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DJing in front of huge crowd...need advice

I'm about to DJ at an event (on an open street) with about 20,000 people in about four days. The largest crowd I've ever DJed in front of before this was about 50 people. Is there any advice you guys have in regards to DJing in front of large crowds?

always take a pre-game dump

this is specifically advice for you given the circumstances.


Accept that you are lucky and that you shouldn't be djing at that event. Understand that you are most likely not quite at the level of a pro. And understand that your main goal should be networking because you will be the opener and nobody is going to hear you.

this sounds negative but you have a great opportunity. I never recommend this but in your case, pre decide the order of your tracks. You will be nervous and you wil forget everything you thought you knew. Don't go over your time. You aren't there to dj. Make as many contacts as possible. Give out as many business cards to links to your website ( don't give cds out ) they are a waste and people find them so cumbersome. And tell peopel about your mixes online, not your demos. Bedroom djs make demos. that is how it sounds to most people.

I think you need to see this as a networking opportunity. Made sure you don't suck, make sure you don't look stupid. make sure you don't over step your boundaries and understand that most djs will think you are garbage. So be confident, not too confident, make friends, tell djs that you enjoyed a particular mix. Be particular. Just wait for one good mix and remember it.

Get a sense of what they do. If they have a studio, get a card even if you don't ever plan on making a track. Get as many contacts as possible. Do not get fucked up on any drug because trust me, you never look as cool as you think you do.

And practice screwing up. Because you will. Actually a good trick is to always drink a non descript water bottle. Because there are days you will train wreck, and having that bottle is an automatic excuse that you are drinking alcohol.

And if you see a few people really into it, make sure they get a card. And always wear a white shirt. This soudns so silly but it just makes most peopel so much more noticeable. And if you aren't ready because you really are that bad, still go. The guy after you will just take more time. The important thing is that you weren't ever goign to get paid anyways but at least you are on the flyer now.

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV this is specifically advice for you given the circumstances. Accept that you are lucky and that you shouldn't be djing at that event. Understand that you are most likely not quite at the level of a pro. And understand that your main goal should be networking because you will be the opener and nobody is going to hear you. this sounds negative but you have a great opportunity. I never recommend this but in your case, pre decide the order of your tracks. You will be nervous and you wil forget everything you thought you knew. Don't go over your time. You aren't there to dj. Make as many contacts as possible. Give out as many business cards to links to your website ( don't give cds out ) they are a waste and people find them so cumbersome. And tell peopel about your mixes online, not your demos. Bedroom djs make demos. that is how it sounds to most people. I think you need to see this as a networking opportunity. Made sure you don't suck, make sure you don't look stupid. make sure you don't over step your boundaries and understand that most djs will think you are garbage. So be confident, not too confident, make friends, tell djs that you enjoyed a particular mix. Be particular. Just wait for one good mix and remember it. Get a sense of what they do. If they have a studio, get a card even if you don't ever plan on making a track. Get as many contacts as possible. Do not get fucked up on any drug because trust me, you never look as cool as you think you do. And practice screwing up. Because you will. Actually a good trick is to always drink a non descript water bottle. Because there are days you will train wreck, and having that bottle is an automatic excuse that you are drinking alcohol. And if you see a few people really into it, make sure they get a card. And always wear a white shirt. This soudns so silly but it just makes most peopel so much more noticeable. And if you aren't ready because you really are that bad, still go. The guy after you will just take more time. The important thing is that you weren't ever goign to get paid anyways but at least you are on the flyer now.

You assume too much. Although you have given some good tips, don't assume that you know what skills or experience this guy has or doesn't have. Embrace and enjoy it and remember that you are lucky to have a gig like this, so make the most of it.

Re: DJing in front of huge crowd...need advice

quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest I'm about to DJ at an event (on an open street) with about 20,000 people

holy shit... how did you get there?

How about getting some of those "50 people" and/or your friends to the front to support you.

Re: Re: DJing in front of huge crowd...need advice

quote:

Originally posted by boris_the_bear holy shit... how did you get there?

There's a company running the event, and I submitted a mix tape. It's this huge event that happens around my university every year, so there is this huge crowd of drunk college students.

quote:

Originally posted by DJSoulstone How about getting some of those "50 people" and/or your friends to the front to support you.

Haha, no it was actually a dance party hosted by my university. I only knew maybe five people there.

quote:

Originally posted by Teezdalien You assume too much. Although you have given some good tips, don't assume that you know what skills or experience this guy has or doesn't have. Embrace and enjoy it and remember that you are lucky to have a gig like this, so make the most of it.

the fact that he says the largest crowd he's previously played to is 50 people says a lot

get a new haircut and sunglasses. and yeah coce

Remember to have fun.

Turtle
"You know what i do to get rid of all my anxiety?"

Drama
"What"

Turtle
"Jerk off! Trust me.. a nice tug makes all that anxiety go away."

Drama
"Heh.. and so does a good laugh.. thanks Turtle."

