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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: So I bombed my first DJ gig - Page: 1

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Hey guys,

I am a novice dj. Just started to use Virtual Dj a week and I tried it out at the local bar. My selection of music was not what the crowd wanted. Only reading through the forum now, I understand I have to read my crowd. I was playing house/dance they wanted top 40. Couple of girls came up to me and said "if you don't change this, we are leaving"

Man my confidence has been shot. So I am not going to go through this forum and learn.

So hello to all. :) let the good times begin. Nothing better than failing I guess.
 
geposted Sun 10 Apr 11 @ 6:37 am
Firstly, welcome to the world of DJ'ing.

Secondly, welcome to VDJ.

Lastly....DJ'ing is not something you can learn in a week. It takes longer than that to learn how to use the software!!! I personally have been spinning for ten years and every gig i do still teaches me something new. I learn all the time. Many of the guys here have been DJ'ing for alot longer than me...and they'll tell you themselves...THEY'RE still learning too.

You have found out the hard way that it's definitely not as easy as it looks.

Both feet in at the deep end is the best way to learn i guess, but don't let 1 bad gig grind you down. In the nicest possible way, it won't be your last bad gig!!!

Take it in your stride. Put it down to experience and bear it in mind for the next time. It might be a good idea to carry out a wee bit of research before going in there all guns blazing...you know, check a place out...see what's currently getting played...what sort of age group go to the place...etc etc etc. Damage limitation and all that. All will come good...:o)

Good luck....and keep spinnin'...(",)

P
 
Thank you very much for that response. I needed that to be honest.

I feel very lost now, I thought I had good footing on what was going on. I will try to hit the local club and use my shazaam to get a tracklist.
 
+1 Pionara

As my old drill sergeant used to say to me in the US Army, "Suck it up & Drive on!"

Let that be a lesson, this is not as easy as it looks for beginners, especially because of some software! Yet since you joined the fraternity, don't be afraid to learn from us veterans in the game! Some are welcoming and some are not so welcoming, but you'll find many of willing to help you out! Pick our brains, watch videos, even read books on being a DJ, but most important, take the time to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Make it a habit to do that a minimum of hours every week, I myself put in 15 hours per week and been doing that since I started in 1985. I don't know what you're schedule is like, but find the time to do what works for you.

The second gig of my life, I broke one of my needles trying to do a trick in the middle of the set and wound up using a cassette player (yeah showing my age) as my other player, but I lost most of my crowd that night after that incident! It was a lessoned learned to be prepared for anything, but it didn't stop me! Sure I was upset, but I continued my career and it's been a wonderful career for me.

Don't give up, Keep going and over time, your confidence will not only sky rocket, but you'll have those same girls either asking for your phone number instead or simply going home with you that night!

Happy DeeJaying,
DJ Coach K aka THE MIX MONSTER
 
Now you have a starting point. First lesson down. It's like learning to ride a horse and you've fallen off. Time to get back on.
 
Hey man, just entering my second year now. Yesterday I played at an all Christian wedding where the bride knew all of the lyrics to all of the songs she has ever heard and the meanings behind them. I spent days "prescreening" all the the dance music for anything questionable (even "love shack") and that part went well.

BUT, I did not pre screen all the the music she gave me. I guess there were songs in the with questionable meanings in there, so I got yelled at (yes yelled at) by the bride for playing certain music she provided. This was slow music over dinner. I was standing thereat my system and did not hear what she evidently heard. If she continued yelling, I was ready to throw my check on the table and hit stop and shut down in the middle dinner.

If I didn't have a 20 year Vet DJ as my MC I would have lost it. Sweating like a newbie and all! This girl, I have met as a friend of a friend and she is always all smiles! I stuck it out, smiled, hid my real feelings and finished the show. The experience between the two of us got us through, but the whole show I was wondering how much I could get $$ for my system on Craigs list. Sometimes you get handed a crappy situation, yesterday was that day for me. I know it will not be my last either. Took my MC out after to party off some stress and onto the next. A full weekend show next weekend.

Life is full of plenty of lessons, when you stop learning, you are not paying attention. You knew exactly what was the people wanted and for whatever reason, sounds like you could not provide. Work on getting what the people want, not what you like. No matter how good you are at it, you can't sell it if the people don't want it.

My lesson, a swinggers club DJ has no business DJing a Christian wedding when you don't know Christian music. Even if they provide it and you think you have done all your homework. Life throws you a curveball when you think you have it nailed.
 
