Is there an event that you agreed to do but wish you hadn't?

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

DJ Extraordinaire
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Oct 16, 2011
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Hopefully this can be a fun topic of discussion. For us we were contracted to do an event many years ago. One of the guys where I worked at back then had us to do his sister's 50th birthday celebration. Got paid far in advance.

The issue with doing this event is I kept insisting that he contact his sister and have her contact me so I know what music she wanted for us to provide. At that time we along with most DJs we knew weren't using a computer to DJ with.

Never heard nothing from the sister. So we weren't given any idea for the music she wanted for her birthday celebration. Get there and had to find out it was a family reunion as well.

So we tried our best to play music for the event. Almost anything we played didn't work. That was a painful 5 hours. I wish I didn't agree to do this event but I did learn a lesson from people on these forums. If ever put in that situation again I would ask what the client and their guests want to hear. Thankfully that has never happened again.

Before I get beat up I don't just take it upon myself to do what I want. I do ask a client for the music that they want for their event. This event we weren't given any ideas for any songs for that event. I kept asking but I can't force someone to give me anything. Thankfully I haven't had a painful experience like that again.
 
I guess we all work in and around each situation and each client as we feel best towards making a successful event with the best music selections. But I actually dislike getting a song list and never ask for their input. If the client offers up some sort of song/genre of choice to me, I appreciate it and use that to best of my ability. However if the customer never even hinted to me a preference that would be OK.

It may be years of experience and knowledge of all styles and eras of music covering large diverse audiences that it feels right when choosing music that seems to fall into place for any crowd.

When I get a list from a client that wants me to stick with their playlist I become less energetic, less enthusiastic and overall less involved, so the excitement and entertainment side of things suffer. I think because there is less thought that goes into the music selecting I become somewhat stale without the added challenges or effort to read the crowd reaction and responses.

Oh just play these songs...…...I've heard that before and when I do I'll want to suggest they simply rent a sound system and connect their phone/ipod. It just doesn't interest me to play from a playlist.
 
I like to find out the client's vision. Specific songs aren't important to me. If they do have specific songs, fine. If not, fine. I can read a crowd.
If they have a long list of specific songs, we will talk about what happens if this list clashes with their vision.

If I'm playing music that it appears isn't working with the crowd, we change it up. If I can't seem to find anything that is working, I'll ASK people people what they want to hear.
While it's rare, I've done events were very few people danced. After talking with people and seeing they don't really want to dance, I'm fine with it and will still play great music
 
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Bob Kreider said:
I guess we all work in and around each situation and each client as we feel best towards making a successful event with the best music selections. But I actually dislike getting a song list and never ask for their input. If the client offers up some sort of song/genre of choice to me, I appreciate it and use that to best of my ability. However if the customer never even hinted to me a preference that would be OK.

It may be years of experience and knowledge of all styles and eras of music covering large diverse audiences that it feels right when choosing music that seems to fall into place for any crowd.

When I get a list from a client that wants me to stick with their playlist I become less energetic, less enthusiastic and overall less involved, so the excitement and entertainment side of things suffer. I think because there is less thought that goes into the music selecting I become somewhat stale without the added challenges or effort to read the crowd reaction and responses.

Oh just play these songs...…...I've heard that before and when I do I'll want to suggest they simply rent a sound system and connect their phone/ipod. It just doesn't interest me to play from a playlist.
Click to expand...
I almost put a like to your thread until I saw you say you don't like input from a client about the music for their event. I need it so I have a good idea of what music the client wants played at their event. Do you take song requests?

Whay I had to learn is when doing my job even if it's a song I hate smile and act like I'm happy to play that song. Even when I want to throw up because I hate the song.

Now I had a group that I used to get a call to do events for them. I haven't gotten a call from them in a few years and I'm glad! The last time I did an event for them it was in February and it was the coldest night of the year. The event was in downtown Newark, NJ at the Indigo Hotel. The place used to be a bank. It was on the rooftop. After unlocking I had to park a half a block away on Branford Place. I almost froze to death.

Did the event for them. It was a birthday celebration for one of the guys wife. They tell you that you can play anything. They don't care if you play songs with explicit lyrics in them including the B word and the N word. I hate that. I don't care to do events like that. I like it when the event has class to it. If they were to call again I'm busy no matter what the date is.
 
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"I almost put a like to your thread until I saw you say you don't like input from a client about the music for their event. I need it so I have a good idea of what music the client wants played at their event. Do you take song requests?"

Oh, no I don't care if I'm given a list, I just don't want to be restricted to a playlist only. Meaning, I'm only allowed play the songs they have chosen for me. If I get a small lists, under a dozen or songs, that's no problem. I'll be good with accommodating these. However I'll still say, if I get the green light to do my thing with no list, I'm great with that too.

Yes I accept request during the event, and happily play them.

Luckily, there's no songs I hate or refuse to play. Although if I get a request for the dirty version of a song...….no can do. I ONLY have clean versions.

And to answer your question....can't say I've taken an event I wished I hadn't.
 
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A quick sentence in any contract can eliminate ever playing the dirty version of any song...simply make a policy and stick to it... Mix...a contract could solve about 90 percent of the issues you present on this forum...yet you constantly have complaints...while insisting you have a contract...

odd

cc
 
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