What do you like and dislike about DJing?

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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I hope this can be a fun safe topic and not turn into bashing other DJ's. Since I'm the maker of the thread i'll start it off.

Of course I love it when I have a crowd loving the music I'm playing dancing up a storm. There's no better feeling when that happens. That's great! I love it when people are polite when asking for a request (when it is appropriate.

Now a big turn off to me is when someone wants to book me and isn't clear about the details of what they want at their event. For example I'll ask what kind of music they want. Then they will reply they want party music. They aren't specific enough. Party music could be anything. What one crowd will call party music, another will disagree. I like to know what styles of music they want played at their event.

Some clients just think that we're the DJ and we should know what music to play. I don't know until they give me an ideal of what type of music they expect me to play. Then I have some that I must explain that some styles of music may not be appropriate for the type of event they are having. Just 2 things that are on my list.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Some clients just think that we're the DJ and we should know what music to play.
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I think that's correct -- we should know what to play. I think that's what I like most about DJing -- the first read of the crowd -- throw a few tunes out there, and see how they react to them.

I guess to me, it's basically about the challenge of reading the mood at the moment, and the people. I like seeing people enjoying the tunes, whether they are dancing, toe tapping, singing along doesn't matter. As long as they are having fun, that's all that matters -- I'm earning my pay.


What I don't like, is loading in and tearing down.
 
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rickryan.com said:
Guess somebody skipped "DJing 101". It's NOT the job of the client to tell you what to play.
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It is the clients responsibility to give me an ideal of what type or styles of music you want played. I didn't say anything about them telling me what to play. I do need an ideal of what type of music you expect me to play.

Let me give you an example. Had a client that wanted their DJ to mostly play Spanish music. We need to know that to please the client and their guest. At around the end they wanted to hear some American music as they put it. So we needed to know that the client wanted mainly Spanish music to make them and their guest happy. Once we knew what the client was looking for then we delivered the goods. And boy did we ever!
 
likes:
going through my music collection, listening to and choosing the music
watching people enjoy my music
marketing my DJ services and making connections

dislikes:
setting up and breaking down in hot weather
too many kids crowding my space
 
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What do I like about DJing? Everything, except for obnoxious drunks and people who have no respect for other people's things.

What I dislike about DJing: Having to occasionally deal with obnoxious drunks and people who have no respect for other people's things.
 
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B-Sharp said:
What do I like about DJing? Everything, except for obnoxious drunks and people who have no respect for other people's things.
What I dislike about DJing: Having to occasionally deal with obnoxious drunks and people who have no respect for other people's things.
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What are you trying to say, Brendan?;)

I actually used to hate the set-up and tear down the most.
Now that the doctor says I should lose a few pounds, I look forward to the work.
And I love getting in early to setup.
It gives me a chance to change my mind, move things around, and try new ideas.
I also love fiddling with my sound and light gear in my downtime.
Guess I'm a little OCD, but it makes me happy.
Actually, the only thing I DON'T like, is NOT working. I go crazy sitting at home all weekend.
 
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I dislike the "turn it down"ers. Been enjoying the rare beast's company tonight. Nice little 50 guest wedding, I'm playing sinatra (pre-dinner) and he comes up "It sounds really great. Can you turn it down?" Turned it down, not enough. Finally ends up where I can barely hear the speakers (I'm right by them). A couple more times during the next 30 mins he starts the wild waving and sneering routine. At GE, I bumped it a bit and he finally headed for the door. Goodbye, Mr. Evil Turner Downer.
 
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Loves: too many to show


Hates: - major one is all these so called newbie young djs that come in for 5mins and think they know how to dj

have a nice day
 
Likes: music, high tech gear, satisfaction I get from clients after they are very happy their day went exactly as planned, money

Dislikes: hours. This job would be perfect if people had receptions monday through friday 9 to 5:)

Lugging gear around used to be a dislike. it's not a problem any longer
 
rickryan.com said:
I dislike the "turn it down"ers. Been enjoying the rare beast's company tonight. Nice little 50 guest wedding, I'm playing sinatra (pre-dinner) and he comes up "It sounds really great. Can you turn it down?" Turned it down, not enough. Finally ends up where I can barely hear the speakers (I'm right by them). A couple more times during the next 30 mins he starts the wild waving and sneering routine. At GE, I bumped it a bit and he finally headed for the door. Goodbye, Mr. Evil Turner Downer.
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Next time, just say that the bride and groom told you they can't hear the music.
 
