job losses in one month since the depression of the 70's.
Sure, you had the right, but you should've also been a grown up and lived up to your responsibility....if not for your self esteem and personal respect at least for your customers sake who paid hard earned money so you could even have the job in the first place.
geposted Sun 07 Dec 08 @ 7:09 pm
DJ-ALF
Hehe, you are funny. And obviously have no respect for yourself. THE CROWD is losing here, not me, not the boss, because this is the small pub where house music is played, and I already described (but you didn't bother to read it, didn't you?) that crowd was ENJOYING my house set. Now, when I played Bob Marley, people were starting to leave and looking funny AT ME, not the boss. So I look like a IDIOT, not the boss.
This job is my hobby now. I have my firm in computer business and I don't depend anymore (thank God) on DJ business. I worked very hard many years to achieve this, and put up a lot of shit. Not anymore!
If you love someone to step all over you that is your choice, not mine. No man who is DRUNK can't be right for me. Ever.
I put bold on letters so you can read my post properly this time before you make such comments like me being arrogance or whatever.
Regards
This job is my hobby now. I have my firm in computer business and I don't depend anymore (thank God) on DJ business. I worked very hard many years to achieve this, and put up a lot of shit. Not anymore!
If you love someone to step all over you that is your choice, not mine. No man who is DRUNK can't be right for me. Ever.
I put bold on letters so you can read my post properly this time before you make such comments like me being arrogance or whatever.
Regards
geposted Mon 08 Dec 08 @ 4:03 am
DJJaE
Yea happens to all of us in a way or another. It doesn't matter what you play someone will hate it.
What I like to do for fun though, is to see how drunk they are. If they ask for a request, I tell them oh, I am sorry, my Mp3 is warped from being in the heat too long, or my copy of that Mp3 is scratched up from playing it so much. It works sometimes, you get that dazed deer in headlights look hehe. Too bad it only works when they are drunk :(
What I like to do for fun though, is to see how drunk they are. If they ask for a request, I tell them oh, I am sorry, my Mp3 is warped from being in the heat too long, or my copy of that Mp3 is scratched up from playing it so much. It works sometimes, you get that dazed deer in headlights look hehe. Too bad it only works when they are drunk :(
geposted Mon 08 Dec 08 @ 1:33 pm
dj-e-lectric
DJ-ALF wrote :
Hehe, you are funny. And obviously have no respect for yourself. THE CROWD is losing here, not me, not the boss, because this is the small pub where house music is played, and I already described (but you didn't bother to read it, didn't you?) that crowd was ENJOYING my house set. Now, when I played Bob Marley, people were starting to leave and looking funny AT ME, not the boss. So I look like a IDIOT, not the boss.
This job is my hobby now. I have my firm in computer business and I don't depend anymore (thank God) on DJ business. I worked very hard many years to achieve this, and put up a lot of shit. Not anymore!
If you love someone to step all over you that is your choice, not mine. No man who is DRUNK can't be right for me. Ever.
I put bold on letters so you can read my post properly this time before you make such comments like me being arrogance or whatever.
Regards
This job is my hobby now. I have my firm in computer business and I don't depend anymore (thank God) on DJ business. I worked very hard many years to achieve this, and put up a lot of shit. Not anymore!
If you love someone to step all over you that is your choice, not mine. No man who is DRUNK can't be right for me. Ever.
I put bold on letters so you can read my post properly this time before you make such comments like me being arrogance or whatever.
Regards
I notice my first point by point rebutal to this response was not posted....I also noticed you are a moderator, just a coincidence I am sure.
We will simply agree to disagree. You believe acting childish and pissing off the crowd by leaving was the proper way to handle a bad request from a drunk onwer. I believe and the facts of the matter are you shirked your duty to finish your shift as per the implied contract when you accepted the job (you made no mention of a written or other contract that stated the owner was not allowed to make requests). In so doing it was irresponsible and arrogant and a disservice to the customers and the reputation of Djs everywhere.
I'm sure if you were playing music the owner didn't like and he kicked you off stage and sent you packing with no pay for that night you would be even more upset because he "cheated" you. Well you cheated him out of his pay by leaving and in so doing running off his customers.
geposted Mon 08 Dec 08 @ 2:16 pm
sonido1902
digitalwiz wrote :
hey there....
