need music help

Don't mean to be a prick here (why do so many of my posts start that way? haha), but why would you take a job which you don't have knowledge of?

I agree with patrickrlewis,

But I'm also a firm believer that if you don't try you will never know or learn, the biggest problem is that it's wedding, so you have little space to none to mess up.

If they're from Peru and they want Brazilian music, then probably to their knowledge they will only be looking for Samba, but I would go back to them ask what particular style of Brazilian music they're looking for, there are many styles and they vary from state to state and from town to town.

With Italian it's a whole different ballpark, again are they looking for the traditional Italian(real Italian)Classics, Ballads, Etc... or Italian/American music?

Do your homework with the Bride & Groom first they will give you the key, is up to you to find the door and see what is behind it and how to use it correctly.

I strongly disagree with Mr. Lewis on this one.

If one never takes a job outside of a comfort zone, no borders get extended, no versatility broadens, no new expertise is gained.

Had I not had a Peruvian client I never would've know that Brazilian and Peruvian music is totally different from each other.

I booked a Russian wedding recently and don't know a thing about the music, the culture, or the nuances. The bride and groom were told up front about my unfamiliarity but willingness to go far beyond normal energy expenditures to learn and to make their day.

They willingly provided 20 Russian CDs with their dance favorites listed by best track numbers only, indicating fast or slow, and that which they must have. They also provided a list of American favorites.

After listening to all those tracks, the "feel" developed, the "style" of dance they prefer developed, the whole picture developed.

The next step was to take this learning, read up on Russian traditions and grab a few Russian words like "Hello", "Thank You", "You're welcome", "You look beautiful", etc.

Lastly, I made contact with a couple of Russian DJ/VJs and got about 20 Russian pop dance videos and arranged them according to the style and patter of the audio selections.

I've got ten times the amount of time and effort in this one, but I'm confident, and ready to blow their doors off, and maybe, just maybe, I'll corral the Russian community's gigs here.

So, sorry Patrick. Taking a gig you're not familiar with is far from being a mobile DJ sin. Taking any gig where there's no willingness to work and learn is a mortal sin.

Cap,

From time to time I learn a lot from you!

I typically don't take Latin gigs because of my inability to converse in the language, but I am currently using the Rosetta Stone (spanish) program to gain that knowledge, and I have done several gigs that use "mixed" music with much of it being spanish as well as spending about as much time listening to spanish radio as I do to hiphop/rap to see what is currently hot on the market.

Thanks for the extra push!

There's something to be said for both sides of the argument. The bottom line (or in this case the middle line) lies, between you and the client.

Cap Capello said:

So, sorry Patrick. Taking a gig you're not familiar with is far from being a mobile DJ sin. Taking any gig where there's no willingness to work and learn is a mortal sin.

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I don't really agree with this statement Cap.

There is a difference between taking a job in a genre you are not that familair with and taking a job in a genre in which you have NO knowledge.

Would you take a job where the bride and groom only want you to speak a language you don't know?

It is the same concept. Using someone's special day as a "class session" (for lack of a better term) is wrong. If you want to expand your horizons and branch out into other areas you don't normally do, that's fine. But you need to be educated and gain experience before you do it.

Taking a job you don't have any experience in (and remember, this is just my opinion) is wrong.

Sorry So Cal, did not realize I was not allowed to respond to something that was said.

as long as you make b/g aware of your shortcomings
and they still want you to do the job.
why not use THEM as a learning tool
and ask them for song suggestions.
just because you acquire a bunch of "popular" ethnic songs
doesn't mean the b/g and their family actually LIKE those songs.

So Cal Hugh said:

Just for the record Patrick, I learned every type of music by having to deal with it on one level or another. Just like you.

Sorry to hear that you are limiting your professional growth. I don't.

I don't get letters like this one by backing down from an opportunity to grow:
="http://www.ourdjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=21279"]

And by the way:



You failed.

I came here asking for a little help, as so many of us do, and so many of us help when given the opportunity.

I really look forward to posting the brides response to how I did at her wedding. Maybe we will all learn something from that.

Have a nice day.

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I see, I brought up a VALID point of not getting in over your head, and you come at me like a bull and I am the one being a prick.

How about from now on, instead of asking open ended questions without giving us all the information, tell us everything so we can help you.

Did you say in your original post that you had worked in this genre before?? MMMMM, NO I DON'T THINK YOU DID!!!!

If I come in here and say: hey can anyone help me with topic X, the general perception is that I don't know about topic X, therefore it might not be the best thing for me to get involved with on the most special day of the year for someone.

