i dunno if this is just me or if this goes for you guys too.. but anyways i like to take the "journey" approach to my sets when performing live and because of this, i put a lot of planning into a set.. some of the guys in my dj crew just bring a crate w/ a bunch of stuff and slap it on but in no particular order.. i can't do this, and when i do, IMO it sounds like shit because i know i can sound a lot better if i prepare.. anyways, how do u guys get ready? do you just throw some stuff that you will probably want to play in ur crates or do you actually get an idea of your tracklist before you go on?

If you really want to get the crowd wrapped around your finger, then it's really impossible to plan the set. You can just never tell what they're going to react to and when.

You do, however, have some element of control. You shape the set the way you want it. Rather than planning the set down to knowing exactly when you are going to play a certain track, you should start the set off with a few selected tracks, to determine the response from the crowd. From there, you then decide what to play next. You can still do the "journey" thing, you just have to know your tracks very well and whereabouts they should go in any given set.

Hope that all made sense!

i never have a set planned cuz as djtj said you never know what they're going to react to. i don't just throw random records down either. for me i have certain "chains" of records that go together. for example i practice enough at home that there are just certain records that i find go together well. also there are records that i consider to be "transition" records where i feel that their sound will allow me to crossover between genres. when playing live i tend to watch the crowd as best i can and see if they like what i'm dropping. if not then i've got to work myself to finding the sound they came out to hear. and because of all the practice there are just certain records that go together so once i find the groove i just gotta maintain it but i'll already have a pretty good idea of where to go. and you can still take them on a journey. does that make sense?

lost

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"This book is dedicated, with love, to Bobby who found the only pound of pure - Faith in a Loving God." Hubert Selby, Jr. dedication to the latest edition of Requiem for a Dream

My approach is very similar to Lost's... I don't really plan, but don't randomly throw records together either. Based on the event, I'll beforehand have a general idea of what direction to take the music. I also have certain blocks of songs that go well together, though not necessarily in a particular order.

I'll also take a few "just in case" songs. Sometimes I end up with a harder sound than I expected... other times I keep it ligher. Sometimes depends on my mood .

At the end, I almost always surprise myself when I notice records I knew I was gonna play, but didn't... or vice versa.

Scripting and overly planning a set starts to approach the wedding DJ level.

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...relating to the essential nature

If you're going to plan your set, why not just record it onto a CD at home, perfect it, and press "play" and then dance with the crowd

Fact is, you might get landed with a really commercial crowd one day, and your Scot Project tunes could empty the place. Similarly, they may find Tiesto a bit too chilled out and want some harder trance.

I think it's better to go with the flow. That is afterall why good DJs are paid so much money, their ability to read the crowd and produce a set for that particular crowd.

Please note that none of this comes from personal experience, however I can offer my views as a person "on the other side" of the decks so to speak. I think DJTJ is right, a compromise can be made. You can decide, if they like cheese, I'll try these tunes out, if they like it really hard, I'll try these out, or whatever.

Also, there are other clues as well. For example, if they all walk in chanting a Britnet Spears tune, or loads of them have Linkin Park t-shirts, you know you've been stood up!

i agree with Lost and evil. your set has to live with the crowd. as evil said, if you plan your set in advance, just record it on a CD and play it in parties

btw you can mix two or three records that you have mixed 100 times in your room and you know how to mix them with a powerful transition to wake up the crowd.

when i play live here in santa barbara i just play my best records and the ones i think a non tranceaddict would really enjoy. as long as i end with pulser - "cloudwalking" , the crowd is happy

i guess im just picky w/ what i want.. most of the time i just bring about 40 records w/ me and cator to the crowd, i have an idea of what i want but usually wonder off that path depending on whether or not the crowd is digging it.. this works and mostly people are like "damn, great set" but the reason im dissatisfied is because although the crowd liked it, the set that came out was not what i had intended.. and i know it is our job to please the crowd but I also like to express feelings that i am feeling to the crowd but can't do it if im just playing what i think they want.. so all in all, i get the job done but its just my personal issues that get in the way of satisfaction.. my perfect nights are when i can play a set that sticks pretty close to what i had in mind (i like to start out w/ progressive/progressive house, then get into some funky/break beat remixes, then move into trance) and the crowd still digs it.. thats the best!

Different Dj's use different techniques, there is no harm in planning a set. The advantage of this is that you can rehearse sequencies of records. This can give you an advantage over an off the cuff mix as you can work out what sounds combine well avoiding discrepencies such as key clashes.

I never know what I am going to play but my record box is structured in such a way that it follows a journey anyway, this is what I love to do as you can tell a powerfull story starting from light to hard.

There is no right or wrong way Paul Oakenfold's sets are well planned and on the other hand Judge Jules is up and down going through many different styles.

The crowd is the most important part to me so depending on what they need this is what they get.
Cheers Brisky

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Depends where you play at actually.. because then you might already know what is usually played or the music the people go there like...

but if not, i guess you will have to play more bangin' tracks and songs that may seem quite commercial (but arent) that all (or most) people will enjoy.. i dont really know about playing 100% pure Trance sounds (eg. Tiesto, Rank 1, Corsten, etc.) which are full uplifting... but if you know what the crowd LIKES, then its up to you to play it.

But when i play live i dont really plan a set, but just the kind of music i will play. I usually start up with club/dance tracks to get people relaxed and dancing.. usually through the middle its Dance/house music (skitz, floorfilla, rachel auburn, etc.) then some hardhouse and softer trance tunes that are catchy to most ppl.. and at the end of night end up at 145bpm pumping killa tracks such as Dejure - Sanctuary, DJ Energy - Enter the Future, York - The Awakening, Amara - The Pulse, etc.
I dont usually play full uplifting as it doesnt always appeal to everyone...
in other words, slowly start with softcore () songs then get harder tracks...

And the best thing about NOT fully planning a set learning how to interact with the crowd more.. also it makes you feel better when you complete a mix you have done once or twice, or even never.. also puts those other people who pre-mix (record on CD then play and pretend) and who have mixed the same songs 500 times to SHAME..

cheers

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Last edited by DJ Darchinova on Apr-05-2002 at 07:37

I think there's no harm in planning what you generally want to play, but regurgitating the tracklist before you spin just doesn't sound quite right; the crowd will feel cheated in a way.

Good question, though, coz I think track selection is a more difficult art than beatmatching.

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Melodic Progressive.

Better than sex.

although i have no practical experience, i agree with great outdoors. track selection is more difficult. personally, i just play what i like. usually people agree with it. (shameless plug) hell, check my scores in the first TA battle of the mixers... (/shameless plug)

of course, reading the crowd is an integral part too. if you just keep playing one style, the crowd won't stand for it (literally!)...you'll lose your support. but if you see the peoples getting restless, throw on some harder beats....or if you see peoples slowing down a bit, put on some more chilled stuff.....go with the flow.

this may be OT, but i heard once that this was fatboy slim's big folly. he mixed good tracks, but he never listens to the crowd which has made a good number of people hate his style...(someone correct me if this is wrong)...