say you are having a brew with a younger soul fan who tells you that they are dj-ing the next weekend for the first time

 

what's the top tip that you would give them?

 

bearing in mind that you only have enough time for the one....

Ask yourself 'why?'. Why be a dj? What are you bringing to the table, what are you adding? This is the fundamental question. If you are adding something and can describe what that is, then go for it. If you can't, just dont bother. You might enjoy playing other djs records in a different order but it's not all about you:-))

wish I said that, top post thus far. 

Learn what to do with bass feedback / sound problems

If reg asks you have you got any latin, tell her to pi♣♣ off! She always wants to jiggle her bits to use it before you lose it

She takes the lyrics literally

Love ya reg x

don,t play any crossover.....or jay traynor

I like Up and Over!

Always be behind the decks or in the room at least 30 mins before your set, this avoids replication and will help you to start with a floor filler. Don't start with a record which will clear a floor, you can always play something different in the middle so a set.

Good luck to all the scene needs up and coming DJ's as well new and younger soul people.

Make sure you know how to operate the equipment!  Thankfully on my first go, someone gave me a few good tips which I still use (and I ain't telling!).

 

Cheers.

Remember the key to the padlock on your record box.

Ignore anyone who says 'play to the floor',

 

I like Up and Over!

 really........oh my god!!

Wink at the old girls

Grow a thick skin and a bottle-proof head..

Ask to do the graveyard shift (first spot when no-one's in) - no pressure, you can play what you want, then enjoy the rest of the night, ain't that right Steve / Tony?

I would say, do your research of the club, it's history and the people who attend, their music tastes in order that you can formulate an accurate range of records to play,hopefully you will please a good percentage of your audience throughout your spot if not all

                                Regards Fred ward

Edited June 18, 201311 yr by Mr Fred

I would say, do your research of the club, it's history and the people who attend, their music tastes in order that you can formulate an accurate range of records to play,hopefully you will please a good percentage of your audience throughout your spot if not all

                                Regards Fred ward

 

 

I disagree Fred. It's the promoter's job to book the right DJs, not the DJ's job to fit in. A DJ should be able to turn up and play their best spot without worrying whether they are right for the club. If they aren't, it's the promoter's fault.

Edited June 18, 201311 yr by Matt Male

Do a prior visit to the venue the month or week before, Arrive early on the night, keep your talk to minimum but thank the  previous Dj for his brilliant set  even if was crap and let you tunes do the talking and last enjoy it

MAKE SURE   YOU TALK  USING THE MIKE  as in DJ  DISC JOCKEY  there are so many shite DJ's out there who think they know the business ,

 

have a great collection,  but can't DJ to save their lives , also you must have enthusiam , or don't bother at all

I disagree Fred. It's the promoter's job to book the right DJs, not the DJ's job to fit in. A DJ should be able to turn up and play their best spot without worrying whether they are right for the club. If they aren't, it's the promoter's fault.

Without getting drawn into lengthy discussions, this guy has never dj'd before so the promoter is taking a risk, however in my opinion i still feel it's important for the new dj to plan for his spot.you don't want to look an idiot if the promoter gets it wrong so thats why i feel to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

                                    Regards Fred

Give up booze and gear.  More money for records then!

Just be yourself, and enjoy the experience.

Give up booze and gear.  More money for records then!

easier said than done

Take your own Mic/Headphones in your box.....as routine. Was advised that in the first weeks of DJing by legendary figure from Cambridge Max Rees. I've never actually used headphones meself I watch the cue lights and 'see' the music......! But in 20+ years of DJing....since that day Max told me HIS best tip when I asked him.......having a mic......saved looooads of venues nights and ensured i had all i needed to do the job in my box....self sufficient!x

@@
~
LUV
SOOTY
X

Clear the floor at least once.

Clear the floor at least once.

 

 

Dance floor destroyers are top's and tommoro's top tunes

Also, if you have a setup to DJ at home, try to practice with fading songs/using the mixer and headphones.

play pressings...theyre cheaper than the originals...lol.

Never go on Soul Source. 

Never go on Soul Source. 

I think once they read 70 odd posts about how to DJ properly they will think better and stick to t'other side of the decks

Dont waste your money on original vinyl . Buy pressing s and then be a promoters mate

most of the serious above posts are crucial but as dave has already said first and foremost ENJOY!...think you can even get away with making a few mistakes if people feel youre having fun...its contagious you know!

 

as a dj whats the point of doing it if you dont enjoy it?...unless its a favour for a mate maybe..

 

as a dancer i dont like to see a dj looking bored playing his own tunes but great to see him or her getting into it whether thats dancing or just singing their hearts out

 

dean

If you are gonna use a mic then a little practice, most sound like drunk bingo callers.....

 

 Also beware of uptempo terrorists, a mix of style and tempo is the key to what makes you a real Dj...

Edited June 19, 201311 yr by little-stevie

Have a practice at home. Work out what record will compliment (in tempo) with the next one lined up. If going from an uptempo killer dancer to a relaxed beautiful beat ballad...try to wind down gently from uptempo, to mid, to slow....if you get what I mean.

I get frustrated when something just stops dead at my feet whilst on the floor.

Be original.

Have some jingles made or take a cute dog.

.....in an emergency.....when lifting the wrong arm of the tune playing.....and the heaving dance floor stops dead in mid spin.....and the silence doesn't impact you.....but when looking up....your eyes tell you ure a donut.......then stay calm....smile at them all.....wave if u like......then lower the arm back down remembering to lower the volume as u do to bring it all back up to 'normal'.........and gesture all to carry on.......it works!x

LUV
SOOTY
X

 

Eventually the Blackburn crew realised I wos enjoying meself so joined in with such occasions with whistles and applause....EVERYTIME!!!!hehe!x

@@
~

Take a ventiloquist's dummy with you.When the dancefloor clears,you can blame it on him.(Don't let him cue in though,the headphones slip off.)

