Well, this was my first real payed DJ experiance, though I offered to do it for free. It went with a lot of bumps and bruises, but all in all I made it. my cd players kept freezing on certain parts of certain songs????? no idea whats with that, sucks when its a slow song, especially the last one for the night. My speakers kept cutting out which I fixed on the fly, so it went ok. The little middle school kids kept coming up, and asking for all these stupid songs, that they knew had bad words in them, etc. Thank goodness for my friend, he came up and kicked them all out of my little space, with make shift wall, that they payed no attention to. Thank goodness I did not bring a fog machine and such. I got a lot of compliments, and a few "you sucks" but, they got what they deserved from my "girls" in middle school. Fear a girls wrath. I just wanted to play some nice dancing music, but they wanted to dirty dance like no other. any way, open to any comments, suggestions, hugs and comfort peace out.

welcome to the biz.

To be completely sincere with you, you were just not ready for this gig.

When a student comes up to you and requests a song, it's not a stupid song, and you should buy edited music anyway.

If the kids wanted to party hard, you give them what they want.

At first, I was just like you, I hated kids who made requests, it bothered me and I felt like I couldn't do my job, but then I realized, that IS my job. You have to take the requests, you have to play what they want. It's just something you have to get used to.

Some things before the next gig:

1. Buy music from ERG or Promo Only (ERG is better though, more music). It's edited, and it's what the kids want to hear.

2. Play to the crowd.

3. Start taking requests more gracefully

4. Get a friend to take the requests for you, if you can't take them yourself, but not to kick the kids out of your way.

5. Take enough lights to impress the kids, but not so many that you'll spend 3 hours setting them up.

6. Practice you microphone skills, mic = control over the crowd.

And "your girls" shouldn't have to put them back in their place because you didn't do a great job for them.

But man, I'm not dissing here, I'm just being blunt because I was JUST LIKE YOU when I first started. So, follow those small tips I gave you, and you'll start to get on your way, you've got a long ways to go.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the middle school child!! But, it sounds like you did the right thing. Keep doing what your doing. The adults will thank you and all your DJ buddies on this forum will applaud you. Everyone of us has had to fight the dreaded M/S age dance. They are the worst. I have learned (during M/S gigs) to nod, shrug, & smile while almost completely ignoring them. They've never figured it out yet!! Hey Man don't give up and learn from this one. Like it's been said, I learn from everyone I do. Rock On!!!

- ircoach

this is your job, you always have to play for the crowd even if your dont like the music. Just like alot of people dont like working at maccas but they have to do it cause that is wat they are paid for. i have had so many jobs where i am bored cause of the crowd, but as long as they are having a great time. you will learn the ropes real quikly here.

Personally, I think middle schools are about the easiest to do. I mean, they basically all have the same format, 80% hip-hop/R&B, 20% punk/alternative.

Most schools I do usually have "their" own songs that they want to hear EVERYtime I come. But Jest, first of, congrats on jumping into the biz, we all started out. First off, let's take care of the distracting kids. Were you on their level, or on a stage? I am usually on a stage so I can leave my post and take requests when it is convenient for me. If you're on the floor I would, as other people have, requested a table setup utilizing, 5 tables in this order.

|-|
|-

^basically that's supposed to be 2 tables end to end on your left, your table in the middle, a table infront of you to make sure they can't "sneak in" the front, and one on the right side. Now have your friend come in he can stand in the gap in tables on the right and take request for you.

BTW, if it's just you, make Request Sheets, it takes about 4 mins with a Word Processor, just make a table with song/artist columns, and they'll pretty much conentrate on that and not you.

Second, if the cds you were playing were "home-made" cds, they might not have been compatable with your player, or you lenses might need to be serviced.

As said above, ALL ABOUT THE CLEAN VERSIONS. I do not know of any "popular" song that's out, or has never been out that didn't have a clean version. It sounds to me that you were not prepared musically.

Yeah, about what you said Jest, they are DIRTY. I find that grades, 7-9 are the HORNIEST grades that I DJ. The hormones have started kicking in and they can't handle it yet. All they want are the 'Pony's' and 'How Many Licks' songs. But it is your job to satisfy them.

Finally, ALWAYS remeber that YOU are in control of the dance, not them. Use as many others say, "those mics skills" to get them to do what you want. If you ask them to do someting then they will probably do the opposite, but if you frame it in a way that's not a command they will usually listen.

Good luck, the learning always continues. You will learn from each gig, and this forum will be a great help too.


Chris

quote:

Originally posted by ircoach:
[qb] Welcome to the wonderful world of the middle school child!! But, it sounds like you did the right thing. Keep doing what your doing. The adults will thank you and all your DJ buddies on this forum will applaud you. Everyone of us has had to fight the dreaded M/S age dance. They are the worst. I have learned (during M/S gigs) to nod, shrug, & smile while almost completely ignoring them. They've never figured it out yet!! Hey Man don't give up and learn from this one. Like it's been said, I learn from everyone I do. Rock On!!!

- ircoach [/qb]

I'm wondering how good of a DJ you really are "nod, shrug, & smile while almost completely ignoring them." That's about where you need to learn to keep your mouth shut before you ruin someone's business who happens to be serious about a DJ business that they own.

Seriously, middle school dances are the easiest things in the world, that's where you wanna practice taking requests because the requests that they give are of very popular music.

"The adults will thank you" Ummm, if the kids keep going up to the adults and telling them that they don't like you, they aren't going to thank you. In fact, they'll shake your hand, and never call you again.

Please, only give advice if you know what you are talking about. Thanks man. And seriously, I'm just being blunt, not mean, not a jerk, not insulting, just blunt.

