I've done a couple of teen and community dances recently and attempted to throw some mixing in but I'm just not that confident in my ability to beatmatch and time everything properly. I tried recording a mix and I thought it sounded really bad. My question is for mobile DJing and community events is the ability to beatmatch and mix really that important?
Mixing...is it really that important?
- Thread starter DJ Hijack
- Start date
IMO, it's just another skill. There are a number one needs to be a successful DJ. Beat matching and mixing (there are many styles) are needed for some venues (clubs and such), nice for others (school dances, parties, late wedding dancing) and not needed for some others. I can match beats (pretty easy with DJ software), but I won't say I have a fraction of the skills of others here. For me and the events I do, it falls under the "might be cool to have at some point before I die" set.
This is what DJing is all about. It is a skill. Playing a song after a song is not a skill, even some Clients can pick great songs/playlists but that does not make them a DJ.
I'm good at many other DJing skills. I can do lighting and sound and I'm great at reading a crowd and knowing what to play, I'm just lacking in the mixing department. I'm feeling down in the dumps because of it. A friend told me that you aren't really a "DJ" if you can't mix. I've done a lot of live events though and gotten positive feedback and good references and I absolutely love what I do. I can beatmatch and mix to an extent but I'm not that great at it.
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Good mixing makes for an uninterrupted flow of the music. I am not referring to Scratching which in itself is a Creative Effect combined with the music. When there is a change in tempo, a dance floor may become empty real quick. This is how original jocks were able to introduce new songs. Blend/Mix in the new with the old and the dancers will keep going before they realize there was a change.
One of the best things about DJing is hearing a nice set with good mixing skills. I enjoy beatmixing all genres of music. I also have a friend who is a very successful event company business owner who does not beatmix at all, but he has great mc skills and good slam timing with music.
As I said .. it's a skill among many .. not "what DJing is all about" .. that would be entertaining people with pre-recorded music. I give props to those that have and use it, but disagree whole-heartedly that it is necessary (certainly nice to have available) in the vast majority of venues.
This is Houston, Texas my friend. If you can't mix down here you won't get far as in reference to the big bucks. Even when I was in Boston it was a required skill.
I'm guessing you don't play to the cowboy boot wearing crowds that I do...
Are you across the railroad tracks...?
If you were to go to one of the C&W Clubs here you will hear mixing. It does not matter what type of Club or crowd they will appreciate a DJ who can mix, it is expected. I have to mix Country, Rock n Roll, R & B, Hip Hop, Dance , Latin, and Reggae all the time. Thats even harder than just mixing one genre!I'm guessing you don't play to the cowboy boot wearing crowds that I do...
Are you across the railroad tracks...?
Your friend is right - although I'm not sure it's anything to get down in the dumps about. Mixing is something YOU do to improve YOUR job - the customer is more concerned about having a successful event overall with or without mixing.
I can tell you that not being a good mixer means you have to work all that much harder at picking songs that will be received really well on simply their own merit. Mixing expands the range of workable music available to you at any given time.
With excellent mixing skills you can play more music in the same time frame while keeping perfect sync with your dancers. You can make medleys, you can add songs that wouldn't necessarily be great choices on their own - but, as part of a mix work better than other selections you might play.
Mixing is something you can learn but, you have to make your self do it. You have to be willing to put your self out there and risk the train wreck. If you are good at picking songs than all the better - you will always have something ready to refill the floor should a mix not work the way you wanted.
As I suspected -- different crowd. I'd get shot for playing Hip Hop, Latin or Reggae. Most of the bars I'm used to playing, they want a line dance, then all head to the bar to do shots, then another line dance, and more shots.
Not to be racist or anything, but most of the places I'll do a gig are white folks, middle aged. They don't want to dance for an hour straight (maybe George Strait).
The other gigs I'll do are Shag parties -- Jimmy Buffett type stuff, and some prime time reggae.
The dancing is not really important with the crowds I'm used to, except the country folks. It's more of how you present the atmosphere, and make the socializing fun.
I'm guessing you don't play to the cowboy boot wearing crowds that I do...
Are you across the railroad tracks...?
Mixing doesn't have to mean an overlay of the tracks. A lot of Country songs end cold but, the rhythm of the next track should still be in time with the first. Mixing is about the dancers and whether or not the correct beat will be there when they put their next foot down.
I do a Lion's share of my Gigs at Country and Golf Clubs.What race do you think is in the majority at those places? It is called versatility & creativity of the DJ. Ever Mix Soca with country or Rock n Roll? You should try it sometime.
As I mentioned -- different demographic Bob.
Most of the folks I work for, do not want to dance straight through. They want to stop, have a drink, and socialize between songs.
They work their butts off on the floor, but then want to relax for a bit, after 1 or 2 songs. There's a lot of talk, some trivia stuff, pool playing -- things like that. That's my environment.
I take it you have been DJing lately in New York then Florida unto Delaware and now back in NY, right? What you fail to realize is that even though what you may experience is accepted, it is not the norm in most DJ Applications/Real Life Experiences. The Old Party Farts don't care, the Middle Age Boomers have experienced it and the young ones have their own, it is called scratching. If one knows how to do it all they can fit in anywhere and thus make no excuse as to why they can't or say silly things like "it isn't needed"!
It's not the demographics - It's the DJ. You've clearly defined yourself and also therefore the limits of the crowd that will form around you.
Mixing is the freedom to do more, reach more, and be more.
Two things keep have kept me DJing all these years. One is the mixing, the other is the free meals.
With the advent of DJ Software and Digital Controllers, I don't see any reason why a DJ should not be doing Mixed Sets. Just create your playlist and let the Automix take over. beats with +6 to -6 BPM can also be sync'd to make a smooth transition. However, not because two songs have the same BPM means that it may mix well together. Beat Pitch and Tempo has to be taken into consideration.
Automix on a DJ Software is like Powered Speakers to DJ Gear. The worry is taken care of for you.
Automix on a DJ Software is like Powered Speakers to DJ Gear. The worry is taken care of for you.
