ok so im new at this DJing game i jsut started and im lookin for help..next week i have a 60th suprise party and my client told me to play some frank dean nd some disco alot with current music... so do any of yous have any thoughts on what songs get the party dancin and for the people stay on the dance floor??? please helppppp i dont wanna mess upppp haha*
Help Please
- Thread starter dirtypop144
- Start date
Check out our gig reports section and look though some of the playlists it might help you out some
Check with the client and get examples that will help you too
Check with the client and get examples that will help you too
Kaitlyn -
This is a very broad question only because every event is different in scope and concept. You have to remember that no 2 parties or events are alike only because so many people have so many different likes and dis-likes when it comes to music.
Finding that "right" mix is an artform that takes either lots of practice, or a huge amount of luck if you are inexperienced.
If you have been requested to include Rat Pack music, and if it were me, I would play it at the beginning of the evening when things are still in "low-key" mode, and again near the end when everyone is feelin' no pain from the alcohol. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin type songs are great sing-a-long type songs that most older folks know, and many younger types don't mind wailing to either.
Disco is one of those genre's of music that works almost every time, at any event, only because it falls into that category of music that I deem "comfort music". Everyone knows the lyrics and can dance to it, it has a great beat that is easy to follow, and even if some people don't dance to it, you will find them sitting at the tables either singing along with it or tapping their toes and bobbing their heads.
As for the newer more current stuff - it appeals to so many people across so many different demographics, it would be difficult to say what would and would not work in any given situation. It really depends on the people in attendance at your event.
Best of luck and let us know how it turns out with a gig report afterwards.
Oh, and to answer Wiz's question - no it's not a joke.
This is a very broad question only because every event is different in scope and concept. You have to remember that no 2 parties or events are alike only because so many people have so many different likes and dis-likes when it comes to music.
Finding that "right" mix is an artform that takes either lots of practice, or a huge amount of luck if you are inexperienced.
If you have been requested to include Rat Pack music, and if it were me, I would play it at the beginning of the evening when things are still in "low-key" mode, and again near the end when everyone is feelin' no pain from the alcohol. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin type songs are great sing-a-long type songs that most older folks know, and many younger types don't mind wailing to either.
Disco is one of those genre's of music that works almost every time, at any event, only because it falls into that category of music that I deem "comfort music". Everyone knows the lyrics and can dance to it, it has a great beat that is easy to follow, and even if some people don't dance to it, you will find them sitting at the tables either singing along with it or tapping their toes and bobbing their heads.
As for the newer more current stuff - it appeals to so many people across so many different demographics, it would be difficult to say what would and would not work in any given situation. It really depends on the people in attendance at your event.
Best of luck and let us know how it turns out with a gig report afterwards.
Oh, and to answer Wiz's question - no it's not a joke.
My all time cheat sheet, I know its been posted before, great resource
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/music0.html
like greg said, knowing the songs is barely half the battle. getting the so called " feel" is what takes time and experience.
Do this for all the genres of music you dont know.
Learn all the local radio stations that play:
DISCO
OLDIES
CLASSIC ROCK
80's
Listen to each station for 1 week. This week start with Disco and Oldies.
Do the same for all the other stations . Keep on doing this repeatedly.
Who cares if you dont like the music. Its like school, you may not like the subject but you need to take the class.
Keep on doing this until you get a good grasp of what is typically played for each genre.
At the same time, stay aware of all new stuff.
This should get you going.
Hope that helps.
Enjoy your stay and if you need any more help, there are a lot of wise and seasoned veterans on this forum. Just ask!
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/music0.html
like greg said, knowing the songs is barely half the battle. getting the so called " feel" is what takes time and experience.
Do this for all the genres of music you dont know.
Learn all the local radio stations that play:
DISCO
OLDIES
CLASSIC ROCK
80's
Listen to each station for 1 week. This week start with Disco and Oldies.
Do the same for all the other stations . Keep on doing this repeatedly.
Who cares if you dont like the music. Its like school, you may not like the subject but you need to take the class.
Keep on doing this until you get a good grasp of what is typically played for each genre.
At the same time, stay aware of all new stuff.
This should get you going.
