The floor's been moving, but not enough. You spin up a track that you hope will improve the mood. Instead the floor empties. What track do you use to get the floor bouncing again?
My "Break Glass in Emergency" tunes are:
All age functions such as weddings or 40th's - Mavericks or Shania.
More mature audience - Pretty Woman or Brown Eyed Girl.
Younger - Outkast or Usher.
Anyone play something a little more daring?
Full Version: Break Glass in Emergency
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I agree with 5 of the 6 tracks that you mentioned - great ways of reviving attendence on a dancefloor.
The "odd one out" for me would be Usher - it certainly gets a reaction amongst its target audience of young'uns; they all turn into sultry looking wall flowers, with great rhythm...nodding their chins, tilting their necks and tapping their trainers in time to the beat, but usually just wherever they happen to be standing, rather than any sort of migration toward the dancefloor.
Alot of this more basic, slower, male R'n'B seems to have the same reaction - very little "go" in it.
But hey, the other 5 tracks - sure winners.
I'd also add: (for most age groups)
Abba: Dancing Queen
The Commitments: Mustang Sally
Any version: Lady Marmalade
Stealers Wheel: Stuck in the middle
Black Box: Ride on Time
Kylie: Cant get you outta my bed
Room5/Oliver Cheatham: Make Love/Get down Saturday Night
Depeche Mode: Just cant get'em off.
The "odd one out" for me would be Usher - it certainly gets a reaction amongst its target audience of young'uns; they all turn into sultry looking wall flowers, with great rhythm...nodding their chins, tilting their necks and tapping their trainers in time to the beat, but usually just wherever they happen to be standing, rather than any sort of migration toward the dancefloor.
Alot of this more basic, slower, male R'n'B seems to have the same reaction - very little "go" in it.
But hey, the other 5 tracks - sure winners.
I'd also add: (for most age groups)
Abba: Dancing Queen
The Commitments: Mustang Sally
Any version: Lady Marmalade
Stealers Wheel: Stuck in the middle
Black Box: Ride on Time
Kylie: Cant get you outta my bed
Room5/Oliver Cheatham: Make Love/Get down Saturday Night
Depeche Mode: Just cant get'em off.
Rock DJ
Man I fell Like A Woman
December '63 Oh What A Night
Brown Eyed Girl
You're My First, My Last, My Everything
Man I fell Like A Woman
December '63 Oh What A Night
Brown Eyed Girl
You're My First, My Last, My Everything
| QUOTE (ADS Entertainments @ Oct 5 2004, 04:58 PM) |
| Man I fell Like A Woman |
How was that then? You tripped over a handbag?
Which is still alot better than "Man, I fell like a footballer"...thats where the "injured" (cough) person wont stop writhing on the floor in "agony" until the Oscar award has been brought on..."
Man, I fell like a woman 
lol Gazza nice one, should really read before I press Submit
I also have a few that sit on the top of the flight case for emergency use.
Maxine Nightingale - Get right back
Brian Adams - Summer of 69
Abba - Dancing Q or Does your Mother Know also good A-Teens and B*Witched versions seem to get em up.
Girls Aloud - Jump
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean.
Madonna - Borderline.
Weather Girls - Raining Men
Motown - Most of the classic Smokie Robinson Diana Ross Marvelettes Etc
For the older group Dawn - Knock three times. Bay City Rollers - Shang a Lang
T Rex - Ride a white swan or I love to boogie.Dave clark 5 - Glad all over
Cheesy - Cha Cha Slide. Grease mega-mix Macarena Night Fever
Youngsters - Outkast - Hey Ya, Beyonce - Naughty Girl, Britney - Toxic
McFly - obvious or That Girl. Jamelia - Superstar.
I play most of this stuff at a mixed age gig anyway but I always tend to leave some for later in case I loose the floor. I think some times you think that you have lost them then a different group will get up and dance.
Mavericks never fails and if followed with right track will keep em dancing.
