Fellow DJs, I need your help discusing anouying requests.
Fellow DJs, I need your help discusing anouying requests. I am doing a speech for speech class, and it is supposed to be regarding a personal pet peeve. I honestly don't really let much bother me, especially the little things, so it was kind of hard to come up with something to write about. I know a lot of DJs have posted numerous things all over the internet about the foolish things people say when requesting a song and since I been DJ for 19 years I figured "Song Requests from a DJs Point of View" would be an easy "pet peeve" topic to talk about. However I can not seem to find as much online as I thought I would. Can anyone help and point me to a community post or website dedicated to stupid things people say (or do) when requesting a song. Feel free to share any personal stories as well. I probable could just do the whole speech with my own personal stories, but when it comes to actually writing it I get writers block, so I am looking for some inspiration. Unfortunately I have procrastinated and this speech is due tomorrow, so I will be checking in on this thread a lot toevening while actually writing the presentation. Thanks in advance, hope to read some good stuff! | |
21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
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| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
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| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
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| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
|
| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
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| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
| Dione Haimes 23.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Mr_Moo
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21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
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| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
| Lannie Kutay 20.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Cook
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| Ara Tima 19.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
http://www.inthemix.com.au/gallery/s...dition/photo#1 |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 19.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by shr3dder
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| Lannie Kutay 24.09.2013 | lol i was doing a wedding this past weekend. (my last, I fuckin hate them, it was a favor for a friend) And I have a packed floor, people are really dancing (20-40 yr olds). And this little kid comes up and says he wants to hear "freestyle", wtf that is, I have no idea. So I tell him "sorry I dont believe I have that one" so he says "well your a crappy dj then". I was like WTF??? Than more kids are asking for Harlem Shake, but I know if I play it I will kill the floor. So I told em I didn't have it. Then they got all pissed off. And started rallying others and talking shit. I couldn't believe it!!! So like 30 mins before my set was over, I just jumped on the mic, and was like "ok guys, thanks for having me, hope you had fun". Played 1 more tune and got the freak out of there. Needless to say, the Brides parents called me the next day, and thanked me for the awesome job I did, and that they gave my number out to like 4 other people. They even gave me a $50 tip on the final bill. Well the client was happy and that's really all that matters. |
| Maude Milesky 24.09.2013 | Thats part of your job as the DJ, to politely deal with drunk people. From the man himself: |
| Dione Haimes 23.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Mr_Moo
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21.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Landsnark
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| Warner Rotberg 20.09.2013 | I was playing a commercial club the other year, all danceable tempo stuff (as you do) and this girl repeatedly kept asking for shite. Stuff like Florence and the Machine or Adele. I said I cant play it as it isnt club type music, all the punters will leave and ill get sacked. This didnt stop her coming back with more songs she liked, but werent fit for a club. Her boyfriend was like "ignore her, shes got a shit taste in music!". Haha. A bit later on in the evening , (im up on a long stage) I notice a movement out the corner of my eye, as I turn around this girls arm is in the air, I quickly lift up my arm to stop whatever it is she is doing and feel wet all over me, my arm, face and quickly turn around to see its gone all over my laptop, club mixer and cdjs (industry standard). I kill the music, get on the mic saying "THIS GIRL HAS JUST TIPPED WATER ALL OVER THE MIXER AND CD DECKS AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE MU...PZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTT", that it, the mixer started sparking! Doormen grab this girl. Police, ironically have turned up for something else (I believe someone walked past and kicked a window of a door). Shes on the floor, 2 doormen holding her down. Police bend down to talk to her and she kicks him in the face on purpose!! Wrong move. Nicked! Turns out she was some manager working for the Council. Bit of a chav. Has to go go court, has to pay club for new mixer & 1 CDJ (hired anyway) and I got |
| Lakeesha Storman 20.09.2013 | I DJ'd in college for wedding, parties, etc. and had a gig at a white trash bar in the burbs. (got "let go" for playing Vanilla Ice before he hit it big because I was playing rap) Anyways, I'm DJing a Bah Mitzvah for some kid and all his 12 year old friends want me to play the latest Ghetto Boys track which is full of swearing, so I believe I've got my out by saying I don't have any Ghetto Boys. Nope, one of the kids had the CD in his backpack or something. I still didn't play it. And I got bitched at by my bosses because I didn't play the Bah Mitzvah song, which I didn't know there was one and my bosses give me a list of songs I "have to play" and there was no Bah Mitzvah song on it. Oh, good times...the people that request a song and then don't dance to it are always fun as well as the people that are drunk (but don't feel drunk enough to still be coordinated) and request a song, get on the dance floor when you play it then fall over multiple times because it turns out they are too drunk to be coordinated. (or that's just how they dance?) Kudos on the Fat Boys reference man. Classic! |
| Merlyn Birchfield 20.09.2013 | A “Get Out Of Jail” Card No, I don’t literally mean the card from Monopoly. What I’m actually talking about is a small pamphlet, brochure, or sheet which tells people what the evening you’re playing is about and what kind of music to expect. This is great for those promoter/DJs out there, people trying to start a new kind of evening in an established venue, or recurring small gigs at lounges/restaurants. I thought of this idea when I was playing at my weekly lounge gig at a swanky upscale restaurant/bar. I had been hired to play very deep, jazzy, laid-back lounge and house music for this venue. Because of the way it was set up (I was down with the patrons and it was a very casual atmosphere), I often had people coming up asking for requests that ranged from reggae to “latin music” to Usher… depending on who wandered in that evening . This was music that I wasn’t really prepared (or hired) to play. I often found myself saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything like that” and getting countered with, “well, what kind of stuff do you play?” I thought to myself how nice it would be if I had something to hand them… a piece of promo material, that was a sort of friendly welcome to the evening . Of course, it would all be in the wording… you want it to be warm and welcoming, not rude! Perhaps it would look something like this:
Welcome to (Such-and-Such) Restaurant and Lounge
featuring “Deep Fusion Saturdays” with David Michael Thanks for coming in to check out our weekly Deep Fusion Saturdays event! Every Saturday from 9pm to 1am, we feature some great drink specials such as (some signature drink) and (some signature drink), all to a backdrop of great music provided by David Michael. You can expect to hear such styles as deep house, future disco, acid jazz, downtempo, and other chilled styles to provide a backdrop for your dining and social experience. We hope that you will join us next week, and spread the word! http://www.passionatedj.com/9-cool-t...n-your-dj-bag/ |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 20.09.2013 |
Can you play something with a Beat
Like a PROPER Beat
|
20.09.2013 | So I delivered my speech. The class thought it was hilarious and I'm pretty sure I hit all the aspects of public speaker we have been learning, like attention grabbing, transitional phrases, internal previews, and whatever. Pretty sure I got an A. It was video recorded and I believe it will be posted online, if I can re-post it and you all are interested I will. I had to cut so much out and stick to an outline that it didn't come out as cool as I wanted it too. But it was a fun project never the less. Thanks again for all the help. And I believe it would be cool if people continued posting about the topic of horrible things people say to DJs, it's a good one. |
| Lannie Kutay 20.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Cook
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| Dione Haimes 20.09.2013 | This thread is hillarious, these kinda people are the reason i dont play top40/mixed format places anymore, just events where people know what the music taste is EDIT: i remember the last time i played this towns student club, massive massive club, i played the downstairs covering my mates shift where its usually house/trance. There was more of my mates than there was punters downstairs so i was ripping out some 138bpm tech trance (this is 2am btw) and i had most of the room going, then this girl (who i had seen fall on her arse earlier and bring her pal down with her lol) came up and asked me if i had 'jack', now i hadnt heard of this tune because i dont listen to daytime radio, i thought it was a drug reference i hadnt heard before, so i replied, nah, cant be arsed getting it, so she slapped me HAHAHAHAHA |
20.09.2013 | Thank you all for the inspiration, I'm going to post my actual draft for my speech. This is just a draft, I am giving a speech, not reading a essay out loud. Had WAY to much written and had to actually chop a bunch out, my speech is only supposed to be around 5 minutes long. I believe it could be better, but I believe if I deliever it correctly I should get a good grade. Here it is, feel free to comment and critic all yo like, I don't take much personal. With a show of hands, how many people have been to a club, wedding, birthday party or any other type of event that has a DJ? OK, now keep your hands if you requested a song from the DJ. OK. I see that’s quite a few of you. Well I have been DJing for 19 years, that’s almost two decades, and today I would like to give you a kind of inside look at what it is like on the other side of the music when people are making request. It amazes me, and many other DJs I have spoken with, at just how unbelievable some people act in this particular situation. I could probable write out a list a mile long with all the different crazy comments I have heard when being asked to play music, instead I am just going to share some of the best—or worst depending on how you look at it. I’ve broken some of these awful attempts of how people make song request down into three categories. First category I’m calling The Scam Artist, the second is The Rude and the third and final category will be The Clueless. The Scam Artist song request The first category I call “The Scam Artist”, these are the type of request which never just get asked. They always have some kind of twist to them. There is the “Hey man it’s my friend’s birthday can you play some Fat Boy Slim” or the “You have to play the new Jay-Z, EVERYONE in the club will go crazy”. It’s usually no one’s birthday, and unless a survey was taken at the door I don’t believe anyone knows what EVERYONE would go crazy for. But the worst of the scam artist is the “Yeah, I DJ too” guy. He scans all of your gear with a very serious look, and then tells you what song would really get the party hype. It’s usually not a good song, and is the reason he is not DJing at that moment. I’m not too hard on this guy; I myself was much like him many years ago. The Rude song request The second category is “The Rude”. This category title really says it all. Some people just do not have any respect for other people. The rude song requester will make you a list of what they feel needs to be played or get very upset if they make a request and it’s not the very next song played. The worst of the rude people are the really drunk ones. They bring over their 8th two dollar drink and wave it over my two thousand dollar mixer, mumbling and slurring about some track 3 on new Katty Perry blah blah something something. Usually a friend will come drag them away. If not hopefully there is a door man around to help out. The Clueless song request My third and final category is “The Clueless”. What I call a clueless request is one that just doesn’t make much since to even be asked. People ask things like “Can you plug in my phone and play this?” or “Can you play the song that goes..” and then they proceed to try and sing a line or two of some song. Yes I can plug a phone in to my system, but there is no way I am going to. I don’t know what types of sounds are going to come from a phone and I don’t like playing name that tune to some bad karaoke in the middle of a loud club. But the worst of the clueless song request has to be from the guy who says, “If you play this song, I can get laid”. Not sure where these dudes come from, or what goes on in their head, but I do not have any magical music that will get you laid. That is between you and whoever. Keep me out of it. I would like to end my presentation by apologizing to anyone here who may have made a similar request like any of the ones I have mentioned. If you are one of The scam artists, rude or even clueless ones when it comes to requesting a song I understand, music brings out are emotions and emotions sometimes make us act silly. Some DJs absolutely despise a request of any kind. I’m not one of those. I enjoy hearing about the different styles of music others are listening to. I just wish the request were all about the music and not about the requester’s ego. I have been slowly fading out of the DJ scene for the past few years, but if you do catch me out and about fill free to come up and request a song. |
| Many Farnsley 19.09.2013 | I hate when they come up in a loud club and procede to hum can you play this song "hum, hum , hum..." I have no idea what they are humming, one its loud as hell in the club, two I ask them do you know the artist or anything. And of course they have no idea. They then get irritated because i can't pick out the song based on some off key humming, and they say the other dj always plays it for her...ughhh. |
| Ara Tima 19.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
http://www.inthemix.com.au/gallery/s...dition/photo#1 |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 19.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by shr3dder
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| Lannie Kutay 19.09.2013 | Wasted White chick with a black boyfriend comes up and asks for the wobble or something. I don't play it right away, and she gets the owner, claiming that I won't play her song because I'm a racist??? We'll the owner makes me play her shit song. And her boyfriend comes up to the booth after and apologizes like 3 times. He was a total gentleman, but drunk bitches ruin it for everyone. |
| Ara Tima 19.09.2013 | http://nobreastsnorequests.tumblr.com/ This blog has some funny requests (among other DJ related notes and photos) |
19.09.2013 | This is good stuff. It's got my head in the right place. I have my intro wrote and have pretty much decided to break the body of the speech into three sections. The Clueless Examples: Can you play track #14 on the new Drake; Yo, here play my phone; Can you play something good The Rude Examples: Drunk guy in my face about playing AC DC; The chick who's pissed cause I can't play her song the second she request it; the people who rattle of a list like your a jukebox AND The Scam Artist Examples: I'm a DJ too it would be cool if you played some Fat Boys, It's my birthday, and the sorority chick who tries to make you believe EVERYONE wants to here some M.I.A. Not quite got an idea for how to sum it up for an outro, but I'm getting there. Thanks for the inspiration everyone, I love it, keep it comin. |
| Dannie Dimora 19.09.2013 | also, this. |
| Dannie Dimora 19.09.2013 | I got some dude offering me coke just after forcing me into playing fucking levels. I got shit turbofolk requests of the same fucking damn song 15 fucking times in a row I hate the place where i live p.s.: sorry for the swearing, i just had to let it out. |
| Tania Somppi 19.09.2013 | NSFW vid that encapsulates my views on the subject ... I did say it was NSFW right? A blog with pics of notes left in the booth ... http://nobreastsnorequests.tumblr.com/ A blog on the subject ... http://www.canyouplaythatonesong.com/ |
| Hellen Mindrup 19.09.2013 | I once had this dude... "Master Mix Mike" if I remember correctly.. This guy came into the bar that my partner and I were spinnin' at super early and the first thing he saw was my buddies 1200's... So he came up, said he was a DJ and yadda yadda.. Well, he then gave me and my guy one of his business cards to keep. My buddies had a picture of a 1200 that he swears he saw on Google lol, and mine had a pic of the Gemini CDJ. He wanted to stick around and watch us for a bit, so we didn't really give a shit. When we started playing, he would come up to us, watch super closely, pretend to scratch in the air and he would act like he want to use the DJM 850's line/phono switch and flip it back and forth.. Not really sure why he would do that, but sure. Eventually he came up to us and he pulled me aside and asked me if I'd play his mix... I was like dude, listen, we don't get paid to drag gear out just to play someone else's mix. How much sense would that make? I guess he got it for the time being, but within like 3 minutes he had came back up to the front of the booth, and started doing that stupid ass shit again where he pretends to flip the phono/line switch back and forth.. So I finally get super annoyed watching this, but before I even said anything the dude actually managed to flip it and the music just turned into violent noise at a very loud volume lol... Needless to say security rang his bell after that but yeah... Idiots at the bar. |
19.09.2013 | Thanks Kwal! I have had that happen a lot. Forgot about it though. I just been believeing about the "it's my birthday" and the "I'm a DJ too", forgot about the walk offs. I once seen a thread with nothing but quotes from things DJs heard, I believe it was on Serato.com, but I can't find it anymore. |
| Hellen Mindrup 19.09.2013 | Annoying drunk broad - "Hey, do you have the song Blurred Lines?" Me - "Yeah, sure. I'll play it after this song that's on now." Annoying drunk broad - "Ok, thanks!" and then proceeds to walk away. Me - Cue up her shit song, get echo ready to echo out of current song, echo out of song and play "Blurred Lines" That's when you look up, and the annoying drunk broad is nowhere to be found. And she never returns for her song. :20 minutes goes by: Annoying dunk broad - "Hey what happened to my song??" Me - "Dude... I just played it... I told you I would...." Annoying drunk broad - "We'll, can you play it again?" Me - "Please get away from me." |
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