G. Keenan wrote:
It's also good that a DJ can control the pacing of a set. Requests are almost always for full out jams, but too many of those just leaves everyone tired and danced out. The DJ has to pick the right moment to drop a real jam on the room, and when it works everyone just goes berserk.
I agree with most of Keenan's stuff. DJ's should take requests, but sparsely. They should only play requests that fit the sculpture the DJ is making. In my experience with wedding video music, some stuff that I get requests for just doesn't flow with what has been shot, and I just have to put the hammer on that particular track, regardless of how the bride might feel. In the end, I think they would definitely agree with my decision if they heard/saw what I was mixing. DJs should get more credit for how they balance tracks and ignore some requests. There is a flow and rhythm to the choices themselves, and since you don't get what you might want, you might hate it at the moment, but if you reflect on how that particular song might have fit the situation, you realize it might have disrupted the overall picture.
It's like being with a fine woman. You might be really horny and want to have your hand on certain places immediately, but you have to wait until she's been warmed up to a different level.
G. Keenan wrote:
It's also good that a DJ can control the pacing of a set. Requests are almost always for full out jams, but too many of those just leaves everyone tired and danced out. The DJ has to pick the right moment to drop a real jam on the room, and when it works everyone just goes berserk.
I agree with most of Keenan's stuff. DJ's should take requests, but sparsely. They should only play requests that fit the sculpture the DJ is making. In my experience with wedding video music, some stuff that I get requests for just doesn't flow with what has been shot, and I just have to put the hammer on that particular track, regardless of how the bride might feel. In the end, I think they would definitely agree with my decision if they heard/saw what I was mixing. DJs should get more credit for how they balance tracks and ignore some requests. There is a flow and rhythm to the choices themselves, and since you don't get what you might want, you might hate it at the moment, but if you reflect on how that particular song might have fit the situation, you realize it might have disrupted the overall picture.
It's like being with a fine woman. You might be really horny and want to have your hand on certain places immediately, but you have to wait until she's been warmed up to a different level.
What? I thought you were just supposed to see how far you could go without being slapped!
I don't know too much about DJs at bars, but my girlfriend DJs for weddings and proms and those sorts of things. I've gone with her on a couple of her gigs, and I can really see why DJs get fed up with the crowd.
-There's the people there that tell you how to do your job ("you know, there'd be more people out here if you started playing more hip hop." Really? Because I did ten minutes ago, and no one danced at all.)
-There's the people who have been there for five hours but don't remember a song just played. ("Play Flo Rida!" No, that was just played. Pay attention.)
-There's the people who throw a fit when you don't have their song. Then, when they say something like "I have the CD in my car!," they'd rather not go and get it.
I know it's a different scene, but sometimes you just have to stop taking requests only to save some sanity.
MrCrowesGarden wrote:I don't know too much about DJs at bars, but my girlfriend DJs for weddings and proms and those sorts of things. I've gone with her on a couple of her gigs, and I can really see why DJs get fed up with the crowd.
Another thing that kills at weddings for DJ's is how they do not control the pace of the wedding, that is totally up to the planner/bride. Many times the Bride wants to go around and visit with everyone at their tables, and sometimes it just drags with downtime, guests get ansy, etc.
MrCrowesGarden wrote:I don't know too much about DJs at bars, but my girlfriend DJs for weddings and proms and those sorts of things. I've gone with her on a couple of her gigs, and I can really see why DJs get fed up with the crowd.
-There's the people there that tell you how to do your job ("you know, there'd be more people out here if you started playing more hip hop." Really? Because I did ten minutes ago, and no one danced at all.)
-There's the people who have been there for five hours but don't remember a song just played. ("Play Flo Rida!" No, that was just played. Pay attention.)
-There's the people who throw a fit when you don't have their song. Then, when they say something like "I have the CD in my car!," they'd rather not go and get it.
I know it's a different scene, but sometimes you just have to stop taking requests only to save some sanity.
I have much more respect for the kind of DJing your girlfriend does. I find the too cool for school dance club DJ's major putzes.