Sorry I'll shut up now.
Maxine Nightingale - Get right back
Brian Adams - Summer of 69
Abba - Dancing Q or Does your Mother Know also good A-Teens and B*Witched versions seem to get em up.
Girls Aloud - Jump
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean.
Madonna - Borderline.
Weather Girls - Raining Men
Motown - Most of the classic Smokie Robinson Diana Ross Marvelettes Etc
For the older group Dawn - Knock three times. Bay City Rollers - Shang a Lang
T Rex - Ride a white swan or I love to boogie.Dave clark 5 - Glad all over
Cheesy - Cha Cha Slide. Grease mega-mix Macarena Night Fever
Youngsters - Outkast - Hey Ya, Beyonce - Naughty Girl, Britney - Toxic
McFly - obvious or That Girl. Jamelia - Superstar.
I play most of this stuff at a mixed age gig anyway but I always tend to leave some for later in case I loose the floor. I think some times you think that you have lost them then a different group will get up and dance.
Mavericks never fails and if followed with right track will keep em dancing.
Sorry I'll shut up now.
I Think I play different from you lot! 
will keep secrets to myself!
will keep secrets to myself!
Agree with Paula, i aint even in the same ball park as it were . I actualy try and take it as it comes on the night.
Yes Paula, you are right maybe not a good choice of tracks now you all know how cheesey I am 
I did fill the floor with the Maxine Nightingale track last week (honestly!) then followed it with Steps Chain Reaction there's no hope for me is there ? lol.
I did fill the floor with the Maxine Nightingale track last week (honestly!) then followed it with Steps Chain Reaction there's no hope for me is there ? lol.
Some of these certainly work, but floor fillers under certain circumstances can be floor killers... we have even cleared a floor with dancing queen, and this was a bunch of middle aged women who usually go for it. One function the client had specified the mavericks, as she said all her family loved it, soon as we played it they all sat down!....aaaaaarghh!
Best to play by ear and try and read the room, you cant rely on anything these days.
Best to play by ear and try and read the room, you cant rely on anything these days.
I too have played Dancing Queen and lost the lot when I anticipated it would go well. Just goes to show!
Sure fly killers.......
oooh! Where do I begin?
Sure fly killers.......
oooh! Where do I begin?
Agree CK but Big Bens original point was you have an empty floor they have all sat down after you thought you had it going. We all take every gig as a fresh canvas and read the floor I am sure. But as you say sometimes it goes pear shaped and the question was what would you use as an almost certain remedy to get em back up. I have tried to think back to tracks I have used over the last year or so that have worked for me.
I do a lot of repeat work for a rotary club and so I have a feel what works with them and I tend to remember things they have asked for in the past this of course makes it easier.
People also hate to be the first up and so you have to target the "Party Animals" in some instances in order to move the music into the type that you think some of the others would like.
Sometimes people sit down because they want to drink or socialise and this may be the time to coax a different age group to the floor.
This is the part of DJing that I really get a buzz from controlling the floor by your choice of music. I also look for fingers and feet tapping because after all you don't have to dance to enjoy music after all thats why I am a DJ.
I do a lot of repeat work for a rotary club and so I have a feel what works with them and I tend to remember things they have asked for in the past this of course makes it easier.
People also hate to be the first up and so you have to target the "Party Animals" in some instances in order to move the music into the type that you think some of the others would like.
Sometimes people sit down because they want to drink or socialise and this may be the time to coax a different age group to the floor.
This is the part of DJing that I really get a buzz from controlling the floor by your choice of music. I also look for fingers and feet tapping because after all you don't have to dance to enjoy music after all thats why I am a DJ.
I'm sure none of us play the same "Break Glass in Emergency " tracks for every audience; we have to take each gig at a time. I was only generalising.
What prompted the question was my weekend gig where I played The Mavericks to a mixed age crowd and it bombed. Turns out Oasis, G'n'R and Happy Mondays was required - oldies didn't want to dance, youngies hadn't told me what they wanted. What's a boy to do?
