Choice Of Music

[lateandlive 0]

Okay, so i've been in "the biz" over 12 months now, but I still want your help - hence the post in the starting out forum!

 

Before I ask, I know every gig varies etc etc, but look at it on the basis of a generic birthday party, say.

 

During the course of the evening, work on the basis of guests arriving around 7pm, a buffet followed by speeches and so on about 8.30 til 9.30.

 

What I really want to know, is what music would you guys play, and when?

 

The way I seem to work is by playing a bit of chart and indie up to the buffet. Announcing the buffet and continuing with maybe some bands like The Jam and artists like Al Green....stuff that is easy to listen, that people know but that isn't really dancey-type music.

 

Then the speeches and then I seem to lose all sense of normality! Obviously if there's been a specific request for a type of music then it makes up alot of the rest of the night, however if theres an "anything and everything" theme, then what would you play? I seem to focus alot on party songs like Macarena and Grease etc....maybe too much? There's some ABBA and Culture club and so on, but how do you guys structure an event? Also, do you have definitive breaks between each style....so 3 Mowtown, then change style etc, or mix and match through the night??

 

Sorry for such a long question, but where better to ask than DJ-F!!

 

Dan :joe:

[DJ Ben 0]

Have a look at the age of the croud (rough age). If it's a 40th birthday, then the majority of people will be around that age, but there will be some younger, and some older. 40y/o's will have been in their prime in the 70's and 80's, so plenty of motown, disco, and rock.

 

Try chart pop later on in the night, and you should have a fairly good one :Thumbup:

 

Of course, this rule doesnt always apply, because you'll always get the odd one who's into old school dance/house, and wants that all night !!

 

Basically, read the crowd - if they're young, what are they wearing? Nike, adidas, trainers and baseball caps will give you the impression they want R&B, Dance, Soft house etc.

 

Baggy clothes, lots og black and dark colours, then I think rock is a safe bet!

 

And if older, take a look at the age group, and play lots from that era in the early eve.. see what makes people tap their feet/sing!

 

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

No two gigs are the same so the only way to find out is trial and error and learning from experience....

 

Ask the DJs on the forum if you can tag along and see them work as each of us his/her own style and way of working out what to play.

 

Its always good to get a new point of view, it stops us getting into the habbit of playing the same things in the same order all the time...

[TonyB 0]

I find no two gigs are the same. I usually ask the client beforehand what music they like and quite often get a playlist that gives an idea. On the night, try a few tracks from the playlist, if it doesn't work, try something else. Often you can't go wrong with the Cheesy party tracks and current chart hits but it depends on age group but even two different groups of the same age can like different music. Also sometimes I play dancing music from the opening to the end, perhaps just a small break to sing happy birthday. Other times have to stop for speeches, buffet. Other times you get there well before all the guests arrive and play a bit of background music for a while, watching what people start tapping their feet or nodding their head to.

 

Don't always stop for the buffet, especially with younger age groups.

 

Probably not a lot of help but there isn't a one size fits all answer. Just have your tracks sorted so you can find then easily sorted into Genre and year.

 

I do keep copies of play lists that worked well that I can refer to if I get a brain block and can't think what to put on next but with time it becomes instinct and use them less and less.

[BigBen 0]

We're all different, all gigs are different and all punters are different. I have played everything from Screaming Jay Hawkins to the Sex Pistols up to, and including, the buffet. In my opinion - anything goes as long as you are not offending anybody and the host has said it is okay to do so. One track that I must have played four or five times this year is Sonne by Rammstein - a band I know absolutely nothing about. Had them requested once or twice so I got the track. It's heavy, they're German but it's music specifically requested by guests of the host.

 

Most times pre-buffet I try to get feet tapping with some modern stuff, some country, something quirky (like a big band sound) and, if they're a good crowd, some traditional dance numbers - Blue Danube and other waltzes for example. To be honest, anything that gets a reaction at this stage is good in my eyes.

 

During the buffet I'll go with easy listening - Rat Pack, Westlife's tribute to Frank and Robbies easy album, that sort of thing.

 

Post buffet generally begins with mid-tempo, none-offensive music - Chain Reaction, Brown Eyed Girl although a good crowd will get some decent disco numbers. After that, you go through the genres according to ages and floor interest - play anything and everything that keeps them dancing but don't get disconcerted when the floor empties...'cos it will !

[Bolan-Boogie 0]

I Think everyone's correct in saying no 2 gigs are the same, what might have been great on a friday night party, the same playlist could die a death on a saturday night gig. Being able to read the crowd all comes with experience.

[andyw 0]

dan,get some request slips printed they will give you an idea of what the guest want.its impossible to say any order because everynight is so different what fills the floor tonight might kill it tomorrow,its all trial and error.dont be affraid of playing too much party if its working then fine some nights thats all that works other nights that will get the party started.if the night is going slow we will play a couple of party tracks early to get them up then move onto something else.weve had nights where all we get back from request slips is party so we go with it.

andy

[Paul Smith 0]

dan,get some request slips printed

 

Exactly smile icon why try to read the crowd when you can listen to them. Also during the buffet use the time to chat to the guests, introduce yourself & let them know you are happy to take requests. The trick then comes in of knowing when to play them - usually grouping them into sets of similar genre and even filling some sets out with a few of your own choices should work.

 

Using this method makes every event different and personalised to that crowd plus you get to play tunes that you might not otherwise have thought of.