Hey All,

I did a really big halloween party at the weekend and it was commented on that i spent to much time speaking on the microphone.

Which leads me to an interesting question, how much is too much, even though i actually spoke for less than a total of 5 minutes in a 5 hour set.

At some events i dont bother speaking at all, you can just get a sense from the crowd when there not interested or just totally ignoring you and as an oppersite, at some events i speak a lot as it really seems to go down well when your having a bit of banter with the crowd.

Do any of you guys have tips on how to follow this. I have been DJ'ing for 10 years and its becoming more and more apparant that people are less interested in listening to the DJ or having a bit of fun with you.

Cheers
Scott

I think too much is when the DJ ends up talking a load of old waffle just for the sake of hearing his own voice.

I've been a mobile for 18 years.. Personally I 'do an intro' then chip in with some speak that relevant to the party, ie announcing when your about to play a tune thats requested, telling people the buffet is open etc, letting everyone know at random points that requests are welcome and of course closing the party and getting the crowd to cheer the person who's party it is and leave on a high.

I know DJ's that waffle all the way through, like being flirty to people on the dance floor etc, not my style but each to their own.

If your saying things that are relevant and doesn't interupt the flow - you can never say too much because all part of the art of DJ'ing.

Waffle and talk cr*p - Too much.

the only thing i can say is that if that comment was said by one person only, yos shouldnt think aboutt. five mins. of an hr is reaaly no big deal. remember that there will always be someone at an event that you just didnt quite win over, do not let that shake your confidence.
i usualy never talk on the mic. the way i see it, people pay cover charge to dance and have a good time and not to listen someone just blab away. although i dont play in the main room where the bands are being anounced. my bro is the mc in the main room and does well. to me though he just talks too darn much, but i guess im the only one because everyone praises him for a good job. see what i mean... there is always someone who disagrees.

Here is how I look at it from the perspective of someone who has suffered many a run-in with a DJ and as as a live sound production company.

First, as a live sound production company, my job is to simply "be heard and not seen", or rather, I let the performers on the stage be seen and heard, while keeping attention on them and NOT myself. I try not to interract with the performers unless necessary from a vocal point of view. Doing mains and monitors from one desk, I frequently have to deal with nods, points and indicators to fix monitor mixes and other things going on, typically while the front-man will ramble a bit so someone, say the drummer or bass or guitar(or who-ever) can get monitor tweaks.

During a recent event, one my crew running the secondary PA on a side stage while I was still handling stuff on the main stage, decided to take the role of "Tech God" and get on the mic. This was NOT acceptable. Of course, this is COSPLAY stuff and they seem to think the tech-god is some cranky old lady with a sewing machine, but I won't even go down that road. What angers me is that while it seemed to be somewhat well received, my issues was that "our job as a sound production company is to PROVIDE great mics, not be using them OURSELVES". As that individual was NOT given clearance to perform in the "Tech god" role, I am angered by the behavior. This individual is on their way to be terminated anyways, all I need to do is give him one more chance and watch him screw up. The spare mics were on hand as back-ups for the primaries, not for crew usage. I will typically keep a wired mic at the mix position for emergencies, but I've found in 27 years, I rarely use it past sound check.

At my most recent large event, I think it was clear the stage talent wanted me to interract with them a bit from the desk, but I was more than happy to get the props, but didn't want to otherwise get involved. I also had my hands busy getting ready for the next segment. And these are people I like interacting with. I guess it's the type of engineer I am. If I'm doing my job, then those up on stage can do their job properly. If they do their job properly, then the crowd is happy. If the crowd is happy, then the promoter is happy. If everybody else is happy, then I am satisifed that I've done my job.

Now, there are many categories of DJ's, but we can definately narrow out them in general to two broader categories: Those who like to talk and those who don't.

