Ok so I might have taken a job that I’m not fully ready for… that’s where I need your help! In late July I’ve been contracted to dj a nebhiohood pool party. It’s an upper class subdivision here in Atlanta, and they want me to play from 6 to 11 at night. I’m not worried about the equipment, I have that all under control…it’s the music… My idea of a pool party is playing a lot of chill deep house, maybe some nudisco. Stuff like Fred falke, flight facilities, and maybe just some slow Balearic beat stuff. Not looking to turn this into some rager. But then I’m thinking suburban Americans might want to hear stuff like maroon 5 and Bruno mars and stuff like that at the pool?? That kind of music stresses me the f$$$ out. Haha so let me know if I am on the right track, or should I just run a set with top 40 crap? On a side note I really only took this gig because the money was good lol.
So yes I’d say, Futurecop! , DP , if you want some good chill song there is the new Cosmo’s Midnight EP released today, everything from Hot Creations maybe, some RAC remix, VICEROY, …
man top40 is a must, especially if you’re going to be doing gigs that require you to play your usual genres. Your vision of what the pool party will most likely NOT be what you expect it to be. Playing for the masses means playing music that almost everyone knows. I’m sure you can get away with chill and relaxed house but when requests come in for Maroon 5, GNR, and stuff you either don’t have or don’t play at all things can go sour fast. If you can’t mix the tracks then just do a fade out and fade in. GL!
Make top40 edits? Or find them…viceroy advertises his stuff as poolside so thats my idea of a pool party but I’ve never done a poolside gig so I wouldn’t put to much emphasis on my opinion. Just think of music that reminds you of a hot summer day (there’s alot of top40 songs that have lyrics that explicitly state it…)
All of the stuff mentioned seems to fit the mold but I could even think of Ice Cube - It was a good day as being playable haha.
+1 to the flight facilities, they have some pop’ish mashups that would work, I just had to dig to find them.
People always know what they like, even if they can’t articulate what they want.
Find out what sort of food/drinks they are doing, what sort of people are going, have a look at the pool etc. Maybe shoot the organiser a CD with 20 different tracks on it and ask them to tell you which ones they like..
An alternate perspective. Pass on the gig. I’d never take a club gig that needed some sub-sub-sub-genre of EDM…and you should not take a pool party…for exactly the same reasons.
Well technically Top 40 now a days includes a lot of EDM or house. Will.i.am-Pop/EDM/housish. Along with Pitbull, Flo Rida, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears etc etc…
But pop rock groups like Maroon 5 and so on have very uptempo tracks and are in the EDM bpm range or slightly slower (128-115) Which makes the transitions easier.
But back to the OPs feelings on top40. I hear what you’re saying about not wanting to play it. But it really does help to be an all around type of DJ. Which doesn’ limit the types of gigs you can do. I know most people aspire to be doing the Jesus Pose infront of a sold out club/venue but in reality being able to DJ all types of gigs expands your skills and your music knowledge.
Awesome guys! Thanks for all the input! I am actually the kind of dj that will mix literally any kind of music. Not saying that I don’t have any artistic integrity… Just that I view it as a fun challenge to mix through genres quickly and smoothly and the crowd loves it. I always bring my whole music collection with me to gigs ~84,000 songs (maybe a few duplicates lol) so I’ll just read the crowd like I’ve always done. I hate set lists and I’ve never used one. I’ll keep you all updated on how it goes!
@akswun I bet 90% of Jesus pose Dj’s would be useless at a wedding haha
In late July I’ve been contracted to dj a nebhiohood pool party. It’s an upper class subdivision here in Atlanta, and they want me to play from 6 to 11 at night. I’m not worried about the equipment, I have that all under control…it’s the music… My idea of a pool party is playing a lot of chill deep house, maybe some nudisco. Stuff like Fred falke, flight facilities, and maybe just some slow Balearic beat stuff. Not looking to turn this into some rager. But then I’m thinking suburban Americans might want to hear stuff like maroon 5 and Bruno mars and stuff like that at the pool?? That kind of music stresses me the f$$$ out. Haha so let me know if I am on the right track, or should I just run a set with top 40 crap? On a side note I really only took this gig because the money was good lol.
