Do you prefer DJ to live music?

When you go out dancing, do you prefer a DJ, or do you prefer live music? Why?

Does it matter what you are planning to dance? I tend to be a "variety" dancer, meaning that I like lots of different kinds of music that matches different dances that I like to do, so I like DJ music for the variety. However, when I go to a swing or salsa venue I enjoy a live band, but my experience has been that they are limited in what they can play. Of course they might be able to play other styles, but why would a swing band play a salsa tune and vice versa?

Nonetheless, do you prefer one over the other, and if so, why do you have that preference?

I think i agree with you on the DJ part. Prefer that.

Depends. I love a really good big band. But there are two problems with big bands. One is if they're not varying the tempo, and play a lot of fast music all the time. Another is that one band the whole evening may become a lot of the same, because bands may have very similar arrangements on a lot of their songs. There's more variation with a DJ.

But if a band is good, it's very very good!

Yeah, and this is from a Lindy point of view.

Give me a great live band any day. I just feel the room is charged with more energy when a great band feeds off the dancers.

I generally prefer a DJ for variety's sake.

i agree with angelo... i'd rather have a dj so that i'd have a variety of songs rather than songs from just one group or something like that... a dj can play many different things... adds taste and stuff

I agree: I think when it comes to swing and salsa or contra dancing, bands generate a different type of energy than a standard mix of music from a DJ. Then again, some DJ's I think are very good in keeping a level of energy going (I am at least trying to figure out a good mix of my own that can do that). DJ's also have to figure on feedback from the audience and know what will work and what won't.

Of course there is another factor: if you are familiar with the band or the music the band will play, you'll probably enjoy the dance more than just going to a dance with a random band you don't know. Of course, you may be very musically inclined and enjoy live dance bands like I do. But it's difficult to find a ... ballroom band.