How much details do you like to get from a potential client about the music they want played at their event?

Please don't beat me up for asking this. I have 2 reasons for making this thread. Me and a friend of mine like to get as much details as we can about the music a potential client wants for their event before agreeing to do the event. For me I don't like going into an event with a blindfold on and not know what styles of music the client and their guest want or assuming what will work. I like to get as much as I can out of a potential client so when doing the event I don't look bad doing the event because the music is not the right music they want at their event. That means asking do they have a certain song or songs they want played at their event? I try to do my best to be prepared before doing an event if I agree to do it.

Now I know in some cases I know they can be very vague on what they want the DJ to play at their event. Some just assume you should automatically know what music to play at their event. Now I'm talking about a difference between reading a crowd and knowing ahead of time what music to play.

My partner doesn't like to get into too many details about the music with a potential client because he just looks at his many years of experience and just assumes the event will be easy to do. I like to stay on the same page with a client as much as much as I can with the music they want. Now if I feel a potential client wants something I'm not comfortable with playing in terms of songs or styles of music, I don't have a problem with letting the keep looking for another DJ to do the event for them.

I keep mentioning potential client because when it's someone I've never done an event for I don't know them or the crowd who will be attending the event I like to talk to them about what they want for their event.

My friend told me a story about an event he did many years ago that at that time there was no downloading music or playing music from the internet. He did the event and was not told that most of the people were of a certain ethnicity and he didn't have a lot of the music the crowd wanted. He said a couple talked about how they were not happy with him. Now to be fair to my friend some ethnic groups are very specific as to exact songs they want to be played. He was not told that 95% of the crowd was of a certain ethnicity and he said had he know that he would have turned down the event. Now he said he's much better with it now.

sawdust123 said:

I like to ask what they listen to in the car. It sucks when I end up with a playlist of just traffic reports though. OK, just kidding. But I do like to know what they listen to or what kind of clubs or concerts they go to. I am not extremely well versed in country music and Latin music. If they want a lot of this, I will suggest an alternative DJ. If it is just a little, I will ask about specific songs or artists.

Years ago, my buddy booked a prom at a school that was at least 50% Hispanic. He didn't realize the school makeup and I was no help with Hispanic music but knew I needed to add some to my collection. I suggested we meet with their student govt and get a list of favorite songs. We spent over $200 buying the Latin hits on the list even though we knew only a fraction would actually get played. That was probably the most input I ever got for a gig. I figured the investment would pay off sometime in the future.

I often get asked how I know what song to keep a crowd motivated. I answer that I just try to guess what song people were listening to when they lost their virginity. I have cleaner ways to express that. But face it, the music we came of age to is embedded into the soundtrack of our lives.

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I love what you said about not being familiar with certain kinds of music because I remember a DJ saying if you're a mobile DJ you should be able to do any event. I totally disagree. What if it's a new DJ just starting out with a year or less experience at performing at private events? Should they automatically be able to do any event? What is nice is how music can be gotten today. It did put some stores out of business. those who were smart if they could would have been to open a store online to sell music.

The down side is how some see what we do and see it as being super easy and that's why some get into this business including seeing how to get music today. What's really interesting is how some people think because you're a DJ you should know every song ever recorded. Also thank you for saying if you don't feel you're the right DJ for an event you will pass up the event. Those who don't are called gig whores.

azdeejay said:

For me, as much as I can in order to know if its a client I should take on, I am not an all genre DJ so its important that I find that info out before booking.

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Same here.

I was talking to my friend yesterday and he has a job this Friday in Roselle Park. We did a reception at this restaurant many years ago that he's going to be in on Friday. It's a 50th birthday celebration. It's for a guy who's turning 50. There will also be a comedian there as well. The guy is White he told me. The music is 70's and 80's. I was trying to get him to tell me what styles of 70's and 80's music. I have a song that's one of my all time personal favorites and I wish I had an event I could play it. Don Mcclain American Pie. The problem is that because I'm Black a lot of people think I'm not supposed to like a song like that.