Hope that helps.
Enjoy your stay and if you need any more help, there are a lot of wise and seasoned veterans on this forum. Just ask!
Call your client and ask him or her to poll the guests for music selections they'd like. Not just artists, get specific songs. Then get the music you'll need.
I don't usually do this... but I'm gonna recommend the 99 cent special at Amazon for some of the obscure tracks. It would be impossible to buy enough CDs to cover this show and still have enough money for a sammich afterwards.
Reason I say this, I've been in the biz since '93. Have been a subscriber to PO and CDX since '98. I've got thousands of songs, promotional and retail CD and still, I have guests request songs I don't have. It happens. I've got three Frankie Sinatra collections... and you'd better believe that somebody is gonna request a song by him that I don't have on those collections. It happens.
Good luck on this one. I hope it works out for you and all involved.
I don't usually do this... but I'm gonna recommend the 99 cent special at Amazon for some of the obscure tracks. It would be impossible to buy enough CDs to cover this show and still have enough money for a sammich afterwards.
Reason I say this, I've been in the biz since '93. Have been a subscriber to PO and CDX since '98. I've got thousands of songs, promotional and retail CD and still, I have guests request songs I don't have. It happens. I've got three Frankie Sinatra collections... and you'd better believe that somebody is gonna request a song by him that I don't have on those collections. It happens.
Good luck on this one. I hope it works out for you and all involved.
Im going to wish you a great show and go buy a lottery ticket. Your facing a very difficult challenge if you succeed congratulations are in order. Keep us posted. You might want to play Beach Boys- Kokomo and Lady In Red.
Kaitlyn,
Sparkie has given you some solid advice.
You say you're 24 years old. So, I will address you as such.
It might be more to your benefit to show yourself and the members here the courtesy of presenting your questions in some more structured manor.
That garbled, run on sentence is hard on the eyes.
If you are truly serious about entertaining at private functions on a professional level, you must take the clients needs seriously as well.
You're not going to learn what's necessary about these other genres from lists and compilations. You're going to learn from the reactions of
your clients.
This party will most likely be a bumpy ride. Just be honest with the client and try to take away a better understanding of this profession. It's much more than big speakers and music.
Good luck.
Yes, and please use plain english. The text-speak looks amateurish (which is what prompted the wizzes comment about being a joke)
I have to question your sincerity in being a DJ if you need to ask a question like this.
Let's go easy on the newbie....
Hey "DirtyPop144" -- don't take this the wrong way.....
you gotta have thick skin to be around here --- don't let our constructive criticism scare you away...
use spell check and caps -- you'll be fine here!
Hey "DirtyPop144" -- don't take this the wrong way.....
you gotta have thick skin to be around here --- don't let our constructive criticism scare you away...
use spell check and caps -- you'll be fine here!
Be nice, guys. We all had to start somewhere.
Actually, a group of 60-somethings will be much more forgiving than say a middle school dance.
Actually, a group of 60-somethings will be much more forgiving than say a middle school dance.
Maybe this type of music is not his stongsuit and he just need some guidance.Remember this chat is to help people in any which way you can. We all learn from each other nobody is an expert we always have to room to improve and make us the best DJ.I also think that if he does not feel comfortable with this type of music maybe he should not do it or just explore the music they are asking for to the fullest extent and check out the Gig Reports because it is a great tool eventhough all parties are different.
Sorry, gentlemen, but other than Wiz's comment, I really don't see where anyone was not being nice or helpful. Seasoned veterans shining some light on a rookie's risky or unbecoming practices is both kind and helpful.
This is not grade school where everyone gets a gold star. This is real life with real people, spending real money. Each of us (even the newbies) owes it to ourselves and the profession, to think before we act.
Sorry for the dose of realism, but as "The Big C" would say...
"That's how I roll".
Ok I am not a DJ, and I am 23, but I know Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs. I love listening to both of them.....and then the new aged Michael Buble....if you have heard of him you will know some of Franks and Deans songs.
I my not be a DJ but I am a dancer, so I appriecate to older music that was made for the dance era!!!
I my not be a DJ but I am a dancer, so I appriecate to older music that was made for the dance era!!!