|
? for DJs that have performed live
|
View this Thread in Original format
| u4ea |
This is a question for all DJs that have performed live.
I've been DJing for a few months now, just in my home. I've never played in front of anyone before. I've made a few mix cds and distributed them to fellow trance fans in the area. One of my mixes happened to fall in the hands of a small club owner, and he mentioned that he liked the mix and would like me to play during the week sometime.
I'm somewhat used to having an organized set, I usually write down my tracklist when I record a mix. How do you guys do it in the clubs, do you have a pre-determined list, or do you just play what fits the mood? I've been practicing "freestyle" where I play one record, and then try to pick something out of my crate that I think would mix well with the current tune. I feel comfortable with that...should I go into a club with a list of what I want to play, or should I just be spontaneous? |
|
|
| sym |
| I haven't performed live, But Making a tracklist and playing will never be as suited to the crowd as on the spot. You need to pick traxx that fit the crowd and get them moving. I recommend picking out some records you definately wanna play during the night, Stuff thats full of energy or whatever. Also pick a few tracks you might like to start and end the set with, Than from there just fit it togethor according to the crowd. |
|
|
| Dj Thy |
| I'd say have a couple of tunes ready you really want to play (and you know the crowd will get crazy on them). But for the rest, just follow the vibe of the crowd. Don't plan a whole set from advance. If you're very lucky the crowd will like it, if you're not, you're buggered. Besides having a predetermined set will always take away some of the spontaneous live feel. |
|
|
| Eugene |
u4ea, congratulations on making it this far!
By the way, I'm also an amateur DJ in the Washington, DC / Baltimore area, and would like to give my demo CD's to someone and become known. What would you suggest? |
|
|
| migitymike |
alright...if u wanted to make a tracklisting..you could. but if u know every mix..and know when they happen..and blah..what if something goes wrong..your gonna freak..esp since u dont have much experience. and PLEASE make sure your ready to play out..one bad set could always keep someone thinking you suck..when u dont..u just werent ready to play in front of crowds
and at your house..put a mirror in front of your decks..so u have to watch yourself. it helps to ease the nervousness.
but your best bet. is to choose the first record..and the last record..and make the first one kinda chill..(if your playing early) and make the last one..almost peak..but PEAK your set about 4 tracks before that..and go down from there..but not to far down..just let them breathe.
help set up the next dj like that |
|
|
| Spin Doctor |
| Though I don’t think you should have your entire set pre planned, I do think it’s ok to have a few spots or tricks planned that you know work well. Sort of like; “I think I’ll throw in the trick I do with XYZ and ZYX some time during my set.” Or maybe; “Last time I played out, when I mixed XYZ with ZYX it sounded really nice, I think I’ll test the water with it again.” But what ever you do, don’t plan you whole set! If you do, you’ll come unstuck. |
|
|
| jdat |
just give yourself an idea how you want to startup the set and finish it ...
and then think about up tracks and down tracks; and put that all together, it's easy. You just have to think about it. :p |
|
|
| DJ LIQUID |
just play whatever i think will sound good next  |
|
|
| Busy Child |
| i would plan out the first 3 songs cuz you'll be jittery your first coupla songs. |
|
|
| hapamoto |
| for me, i have a general idea of how i want to sound, but that can change once you show up.. for example, the last party i did i ended up having to spin about 2hrs later than scheduled so i got a chance to check out the other dj's and get a feel for the over groove that night. well it seemed like the crowd was diggin' more Techno and tek-house that night so once i got on i catored to that and played more techno that i originally planned (a more uplifting set) but i still snuck in some tracks that could lead me into some good trance.. "Marco V - The mutalisk" seems to be the tune i've been using to transition styles lately.. well anyways good luck and go with what you feel. |
|
|
| jåcë |
the first time I performed live I planned my set mainly coz I didn't wanna up and loose my chance at ever playing out again
but now when I play out (not often) I don't plan.. I feel a lot more comfortable now playing out and I feel much about about myself when I play spontaneously |
|
|
| Transa |
Until you build up a really good collection of a lot of good tracks you know inside out, i recommend you plan a little of your set, and experiment with some random tracks here and there.
Now i just throw down what i feel and go where the vibe takes me and the crowd. |
|
|
|
|