There is a big difference between Reggaeton.... and Reggae trust me
Reggaeton.... is latin music mon.... and honestly a few of them are good.. but most are not really appreciated by patrons here... probably u may get a way with playing reggaeton.. for 10 minutes the most here
Of course your choice of Red Red Wine, I shot the sherrif.. murder she wrote is reggae (true) but in my country is considered classics etc.
Reggae is divided into many different sections...
Ska & Bee bop - classics of the 70s and 80s before
Roots Rock and Culture Singers Rock - which is a normally between 75-90 bpm.. and is more a souls type vocal setting (very good songs here) an appreciation of the words of the songs... etc... by patrons
Dancehall (Reggae) - now this is where the music gets bump & grindy or dancy... beats normally range from - 75bpm - 130bpm even up to 140bpm - These songs are normally placed on riddims - (couple songs on the same riddim) and interchanged quickly to keep the tempo going)
straight dancing and crazy grinding for example sean paul - like glue, tok - just got paid, sanchez - tonight forever - all this on the buyout riddim
Although i doubt your patrons would have know them either
There is a big difference between Reggaeton.... and Reggae trust me
Reggaeton.... is latin music mon.... and honestly a few of them are good.. but most are not really appreciated by patrons here... probably u may get a way with playing reggaeton.. for 10 minutes the most here
Of course your choice of Red Red Wine, I shot the sherrif.. murder she wrote is reggae (true) but in my country is considered classics etc.
Reggae is divided into many different sections...
Ska & Bee bop - classics of the 70s and 80s before
Roots Rock and Culture Singers Rock - which is a normally between 75-90 bpm.. and is more a souls type vocal setting (very good songs here) an appreciation of the words of the songs... etc... by patrons
Dancehall (Reggae) - now this is where the music gets bump & grindy or dancy... beats normally range from - 75bpm - 130bpm even up to 140bpm - These songs are normally placed on riddims - (couple songs on the same riddim) and interchanged quickly to keep the tempo going)
straight dancing and crazy grinding for example sean paul - like glue, tok - just got paid, sanchez - tonight forever - all this on the buyout riddim
Although i doubt your patrons would have know them either
this is true raggaeton and raggae is WAYYY different..those are classics i bump dat in my mp3 player.."RED RED WIIINNEEE"
geposted Mon 08 Dec 08 @ 2:18 pm
adamjmeek
people request songs.
before i was a dj i would request songs to the dj.
now that im a dj i wouldnt dare request a song because i know how fugging irritating requesters are because it is essentially someone telling you how to do your job. however; there are several approaches to this. although music is an emotional experience and we are exposing ourselves musically to the public we have to simultaneously protect our vital organs: primarily the heart.
and then i realized that i was getting paid no matter what anyone wanted or requested. are you paying me? then you can request a song. if not, i will try to work that in... can you write it down and i will try to get to it as soon as possible...and the one that works for me the most: say the name of the people that are paying you and then follow that with "theyve already requested a whole page of songs and im trying to get through all of those first (because they are paying me)."
no matter what you do, as people get more drunk and the show gets later...there will be people who act like morons when they drink. think of this as fodder for writing, thought, and coversation,,,vdj forum case and point.
if someone tries to punk you by balking an uppercut--shake your jerri curl juice in their eyes and when they are blinded punch them in the throat. you wanna request something now? oh, whats that? you cant talk? you cant request any songs? you dont want a song anymore?
thats what i thought jive turkey.
before i was a dj i would request songs to the dj.
now that im a dj i wouldnt dare request a song because i know how fugging irritating requesters are because it is essentially someone telling you how to do your job. however; there are several approaches to this. although music is an emotional experience and we are exposing ourselves musically to the public we have to simultaneously protect our vital organs: primarily the heart.
and then i realized that i was getting paid no matter what anyone wanted or requested. are you paying me? then you can request a song. if not, i will try to work that in... can you write it down and i will try to get to it as soon as possible...and the one that works for me the most: say the name of the people that are paying you and then follow that with "theyve already requested a whole page of songs and im trying to get through all of those first (because they are paying me)."
no matter what you do, as people get more drunk and the show gets later...there will be people who act like morons when they drink. think of this as fodder for writing, thought, and coversation,,,vdj forum case and point.
if someone tries to punk you by balking an uppercut--shake your jerri curl juice in their eyes and when they are blinded punch them in the throat. you wanna request something now? oh, whats that? you cant talk? you cant request any songs? you dont want a song anymore?
thats what i thought jive turkey.
geposted Tue 09 Dec 08 @ 1:45 am
dj-e-lectric
adamjmeek wrote :
people request songs.
before i was a dj i would request songs to the dj.
now that im a dj i wouldnt dare request a song because i know how fugging irritating requesters are because it is essentially someone telling you how to do your job.
before i was a dj i would request songs to the dj.
now that im a dj i wouldnt dare request a song because i know how fugging irritating requesters are because it is essentially someone telling you how to do your job.