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV this is specifically advice for you given the circumstances. Accept that you are lucky and that you shouldn't be djing at that event. Understand that you are most likely not quite at the level of a pro. And understand that your main goal should be networking because you will be the opener and nobody is going to hear you. this sounds negative but you have a great opportunity. I never recommend this but in your case, pre decide the order of your tracks. You will be nervous and you wil forget everything you thought you knew. Don't go over your time. You aren't there to dj. Make as many contacts as possible. Give out as many business cards to links to your website ( don't give cds out ) they are a waste and people find them so cumbersome. And tell peopel about your mixes online, not your demos. Bedroom djs make demos. that is how it sounds to most people. I think you need to see this as a networking opportunity. Made sure you don't suck, make sure you don't look stupid. make sure you don't over step your boundaries and understand that most djs will think you are garbage. So be confident, not too confident, make friends, tell djs that you enjoyed a particular mix. Be particular. Just wait for one good mix and remember it. Get a sense of what they do. If they have a studio, get a card even if you don't ever plan on making a track. Get as many contacts as possible. Do not get fucked up on any drug because trust me, you never look as cool as you think you do. And practice screwing up. Because you will. Actually a good trick is to always drink a non descript water bottle. Because there are days you will train wreck, and having that bottle is an automatic excuse that you are drinking alcohol. And if you see a few people really into it, make sure they get a card. And always wear a white shirt. This soudns so silly but it just makes most peopel so much more noticeable. And if you aren't ready because you really are that bad, still go. The guy after you will just take more time. The important thing is that you weren't ever goign to get paid anyways but at least you are on the flyer now.

This sounds like good advice. I'll definitely consider it.

quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest This sounds like good advice. I'll definitely consider it.

DO NOT PREDECIDE YOUR SET.

A friend of mine had to play at a busy bar at peak time. I told him not to predecide his set but he was a bit nervous and did anyway. he spends a week figuring out what he's going to play, gets to the bar starts playing and even though it's totally what was on his mix CD for the promoter, the crowd have just heard a comptely different set before and his stuff is not going to go down.

I get there about 30 mins before the end and he's playing well, but says it was a nightmare becuase he spend the previous hour and a half trying to guess what to play and it was that much more difficult becuase he had such a set idea of what he originally was going to do.

Musically, have a few set peices - track you know that work well together, and suit different moods, so 3 tracks have a nice opening/warm up flow, 3 tracks that are jacking, 3 tracks that bring it down, 3 tracks that keep the grove going , etc.

that way you can rely on set chunks and still change it up if necessary.

Best pieces of advice I can give:

1, Take a dump 15 mins before (there are whole threads on this).
2, Enjoy it - if people see you enjoying it they will too.
3, If you fuck something up - stoneface it. Chances are no one will realiseyour mistake but they certainly will the moment they see you grimmace, even if they didn't hear it. Practise that stoneface.
4, Burn new CD's of all you tracks and don't simply rely on a laptop (if applicable).
5, Beforehand, Don't get drunk, drop anything or bang a load of gak up your nose. Surefire way to ruin your chances.
6, Remember they are ALL going to be wasted so Have fun!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN DO NOT PREDECIDE YOUR SET.

+1

Just wing it. If you cant wing it then i dont think this business is for you. Your inspiration might be spontaneous.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN DO NOT PREDECIDE YOUR SET. \

Agreed. I meant to say that I like all of his advice but predeciding my set. I was really nervous the first time I DJed, and I predecided by set. The first forty minutes were awful. I'm more focused on pairing tracks. I know I have at least three sets of three tracks I'd like to play. That's about it for predeciding.

quote:

Originally posted by RichieV this is specifically advice for you given the circumstances. Accept that you are lucky and that you shouldn't be djing at that event. Understand that you are most likely not quite at the level of a pro. And understand that your main goal should be networking because you will be the opener and nobody is going to hear you. this sounds negative but you have a great opportunity. I never recommend this but in your case, pre decide the order of your tracks. You will be nervous and you wil forget everything you thought you knew. Don't go over your time. You aren't there to dj. Make as many contacts as possible. Give out as many business cards to links to your website ( don't give cds out ) they are a waste and people find them so cumbersome. And tell peopel about your mixes online, not your demos. Bedroom djs make demos. that is how it sounds to most people. I think you need to see this as a networking opportunity. Made sure you don't suck, make sure you don't look stupid. make sure you don't over step your boundaries and understand that most djs will think you are garbage. So be confident, not too confident, make friends, tell djs that you enjoyed a particular mix. Be particular. Just wait for one good mix and remember it. Get a sense of what they do. If they have a studio, get a card even if you don't ever plan on making a track. Get as many contacts as possible. Do not get fucked up on any drug because trust me, you never look as cool as you think you do. And practice screwing up. Because you will. Actually a good trick is to always drink a non descript water bottle. Because there are days you will train wreck, and having that bottle is an automatic excuse that you are drinking alcohol. And if you see a few people really into it, make sure they get a card. And always wear a white shirt. This soudns so silly but it just makes most peopel so much more noticeable. And if you aren't ready because you really are that bad, still go. The guy after you will just take more time. The important thing is that you weren't ever goign to get paid anyways but at least you are on the flyer now.

if you're going to do all that bring some knee pads.

seriously though, congrats on a great opportunity, just play stuff you are really into and remember to HAVE FUN. remember you'll play better if you're having fun!

there is a difference between sucking dick and using an specific occasion to further a possible carreer. This might sound presumptuous but i think i can list enough examples that support the notion that to become a working dj , skill is not really the deciding factor. There are a million "awesome" djs playing in their bedroom. People that learn how to market themselves and know when to market themselves, like this event, are the ones that tend to actually make money as a dj. My advice was to look at the big picture. THis is just one event and he doesn't have anything else comming up so he really should be seing this opportunity as a springboard for more opportunities.

sound advice from richieV

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