Content

• Steps

The hallmark of a quality DJ is his / her ability to satisfy the crowd and keep people engaged. There is a lot more behind the ability to be truly connected with your audience than just playing tapes or doing fancy stunts. Playing the right songs and tying them together into a cohesive image is the most important thing for a DJ, and this is what makes the difference between success and failure of an event. Here's a quick guide on how to pick the right compositions if you're the DJ at an event.

Steps

1. 1 Pick up music. Remember that you are the one who creates the mood and atmosphere of the event, so think about what kind of music will be appropriate. There are several things you should keep in mind when choosing your music.
   • What is the plan of the event? The type of event you're playing on should largely be taken into account when deciding what music to play. You wouldn't be playing the same music at a rock bar, at a wine and cheese party, and at a high school party, would you? Here are some ground rules for different events.
     • When the focus of an event or part of an event is not music, but something else, play soft, slow-paced music so as not to distract attention from what is at the center of the event. For example, at an art opening, the focus should be on art. Wedding dinner time is usually used to get to know the people at their table. In these cases, you should play slow, soft music without overwhelming vocals to keep focus where it needs to be.And although your music should not be the center of attention during this period, it is still an integral part of the event.
     • When the focus of the event is a dance or a party, make sure to play more rhythmic music for people to dance or sing. In this case, your music is the main component of the event and your job is to keep people in motion.
     • If you're playing in a lounge area or where the music is supposed to inspire some movement without drowning out conversations, find a balance in the music so that it draws people to dance, but doesn't hit hard so as not to be annoying. Depending on the crowd, melodic or soulful rhythms tend to suit the setting well.
   • What is the audience plan? This is probably the case where a bit of profiling will not hurt. Often, one can freely get an idea of ​​the musical tastes of the crowd by looking at their clothes, hairstyles, gait, manner of speech, etc. This should not be determinative in the choice of music you play that night, but can be used as a trial basis and in order to get a feel for the crowd and better define their likes and dislikes.
2. 2 Feel the audience. Now that you've found your starting point and decided on the most appropriate genres of music, it's time to clarify what the crowd wants. The first couple of songs for the audience are the introductory part, so it's best to play something win-win to get to know the audience better. Depending on the crowd, the top 40 is usually a reliable option as most people hear these songs every day. Once you've realized which tunes are causing people to react positively, you can decide what to play next to truly satisfy them.
3. 3 Build up energy. Make them enjoy themselves before they start dancing. If you start with something too exciting, it won't build up afterwards and everything else will seem a little disappointing. Also, people may not be ready to go crazy right away. More often than not, people at events are more reserved at first, so it's important to use your music to pump your social muscles and completely relax. As a DJ, you need to bring the event to a climax and keep it going for as long as possible. Make sure to build up the energy from the beginning, so the audience will be in a state of anticipation.
4. 4 Experiment and don't be afraid to disappoint. Once you've figured out what kind of music the public likes, you can start digging deeper into their musical tastes, or even make them fall in love with something they didn't understand and lack in their lives. However, when you are trying to introduce people to something new, it is very important that you have built a foundation of trust by this point. So, your audience is likely to accept something unusual. If this goal has already been achieved by you, then it's time to leave your mark and distinguish yourself from the rest. Remember that you will not always be liked by everyone, but at the same time, you will not be able to become a significant DJ if you do not take risks.
   • You can, for example, play a non-pop or "underground" song that hasn't received much publicity, but is nevertheless a great song. Nothing builds a reputation better than a few people at your DJ rack asking what song you just played.
   • Remixing popular songs is also a good way to stand out while playing proven music. With so many music producers nowadays, you can easily find many quality remixes in music stores and all over the internet.
   • Create on-site remixes, letting the audience know a popular rhythm or vocals from a song, and transfer them to another song with vocals or beats using the appropriate tempo.
5. 5 Take people back in time. Often, the best part of the party is when the DJ starts playing something nostalgic, allowing people to go back in time or remember old feelings. Nothing brings you into the past like an old composition with which you have fond memories. However, it is important to make sure that the song from the past that you are playing is not generally played so often that it has become commonplace. Unless, of course, this is really what the public wants to hear.
6. 6 Loosen up gradually. Your task is both the ability to rock the audience and the ability to cool it down. This is especially important at events where they want you to help get everyone out at the end of the night. Make sure to play slow and non-danceable rhythms. In any club, a good ending song combined with unpleasant lights on should be satisfying enough to get everyone out of the room without a fight or bickering.