Would anybody be willing to share any of their playlists with me? I'm looking for inspiration in what i play and other dj's always seem to have the good tunes that i dont. If its not too much hassel and you already have it typed out i would really appreciate seeing ur playlist in order of what you would play it.

Many Many Thanks


RM(blackmagic)

Here's a good starting point.

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=938&hl=

the only problem with a play list is that its not garanteed to work. and i just make mine up as i go along.....

I don't have a playlist as such, just an idea of what follows what and an eye on the punters reactions.
I have been given playlists by people, but say I will play some unless the reaction is nil, when I will change to what I feel is fitting.
One customer kept insisting on his own music, then came up to say perhaps I was right, play something else. As I lined up New York New York, he said "Nobody dances to Frank Sinatra" then watched as they all came from the bar to the floor!
He then said "Oh, perhaps they do"
Maybe that's why I'm the DJ and he's not.

Tell us what kind of a gig and what age groups you are playing to.

I make mine up as I go along too.
But I find that at most Disco's I Do, I tend to start the night off with a little bit of chart music, then go to Cha Cha slide, macarena (where practical), then go into 70's, 60's, 80's and party then at the end of the night play few songs from the charts that have been requested alot during the night.
Every night is different, so you can never really put a playlist together. As it doesnt work as i found out when i first started DJing.
Good Luck!

I have a playlist that I think might suit the function pre-loaded when I start, but I never stick to it.

You can't even tell by just looking at the guests what is going to work and what isn't. You can make an educated guess, but there really is no such thing as a 100% certain floor filler.

I just try different genre's, years etc. which I choose by looking at the guests and trying to guess what they might like, or while waiting for the first requests to come in.

Once you find the magic track to get them up, just try to avoid sudden changes in tempo or style.

In my opinion setting a playlist up defeats the object of a dj. Obviously I go in with a few tunes saved in a small playlist in ots or pcdj red. These are normal requests or songs I know I will forget on the night. But I never stick to it, as surely the skill to djing is being able to read the crowd and knowing what music to play.

Harsh but true.

Well apart from playlists (which we all know don't work) here's some ideas for loads of 40 - 45 yr old blokes at a party - it's worth having some punk, two-tone, madchester stuff (make sure they're the right crowd though, make sure they're not ex- soul boys) i.e. Clash - 'Should I stay... Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant.......(followed by Who - My Generation usually makes the place erupt) - Specials - Ghost Town, Too much too young, Madness One step Beyond (then can play some older ska hits if they get into this)...then some late 70's 80's 90's indie stuff (EMF, New Order, Soupdragons - quite a few compilations will all you need for these)........Primal Scream 'Rocks' is another good tune...Lovecats by the Cure, another classic.......these are my fave gigs actually cos all the blokes go all misty eyed and cheer every song, early Prodigy as well.......

some more tracks that work (at the right time to the right audience) and in no particular order.... Hendrix Cross Town Traffic - Young MC Know How - Spencer Davis Group I'm a Man.......

and the list could go on and on and on.........

I think you might find a lot of DJ's (me included) won't easily give anyone a massive list of their sure fire tunes that they've built up over years of playing out and get them rebooked because they not playing what 'everyone else' plays, you have to develop your own style by trial and error .......

I don't think he's on about using a set playlist for a gig? ...Just as an example of which tracks are popular and go down well?

It might be easy for some of us PC Jock's, who's DJ program automatically saves a log of all the tracks played to post up an example of which tracks are played at a specific type of gig, eg wedding, 18th Birthday etc?

Joe

Lazy-I'm not sure about that. Okay it's easier but I don't sit back and let the pc do it's job and so what if I did, why does that make me any less of an entertainer? Your job as a mobile dj is to entertain people, if people are having a good time does it matter if you're using a laptop/pc, loaded some classics up, have a multimillion pound rig

As everybody says, you never really know until you face them. Even regular gigs can vary if they are in a different mood.
Play what they react to. At an over 60's xmas do somebody asked for some reggae and on went a couple of the usual suspects, UB40 & co. Then the wife slipped in My Boy Lollipop by Millie, just for a change and the place erupted! They loved it!
You just can't tell.

eh eh eh Caaalm down!!

Hello.

Playlists in a way dont work, you can go to any event with a list and you will not be able to stick to your playlist. I should know as I consider myself a playlist fanatic, a bit like a train watcher but without the anorak.

