How do you warm up?
I was always wondering how other DJs warm up for their set, or at least how do you get into the mix right at the beginning. I have found myself making bad mixing decisions early early in the night.
So I was wondering if there is a technique that I am missing? Or is it something that just comes with time?
Also, the first song… how do you choose?
Jumping jacks
A couple Grey Goose + SF Red Bulls…plus some shots.
Usually gets me going.
I feel ya on the early bad mixes. It usally take me a 1/2 hour or so to get in the groove. I usally listen to some tracks, bob my head and try and get in the zone before going on. Also I have my first 3 or 4 tracks selected before I go on.
For a starting song I go with something that has a cool intro. Something that grabs their attention but builds up real slow before it drops. I mix mainly minimal tech, electro, house with some breaks as well. My method might not work for you but I hope this helps.
Great advice Chilly. A little liquor calms the nerves. I prefer a long island tea to get going.
If I’m following another DJ I just use them as the starting point unless I know exactly what I want to start with. This is where practice really comes in, as well as recording mixes. If you wantt o change the energy, point out to the crowd there’s a new DJ, there’s nothing wrong with that.
If you want to carry the energy of the previous DJ just figure out what will follow him.
Know your songs, know your crowd and know your abilities. Also, know your tolerance. I’ve had some of my best nights on half a bottle of 100 proof Southern Comfort. But, well, I have friends that have had their worst nights on something comparable. It takes some time to get into the groove.
Also, what I’ll do, is if I’m following someone and have the space, I’ll go into the booth a few minutes early and start running through my collection for ideas. That way, by the time you’re on, you have a general idea of your direction and can run with it. 
Yeah, I agree with you all on the liquor subject. The thing is, when I have a good buzz I can flow a lot better, mix some weird things and some how make it work. I know it does work because I’m not drunk yet. I have listen to my recorded mixes and I was horribly trashed… Let say it was not good at all. No one complained but they were probably just as messed up.
Maybe I’ll try picking out a few good tracks a head of time. Let them play through and hope for some ideas to come as I get warm with a drink. It’s just when I jump into it… it never comes out the way I want it.
If I’m first to start or the last DJ did a bad job at all with him being the only one who likes his stuff I like to experiment a bit with tracks I normally wouldn’t play. Last time I tried some rock stuff and that didn’t go so well. Then I switched to electro-rap stuff (dunno how to call it exactly) on a minimal floor and the people freaked out. It was just something different.
If the DJ before you got the party going, keep them going for like 1-2 tracks and then give them a break and start building new tension.
Blimey I hardly drink a drop since my recent switch to digital, too many things to go wrong that wouldn’t be so easy to fix with a pissed head.
I’ve had problems in the past, where there was no way I could figure out what was wrong while drinking. Thats why I always keep a mp3 or CD player at hand.
I know it’s at that point people start calling you a c*nt, so I’d rather avoid it, plus I find I can zone in on what the crowd are doing better.
I have DJed where I never got more than buzzed. And yes, you can feel the crowd a lot more.
I have a tendency to get kinda drunk during my sets. I always have a CD case of mixes near me so I have some sort of variety in case of disaster.
Though, I’ve found that when I’m really trashed I just stop thinking too far ahead and help pull the crowd. But it isn’t adviseable under most circumstances.
Just need to go with the flow. We all screw up.
In all honesty I try to set things up ahead of time and make sure I’ve got no major problems .
If I’m playin by myself all night I’ll just play tracks the first hour or so and do a little hangin with the crowd or staff and get a feel how things should go have a few drinks find a safe place to smike a phatty and off the night goes .
If I’m playin with other DJs I still try to show up early and get a feel for the crowd and talk to the other DJs about what’s been working and what hasn’t .
I find being a little drunk helps getting started, but too drunk for me and I just start getting lost and if something goes wrong its hard to fix, not a big deal at house parties but kills the buz you are building. A bit of a puf just before you start always helps
I candy-flipped the first time I played out and that was awesome, was freaking out till I put the first track on then bang in the zone and two hours had just flown by.
heh
that candyflippin nite was nuts, didnt really work for me… in my opinion-pills not paper! but i dont think its a very good habit, i find dancing with watever is playing before hand always works for me. dont be ashamed to get loose 
The right tool for the right job, I say. My drug of choice at gigs is usually adrenaline. I seem to channel the nervousness into the energy of the set. I get nervous before almost any gig, wherever it is, whatever size it is. If I’m not nervous, something’s wrong. (I think it may mean I really don’t care, which ain’t good). I’ve gotten drunk at gigs, and usually I end up thinking I’m doing a lot better than I am. I haven’t done anything else at gigs because, as was said, things can go graveyard wrong with a laptop and I’d hate to be wrecked and have that happen.
If I’m on the other side of the decks, though, gloves are off and borders are invisible.
I sometimes do is set up 4 songs before hand just to get everybody moving and i just go from there ya know. also with me being a house party dj my set doesn’t really get jumping until like 12 if i start at 10 ya know.
Also either a couple beers also helps or some shots not to much just enough to get a buzz and ride the buzz all set long.
i get ready by mixing, i practice if i have time before my gigs.
Also i let myself snap into “Dj Krilikz” instead of Kyle. Personally i think thats the most important part with mobile djs(that are going to mc).
@ midifidler and Kaon
I did that once, (e not acid) when I was just starting up. So if I did screw up, which I’m sure I did. I didn’t notice not care. I kept run away from my set up and getting back just in time to try and mix in the next track… fun times.