Speaking During The Average Gig

[stardust 0]

Being out of the game for the last 11 years and now coming back into it again i was wondering .......

 

During the average Gig (not clubs or pubs) how often do you guys actually speak on your microphone ??

Do you always make a point of introducing yourself and saying goodbye (apart from this is the last song of the evening)??

 

I make announcements if i am requested to do so and if i am not i generally keep quite most of the evening..

 

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

I welcome people to the venue, announce buffets and any other impotant event, announce a change of genre or year occasionally and say goodbye at the end.

 

I don't think it's necessary to yap all the time - most of us are DJs (record playing robots) rather than entertainers in our own right, so as long as enough use is made of the microphone to let people know you are alive, and to help break the ice barrier between the DJ and the audience, that's about it.

 

Overdoing the yap is annoying to most people.

[skydj 0]

Being out of the game for the last 11 years and now coming back into it again i was wondering .......

 

During the average Gig (not clubs or pubs) how often do you guys actually speak on your microphone ??

Do you always make a point of introducing yourself and saying goodbye (apart from this is the last song of the evening)??

 

I make announcements if i am requested to do so and if i am not i generally keep quite most of the evening..

 

 

HI Stardustsa

 

Me personally I try to keep my mouth closed for as long as possible, like others will say we are DJ's (the to spin the wheels of steel - Or pop the next CD in)

 

Again only if asked will I send out requests

 

The only otgher time I do a little more chattin is at Wedding Venues, Welcome the B&G, 1st Dance, Buffett etc

 

Most people can smell when the food is out or see the back of the Cue....

 

Any Help, I hope so

[UKHero 0]

I guess i'm old school I talk not after every tune but if I have something to say. If you don't inject your personality into the event then in this day and age of technology why are you there. Set a playlist up and go sit by the bar...

 

I do hate DJs who over talk and laugh to much at what they have just said. Also if your gonna talk use a decent mic so you can be heard, I think that is the biggest problem with the cheaper DJ setups.. They use naff mics a bad gain structure are to loud and then they wonder why people take the mic out of DJs talking on mic's ala Peter Kay...

 

I forward promote material, remind people of the finish time, remind them who I am (Subliminal Advertising), Do requests, give the B&G regular mentions through the night (If a wedding), etc etc.

 

There is loads to do and say just don't do it over the vocals... use fade outs and intros... Most people listen to the radio and so sort of expect some DJ chat...

 

Nik

 

[jamminroadshow 0]

I would base it on the venue some people love the DJ to talk others hate it. I would say that most hate it if you talk all over the songs but do not mind if you talk at certain bits of the song.

 

Many DJ have now become scared to talk on the mic thanks to peter kay

[Phil Cunnington 0]

Yep, I'm with Nik here. Personality is helpful in a DJ. You can even transmit a positive 'vibe' with the way you act and look behind your mixer without saying a word.

 

Bottom line, though, is be led by the client and type of event. Some/most will explicitly request not too much of the old-style artist/track announcing and attempts at comedy but will want the DJ to take part in keeping the event going - a happy balance.

 

I guess i'm old school I talk not after every tune but if I have something to say. If you don't inject your personality into the event then in this day and age of technology why are you there. Set a playlist up and go sit by the bar...

 

I do hate DJs who over talk and laugh to much at what they have just said. Also if your gonna talk use a decent mic so you can be heard, I think that is the biggest problem with the cheaper DJ setups.. They use naff mics a bad gain structure are to loud and then they wonder why people take the mic out of DJs talking on mic's ala Peter Kay...

 

I forward promote material, remind people of the finish time, remind them who I am (Subliminal Advertising), Do requests, give the B&G regular mentions through the night (If a wedding), etc etc.

 

There is loads to do and say just don't do it over the vocals... use fade outs and intros... Most people listen to the radio and so sort of expect some DJ chat...

 

Nik

 

[Norfolk DJ 0]

Agree with what is being said here. Generally I announce requests,dedications, buffet, cake cutting, last orders and so on. But I will add it depends on the function and sometimes you need to be more of a compare, eg maybe organise some party dances or childrens songs/games, but for general function work people don't like a lot of chatter or a cheesy voice.

[jukeboxdj 0]

IMHO i think most of my clients

enjoy the banter with the dj

creates a happy atmosphere and

can encourage them to get involved

 

sod peter kay entertain as well as play music

 

[UKHero 0]

I had a thought about this Peter Kay thing... If you were to go out as a Peter Kay DJ impersonator would you get less or more work??? I tell you what you would have to be very quick off the mark and clever to carry it off but it might just be a goer... There is a retaurant in America, New York I think where the staff insult you and it is a big hit with punters... Just a thought lol

 

Nik

 

[Phil Cunnington 0]

One thing, not the main thing, that led me into DJ'ing was I was fed up of crass DJ's laughing and talking over a track I was enjoying when at a party or a club and so were the people I knew.

 

Even then, the view of the function DJ was that he was just a failed comedian or pop singer making an alternative (and, yes, lower status living). A sad act, in fact.

 

I wanted to DJ without the cringeworthy expectation of a muffled 'pop-pickers' across a song I was singing or dancing to.

 

There is a space for the 'chatty DJ' or the 'cheeky chappy' but it is very small and may even be locational.

 

In any case, if you are going to carry it off you have to be very, very good at it and in my experience most DJs that think they are, aren't.

Edited February 19, 2008 by Phil Cunnington

[UKHero 0]

Guess your right but it would be amazing if done right but then I guess it would take a comedic genious to carry it off and as you say why would they work as a DJ when they can earn much more as a stand up...

[robbiedj 0]

I had a thought about this Peter Kay thing... If you were to go out as a Peter Kay DJ impersonator would you get less or more work??? I tell you what you would have to be very quick off the mark and clever to carry it off but it might just be a goer... There is a retaurant in America, New York I think where the staff insult you and it is a big hit with punters... Just a thought lol

 

Nik

 

There's a chinese restaurant in London where the customers are insulted, ignored and treated like :poo: . You can't get a booking for weeks, it's so popular.

 

However, I don't advocate insulting customers at a gig. The chat always depends on the type of function and audience you have. Some need more than others, while some are better for very little voice input.

[scotty 0]

Interesting concept this insulting clients business haha different approach anyway!! I dont use the mic anywhere near as much as I used to times have changed I think and I now ask the clients how much chat and interaction they want from me.

Edited February 22, 2008 by scotty

[Revelationroadshow 0]

We were out working the chocolate fountain last weekend and the DJ used the mic between every single tune. It was at times cringeworthy at the very least. I'm a big believer in using the mic, but there seems no need to tell your audiance what every single track is (and allow each track to end with silence while you talk).

 

I think the infinity screen gave the game away!

[jamesmurphy 0]

I have a part on my event questionairre which asks the client to dictate the amount of talking they want me to do.

 

Up to now I haven't had one person tick the 'talk a lot' box. ( I explain that that means If you choose the option I will be a lot more interactive on the microphone with more chat between songs.)

 

I think that tells me that the day of the talkalot jock are gone in the area we live

[Dream Catchers 0]

I'm with Nik on this one, maybe it's an old school thing.

A lot of my work is through recommendations so I presume I must be doing something right.

I probably speak after 3 or 4 tracks on average, I only speak over lead in/outs.

I'm not a comedian and don't try to be, I announce all the usual things, buffet, speeches, first dance etc. If it's a pub residency any special offers etc.

When I take a booking it is a booking for the whole caboodle, me, music, light etc.

 

Jim