you will find both methods, but the set play list is less common and for me it's a sign that the DJ is not very good. Usually you just take your box, pick out 3-5 records you know you want to play/start with and then go from there. That's what is so important: the ability to read the crowd and give them what they want.
But there are DJs that think differnently about this. I heard an interview with Armand van Helden at MTV Ibiza and he said something like: i'm going to play what I want. If the crowd doesn't like it, they can f**k themselves and go somewhere else.
That's a shitty attitude for a DJ. If people reacted to a statement like this in the correct way, Van Helden would only be playing for (with) himself by now. Cause it's the crowd that makes up a party, not the DJ.

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RetroActive 4

I asked this same question on a different board and the consenses was no playlist. Most said they have a good idea of groups of songs that go well together, but they never have a full set planned. The main reason is what dj dawn mentioned...you have to leave room to read the crowd and know what they want.

Radio one has a "Very Important Plastic" thing that is voted by the listeners, and the Dj is told to play that.

Hello,

I think that most of the dj's have a program.....heard it in interviews.
But every dj plays tracks that he didn't prepare..!!

Greetings

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-= Tiesto r0x0rZ =-

i think not much djs have a pre-programmed tracklist...
anyway, I never have one

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www.andrew-k.com

I think most djs do not have their set totally planed. Maybe the first few records and a couple of special ones that they want to fit in at one point. I have started mixing only a year ago, but for me that is the most exciting part about this. To think of a record and really feel that it will fit exactly to that moment...and then see the reaction.

I never plan out a set because I need to see how the crowd is before I decide how hard my trance is gunna be. I do have some records that I always spin into other records, though, but only because they go perfectly together. But whenever I spin I don't even think about what I'm going to drop until I get behind the decks.

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+--[DJ Wildefire]--+

quote:

But there are DJs that think differnently about this. I heard an interview with Armand van Helden at MTV Ibiza and he said something like: i'm going to play what I want. If the crowd doesn't like it, they can f**k themselves and go somewhere else.

Van Helden is an asshole! I hate him and his arrogant way..

if you are just starting out to DJ it's a good idea to have an idea of what you are going to play! I mean let's say it's your first gig if you know all the records realy well and plan out a set than it gives you a boost of confidence, and when you become confindent than play what you want and try to read the crowd.

as for the arguement whether to play what you want or what the crowd wants I agree with what Paul Van Dyk said about it. play for your self 50% of the times, and for the crowd 50% of the times! Than you will enjoy your set as well as the crowd!

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tech-house
n. an old-school term for crack cocaine.
"Got some tech-house?" "Yeah, I'm your man for tech-house, Grandma."
http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slang.cgi?ref=tech-house

quote:

Originally posted by trancearmada if you are just starting out to DJ it's a good idea to have an idea of what you are going to play! I mean let's say it's your first gig if you know all the records realy well and plan out a set than it gives you a boost of confidence, and when you become confindent than play what you want and try to read the crowd.

I agree