Thanks for showing your true colors that you can't take the least little bit of criticism making it an easy choice to put you on ignore.

Attached you will find a couple of my Italian play lists.
Keep in mind that when Italian music is requested, they don't necessarily mean Italian music. They mean music by Italian artists as well.

patrickrlewis said:

Don't mean to be a prick here (why do so many of my posts start that way? haha), but why would you take a job which you don't have knowledge of?

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Usually when a statement begins the way that yours did, all constructive energy is absent. There are many different ways to ask what you were trying to ask and most of them don't come across in the tone of being "a prick". It's all in the presentation, Patrick... :sqerr:

I see where you are coming from here, Patrick. Some folks aren't confident enough in themselves to step outside their comfort zone. But there was a time that all of use weren't as skilled and experienced in our profession. At some point we took a job and were perhaps a bit uncomfortable and tentative, but we learned from that experience and those experiences make us what we are now. Sure, we may look back on those early experiences and realize things we could have done to be better...

I'd have never learned how to DJ hip-hop if I'd not have accepted a job in a nightclub wanting 75% urban sound. I already knew how to mix, scratch and perform as a DJ\Master of Ceremonies. But I had two weeks to acquire the right mix of music, listen to other DJs who played that style and learn what songs worked in certain situations. It was a lot of work and, when I accepted the job, it was a stretch to say that I could handle it. But after putting in the effort, I was successful and now I am comfortable in that style of play.

So I say study up, Hugh and rock their reception!!

So Cal Hugh said:

Thanks Tunes. I am! I have found that this board has many great people who are the best resource. I have other avenues, such as internet searches, and my nephew who lives in Southern Germany, and is a musician. I have also told the b & g. They are putting a list together.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

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Like I said you need to go back to the Bride & Groom and find out perhaps what their understanding of Brazilian music is, I can give tons of music for you to research but it won't mean anything if it's something they're not familiar with.

I'm always willing to help but basic knowledge from the bride & groom is essential.

Here is a list you might consider.
I use it for dinner music.
In my opinion, Classic Rock is much more than just the usual Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Beatles, Stones fare. There is just so much music to draw from.


# Title Artist Time Genre BPM
1 I Believe In You And Me Four Tops 4:02 Easy Listening
2 I'm Easy Like Sunday Morning Lionel Ritchie 4:30 Easy Listening
3 Slow Dancing Johnny Rivers 4:05 Easy Listening
4 Rise Herb Alpert 7:36 Easy Listening
5 Forever in Bluejeans Niel Diamond 3:56 Easy Listening 90
6 The Glory Of Love Chicago 4:46 Other
7 Les Bicyclettes De Belsize Engelbert Humperdinck 3:15 Slow Dance
8 When I See You Smile Bad English 4:17
9 Let's Groove Earth Wind & Fire 6:05 80's hits
10 Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) The Temptations 3:30 Motown
11 Savin' Me Nickelback 3:39 Other
12 I Do Love You GQ 5:13 Slow Rock 91
13 The Way You Look Tonight Johnny Maestro & the Crests 2:32 Doo Wop
14 Dance Tonight Paul McCartney 2:52 Pop
15 Tonight's The Night Rod Stewart 3:33 Pop
16 She Will Be Loved-04 Maroon 5 4:31 Rock 102
17 Fool To Cry The Rolling Stones 4:14 Rock & Roll
18 Just The Way You Are Billy Joel 3:43 Other 139
19 Drive The Cars 4:04 Rock
20 (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Highe Rita Coolidge 3:58
21 Across The Universe The Beatles 3:47 Other
22 After The Love Has Gone Earth Wind And Fire 3:45 Pop
23 Against All Odds Phil Collins 3:43 Other 116
24 Against the Wind Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet 5:48 Soundtrack 108
25 The Air That I Breath Julio Iglesias 3:55 Other
26 All By Myself Eric Carmen 4:49 Other
27 All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To Heart 5:06 Other
28 All or Nothing at All (1961) Frank Sinatra 3:43 Other
29 Any Colour You Like Pink Floyd 3:25 Other
30 Arthurs Theme Christopher Cross 3:53 Pop
31 As Time Goes By Jimmy Durante 2:27 Soundtrack
32 Battler of Evermore [Previously Page and Plant 6:33 Pop
33 Brahms - Italian Dinner Music Mob Hits 3:35 Italian
34 Godfather Theme - Mandolin Inst Mob Hits 1:24 Italian
35 Where or When Harry Connick, Jr. 3:52 Vocal
36 Baby It's Cold Outside Tom Jones 3:40 Pop
37 Hooked On A Feeling B.J. Thomas 2:58 Other 130