You are correct. Older people just repeat, second verse same as the first.
How to know when you’re done
- Thread starter tunes4046
- Start date
I had an event recently which featured a DJ who relied solely on this mixing style and frankly, both he and it sucked. He couldn't keep anyone dancing because just when a song they liked would start he was out of it in less than a minute and onto whatever he thought they should care about rather than the music they actually liked. When a group of 20-somethings are drunk and high they will dance to just about anything, but a self-serving entertainer can derail even that in a second by ignoring social cues and failing to read the room. It's still the music that moves people to the floor - and that holds even when there is no mixing at all.
I see more bands at high end events than DJs now - and by a very large margin. Bands play sets and medleys, but they do not employ this adolescent level quick switching of the songs and the dance floors stay full continuously. It's not true that this ADHD style is the "modern" norm - it's just something born of impatience and shallowness in the younger generation. I would further intuit that much of it's perceived popularity is not real, but rather born of group think and imitation. When I hear the phrase "what's trending" I associate that with social desperation.
The anthems are not the outliers in this. They are a clue that people are still enjoined in the music and that it is the artists and music industry that is failing miserably to produce a quality product. A quick mix becomes necessary because the song itself does not exist - it's merely a singular meme surrounded by rhythm and diatribe.
We have complete opposite experiences. But again, you gotta do it right. If they suck then they’re not doing it right. If that was the case I’d be losing business not gaining. When quick mixing if you’re noticing the change then you did it wrong.I had an event recently which featured a DJ who relied solely on this mixing style and frankly, both he and it sucked. He couldn't keep anyone dancing because just when a song they liked would start he was out of it in less than a minute and onto whatever he thought they should care about rather than the music they actually liked. When a group of 20-somethings are drunk and high they will dance to just about anything, but a self-serving entertainer can derail even that in a second by ignoring social cues and failing to read the room. It's still the music that moves people to the floor - and that holds even when there is no mixing at all.
I see more bands at high end events than DJs now - and by a very large margin. Bands play sets and medleys, but they do not employ this adolescent level quick switching of the songs and the dance floors stay full continuously. It's not true that this ADHD style is the "modern" norm - it's just something born of impatience and shallowness in the younger generation. I would further intuit that much of it's perceived popularity is not real, but rather born of group think and imitation. When I hear the phrase "what's trending" I associate that with social desperation.
The anthems are not the outliers in this. They are a clue that people are still enjoined in the music and that it is the artists and music industry that is failing miserably to produce a quality product. A quick mix becomes necessary because the song itself does not exist - it's merely a singular meme surrounded by rhythm and diatribe.
I also don’t know how you can say it’s not real when the couples are literally saying they only want the best parts of the song.
Here's my take on it. Bob you said that DJ sucked. Do you know how long that DJ has been a DJ? It might be someone that's just starting out. Nobody is a star DJ just starting out. It takes time to get to be good as a DJ. Some will improve over time and others won't. Some were meant to be a DJ and others it was never meant to be.I had an event recently which featured a DJ who relied solely on this mixing style and frankly, both he and it sucked. He couldn't keep anyone dancing because just when a song they liked would start he was out of it in less than a minute and onto whatever he thought they should care about rather than the music they actually liked. When a group of 20-somethings are drunk and high they will dance to just about anything, but a self-serving entertainer can derail even that in a second by ignoring social cues and failing to read the room. It's still the music that moves people to the floor - and that holds even when there is no mixing at all.
I see more bands at high end events than DJs now - and by a very large margin. Bands play sets and medleys, but they do not employ this adolescent level quick switching of the songs and the dance floors stay full continuously. It's not true that this ADHD style is the "modern" norm - it's just something born of impatience and shallowness in the younger generation. I would further intuit that much of it's perceived popularity is not real, but rather born of group think and imitation. When I hear the phrase "what's trending" I associate that with social desperation.
The anthems are not the outliers in this. They are a clue that people are still enjoined in the music and that it is the artists and music industry that is failing miserably to produce a quality product. A quick mix becomes necessary because the song itself does not exist - it's merely a singular meme surrounded by rhythm and diatribe.
