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-- Some basic mixing questions..

Some basic mixing questions..

Disclaimer: Not claiming to be an amazing experienced dj, please spare any sarcastic remarks

I played my first small sized gig last night (50-60 people out in a field)

Have a few questions...

Doing small parties for friends, I commonly have people come up to me and ask for "Sandstorm (136 BPM)" or "Satisfaction (128 BPM)" (YES, lame I know, but that is the reality of the situation)

I have read alot of contradictory information about only going up in BPM to build up energy, and only changing by 1 BPM a song.

Should I just not mix songs of 2+ BPM difference/different genres together, simply ending one and starting the other?

I understand adhering to this strict guidelines when you are djing for a large crowd that does not make requests, only listens, but what should I do in the case I have to switch from "Very different song A" to "Very different song B"?

Alright, this is what you do to avoid this situation.
Here is an example...

quote:

Originally posted by Cro_Addict Alright, this is what you do to avoid this situation. Here is an example...

Bro you don't know the worst of it, I had at least 10 of them ask me that!

BESIDES GETTING NEW FRIENDS, what should I do?

At the start I just ignored them, spun a pretty good electro house set (Most of the people were dancing), when I started playing peoples requests, the party died (Figures, thats what they get for listening to benassi and darude, lol)

quote:

Originally posted by djnitride Bro you don't know the worst of it, I had at least 10 of them ask me that! BESIDES GETTING NEW FRIENDS, what should I do? At the start I just ignored them, spun a pretty good electro house set (Most of the people were dancing), when I started playing peoples requests, the party died (Figures, thats what they get for listening to benassi and darude, lol)

Honestly though if the requests are way out there, then just ignore it and play what you wanna play. I mean you should be prepared to know the crowd you're spinning to, but if its just occasional person asking for requests, just ignore and move on.

I mean don't get me wrong, Sandstorm is a great track, classic actually....but it has no business in a house set.

quote:

Originally posted by Cro_Addict Honestly though if the requests are way out there, then just ignore it and play what you wanna play. I mean you should be prepared to know the crowd you're spinning to, but if its just occasional person asking for requests, just ignore and move on. I mean don't get me wrong, Sandstorm is a great track, classic actually....but it has no business in a house set.

Problem is people come to these parties expecting all different types of "techno" because they don't know the difference between genres.

From now on, I think I will just spin my set, and try to formulate something around their requests after im done spinning a genre, then move on to the next (These people expect a large variety, nothing I can do about it. If I am not DJing for them, they will be listening to shit like "Pretty rave girl" , and I sure as hell will NOT listen to that BS! )

Play it. Your job as a DJ is to introduce people to new sounds while still appeasing them. So Sandstorm, Satisfaction ect ect ect are going to be requested.

Yes the general rule of thumb for most DJs is to build up to a plateau. But if your able to mix in a slower song and keep the energy going you can up the anticipation when you finally take it to that "sweet spot". Its more of a "peaks" style of mixing when you take that route.

Just feel your crowd out and if you can take the BPM's down to honor their request but keep the energy and flow to your set id say appease them.

Play a updated house remix of Sandstorm, I know I heard one recently that didn't sound butchered.

i dont think sandstorm and didn't sound butchered should be in the same sentence together

Why must people feel they have to play "updated" versions of tracks?

if theres so few people you should definitly give em what they want. atleast these are tracks within edm, be glad no one asks for kate perry r�yksopp.

quote:

Originally posted by woscar Why must people feel they have to play "updated" versions of tracks?

I don't feel nothing, I would rather play an updated version that would fit in my set to please the crowd instead of trying to alter my set alot by playing the old school one having to change the bpm drastically.

Updates usually mean they just added whatever kick drums are en vogue at the time.

quote:

Originally posted by snatonsb I don't feel nothing, I would rather play an updated version that would fit in my set to please the crowd instead of trying to alter my set alot by playing the old school one having to change the bpm drastically.

When I first got into the EDM scene I remember asking a friend if it was OK to request songs at a club. He thought I was crazy and informed me that it was borderline insulting to do that.

I think a huge reason why DJs would object to requests is that they have put the time in to learn the latest tunes, have spent hours developing your sets, and it is obvious that the 'sandstormers' haven't.

Most people don't realize that DJs spend quite a bit of time honing their craft and can't simply insert any song into the middle of their set and then be happy with their work. It would be like asking Picasso to draw ponies prancing through the meadows... sure he could do it but he wouldn't be happy with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Apeattack Most people don't realize that DJs spend quite a bit of time honing their craft and can't simply insert any song into the middle of their set and then be happy with their work. It would be like asking Picasso to draw ponies prancing through the meadows... sure he could do it but he wouldn't be happy with it.

LOL

But to be honest, 1. If multiple people are asking you to play various cheesy songs then you're playing the wrong music for the venue you're playing at.

2. If the person is the only person asking you to play something along those lines then you can easily ignore them as the rest are probably enjoying the music.

Play to the venue you're playing at.

End of the day, the punters want to hear music that they know mixed in with a few new tracks here and there. Not the latest and greatest tracks that you've spent hours looking for in the hope that no one else has them.

Know your crowd.

quote:

Originally posted by Apeattack It would be like asking Picasso

no becuase djs are nothing but jukeboxes. they should play for the crowd.

quote:

Originally posted by n3lly LOL But to be honest, 1. If multiple people are asking you to play various cheesy songs then you're playing the wrong music for the venue you're playing at. 2. If the person is the only person asking you to play something along those lines then you can easily ignore them as the rest are probably enjoying the music. Play to the venue you're playing at. End of the day, the punters want to hear music that they know mixed in with a few new tracks here and there. Not the latest and greatest tracks that you've spent hours looking for in the hope that no one else has them. Know your crowd.

A lot of my comments were based on conversations with DJs. Maybe my sample size wasn't large enough.

Obviously you should play music that appeals to your audience... I wasn't commenting on that. I was just explaining why some DJs wouldn't like to insert any old song requested by the audience.

quote:

Originally posted by Apeattack A lot of my comments were based on conversations with DJs. Maybe my sample size wasn't large enough. Obviously you should play music that appeals to your audience... I wasn't commenting on that. I was just explaining why some DJs wouldn't like to insert any old song requested by the audience.

Completely agree, if the song is just too left field (or whatever the saying is) then i have no qualms about telling them it probably wont fit into the style of night.

Otherwise i use to good ole reliable 'when did you get here?, shit i just played that song 10 min ago... i'll play it later again'

trancecracker: "Mr. DJ...can you please play Sandstorm?"

n3lly: "When did you get here?"

trancecracker: "right when they opened the doors"

quote:

Originally posted by n3lly Otherwise i use to good ole reliable 'when did you get here?, shit i just played that song 10 min ago... i'll play it later again'

That is a pretty good idea... except if woscar's scenario happens.

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