At present we have 8 Djs working in various clubs,Norwegian clubs are very often like doing a mobile and the music must be varied.One of our Dj`s has absolutely no limits he will play absolutely anything, this makes life difficult for the following djs.I think that it is absolutely so uneccessary to play things like the smurf`s to an adult audience who are clearly not interested.I feel that there must be a certain standard and the clubs management have complained,my question to you is where does your limit stop?,how low are you willing to stoop?

Audience wants? Audience gets.

Hmmm...nice little phrase that, however... I need to fill it out a bit more.

At any gig, where requests are taken, you will inevitably get the occasional stupid request from someone who thinks you've never had a stupid request before. The complete chumps are the ones that havent got the brain cells NOT to write their own name on the request slip... If theres a suitable "background music break", I've been known to pinpoint "John Taylor" in the audience and interview him on-mic about his requests for "Beethovens 5th", "The Birdie Song" and "Anything by the sex pistols"...

Similarly, if one request slip comes in with "Iron Maiden" (or similar) on it, it stands a very good chance of being turned over and used as a drinks mat, or notepad by me...if I get several requests for Iron Maiden (in DIFFERENT handwriting ) from different tables (I mentally give all the tables in the room, a table number, and write that number down faintly in pencil on the back of the slips, so I know where in the room to look/talk to, when playing those requests), then an Iron maiden track will get played.

If I think that a certain type of music is going to "fail" on the dancefloor, despite several legit requests, then I usually apply the "30 second rule". EG: I tell the audience that we're always short of time for "all" the requests that they've sent in, and that the next record is difficult to dance to, so therefore we'll just play the first 30 seconds unless someone dances...this way, you either get AT LEAST the two or three people that requested it, dancing, or you've only wasted 30 seconds. Luckily, I've got enough CD decks to make this "quick change" possible.

Its a case of giving the audience what they want, catering for all tastes etc.

Must say I agree with Gary on this one, "If I have it i'll play it" again used with caution it can be quite fun.

At one pub I used to work we used to invite the audience to 'lucky dip' the CD singles for about 30 minutes, until one week I dragged ALL the old cases out of the loft/shed and let them pick from those.

No selecting was allowed and it was a straightforward lucky dip but after a few weeks we had so many requests to extend it that we did 2 x 20 minutes during the evening.

No matter what anyone else thinks its supposed to be 'fun' and whilst management may not like this DJ's mad ideas he has got himself noticed!

I don't think its a case of how low are you willing to stoop, more how far are you prepared to go to please everybody if possible.

Just my 4d worth

spin

I'm quite flexible when it comes to playing music, and like to think that I can cater to people's diverse and ever changing tastes as much as the next man (or woman!). However, not at the expense of a full dancefloor, or if it was so diverse that it simply wouldn't fit in with the age range of the audience (Example:- Marilyn Manson at a Wedding Anniversary!).

I also will cater to speciality functions, not just your average 60's or retro night but the type of client that sends you a list of 700 songs with the demand to Play these in this order!. After all, I'm providing a service and their money is as good as anybody elses!. Just because I cater to them, doesn't mean that I enjoy or agree with them!. The client requesting this sort of function does however get a nice email from me, explaining that in the majority of functions the acceptance and playing of the audiences requests and tastes should also be taken into account by the client. Sometimes this works and they have a re-think, other times it doesn't!. I must get around to putting this on my own website!.

Usually you get the younger early 20's, bare mid-rif, babes coming across in pairs (not that i'm complaining ) bottle of bud in one hand, wafting silk cuts finest in the other and begging you to play "R&B, because that would be soooooo cooool". followed by "Play it next because we are going in 5 minutes". R & B isn't too bad but i've usually just started a 60's or party section when they ask, so they get to wait a while , and after 30 minutes when you do play it, you can bet that Sharon & Tracy are still here - dancing around their handbags .

On the other hand you could be doing a Wedding Anniversary and 65 year old Beryl's 13 year old Grandson comes over....."Put Eminem on" he growls....trying to sound grown up and look menacing . Just nod and smile, explaining how a Mobile Disco works and music policy to him is like a broken pencil.............pointless. Next Along comes his 15 year old brother.."Put Limp Bizkit on 'cos nobody will dance to this s*it". You look at the heaving dancefloor, and wonder how the youth of today are going to fund your pension!.

Okay so this is a bit of a generalisation and maybe a bit OTT, but we've all had at least one gig in which one of the above scenario's will sound more than familiar.

All fair answers but not exactly what i am looking for,iron maiden is high quality c0mpared wth what this guy is willing to play and he does it sometimes without request,if i say that the music is not good or funny just beyond the worse that you can think of and that we are not talking mobile we are talking adult audience in a smart adult (25 _45 years old) club. What then?

Perhaps we are missing the point here Chris?.

What is the audiences (Dancefloor) reaction to what this guy is playing?

If it's bad, then why is the guy still being employed by the club?

I was writing a long explanation but i deleted it as the club just rang and cancelled his bookings,he played 1 song 4 times in an hour,now thats what i mean,would you play the same song 4 times in an hour to satisfy a customer?Heres another one, full dancefloor all nite= low bar takings=no money=no wages for dj=clear the dancefloor at regular intervals? Do you think this happens?

No id never play the same song 4 times no matter what. never its a secret rule for clubs sometimes you have to drop it down a bit as to let people get a drink the dj sounds a right numpty.

I think most DJ's (mobile) will play a request on 2 basic principles....