He's a minor celebrity, club and radio jock so there's no excuse for being so out of touch.
We can be in a bubble and not know it when all our clients are part of the same chain of referrals, or of an age group where intention supersedes preference (i.e. how behavior is altered in an effort 'fit in' or stand out.) For years I did many of the same types of events 30 times a year and the audiences were largely homogenous. Bar Mitzvahs and Quinces are a perfect example of that. It can happen with weddings too, if all the work is from referrals and there's no broad sources of refresh in our market supply.
Song choice ALWAYS matters in mobile DJ operations no matter how transparent the mix. A DJ either plays what people want or they don't, and no level of mixing skill will compensate for ignoring an audience's preferences. It's not hard to notice the difference between a crowd that is simply making the most of a weak program, versus one that is on the mark and fully energized. Intention will only take dancers so far if the DJ is constantly letting air out of the balloon.
The number one complaint from party planners regarding mobile DJs is repetitive programming - the habit of repeating the same show over and over one event after another. Less than a quarter of that issue can be attributed to currently popular music demand. Most of the issue lies within any given DJs personal comfort zone and reliance on habit or personal preference.
If a piece can be reduced to less than 60 seconds - it's not a "song" it's just a meme, and that's a fundamental problem with the music industry of today - which is devoted solely to online clicks.
The fast mixing is also not itself a skill in today's world of preset cues, beat grids, sync and key lock. There is also no longer a technical barrier to any DJ making fast mixes.
It ultimately comes down to knowing what content strings belong in a fast mix and are most relevant at any given time and place - i.e. reading the crowd. What's in the mix will always matter MORE than how fast we can make it.
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How do you know this is what the client was thinking? Why do you want to project your insecurities on this other DJ? Why don't you focus on YOUR attributes and strengths instead of spending your time tearing others down?
(offered up in your own typical persona)
Bob is being a hypocrite. If it were me who stated that another DJ sucked, he's quick to say "it's your opinion, not the client's" but when it's his turn to critique another, oh it's perfectly in order. Let's have some consistency, Bob.
Hardly. I was the A/V and staging person for this event, including supporting sound for the DJ so I was there all day and night to witness every detail. The client is a 20 year regular customer. This is also not the only time I've seen and watched this particular DJ. And it's not really the DJ I'm citing an issue with - it's the mixing style deployed at this event. It was the wrong style for the place and crowd.
You typically cite a DJ for whom your own service was passed over, without any knowledge of the client's hiring criteria, and with what might best be described as sour grapes.
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This is an interesting topic that I have been thinking about recently. I'm at a point where I am starting to turn down more and more gigs because they aren't a good fit for me. I don't see myself completely quitting DJing but I won't be taking every gig that comes my way. All of my gear is paid for and I don't see any reason to buy more gear. The speakers, mixers and controllers that I currently have will probably be my last. I may even sell off some gear that I don't use or need. I will still DJ some gigs but I am now looking at other ways to continue being involved in the DJ industry. That may mean focusing more on my Youtube channel, getting back into music production, streaming, making mixes or anything other than mobile DJing. I also don't want to go back to the bar and club scene mainly because I don't like the newer music of today. There's plenty of other ways to still DJ. I'm just not going to focus on mobile DJing in the future.
My day job as a Sys Admin more than covers my bills and I am starting my own IT consulting business. I used to use the extra DJ money as an excuse to continue doing gigs but that's just not the case anymore. The gig money is cool but not a necessity. Now, I do have some clients that will always be able to book me because they are easy and fun gigs. For instance, this month one of my clients is flying me to the Bahamas for 4 days to DJ some parties. As long as they need a DJ I will available. Typical run of the mill weddings will have to pay really well to get my attention now. It's definitely an interesting situation to be in but I am happy to have made it this long (36 years).
My day job as a Sys Admin more than covers my bills and I am starting my own IT consulting business. I used to use the extra DJ money as an excuse to continue doing gigs but that's just not the case anymore. The gig money is cool but not a necessity. Now, I do have some clients that will always be able to book me because they are easy and fun gigs. For instance, this month one of my clients is flying me to the Bahamas for 4 days to DJ some parties. As long as they need a DJ I will available. Typical run of the mill weddings will have to pay really well to get my attention now. It's definitely an interesting situation to be in but I am happy to have made it this long (36 years).
