Small Dilemma

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Brian

Brian

DJ
Oct 28, 2006
1,005
10
North Carolina
www.southcharlottedj.com
Ok I've got a personal dilemma I've been facing for the past 6 months at least, and its really starting to get in my head when I'm DJing. Basically until last fall, all of my gigs had been completely amazing. Then, of course I had my first bad gig. I have a gig report on here, but basically I was under-prepared for the style of music that was apparently the only music to get them dancing at this particular event. Ever since, it seems like I have a confidence issue. I used to be able to "feel" the next track and it would always seem to work. Now, I almost always second guess my selection. There are times when I do better, for example my last wedding got me into a great zone and I kept the floor packed for a good 3 hours straight. Reguardless of how good some events go, I always get very nervous before events now, and just like now, I fear an empty dance floor, and fear that I won't be able to pick good songs in a good order. It hasn't always been like this and I hate it, has anybody experienced something like this?

I'm not sure if I'm doing worse, or I'm becoming more observant and scrutinizing my performances that much harder. Every event I've had I've gotten good reviews on, and dance floor full or not, I've been told by numerous people I was a success, yet I don't feel that way and always am very nervous for the next event.

Tomorrow, I've got a big sweet 16 for my peers, and am probably just feeling the pressure, but any advice is appreciated. I've done many of these events, but to sum it all up, as of lately I feel underprepared (even though I don't think I am) and not confident until I really get into the gig (if that happens).
 
Brian,

Real short answer from me.

If you are unprepared, that's one thing, but never let an empty dance floor stipulate whether or not you are doing a good job. This is especially true at weddings.

Ever hear the phrase "group dynamics"?

It is a phrase we use in teaching to describe classroom behavior. The same is true when you are mixing families. Some families are ready to dance. Some haven't seen each other and they want to talk. Just a little slow to warm up.

It's all good brother. Use fear as a catalyst for confidence and keep their heads ringin'.
 
From one teacher (JT) to the next (me) Jer hit it on the nose. No matter how good you are...no matter if you pick the PERFECT song...sometime people just won't dance. We've all been there where we feel pressure to get the dancefloor back - you just need to learn from it, put it behind you and do what you do...help people have fun. It also seems that if you loosen up as the DJ your guests loosen up too.

I recently went to a father daughter dance that one of my DJ's was working...I was in the crowd dancing with 3 of my girls. He was not playing all the songs I would have, he wasn't fading in and out where I would have...but I had a BLAST, as did the rest of the crowd.

Don't be so critical on yourself trying to pick the perfect next song. Go with your gut, pull out 4-5 that seem okay for the situation and go for it.

Go get em' tomorrow night...just make sure to play "Stanky Leg" at least 6 times :sqwink:
 
A friend of mine that's is also a dj told me along time ago when we were at job and I had no one on the dance floor to close my eyes and pretend the floor was packed and it will come to you and ever since then that's what I do... If that don't work imagine everyone naked it might not help you, but it sure makes you laugh. People don't have to always dance to be having a good time.
 
Clear said:
A friend of mine that's is also a dj told me along time ago when we were at job and I had no one on the dance floor to close my eyes and pretend the floor was packed and it will come to you and ever since then that's what I do... If that don't work imagine everyone naked it might not help you, but it sure makes you laugh. People don't have to always dance to be having a good time.
Click to expand...

Just don't close them too much...you'll look like Stevie Wonder up there :sqlaugh:
 
Clear said:
A friend of mine that's is also a dj told me along time ago when we were at job and I had no one on the dance floor to close my eyes and pretend the floor was packed and it will come to you and ever since then that's what I do... If that don't work imagine everyone naked it might not help you, but it sure makes you laugh. People don't have to always dance to be having a good time.
Click to expand...

That's something I forgot to mention.

I NEVER change my energy. I feel the music and move always. Don't change a thing you do. It will infect people sooner or later.
 
If you know you did EVERTYHING in your capabilities to prepare and genuinly care about your client by playing every genre and floor starter posssible and they still didnt dance, its Them, its not you. I did a sweet 16 2 weeks ago. I played every hit on the radio, every song on the request list, and they dance probably 2 songs. Oh well. Dad told me Good Job at the end of the night. If you run into a gig where you somehow dont have any songs from a particular genre that they request, consider it a learning experience. We will forever be doing On The Job Training since music is always changing. Brush it off, pack your gear and head to the next one.
 
Brian, it's a psychological problem. We all have bad days, but then again everybody is different. Just because they are not dancing does not mean they are not having fun. Read the people sitting down, are their feet tapping? Heads bobbing? Playing the drums or guitar at the table? You see my point?

Don't dwell on "I didn't do my work" crap- You know what you're doing and every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, etc. you're going to have a different crowd. Another piece of advice is go with your instinct and don't second guess it. I compare this to taking a multiple choice test, go with your first answer and don't go back. When you go back and start erasing is where most of your mistakes are going to pop up.

Then there's the other comparison, surgery you may say I'm comparing apples to oranges, but the same principle applies. You're performing for an audience and every patient is different. And I may have done a lot of surgeries along the years, but once you go in it's a new ball game every time. DJ'ing and surgery are quite similar you need to make quick decisions and plan ahead, but unexpected things may pop up and trust me the crowd at the OR can be a PITA ;).

Keep doing what you're doing and enjoy!!!!
 
Brian said:
Reguardless of how good some events go, I always get very nervous before events now,
Click to expand...

That's good it means you are growing.....

25 Years and I still get the butterflys before performing the day I don't I'll probably give it up.

You are reading too much in to the negative and not reading your crowd. We all get there sometimes especially when you hit one or two in a row.

I did one last weekend, a 50th Birthday, and I would have said it sucked. There were about 40 people there and they danced to mabye 10 songs all night. As I watched them I noticed there was alot of foot tapping and conversation. By the end of the night I was getting hugs from the family and wound up with a wedding and a 25th anniversary for 2010 out of it.

A little dousing of the ego now and again is good it keeps you in check. Always keep your head up showing confidence even if you aren't feeling it. Walk with a swagger and speak with authority. Play your game don't let the game play you.

When I was about your age I did a banquet for a dart league at the local Sgts Mess hall. The venue wanted you to setup on the very small stage and the only way to setup on the stage was to have your back to the crowd. Well I spent 4 hours with no one dancing and my back to them. I was paranoid and defeated leaving that room that night. At the time I was working for my mentor and I went to see him the next day I was going to quit. All he said was why quit if you can make it through that you can make it through pretty much anything

Good luck
 
Don't worry if they're not on the floor, look around, watch how they respond to the music. Are people tapping their toes, or tapping the table. If they are standing are the slightly dancing in place. Is their head bobbing to the beat? As long as you can see the music reflected in the body language don't worry.
 
Just remember Brian you have only just started and there could be a lot more like it

it wont be you 9/10 times its the crowd that doesnt get it
I have done shows where NO one had danced all night (maybe scared) but I get good reviews after because they didnt want to be up there alone

no matter what you do as long as you get a good reply after the show then you are ok

also remember - You never stop LEARNING
 
forgot to add again to remember that you aren't always the center of entertainment. Sometimes the atmosphere is. Help control the atmosphere, but don't assume you are the atmosphere.

If I have an empty dancefloor, I turn the volume down, not up.

When it seems the time is right at a wedding I utilize two key tools:
Cha Cha slide or Unchained Melody.
 
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