Just for fun ~ Two hour set

when I dj, i have nothing prepared... I look at the crowd, read the room. Most of my clients give me an idea of the overall atmosphere, but honestly I have ZERO clue what I'm going to play.

Last night I played a 40th bday at a house, where I played NONSTOP from 7pm-2am. All I knew was the avg age would be 35-55 so I mentally had an idea I'd be focusing on 80's-2000's but what I actually played wasn't determined till I saw how the crowd was vibing.

Same read the room play to the crowd hardest song to pick is the first

Usually people hire a DJ based on style or the way they spin. So that is your start. Although I can not say exactly what I will play at a event there is a plan based on sets I normally play. How, when, what all depends on the crowd how they respond and where you want to go. Understanding your style is important as that in time maybe your best sales tool. Now when I did mixes for the radio or just something just to be recorded that is all planned out especially if it had to fit into a specific timeframe.

Me preparing is taliking to the bride/groom or customer to understand their vision and what important to them and their guests, then putting a solid plan together with room for flexibility. ill often do a ”through with” them so they can expect what’s going to happen When

I’ll have some songs in mind based on our discussions, along with requests they have made if any. Picking the the right song for the right moment will all be based on what the crowd is doing. I’ll often change directions based off wha I see

Scott Hanna said:

Me preparing is taliking to the bride/groom or customer to understand their vision and what important to them and their guests, then putting a solid plan together with room for flexibility. ill often do a ”through with” them so they can expect what’s going to happen and when.

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During meetings, I would describe one of my duties as their "tour guide" - making sure what they envision happens when they want and how they want....plus ensuring that anyone and everyone who was needed for any special event would know it was about to happen and would be at the ready.....FOB, photographer, etc...

What others are talking about is what the client and their guests want. Like I say if you don't have or know the right music to play at an event, then I say don't agree to do the event.

Now in some cases I may already know the crowd and what they want to hear. For example when we did a couple of events that we planned ourselves to setup, we knew the crowd would want deep underground house music. In such a case playing stuff that they already had heard too many times would have been boring to them.

Now for a private event it's about knowing what music to play and at what time to play certain songs. Just because you have the right music to play doesn't mean to play just anything at any time. Reading a crowd requires experience and that's not something you learn overnight. At least that's my experience. Then there's the issue of when you're cornered into only playing the music the client wants no matter if the music they want is working or is a big dud.