bgs1372
Hi All,
Just a bit of background on my current situation. I bought a idj3 about 3 years ago to do my sisters birthday party. I played at that party and then put the unit away and did not touch it of three years.
One day about six month ago a friend of mine that owns a bar asked me if I would bring the unit in with my laptop and play some songs. That night people loved it so he asked me to come back and play once a month.
Playing there led to other gigs. I soon upgraded all my equipment to a VMS4.1 along with a macbook pro and some really good Yorkville sound equipment. I have now played 8 gigs at that bar, 6 gigs at another bar, 5 Weddings ( I have two more booked for February ) I also go to play at the Marriott in my town on New Years for approx 300 people.
I really love doing this. What a great feeling when you have the dance floor packed and everyone is having a great time.
I have a few issues that if some of you could help me with.
One of the things I am struggling with is requests. This is the part of the job I hate. I spend lots of time collecting music so i can have as large of a collection as possible. But I don't have every song ( Sometimes I can't get a wifi connection to use at a gig ) When I get a request that I don't have people look at me like i have three heads. They seem to think that every DJ has every song ever in his or her collection. What do you guys do to handle requests that you either don't have or simply don't want to play.
Another issue is trying to come up with song lists for various events. I have played some weddings and have an ok set lists for them. I have been asked to play a Valentines day banquet and don't really know how to put a song list together for this. The age group ranges from 18 to 80 for this event and from country fans to rock fans to people that just want to dance.
I am still very new and I am trying to soak up all info I can get. So any advice on requests and songs lists would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Derek
Just a bit of background on my current situation. I bought a idj3 about 3 years ago to do my sisters birthday party. I played at that party and then put the unit away and did not touch it of three years.
One day about six month ago a friend of mine that owns a bar asked me if I would bring the unit in with my laptop and play some songs. That night people loved it so he asked me to come back and play once a month.
Playing there led to other gigs. I soon upgraded all my equipment to a VMS4.1 along with a macbook pro and some really good Yorkville sound equipment. I have now played 8 gigs at that bar, 6 gigs at another bar, 5 Weddings ( I have two more booked for February ) I also go to play at the Marriott in my town on New Years for approx 300 people.
I really love doing this. What a great feeling when you have the dance floor packed and everyone is having a great time.
I have a few issues that if some of you could help me with.
One of the things I am struggling with is requests. This is the part of the job I hate. I spend lots of time collecting music so i can have as large of a collection as possible. But I don't have every song ( Sometimes I can't get a wifi connection to use at a gig ) When I get a request that I don't have people look at me like i have three heads. They seem to think that every DJ has every song ever in his or her collection. What do you guys do to handle requests that you either don't have or simply don't want to play.
Another issue is trying to come up with song lists for various events. I have played some weddings and have an ok set lists for them. I have been asked to play a Valentines day banquet and don't really know how to put a song list together for this. The age group ranges from 18 to 80 for this event and from country fans to rock fans to people that just want to dance.
I am still very new and I am trying to soak up all info I can get. So any advice on requests and songs lists would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Derek
发表时间 Sun 20 Jan 13 @ 2:37 pm
groovindj
In years gone by it wouldn't really be an issue if a DJ didn't have a song, because you can only carry so many boxes of vinyl or CDs with you, and your audience knew that you've got X amount of media and can't bring everything.
But now, almost everyone has all their music with them on a phone or MP3 player, and they know it's possible to have thousands of tracks.
They also know how easy it is to go online now and find music, legally or otherwise - on YouTube, Spotify, wherever. So these days when a DJ doesn't have a track, people are more surprised, and they expect you to just be able to conjure it up for them.
I've got to a stage now (after 30 years or so!) where I can meet most requests. Even now though, I still surprise myself when I find I don't have certain songs, and I'm still discovering and adding stuff - plugging gaps. It'll never be finished!
When someone does ask for a song I don't have, then I make a note of it and if it's worth adding, I'll do so. I had to do that twice last night.
I don't download anything at gigs. I'm not against playing the song if they have it though. A few weeks ago I let two guys DJ from their iPods!
Song lists - when possible I ask the client to supply a list, even if it's tiny. It then gives you an idea of what they're into, what they're not, and allows you to expand on that.
Themed events (e.g. valentines) are easy enough, because there's so much info available via a quick Google these days. You can find lists of songs on retail sites, lists that other DJs have compiled, playlists on iTunes, Spotify and so on.
But now, almost everyone has all their music with them on a phone or MP3 player, and they know it's possible to have thousands of tracks.