1) If the DJ has the requested track, and can 'schedule' it in to the direction of clients requested format
2) If the person requesting is polite

(even if the requesting person is ignorant, or grunts, or has only 5 minutes left before they go.....DJ's will play the requested track - but think NASTY THOUGHTS!!!)
Apart from that, I know and have known DJs REFUSE to play a record!!!!!!!

Whatever their reason - it doesnt make them any better or worse than the next DJ, just different.

I have been asked to play some pretty dire tunes in my time....as well as what i'd call 'the good stuff!'

Must admit Chris brought up a good point though, I was once asked if i could not play so many good toons cos they were too busy dancing to drink!! This was from the landlord and at the end of the day he is paying your wages!

Spin

True - this is what I used to hate when I was Pub DJing.

Virtually, Every Pub From Herne Bay to Windsor has a different idea on how they want a night to go.

Don't make them dance.
Make them dance.
Dont play to loud
Play Loud
Dont play this, dont play that.
Play whatever.
Keep them in the pub.
Make sure the punters enjoy them selves.
Don't play requests - play what they want.


Typical of ONE pubs idea - let alone the other thousands!

Requests, an area that each of us have differant thought on

Mobile Gigs

1. firstly have the host given you any instructions, ie no cheesy party dances etc

2. will people be able to dance to it, some songs sound great on the radio or in the car etc, but will they be able to dance to it, I always offer alternatives in this case, i.e I don't have Bicycle by queen, but do have another one bite the dust etc

other that that no problems with any thing, if i think it will work i play it, if not no i won't

Pub & Club residencies
1. in this case it depend if there is a musical policy for the night, i.e indie rock, trance, r&b etc, if it fall outside these paramiters then it can't be played.
2. do you think the tune is just for the person requesting it, i.e. play to the majority. although the person who asked for the birdie dance will have a great time, every one else will hate it & blame you for playing the awful tune.

In general as a DJ you need to read the room and control the dancefloor, if they are geeting to excited & jumping around causing discomfort to other dancers you need to calm things down. i.e. baggy trousers by Madness etc, will bring the drunk guys from the bar, who have not danced all night, they jump around and everyone clears the floor because these guys are knocking into everyone else, so you need to calm them down.

As an ex niteclub & pub manager when you DJ in a bar or club, you are there for one reason only & thats to sell beer

Yes - I think Ian has hit it on the nail - for those pub DJ's - you are there to sell beer!!!

It doesn't matter which way you look at it - it always comes down to that!!!!

Chris (djcs59)

My opinion on your problem is as thus:

a. Speak to the person who has just cancelled his bookings and if you need the work desperately, beg steal or borrow whatever you need to do to get the business back.

b. Sack the dj who is causing the problem. Any song 4 times in an evening is excessive, 4 times in an hour is totally unprofessional and indicates he is not capable of controlling his audience or himself.

c. The smurfs..little blue tw ts .....need I say any more.

Spinko

Right now we are up and running! in a club situation here, yes we do repeat records but max play is twice with a two hour period between, i do refuse to play certain records for different reasons,doesnt fit,cant fit it in ,doesnt work,too strange for the crowd we have, wrong timing,wrong concept.Yes we do clear the floor or at least try and switch the crowd on the floor so sales go up. I will play fun \comedy songs but even those shhould have a certain quality in my opinion.

4 times in one night !!!!

NEVER played a record more than twice ever.

I agree with all of the comments above unless the request is given on a nice crisp £10 note, Then things change a little

In Scandinavia the amount of music released is very limited,not at all like the UK,therefore the top chart songs have to be played more than once,something that i never experienced in the UK,music that is burnt from the net can cost you up to a 5 grand fine if you play it in a club and get caught! Other fun things are amongst others £5 a pint and state owned off licences to buy a bottle of wine! But one good thing The Fast Food song has not reached here! To Spinko, i lose no money by this guy getting fired!

Ian

Said with experience, accountants are all the same

I agree, most companies are run by accountants who are more interested in achieving the requires profit ratio by cutting costs & not taking risks.

rather then making money.

an example

a few years ago there was a nightclub in southend called Mr B's, it was a large club that had cost a lot of money to build. when I took over as manager it was open on 1 night a week and taking between £2-3,000 per week, but making a 55% profit.

within 3 months of me arriving we were trading 4 nights a week & taking £24,000 a week, but the profit ratio was 48%, I was told by the companie accountants to cut back my expenditure on DJ's etc (i had the top guys there - but they are stories for another day)

I would have thought that 48% of £24,000 was better than 55% of £3,000, but no cutbacks had to be made.

I wouldn't do it so left, the new manager did as he was told & the club very quickly emptied again

A fun pub rang me a couple of years ago wanting a DJ for Friday and Saturday, the venue was brand new so I met the guy and told him I could get people in through the door and then they would spend thier cash behind the bar. I told him as the gear was built in I could get someone, and myself, to do it for £100 per night, the guy nearly fainted and told me he had a budget of £30 per night for the DJ. I tried explaining for £30 you will get some inexperienced young DJ would doesn't know his Beatles from The Stones and therefore punters would come in because the feedback would be negative, so after a few weeks no punter would arrive to spend thier cash, whereas if you had a better DJ the people would return and spend thier money and the extra £70 would be eaten up within the running costs and extra profit from the punters. He could see it and opted for the cheaper DJ. The place lasted 3 months tops. By what do we know, I am the DJ !!

Nasty accountants,and what are your % profits like guys? Do you budget and econimise or are we just in it for the glory?the art? the fame? Should we suffer for our art? What exactly should bar managers do?