These are a few tips I usually adhere to before spinning at an event. Thought it might be of use to a few DJs.
1) Know exactly what the event is marketed as. Playing the right genre of music is of utmost important.
2) Know your tunes inside out. Will help in smooth transitions and flow of the set.
3) Knowing what tunes are popular among your listeners always helps.
4) Back up the best tunes and carry em along, in case of a drive crash/cd scratch.
5) Sound and equipment check well before the start of the event a must.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
AST - Attention Seeking Technique.
All eyes on me! Yes, that is the kind of attention I seek while spinning music. Its an art I have tried to master over the years. Not hungry for attention but certainly like to keep clubbers glued to my sets.
Most clubbers don't like to hear more than 3 mins of a track while on the floor(my estimate not some statistical data). Smooth transitions from one track to another are a repertoire of a good DJ. I normally plan my set with surprise elements namely acapellas , instrumental versions and popular samples.
Though the timing of these playing these elements is solely spontaneous. I keep in mind to usually let them loose when I see a need to wake a floor up on its feet. Bringing the vigour back on the floor. This is what I term as AST - Attention Seeking Technique.
One the crowd responds to em you know u have got a party back on its feet. But I always keep in mind not to over use them in my sets, so as not to become monotonous.
Another element that I use as a vital AST is the sheer energy I portray on the console. Nobody wants to see a sluggish DJ. I enjoy myself to every bit on the sets. To a point when at times club owners need to calm me down. But its all good as it keeps a happy vibe in the club.
One DJ who I call the prophet of AST is Carl Cox. Sheer energy even at 40 a must watch live act.
Most clubbers don't like to hear more than 3 mins of a track while on the floor(my estimate not some statistical data). Smooth transitions from one track to another are a repertoire of a good DJ. I normally plan my set with surprise elements namely acapellas , instrumental versions and popular samples.
Though the timing of these playing these elements is solely spontaneous. I keep in mind to usually let them loose when I see a need to wake a floor up on its feet. Bringing the vigour back on the floor. This is what I term as AST - Attention Seeking Technique.
One the crowd responds to em you know u have got a party back on its feet. But I always keep in mind not to over use them in my sets, so as not to become monotonous.
Another element that I use as a vital AST is the sheer energy I portray on the console. Nobody wants to see a sluggish DJ. I enjoy myself to every bit on the sets. To a point when at times club owners need to calm me down. But its all good as it keeps a happy vibe in the club.
One DJ who I call the prophet of AST is Carl Cox. Sheer energy even at 40 a must watch live act.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The party that was (Hint Lounge, Blr) on Sat. 6th.
Ok for starts it always helps to know the bouncer at the door, a stampede of sorts at the entry last night. So make ur contacts and get those backdoor passes. 500 odd clubbers last night mostly expats.
I started my set with some hip hop n r & b tunes, was a womens' day special event and most girls love to groove to beats of around 100 beats per minute. Taking it higher went on to some commercial house tunes with the likes of Bob Sinclair mashed with some Pitbull(never fails to entertain). Moved onto some bollywood tunes, which are quite a rage in Bangalore at the moment. I personally prefer the more deeper bollywood electro sounds.
The party at its peak I pushed in some Asian break beats and D&B sounds. These sounds are slowly picking up momentum in most of my sets of late. Bobby Friction sure has helped me explore these sounds through his radio shows.
Oh yeah got 3 drunk guys on the bar to remove their shirts off ! The women going berserk at this time and the party reaching its highest energy levels.
Finished the night off with some classic bollywood mixes and yeah an encore from the crowd made it quite a satisfying performance. No energy drink can give a high like the one u get from a mental crowd dancing with their hands in the air...in their own zones. Cheers!
I started my set with some hip hop n r & b tunes, was a womens' day special event and most girls love to groove to beats of around 100 beats per minute. Taking it higher went on to some commercial house tunes with the likes of Bob Sinclair mashed with some Pitbull(never fails to entertain). Moved onto some bollywood tunes, which are quite a rage in Bangalore at the moment. I personally prefer the more deeper bollywood electro sounds.
The party at its peak I pushed in some Asian break beats and D&B sounds. These sounds are slowly picking up momentum in most of my sets of late. Bobby Friction sure has helped me explore these sounds through his radio shows.
Oh yeah got 3 drunk guys on the bar to remove their shirts off ! The women going berserk at this time and the party reaching its highest energy levels.
Finished the night off with some classic bollywood mixes and yeah an encore from the crowd made it quite a satisfying performance. No energy drink can give a high like the one u get from a mental crowd dancing with their hands in the air...in their own zones. Cheers!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Going Live.
Future of DJing acc. to me is "LIVE". Live sets. Live mixes. Live jamming with musicians/visual artists. Tech savy DJs will rule the roost. Not saying throw the vinyl away but inculcate new technology in sets. Watching a dj create a mix live is far more entertaining than hearing something created in a studio. Spontaneity well executed will sell.
Am an avid user of Ableton live and yes the technology does work on the floor. Creating effects on the fly has never been simpler. Yes must warn u that am still a novice. The very feel of a turntable can now be accomplished with Serato joining hands with Ableton and making a interface called The Bridge.
Am an avid user of Ableton live and yes the technology does work on the floor. Creating effects on the fly has never been simpler. Yes must warn u that am still a novice. The very feel of a turntable can now be accomplished with Serato joining hands with Ableton and making a interface called The Bridge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
