Hey guys,
So I’ve noticed that far too many local DJ’s do nothing but mind their knobs and stare at their computer screen. In my opinion no matter how good you are at making sweet transitions it’s all wasted if you don’t have good presence.
So I was just wondering what you all do be more entertaining and fun to watch onstage.
On my end there’s:
Talking to them. To me, a microphone is as important as a controller. Even a standard “How you doin’ tonight!?” can set you apart from others. Call and response stuff is fun too.
Hand movements. Getting them to move their hands up and down with you during a heavy drop is awesome.
Eye contact and front-row high fives. Make 'em feel like friends!
No mics. Ever.
Don’t try and get people into any stupid routines.
Smile, have a bit of a boogie in the booth, have a wander and chat to people. Sing along like @DJ_Solus says. Don’t be afraid to look like a bit of a tit. But don’t look a massive tit.
Typically, I’m a pretty reserved person, but when DJing in front of a crowd I let loose and it pays off for sure. I just no longer care about how I look and just have a great time. I’m jumping up and down, hands in the air, singing along, screaming back and forth with the crowd, all the time with a fat smile on my face. When I can I’ll drop the phones and mob into the crowd to dance with everyone.
Your interaction with the crowd is extremely important and when people see how much energy and passion you put in, they are sure to return it.
+1 for NO MIC
It’s mc’s job, not dj’s. One of the most important thing for a dj is to sense the energy of the crowd.
Dance in your booth, jump a bit, keep it up with drinking with the crowd!!!
Also, once I used iPod, wireless connected to pc to control traktor, I have climbed on bar, triggered some brake down, made crowd to clap in some rhythm, then played Blue Monday Vandalism Rmx.
Everyone from that party remembered me!!!
Also, don’t worry too much about doing stuff. Be yourself. If you’re having a good time and mixing/selecting well, the crowd will have a good time as well.
Thats the way my friend!!!
Oh, I gotta get some flamethrower for visual effect when spinin’ fire starter!!!
Long haired people in first raw, watch out!!! muahahahaahahaa!!!
I seriously don’t get the hate for microphones. I mean, I don’t like it either when sets get constantly interrupted, because the DJ thinks he has to command the crowd to “put yo hands up”, but for me there is nothing wrong with saying some nice words at the beginning or end of the set. (Of course not too much and only when the music is already playing. David Guetta has the bad habit to talk for minutes about what an honor it is to play for him here and how much it means to him, before he finally presses Play.)
The best DJ (in terms of doing stuff while DJing) I’ve ever seen live, was Felix Da Housecat. He was seriously having a good time, high fiving his fans, even clinking bottles with them.
I for myself am one of these guys who is dancing in the booth, waves at the crowd and whenever I can come up with something good, do some goofy stuff. I have very long hair, so I start to headbang from time to time.
i always enjoy it when the dj is really into the party. but on the other hand i’ve been to parties where the dj is basically not smiling (concentrating) and hardly even moving, and pretty far away from the crowd, and the party completely goes off. i’m talking about sasha here
but definitely the best party i’ve been to was danny howells. he was completely involved with the crowd, doing shots and kissing girls etc, was awesome.
Depends how I am feeling at the time. I don’t go all crazy when the dancefloor is just getting going. But when the crowd is feeling it, usually I am too. I don’t even know what I do, just in the moment… Some bobbing, hands in the air, smiling.
One thing I do try to do tho is that if I am doing something to the music that the crowd can hear I try to overexagerate my movements so that they know I am making the noises.
That was pretty damn impressive for someone wearing headphones.
On the topic of mics:
I saw housemeister and boys noize earlier in the year, and neither used a mic at all, nor did anyone introduce them. I usually hate guys on the mic but on that night it seemed kind of odd that no one introduced the headliner or anything and the 2 of them played for over 4 hours
