Originally posted by SebG
How many times do you guys usually listen to the track after buying it? I personally listen to tracks about 4-5 times and i discover more and more sounds as i listen more to it.
Another question.
Before you guys spin a set, do you pre-plan on what you're going to spin or just go with the flow and pick in the booth or wherever ur spinning. Do you pre plan on an opening song?
I've winged it several times, playing a club night with some tracks I haven't even listened to entirely.
this is not advisable, but it's fun
generally I will have listened to my tracks many many times
other question:
It depends on how important the gig is. House party - no way. Club night where I am trying to get my foot in the door? Yes.
But generally I have half of the tracklist figured out before I go out because it's filled with new tracks I can't wait to play out, or I did some things in the studio during the week that I really want to play out for a crowd. When I buy music I am always thinking of where and how I could place the track.
Having part of your playlist figured out is good because you can sort your binder beforehand so you can find tracks really quickly. In my experience finding the perfect track in a short amount of time can be the most stressful thing about playing out. I also tend to mix very frequently and layer tracks, so I generally do not allow myself a lot of time to search for tracks, and I have to think ahead a few.
I always know what I want to open with, and maybe a few tracks after that, for the reason that Storyteller pointed out. You have to give yourself breathing room.
Another tactic is strategically placing longer tracks and tracks with the same tempo - you can use these to give yourself a break and in some cases the crowd might need a little break too.
Dec-06-2007 21:29
lücid
electric girl
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: NY
quote:
Originally posted by SebG
Before you guys spin a set, do you pre-plan on what you're going to spin or just go with the flow and pick in the booth or wherever ur spinning. Do you pre plan on an opening song?
when i played my first gig in Chicago last month i was really nervous about it, so i planned out my first 3 tracks. i didn't want to plan the entire set, but it definitely helped to know what i was going to start with so that i didn't have to fumble through my CD books frantically trying to figure out what i should play. definitely helped to take the pressure off.
another strategy you can use is to find a set of 3 songs or 2 songs that go together really well, then plan your set to intermix the clumps of 3 or 4 or 2 song chunks, but you can leave room for those lone tracks you didn't group together with other songs.
when I plan out my radio show I only listen to a song once, well twice if you count the sample. but I mainly use the show to listen to new tracks and see wtf is good. So I would say you should listen to a track at least more than 2 times ....or if I wanted to be helpful, you should mix the song with other songs about 2 or 3 times and you will get as great feel for the track.
and there are some good answers in this thread .
Dec-06-2007 22:10
Darkarbiter
Psysnob
Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Melbourne
I usually pre plan... and then the first few songs sound out of place and I go with the flow and it sounds great. If I pre plan a ending song it usually ends up not being used.
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Land of milk & honey
quote:
Originally posted by nefardec
4. Stop thinking this way right now. You will have to learn to start listening to tracks for things like the way they make people feel, moods, grooves - certain percussive figures, sonic concepts, structure,etc. Genre is irrelevant. You will start listening to music differently and understand it in a more basic sense. What matters is what this track sounds like, how it makes you feel, and what does it mean when I play it in this set or next to these tracks.
couldn't agree more about this statement. genre is irrelevant.
___________________
Digweed is not from this planet.
This is something that I have tried that may help you out....Before a gig, I see what crowd is going to be there...I'll ask the promoters and certain employees of the venue what type of crowd usually shows up that certain night...I also ask them what type of music makes them tick when previous dj's play. With that in mind, I sort of pick out a lot of songs from my library that I know I will play. The order in which I drop them comes when I get there and I read what the crowd is reacting to. Its good to have in mind your first couple of tracks, and from then on go by what the crowd is feeling. If you drop an electro track and every one goes nuts, keep it like that for a while...its all about reading what the crowd is enjoying @ the moment. If you see that they are not really into a song that you played, change it up QUICK! Otherwise you will loose them and that is something you definatley dont want to do. Just practice as much as you can and you will see that it will pay off. Cheers! M C
