Hey everyone I just got back from my first gig. Everything went great for the most part. There is one lesson I learned. Never underestimate how little drunk people will listen. It was at a house party and I had a stand set up and it was nice that people came crowding around to see how it all works but when they’re drunk and holdin drinks they don’t get that you can’t set that stuff down near the equipment also it’s great to chat but it’s hard when your trying to mix as well. One girl actually spilled her beer near my audio 8. Also I underestimated the amount of requests I’d get. After that experience I will definitely go with an idea that I read on here, text requests to my cell phone. Also what is the best way to protect your gear and make it clear to people to stay away from the equipment. It’s just like Kanye once said
“We go through much bullshit just to mess with these drunk and hot girls”
i hate requests, you’re doing them a favor of playing for free (i guess as long as it was a houseparty?), bringing your own equipment and standing there all night. and if people keep annoying you just tell them that you don’t have time for the bullshit. they will be pissed a bit but won’t get back for more nonsense or better yet make sure your “dj-booth” would be protected from other. barricaded by some tables or stuff hahahaha
don’t feel like they are doing you a favor and it should be ok
and i’m quite strict about drinks near gear unless it’s my drinks. don’t try to be too nice about things that are important to you
I actually did for my friends little brother and I told him to tell his friends that he paid me. I don’t want it being viewed as a freebie. People don’t value things that are free. There’s only 2 things that can really get spilt on and it’s my audio 8 and my mixer. I’ll have to figure that out and yes I’ll have to be more strict to people. “If they spill on it, they pay for it.” I was sober tonight too so that may not have helped my communication. I don’t know about u guys but I find I always have to be a bit drunk to deal with drunk people, otherwise we just aren’t connecting on the same level haha.
If people want request they should go and get a jukebox. Where I go partying it is definitely regarded as a no go to ask for anything and seriously I don’t see the point to go to a gig just to listen to a guy trying to get laid by drunk chicks or vice versa whatever, I think you should get the point.
I think the more expensive the drinks, the lesser the risk of something being spilled in your gear. So obviously, house parties where the entrance fee is at most “bring some booze yourself/bring a twenty for it all” are risky as you’ve noticed
I’ve been to a few student parties (taken care of by the students) for very cheap and once someone spilled a beer in the power amp, a rental… it started making acid noises like Rolling & Scratching at peak time so people screamed as hell
The next few iterations of that party, they walled off the makeshift dj-booth some more and it went much better.
Birthday party in that same rented location, too much access to the “booth” = someone spilled something in a laptop (I think it lived).
If the crowd’s a little too close to legal drinking age, pay extra attention, it won’t take much for them and increases the risk
On requests:
“I’ll try at a point where it fits in better” - if you’re lucky, they won’t even remember.
If they aren’t looking at your playlist/crates : “Ah sorry mate, I don’t have it” and you can even add “but I’ll play something a bit like it when I can”… and again… do as you wish !
If they offer their usb thumb drive, you’ve got more work go with “nothing that’s not mine plugs into this machine”.
Yea people don’t seem to realize that its kind of insulting when you ask a DJ to play something else or make requests. NO requests and NO damn drinks near the equipment!
got an entire beer spilled directly on my firebox the first night i got it at a party. shook that shit out and it still works perfect it’s some crazyness.
i agree with the idea of telling people it was a paid gig, even if it’s not. people will respect you and your gear more.
speak your mind. assert yourself or people will assume that their behaviours are kosher. you have to find a balance between being easy-going and being a dick, but sometimes you have to be a dick. Think of it this way, if you let one person disrupt you because you don’t want to hurt their feelings it could potentially ruin the party for everyone else including yourself at the party because of all the shitty things that could happen ie ruined equipment, bad mixing because your distracted, shorter set because you feel like leaving etc. etc.
I had a drunk hoochie mama spill a full margarita on a brand new CDJ deck once at a party during one of my first nights DJ’ing out. She was all, “play me some black eyed peeeezz!!!uuuuughhhhSPLASH”. It was TERRIBLE. Sugar, alcohol, salt, electronics…not a good mix. The unit worked for the remainder of that awful night, but it didn’t work well after the alcohol dried.
My payment that night was 2 cases of Rock Star Energy Drink:
The odd request is ok I reckon, but if you know it’s not going to work - defo find an excuse - “don’t have it” is my favorite - they can’t argue with that.
Occasionally you get hit up with a request that is actually a good suggestion. And yeah it’s an indication of what the crowd are into.
I’m always polite but curt and often mouth “sorry can’t really hear…” and make a gesture like I got to concentrate on what i’m doing. If someone is hanging off you and won’t leave you alone then i get a bit stroppy and end the conversation - stone cold blank em basically.
Tbh - if what they’re asking for fits the flow, fuck it I’ll play it if I’ve got it. No point being precious about these things, you’re providing entertainment.
Oh, and after losing a laptop to a large glass of wine - INSURE YOUR GEAR! It’s not much money a year, and I’m a lot happier knowin that I some pissed idiot throws beer over my kit, I can claim on it
or better yet make sure your “dj-booth” would be protected from other. barricaded by some tables or stuff hahahaha 
