First Gig
First Gig Posted on: 13.02.2013 by Malena Angelides Hey guys, it's my freshman year of high school, and along with that comes my first true gig \m/ I had one tiny thing last year in 8th grade, but it doesn't really count. This is a big party, at least by freshman standards, so I just want some help from some people with experience. Amount of songs, tips and tricks, anything, all help is appreciated. | |
| Doreen Schurle 14.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by pbcrazy9898
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| Maude Milesky 14.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by shr3dder
Once you drop your first two or three tracks you'll realize everything is gonna be fine and from then on, you'll have the evening on lockdown. I usually start with familiar chill rap/pop that people can recognize and sing to. This gets them in the mood of listening to the music that YOU are putting on. Then when more people show up, play more upbeat rap/pop that people recognize from the radio and stuff. This gets people on the dance floor dancing to songs they are familiar with. Then if I feel like the crowd will accept it I work into my EDM style bangers. (Make sure they are not all house because people like to grind with each other and not just jump to 128bpm all evening ) This is just MY personal style that "usually" works for me at house parties... take what works for you and discard the rest. |
| Shawn Vanhaitsma 14.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by Student
Its a very valid question in my opinion. |
| Ara Tima 13.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by The Rude Gentleman
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| Maude Milesky 18.02.2013 | hmm? |
| Mari Gordish 17.02.2013 | What's up bro! I'm a sophomore in HighSchool and my first gig was also as a freshman! What I did was ask around what people wanted. You can also check out other parties and see what they play. And they best thing to do is check out the local popular radio stations and see their playlist. For example, I would go to http://www.wild949.com/iplaylist/playlist.html to checkout what to play. THE BEST THING TO DO : TAKE REQUESTS. I dont know how much I can emphasize this, but when people request songs, it is what the crowd wants. And honestly, as a HighSchool DJ, it isnt about what you like, but what the crowd likes. If you do good, the word spreads and people will contact you with more gigs. Trust me mate. Good luck! --- I started DJing at a house party as a Freshman, I did amazing and got a gig for the school. I did great at that and now I DJ house parties, mostly every highschool gig, and I am opening up for Kid Ink at the DNA Lounge is San Francisco. Good luck man! --- EDIT : I was late lol. How did it go though? |
| Malena Angelides 14.02.2013 | Thanks for all the advice guys i asked and she actually meant electro and electrohouse, but she said not to use that stuff the entire evening and to play pop for a lot of it, so I'm not that nervous anymore cuz that stuffs easy to mix \m/ one day left, ill update with how it went on saturday |
| Trula Willadsen 14.02.2013 | Next time try this or that for hardstyle. Can never really go wrong with those |
| Elvera Veliquette 14.02.2013 | one tip i have is no hardstyle unless there crazy. I played 2 hardstyle tracks and I am telling you, the guys running the party came to me and started yelling saying its to "hardcore". I also almost got suspend because one of the hardstyle songs had "extreme explicit" language. The f track by shotew if you where wondering. Good luck btw. Kill it. |
| Doreen Schurle 14.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by pbcrazy9898
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| Maude Milesky 14.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by shr3dder
Once you drop your first two or three tracks you'll realize everything is gonna be fine and from then on, you'll have the evening on lockdown. I usually start with familiar chill rap/pop that people can recognize and sing to. This gets them in the mood of listening to the music that YOU are putting on. Then when more people show up, play more upbeat rap/pop that people recognize from the radio and stuff. This gets people on the dance floor dancing to songs they are familiar with. Then if I feel like the crowd will accept it I work into my EDM style bangers. (Make sure they are not all house because people like to grind with each other and not just jump to 128bpm all evening ) This is just MY personal style that "usually" works for me at house parties... take what works for you and discard the rest. |
| Doreen Schurle 14.02.2013 | People don't have a clue what "Techno" is these days; Techno is basically 1990s Trance without proper melodies, just 1/2-bar synth riffs. |
| Trula Willadsen 14.02.2013 | Time to school the lady if you believe it's possible she files dubstep with techno. It's possible to make a difference between techhouse (i.e. this) and techno (i.e. this), but I would give her some examples with a very clear statement on the kind of music it is so she can make up her mind. If she did actually mean Techno as in the example I gave, mad respect! |
| Shawn Vanhaitsma 14.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by Student
Its a very valid question in my opinion. |
| Trula Willadsen 14.02.2013 | I believe that if she asks for a Techno DJ, she means you're supposed to play Techno. However, better be sure so just ask her what it is she would really like to hear. Good luck |
| Gaynell Rydberg 14.02.2013 | Good luck! Have fun. I wish I got into DJing when I was younger, already a junior in college now |
| Malena Angelides 13.02.2013 | Well, thanks everybody. The party's on Friday and I'm just gonna destroy it, whether that's in a good or bad way |
| Ara Tima 13.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by The Rude Gentleman
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| Halley Wurzer 13.02.2013 | Pretend in your head it didn't even happen and keep playing with confidence. Listen to the DJ AM superbowl party mix that was recently uploaded if you are worried about perfection. Plenty of mistakes in it but not really noticeable to the crowd and you know he rocked the f*ck out of that party. Makes me feel better and more confident about being creative and completely spontaneous in a set. |
| Malena Angelides 13.02.2013 | One last thing, if you mess up, what do you do |
| Marilynn Rengers 13.02.2013 | First off, congratulations on landing a gig. i'm not sure about high school parties, but i've done a lot of college parties in my four years there. Start slower, work your way up in tempo and come down at the end. You basically control the speed of the party so working your way up is the best way to go about it once people start to loosen up. If the girl wants techno (and believes like the girls I know who aren't really into music) she is probably looking for EDM-like pop, so I'd bring a lot of that with me, but like Culture_Shock said, bring all types. Feel the crowd out and work off how they respond to what you play. If they seem to respond better to one thing over the other, make them happy. If they like what you play, theres a better chance you'll get booked again. Most importantly though, have fun. |
| Deangelo Boender 13.02.2013 | Always bring more music than you believe you need, in the digital age theres no excuse not to. Bring a little bit of every genre, even if you're playing an electronic set, bring some classic rock, some 90s alternative, some classic hip hop, and always try to have the top 40 on hand. you never know where your set is going to go, and what kind of requests you'll get. I play house and electro, and I'll still get requests for the wobble song and cupid shuffle in the middle of the mix. |
| Halley Wurzer 13.02.2013 | Someone else with more time and energy will probably give you a detailed answer but I'd say a bit of both. Mix it up, have fun, and have confidence in whatever you play. |
| Malena Angelides 13.02.2013 | Am I supposed to play popular songs or just do a regular set? The girl having the party asked for a techno DJ, but i don't know what that means to her...electronic music, or just an ipod with Ke$ha on it on shuffle? |
| Halley Wurzer 13.02.2013 | Yes absolutely assuming its quality music that fits into the theme of the evening . |
| Malena Angelides 13.02.2013 | I believe I have enough game to last the evening , but will 800 songs last through 10:00-2:00? |
| Halley Wurzer 13.02.2013 | music for 4x the time you believe you'll play. spit game at girls. |
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