Motown Night Issues

[aaadisco 0]

I did a Motown night in a working mans club local to me on Friday. I've done a night here before and last time was ok although after 4 hours found myself struggling to carry on playing fresh tunes and had to repeat a few. That night I got booked again for this Friday so it wasn't too bad!

 

I'd already prepared around 150 tunes to use but as a lot of them are 2 mins long, it doesn't take long to go through them.

 

One issue I've found is that a lot of the Motown is quite slow and I've found it hard to get people to dance unless you are playing the well known classics and some which are a little faster.

 

Anyway I had a middle aged woman swear at me and tell me to play some disco rather than all the motown, I told her it was a motown night but I would play one or two. I played one or two and a few more people started to dance so I carried on. Then 30 mins later a man in his sixties came up and called me a W:cense:R telling me that I didn't know my stuff and shouldn't be playing disco. He also told the bar manager what he thought and then left. Throughout the night I had other bits of abuse and I found myself looking at the clock waiting for 12 to come.

 

A few people told me they'd had a great night and the bar manager who booked me told me not to worry about the bloke and that he has always enjoyed my discos (he's booked me 3 times now).

 

I've decided that I'm not going to do anymore dos at the venue as it isn't just about the money and I can get other bookings where I will both enjoy them and not get that sort of abuse!

 

Anyone else had a similar encounters? Also anyone got any views on doing a Motown night?

 

My thoughts are that next time I should suggest the bar does a 60's & Motown night as this would give a much wider range of music to play.

 

Would apreciate people's view of Motown nights and any experiences or advise you could give me on them.

 

Do you stick to the Motown genre or would you play say 60's or something else if you were stuggling to get people up?

 

 

[milhouse 0]

It amazes, worries and disappoints me when people actually come up to Djs and swear and abuse you. You often see the real dregs of society at some functions/venues. The thing is not to let it get to you. They are drunk and ususally not worth bothering about.

 

I love constructive criticism, if someone says they don't like that I'm playing then come and tell me by all means, but there is no need to swear, scrunch up your face and shout at me like a thug - as a lot of people do.

 

I've done this game for nearly 10 years now, I've had my fair share of people swearing at me, and it used to upset me. These days I turn to them and say "do not swear at me" then carry on as usual. Often just saying nothing and turning away and getting back to your decks will get rid of them. I really don't like rude people!

 

Most recently a female in her 30s placed a pint on a ledge some two inches from my caselogic case of CDs. From past experience they tend to get knocked off and I end up having a large bill for replacing all my CDs. I approached her and said "Hiya, sorry but please could you put your drink elsewhere as people sometimes knock them over". The response was "OH F OFF YOU TW....". Lovely.

 

On the flip side I get some absolutely delightful and polite people speaking to me, asking for requests or dedications, often shaking my hand and smiling at the same time. I love it when they say "can you do it whenever you get a chance please", rather than "MY SONG NOW". There are nice people about somewhere :)

 

Back to the point of breaking format - I have done it on the odd occasion in bars or clubs. If we had a dance/rnb policy and it wasn't working with the crowd at all I've often launched into a cheese set to keep the people in and keep them dancing. It really depends on whether the function manager or person paying you is bothered. They may want you to stick perfectly to format with the risk of nobody dancing, for whatever reason.

 

You say the bar manager was happy - and thats all that counts. He's the one paying you so I say well done and you sound like you did a fantastic job :) I personally would really struggle with a whole Motown night - the most I've managed ever is about an hour! So well done.

Edited July 6, 2008 by JonWhittaker

[dj.silver 0]

For me, Motown nights sound like a great idea for everybody apart from the dj! They can be hard work unless you have a captive audience of devotees, somewhere like a Butlins weekend. Also somewhat tedious sounding hour after hour. You are spot on to keep a dance floor busy, not just full is a job and a half.

 

I agree with your idea of a 60's night. That would encompass many genres and if the Motown is going down well, keep it going, if not change it.

[4zzz 0]

Don't let the b's grind you down.

Sounds like you did a good job and came prepared.

 

Some people are just rude.

Add alcohol and they turn into complete pigs (no offence to pigs)

 

I'm the same want to try and please everyone but sometimes not possible.

If any one is rude to me I ignore them and there request.

[Reverandfunk 0]

Motown is quite slow????

 

have I missed something again lol

[Norfolk DJ 0]

 

I reckon that the number of true popular Motown tracks which you can dance to is probably no more than about 20-30 tracks. That's about 1 hour worth or prime time dance music. I reckon I could spread it out a bit and find 2 hours worth.

 

The trick might be to play the more obscure stuff early on and play the mainstream stuff later. In that way, you could pad out another hour or so.

 

I would clarify with the organiser whether it is a strictly Motown. Only he can answer that question.

[Danno13 0]

Motown is quite slow????

 

have I missed something again lol

 

Reach out.. Stop! In the name... Tracks of my tears... all pretty slow! (first three that came to my head)

Edited July 6, 2008 by Danno13

[dh140770 0]

we used to do a night like this in a pub about 10 years ago. We called it Soul and Motown. Basically we used to play 60s Soul, Motown and a bit of Northern Soul.

 

A whole night of motown is nigh on impossible if you want people dancing. As said there are plenty of tracks but most a too slow.

 

I've just checked and my total Motown Collection that I take out with me is a shade over 2 hours so I would have been in severe trouble and would've had to pad it out with some of the above mentioned.

