What makes a good DJ?

[asdepique]

What makes a good DJ for you?
Play good music and announce the next of dance is it enough for you?
or if a good DJ must be also able to liven up a party with jokes, announcements, birthdays, etc.?

I'm asking this question because I would like to be a DJ occasionally (i have a large collections of ballroom music) but I'm not very comfortable in front of a crowd.

[megeliz]

Playing good music, and having the ability to read the crowd is critical. See what kind of music gets them onto the floor, and keep them dancing. If the floor's clearing out, change up the music.

Also, with regards to "new" stuff, keep it spaced out few and far between the well-known standards. There's one DJ that a lot of people can't stand in my area because (a) he plays a ton of stuff people don't know, and (b) he'll clear out the floor, and wont change up what he's playing.

[suburbaknght]

I can make my own entertainment at a dance event. I don't go to be entertained by others. All I really want is a DJ to play a good variety of styles that focus mainly on the six core dances but include all the second and third-tier dances. I want music that sounds like music, not some guy in his basement with a keyboard and a metronome. I want the song's announced, and if possible a display of the song name and artist so I can look them up later on iTunes, but that's not a requirement.

The DJ should make announcements when needed, but I'm not coming expecting social updates from the music man. Birthdays should be announced if they're tied into the event (doing a circle dance, putting out cake, etc.) or it's just that type of social group. Don't do jokes.

[jennyisdancing]

Playing good music, and having the ability to read the crowd is critical. See what kind of music gets them onto the floor, and keep them dancing. If the floor's clearing out, change up the music.

Also, with regards to "new" stuff, keep it spaced out few and far between the well-known standards. There's one DJ that a lot of people can't stand in my area because (a) he plays a ton of stuff people don't know, and (b) he'll clear out the floor, and wont change up what he's playing.

Yeah, I went to a dance last night and the DJ was guilty of floor-clearing. To make things tougher, the crowd was a mix of dancers and non-dancers. The DJ kept playing songs that were suitable for trained dancers, but the event had been primarily marketed to non-dancers who were understandably frustrated at the lack of club-type music for freestyle.

[megeliz]

Yeah, I went to a dance last night and the DJ was guilty of floor-clearing. To make things tougher, the crowd was a mix of dancers and non-dancers. The DJ kept playing songs that were suitable for trained dancers, but the event had been primarily marketed to non-dancers who were understandably frustrated at the lack of club-type music for freestyle.

Ooh, yea, and on that note - play to the level of dancers you have! If the venue is mostly beginners, don't go pulling out all the sophisticated music that's hard to dance to, play music where the beat is obvious and the tempo isn't inhibitive - at least until the beginners go home! After the beginners leave, then you can play the fun stuff for the more serious dancers that are left.

[flashdance]

free drinks announcements :cool:
80's music :cool:


I'm easily pleased :lol:

[opendoor]

DJing really is a science of its own (see that never ending threads in the style sections). We have to take it seriously. So my answer now is : a DJ is a good DJ if he closely monitores the dancing community. He has to keep the people on the floor, he has to meet the wishes, but also has to keep the quality of the music high. This is not too difficult, he only has to keep an eye on the people!

[wonderwoman]

Don't cater to the non-dancers or beginner dancers. Play what the dancers want to hear so they'll keep going to the nights you deejay and so will the beginners.

[sambanada]

when the dance floor is full, and the tables are empty

[jennyisdancing]

Don't cater to the non-dancers or beginner dancers. Play what the dancers want to hear so they'll keep going to the nights you deejay and so will the beginners.

The non-dancers won't keep going to events where they have to sit all night due to the lack of suitable music for them. My comments had to do with a dance which was marketed to the general public who came there assuming they could freestyle. I do think, in that situation, it's really not fair to cater to the dance crowd.

[bclure]

Are you a dancer? Most of what I know about DJing, I learned from being on the floor dancing. I would love to be more positive, but my inspiration to DJ came from a frustration with some of the existing DJ's.

