Anybody use a cheat sheet?

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
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Valley Forge Area
I'm rather out of my element when it comes to teen events. I avoid them at all costs, but as I mentioned in another thread, the guy who is hiring me to do his daughter's event is a good client who has used me several times, so I am doing her Sweet 16. Anyway, I have made a list of about 150 songs to play at the party. And I am waiting for her to send me a list of what she likes. I also asked 2 other 16 year old girls for lists. By the time the party comes around I hope to have a good list of about 200 choices. Of course, if another song is appropriate, and I have it, I can / will play that too.

See, I RARELY play any current rap / hip hop..... Between my kid events, and the 10 - 12 other parties I do per year, it just really isn't needed for my clients. This party has me on edge, as I just know that much of what I will be playing is not what I normally play. I have told the father that I only play "clean" and he is 100% on board with that. Now, I sure hope the kids are OK with that.

Anyway, it feels kinda cheesy needing a list like this, but it is the only way I think I will feel prepared.

Anybody else ever use a huge cheat sheet like this?
 
its like prepping for a speech with cue cards Papa. To answer your question. Hell Yeah I do for most any event.
 
It is called a Playlist.
 
mine consist of mostly charts from genre era and top 40 current. also ethnic if the event calls for it which I have those in a binder as well in my backpack at every gig. I have so much music in my head and am really bad with names on occasion the lists help refresh on the odd occasion I have a Seniors moment.
 
I always refer to "Billboards Hot 100". So far, I haven't missed. I have also, on occasion, gotten a request that I DL'd on the spot.
 
Uh.....I didn't know it was cheating.........Damnit....

Yes I either have a base playlist...a print out....cue cards.....napkin.....anything.....

I use something at everygig to help me keep names straight.....must plays.....you name it.
 
badblood70 said:
Uh.....I didn't know it was cheating.........Damnit....

Yes I either have a base playlist...a print out....cue cards.....napkin.....anything.....

I use something at everygig to help me keep names straight.....must plays.....you name it.
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I guess I am a little different. I usually have a small list of Must play and DNP, but I have never created a big list of "possibilities to play"... solely because The kind of music teens want is not what I usually ever have to play. I'm sitting at home listening o all these to check for language.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Nah, this goes way beyond that.
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I have had to do exactly what you are about to do Papa. Most of the places I play want the Unedited versions so normally i don't have to worry. However, I had to do a Childrens Party so I made a Playlist (In my software) of all the Clean Songs I could find, this was my reference (Cheat Sheet) I then created an Active Playlist with songs picked in a certain sequence. I pulled from the Reference Playlist as needed.
 
Chuck... something you will discover: Even if you are playing the "clean" version of a song, the kids will sing along with it and voice the bad lyrics as the song plays. It's as thought you really played the dirty version, because you can't hear the clean version or blocked out lyrics anyhow. Just my experience.
 
Jon Tuck said:
mine consist of mostly charts from genre era and top 40 current. also ethnic if the event calls for it which I have those in a binder as well in my backpack at every gig. I have so much music in my head and am really bad with names on occasion the lists help refresh on the odd occasion I have a Seniors moment.
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Jon...same here. I have that CRS disease on occasion (Can't Remember Sheet), plus I'm a visual person. When I was playing 45's way back, I had boxes and boxes of them; grouped by year (1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's). Within each box 250 records, but some were 2-sided hits [reissue]. Each box had Alpha Divider and stuck inside each sleeve was a 5x8 Card that extended at least an inch above the sleeve. In BIG LETTERS across the top of each 5x8 care was the SONG TITLE and YEAR, and then just below was Artist and highest Top-40 Ranking. It served as a double Visual reminder whenever I had to hunt for a song. Gosh! Got off track, sorry. :)

I'm always monitoring the Bilboard Singles Charts, DJ Intelligence Top 200, and America's Music Charts.

Papa, the best thing to do is ask for a music list (10-15 songs) from the birthday girl. If you provide too much music, they won't really know what they want to have you play. The added song titles will make it difficult and they then will just say, "play anything off the list." Then YOU are stuck trying to decide what song to play.

A small list will get you going, but then you'll get requests too during the party and that's the double-edge sword; out of luck if you don't have the music. With "youth" parties (16 and under) you've got to be aware of the bad language, sexual inuendos, drugs and alcohol. Obviously, you are aware of those things as I've seen from some of your earlier postings.

So, you did what I would have done (if I didn't have the music on hand) and trust that she didn't come up with too many songs. It gets to be expensive coming up with 10 or 15 songs you don't have on hand.

You should also check out the Disney Weekly Top-30 Chart.

Let us know how you fared? Post the list she came up with...that will be interesting.

Good luck. :)
 
I suffer from CRS just like you Art. So I have several playlist lists set up like best of Motown,best of disco, best of beach music, ect. Works for me.
 
yeah, I have printed out top 100/200 lists for all genre's and many "top hits of the year _____ " lists.
I also carry a pen and notebook so I can scribble down a good idea when hear it.

If you feel you are cheating, think about your normal wedding
do you not have a list of song requests from the bride? do you not use a DNP list?
would anyone really think less of you for using a list?

I dont think using one is cheating, it's only ensuring you play the right songs for the event.
 
Tyrone Blue said:
Chuck... something you will discover: Even if you are playing the "clean" version of a song, the kids will sing along with it and voice the bad lyrics as the song plays. It's as thought you really played the dirty version, because you can't hear the clean version or blocked out lyrics anyhow. Just my experience.
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Oh, I expect that... I'm just doing what I can.... in this case that may not happen, though as there will be 8 parents as chaperones.
 
Papa, nothing at all wrong with what you are doing. You want to play what your audience wants to hear. Research and prior proper planning is not cheating.

Best,

Paul
 
It's not cheating .. as Charlie Sheen would say .. it's "WINNING"
 
Like USDJ said, "Research and prior proper planning is not cheating." I would say we all need to heed the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared." I think that's right. :) LOL
 
We usually have a general updated playlist, but we do know what's in our library because it's primarily what we do (teen events). In our case we know what's clean and playabe as because of our normal editing process. Otoh, we do have a full library list on a laptop for easy searchability, and since everything in our library is edited...it's sort of also a playable list like you're generating. In your case i actually think it's a very good way to manage the night and manage requests. From that list you should be able to develop a playlist so the night flows smoothly.
 
check out allaccess.com or rick.com they will give you the top 40 listing print of the list and there is your cheat sheet
 
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