So, Ive got this gig lined up which is ‘residents’ only, basically all the local talent of the dubstep and dnb scene over 2 rooms.
Theres a lot of DJ’s on and I only expect a 45 minuite time slot early in the night, which isnt much, but enough to put down a decent set.
Now, being a product of DJTT, I know my DJ 10 commandments and adhere to them as much as possible. The trouble is, the other guys dont. I’m totally expecting the first guy to start with the most distgusting peak time jump-up/drumstep/wobble-shit you can imagine and thrash the mixer into oblivion.
Leaving me feeling pissed off that the liquid dnb set I’d planned to warm up the room gently for the headliner, is pretty much pointless now.
This is one of the problems with nights like this, everyone wants to shine, everyone wants the most memorable set and biggest love from the audience.
So, the dilemma:
A. I smash the shit outta the room & put down all the best recent bangers & classics in an attempt to outdo them at their own game.
B. I take a step back and professionally do my job.
Both have their benefits and pitfalls. I might impress enough people with a smasher of a set to land some late night spots in the local scene. Then again, saving the energy for the DJ’s after me might be really appreciated. Or maybe just overlooked.
Quite the conundrum.
So, DJTT, help me understand which is the better option and why.
though question,
However if the mood already is up and it feels like the crowd is in peak time then go ahead and rock the fuck out of them, but if alot of club managers is there watching you it might be better to play a warm up set so that they notice your something different, special than the others and can control yourself, showing good manners.
Just prepare for both. If the first guy is going all out and people are enjoying it, then play more maintime stuff. Chances are, the place will be pretty empty and the few people there will be confused and having a hard time conversing with each other. Then you can come in like a hero will your chill warm up set.
yep, this! Watch the crowd and vibe off of them and do what works best. If the crowd wants more bangers go for it but chances are your liquid set will come in really handy.
I always make a few sets so I can either warm up if needed or gets things a bit heated or just jump straight in with a main set.
45mins is a short set. Preparation is key to it being a great 45 minutes.
Balance what you want to play with what the crowd will expect at that time in the night and with what you think the promoter is expecting.
If you piss the promoter off you dont get booked again. No amount of bravado and “look at me” heroics will impress the promoter, especially if you piss the headliners off by smashing the big tunes.
If some other idiot plays bangers early on he will look like a tit. If you get things back on track the promoter will think “ah smart guy”.
Just work it backwards … if he’s trashing it too badly, subtly change it down a bit within 3 or 4 tracks, as a DJ you have the power to take the crowd where YOU want - 45 mins is short mind you. Pull your gains and master and get the engineers to up the sound their side, tell em beforehand thats your intention and to watch for your signal. Managers and headliner will most likely appreciate it.
Totally agree, plan for both. I suspect the guy on first won’t look too clever if he’s banging out the big stuff to a handful of early arrivals who’ve come for the cheaper entry and drinks.
This used to annoy me greatly when I used to do my own nights, I’d always ask back the chaps who understood the warmup slot. I’d already heard their peak time demo mixes so if things are going well I knew they could always up the level as required.
Adapting on the fly is the key in this situation IMHO. OP, you sound like you’ve got it spot on, best of luck.
Ride the energy, bring it back, and build it back up for the next guy
Watching someone open properly for a headliner/later DJ’s is something I always enjoy, and I know exactly what you mean. The weekly Thursday I go to (Elements in Cambridge) has some of the best resident DJ’s I’ve ever seen, and they open proper everytime. Keeps people coming back IMO, besides the generic few who are just there for a humpfest.
Leave him to it. A lot of punters will leave the room if that’s the case. Might even be worth NOT mixing out of his last track and letting the vibe die completely before starting to build your own.
Ive got enough dnb of every style to cover any eventuality already playlisted up. So going with the flow should’nt be too tough.
Im chatting with some of the other DJ’s now and getting a feel for what they play, I think im unique enough to be memorable for the night. It might be quite the education!
professionalism is the way forward though, I’ll take them on a ride up & down the genre and leave it proper for the next guy/gal in the hope that my efforts arent in vain.
If the guy before starts slamming it. I would definitely let his last song die off. Start my set with my DJ Name Drop and build back up from there. Passive aggressive way of saying, “this guy is an ass, I’m taking over”
I’ve had my share of playing with DJs that think playing with others means its a DJ battle.
From a past experience i was playing at one of our house nights and the guy that started the night was strictly told nothing over 128bpm.. He started off at 130bpm trance.
At the end of his set i just mixed out of his tune and to a slower tempo song and let the crowd realise that the idiot was off the decks and this was how it was going to be the rest of the night, it only took around 15 minutes to get a few people dancing, playing 126bpm house/tech kind of stuff.
I advise you to do what YOU want to do. Don’t try and slam it and out do it because the other DJ’s might think you are both clowns for doing it. Just go with what you feel is correct for that moment! Remember you don’t want to tire the crowd out early either.
if ur playing early, chances are no1 will be in to hear dj idiot on before you…just know your place and stick to it, the dj on after you will thank you for it and should give u some respect. just cos the music is less banging doesnt mean u cant show off with some magical technical wizardry
To the original poster, never worry about other DJ’s in front of you with the exception of when it comes to playing tunes that they produced themselves. Aside from that, crowd is your first and most important thing to pay attention to. In my experience, I’ve gotten props from guys for bangin it out even somewhat early. I remember about ten years ago, Bam Bam out of chicago came up to me. It was half way through the set of the guy after me, and he was on next. He gave me dap, told me I killed it, and the music was great until I got off the decks. Make the people dance. Feel out the crowd, and your skills should handle the rest.
Well…B is not exclusive of A…and should always be the foundation of any performance.
These events (at least in my area) are a “showcase” for each individual DJ. There is little to no expectation that the early DJs will build for the headliner…in essence everyone is a headliner, and no one is a headliner. Some people happen to get a “better” time slot than other people…
You should play for the people who are in the room, at the time they are in the room…and you should put out your best set for that audience. But, that’s true all the time in every venue.
Not every song needs to be an “11”, just like every beat doesn’t need to push the meters to the top of the red.
Whenever I get into “DJ Throwdowns” (which is what we call these events in my area and circle of friends), there is little to no expectation of continuity between DJs. If you can do something as a recapitulation of the end of the previous set, more power to you…
You could Build it up for the first 25 and only play a banger or 2 then for the last 15min or so bring it down or play a progressive mood to built for the next set
That would show your diversity and ablility control the mood if you have people to impress
