Do You React Or Always Remain Unruffled?

[spinner 0]

A punter approaches you in a fairly aggresive manner and says " get this crap off and play.............(whatever)".

 

How do you respond?

[RobbieD 0]

I always manage to stay calm and polite, however rude they are - but sometimes it can be very hard.

 

I normally smile and explain that I try to play something for everyone, and will be happy to try and include something they would like.

 

However these sort of people often don't actually have any requests in mind, or anything constructive to say.

[Welsh Audio Man 21 0]

In my opinion, im being payed to entertain that particular audience, nomatter how abrupt they may be, i try to stay calm and play what they want (within reason)...

 

Went to a friends wedding last month where the DJ played a song which she called "spank the duck" http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif

[Corabar Steve 0]

Usually the request playing option, coz when I'm playing http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/pooh.gif it's usuallya request http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Paul Smith 0]

The last time this happened to me it was a comment along the lines of 'Get that http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/censored2.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/pooh.gif off - nobody likes it' I said nothing but pointed to the guests that were on the dancefloor.

 

Her response was 'I don't care just get that http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/censored2.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/pooh.gif off' so I used my Plan B and totally blanked her. After a few moments she went away - it worked and saved me trying to explain to an obnoxious woman that there were other people in the room who had different tastes to hers.

 

Thankfully at most of my gigs the http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/censored2.gif stay away from me (garlic works). When they do get close then the way I deal with it varies depending on the event and the degree of 'pratiness' they are exhibiting, although I always try to avoid getting into an argument.

[Corabar Steve 0]

Not entirely on topic & I have posted it on anoter forum but that just reminded me of this from Saturday

 

Had someone last night so intent on hearing David Bowie - Let's dance that...

 

Actually here's the full story

 

Firstly the person in question was my serial requester of the night. Secondly she was absolutely bladdered (the table she was at was the reason that the bar shut early, but that's another story).

 

Just before the band came on for their second set the person concerned comes up & asks for Let's dance. My reply "OK, but it'll have to wait as the band are about to come back on (they were actually on stage instrument in hand at this point). Every gap between songs that they had she grabbed the singer (at one point nearly causing him to trip over his monitor) & demands Let's dance (not sure at this point if she thinks the band will play it coz I've told her to ask them or not?? She seems to think we're part of the same company) At a point when the singer of the band is getting someone from the audience up do do some backing vocals, she sees her opportunity & launches herself in my direction "Play Let's dance, play it now, they've stopped"

 

"No they haven't, he's just getting somebody up"

 

"Play it now!"

 

"NO the band are still on!"

 

"PLAY IT NOW!"

 

"NO they're about to start again!" Which I can only assume that she took as they're going to play it now, as soon as the song had finished......

 

"You haven't played Let's dance!"

 

Singer - "We don't know it"

 

Oh no here she comes again......"Play Let's dance NOW!"

 

"The band are still on & if you don't stop asking for it, it won't get played at all"

 

At which point I think she finally got the message

 

[BigBen 0]

You have to keep your cool - even if someone is drunk and acting out of order they may be related to 50 people in the room who might not be too pleased to see you frog march the offender off the premises. Smile, talk, send to see party host, look too busy to talk, etc., etc.

[alicat 0]

I have a clipboard and pen for guests to write requests and comments on. It works a treat. Luckily, I have never had a cross word with anyone (so far)

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (alicat @ Jul 11 2006, 10:50 PM)

I have a clipboard and pen for guests to write requests and comments on. It works a treat. Luckily, I have never had a cross word with anyone (so far)

Good idea!

 

I try to use a "laugh & joke" type attitude with people, but if they become a pain, I refer them to the organiser. Unless the organiser is also a git. In which case, I blank them and they usually get tired before I do.

[BigBen 0]

I meant to add that I have only had a problem once, following an Irish wedding. The drunk kept asking for one more, "go on mate" he said as he emptied his pockets into my cd case, "just one more".

 

I said I couldn't (for the tenth time!) but he just kept going. I continued to smile whilst packing my gear away. Then he started to call me names as he fished for his coins back out of my case. I apologised and talked about insurance, hotel manager, my kids, anything to get rid of him.

 

I decided I would never do an Irish party again - even though they had been great fun for most of the night. I also put my prices up resulting in less gigs but the ones I do tend to be better quality.

[Gary 0]

I was wavering between voting for either:

 

*I'm playing requests at the moment. Is there something specific you'd like?