Let me say this. When it comes doing anything nobody knows what to do In the beginning. Michael Jordan didn't know anything about basketball. He had to learn and eventually he worked hard at it to become in a lot of people's eyes the greatest player of all times.
So nobody knows about DJing in the beginning. Eventually some will learn what to do and some won't. I don't know anybody in the beginning didn't make mistakes. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes. No matter how long a DJ has been in business, I don't know any DJ who hasn't made a mistake. I was playing once and made a mistake. I hit the wrong play button and stopped the song that was playing. That was last year.
So nobody knows about DJing in the beginning. Eventually some will learn what to do and some won't. I don't know anybody in the beginning didn't make mistakes. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes. No matter how long a DJ has been in business, I don't know any DJ who hasn't made a mistake. I was playing once and made a mistake. I hit the wrong play button and stopped the song that was playing. That was last year.
What bubble? The top dj's in the country (not just NJ) who are charging the most w/ $5k plus base prices, including one in your immediate area charging $7500 as his base (he only offers one package w/ ceremony, cocktail, reception, and uplighting + pixel tubes), are all dj's who have mastered the quick mixing skill. It's so much more than playing the best parts. It's still the right songs at the right time, seamlessly mixed to make it seem like it's all one track so the guests never even notice the change or get the sense of "why'd the song get cut short". It's also not repetitive as we're literally making it up on the spot... not sure what gives the impression it's preprogrammed... which is exactly where the skill is so important... no sync. You need to know your music inside out to not cut the most important start or on the flipside include the verses few know. For example when I mix in Higher by Creed and the whole crowd is screaming in excitment it's because I brought it to the very spot that's most recognizable and i'm out by the end of the chorus, cause let's be real... no one knows the words of the next verse. And because we're making it up on the spot, we're literally playing for the crowd and giving them what they want. Some crowds I'm more edm focused, some more throwback or remix focused, some are healthy mix of old and new.
I just went to Chicago this past weekend... not even 24hrs later I got 3 inquiries, including one in Maui. Below is their feedback/inquiry. If what I did was so easily replicated with minimal to no skill needed... why would they even consider spending close to 15k to get me to go to Maui. Why would the 2 others want to bring me to Chicago, when they have SO MANY dj's locally for a 1/3 the price (literally since I have to make up 3 days of work).
We get into this back and forth about if quick mixing is good vs if it's not and how it's a novelty. Not all quick mixing is the same. Nick spinelli made a fantastic video on it. Many should check it out... it's why he's able to get $5000 as his base price and he's become viral on tik tok for his abilities, which prove that this is actually what couples want.
Again quick mixing is NOT just playing the best part of the song... how you present it and make it come together is the most valuable aspect that few can do.
Lastly, this is local... but bands are not considered high end entertainment in my area. High End couples are often investing more w/ dj's than bands. Majority of the $200k+ weddings are dj focused. The only culture that is still band heavy is the Jewish culture, but outside of them DJ's are the focal point and what most couples desire. It might be because we appreciate nightlife more with the jersey shore and NYC... not sure. I know in Boston from my convos w/ dj's there, bands are still considered the top tier entertainment choice, but if you start having companies like SCE or Posh in your area, the mentality may start to shift to DJ's who can effectively market high energy weddings that change the perception of what couples desire or believe is possible.
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There's a right way to do quick mixing. Your sense of what quick mixing is or what you have seen may not be in line with what it should be when done properly. Couples are paying a healthy premium for dj's that can effectively do it well. As someone that is strictly word of mouth, if I did it wrong and annoying my guests and clients with cutting off their favorite part or not letting the song ride out, I would likely be seeing my numbers going down, not up since there would likely be a disconnect between the product I offer vs what they want. Proper Quick Mixing is a premium service.Was there a point buried somewhere in this advertising?
I'm not confused about quick-mixes. I'm just mature enough to know that there is a time and place for it.
