Every gig you play is going to contain a few predictables. People are pretty much the same everywhere when it comes to music they know being played at party volume. Pick up a few tips for learning to DJ in the headspace. Here are a few things you can use to your advantage when prepping your next set.
The leader group
When you’re playing a set, there are often 1-3 people in the crowd or hanging around the dance floor that will lead the way for the rest of the audience. Their actions set the mood of the night. Remember, people tend to do what other people are doing, and that always starts with a (brave) group of leaders. Identify them early and play for them. If they’re enjoying your selection keep going, or find something that they’re into. Soon, they’ll be the ones to break open the dance floor, and the rest will follow. Works like a charm.
Delayed gratification
If you’re doing your job, the crowd will soon be loving the tunes and you’ll have a group on the dance floor. This is where you want to keep them. When you reach this moment, delay their gratification for a while before playing your A-list of hits. You see, once you’re done with your A-list, that’s it. There’s no coming back from it. Don’t burn the crowd out too early. It will mean resisting temptation, but always save the bangers for the end of your set, even if it means that you don’t get to every one. Rather not allow them to drift off before you’re done. End your set with them cheering for more.
It’s not about you
DJing has had such a huge profile boost in the last couple of decades that it’s tempting to believe the hype. But always remember that this is about providing a space for the audience. Having a DJ steal try to the limelight is lame. Saying no to the same request three times is lame. This is about your audience. If you’re not too hot on playing what they want to hear, you’re in the wrong profession. Or maybe just at the wrong gig. Either way, change what you need to so your supply matches the crowd’s demand, not the other way around.
DJing is a bit more psychological than playing in a band or producing music on your own. It requires getting inside the heads of your audience. The aim is to be constantly reading body language and interpreting signals from those present. There are certain things you can’t learn by reading, so consider satisfying your hunger for DJ knowledge with a course by DJ Courses Online.
John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.