Should I Be Worried

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Other songs in the past few years include:
Dance Monkey - Tones and I
Señorita - Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello
Despacito – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber
Despacito works well, but for roughly a year now I have only been playing it by request. It's dance floor euphoria was fading quickly tail end of last summer...imo.

Good tracks. I agree about "Despacito" and would suggest "Ritmo" by Black Eyed Peas as well.
 
There are lots of current songs that appeal to crowds of all generations. Yes they may be unfamiliar to some, but when properly placed, beatmixed, and having read the crowd right, they'll work very well. It's the mentality of "the new stuff sucks" and playing the same generic stuff over and over from 4 yrs ago that allows others to stand out.

I'll use an example.

When I incorporate greek music, I don't just do a full turn of the room and stop american, start greek, and watch a mass exodus of the dancefloor. Most greek pop music is 98bpm range... so I get my american set to that bpm range, get the energy going, and go into a popular mainstream latin track such as despacito, gasolina, con calma, etc., and from there bring in the greek pop. I've already programmed the dancer to be comfortable with music of a different language, what's one more song in a different language going to do. People notice this. All the time people are asking me how it is that I have non greeks dancing to american music when all the other events they go to they just see them sitting. I tell em simple... I don't announce, "now time for some greek music", I just make it natural.

Same thing with the current stuff. There's ways to incorporate it so that even a non familiar person can enjoy it. With that said, most of the new playable stuff was mentioned, I'd also mention the songs Say So and Boss B*tch by Doja Cat. It also doesn't have to be "new", but could be songs that are not mainstream but very effective such as Came Here For Love by Sigala. Most people are not familiar w that song, so while older by 2 yrs, it would make you appear as more cutting edge.
 
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On the upside, most of the current music seriously sucks. You'll come off as a better DJ by using the rear view mirror.
 
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When I incorporate greek music, I don't just do a full turn of the room and stop american, start greek, and watch a mass exodus of the dancefloor. Most greek pop music is 98bpm range... so I get my american set to that bpm range, get the energy going, and go into a popular mainstream latin track such as despacito, gasolina, con calma, etc., and from there bring in the greek pop. I've already programmed the dancer to be comfortable with music of a different language, what's one more song in a different language going to do. People notice this. All the time people are asking me how it is that I have non greeks dancing to american music when all the other events they go to they just see them sitting. I tell em simple... I don't announce, "now time for some greek music", I just make it natural.

You can do the same switching any of country to pop to hip-hop to rock but you really got to know the music guessing at it is going to sound like a train wreck
 
You can do the same switching any of country to pop to hip-hop to rock but you really got to know the music guessing at it is going to sound like a train wreck
And that’s what separates us djs :). I hear so many djs say what Ricky says about the music, and sticking to the same old stuff. This is the equivalent of the 60yr old djs that stick to the we are family, celebration, ymca, and cha cha slide at every event.
 
And that’s what separates us djs :). I hear so many djs say what Ricky says about the music, and sticking to the same old stuff. This is the equivalent of the 60yr old djs that stick to the we are family, celebration, ymca, and cha cha slide at every event.
Hey !! I never use 'We are Family" ... :)
 
And that’s what separates us djs :). I hear so many djs say what Ricky says about the music, and sticking to the same old stuff. This is the equivalent of the 60yr old djs that stick to the we are family, celebration, ymca, and cha cha slide at every event.

Well if I'm to be honest I play ALOT of older music in the run of a night BUT that's what they are asking for. I rarely get a list with more than 5 or 6 new songs. I did one last summer Bride and Groom were 27 and 29 they list they gave me had 2 must plays besides the first/parents dances Unchained Medley and Faster Horses by Tom T Hall. They had about 100 suggestions the newest was Old Town road next newest Uptown Funk
 
Well if I'm to be honest I play ALOT of older music in the run of a night BUT that's what they are asking for. I rarely get a list with more than 5 or 6 new songs. I did one last summer Bride and Groom were 27 and 29 they list they gave me had 2 must plays besides the first/parents dances Unchained Medley and Faster Horses by Tom T Hall. They had about 100 suggestions the newest was Old Town road next newest Uptown Funk
Maybe it didn’t come out right, but what I meant was djs that only know how to play that range of music and don’t know how to incorporate anything else
 
I'm no longer "60" anymore and only play "Cha Cha Slide" when someone requests it or happen to be doing a "line dance set" of the newer stuff...Old Town Road, The Git Up, The Box. Don't play any of the others at all, again, unless someone requests it.
 
Hey !! I never use 'We are Family" ... :)

If people still request them, and dance to them...
is there really a problem with "sticking to them"?

And, I'm not talking about "every event".
I specifically asked because this was a 50th birthday.
 
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Okay, update time!

Sorry I have been absent from this site,
but since I was laid off, I have stayed off ALL social media...
and it's been quite refreshing.

The client for the birthday party was fickle from the start.
Not her fault, issues with the virus and the venue were driving her nuts,
and the rules were changing weekly.
She was guilty, however...of not keeping in touch or keeping us in the loop.

The event was cancelled. As far as we know.
Three weeks ago, she did call...but didn't / couldn't offer any details.
So we just gave up.
To make up for the loss, the boss hired me for HIS gig...
helping with setup and break down, and running the photobooth after dinner.
Only made half the money, but it was nice to get back to work.
and it was really nice to watch someone else DJ.
Even with LOTS of younger people in the crowd (20's and 30's)
He played almost NO new music.

Best part was, the bride and groom from my January wedding were guests.
(the newly married couple attended THEIR wedding)

AND, the boss just booked me for a 40-person backyard wedding in October...
so all of this info about new music will still come in handy.