90% of the mobile DJs out there are imitative rather than creative. There are a lot of misappropriated styles showing up in the wrong places. I've watched at least two entertainers this month crash and burn because they failed to account for the audience in front of them. That's a show ending early - and a performer walking out enraged as a result of their own ego.
Glam is not a measure of anything. I had a conversation with one of your $7500 DJs recently, and they were exclaiming that their price was the highest it's ever been. They are booking plenty of gigs, but overall earnings are actually significantly lower, and they are trying to figure out: why?
From my perspective, much of that disparity arises from trying to deliver production level services, when in fact they don't have production level resources, or skilled production labor. These are problems of scale - an engineering principle that emphasizes what is repeatable versus what is being imitated, hence maximizing efficiency when it comes to producing a given result for any and every variation.
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90% of the dj's don't do quick mixing right. With that said, crashing and burning may also have more to do with their song choice rather than their quick mixing skill... or it could be both areas that led to a quick end. Lots of dj's may know how to quick mix from a technical sense, but are not good at being rushed to make song choices in less than 30-45 seconds and cue it up and begin the transition. In my opinion, Quick mixing takes the audience into consideration even more, as everything is being done on the fly so you really need to know how to read the crowd and make fast decisions. There's no letting the song ride out and having 2-3 minutes or more to see how the crowd is vibing to pick your next song.
You seem to be clinging to this notion that quick mixing is itself a skill, and it really doesn't rise to that level. It's a style - not a skill. Mixing in general and programming are learned talents but, I think you're kind of stuck in your own persona regarding this notion of quick-mixing because it doesn't actually have the kind of broad appeal you think it does. It may be the next thing in the DJ world, but it's just a niche of the current tech age. It too will pass.
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A style still requires skill to effectively execute it. Picking the RIGHT song in 30 seconds... Cueing, mixing on beat, getting the phrasing right... so many DJ's straight up tell me they can't do it, that they just cant think and move that fast. It's also knowing when to do a 30 second mix vs knowing when to ride out 90-120 seconds of a second, or the entire song (not every song is actually quick mix'd in a night). How many on here barely beat match and tend to make that a controversial topic of that skill being needed at a wedding. Quick mixing at minimum still requires that basic skill, so with that assumption that most barely can beat mix, even more can do this..
It's also not my persona, I've done this for over 20 years, I've gone from mixing tracks that were 6 minute progressive house edits, with 60 second transitions, to 45 second quick mixes over the years. I've gone from playing 4 slow songs in a night to many weddings with zero slow songs. We've gone from 30-60 minute dance sets in jersey spread throughout the night to 2.5hr long dance sets, which many dj's here can't maintain a dancefloor for that long. It's what the current times call for to reach higher paying couples. As someone that does more weddings than the average dj, in nearly half of the country, at a price point that is higher than 90%... it's safe to say I, and those that have this style, are appealing to a broad wedding market. I don't know how you can argue that and it's not self promotion. It's telling you what couples are willing to pay a premium for. Jason Jani at $5k base pricing is doing nearly 100 events with many of his productions being closer in the 8-10k range.
As a business owner it is important to adapt with the times and what couples are expecting. For example, right now, aside from quick mixing, a strong knowledge of 2000's and 2010's is critical with the current generation. They want the deep cuts from that era in many cases. They want the crowd reaction when you drop a song they least expect at the perfect moment. They don't want a Wedding DJ, they want a club style dj that can create a unique atmosphere that 90% of the weddings don't have... primarily because they can't afford those dj's who are pulling that kind of demand. If anything, from the examples you give, it appears your current experiences are more narrow given the limited work you do as a DJ (compared to your production jobs), especially with less and less wedding DJ jobs. My average client signing a contract is 27yrs old and is likely posting on tiktok or at the very least researching there... yours is likely older and not part of that culture. Mine wants her wedding to be epic for the 25-35yr olds and could honestly care less about the older crowd. Keep in mind, you're likely not in attendance of higher end dj's as those weddings would likely not rely on your services.
