The quality DJ is able to heat the dancefloor and keep it hot for the duration of the event. To unleash the masses, enchant them with the rhythm, make them dance for hours, it is not enough to play records or think elaborate tricks. Selecting the right songs and connecting them in a workmanlike manner are very important skills for a DJ and can be crucial for the success of a concert. Below I will take care of providing you with a small guide on how to choose the right songs for a dj-set. Enjoy the reading.
Steps
Step 1. Establish the overall tone of your DJ set
Remember that your first goal is to set the mood and atmosphere of the event, so define it in detail. To program the tone, you need to consider a few key points.
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What is the nature of the event? Sometimes, the theme, the location and the event have already been fixed in advance by the organizers; when you choose the music in the lineup, you will have to take it into account. You would never play the same music in a rock bar, at a wine tasting and at a bachelor party, would you? Let's see now, event by event, some general rules not to be forgotten.
- When the event - or a portion of it - requires that you pay attention to a different object of the music, play light and slow pieces that do not distract the audience. For example, at a vernissage, the protagonists will be the works of art. At a wedding, during dinner, people must be able to communicate with other diners. In all these cases, slow music, almost ambient, without invasive or annoying vocal lines is to be preferred.
- If the purpose of the event is to dance and have fun, be sure to choose cheerful and rhythmic songs that allow the audience to jump around or sing the lyrics out loud. Your music will be the center of attention and your job to keep people on the dance floor.
- If you are playing in a cocktail bar or in a club, your music will have the difficult task of satisfying both customers who want to dance, and those who want to chat with friends without groaning. You will therefore have to select songs with a dynamic groove, although not too incisive and powerful to overwhelm the conversation. Resorting to melodic songs is a surefire way to avoid mistakes.
- What kind of audience do you have to please? To answer this question you will have to devote yourself to a minimum of visual reconnaissance of those present. Very often, a quick glance around the room is enough to get an idea of the audience's musical tastes, gathering clues from their clothing, hairstyles, walking, chatting, etc. Use the data collected not to determine how much you will play for the entire evening, but to test the audience's pulse with the first songs, evaluate the vibrations coming from the dancefloor and better understand what they like and what they don't.
Step 2. Intercept the public's taste
Now that you've established the warm-up tunes and figured out which genre is best suited to the situation, it's time to start adjusting the game by indulging the audience's reactions. The first few songs are for breaking the ice, so it's best to play it safe until you've found the right beats. In most cases, the songs from the charts are the easy bet, because it is very likely that they are well known to most of those present. Try different genres of songs and observe the reactions: once the general taste is established, keep beating in that direction.
Step 3. Increase energy little by little
Let them warm up a bit before launching into the race. If you start pumping to the max right away, you will soon find yourself with limited room for maneuver. How will you take the party to the next level if you're already on top? After the first few songs, the audience will be able to keep up and begin to feel the monotony of your music selection. Not to mention that the public may not be ready to throw themselves into crazy dances from the first minute. Party guests often need to acclimate to get out of the initial secrecy and really let go and your music is the perfect tool to break the delay. Your job as a DJ is to take the party to its peak and keep it there for as long as possible. Make sure with your music to prepare people for the next level, in this way you will not take away the tension and excitement of the party.
Step 4. Experiment
Once you have conquered the dancefloor at your own pace, you can start daring. Dig deep into the tastes of the audience - fishing for subgenres, for example - or try to make them fall in love with something different. In the second case, make sure first that you have warmed them up to love you. Only then will you have a chance to convince them with your proposal. If you know how to play your cards well, you can finally get out of the way and give your dj-set a personal brand. Maybe not everyone will like your turn, but you can't please everyone: to leave your mark you have to take some risks.
- Try to put on a less pop or underground song that you consider worthy of note even though it is not known by the general public. There is nothing better for your reputation than having people come to your desk to ask what song you are playing.
- Playing remixes of popular tunes is a great way to bring out your DJ prowess, while staying on safe ground. There are plenty of brilliant producers out there for you to fish out awesome remixes from, all you have to do is explore the Net and beat record shops.
- Try improvising mash-ups right now. Mash-ups are made by combining two or more pre-recorded songs together, often overlapping the vocal part of one track with the instrumental part of another that has the same tempo.
Step 5. Do not underestimate the amarcord effect
Often the best part of a party comes when the DJ sends out cult songs from the past that send people on a nostalgic journey through time. Nothing in the world takes you back to the past like a song tied to good memories. However, it is important to choose songs that are not too inflated: study well what is considered cult in the musical field. As long as your audience doesn't want to hear what they already hear every day.
Step 6. The curtain falls
Just like getting the right start, ending a party is your responsibility. All the more so if you work in a place whose managers want customers off the track at closing time. In short, you have to send a nice string of the so-called "empty track", slow and not very danceable songs. It cools the spirits and no one will object to the fact that the time has come to leave.
