1st corporate gig, advise needed
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18
  1. #1
    Tech Mentor Luconia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    KCH, SWK, MYS
    Posts
    465

    Default 1st corporate gig, advise needed

    Hi all,
    Finally after years of playing to myself I have this opportunity to play as a 'filler' dj at our company corporate gig, which will be organised by our platform staff.
    It will be a live band event performed by repersentatives from various platforms/office based employees.
    Basically what i need to do is to fill the dead air with music while waiting for them to set up their equipment, quick tuning or waiting for the next band to perform.

    The audience will be oil & gas professionals, expected attendance is about 400 people aged between 20+ to 60+

    While this is a primarily just a live band gig, but i treat this as important when it comes to selecting the right music, way of mixing etc... I know it would only lasts about 3-5 minutes before the next band, but we never know since this is our 1st time to organise such event (the old peeps realised they have worked soo hard throughout the year & it's time to wind up..hence came up with this live band gig idea).

    The gig will be held next month, I'm still collecting more info on this & will update this thread accordingly.

    Thanks for reading

  2. #2
    DJTT Infectious Moderator photojojo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Sherman, TX
    Posts
    13,925

    Default

    I would expect quite a bit more than 3-5 minutes between bands.
    Chris Jennings FHP

    Podcast - Soundcloud - Mixcloud - Beatport Charts - x

  3. #3
    Tech Guru sarasin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    5,079

    Default

    Indeed!

    Even if sound checks had already been done....they will use their own guitars etc....so need to plug in etc.

    Then there could be issues...etc...

    I am with Jojo on this one.
    APC80:STR8-100's+Ortofon Concorde Scratch\Electro:ButterRugz:TSP2-NI Audio4DJ:Xone22+Innofader:MacBook Pro 15"
    www.soundcloud.com/djsarasin
    www.youtube.com/adriansarasin

  4. #4
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Bristol, England
    Posts
    121

    Default

    This kind of stuff is great for learning to read a crowd, but mostly pretty unrewarding. You're doing very well if anyone sticks around to listen to your music in between bands, they probably aren't going to dance. Standard set up time for a 3 piece band is about 15-20 mins if it's all running smoothly, and the last 5 or so minutes of that you will have to compete with soundchecks. If the band is considerate they'll try their best to play in time with your music (this is quite rare), otherwise you're going to find it pretty hard (if there's monitors) to very hard (if there isn't) to hear yourself. My main advice is do NOT plan your set, and bring a very wide variety of music. You'll have no idea what the band's music is going to be like or how the crowd will respond to it. You can quite easily look like a dick if you play the wrong music. Read off the crowd, don't be afraid to change genre or bpm if the crowd looks uncomfortable. Your job is to vibe off the room and blend into the background as best you can. If you get a set after all the bands are finished go for it and try and get people dancing.

  5. #5
    Tech Mentor ST.PE`'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    339

    Default

    soft volume, wide variety(popular hit songs), no curse words.
    Beatslicing for the bitches

  6. #6
    Moderator of Silly Walks Citizen_Insane's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    20Hz - 60Hz
    Posts
    1,824

    Default

    Maybe go for something of more of a mature taste... ie. lounge music, jazz, soul, that kind of thing... nice and chilled out and sounds good even at lower volumes.
    Traktor Pro, VCM 600, Custom Midi Fighter, Presonus Firebox, Ultrasone DJ1 Pro
    http://soundcloud.com/citizen_insane/
    Quote Originally Posted by photojojo View Post
    All these subgenre's are like the grandchildren of disco with dubstep and D&B being the bad kids that smoke cigarettes and are in and out of jail.

  7. #7
    Tech Guru Alex Wild's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    564

    Default

    Best to try and 'warm up' for the next band by playing something vaguely similar to their style.
    Mixes: www.mixcloud.com/djalexwild/
    Production: www.soundcloud.com/alexwild
    DJM500 : X1 : MBP 15" 2.53 GHz 4 GB RAM : HD25SP : MASCHINE

  8. #8
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    São Paulo - Brazil
    Posts
    1,304

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Alex Wild View Post
    Best to try and 'warm up' for the next band by playing something vaguely similar to their style.
    This!

    Try to get the band's tracklist and see if you can warm up your band with tracks that are similars.
    If they are playing rock, try some jazz with guitars for start, then some funky blues.

    Ask the band if they want some particular 2 or 3 tracks played before them to set a good atmosphere.

    Then between the band's pause and the next start, play something chilly but not edm, so that the atmosphere build by the band is not lost.

    After their show, start slowing moving from guitar/rock tracks to edm to the youngers and drunkers can join the dance floor.

    End it with some more romantic stuff, so people can be together

  9. #9
    Tech Mentor Luconia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    KCH, SWK, MYS
    Posts
    465

    Default

    Wow thanks a lot for your replies, this is really helpful.
    Looks like it's time to hunt for some 'serious' tracks, which is almost non-existent in my archive since i'm mainly a harder EDM person

    Which is now comes to the 2nd question, where i can get HQ quality of classic rock/evergreen tunes?

    I'm not sure if this might involved some dancing...i've attended several company event througout my career, most of the attendees only care to have some booze while chit chat with their old friends...the spouse/partners only come early in the evening to have some free food before they left. Unlike wedding reception/cultural festival where the party continues till morning..
    This kind of stuff is great for learning to read a crowd, but mostly pretty unrewarding.
    To be honest i feel a bit intrigued by this upcoming gig. just because my colleagues know i love to dj & actually have a rather sufficient setup, too bad they never heard what type of music i play. they insists me to play on that gig (of course there will be no reward whatsoever, even the flight tickets & accomodation comes from my own pocket if i'm about to attend the gig, organised by us during the next off week)

  10. #10
    Tech Guru djproben's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Hollywood, CA
    Posts
    2,709

    Default

    I love playing in between bands ... it's all about connecting with the crowd, giving them something they unexpectedly enjoy. But yeah don't get your expectations up; if you get anybody dancing you're a rock star. It does happen, especially at the end, but it's a pleasant surprise when it does. More likely you'll get some head bobbing and a couple people coming up to ask you what you're playing. For gigs like that I pull out the obscure funk, blaxploitation and porn grooves, that sort of thing, and mix it with downtempo percussive stuff... stay away from house or dubstep or anything excessively electronic sounding.

    And yeah plan for at least 15 minutes between each band, sometimes more. Also plan on clashing with sound checks. Come out strong with your best stuff right when each band finishes; it gets annoying when you build up to your favorite song and you play it just as the singer starts shouting "check check check" into the mic or the drummer starts pounding off beat to make sure his skins are tight. I've had a few bands vibe off of what I was playing though, that gets really fun if they groove along with it rather than just shouting it down.
    "Art is what you can get away with." - Marshall McLuhan

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •