ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Never? Never! OMG.
What are DJs doing wrong
- Thread starter itwillhappen
- Start date
opendoor
Forum Master
When I go dancing, I check the milonga's website to see who the DJ is. I, and most of my friends, expect a clear profile. And since too many DJs already play OTV music, I don't have to do that too. I always get praised after my sets, and many dancers thank me for the exquisite selection. Saint Paul also said: Let there be diversity among you!
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Oh, thanks for reposting. Those are the Monica Paz interviews, right. I've seen many of them in the past. They're pretty good.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
I suspect most aspiring DJs don't sufficiently consider:
* what exactly they can contribute to the community
* whether there's a real need for it
* whether they like listen to tango music voluntarily and privately
* whether the return on their commitment might become worth the effort
* which advice might be helpful for which type of event
But anyway, I'm just seeing a list of advice here:
tangoplauderei.blogspot.com
* what exactly they can contribute to the community
* whether there's a real need for it
* whether they like listen to tango music voluntarily and privately
* whether the return on their commitment might become worth the effort
* which advice might be helpful for which type of event
But anyway, I'm just seeing a list of advice here:
Also noch einmal zum Auflegen …
Cassiels deutschsprachiges Blog mit Randnotizen zum argentinischen Tango.
tangoplauderei.blogspot.com
TTanguero
Forum Master
A lot of great advice there. Two examples I personally feel strongly about:
Be predictable, be consistent
I'd almost argue this is the single most important characteristic of a DJ. I mostly choose my milongas on the basis of DJs, because I know their style. I know whether they will play more rhythmic, more lyrical, or an even balance of the two. I know whether they will play lots of late 20s/early 30s, Golden Age, or later music. I know whether they will mostly play familiar music with some surprises or whether they value novelty over familiarity. I know the ones whose tandas are thoughtfully constructed and the ones that are more random. So long as I know what I'm likely to get, I can make informed choices. A while back I had the experience of atttending a milonga because I knew the DJ from one prior event, and their music was amazing! The second time they played a totally different style of music, and I had to drag myself onto the dance floor.
Don't save - especially at the beginning - on great titles
DJs who think they have to play funereal dirges for the first hour drive me nuts! There is no shortage of great music to fill an entire milonga. Play great music from the first song!
pianistamediano
Forum Master
This is only a guideline; my longest DJ session was over seven hours long, and while I could have played nothing except the best of the best for those seven hours, I needed filler tandas so that the experienced dancers could take a break and to clear the floor so that dancers could enjoy a slightly less crowded pista. And I'm not playing the good Di Sarli at the beginning, especially when there aren't enough people to savour it!
TTanguero
Forum Master
My favourite DJ very often opens with a great Di Sarli tanda, and the floor is instantly full even if the room looked half-empty a minute earlier!
I agree. The point is to get people dancing on the floor, not to save all the 'good stuff' until later. OK, you build it up, but there's enough 'good stuff' and/or interesting stuff left to play later. At least with some 'good stuff' earlier, they might stay until later rather than just turning up later.
opendoor
Forum Master
Right, as the most experienced dancers now come early and leave early. In my age group, we no longer stay up all night.
(Anyone who plays Pugliese after eleven pm is not thinking inclusively.)
As always, it's about 'reading the floor'.
I don't have a problem with a DJ who announces some 'trial' and asks for feedback, or pauses to explain something about the music of the next tanda - even if we consider it a gem which should remain hidden, provided we're allowed to voice our opinions. Again, that's about the size of the milonga and 'reading the mood'.
pianistamediano
Forum Master
"... when there aren't enough people to savour it!"
Case in point! As a DJ, I'm usually half an hour early or more to set up everything and make sure the sound is good enough, so I have a good gauge of how many dancers are already there.
TTanguero
Forum Master
When they hear about it later, they'll be there at the start next time!
Here it isn't age related, and more to do with who has to get up early the next day or needs to catch trains. It's therefore incorrect to use the structure of a continuous ramp from beginning to end if the milonga finishes after 11pm since the early shift also needs to be satisfied.
Then get them up dancing with something at least acceptable+ when the clock starts ticking. There's plenty of 'good' stuff. Might even attract people to be there early if the music isn't mediocre, rather than late because he never plays anything decent early.
Some DJs develop a reputation. I was dubious when I found who was the DJ at a recent milonga, then I found that the organiser had insisted he did a more acceptable set. It worked!