Personally, I see too many DJ's, especially during wedding receptions, seem to feel that the center of attention is the DJ, not the bridge and groom. Really, I feel the role of the DJ is to be minimally interactive during the event. I do feel the DJ should be allowed to introduce themself, as well as state if they take requests, because I know some DJ's who do not take requests and others who simply work off a pre-made play-list. I also feel that IF requested, the DJ should be allowed to make announcements, but I find that job is better suited for that of the MC(which often times the DJ is both). Likewise, the DJ, if in the MC role, should be allowed to announce things like the cake cutting, any speeches, first dance, and other typical wedding festivities.

I was doing sound at one event and in the next room was a DJ who just would not shut his god damn mouth. The bride and groom came over to my event and asked if I could handle the rest of their wedding, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to since i was contractually obligated to the wedding reception I was providing karaoke services for(with monitors, lights, mains, recording and a bilingual MC). They wanted to fire the DJ because the DJ made sure all attention was kept on the DJ, NOT the bride and groom. I do know that reception ended early, that's all I know of what came about of it.

Personally, I like my DJ to be silent. Well, not to knock DJ's, but if you want my HONEST opinion, I'd prefer the DJ to stay home as I generally have no use for them. But that's not what we're talking about.

The DJ should have a minimal voice print. Likewise, the MC should also be as minimalist as possible UNLESS the event calls for a featured MC(which many of my events call for). If you're talking 5 minutes out of an hour, chances are that's 4 minutes and 45 seconds too much per hour if it's during the music spinning time.

To each their own. No two events are aiike. Regardless, I find most people don't want DJ and MC banter for no apparent reason.

well said.
my bro's job is somewhat weird in the fact that he keeps the crowd entertained for the last moments while the band gives him the thumbs up. while at this moment, he interacts with the crowd to further amuse them until the band says its time. i dont knock his work, but i would just rather go form dj straight to the live performance ( the boss likes him interacting with the crowd. thats why he is in the main room and im in the back!).

I could definately see a DJ doing a hand-off thing if there is no MC. It makes sense. "Hey, this is DJ MotorMouth saying a big thank you to all the people out there filling up the dance floor and having a good time. My time is up for now. Please hang around for the band, "Men with No Talent""

I prefer more straight events, either DJ or band(s), but not both. I did a major event where one of my crew was the DJ(trying to get him more work, which he screwed up on), and I was expected to play an iPod, which I could not find a cable for(of thousands of cables, I can not find this 1 cable...) Promoter was angry I could not find this one cable until I said "please stick around and tell me when I have the time to go search for the cable". I even pointed him at the right bin where the cable would be, but he didn't look.

I do feel that if you are transitioning from the DJ segment to a band segment, you really should have some sort of brief announcment.

As I said, I stay off the mic, as I'm an audio engineer, NOT the entertainment/talent that people come to see. I'm bad at reading a room, I just ensure the mix is tight, dialed-in and has the clarity and projection required, at what I hope are comfortable levels unless the promoter says "louder", which is often the case.

Even though there is a microphone sticking out of my console(it's a goodneck type), I'm sometimes asked to make announcements, which I do resist doing, instead trying to hand it off to the MC whenever possible.

Around here, the trend of chatty DJ's is so not welcome that DJ's are starting to advertise "less talk, more music" type statements to try to get more work. Chatty DJ's are finding themselves not getting many gigs. Each area is different. Now I get drunk DJ's complain to me that I'm making them look bad. How? I don't do DJ jobs and don't take them. Whatever. Maybe if they'd stop getting hammered at their events, they'd not need my lack of help making themselves look bad.

Chatty or not, I do think the DJ and/or DJ/MC team should have up some sort of minimal advertising in a somewhat visible location. In my case, I have my Anvil ATA briefcase which has my company name/logo on it, which I keep displayed at my FOH position unless I can put it near the stage. My other option is using my Projector 150 which is full of advertising on the custom wheel I designed.

I personally dont do much "banter"...I'll make my intro, and announcements, and get the crowd to make noise, and loosen up a bit...I'll usually tell them that we are about to slow it down...But I'm not a comedian...I spin music and inspire people to dance and have a good time. ;-)
On a side note...I would NEVER pre-arrange music...The best man's little sister could do that. I cant imagine not "feeling the crowd" and letting the music flow to where it needs to be.
JollySkipper