THE 10 DJ COMMANDMENTS
1. Play Good Music
Nice and easy, right. The problem is that
good music is very subjective. Your favorite song might sound like complete garbage to someone else. However, there is music that
most people will like. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like classic Motown. Your job is to figure out what music they like. If you play music that your crowd likes all night, it’s pretty hard not to do a great job. If you play the music only you want to hear, you’ll be playing that same music alone in your room for the next couple of months wondering why you haven’t gotten any calls to dj more parties. Ok, so how do you know what they want to hear…..
2. Feel Your Crowd
Every party is going to be different. Every person has different musical tastes. You have to cater the music to your crowd. Your job is to make sure they have a good time. Again, some common sense and observations will help you. What kind of party is it? What is the age group? What’s going on in the party’s environment? You don’t want to play upbeat dance music while everyone’s eating. You will find out very quickly whether or not the crowd is liking what you’re playing. If people are dancing and having a good time, you’re doing a great job. If everyone is sitting down, it’s time to change directions and try something new.
3. Be Consistent
EVERY song you play is important. Getting people dancing is not enough, you have to keep them dancing. No one is going to dance all night, but you don’t want to ruin the flow by dropping a song that doesn’t fit into the current tempo or mood of the music you’re playing. Play the wrong song and you are guaranteed to evacuate the dancefloor. WHEN you play a song is as important as HOW you play a song.
4. Make Smooth Transitions
There are many different ways to bring in a new song. You can scratch, blend or drop a new song into the mix. You want to keep it interesting. You DO NOT want to cut a song off in the middle of a chorus or any part that the crowd is going nuts to. I’m not saying it can’t be done, it just runs a very high risk of killing the crowd’s energy. It takes effort to get a crowd going, so do yourself a favor and be sensible. A drop is good at grabbing everyone’s attention. If you want to switch it up, drop into the next song. If you’ve already got the crowd moving, keep the rhythm going by blending into the next song. Make sure your levels are right. The perfect drop or blend will not work if there is a major jump in volume. Preview the song in headphones and watch the levels on your mixer. Let the music flow.
5. Switch It Up
Play more than one type of music. Nobody only listens to one kind. Music is music.
6. Be Original
Take some chances and set yourself apart. Make your own unique introductions. Blend songs together that no one would expect. Beat juggle, scratch, slow records down or speed them up. Use your imagination.
7. Take Requests
This one is not so easy. Not all requests can be granted. But, a request can be a helping hand. Someone is telling you a song they like, so if you play it, they WILL be happy. If you DON’T play it, they will probably be resentful. It’s a gift and a curse. You might have someone suggest the perfect dance song to keep the party hype or you might get a request for an obscure underground hip hop record that would have people start saying their goodbyes. Use your own discretion. Be honest with someone if you’re not going to play their song but tell them why. If you don’t want to be honest, tell them you don’t have it.
8. Play Music They Don’t Know
After you’ve gotten a proper read on the crowd, you’ll have the opportunity of introducing them to some new music. A real dj will always do some teaching. EVERY person who loves music wants to hear some new good music. If you believe in a song, take a chance.
9. Trust Your Gut
You have to believe in yourself as a dj. Believe in your ability to do a great job. Believe in your musical tastes and knowledge. Know that you will be able to find that next song. Know that you will play the right music at the right time. If you suddenly get a urge to play a song, GO FOR IT! If it doesn’t work out, your next opportunity to make things right will be in about 3 minutes.
10. Have Fun
The last commandment is probably the most important. Djing a party can sometimes feel like defusing a bomb. You only have so much time to find the next song you’re going to play. Don’t sweat it. You’re gonna make mistakes. You’re gonna skip a record. You’re gonna clear a dance floor. I once played the SAME EXACT SONG at two different parties on consecutive nights. The first party went nuts, the second party disappeared. It happens. Sometimes the crowd throws you a curveball. Just keep going and enjoy it. Experience and practice are the only ways to become really great at djing. Practicing at home helps alot because you can learn some of these lessons in private instead of public. Regardless of the outcome, keep practicing and have a great time.
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I have mixed views on a few things.
There's no mention of
investing into equiptment, expect to invest into your art, or KNOW your equiptment.(to me... that's number one)
#7 is flawed. You never let anyone know you don't have a certain joint... you take a mental note... use stall tactics... but, never say,"I don't have it"... it makes you look unprepared. You not having a joint... will spread like a bad chain letter.
You mention nothing of using the MIC or voice projection developement... very useful if you want to introduce new material to the public.
Establishing security of your equiptment... take nothing for granted.
(I have to go...BRB)
