You sent out a few proposals and landed a gig! It’s a new place and the client wants a DJ, but isn’t really sure about much beyond that. It’s up to you to put forward a few suggestions. It’s surprisingly difficult to educate clients on the different types of sets DJs can play. In this Advanced DJ tutorial post, we give you three ways to break it down for the client to help them make up their mind.
Genre
The genre of music you play obviously has a huge impact on the dance floor. Well-known tracks will get people moving, while relatively obscure and instrumental tracks will give them a chance to sit and chat instead. You could offer the client a spectrum of “dinner versus dancefloor” and ask them to pick a point on the spectrum. You could traverse genres throughout the event. The musical genre is just the “color” of the venue. You’re just helping them pick out an appropriate one for each moment.
Mixing
The way you mix your tracks can also have an impact on the energy level. If you mix quickly and smoothly from one track to the next, it will keep the energy level high and the dancers moving. On the other hand, if you mix too slowly or awkwardly, it can capsize the vibe and lower the energy level. Is your gig a performance? Include some scratching, or quick chop-and-cut mixing styles. Use mashups and stem separation to create new songs in the process. Again, it’s a spectrum, and having the DJ skills to offer clients will raise your chances of getting more gigs.
Energy
As a DJ, one of the most important aspects of your job is to control the energy of the dance floor. A good DJ knows how to read the crowd and adjust their music and mixing style to keep the energy level high and the dancers moving. But energy is power, and it comes with responsibility! Don’t throw a festival set at a family restaurant. Don’t try to convert people to laid-back soul music at a warehouse party.
Overall, controlling the energy of a dance floor requires a combination of music selection, mixing style, interaction with the crowd, and the use of effects. By paying attention to these factors, a good DJ can keep the energy level high and the dancers moving all night long. Nope, you’re not done. Keep learning from the pro DJs in one of the DJ training courses by DJ Courses Online.