I found this DJNTV video refreshing: Is mixing important?

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There was a time when a DJ would just play one song after another completely out without mixing them in. Someone came up with an idea of mixing music from one song to the next without just playing one song after another with no mixing. It eventually caught on and some can't see themselves not mixing songs. It also has to do with doing it at the right time. I don't normally mix slow songs. I'm talking slow jam songs. Not songs with a slow BPM. Then it's about what you're good at. Sometimes I'm in a zone and other times I'm just mediocre. I have times where I can hide if I'm having a bad night because of my knowledge. One person that was a bartender in The Private Place Lounge said I always do a great job. Not always but good enough nobody was booing me out of the place.

I was told one Friday they stopped a DJ from playing and turned on the jukebox. I had to hear about what happened the next day. I was told I got to really come up. In my mind all I know is I was to come there, do what I was paid to do, get paid and leave. I wasn't worried about them stopping me from playing and turning on the jukebox. I told people the day I have that happen is the day I retire. I will walk out and leave all my gear never to play again for anybody.
 
I think that the art of the segue is more important than the art of the remix (in my experience). I have found that the familiar versions of the songs are what people like to have played. I have had many people react poorly to remixes/mashups, even if they are great ones. There's really no way to read how a crowd will respond until you play one. I will also add that even when mixes are welcome, most won't know or care that they are being executed live or are pre-recorded.

Again, that's been my experience. I still think that any extra skill you can add to your arsenal is beneficial in the end.

:cheers:
I totally agree. Mixing is a great tool to add to to list of skills. But like anything, I've seen some DJ's place ALL of the importance on the mix, even when a different song that might not mix as well is much better for THAT cowd at THAT moment. No one cares how great the 2 songs mixed when the song is wrong. And I know DJ's that don't mix at all that are very successful because they are so good with the crowd.

And I do use my software's auto mix more and more. Not always. I set parameters for each song and it works very well 95% of the time
 
I totally agree. Mixing is a great tool to add to to list of skills. But like anything, I've seen some DJ's place ALL of the importance on the mix, even when a different song that might not mix as well is much better for THAT cowd at THAT moment. No one cares how great the 2 songs mixed when the song is wrong. And I know DJ's that don't mix at all that are very successful because they are so good with the crowd.

And I do use my software's auto mix more and more. Not always. I set parameters for each song and it works very well 95% of the time
I don't know any DJ that hasn't played a song and the crowd didn't care for that song clearing the dance floor. A really good DJ will know how to quickly get people back on the dance floor.
 
I believe mixing is a basic fundamental part of Djing. It is what seperates us from a playlist and an MC. It is what makes us Djs. Just because you mix doesn't mean that you only play 45 seconds of a song lol. Mixing helps to keep the energy up and the flow going at events. If another Dj doesn't mix does it bother me? Not at all, they do what is best for them. It does help separate me from the field.
 
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I believe mixing is a basic fundamental part of Djing. It is what seperates us from a playlist and an MC. It is what makes us Djs. Just because you mix doesn't mean that you only play 45 seconds of a song lol. Mixing helps to keep the energy up and the flow going at events. If another Dj doesn't mix does it bother me? Not at all, they do what is best for them. It does help separate me from the field.
Certain crowds and events they don't want a DJ to play the entire song. Generally I find that's the younger crowd who's attention span isn't that long. They get bored quickly. What counts is how good are you at what you do?
 
What counts is how good are you at what you do?
What counts is whether your clients believe you satisfied THEIR requirements. How good you are is immaterial if what you're GOOD at isn't what the client needed.
 
I'm with Jeff. (perhaps because we are both old....I mean OLDER)
Keep in mind that most of my gigs are either for an older crowd...
or a wedding with age ranges from kids to grandparents.

In 30+ years, I have NEVER had one client ask me to beatmix.
I've DONE it for the right occasion (prom, teen dance, etc)
but no client has ever brought it up...in the inquiry, in the event discussion, or at a gig.

As far as mixing being the most important skill, I will enthusiastically disagree.
(MY point view, MY opinion)

You can be the best beat mixing son-of-a-gun in the country...
but if you're picking horrible songs that don't fit the crowd...
no one will even notice your mad skillz.
 
i look at it this way...better to have the skillset and shelve it when needed (50s and 60s party/etc) than to not have it when ya DO need it... aka everything else... ive experienced parties with non beatmixers... and they are fine... good music choices etc.... people danced... the tiresome thing about it tho... was that during transitions... the dancefloor would deflate... the people would mill about...some would leave.... some would recognize an opening riff and wait it out...some would come running to the dancefloor once the song finally picked up to its desired energy level... and all that is fine from time to time...it helps rotate the floor....it helps out the bar.... it allows people an opportunity to leave the floor without making a scene.... however...when that dynamic happens EVERY SINGLE TRANSITION...it seems to shorten the night quite drastically....people feel like theyve been whipped around over and over....and the minute a few of those transitions lead into musical choices that arent absolutely perfect.... the crowd thins... they came...they danced a couple songs....they feel theyve done their part...

With beatmatching...i take them on a journey... a train if you will...thats not easy to jump off of... i sweep them away and decide when i let them off... its a method of control that ive never seen accomplished by a non skilled dj...

The excuse that clients dont "ASK" for a particular skillset is assanine.... They want an experience... the same experience you gave their cousin at their wedding...or the experience they had at a party you did for a friend... they want their dancefloor to have the energy that your online videos portray... They have no clue how you do it... but you do it.... Those that have only experienced a less than par dj....are satisfied...but not dazzled...

i prefer to dazzle.

cc
 
The excuse that clients dont "ASK" for a particular skillset is assanine.... They want an experience... the same experience you gave their cousin at their wedding...or the experience they had at a party you did for a friend... they want their dancefloor to have the energy that your online videos portray... They have no clue how you do it... but you do it.... Those that have only experienced a less than par dj....are satisfied...but not dazzled...

i prefer to dazzle.
Asinine? Excuse? Really Chris?

I never said that I don't do something unless the client specifically asks for it.
("I was gonna introduce the bridal party, but you didn't ask me to")

I simply stated that beat-mixing has never come up in conversation.
No client has ever asked me if I do it, or asked me to TO do it.

You said it yourself. "They don't know how you do it, but you do!"

Clients who want to hire me because they have seen my work KNOW how I do things.
Perhaps it is my OTHER DJ skills that "dazzles" them?
Because I can guarantee that the "experience" I gave them at their cousin's wedding...
didn't include beat-mixing, either!
 
Asinine? Excuse? Really Chris?

I never said that I don't do something unless the client specifically asks for it.
("I was gonna introduce the bridal party, but you didn't ask me to")

I simply stated that beat-mixing has never come up in conversation.
No client has ever asked me if I do it, or asked me to TO do it.

You said it yourself. "They don't know how you do it, but you do!"

Clients who want to hire me because they have seen my work KNOW how I do things.
Perhaps it is my OTHER DJ skills that "dazzles" them?
Because I can guarantee that the "experience" I gave them at their cousin's wedding...
didn't include beat-mixing, either!
I still think it's the skirt ...
 
I can't unsee that😄

I'll look for pics when I was Hanna Montana or Lindsay Lo-Hanna for holloween.