I'd say kick off with something upbeat, or uptempo. A peppy dancer perhaps. Amount of times someone's come on and played something oh so deep and meaningful, but it's cods. Pack the floor if you can from the off and try and keep it that way and if the venue is the 100 Club and you're following Mick Smith, pay no mind to his ribbing as to the state of the floor and what you've to live up to! 

oh and don't forget to wear a smile ... Its fantastic to see a Dj visiby enjoying himself /herself  when they are playing , oh and you might take some spare covers ... I laways manage to lose a cover ?

 

 

 

Always if you are a nob twiddler, that includes the playing of LP's to alter speed  ,return the settings to as they should be for the next DJ , because they could be totally unaware that you played an LP on one of the decks ... eeem I could add always check the speed settings  

Edited June 19, 201311 yr by Anais nin Carms

Dont shout "shabba " after every record , leave the booze fest till after your spot , listen to the crowd and dont ever worry too much about

clearing a floor ,it happens to everyone ( especially the rich and famous )

Wear running shoes & find out where all the exits are

Try to make people dance but don't panic at an empty dancefloor to a few tunes & be prepared to defend your plays with passion.

Cheers

Martyn

I would say, do your research of the club, it's history and the people who attend, their music tastes in order that you can formulate an accurate range of records to play,hopefully you will please a good percentage of your audience throughout your spot if not all

                                Regards Fred ward

 

 

I disagree Fred. It's the promoter's job to book the right DJs, not the DJ's job to fit in. A DJ should be able to turn up and play their best spot without worrying whether they are right for the club. If they aren't, it's the promoter's fault.

 

I agreed with both these, which is confusing - I agree that the full responsibility in the right D.J's being booked lays with the promoter, but at the same time, there's something to be said for doing a bit of research (fine tuning if you like) Hopefully you would have attended the place as a punter anyway, so are 'part of it'

 

Anyway, back to 'Sharp Top Tips' (hope this post is ok with you Mike)

 

All the best,

 

Len  

Enjoy it, let the punters enjoy it, make sure you have the tools for the job but not worn/played out tools

 

 

End every record with "There we go.....1965 on *insert label here*"

 

You could make the next dj work harder   by playing their biggies before they come on  , as long as they are real records tho :yes:"‹ 

dont turn up with only 25 records for your 1 hr spot as if your not on first then you can gurantee the preceeding dj's will play all the records in your box,

unless your names rockerfeller, or gates etc

Recreate the exotic pleasure of Turkish Delight, by eating a Glade plug-in

 

oh,  soz, i thought this was Viz 'top tips'

 

      back on topic.      GOOD LUCK !

Play  oldies

Remember the holy trinity before leaving the house:

 

1) Slipmats

2) Needles

3) Centres

 

Oh, and headphones. The holy trinity plus one. Oh, and don't forget your records. So, that's the holy trinity PLUS headphones PLUS your records...

 

Be original.

Have some jingles made or take a cute dog.

Hi mate......or dj as if you were tony blackburn lol

 

I agreed with both these, which is confusing - I agree that the full responsibility in the right D.J's being booked lays with the promoter, but at the same time, there's something to be said for doing a bit of research (fine tuning if you like) Hopefully you would have attended the place as a punter anyway, so are 'part of it'

 

Anyway, back to 'Sharp Top Tips' (hope this post is ok with you Mike)

 

All the best,

 

Len  

 Len, you can research all ya like....if the club don,t play what you like...then you shouldn,t be djing there.....simple maxim to keep everyone happy

Enjoy it, let the punters enjoy it, make sure you have the tools for the job but not worn/played out tools

 

 

End every record with "There we go.....1965 on *insert label here*"

 

You could make the next dj work harder   by playing their biggies before they come on  , as long as they are real records tho :yes:"‹ 

 

Butch came on straight after me at the 100 club, one of the best sets i've heard him play, when it comes to playing records he's just a natural.

Cheers Billy

 

 Len, you can research all ya like....if the club don,t play what you like...then you shouldn,t be djing there.....simple maxim to keep everyone happy

 

I agree Terry, hopefully the promoter chooses the D.J because they would suit their club, but I've seen D.J's booked because a promoter has enjoyed them at another club (where they have gone down well) but not considered if they would suit their own club (Basically just 'blindly' booked em)

 

It can be torturous for the D.J to find himself in that position, so if their 'research' makes them come to the conclusion you mention above - that the club doesn't play what they like (or at least what their 'forte' is) then that is when they should politely decline the booking - I got asked to D.J at a place in Northampton the other month by someone who hadn't seen me D.J for years, I said to leave it that month, and I went as a punter to check the place out first - As it happens, the club suited me, so I went ahead and did it a couple of months later.

 

I know exactly what you are saying - when I say 'research', I don't by any means expect someone to change their individual style to suit the club they have been asked to D.J at - That would be D.Jing just to be a D.J (Surely that 'Malarkey' doesn't go on does it? )

 

....That would be akin to me D.Jing at Burnley, then Danny D.Jing at a 'Midtempo Night' - We both may well 'scrape' through, but what would be the point when others would 'fit the bill' so much better?

All the best,

 

Len  

Edited June 20, 201311 yr by LEN

everyone has better taste,records than you................total pish,play what you want,and believe in it,even classics from years ago have to get revieved at some point.                                                    

sorry,v,drunk while posting,but you get the jist.

dont plan your set in advance at home like a swot, play the next record that YOU would love to hear if you were down there on the dance floor !