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| quote: | | Locally, I've noticed OC's Ryan Sage does a great job handing the decks to the headliner. (adjusting the style/song to the headliner's style). |
Hey thank you. 
My take on the topic has been pretty well covered by some of the vets in here and the resident advisor article pretty much nails it too.
Broad stroke items like having a large eclectic music selection is key and this also lends to more bookings with DJ's of different styles. If a promoter knows you can play well with the likes of a Lee B just as much as you can with a group like Above and Beyond, as an opener, you increase your personal value. Of course you have to be willing to go this route as some DJ's stick strictly to a style of their choice, and of course there is nothing wrong with that. Additionally, as another broad stroke, is the basics of understanding the inherent nature of opening up a night. Drinking for most is in the starting stages, ears are fresh and bodies are not sweating yet. From a physiological stand point people's bodies and senses during the time you are playing go from a stock state to a heightened state based on environment. The music you play and how you play it needs to be conducive to this experience.
My personal approach is always always based on circumstances of the DJ, venue and location/crowd....
Know the DJ's genre, understand the venue and what type of sound might work. Smaller, lesser lit spot to me means more linear sound with grooves. Bigger, massive club might mean you can get away with a more spatial feel and you can build some tension IMO. In OC, sometimes the crowd has a lesser attention span, and in some instances, may not be as musically inclined. In this case, you might be able to get away with things that you would not in a environment where the crowd is musically educated. You might be able to build more tension and go medium peak in some cases. That might work in OC, but perhaps not in LA. It's been happening less over the years of development here, but I have been asked to play "World Hold On" and hip hop many many times in OC. You just smile and try to give them a good groove without succumbing to the ultimate "No No". There is nothing worse than wondering if the headliner is thinking, "God this guys sucks".
I like to think that the job of an opening DJ is to create a vibe where people can come on the dance floor, move about, dance a bit, walk off, grab and drink, chat with their friends and then before they know it the time has passed quickly while you are playing and they are readily anticipating their headliner who can choose to take the night in any direction because he doesn't have to reset it after you left the stage.
Randy Seidman, K Sky and Boris MD I have heard often and they always play appropriate
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