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tips-n-tricks
Some tips-n-tricks in no special order. Not rules, just tips 
Mixers with/or BPM counters:
Doesn't really matter if you use it or not, it WILL NOT hurt you in the long run. I learned without, but for doing straight 4-on-the-floor (most trance and house) it can get you up to speed quicker. Sure for the first couple of weeks you may depend on it, but once you get the feel of mixing, you'll find you could care less if it is there or not.
Beat Mixing:
Myself, I prefer a rule I made up myself, (least I've never heard anyone else say it -but I am sure others follow it to a degree).
It's called "2-in/2-out"*. All this means is that for the last 2 minutes of a track, I already have the 2nd track beatmatched and playing. Using this as a guideline can lead to extremely smooth mixing which leads to...
Music Selection/Order:
Playing by BPM order is an easy way to start. After you get a feel for that, you'll find that some tracks work better with others regardless of BPM.
Also I use what I call "cycling" all this means is that I either start out with "slow" tracks (when playing hip-hop/Top40, i call these "Chick Tunes"**), then build to high-energy, then back down again. The order of cycling is going to be determined by the previous DJ, if he ended on a high energy track and the floor is banging, just follow suit. If you are opening the floor, start off with the chill tracks so everyone can get thier drinks and chat up thier friends. I aim for half-hour cycles, but hey 15 minutes or 20 minutes, whatever works for ya'.
Personally, I build tracklists by the length of my set. Depending on the style of the music I will be playing, I can roughly estimate how many tracks I will play, then decide what tracks I need to play, then build around those. For example:
1 hour set of trance/house:
Assuming each track is 8 minutes long and following the "2-in/2- out" guideline means that I will use roughly 14 tracks.
(Not 15 as the first track and last track are only mixed on lead in and out).
Now "cycle", based off of your starting positio(opener/follower).
If you seem to be losing the crowd, feel free to switch it up, but chances are very slim that you will lose the crowd with these simple guidelines.
This info is from a dj with a residency in a medium sized nightclub. I started the rez in October 2003, and have, since December 2003 increased the head count and sales for that night by 200% (from 0-20 people to a consistent 250-300). With no promotion from the venue or myself, just word of mouth from customers, to customers. This knowledge comes directly from live, in-the-club, paying gig experience.
The above are only guidelines, not hard-n-fast rules.
But they work.
Consistently.
ill13
www.ill13.com
* for hiphop/top40 this rule is changed to "1-in/1-out" as most tracks are only 3-5 minutes long.
** "Chick Tunes": Are the slow tracks you may or may not like, but the girls love. The theory behind this is that.
1] The club opens up, chicks are drinkin' and chillin'.
2] They hear songs they like, they drink some more, then they hit the dancefloor.
3] The guys are drinkin' and chillin', but now there are chicks on the dance floor, but the music sucks so the guys drink more, so they can build up the "liquid courage" to chat up the ladies on the dance floor -and wait for better music.
4] More guys and gals walk into the venue, they see chicks on the dancefloor. The club is therefore bangin'. Chicks and guys buy drinks, the new chicks hit the dancefloor.
5] The music starts to build. Guys hit the floor, New guys that just came in see all the chicks and a few guys on the dancefloor, they drink.
6] Music peaks, everyone is on the floor.
7] The music starts to slow down. Some guys get more drinks. The rest of the guys try to mack the girls.
8] Now do you get it?
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