Need an "oldies" playlist for Saturday

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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
I did a final follow-up phone call with the bride from Saturday's event yesterday. We haven't received any kind of song requests from her, although she said she'd send a list over last night. Her only comments were "No Cupid Shuffle and lots of oldies stuff." I don't know their exact ages but I'm guessing late 20s. To be perfectly honest, I feel like I usually struggle with oldie lists and was wondering if some of you guys would mind sharing one/some that have worked in the past. Wish I could be more specific but this is all I have to go on. Preparing for hunt-n-peck mode............
 
We just did this routine last month with Chas in this thread. I'll echo my opinion. Don't bite off more than you can chew and don't assume anything. If you "struggle" with a certain genre or the term "oldies" sounds vague to you, contact the client and ask more questions.

How can you maintain your "legendary" standards if you have to "hunt-n-peck" for someone's wedding?

Good luck.
 
First step would be to call her back and make sure her meaning of "oldies" is the same as your. To me it means 50's and 60's; but working with a couple about a year ago (in their late 20's) oldies to them meant 80's. Might also want to get at least a genre from her; but in the end just be ready for anything once the reception starts.
 
Guys, I understand the thoughts of re-contacting the client but that's not something I need to do at this point (high-end bride, very hands-off, planner involved). Don't want to go into the details and no problems per say but let's just leave it as minimal contact going forward is best. My thoughts are to mix it up between 70s-90s and sprinkle in a few of the mainstream dance things that are more current. BTW, thanks Hank, for the bump on that thread.
 
rickryan.com said:
Guys, I understand the thoughts of re-contacting the client but that's not something I need to do at this point (high-end bride, very hands-off, planner involved). Don't want to go into the details and no problems per say but let's just leave it as minimal contact going forward is best. My thoughts are to mix it up between 70s-90s and sprinkle in a few of the mainstream dance things that are more current. BTW, thanks Hank, for the bump on that thread.
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Rick, with all due respect, you NEED to contact the bride directly to find out exactly what she considers oldies. Don't concern yourself with stepping on a planner's toes or anything because it's your name on the line if you get something wrong, not the planner's.

It's already been mentioned, the term "oldies" is so vague. Even to a 20 something bride oldies could mean dropping back to Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry or maybe more of a 70's sound. Heck just the other day one of my classmates (22 years old, graduating and engaged) referred to Snoop and Biggie as "oldies." I think there's just too much vagueness running around to not know the correct answers for this client.
 
No respec, Ricky...but just bring your external HD with all the music from 50's - 90's to the gig. You've been doing this for quite some time and should already KNOW how to read the crowd. Like Hank said it's in the threads, and I've posted quite a bit regarding "standard" 50 's and 60's.
I'm surprised Rick from NewYork and now from Florida hasn't chimed in. LOL He will tell you to "wing" it. LOL

Seriously, not much you can do but pick a couple songs from each decade that are tried and true dance favorites and toss them out there. I'm sure you'll find out where the CROWD want's to go. But of course, If you don't have the music with you then you can't very well play those songs that the Bride might come up and ask you to play.

Tough situation, but nothing that will kill the party.
 
TwinSpinDJ said:
No respec, Ricky...but just bring your external HD with all the music from 50's - 90's to the gig. You've been doing this for quite some time and should already KNOW how to read the crowd. Like Hank said it's in the threads, and I've posted quite a bit regarding "standard" 50 's and 60's.
I'm surprised Rick from NewYork and now from Florida hasn't chimed in. LOL He will tell you to "wing" it. LOL

Seriously, not much you can do but pick a couple songs from each decade that are tried and true dance favorites and toss them out there. I'm sure you'll find out where the CROWD want's to go. But of course, If you don't have the music with you then you can't very well play those songs that the Bride might come up and ask you to play.

Tough situation, but nothing that will kill the party.
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Thanks. You're right down the middle. This one caught me a bit flat-footed and I got a bit intimidated after seeing the venue (first time there) and finding out who the planner was. The bride double-booked lighting; bought 10 cans from me and has the big dog lighting company, which she hired after my contract. She'd actually forgotten she contracted my cans so I'm trying to not give her a chance to ask to cancel that extra $400. I'm headed over to the other lighting company's office at lunch to see if I can coordinate with them. I've worked other jobs where they beat me out on the lighting. Good folks. Just trying to keep everyone involved smiling when they see me coming.

As for the tunes, I'll just splatter a wide variety and see what sticks. Should really be a pretty easy gig and hopefully open the door to some more things with that particular clique of vendors.
 
rickryan.com said:
Thanks. You're right down the middle. This one caught me a bit flat-footed and I got a bit intimidated after seeing the venue (first time there) and finding out who the planner was. The bride double-booked lighting; bought 10 cans from me and has the big dog lighting company, which she hired after my contract. She'd actually forgotten she contracted my cans so I'm trying to not give her a chance to ask to cancel that extra $400. I'm headed over to the other lighting company's office at lunch to see if I can coordinate with them. I've worked other jobs where they beat me out on the lighting. Good folks. Just trying to keep everyone involved smiling when they see me coming.