I would list MY single biggest mistake was thinking at first that I needed a completely new playlist every week. That caused me a lot of stress and didn't work very well. Now I get rid of any songs that didn't go over well and maybe 10% of the others. It seems most folks like familiar music.

[MidwestDancingGuy]

Also, a good DJ doesn't turn up the volume up so loud that it blasts out the eardrums of everyone in the place. I'd say that a good 95-99% of DJs these days (both nightclub/discotheque and ballroom) are guilty of this. It is so loud that you have to yell at the top of your lungs just to be heard by the person you are dancing with, and my eardrums actually start to hurt after a few minutes.

This is why I have started resorting to bringing ear plugs whenever I go dancing, even ballroom dancing.

[Ray Sison]

In my brief time doing it, I was hit and miss (I think), because sometimes I would play something that I wanted to hear, and not necessarily what the dancers wanted...

And throwing in an occasional Waltz or Tango at a mostly Latin and Swing venue pleased some and displeased others...

[drejenpha]

In my brief time doing it, I was hit and miss (I think), because sometimes I would play something that I wanted to hear, and not necessarily what the dancers wanted...

I filled in dj'ing once, and I managed to find the wrong version of the song I wanted and that cleared the floor. (not having a second out option from the computer made checking them impossible) Thankfully the owner of the computer came and pointed me to a different song of the same style that was good for the quantity of beginners we had.

My preference for a DJ: I don't need talking and barring weird intros on unfamiliar songs I know what dance to do to the music. Play music, play the right length of music, fade it out at a logical place after a reasonable amount of dancing, small delay and then the next song.

If you're doing ballroom then mix up standard/smooth and latin/rhythm/salsa and the occassional club/other dance. From my point of view, going to a ballroom club (ballroom, salsa, argentine) social dance was not pleasant because they played: salsa, latin, salsa, a tanda of argentine and a tango vals, latin and started a salsa at which point I left. I don't mind waiting a bit for a fox or a vwaltz if the majority don't know them but I want to have some standard while I'm waiting.

[Ray Sison]

I filled in dj'ing once, and I managed to find the wrong version of the song I wanted and that cleared the floor. (not having a second out option from the computer made checking them impossible) Thankfully the owner of the computer came and pointed me to a different song of the same style that was good for the quantity of beginners we had.

My preference for a DJ: I don't need talking and barring weird intros on unfamiliar songs I know what dance to do to the music. Play music, play the right length of music, fade it out at a logical place after a reasonable amount of dancing, small delay and then the next song.

If you're doing ballroom then mix up standard/smooth and latin/rhythm/salsa and the occassional club/other dance. From my point of view, going to a ballroom club (ballroom, salsa, argentine) social dance was not pleasant because they played: salsa, latin, salsa, a tanda of argentine and a tango vals, latin and started a salsa at which point I left. I don't mind waiting a bit for a fox or a vwaltz if the majority don't know them but I want to have some standard while I'm waiting.

Good post... :cheers:

[bclure]

I filled in dj'ing once, and I managed to find the wrong version of the song I wanted and that cleared the floor. (not having a second out option from the computer made checking them impossible) Thankfully the owner of the computer came and pointed me to a different song of the same style that was good for the quantity of beginners we had.

My preference for a DJ: I don't need talking and barring weird intros on unfamiliar songs I know what dance to do to the music. Play music, play the right length of music, fade it out at a logical place after a reasonable amount of dancing, small delay and then the next song.

If you're doing ballroom then mix up standard/smooth and latin/rhythm/salsa and the occassional club/other dance. From my point of view, going to a ballroom club (ballroom, salsa, argentine) social dance was not pleasant because they played: salsa, latin, salsa, a tanda of argentine and a tango vals, latin and started a salsa at which point I left. I don't mind waiting a bit for a fox or a vwaltz if the majority don't know them but I want to have some standard while I'm waiting.

Nothing worse than clearing the floor.. perhaps another good indicator would be that the DJ NOTICES that the floor is cleared and adapt.