What prompted the question was my weekend gig where I played The Mavericks to a mixed age crowd and it bombed. Turns out Oasis, G'n'R and Happy Mondays was required - oldies didn't want to dance, youngies hadn't told me what they wanted. What's a boy to do?
There are some crowds though who don't want to dance, they just want lower volume background music while they take the opportunity to catch up with friends and relatives they rarely see.
Not dancing doesn't mean they are not enjoying themselves and you have to respect that.
Not dancing doesn't mean they are not enjoying themselves and you have to respect that.
Agree with Jamie (softoptions). 
Being able to read-a-crowd is an ongoing learning curve.
The body language of function guests will vary - looking for the general tell-tale signs of foot-tapping, table tapping, wiggles, rhythmic movements, etc, guests either sitting down or standing up, will help to indicate what works.....
That said.....people are not always 'readable'!!!!
Sometimes, one impression 'given off' can be read correct, but the individuals observed will be either trying to enjoy themselves or 'going with the flow' of others.
Makes our life more exciting than the next profession, no?
We're not just DJ's - we're human analysists!
Being able to read-a-crowd is an ongoing learning curve.
The body language of function guests will vary - looking for the general tell-tale signs of foot-tapping, table tapping, wiggles, rhythmic movements, etc, guests either sitting down or standing up, will help to indicate what works.....
That said.....people are not always 'readable'!!!!
Sometimes, one impression 'given off' can be read correct, but the individuals observed will be either trying to enjoy themselves or 'going with the flow' of others.
Makes our life more exciting than the next profession, no?
We're not just DJ's - we're human analysists!
Does anybody else get a twinge of butterflies in the stomach when a full dance floor suddenly empties to what is normally a floofiller. 
The one track that I normally hang on to as a "break glass in emergency" till near the end of the night is Elle Warren - Shattered Glass. This is one track that has never failed on me yet, no matter what the age group.
My son, wife and I have tried to work out what it is about this track that makes people want to get up and dance, but we're still non the wiser.
The one track that I normally hang on to as a "break glass in emergency" till near the end of the night is Elle Warren - Shattered Glass. This is one track that has never failed on me yet, no matter what the age group.
My son, wife and I have tried to work out what it is about this track that makes people want to get up and dance, but we're still non the wiser.
| QUOTE |
| Mick Posted on Oct 6 2004, 08:59 PM Yes Paula, you are right maybe not a good choice of tracks now you all know how cheesy I am I did fill the floor with the Maxine Nightingale track last week (honestly!) then followed it with Steps Chain Reaction there's no hope for me is there ? lol. |
Steps! Why not Diana Ross? Didn’t mean anything bad by my posting I just don’t seem to have a break glass in emergency tracks!
Some of the tracks that have been mentioned like Stuck in the Middle, Brown Eyed Girl, and Mustang Sally, to me! Is what I would have used to fill the gaps on a Karaoke night and not floor filler, there sing longs!
Out of your list Mick, I’ve played Dancing Queen. Jump, Grease Mega mix, Night Fever, but I wouldn’t rely on them if my floor had disappeared!
And the reason being is you can’t PRE rely on any track!
When was the last time, you had a whole room erupt onto the dance floor and what did you play to do that, should of been a good start to this topic, and one that would of not had been critised or turned round.
There’s most certainly a pattern lately with Dj’s, be it here on DJU or a pub etc, but a lot of Dj’s have acquired “safe tunes”(probably what you would call the break glass) tunes that they know will keep there floor moving once everyone is drunk therefore not putting much effort or thought into there work and continuing to play the same again and again each week.
Take for example, Tiffany/Wham/Chesney safe tunes and fillers…but boring…..and so expected!
A bit like playing No Letting Go into Never Leave You (Uh Oooh)..It is just so expected!