 

Or

 

*I'm sure you'll appreciate that I'm here to play something for everybody. Do you have a particular request?

 

 

I tend to do a mixture of the two, usually followed by a mic announcement a minute or two after, which would include the fact that the track playing has been requested by....something for everyone etc,etc...

 

In the original question, it did mention that the abusive requestor, was already making their request eg: "Get this carp off and play.....now", which would negate the need for asking them for their request. So, depending on whether I felt the request was suitable for the night, or not, I'd probably go with something like:

 

"Thats a good choice, once I've got through all these requests from other people here who have already got their requests in, I dig it out and play it."

 

(It's about this time that the abusive person then plays the "Can you play it next, I've got a taxi coming in 10 minutes" card http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/rolleyes.gif ).

[Corabar Steve 0]

QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 10:26 AM)

"Get this carp off and play.....now"

CDs tend to work better than fish anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

[UKHero 0]

Had one the other night fantastic wedding infact one of the best I have done everyone having a great time when at the end this woman sorry Girl asks for Kylie now I had already played madonna for her and a couple of other tunes she wanted was tight for time and had promissed a guy his rerquest. She kept on get this http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/censored2.gif of and play Kiss. I explaned I had to end the show in a few mins and she started saying live a little lol

 

Was drunk as http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/censored2.gif

 

Nik

 

[Supradave 0]

I know it's the cowards way out but I would usually just lie and tell them that I don't have the song with me.

 

What I find annoying is being asked to play songs more than once. I don't know why but it just feels unprofessional to keep playing the same song and suggests that the DJ has run out of ideas.

 

 

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ Jul 12 2006, 11:35 AM)

QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 10:26 AM) "Get this carp off and play.....now" CDs tend to work better than fish anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Didn't want to trip the forum word filter, http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif and we cant disguise naughty words with symbols either. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif   Similarly, on the fishy front - We all need to remain calm when trouting for business, offer to send hecklers home in taxi-crabs, dont get manipulated like a prawn in a game of chess, and keep an eye on our net profits.   Anyway...after that stream of (fish)food for thought, back to the main topic of "Do you react or remain unruffled?" ... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif Its a great topic! For whatever reason; hot weather?, beer-garden beer, or whatever, some peoples fuses seem shorter at the moment.

[spinner 0]

QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 11:07 AM)

QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ Jul 12 2006, 11:35 AM) QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 10:26 AM) "Get this carp off and play.....now" CDs tend to work better than fish anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Didn't want to trip the forum word filter, http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif and we cant disguise naughty words with symbols either. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif   Similarly, on the fishy front - We all need to remain calm when trouting for business, offer to send hecklers home in taxi-crabs, dont get manipulated like a prawn in a game of chess, and keep an eye on our net profits.   Anyway...after that stream of (fish)food for thought, back to the main topic of "Do you react or remain unruffled?" ... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif Its a great topic! For whatever reason; hot weather?, beer-garden beer, or whatever, some peoples fuses seem shorter at the moment. Does that mean they've had their chips?

[RobbieD 0]

QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 11:26 AM)

"Thats a good choice, once I've got through all these requests from other people here who have already got their requests in, I dig it out and play it." (It's about this time that the abusive person then plays the "Can you play it next, I've got a taxi coming in 10 minutes" card http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/rolleyes.gif ).

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll cross it off the request list then."

[Welsh Audio Man 21 0]

QUOTE (RobbieD @ Jul 12 2006, 12:44 PM)

QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 11:26 AM) "Thats a good choice, once I've got through all these requests from other people here who have already got their requests in, I dig it out and play it." (It's about this time that the abusive person then plays the "Can you play it next, I've got a taxi coming in 10 minutes" card http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/rolleyes.gif ). "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll cross it off the request list then." http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/thumbup.gif good call!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/beer.gif

[EdBray 0]

I'm on beta blockers, works for me http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

If asked for a request I always ask their name. When I play I mention on the mic who its for. This way if its pants then the rest of the guests know its NOT my choice.