They also know how easy it is to go online now and find music, legally or otherwise - on YouTube, Spotify, wherever. So these days when a DJ doesn't have a track, people are more surprised, and they expect you to just be able to conjure it up for them.
I've got to a stage now (after 30 years or so!) where I can meet most requests. Even now though, I still surprise myself when I find I don't have certain songs, and I'm still discovering and adding stuff - plugging gaps. It'll never be finished!
When someone does ask for a song I don't have, then I make a note of it and if it's worth adding, I'll do so. I had to do that twice last night.
I don't download anything at gigs. I'm not against playing the song if they have it though. A few weeks ago I let two guys DJ from their iPods!
Song lists - when possible I ask the client to supply a list, even if it's tiny. It then gives you an idea of what they're into, what they're not, and allows you to expand on that.
Themed events (e.g. valentines) are easy enough, because there's so much info available via a quick Google these days. You can find lists of songs on retail sites, lists that other DJs have compiled, playlists on iTunes, Spotify and so on.
发表时间 Sun 20 Jan 13 @ 4:21 pm
jeffpino
Hi, my advice from being a Professional Broadcast DJ on the radio, as well as a Professional DJ using Virtual DJ, take the request down, but also remind the person requesting that you'll do your best to find it and also take a second request in case you don't have the particular song..it has worked for me for many years.
发表时间 Mon 21 Jan 13 @ 8:12 am
blckjck
The only thing I can really add to the above advice is to get a mobile connection and use netsearch. I set up my phone as a hotspot and connect my laptop to it.
I do this before the gig starts, not during.
I also cache my songs and listen to them in my headphones before going live.
Before doing that, people generally accepted if I didn't have a track. But, since I started that, it has made quite a few customers smile and even erned praise and gratuity. I would rate this ability highly from a mobile DJ's point I view.
Now, when I'm spinning an electro house set, I have a packed floor, and I'm feeling where I want the set to go, I don't take requests.
I do this before the gig starts, not during.
I also cache my songs and listen to them in my headphones before going live.
Before doing that, people generally accepted if I didn't have a track. But, since I started that, it has made quite a few customers smile and even erned praise and gratuity. I would rate this ability highly from a mobile DJ's point I view.
Now, when I'm spinning an electro house set, I have a packed floor, and I'm feeling where I want the set to go, I don't take requests.
发表时间 Tue 22 Jan 13 @ 1:18 am
ididitagain2day
This was an interesting but good post, what do as for any event is get an idea of the type of music the client wants played, ask if they have any favorites, if so I get a list and make sure I have them before hand. As far as requests go, I always let the person know that (if Im not sure) I may not have it, and then ask if they have another song in mind. What I have done in the past (not always) is have a small legal pad where the requests can be written down, that way after the event I can decide whether or not I want to throw it into the collection.
发表时间 Tue 22 Jan 13 @ 11:41 am
freppa
@ my gigs I always have a pen and paper with me so people can write their requests (I dont get disturbed when mixing/searching for music / having fun !!), and I check if the song works with the floor at the time and have great respond if its played later aswell.
发表时间 Tue 22 Jan 13 @ 12:47 pm
sureview
if you want to accept requests...
good idea, is to take a old mobile (I think we all have one stuffed in a draw someware!) , stick a pay as you go sim card in it.
Make up a few signs with 'text me your requests to 079.......', stick a few around the venue
having said that , it is a doudle edged sword !!
plus points are , you will get to know what people are wanting to hear, its modern - most people will have thier phones with them, you may also get people asking about other gigs by txt, you wont get disturbed as much much, your not face to face with the person asking, so you dont have to think of an instant excuse for not playing it lol, and you will have a list of song at hand and to take away from the gig that you can update your collection with.
the down side , you may get more requests !
finally good luck
good idea, is to take a old mobile (I think we all have one stuffed in a draw someware!) , stick a pay as you go sim card in it.
Make up a few signs with 'text me your requests to 079.......', stick a few around the venue
having said that , it is a doudle edged sword !!
plus points are , you will get to know what people are wanting to hear, its modern - most people will have thier phones with them, you may also get people asking about other gigs by txt, you wont get disturbed as much much, your not face to face with the person asking, so you dont have to think of an instant excuse for not playing it lol, and you will have a list of song at hand and to take away from the gig that you can update your collection with.
the down side , you may get more requests !
finally good luck
发表时间 Fri 25 Jan 13 @ 7:49 am