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Posted by Lucas-K on Nov-07-2008 01:05:

Tracks for gigs

Hey im am thinking of trying to get some gigs in the near future. I have been a bedroom dj for about 2 years now and i want to take it to the next level i guess you could say. I was wondering though, how do you determine what tracks will get the crowd moving vs. driving them away from the dance floor lol.

Is it as easy as just not playing shitty or boring tracks or is there alot more to it. Like i said, i am new to playing out to the public.

Oh and i spin mainly (Tech/house/electro house)

Posted by Dj Gracjan on Nov-07-2008 02:49:

that's something you learn over time and it's a make it or break it thing in my opinion. This will make you a good dj or a great one that stands out.

Posted by Watts on Nov-07-2008 02:55:

If you have a nightclub near you that spins something remotely close to what you play I'd check that out.

Doing something like that will let you know quickly what you do and don't like to hear in a club.

Posted by Imagin on Nov-07-2008 08:36:

best bet is to go to local clubs where you would want to play and listen to what the resident DJs are playing. That should give you an indication of what the crowds are into and which way to take things

Posted by nefardec on Nov-07-2008 17:57:

Re: Tracks for gigs

Posted by Lucas-K on Nov-07-2008 20:24:

Re: Re: Tracks for gigs

quote:
Originally posted by nefardec
my guess is you shouldn't try to get gigs

or you should go out more and learn for yourself

best way to learn is by doing it

I dont think i just shouldnt play gigs... everyone has to start somewhere and were probably wondering the same thing i am now but figured it out with practice. This is something that i would really like to do. I am not talking about next week and i am just scrambling to find some tracks, but i am talking about like 4 months away, 6 maybe. But like hwta you and everyone else said, its prolly best to just go out to clubs that play somewhat similar tastes in music and just learn from them and i guess study the crowd on how they react to dif tunes.

Posted by elFreak on Nov-07-2008 20:26:

i think what he meant was to start going out more and learn what works on the dance floor by actually being on one. If you want gigs you are going to have to do this anyways.

Posted by Lucas-K on Nov-08-2008 00:16:

quote:
Originally posted by elFreak
i think what he meant was to start going out more and learn what works on the dance floor by actually being on one. If you want gigs you are going to have to do this anyways.

Oh i know he meant nothing offensive or anything discouraging. But your both right, i should get some more first hand experience in clubs, and what not, i will admit. That is the best way to see what really get a crowd movin. Its just harder here. I am only 19, and alot of clubs and events is 21+. I went to go see sasha and digweed here and armin came as well (i missed armin), They were both 18+ events. I got lucky . If that wasnt a problem for me though, i bet i wouldnt have this trouble. I am planning on moving to torronto, Canada for school, so it will be differnt as far as the EDM scene for me. . I cant wait.

Posted by Nemesis44 on Nov-11-2008 18:53:

My advice to you is to forget about what the likes of Sasha and Armin are doing.
These guys can pretty much play anything they want and not pay too much attention to time slot.
Headlining is pretty easy.

If I were you I would focus more on the skills of the guys who play before the main event. Try and find out who is a good warm up DJ and then figure out what makes them good at what they do.

Becoming a good warm up DJ is infinitely harder than playing the headline slot and some of the top guys these days probably wouldn't be able to warm up that well.

If you want to learn how to read the dance floor, when to play what type of tune then watch the warm up guy. Get to know a few, they will often be a lot easier to interact with than the main guys.

The art of being a warm up DJ is dying and is totally undervalued these days, but it's were most of us will start so worth doing well.

Cheers
Nem

Posted by woscar on Nov-12-2008 21:41:

Adding to what Nemesis44 said:

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=498644

Posted by Lucas-K on Nov-12-2008 23:39:

quote:
Originally posted by woscar99
Adding to what Nemesis44 said:

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=498644

Nice, good find .

Posted by Stormbringer on Nov-16-2008 01:58:

Re: Tracks for gigs

quote:
Originally posted by Lucas-K
Hey im am thinking of trying to get some gigs in the near future. I have been a bedroom dj for about 2 years now and i want to take it to the next level i guess you could say. I was wondering though, how do you determine what tracks will get the crowd moving vs. driving them away from the dance floor lol.

Is it as easy as just not playing shitty or boring tracks or is there alot more to it. Like i said, i am new to playing out to the public.

Oh and i spin mainly (Tech/house/electro house)
Go to a lot of raves and clubs....See what people are liking, in your area...Then go out and see what other people are liking outside of your area. Also, see what is not being played, too. Pay attention to the time, of the night, and what music is being played...Also, pay attention to the journey of the music. Because, in order to become a good DJ, I feel you must be an experienced raver/music lover, first. That's the first step, I feel...