Anyways, you'll have your opinion and I'll have mine. But for the general public who are trying to appeal to higher paying couples, who want to stand out from the average dj, it's kind of a no brainer that the quick mixing style or skill is what is the one trait in demand in 2025/2026. Don't believe me... just watch tik tok.
Well, there it is.
tik-tok. Somethin to aspire too. LOL
Your experience is not a singularity.
You seem to think this is unique and yet you are merely describing the lived experiences of countless DJs that have worked before you. Turntablists would still outpace you even today, and you don't seem to recognize that your "fast mixing" is actually rooted in Hip-Hop. It's not new - it's been here since before you were born.
My best attribute as a DJ was (and still is) the ability to see the future of the craft. Ableton for example, now has a nearly 25 year history with DJs who co-opted the studio sequencer for DJ use, and there are countless other products now, including AI powered DJ applications. Serato, VDJ, Traktor, Mixxx, and countless other DJ softwares are all moving in that direction. "Fast mixing" isn't going to differentiate you for very long, because it's a style that isn't difficult for serious working DJs to deploy and it will only get easier as AI gets integrated into more DJ applications.
FYI:
$5,000. in May 2025 is equivalent to $1,625. in 1985
$10,000. in May 2025 is equivalent to $3,500, in 1985
Adjusted for inflation, the rates you are quoting indicate that the value of DJ services has not changed at all in the last 40 years. Contrast that to today's $3,500 flagship controllers versus the $450 flagship turntables of 1985 and the real winner here is the music retail industry. It costs 4 times more to equip you today than it did Run DMC in 1985. Yet, your wedding customers are paying the same relative price for DJ service and getting a light show to boot.
The more things change - the more they stay the same.
Perhaps you’re not getting what I meant by TikTok. I am not referencing other DJs on Tik tok. I’m referencing what brides are seeking for and showing appreciation for in DJs.Well, there it is.
tik-tok. Somethin to aspire too. LOL
Your experience is not a singularity.
You seem to think this is unique and yet you are merely describing the lived experiences of countless DJs that have worked before you. Turntablists would still outpace you even today, and you don't seem to recognize that your "fast mixing" is actually rooted in Hip-Hop. It's not new - it's been here since before you were born.
My best attribute as a DJ was (and still is) the ability to see the future of the craft. Ableton for example, now has a nearly 25 year history with DJs who co-opted the studio sequencer for DJ use, and there are countless other products now, including AI powered DJ applications. Serato, VDJ, Traktor, Mixxx, and countless other DJ softwares are all moving in that direction. "Fast mixing" isn't going to differentiate you for very long, because it's a style that isn't difficult for serious working DJs to deploy and it will only get easier as AI gets integrated into more DJ applications.
FYI:
$5,000. in May 2025 is equivalent to $1,625. in 1985
$10,000. in May 2025 is equivalent to $3,500, in 1985
Adjusted for inflation, the rates you are quoting indicate that the value of DJ services has not changed at all in the last 40 years. Contrast that to today's $3,500 flagship controllers versus the $450 flagship turntables of 1985 and the real winner here is the music retail industry. It costs 4 times more to equip you today than it did Run DMC in 1985. Yet, your wedding customers are paying the same relative price for DJ service and getting a light show to boot.
The more things change - the more they stay the same.
Turntablists in hip hop chop up songs with often abrupt changes… quick mixing isn’t necessarily that.
Not sure what the price references are for. Most djs don’t even charge $1600 today for a wedding let alone in 1985. Heck most good salaries were less than $25k.
As mentioned, it is importsnt to adjust as couples adjust over time and new generations are getting married. Weddings are always evolving… wait till the current 16 yr olds turn 26 and get married. The 2000’s will be the equivalent of the 70’s soon. I’ve done it for 20 years and will hopefully be able to for 15 more. At the current time, this style is what is prevalent amongst higher paying couples. Either way I take input from my couples and if they want things to play out more, they’ll get that. Maybe one or two have actually asked for that in recent years though.
On a side note, it is because bands play songs out that couples in NJ don’t really appreciate them. They’d rather have a DJ who can get 100 songs in 2.5hrs than a band who can only get 40.