Like the fun, the crowds, the laughs, the memories I give to the guests, etc....

Don't like the drunk know it alls about the music, the unsupervised kids, the hours.

The hours is what's going to drive me out of this business. Wifey gets her degree in a few weeks, and I then only need one job for the first time in about 15 years or more. Can't wait. Too many trout streams and goose hunting trips have been passed by over the years.
 
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rickryan.com said:
I dislike the "turn it down"ers. Been enjoying the rare beast's company tonight. Nice little 50 guest wedding, I'm playing Sinatra (pre-dinner) and he comes up "It sounds really great. Can you turn it down?" Turned it down, not enough. Finally ends up where I can barely hear the speakers (I'm right by them). A couple more times during the next 30 mins he starts the wild waving and sneering routine. At GE, I bumped it a bit and he finally headed for the door. Goodbye, Mr. Evil Turner Downer.
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When I meet with clients, especially for weddings. I advise that the blue hairs if their tables are near my setup WILL ask to turn it down...usually to the point where no one else can hear.......so I tell them if at all possible if the seating is fixed that the blue-hairs tables should be as far away from me as possible. Most couples are very appreciative of this little fact.

Now Here's what I like most and least:

Most: A full dancefloor of early 20's good lookin' females shakin' it. :)
Least: Obnoxious drunks and pesky children at weddings.

Paul
 
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I'll tell you another thing that bothers me while i'm DJing an event. I hate those who can't let you do your job. Every few minutes they want to come up to you and tell you what to play next. Just keep going on and on and on and on. Sometimes i want to say to them do i tell you how to cook those fries when you're working at Mcdonald's? So don't tell me how to do my job. LOL.
 
USDJ said:
When I meet with clients, especially for weddings. I advise that the blue hairs if their tables are near my setup WILL ask to turn it down...usually to the point where no one else can hear.......so I tell them if at all possible if the seating is fixed that the blue-hairs tables should be as far away from me as possible. Most couples are very appreciative of this little fact.

Now Here's what I like most and least:

Most: A full dancefloor of early 20's good lookin' females shakin' it. :)
Least: Obnoxious drunks and pesky children at weddings.

Paul
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I did a gig where the table placement wasn't a problem.
It was during open dancing, and some old rich bugger kept complaining he couldn't hear his own conversation.
I would have liked to comply with his request to turn it down...
except we were in a HUGE room, with outdoor tables, and HE decided to have a conversation right in front of the speakers.
 
Likes:
Playing music for people who want to have a good time
Playing with all the cool toys we get to use

Dislikes:
Running a small business
People who hate on the toys I use
 
I'll add another, although it's more of an issue of after the DJing has been done.

No matter how fantastic we all claim to be or how much prep time we all say we do, there will occasionally be mistakes made. In my own case, it's most often those that are working events on my behalf. There also are times where we do our jobs perfectly, yet for some reason the bride has another impression. The thing that angers me is when brides come back, after the fact, and use these little wrinkles to try and write themselves an after-the-fact discount. Like many of you, I've had times where I'd get a complaint and just roll over and give them money back (sometimes a full refund). It's not been often but of the times I've given refunds, I can't say that I honestly feel I did the right thing. It feels like I took the coward's way out, just to try and avoid a bad review online.

I have to tell you that I've grown a new spine and these extortion artist wannabes are out of luck from this day forward. I'll make a generous offer to try and make it right but if they choose to make excessive demands, they're out of luck. I'll fulfill the letter of my contract, document the entire thing for future reference and let the chips fall where they may. I'm through with negotiating with thieves.
 
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