First Gig
Hey guys, it’s my freshman year of high school, and along with that comes my first true gig \m/ I had one tiny thing last year in 8th grade, but it doesn’t really count. This is a big party, at least by freshman standards, so I just want some help from some people with experience. Amount of songs, tips and tricks, anything, all help is appreciated.
music for 4x the time you think you’ll play. spit game at girls.
I think I have enough game to last the night, but will 800 songs last through 10:00-2:00?
Yes absolutely assuming its quality music that fits into the theme of the night.
Am I supposed to play popular songs or just do a regular set? The girl having the party asked for a techno DJ, but i don’t know what that means to her…electronic music, or just an ipod with Ke$ha on it on shuffle?
Someone else with more time and energy will probably give you a detailed answer but I’d say a bit of both. Mix it up, have fun, and have confidence in whatever you play.
Always bring more music than you think you need, in the digital age theres no excuse not to.
Bring a little bit of every genre, even if you’re playing an electronic set, bring some classic rock, some 90s alternative, some classic hip hop, and always try to have the top 40 on hand. you never know where your set is going to go, and what kind of requests you’ll get.
I play house and electro, and I’ll still get requests for the wobble song and cupid shuffle in the middle of the mix.
First off, congratulations on landing a gig. i’m not sure about high school parties, but i’ve done a lot of college parties in my four years there. Start slower, work your way up in tempo and come down at the end. You basically control the speed of the party so working your way up is the best way to go about it once people start to loosen up. If the girl wants techno (and thinks like the girls I know who aren’t really into music) she is probably looking for EDM-like pop, so I’d bring a lot of that with me, but like Culture_Shock said, bring all types. Feel the crowd out and work off how they respond to what you play. If they seem to respond better to one thing over the other, make them happy. If they like what you play, theres a better chance you’ll get booked again. Most importantly though, have fun.
One last thing, if you mess up, what do you do
Pretend in your head it didn’t even happen and keep playing with confidence. Listen to the DJ AM superbowl party mix that was recently uploaded if you are worried about perfection. Plenty of mistakes in it but not really noticeable to the crowd and you know he rocked the f*ck out of that party. Makes me feel better and more confident about being creative and completely spontaneous in a set.
Take comfort in the fact that 99% of people won’t even notice/care
Well, thanks everybody. The party’s on Friday and I’m just gonna destroy it, whether that’s in a good or bad way 
Good luck! Have fun.
I wish I got into DJing when I was younger, already a junior in college now 
I think that if she asks for a Techno DJ, she means you’re supposed to play Techno. However, better be sure so just ask her what it is she would really like to hear. Good luck 
Obviously.. but what do people label Techno… Techno to me is its own genre… EDM kind of encompasses it all.. and alot of younger adults or youths dont understand this. Heck even m older friends who dont listen to electronic music.. call what I like to play out.. Techno.. (Electro House / Dubstep) but clearly I dont label it in that genre..
Its a very valid question in my opinion.
Time to school the lady if you think it’s possible she files dubstep with techno. It’s possible to make a difference between techhouse (i.e. this) and techno (i.e. this), but I would give her some examples with a very clear statement on the kind of music it is so she can make up her mind.
If she did actually mean Techno as in the example I gave, mad respect!
People don’t have a clue what “Techno” is these days; Techno is basically 1990s Trance without proper melodies, just 1/2-bar synth riffs.
Yeah most people have no clue how your DJing. When I DJ at a gig my skill level goes down a few notched so I can make sure I don’t mess up. I usually just switch popular songs by a quick x fader flick or like a 16 count beat but nothing fancy. When I get into the EDM, later on in the night, then I can “mix” a little more because there are less conflicting vocals and stuff. No matter how I Dj most people seem to think you are a magician just because you manipulating a big knob invested mixer with a bunch of shiny lights on it. Sometimes I make mistakes and then I realize that the crowd assumes I did it on purpose. (obviously not every mistakes)
Once you drop your first two or three tracks you’ll realize everything is gonna be fine and from then on, you’ll have the night on lockdown.
I usually start with familiar chill rap/pop that people can recognize and sing to. This gets them in the mood of listening to the music that YOU are putting on. Then when more people show up, play more upbeat rap/pop that people recognize from the radio and stuff. This gets people on the dance floor dancing to songs they are familiar with. Then if I feel like the crowd will accept it I work into my EDM style bangers. (Make sure they are not all house because people like to grind with each other and not just jump to 128bpm all night)
This is just MY personal style that “usually” works for me at house parties… take what works for you and discard the rest.
That’s what tracks like Orbital - Halcyon On & On, and Mauro Picotto - Komodo are for
one tip i have is no hardstyle unless there crazy. I played 2 hardstyle tracks and I am telling you, the guys running the party came to me and started yelling saying its to “hardcore”. I also almost got suspend because one of the hardstyle songs had “extreme explicit” language. The f track by shotew if you where wondering. Good luck btw. Kill it.