I am glad you finally came around to realize requests are an essential tool to what we do. I have NEVER understood (maybe because I started in radio) why Djs hate requests so much. It is you job to PLEASE the crowd before you and when people make requests they are just letting you know what they want to hear. What is wrong with that?
When you go to buy your music and you are looking for that 1 song you just have to have and you don't see it on the shelf you ask the clerk for it or you ask the manager to order it or you press check out to download it, you are requesting it. Would you like it if your computer told you "I'm not gonna download that song for you cause I don't like it"...you'ld be pretty pissed because you want it........well your customers feel the same way.
Remember boys and girls it is a REQUEST, they are asking (some more civilized than others). That doesn't mean you have to play it (unless the guy signing your check says to) if it doesn't fit your format, not your personal likes or dislikes, but the format you are playing to keep as many people as happy as you can.
Essentially EVERY song you play that you KNOW people will dance to is a request. You KNEW from experience that people wanted to dance to "Yeah" or "Sandstorm" or "Single Ladies" or whatever the flavor of the week is because it is poplular or by a popular artist and without anyone coming up and physically requesting it they unconsciously requested it by requesting it a billion times on the radio and dancing to it everytime you and every other Dj played it so you can look like a mind reader when you play it in just the right spot in your rotation, but in reality you just played something that was requested previously a billion+ times.
Look at it this way, in an average 4 hour night you only play 50-80 songs depending on your format and style....did it ever occurr to you that since music has been around since the dawn of time that just maybe, just maybe somebody out there was in the mood for a song that might be in the 14 trillion you didn't think about playing tonight instead of the 50 you though you were going to? What we do is not rocket science, it doesn't shelter the homeless, it doesn't cure the sick and it certainly isn't worth having a stroke over. Yes to properly do our jobs we need to be 3 parts phsychologist, 1 part musician, 1 part actor, 1 part music researcher and 1 part marketing analyst....but NEVER a rocket scienentist!
Let's face it when you break it all down we have the best job in the world...execpt maybe for professional athletes. We get paid a pretty good sum of money for very few hours playing music for idiots for God's sake, don't let one of those drunken idiot ruin that for you!
geposted Tue 09 Dec 08 @ 6:52 am
internodal
dj-e-lectric wrote :
I have NEVER understood (maybe because I started in radio) why Djs hate requests so much. It is you job to PLEASE the crowd before you and when people make requests they are just letting you know what they want to hear. What is wrong with that?
When you go to buy your music and you are looking for that 1 song you just have to have and you don't see it on the shelf you ask the clerk for it or you ask the manager to order it or you press check out to download it, you are requesting it. Would you like it if your computer told you "I'm not gonna download that song for you cause I don't like it"...you'ld be pretty pissed because you want it........well your customers feel the same way.
Remember boys and girls it is a REQUEST, they are asking (some more civilized than others). That doesn't mean you have to play it (unless the guy signing your check says to) if it doesn't fit your format, not your personal likes or dislikes, but the format you are playing to keep as many people as happy as you can.
I have NEVER understood (maybe because I started in radio) why Djs hate requests so much. It is you job to PLEASE the crowd before you and when people make requests they are just letting you know what they want to hear. What is wrong with that?
When you go to buy your music and you are looking for that 1 song you just have to have and you don't see it on the shelf you ask the clerk for it or you ask the manager to order it or you press check out to download it, you are requesting it. Would you like it if your computer told you "I'm not gonna download that song for you cause I don't like it"...you'ld be pretty pissed because you want it........well your customers feel the same way.
Remember boys and girls it is a REQUEST, they are asking (some more civilized than others). That doesn't mean you have to play it (unless the guy signing your check says to) if it doesn't fit your format, not your personal likes or dislikes, but the format you are playing to keep as many people as happy as you can.
Radio is much, much different from live DJ'ing. As a radio host, when you get a request, you announce it and you play it. If the audience doesn't like it, they just switch to another station. They won't bother to call you and say your radio show is crap. I would LOVE to take requests during a radio broadcast.
That being said, I disagree with your comparison between a music store clerk and a DJ. The main difference being this: When you ask the clerk for, say, a CD, he faces no risk of seeing every other customer leave the store, just because the CD you want isn't popular. This is the problem I have with some requests. I agree you shouldn't choose to play a song (or not) based only on your own personal taste, as this is very unprofessional. The fact of the matter is, most requests I get ARE good songs to me, even reggaetone to some extent. But, as you said so well, it has to fit the format. As a former bar customer myself, I absolutely HATED it when a DJ switched from eurodance to, say, hip hop, because it killed the momentum. Experience has taught me that timing is everything when putting on a show. And, when a person comes back to me every 10 minutes to request the same song, which I promise to play later (meaning not right now), it is simply a matter of TIMING. Hence, when the floor is packed during, say, a house music set, I like to wait until the momentum slows down a bit before switching to another style of music. In other words, if it doesn't need fixing, I don't fix it.
Finaly, there is the matter of uncivilized, drunken behaviour. This is certainly the part I hate the most about taking requests. What is it about alcohol that gives a person the right to be a jerk? Personaly, when I'm drunk, I loose a few inhibitions, but I don't give grief to anyone. It's this immature, uneducated approach that makes me sick of bar customers in general, eventhough I know those stupid ones are the minority.
geposted Wed 10 Dec 08 @ 10:09 am
Dj Chachi
@Internodal
Perfect word, MOMENTUM. I know what you are talking about.
Perfect word, MOMENTUM. I know what you are talking about.
geposted Wed 10 Dec 08 @ 6:08 pm
dj-e-lectric
internodal wrote :
Finaly, there is the matter of uncivilized, drunken behaviour. This is certainly the part I hate the most about taking requests. What is it about alcohol that gives a person the right to be a jerk? Personaly, when I'm drunk, I loose a few inhibitions, but I don't give grief to anyone. It's this immature, uneducated approach that makes me sick of bar customers in general, eventhough I know those stupid ones are the minority.
Finaly, there is the matter of uncivilized, drunken behaviour. This is certainly the part I hate the most about taking requests. What is it about alcohol that gives a person the right to be a jerk? Personaly, when I'm drunk, I loose a few inhibitions, but I don't give grief to anyone. It's this immature, uneducated approach that makes me sick of bar customers in general, eventhough I know those stupid ones are the minority.
Alcohol brings out the TRUE nature of a persons personality. Under the influence of alcohol (the level being different for each person) people drop the inhibitions and don't "filter" themselves as they do when they are in control of their actions. MOST people in society tend to "act" their way through life by being what they think society expects of them or what they think they need to do to impress or be liked by other people. When drunk these self imposed constraits and facades are dropped and they behave with their true personality in the way they would if they thought society would accept that behaviour, thus no longer "acting" for others but truly being themselves.
A good portion of people are truly selfish with violent tendencies and those come to the surface once drunk. This is also why some women (and otherwise shy guys) are "easier" when drunk, because they really want to be sexually free, but in society they are then labeled as sluts or whores so they inhibit that part of their desire in sober life, but when drunk it comes out......
geposted Fri 12 Dec 08 @ 5:12 pm
chriso710
I just came across this post and read with interest as I think we can all relate to the topic at some time in our experiences as a DJ. I play my own genres across the board in the hope that request flow in so to give me something to work around, when this don't happen I can only assume the folk like the tunes as they remain at the venue. One of my residences Saturday night become less busy around 9.30 pm and the landlady inquired why, simply they are going clubbing, but don't worry about it. Minutes later a new crowd came in and the floor was buzzing untill closing. Some of the folk who previously left had requested stuff unsuitable for the floor which was slow, stuff better suited for the end of the night.
My lesson was learnt some years ago when I was doing a party and some one requested House music but when I did they were still persistent that it wasn't the House they wanted but they couldn't give me a lead. On this occasion the floor was buzzng but despite this pain in the ass i eventually realised that ignorance had to be the rule of the night.
Easier said than done to say don't beat yourself up but we do, as we are pros and try to please all, however can't satisfy everyone.
My lesson was learnt some years ago when I was doing a party and some one requested House music but when I did they were still persistent that it wasn't the House they wanted but they couldn't give me a lead. On this occasion the floor was buzzng but despite this pain in the ass i eventually realised that ignorance had to be the rule of the night.
Easier said than done to say don't beat yourself up but we do, as we are pros and try to please all, however can't satisfy everyone.
geposted Tue 28 Jul 09 @ 6:03 pm
DHoude
Yea, I learned my lesson on the first wedding I ever did. This wedding was for a close friend so it was not a failure (I cut the song).
Story goes like this, a young kid (12 or 13) comes from the head table and asks for Usher - Yeah and I play it and it goes over great. He puts in another request (I forgot the song) and it goes over good. Then he comes up and asks for Jay Z "Swagga Like Us" and I did not have it. So he gets his mom (found out later) to request it, then the best friend of the bride, then the father of the bride, THEN THE BRIDE AND GROOM PERSONALLY! Each of which I informed that I did not have the song. I figure that the kid was right about the other 2 so I figure this was a must have song due to all the requests (some of which I did not know who they were). SO I decide to buy the song durnig my set and download with my other PC.
When the bride and groom asked for it I told them I was downloading it from iTunes over the establishment's wireless internet (painfully slow 20 min DL). I played it to the bride's best friend (who requested it) and she confirmed that was what they wanted. I worked it into the set and people tried to dance for about 30 seconds and then sat down, they didn't even default to the open bar, they sat down and now 2 of the people who requested it now requested me to turn it OFF (yes it was censored)?! Message received and I cut to next song.
Right then I learned, play what packs the floor and keep it going. Requests ALWAYS quickly turn into 1 persons musical taste and most people have no concept of good "listening" music and good "dancing" music. Now the kid was right on the first 2 and I did not second guess him (shame on me) on the last song. That is my fault, but as the party is going and people are dancing, you are doing your job and pleasing the majority. The client paying you should not have an issue with that. See next story
Cut to 3rd wedding (my father in law's wedding) asked for all rock and blues with NO RAP - POP period (he is a biker). Anyway I said I will do that but warned that it would not work well. I tried some real good rock and country songs (because you can't dance all night to blues) and and the floor was still empty 5 songs in. I told him before we started (in the warning) that if I don't get dancing, I can choose whatever I want to get things moving. He said right back that that is fine, but he told me that I have to know the crowd that I am playing for and bikers will never stand for it.
When I got no danincing, I put on the Macarena (a request) and got dancing, Cha Cha slide (another request) and in these 2 songs, the floor is now FULL! I kept it going for the rest of the night with that stuf and the only time the floor was empty was when I played his music (that he personally chose for me to play). He thanked me at the end for making it the most fun (out of 4) weddings he has had. No mention of the music that I have played for the last 2 ish hours.
I have learned that I will never let people tell me how to do my job again. I will work with clients, but when it comes to dancing, who is the DJ ME. I am responsible if the night fails and it is my buisness rep on the line. I am no seasoned vet but I know what people like and more often then not, when sombody is REALLY passionate about requesting a song, they just like to listen to it everday, NOT dance to it.
Story goes like this, a young kid (12 or 13) comes from the head table and asks for Usher - Yeah and I play it and it goes over great. He puts in another request (I forgot the song) and it goes over good. Then he comes up and asks for Jay Z "Swagga Like Us" and I did not have it. So he gets his mom (found out later) to request it, then the best friend of the bride, then the father of the bride, THEN THE BRIDE AND GROOM PERSONALLY! Each of which I informed that I did not have the song. I figure that the kid was right about the other 2 so I figure this was a must have song due to all the requests (some of which I did not know who they were). SO I decide to buy the song durnig my set and download with my other PC.
When the bride and groom asked for it I told them I was downloading it from iTunes over the establishment's wireless internet (painfully slow 20 min DL). I played it to the bride's best friend (who requested it) and she confirmed that was what they wanted. I worked it into the set and people tried to dance for about 30 seconds and then sat down, they didn't even default to the open bar, they sat down and now 2 of the people who requested it now requested me to turn it OFF (yes it was censored)?! Message received and I cut to next song.
Right then I learned, play what packs the floor and keep it going. Requests ALWAYS quickly turn into 1 persons musical taste and most people have no concept of good "listening" music and good "dancing" music. Now the kid was right on the first 2 and I did not second guess him (shame on me) on the last song. That is my fault, but as the party is going and people are dancing, you are doing your job and pleasing the majority. The client paying you should not have an issue with that. See next story
Cut to 3rd wedding (my father in law's wedding) asked for all rock and blues with NO RAP - POP period (he is a biker). Anyway I said I will do that but warned that it would not work well. I tried some real good rock and country songs (because you can't dance all night to blues) and and the floor was still empty 5 songs in. I told him before we started (in the warning) that if I don't get dancing, I can choose whatever I want to get things moving. He said right back that that is fine, but he told me that I have to know the crowd that I am playing for and bikers will never stand for it.