As for the tunes, I'll just splatter a wide variety and see what sticks. Should really be a pretty easy gig and hopefully open the door to some more things with that particular clique of vendors.
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Dude, you don't want to contact her because she MIGHT try and cancel your uplighting? So instead you'll just spatter a wide variety of music and see what sticks.

Instead of only thinking about you, why don't you think about your client and do the homework, research and ask the questions that need to be asked? She's paying you to be her DJ, so she is paying you to know the music and in this case to know what she means when she says "oldies."

I think you'll find more doors will open for you and your business if you start doing right by your clients and not just looking at how much you can make off of them.
 
The bride came thru with her list, as promised. Nothing out of the ordinary other than to push the hip-hop/dance stuff towards the backside of the event. I met with the other lighting contractor today. They'll do the ballroom and I'm doing the cocktail area. I have a feeling this is going to be a stunning event.

Thanks again for your input, folks.
 
Glad that got ironed out but what concerns me is the lack of concern you have presented cause of losing 400 dollars. Do you think just maybe that if you miss the mark on her music requests you could possibly lose more than 400 in multiples down the road? The vendors might sense or hear the negative for what you didnt provide via music and which may then in fact cause issue with the vendors and referral base you may have gained for banging this one out proper. The idea you also soaked her along with the other vendor double for something she should have only paid once may leak out as you being dishonest. I know you got this settled and thats the good thing. Im more worried you considered the issue and chose a selfish platform in this situation.
 
Hi Rickryan

Just was chuckling because I thought of your thread when I opened up this email today from one of my brides..........This is exactly what she wrote

And for the oldies some examples...Tierra, El Chicano, War, Delfonics, Tower of Power and Malo
 
Wow it comes with detailed instructions. Wonderful. Dont women know us He man women hater club members dont read instructions?
 
Jon Tuck said:
Glad that got ironed out but what concerns me is the lack of concern you have presented cause of losing 400 dollars. Do you think just maybe that if you miss the mark on her music requests you could possibly lose more than 400 in multiples down the road? The vendors might sense or hear the negative for what you didnt provide via music and which may then in fact cause issue with the vendors and referral base you may have gained for banging this one out proper. The idea you also soaked her along with the other vendor double for something she should have only paid once may leak out as you being dishonest. I know you got this settled and thats the good thing. Im more worried you considered the issue and chose a selfish platform in this situation.
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Jon, just to clarify, my primary purpose was to not pester the client (this is the impression I've had from them all along). My side concern was giving her an opportunity to duck out of the lighting. Thanks for your high opinion of me.
 
Actually Rick I have a high opinion but not keen seeing you having to not pester her cause she might find out she was double billed and want a refund. In the end I hopefully presented a different view point and the consequences that could be more detrimental than $400. Typically most often than not I hold you in High regard just not in this situation. I only respond from experience and losing other potentials in efforts to keep 4 bills is not worth it in the long run.
 
Jon Tuck said:
Actually Rick I have a high opinion but not keen seeing you having to not pester her cause she might find out she was double billed and want a refund. In the end I hopefully presented a different view point and the consequences that could be more detrimental than $400. Typically most often than not I hold you in High regard just not in this situation. I only respond from experience and losing other potentials in efforts to keep 4 bills is not worth it in the long run.
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She was not double-billed. She booked me for lighting, then forgot about it and booked someone else to do the same thing. I did not want to have the situation of her deciding she wanted to back out of that portion of our contract at the last moment. Do you have a habit of just arbitrarily letting clients out of portions of your contract, just because they decided (after the fact) they wanted to get something somewhere else?
 
rickryan.com said:
She was not double-billed. She booked me for lighting, then forgot about it and booked someone else to do the same thing. I did not want to have the situation of her deciding she wanted to back out of that portion of our contract at the last moment. Do you have a habit of just arbitrarily letting clients out of portions of your contract, just because they decided (after the fact) they wanted to get something somewhere else?
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Very true Rick, but at the same time the fear of her possibily wanting to cancel the contract as grounds for not calling to clarify her definition of "oldies" reeks of not giving a darn about the client and only caring about yourself.
 
I agree with what most have said and that is to make sure when it comes to the music a client wants that you both are on the same page. I like to get an idea of what type of music a potential client wants before we both sign the contract and i get the retainer. I want to make sure i'm the right DJ for the job or i say i'll pass.

The thing i don't like is when a client is very vague in letting you know what they want when it comes to music. Some will say for example they want music from the 70's, 80's and 90's. That's all they will tell you. There's plenty of music from those decades to choose from. I like to get an idea of the style or styles of music they want from those decades. Not just leaving things so wide open.

The real funny one is when someone says they want party music. There's all types of party music. What one group will say is fine for another crowd they will think is boring and nobody will dance to what you're playing.

I don't like the idea of just showing up and not sure of what to play for a crowd. Then just trying to figure out what will work for that crowd. I like to know what i should be playing ahead of time and if i need to chage things depending on if the crowd is into what i'm playing, then it's time to use my expereince to see what will work hopefully for that crowd.

Knowing how to read a crowd takes time to learn that. You just don't learn that after doing say 3 gigs. I find you learn this through time, making mistakes and learning from them.
 
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