DJ-jest:You are getting a lot of good advice from these guys.I hope you take it.Everything they said is right on the money.

WEll my firts DJ experience was kind of the same thing. See in my Country most parties are like this 35% Merengue,35% salsa 10 Rave- Trance and 20% Reggeaton. And Mostly Kids ask for the dirtiest reggaeton imaginable But I was prepared for this I gave them what they wanted to hear and dance. But is very bad to played dirty songs where grown ups are monitoring the party. So i played two songs and i was order to take them off.

But know after i got more founds from doing small parties, I'm taking a Lap Top PC with a USB Professional Sound Card and I enconded all my CDs to MP3s,and i'm using an external hard disk, it sure save up the space and weight of all those cd, But My Rave mixes i take them on CD , sinze is very hard to make live mixing on a lap top

I always take a few friend with me to help on the party. Like for example one monitors that everything is well set up. Another One takes the son request and builds a Play list with the most demanding songs Usually this really works out. Also is very hard to have the latest songs upto date. It takes alot of money to keep on date with the Music collection. I got this fix by going to this CD shop and Making a small deal with them. That every CD or Promition that comes in to save a copy and i usually go every week to pick up. So you can Imagine i have tons and tons of CDs

Also before i put in my agenda that i have a party on this date. I speak with the guys and ask them what kind of music or what is going to played, So i can go and prepare my self with a nice selection of music.


Juan

Well it would of went alright, even with them requesting eminem and 50 cent like no other. I told them I had the edited version but they would just say never mind. The main thing was, I got some messed up hardware, which is being returned this monday, which brings me into my next obstacle, what to get now? I was looking at the ps2 americandj has, and it looks nice, I now have funding to get some top quality stuff. I just can't decide if I want to go real, with the cd players, or go the easy way of computers. please help me on this
thanks for all the imput btw, it stung, but yeah your right, I needed to be more prepared. I got called up by some of my middle school friends and they liked it, so I guess I did an alright job one song did get by with the f bomb, which was scary. peace out

Just a hint....dont ever say that you'll play the clean/edited version, they won't care as long as you play it. Just say "yeah, it'll be on soon", or "within the next few songs", because if you tell them, as you know then they'll become discouraged.

As for your equip to buy. What do you have now, are you for sure looking for cd players, or is that just a possibilty? For you starting out, I would recommened just a nice standard Dual CD player. However, is your power enough? What speakers/amp do you have running? If you want to see what I, or many other memebers use, most have pics on their homepages. You can click on mine and see if anything gets you going. I would recommend going with your speakers, and power before you go to lights, and other "additions".

PS. I personally am not fond of DJ who use computers. I would go with players, it makes you more in touch with the crowd, I feel anyway.

-*Nothing towards anyone here that does use them, I am sure you are good. But I, personally have had some bad experinces when I have gone to parties/weddings, and the DJ has kept his face in the monitor all night, and his mixing was horrible and his levels, were so bad I could hardly stand it. Distorted as hell.*-

Chris

well, I been looking around and I have seen some nice cd players, I got a 800watt amp, 400 each channel, that pushes some speakers with 12 inch subs in them and tweets and mids, all the way. I added some other mids and tweeters and it stills pushes. if you got any suggestions, or websites with a place that you can post models on, email me, greneday556@hotmail.com

Jest,
In all it sounds like you did a good job, you got the basics down.. and this was your first gig. But like others have said, there where some small mistakes from what you said. It's not your fault.. in reality, if you are serious about becoming a DJ, try getting a roadie job with another company? They will teach you all the tricks, and plus you can see, up close, how that DJ works.

"Second, if the cds you were playing were "home-made" cds, they might not have been compatable with your player, or you lenses might need to be serviced."

They were homemade, they work on all of my cd players perfectly, except my dj ones, they just pause on certain parts. One does it more then other. Also it just now started, so I am thinkin maybe its hardware? but it plays normal ones pretty well.

WEll I use a Dual Cd player CD-R and CD-RW compatible. I use my CD-Player to makes mixes for others like play music selection i use the Laptop CD. Mixing on a PC is hard . But is going to be the way of the future. Why carry heavy bags full of cds while you can carry one small bag with Laptop PC with all the necessarry hardware to do your job.

Personaly I know i alot of clubs that use PC to mix music or even play normal selection its saves space. But i think this is new techonoly that is start to go up.

Juan

DJ Jest, regardless of the minor flaws, pat yourself on the back 4 jumpin in like that, sometimes that's a great way to learn, under pressure. Pay no mind to anyone who says your inexperienced actions make serious dj's look bad or harm their business, that's ridiculous. You did no harm. Actually, inexperienced dj's or flawed dj's makes me look good, driving business my way! And pro CD players are a fine way to go. As are turntables. As are laptops. Truth is, they're all the same smell --they're just audio tools, don't let anyone tell u any different. Each tool has pros and cons, peripheral differences. It's whatever u prefer & how u use it that counts. As far setups go, I've done turntable & CD and now dj by laptop (+ powered speakers). Although i have the option to put it on autopilot, I manually mix like any other dj (except I use a mouse and visual screen sliders on my pro dj software). it's just as real as as any other djing. While some traditional dj's look down on it, I'll tell u honestly, I get more folks at my gigs coming up to me impressed and full of praise that I'm using a laptop than when I used CD. Maybe people dig it cause the graphic interface of my software actually looks like a real mixing board on screen or maybe cause I live in a somewhat hi-tech city. But who cares, I'd rather impress them than other dj's. But whatever tool you choose will work, I just wouldn't count digtial djing out as an option down the road. Keep an open mind, have fun, good luck! U rock!