Good point. I remember going out and listening to some stripped down, monolithic, k-hole esque music at some proper after bars that would go from 5am to noon. You would just get lost in the room, the music, and everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by mostapha
Never tried any drugs, but after experiencing those parties and just getting lost in it and losing track of everything else, that's what I imagine it would be like.
I think sme of you are being a little closed minded. Some genres (eg dubstep), can be build up quite quickly, and brought down quickly too. So if you playing 2 hours before a headliner, you coul still play some bangers (providing enough people are there, etcc), say 20/30 mins before the headliners, then spend your final bit of time bringing it down and back up again in time for headliners to start strong. The nights I like going to go hard pretty early (from 11/12), and continue hard until 5ish, then the final hour gets a bit more chill since people are tired by then. The secret is to not JUST play bangers. Also, bangers to an empty floor never works
Hey all,
Mixed In Key founder Yakov Vorobyev and I are the authors of a new book about DJing, Beyond Beatmatching, which has a section devoted to programming an opening set. Unlike the typical "DJing for Dummies" books, we cover more advanced DJ topics and explain how to get booked in nightclubs, how an opening set should differ from a headlining set, etc.
Our book also has interviews and quotes from A-Trak, Markus Schulz, Enferno, Sasha, Avicii's manager Ash Pournouri and others.
You can read the whole book online for free:
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Cheers,
Eric @ Mixed In Key
Sometimes it might be hard for a promoter to book a small to medium size act with name that should be on before midnight or after 3 am, when the act has a "name". I would much rather hear a Hawtin set around 4am, and hear Mark Farina either warming it up or bringing the sun up. Both those guys have such a name and price that putting together the line up around them on a smaller scale is rough.
I've heard a ton of guys that came on and killed it with a softer style, but I went out to see them, the average punter might have heard the name not known the style, I've gone out to hear down tempo dj's play lounges and travelled to do it. The acts that haven't made it in my mind, the second room should have peaked, then the main room. The second room could not have pulled it off banging it out, but bringing a minimal DJ headliner in the main room late would have killed the night after the drum and bass had peaked or vice versa. I would have danced to 7am instead of 5. Always it has been lets book techno or minimal great and put him in the 1-3 set and kill the vibe. Even with a secondary headliner first in the other room, worse is when there is no other "name".
With a smaller budget and one headliner it becomes much harder to bring this vibe, as local talent is what they are, and I've only met a few people that could find the place to be appropriate for the set.
I play a college house party same as a sweet 16. You can play minimal at the beginning, but it'd be a good idea to throw some acapellas on it. I like to play a different tempo all together, and then ramp it up. I'll start with glitch hop, or ambient dubstep, and use it as an indication when to speed it up. At most college parties "dancing" consists of grinding, and once they have a few drinks, I've noticed people they'll be more likely to respond to slower music as opposed to 130bpm. Then you can start playing your top 40 electro remixes and what not. Then, after a couple of hours, you can play what ever you like, because everyone will be too drunk to know what's happening.Quote:
Originally Posted by zakota330
Playing the opening sets for top40 18+ clubs (I'm not 21 yet so that's the only club gigs I do) can be weird. The patrons of the clubs are not exactly minimal and EDM friendly so I usually play a lot of chill old hip-hop. It is always weird when the dancefloor is yet to be filled and there are girls who want booty shaking bangers or people wanting "levels."
I was kind of getting a little disheartened by a few of the people being not too happy with me playing chiller songs but when I finished my set both of the DJs who were going to play after me complimented me on playing a great opening set and starting a good vibe and not just being like most young kids and playing bangers in the opening set.
This will pay off more in the long run.Quote:
Originally Posted by alex20
Yeah, as someone who is jsut breaking into the San Diego club scene I know it is important to get on the good side of DJs already in the scene.
I am lucky enough to have a friend of mine who is older and already well established in San Diego clubs who taught me to NEVER show up the closing DJs no matter how much fun playing bangers may be.
Great article! Great advice!
Quote:
Originally Posted by elio_xh
that didn't make sense...i was drinking heavily last night...