Just wondered if anyone has had them made or uses customised jingles to start or end their show?

Think weve covered this somewhere before! I dont really see why any dj should ever NEED to use a jingle.. surely that is our job to make announcements etc etc etc!

I was just wondering because I have heard the odd demo from production companies that give out the name and details of the DJ.

I think those jingles about the buffet and not eating the sausage rolls are crap but perhaps there is a place for a proffesional introduction to the night. Such as a proffesionally made jingle. I remebember one that went "He's the DJ with more bulls**t than Emmerdale Farm". Something unique and original that just sets you out as a bit different to the rest.

I think that when doing a disco you should be different. It is easy to be the same as everyone else. Set yourself aside from the competition. When you look at who does really well it is normally somebosy a bit different. What makes you a bit different to the other DJ doing the same thing down the road?

GTPS,

Those Jingles have been around since the 1980's when they were considered "in". I had a series of them on CASSETTE produced by an American company in 1981 called PAMS Productions and voiced by a guy called Bill Mitchell who used to do Coca-Cola and Cadbury Flake Ad Voiceovers many many years ago. I stopped using them when I guest at a function informed me of how bad they really were. Still I was young and naive back then - It had me worried, for months I had been thinking that the Guests at functions had been Laughing at ME!. When I stopped using the Jingles the laughing and P*ss taking stopped.

The other Jingles you refer to are produced on CD by a company called ULTIMATE (no relation) in the Midlands and a CD of general use jingles costs around £15 - £25 depending on the content. Again, they've been around since the Mid 90's so nothing new in regards to material and I know that every other D.J in this area has owned at least 1 Ultimate Jingle CD compilation when it was a novelty. Chances are that there is nothing in there that any Adult who attended a Disco between 1996 and 1998 hasn't heard before - so I wouldn't rely on that to set you apart from others.

I wouldn't advise the use of Jingles at all, I found out the hard way years ago, and I don't think that attitude towards them has changed for the better!. For announcements use a mic .

well said crispy!

GTPS...if we all used jingles surely that would make us all the same?... you said we should all be different... which we should be.. so our welcoming/closing should be that... in our own words and in context with the evening.... Jingles for radio is a totally different matter.. but then again so is mobiling to radio dj-ing!

I used to use jingles back in the 80's when I edited them together myself and had them on cassette. They were new back then and as people were getting used to DJs sampling stuff and records being made that way (MARRS Pump Up The Volume etc), they were well received.

As has already been said, they're old hat now and I think it's better to talk to the punters. It seems too impersonal to have a jingle saying "my names bert and you're listening to the fat ferret roadshow", like you can't be bothered to talk to them yourself.

Having a piece of intro music (which some might term an jingle) is a different matter though..............I've used them to good effect for years.

Regards to all

Ian Stuart.

I always finish with the same track and do a goodnite voice over myself.

im in total agreement with things said here the jingles thing is a bit of a dodgy subject.

my advice you wont land gis from jingle but you will with your personality and your own voice!

I think the problem that I see occuring on this and various other threads comes down to the use of a microphone...or rather the avoidance of using said article .

Some people are confident enough to pick up a microphone and use it with no problem whatsoever, others only use it when they really have to and some simply don't think they need to bother!.

The majority of people have a natural reluctance to public speaking - even D.Js! however it can be overcome but it can also take time to gain the confidence to do it effectively. Being nervous doesn't affect your abilities as a D.J - however refusing to use a mic will hinder your chances at some point of being a MOBILE D.J.

Note that I capitalised the MOBILE DJ. Sure, there will be clubs and even some mobile gigs where no mic work is required, but at some point in their work a Mobile DJ will need to use a Microphone and this point is likely to appear sooner rather than later.

Most Mobile Events are family orientated and take effort from the D.J to break the ice and encourage people onto the dancefloor. Often you simply can't do this away from the club atmosphere without talking to your audience. Of course it goes without saying that you should also welcome the audience, introduce yourself, and announce the name(s) of the people celebrating. Calling up the Bride & Groom onto the dancefloor for the first dance of the evening is a must, as well as the usual boring Buffet open / last orders at the Bar / Taxi for Smith style announcements that you will also encounter at some point.

Spontaineous banter with the crowd is a great way to break the ice - especially at those stuffy venues with no natural atmosphere - so create it!. You don't have to be a stand up comedian to acheive this, just look for any opportunity to use to your advantage. Then once you've broken the ice and got them on the dancefloor the amount of talking can be reduced, but not entirely forgotten!.

I don't have a problem using the microphone infact I had to cut down on using it when I started doing mobile discos. But I do think a nice big introduction with some background music and a dry line over the top could be a nice ear catching start to a night.