When I got no danincing, I put on the Macarena (a request) and got dancing, Cha Cha slide (another request) and in these 2 songs, the floor is now FULL! I kept it going for the rest of the night with that stuf and the only time the floor was empty was when I played his music (that he personally chose for me to play). He thanked me at the end for making it the most fun (out of 4) weddings he has had. No mention of the music that I have played for the last 2 ish hours.
I have learned that I will never let people tell me how to do my job again. I will work with clients, but when it comes to dancing, who is the DJ ME. I am responsible if the night fails and it is my buisness rep on the line. I am no seasoned vet but I know what people like and more often then not, when sombody is REALLY passionate about requesting a song, they just like to listen to it everday, NOT dance to it.
geposted Wed 29 Jul 09 @ 12:00 am
DJRAVEM
I've DJed a few weddings over the last 10 years and I have learned that it is a balance of taking requests and just say no to the requester.
Even if it is a lie, I can always say that "I am sorry, I do not have that song or style of music." And then maybe suggest something similar that they may like instead.
I just make a deal with those who make a bad request... I say "If this request kills the dance floor, YOU better still be on the dance floor or I will come and get you back on the dance floor and make you the center of attention!" I make it fun though. If it kills I just get on the mic and say "Okay, this song was requested by _________ and he/she is going to lead us in a singalong!" and that makes fun of the request and still keeps things light-hearted...
I've literally had, one right after the other, a woman on my right telling me how much the music sucked and another woman on my left telling me how much they loved the music!
So, go with your gut... YOU are the DJ. YOU know what works and what doesn't. There is no specific formula. Those arsehole requestors have never DJed a show before, they think your a human Ipod and that the world revolves around them! Those people are also the ones who are the biggest complainers, non-participants, very self-oriented and are generally negative people. If they had and ounce of respectability they would not be hounding you. You do not need to give them respect if they first do not show you respect.
You have to satisfy your customer YES. Any business is subject to their customers. DJing is generally the same. If you are not about serving your customers you are not a very good business person. BUT with the DJ business you cannot satisfy each customer individually. It's like your a doctor in a triage ward and your only trying to save the patients who have good chance to live. You can never expect to have 100% satisfactory rating. Ask any president!
SO, You have to do what it takes to satisfy the majority. Just accept the fact that you'll always have assholes that don't like you... The key is how you handle it and how you let it effect your attitude.
Keep your head Up and Keep spinning what you know works with your crowd!
BTW - I just switched to Virtual DJ from being a PCDJ guy since 1999. I am head over heals in love with Virtual DJ!!!!
Cheers!
Even if it is a lie, I can always say that "I am sorry, I do not have that song or style of music." And then maybe suggest something similar that they may like instead.
I just make a deal with those who make a bad request... I say "If this request kills the dance floor, YOU better still be on the dance floor or I will come and get you back on the dance floor and make you the center of attention!" I make it fun though. If it kills I just get on the mic and say "Okay, this song was requested by _________ and he/she is going to lead us in a singalong!" and that makes fun of the request and still keeps things light-hearted...
I've literally had, one right after the other, a woman on my right telling me how much the music sucked and another woman on my left telling me how much they loved the music!
So, go with your gut... YOU are the DJ. YOU know what works and what doesn't. There is no specific formula. Those arsehole requestors have never DJed a show before, they think your a human Ipod and that the world revolves around them! Those people are also the ones who are the biggest complainers, non-participants, very self-oriented and are generally negative people. If they had and ounce of respectability they would not be hounding you. You do not need to give them respect if they first do not show you respect.
You have to satisfy your customer YES. Any business is subject to their customers. DJing is generally the same. If you are not about serving your customers you are not a very good business person. BUT with the DJ business you cannot satisfy each customer individually. It's like your a doctor in a triage ward and your only trying to save the patients who have good chance to live. You can never expect to have 100% satisfactory rating. Ask any president!
SO, You have to do what it takes to satisfy the majority. Just accept the fact that you'll always have assholes that don't like you... The key is how you handle it and how you let it effect your attitude.
Keep your head Up and Keep spinning what you know works with your crowd!
BTW - I just switched to Virtual DJ from being a PCDJ guy since 1999. I am head over heals in love with Virtual DJ!!!!
Cheers!
geposted Wed 29 Jul 09 @ 9:40 am