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (spinner @ Jul 12 2006, 12:34 PM)

QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 11:07 AM) QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ Jul 12 2006, 11:35 AM) QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 10:26 AM) "Get this carp off and play.....now" CDs tend to work better than fish anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Didn't want to trip the forum word filter, http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif and we cant disguise naughty words with symbols either. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif   Similarly, on the fishy front - We all need to remain calm when trouting for business, offer to send hecklers home in taxi-crabs, dont get manipulated like a prawn in a game of chess, and keep an eye on our net profits.   Anyway...after that stream of (fish)food for thought, back to the main topic of "Do you react or remain unruffled?" ... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif Its a great topic! For whatever reason; hot weather?, beer-garden beer, or whatever, some peoples fuses seem shorter at the moment. Does that mean they've had their chips? Oh PEAS you two!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

[Corabar Steve 0]

QUOTE (Kingy @ Jul 12 2006, 05:21 PM)

QUOTE (spinner @ Jul 12 2006, 12:34 PM) QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 11:07 AM) QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ Jul 12 2006, 11:35 AM) QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 10:26 AM) "Get this carp off and play.....now" CDs tend to work better than fish anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Didn't want to trip the forum word filter, http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif and we cant disguise naughty words with symbols either. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif   Similarly, on the fishy front - We all need to remain calm when trouting for business, offer to send hecklers home in taxi-crabs, dont get manipulated like a prawn in a game of chess, and keep an eye on our net profits.   Anyway...after that stream of (fish)food for thought, back to the main topic of "Do you react or remain unruffled?" ... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif Its a great topic! For whatever reason; hot weather?, beer-garden beer, or whatever, some peoples fuses seem shorter at the moment. Does that mean they've had their chips? Oh PEAS you two!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif I've had(dock) enough of this. Shouldn't we get back on topic, or (w)ee'l get in troube http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Andy Westcott 0]

I, too, use the request pad system.

 

Sort of floors many of the annoying drunk idiots when they've actually got to write a track/artst down on paper.

 

I'm sure most of the time these people are subconsciously challenging your 'authority' and perceived position of leadership, and often don't have a specific track in mind.

 

This psycology also explains why the teenage girls (and older!) seem to be attracted to DJs. (Not me though... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/sad.gif )

 

Given this thread's scenario, I'd go for asking for a specific track, and if I didn't think it suitable, I'd say I didn't have it. This kind of person often keeps asking for alternative unsuitable tracks and eventually tend to go away telling you what a crap DJ you must be - but at least they've gone!

 

These days I only do shows for a fairly small range of customers, and I usually know many people there, and find I don't get this problem anything like so often.

[spinner 0]

QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ Jul 12 2006, 05:34 PM)

QUOTE (Kingy @ Jul 12 2006, 05:21 PM) QUOTE (spinner @ Jul 12 2006, 12:34 PM) QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 11:07 AM) QUOTE (Corabar Steve @ Jul 12 2006, 11:35 AM) QUOTE (Gary @ Jul 12 2006, 10:26 AM) "Get this carp off and play.....now" CDs tend to work better than fish anyway http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Didn't want to trip the forum word filter, http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif and we cant disguise naughty words with symbols either. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif   Similarly, on the fishy front - We all need to remain calm when trouting for business, offer to send hecklers home in taxi-crabs, dont get manipulated like a prawn in a game of chess, and keep an eye on our net profits.   Anyway...after that stream of (fish)food for thought, back to the main topic of "Do you react or remain unruffled?" ... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif Its a great topic! For whatever reason; hot weather?, beer-garden beer, or whatever, some peoples fuses seem shorter at the moment. Does that mean they've had their chips? Oh PEAS you two!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif I've had(dock) enough of this. Shouldn't we get back on topic, or (w)ee'l get in troube http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif Yes. The scales of justice suggest we should. Let's put an end to it or, as you'll see at the end of French language films FIN.

[transeurope 0]

I think it all depends really on the person.

 

Some challenge "authority", some want to be authority.

 

Some just genuinely can't see the point in the music that you're playing.

 

People have got a lot less polite in these islands in the last 10 years or so, it's sad.

 

Sometimes I feel threatened by some authority-challenger/enforcer types. I'm surprised no one has mentioned this, is it just around here? They can be extremely aggressive and shape-throwing.

 

In that situation I can just throw shapes back. NEVER anything verbal though, quoteable quotes are asking for trouble. I can just fold my arms and stare at the bridge of a person's nose without acknowledging.

 

On most occasions though you just adapt to the person. If very drunk just say "yes" to everything. If genuine fan of a particular type of music, talk about your admiration for that music. If peaceful authority enforcer, leave them enforce themselves if the request is half way reasonable.

 

It just all depends really. Every human is different, most are harmless and just trying to work out their psychoses/addictions without trying to hurt you really.