I think that by having this topic that it will lead to the fashion of safe dj’in!, someone has already said that they keep so many of these fillers for just in case! And a pattern of all playing the same from what I’ve read on previous postings throughout the year is really beginning to form.
It’s a bit like what worked last week won’t work this week so why have a selection of safe tunes?
And what about the older songs that are around that never get a mention, sometimes it would seem that we need to go and refresh our heads a little, what are you carrying around that don’t get played? Get it out and play it, chances are your missing a great tune that you could play and that’s a start to getting out of this safe playing routine.
Another thing is, are you really listening to your client’s taste, say you need to find these safe songs! Or are you a dj that’s afraid to venture outside into other music, times change and peoples knowledge of music moves,
For instance last night I played a tune called Jook Gal, do you know it? As I bet there’s only a few of you that actually own and play it.
My pub gig that I do every now and then, tunes like, She’s Still Loving Me, Earth Ah Run Red, Call Me, Main Squeeze…….Do you even know what I’m talking about?
Your Kids, what are they listening to? Do you know?
I don’t usually contribute to musical threads but I do think some serious re-thinking is in order if people have these safe tracks! Don’t take any offence. Just think about it, and re familiarize your self.
So there’s my opinion!
Thanks for clarifying your comments Paula - no offence taken, just trying to learn.
I'd like to point out that I'm not a set-list DJ, I am trying to master the art of crowd reading. Last weeks gig had me in a room adjacent to the room containing the guests, so I couldn't see a soul.
I'd play a track and then pop my head round the door to see the reaction. There was a lot more guess-work than usual. Having spanned the decades and covered a few genre's I was not getting much feedback and I had zero requests.
This is what prompted the topic.
In that situation, what would you have done? i.e. What would have been your break glass in emergency song?
Another point, I agree that Chesney, Wham, etc. are all "safe" bets but they get requested week-in, week-out, plus, if I play something a crowd is not familiar with they tend to sit down (after looking at me like I'm stooopid) - I am talking from the perspective of a typical mobile DJ.
I think I know where you're coming from as I love two 70's songs - Clout and City Boy. If either of those were played at a disco I'd go mental, but would I be the only one?
I'd like to point out that I'm not a set-list DJ, I am trying to master the art of crowd reading. Last weeks gig had me in a room adjacent to the room containing the guests, so I couldn't see a soul.
I'd play a track and then pop my head round the door to see the reaction. There was a lot more guess-work than usual. Having spanned the decades and covered a few genre's I was not getting much feedback and I had zero requests.
This is what prompted the topic.
In that situation, what would you have done? i.e. What would have been your break glass in emergency song?
Another point, I agree that Chesney, Wham, etc. are all "safe" bets but they get requested week-in, week-out, plus, if I play something a crowd is not familiar with they tend to sit down (after looking at me like I'm stooopid) - I am talking from the perspective of a typical mobile DJ.
I think I know where you're coming from as I love two 70's songs - Clout and City Boy. If either of those were played at a disco I'd go mental, but would I be the only one?
Bigben
In general my comments was directed at the general forum and not personally to you, but beleive it or not, I too am talking from the perspective of a typical mobile DJ.
There's no answer to your question! and the reason I think why is ....
In general my comments was directed at the general forum and not personally to you, but beleive it or not, I too am talking from the perspective of a typical mobile DJ.
There's no answer to your question! and the reason I think why is ....
| QUOTE |
| Last weeks gig had me in a room adjacent to the room containing the guests, so I couldn't see a soul. |
You was playing to know one! So I cant see where I would find the answer to this!
| QUOTE |
| In that situation, what would you have done? i.e. What would have been your break glass in emergency song? |
There is no art to reading a crowd that is not there!
My opinion that I am bringing across is there is no such thing as a break glass in emergency tune but a safe tune...that will be continuelly used without a thought.
..........Shall I start packing????
Paula,
| QUOTE |
| Call Me |
,surely you don't mean the Spagna version .
