Match keys to the songs. Although I don't do it, I have heard of it before and was given more info on it last night. In fact, I believe there is a sticky right up there about it. See if it works for ya. Good luck!

The one thing I think I've seen in DJ's over the years that is the single biggest hurdle is what you call "flow" or programming. Some guys have an ear for it, and others don't, and unfortunately, in my experience it's something some jocks struggle with for years before finally getting "it" or just giving up.

In the end, the only person who will know how to program your sets is in fact, you. I don't really have any solid advice for you, because in my experience programming has come easier than a lot of other aspects of DJ'ing. I will, however, say this, if you love DJ'ing, whether it be in your bedroom or out for a crowd, don't give up. So many DJ's out there struggle with one thing or another, whether it be beatmatching, programming, or any number of other issues and when they hit that proverbial "brick wall" they just give up. This is one of those times for you, where you have to decide whether or not this is something you can really just work on personally and develop your own style or "flow," or if it just isn't something that's going to work for you.

Best of luck m8, I wish I could offer some more concrete advice, but in the end, you're the one who has to decide what you want out of this, and ultimately, you have to provide yourself with satisfaction.

Cheers.

Edit: Also, I do think Doombot has a great point with learning more about harmonic mixing, but the one thing I will warn you of is not to let "DJ'ing by numbers" become your style. Harmonic mixing sounds amazing, but sometimes if you're too focused on mixing harmonically you can lose sight of what your audience (even if that's just you) wants, and you can have just as many problems with the "flow" of your set as if you were mixing off key the whole night.

___________________
last minute disco dot net

i've noticed that while sometimes you might not be happy with the flow it doesnt mean others are not digging it.
i've played at many a house party where i thought my set is going nowhere, i wasn't feeling the flow and that my set was getting too damn boring. But at the end of the night, people come up to me and congratulate me on a great set, on how my set had a really good flow/vibe/feel to it, bla bla bla and they ask me to play at the next party. im like wtf ? sometimes i record a mix that i'm really happy with the flow and when i pass it to my friends they comment that there's no flow...

hmm i dunno. i might need more practice.

___________________

thesuperglo - Flaming Popsicle [June 2007 Promo](full-on/dark/goa)

yeah, i guess some people can have it easier than others, and practice does make perfection... or close to it at least. i guess the real question here is how do you pick your next song. what kind of elements do you listen in the song that is currently playing that drives you to the next one? besides the fact that you want to keep the flow going or what the crowd wants.

___________________

Oh man, I had this same problem for the longest time! For probably the firts year of spinning, i really had no grasp on how to put together a proper set. I signed up for this dj course down here in Bombay, just for something to do, and the main instructor sort of "took me under his wing" so to speak. He spun a lot of prog and whatnot years ago and had a lot of experience under his belt. I came up in there a little cocky, little full of what I was doing, and he set me straight, he drilled the concept of flow and track selection into my head. We drew up how a set should go, we talked about the energy levels of different tracks and how to gauge it. It was just through practice and me constantly reminding myself and thinkinf of the flow of the set that I was able to apply this knowledge. I am not the most gifted beatmatcher, but one of the things i can generally be proud of is my ability to build a set.

Practice practice practice. Just make sure you keep the thought of flow and energy throughout the set.

___________________
Fortuna Favet Fortibus.

quote:

Originally posted by bluu yeah, i guess some people can have it easier than others, and practice does make perfection... or close to it at least. i guess the real question here is how do you pick your next song. what kind of elements do you listen in the song that is currently playing that drives you to the next one? besides the fact that you want to keep the flow going or what the crowd wants.

i just PMed you a long in depth mixing tip. i think it should help.

quote:

Originally posted by stefanoc i just PMed you a long in depth mixing tip. i think it should help.

If its good, post it up mate-

___________________
Fortuna Favet Fortibus.

quote:

Originally posted by Allied Nations If its good, post it up mate-

Thats what im thinking

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by eye_03 the reason why i dont do it is because i see people like you at clubs doped out of your mind. i say "shit, i dont wanna turn out like that scumbag"

ah, good ole elitest DJs... "im too cool for you to know what records i play or how i mix them"

*SMACK* ESAD.

regardless, flow IS a hard thing to pick up. i know im working on it too! it really helps to get a feel for the sounds your working with.. that is, the individual sounds inside the track, rather than the whole track itself. electronic music is about nuances, and there are many nuances in every bar of a well produced EDM track, regardless of genre.

a few months ago, i started getting into production. producing music is all about making sounds that blend and match, "flow" together well. of course, its not the same as spinning records, but the concepts are very much interchangable. it helps you develop an ear for what blends together like butter, and what clashes... and if you can get that down, your going to be better behind the decks because you'll understand how to interlock sounds.

it took me almost 5 years to get bored enough with mixing records to start getting into production; but im kicking myself for not starting early. i'd be alot better behind the decks if i got into production 5 years ago, nevermind having some original music to throw into my sets.

all in all, i think you'd be supprised how much it will change your view of mixing music once you've sequenced a few tracks of your own, even if they aren't anything amazing. it's the experience that rewards.

even doing remixing using nothing more than sampling technology will be beneficial