A little whine before I go.. I wish Itunes would update functionality. It seems like all of their "enhancements" are simply made to make it easier for them to line their pockets with our money. The ability to work with dual outputs would be a nice addition.

[Ray Sison]

Are you a dancer? Most of what I know about DJing, I learned from being on the floor dancing. I would love to be more positive, but my inspiration to DJ came from a frustration with some of the existing DJ's.

I would list MY single biggest mistake was thinking at first that I needed a completely new playlist every week. That caused me a lot of stress and didn't work very well. Now I get rid of any songs that didn't go over well and maybe 10% of the others. It seems most folks like familiar music.

I did notice this, too, when I used to be a backup DJ...

[jennyisdancing]

I did notice this, too, when I used to be a backup DJ...

All my local dance venues repeat songs from week to week. They rotate new music in, but there's always a core of favorites. Most people prefer music they're familiar with.

[Ray Sison]

All my local dance venues repeat songs from week to week. They rotate new music in, but there's always a core of favorites. Most people prefer music they're familiar with.

Yeah, there is a bit of a happy buzz when a favorite song comes on. When something is esoteric or new, it may seem a bit non-descript. And some people attach memories to certain songs, and that inspires their dancing...

[NielsenE]

So I DJ in the local area about once a quarter and like to think I do a good job, but I'll answer this question from the dancer side of things.

The foremost requirements are to play good music and a good mix. How those two are defined will depend greatly only the venue and the clientele.

At most of the venues I attend in New England for ballroom socials, the norm is to alternate standard/smooth songs with latin/rhythm/nightclub. Varying greatly from that is apt to annoy most of the regulars. You can occasionally get away from two in a row (typically when you want to fit in a "rare" dance for your venue -- might be paso or polka or hustle), but if you do it too often you'll annoy people who only dance one style.

A few venues around here do sets of two of each before switching -- as long as you stick to it that also works, but if you start being obviously biased then you'll end up with a crowd that only dances one style having driven the others away. Being predictable in the general type of dance coming up next works wonders for letting people know when they should take a bathroom, drink, rest break.

Thinking about the mixing up fast & slow songs is also important -- I try to avoid more than two fast or two slow in a row. Also know your dancers -- at the venues I DJ at most of the experienced dancers show up late, while the newbies show up early. I'll try to bias the "subtle" songs for the later evening. I'm a little more aggressive about trying new music, but normally only in the middle of the night -- saving favorites and classics for the closing of the night.

Most DJs around here play ~3 minute songs for social, though some let every song play to its entirety, and another does only 90 seconds (as if rounds). As a dancer I find the 90 seconds ones way too short. I tend to like letting songs play out (though I follow the 3 minute guideline when I DJ), but if you're going to do that you have to avoid songs that go on more than about 3:30. (especially all the 10 minutes salsas)

Know your equipment and know it cold. Dancers will forgive some odd music choices and odd dance selection, but they tend to get very antsy over technical difficulties -- cutting songs off way early, hiccups, long silences while you troubleshoot something...

Have a playlist prepared ahead of time, but also be able to accommodate requests. Requests tend to be VERY challenging, especially if you suddenly need to balance moving a song/dance up in the playlist in relation to its schedule and how that might interact with the fast/slow mix, etc. You also need to balance how to deal with requests for "rare" dances -- the dancer's I DJ for don't tend to like a lot of Salsa/Mambo (very international heavy crowd), but the salsa fans are the most vocal requesters. If I play their requests I make them happy but then get tons of complaints from the rest, but I hate not fulfilling requests.

[Ray Sison]

Yes, very well said. That part about knowing your equipment: yes, a technical difficulty (such as a disastrous silence) is horrible...

[major swing]

as a dj and a keen swing dancer i find it helps if you actually are a dancer....
then you are feeling it and can read the floor better...........

also you should be obsessed with whatever type of music you play and know what your talking about.......................

a smile helps now and then as well!!!!