Point of note regarding DJ chatting during gigs:
A few months ago I added a question on my enquiry form about this, prospective clients were given the option of choosing "DJ chat" or "mostly silent" to the question, "Regarding DJ usage of the mic, what is your preference for your event?".

Over 95% of punters who have completed the form have chosen "mostly silent"!

It seems to me that more and more punters don't wanna hear a dj talking so much anymore and certainly not between every track.

Cheeky! I think it is vital to talk on the mic... but you have to know when too much is too much! I personally hate to hear a dj talk over the top of a really good tune... but there are protocols where you have to talk! I dont think we would get the same reaction if we pointed at the bride and groom and made dancing motions to introduce them onto the dance floor! I think experience counts for a lot... most of us would know what is acceptable and what is not cos we can all judge crowd reaction. Its all very well and good for your client to request "no chat" but what are all their guests gonna make of it... no introduction, no good night? Personally I would not take a booking that wanted "almost silence" or "no chat" - but then again, I am not a club dj or dont do gigs where chat is not required. I am not going to make myself look bad just because the client alone doesnt want me to talk.... ill just give out the number of a jukebox company.

I know there are certain functions when no chat is the norm.... but the wedding/birthday/anniversary market etc all require some level of dj chat.

That really is interesting i often doubt my own performance if i havent used the mic as much, even if the night goes well.... i think i will add that option to my booking form also just to see what people think... it would be interested to know

If you use request slips distributed on tables during the Evening then why not add the feature to this. Rather than just restricting it to the preferences of the Client making the booking.

I already have the option of "Is the music too loud? Yes / No" on the bottom of my request slips. Naturally I always ignore the result handed in from the two 90 year olds wanting to play bingo whilst sat 12" away from my Speakers .

Maybe the chat option on the booking form could be limited to "D.J Participation on mic? Normal / A Little / No preference?. This way you could see whether the client trusts your own judgement (Normal) or doesn't give a damn (No Preference).

With the option added to requests slips it would give a more general opinion for that function rather than that of one person.

I can see both sides of the arguments above (and i'm not making accusations or questioning any persons own professionalism here). But if you try and work to the opinion and choice of one person who has chosen Minimal Talking - you could be accused of trying to do as little work as possible by the rest of the audience. Equally talk too much and you can be accused of having a big ego.

One thing is certain we are not talking Radio Shows here. However just because the client has chosen an option doesn't automatically make it right or the correct decision for the function. And surely (as professionals) we should have SOME say in the matter since the success of the evening is on our shoulders. In the case of Disco's the client is SELDOM right in their choices - they have been to a handful of functions - some of us have done 1000's who has the most experience?. Perhaps, ultimately we shouldn't be putting this level of responsibility onto our clients??. After all would you book a plumber and then instruct him on how to fix your leak?.

I recall (with horror) some clients choices of music (All rap or heavy metal) it was their choice, their selfishness and their fault the guests left early. Fortunately the majority of clients leave it upto us, and just supply a handful of requests.

Calm down dear! If I dont think that I would be happy doing a gig because of certain restriction, then I dont do it... nothing to do with ego... If I cant do a gig because Im not confident, I also turn that down..... I knew I couldnt do the gig that I passed to Kev - so rather than do it just for the money, I said no... my reputation means a lot to me and one of the biggest criticisms I get to hear about other djs, is that they are too mic shy... or too mic friendly! I did state that it was a personal opinion and as much as I respect the clients wishes, I also take into consideration the whole audience who might not have the same ideas as what to expect of a dj. The type of function that I do I suppose would be classed as "party/personality" dj-ing, so therefore if a client said virtaully no chat or almost silent - then it wouldnt be the job for me... its not how I work. And, as I only get work through guests at functions/recommendations, there is no point me doing a job that I wouldnt enjoy because I have been gagged. But then again, I get booked cos my clients like what I do and the style in which I work. Not for everyone, but horses for courses eh!

Over Xmas I've been to a couple of parties when I've yet to understand most of what the DJ actually said except for goodnight (not due to the booze consumed I hasten to add ) I felt like shouting BACK OFF THE MIC !!!!!!

We tend to try & judge what the crowd react to but normally we find that a young crowd eg. teens etc. prefer less chat and the older crowd like more.

On the whole though I agree with Eskie it's the music that you play that people remember you for.

Cheers Mike

If you cant understand what the dj says then it is obviously bad mic tecnique!

Mic work is an important part of dj-ing... music alone will not create an ambience... the dj has to be able to kajol the audience. But as I said, with experience, you know when and how, and when enough is enough or too much! Even teenagers need to hear the dj at times! Club dj-ing, is different and I certainly agree that club djs dont have to use the mic.. after all = the punters who go to clubs actually go to dance dont they in most cases!

kajol is now my word of the day today !!

See how many times you can fit it into a conversation andy! Here is a word that is really hard to fit in... Indupitably (cant guarantee the spelling though)