[Mo The Motown Man 0]

Motown slow I don,t think so I was brought up on Motown and thats how I got my nick name only 20 / 30 you can dance too not shure what Motown planet your on but is not the same one as me, The Beatles first album had cove verison of Motown, next time you do a Motown Night let me Know and I will send you list of dance tracks from Mouton.

[andyw 0]

Motown slow I don,t think so I was brought up on Motown and thats how I got my nick name only 20 / 30 you can dance too not shure what Motown planet your on but is not the same one as me, The Beatles first album had cove verison of Motown, next time you do a Motown Night let me Know and I will send you list of dance tracks from Mouton.

 

why don't you put a list up here,i'm sure i won't be the only one interested in seeing it.when requested we can reach out and find a few tracks in my tears vut then have to stop in the name (of motown,sorry danno 13, couldnt help but nick your post :bouncy: )

 

back on topic i wouldn't take a night of motown, would recomend they get a specialist in for that, but if we did would ask before hand if we could deviate if required.you done your best function manager was happy so job done.

[Norfolk DJ 0]

I have a lot of Motown material, probably about 300 tracks and some are great tracks, but unless the punters are expecting a classic Motown only, night some of the tracks are not what I call A listed tracks.

 

 

[aaadisco 0]

Thanks for all the replies on this guys.

 

Next time someone asks me for a Motown night, I will suggest a 60s night where I will play Motown alongside other 60s music but if they want Motown exclusively, will suggest they find a specialist or will refer to Mo The Motown Man :-)

[Mo The Motown Man 0]

You will be quite welcome aaadisco

[spinner 0]

Unfortunately ( as I've found at some weddings ) some people who ask for "Motown" don't know much beyond whatever may have once been in the charts.

 

I've put on tracks that would be well known to real Motown aficionados which the requesters haven't recognised!!

[wendyice 0]

it is hard doing an exclusively motown night. i have loads of motown and i would be working like crazy to keep the floor full unless they were die hard motown fans who knew their stuff.

 

motown was basically a 4/4 beat with great danceability but you are gonna have to hit the vaults for a full night. a lot of what gets played people wont know.

 

as previously mentioned most peeps only know the dlassic stuff and get bored when they dont know the words.

 

saying that i know nearly every track of my motown and would listen to it for weeks if i could,

[dh140770 0]

Grrr. I hate these threads. They always cost me money. Bit of an Amazon-athon.

Well it should give my Motown and NS collections a bit of boost, and it's got me listening to the motown again and remembering why I love it.

[The Mix 0]

A DJ friend of mine did a Motown night and found it hard going - for 3 hours there were enough tracks to choose from but not much in the way of change of tempo.

 

I do theme nights and you can get boxed in if the theme is too narrow - so I tend to do things like Soul & Reggae and 60s-70s Rock rather than just one decade or one style.

[Pete Best 0]

You will be quite welcome aaadisco

I agree with there is a lot of motown track i have well over a thousand and a few thousand northern soul there are certain tracks the cross between the two .I never had problems keeping a motown dance floor goingI hased to do a regular friday night 7.30 till 11.30 the more you do the easier it will get And there are lots of motown tracks that are not on the motown label .

Hope this helps

[exbutlinred82 0]

So here is an arbitrary challenge......

 

 

List 20 Motown/Soul guaranteed floor fillers that you could play in succession.Uptempo...recognisable tunes that are guaranteed not to allow the dancers to sit down.

 

You are all avoiding the issue so i'll start withn the first three...

 

I can't help myself ....(4 tops)....Needle in a a Haystack....(Velevelettes)....The Snake... (Al Wilson)

 

 

Next three Please

 

 

[4zzz 0]

Judy Street / What

Gloria Jones / Tainted Love

The Crystal / Da Doo Ron Ron

 

 

[Pete Best 0]

Judy Street / What

Gloria Jones / Tainted Love

The Crystal / Da Doo Ron Ron

isley brothers .this old heart of mine

marvin gaye. it takes two

Martha reeves.Dancin in the streets

[Danno13 0]

Foundations - Build me up buttercup

Jacksons - I want you back

Diana Ross - You can't hurry love

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heatwave

[David M 0]

Hi,

I have had some similar issues with punters at so called themed nights,

there are some real anoracks about these days and if you dont stick to the theme they get all retentive about it,

I find that its best to announce that the main theme of the evening is motown and then give them some northern soul a close relative and mainly motown any way,

then I ask for motown only requests so the anoracks can be kept happy,

I do have a large collection of motown and northern soul but always find that someone has an obscure request but i just tell them i will look for it for next time or they can bring the disc and i will play it ( rip it to hdd for later)

david

[spinner 0]

there are lots of motown tracks that are not on the motown label .

 

 

Do you mean other labels within the Motown stable, such as Gordy, Tamla or Soul? Otherwise they ain't Motown.

Edited July 9, 2008 by spinner

[dh140770 0]

Foundations - Build me up buttercup

Jacksons - I want you back

Diana Ross - You can't hurry love

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heatwave

 

Edwin Starr - SOS Stop her on Sight

Four Tops - Same old Song

Martha Reeves - Jimmy Mack (sooo over playing IMO)

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - Two can have a party

Dobie Gray - Out on the Floor

 

I'll leave room for the others, but there are plenty.