DHoude wrote :
Work on getting what the people want, not what you like. No matter how good you are at it, you can't sell it if the people don't want it.


+1
 
They either love you or hate you in this game, gotta learn to roll with the punches!
 
Besides lots of practice and hearing other djs to see what they are doing, you also have to ask yourself a question ? If you were part of the crowd in the dance floor ? what would you want to hear ? Any dj can blend two songs. Its really about how you do your sets and keep the people satisfied. It takes time to be great. One of the most important things a Dj should always do is Have his music organized where he can always find his songs.
 
it's also good to check out the bar/club before you have your gig...what is the current dj playing? what is the crowd responding too? get a feel for what type of music is being played and work that into your set. And it's already been said, but practice often
 
hamburglar wrote :
Hey guys,

I was playing house/dance they wanted top 40.


Yes, it will take some time to learn the basics in deejay work and presentation. The fact that you have the apparent passion for being a deejay is a huge step in the positive direction.

I will also say that you had some people there at your gig that probably don't know how to "party;" house and dance music is high caliber party music, doesn't get much better than that. And so it's obvious you were having to deal with a certain lame brain mentality--some people just don't appreciate authentically and spiritually grooving on the dance floor.

I remember the first deejay gig that I played at. It was 1983 and my evolving specialty at the time was underground disco & r&b as well as hi-nrg. The gig was actually located in a community that embraced electronic dance music in addition to new wave, synth-pop, punk and disco; a very liberal and minorities neighborhood.

Unfortunately, I didn't understand the demands of deejay work at that time and didn't do my homework in preparation for some of the crowd that would show up to the gig. I was afraid that I would be in for a long night when one of the party guests came to my booth and wanted me to play "Free As A Bird" by Lynyrd Skynrd. Most of he night was a bomb for me as the crowd wanted to hear a lot of hard butt rock. (Miraculously enough, by later in the early morning hour they embraced my blend of disco and r&b--you could say some of their soul kicked in and they succumbed to the power of compelling dance beats.)

Homework for special gigs is paramount, imo. If you don't have the crates of particular music thus, you are not the right deejay.
 
I have been approached by many a rookie DJ asking if I can "teach" them how. My response is always the same. "I can show what I do. The only way to really 'learn how to DJ' is in front of a crowd, when things are going wrong". That answer applies here as well. The only way to learn is on the job, when things are going poorly. Some people respond, and face the situation head on others , crawl into a hole in the mind and wish it would all go away. Good luck in the future.
 
Don't worry Houde if she was yelling she is not really truly 'Christian' is she? lol
 
This might be of some consolation. Been doing this for 36 years and still get nervous before a gig. Never, never be overconfident and always read your audience. Also heed the prior advise given above as they are all good. Good luck.
 
It sounds like you jumped in with both feet without looking first. Hopefully you've learned from this experience that being a DJ takes time, preparation, and the ability to know your audience in a short period of time.

As the Mix Monster said; "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE". This, plus the advise from the rest of the community is absolute gold!! I would suggest purchasing/licensing/registering your copy of the software however before taking another gig in order to protect yourself and respect your peers.

Keep your chin up.
AC
 
when i first played at a private party none hit the dance floor except for a 4 years old kid lmao :-D later i managed to pull a few of them but thy didn like the music tho i was playing house and the crowd was not young btw.
 
You have to know what kind of crowd you are playing for (like the others said) I have been dj'ing as a filler basically for like an hour so the main dj could take a break or whatever, but I had my first 5 hour set last night. It was at a small private party so not many ppl there. Learning to read the crowd is a must. Noone was really dancing cause it wasn't that kind of party but I considered it a success cause the ladies was dancing in there seat, and the men was moving there head. I only played one song that noone was moving to (& knowing how to read a crowd is a must learn knowledge for any beginner that I have picked up over this past year) I waited for the chorus did a backspin cut the song & went to the next one and everyone started moving again. Learn to read the crowd & what kind of music your crowd wants/likes & u will succeed.
 
djrobinhamilton wrote :
Don't worry Houde if she was yelling she is not really truly 'Christian' is she? lol


Thanks man, never really thought about it that way. LOL, you made my day..
 
Well as a lesson you have learned what not to play & do. Keep steppin.
 
Last night I played at a club and was booked to play house. but operently the wrong crowd showed up beeing late 30 and up so after trying to get some respond from the people I ended up playing 80's hit for the most of the gig and everyone was happy.


I could have taken just my house music with me but I had the extra HD with my older songs. Always prepare but be prepared to drop all you prepared :D
 
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