It was so cheesy it was realesed on the Dairylea label
.It was so cheesy it was realesed on the Dairylea label
I think what people are hinting at here, is that there is physically no way that any of us can predict the tracks, from a blow by blow prospective before we have arrived at the venue and 'met' the audience. To be able to predict the future would result in us not eeking a living from being DJ's but having our own show on Living TV ! .
Often we see our colleagues criticising their clients over long drawn out playlists which dictate the running order of the Evening, by creating our own running order, prior to the gig, are we not committing these crimes ourselves?.
Sure, as Paula points out, there will be 'safe' tracks which any DJ believes to have a reasonable chance of filling the dancefloor, but even they are not guranteed to be a fail safe.
Rich, you were present at that Friday Night Gig that I did at Warmingham Grange, and witnessed the initial dire reaction to what, are often considered as 'safe bets', you also know that in the end we filled the dancefloor with some old dance tracks and rock classics, tracks which I wouldn't have normally played at a Wedding with a Majority of older members!. We both agreed that the night had been a little strange music wise and perhaps what could not be considered to be a typical Wedding .
.Often we see our colleagues criticising their clients over long drawn out playlists which dictate the running order of the Evening, by creating our own running order, prior to the gig, are we not committing these crimes ourselves?.
Sure, as Paula points out, there will be 'safe' tracks which any DJ believes to have a reasonable chance of filling the dancefloor, but even they are not guranteed to be a fail safe.
Rich, you were present at that Friday Night Gig that I did at Warmingham Grange, and witnessed the initial dire reaction to what, are often considered as 'safe bets', you also know that in the end we filled the dancefloor with some old dance tracks and rock classics, tracks which I wouldn't have normally played at a Wedding with a Majority of older members!. We both agreed that the night had been a little strange music wise and perhaps what could not be considered to be a typical Wedding
.
Paula why not Dianna Ross - Easy, The Steps version was requested by a regular at the venue, I do usually play the Dianna Ross one as a first choice.
I do respect that I have to keep my regulars happy as I get a large bulk of my work from this venue. Hope this explains.
I do agree with Paula, we must be individual and not be predicable.
I was not making a play list but just responding to Big Ben's post, I am sure that all he was after was a light hearted opinion of what might work
Have I missed somthing here but were the tracks mentioned played only in certain situations and not as a matter of course, I thought that was the original point.
I do respect that I have to keep my regulars happy as I get a large bulk of my work from this venue. Hope this explains.
I do agree with Paula, we must be individual and not be predicable.
I was not making a play list but just responding to Big Ben's post, I am sure that all he was after was a light hearted opinion of what might work
Have I missed somthing here but were the tracks mentioned played only in certain situations and not as a matter of course, I thought that was the original point.
| QUOTE |
| cookiecat Posted on Oct 10 2004, 11:06 PM Paula, QUOTE Call Me ,surely you don't mean the Spagna version . It was so cheesy it was realesed on the Dairylea label |
WHO?... 
No...Frankie Paul 
Dianna Ross/Steps
Mick no offence mate! Its a personel/family thing! do you know the dance that is done to Chain Reaction the one thats the same as Jingo (Candido) <<<<Am I right on that?
, Welllll!!! It just aint the same doing it to steps! 
Look I read all the replies and if and when the dance floor booms there is only one anti-floor filler killer and that is Master Mix Vol.210 ( I think) disc two track 7 Soul Banana try it
Mo
Mo
Straying from the theme a bit??
Billie Jean is always a good one. Though all nights are different.
The current floor filler is Eric Prydz - Call On Me.
One of My regular venues like the 70s & 80s Jam - Start,
Another love rock 'n' Roll !
Each to there own i suppose.... !
Billie Jean is always a good one. Though all nights are different.
The current floor filler is Eric Prydz - Call On Me.
One of My regular venues like the 70s & 80s Jam - Start,
Another love rock 'n' Roll !
Each to there own i suppose.... !
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