I still take and prepare playlists for each event and build lists for use at all types of events, I will use the lists as a reminder to myself about certain tunes.

I even get playlists from certain radio and club Djs and use some of it that I like for certain shows.

I think it is a good idea to look at other Djs playlists and use them to improve your performance if you can and it is a way of keeping your ear to music scene and finding out what is hot and not. But as pointed out by other members the skill is all about reading the crowd.

Even having all the right music wont mean people will dance, but they still have to listen. So playing the correct tunes is all what are job is about.

As for pc djing I dont know anything about it accept I would love a laptop with 15000 tunes on, so if anyone has one sitting on a floor and cant stand the look of it, well I would give it a good home.

Jim.

Quote;
over xmas i played, the avons seven little girls, frank sinartra high hopes, doris day the black hills of dakota

If you played that at a 18/30's xmas dinner its time I packed it in!!!

I dont use a PC for gigging but I'm sure no one on here that does, would just put it on random play.You have to do alittle bit of homework and preparation but if it makes your gig easier to do then go for it.

Joe was right. All i want is your play lists to see whats regular and interesting for the crowds. im not very up to date with the oldies and crowd pleasers. Im really looking for populars and what goes with what etc. what i should play at what type of event. Im looking for your tips and compilations, that way i can see what fits together for you. Then in the future i can explore and make my own. Your help would mean alot to me now though. Mny of you said of how playlists help you remember those tracks that you could forget, my problem is i've never heard of them so ur lists would enable me to expand my library.

Thanks to Jim i have something to work with for now.
If you do have anything by the way of lists could you please pm it to me. Very much apreciated.

Many Thanks Ross

A while back I went out on a Friday night to a local Brannigans fun pub and literally wrote down every track that the DJ played.I was looking for inspiration,I wanted to change a few things in the way I approached my way of working.The night was a roaring success,everybody up dancing and enjoying themselves right from the word go.

At my next gig I decided to try the playlist.I didnt get passed the first ten tracks-nobody was particularly interested or bothered so I just reverted back to the old tried and tested method of play to the floor and go with your instincts.
Whenever I go out to a pub or club where there is music I always take a note of tracks that seem to work;thats about the nearest I get to "using " a playlist.

From my own point of view rather than a playlist as such I would be more interested in perhaps a programme of the nights tracks.By that I mean not the actual tracks that are played but more a case of how some of you start your night off with say-good listeners(non dance tracks) then perhaps some chart stuff followed by Motown then into 70's and so on finishing the night of with cheesey tunes and your finishing two tracks (already covered on another thread)

I agree Jimmym.Good points.

Just a warning.... Don't Song Hop too much.

I used to use song hopping to find the music the crowed liked, but this can burn up alot of tunes very quickly. I play more dance parties now, but its still hard to get the right music right off. One minute your playing hard nrg to the crowd, the next week its 80's funk. Like everyone said its about reading your crowd. I'm still learning and I don't think anyone can say they have it down pat, because new music means, new crowd tastes.

Tip: I seem to find opening with hip hop/rnb seems to get everyone dancing, then move on to those dance tunes later. (just my opinion)

With a playlist, I only ever have one, when the person running the gig gives me a sheet to play from (hate that, cause normally they have no idea of good music). But I do have an idea of what I can play and practice mixing 'sets', if you could call them that. eg

Freestylers - Punks to Deepdish - Flashdance (Meatkatie Mix) to Professional Distortion..... etc.....etc......

Take good tunes and when you hit a song that packs the floor, the u know the music to play.


Happy New Years, Remember Don't Drink and DJ or The Music Will Be Off The Planet......

Ajay

Play list what are they never use one in my life. I have been at the DJ unie for the last 38 years and if it an't in my head it don't get played play lists Bah Hum Bug

I have a list of the most popular songs, but it's only there as a reminder as i'm very forgetful. There's nothing worse than somebody coming up to you at the end of the night telling you 'you didn't play ymca or dancing queen'...oh yeah doh brain me forgot

Speedy, why don't you just say nobody asked for them!
If I forget a classic track during an evening 9 times out 10 somebody will come up and request it. If they don't it means they are enjoying what you are playing, so why worry?

I have some logs of what I have played in particular evenings. From 40s birthdays, Galas, Dinner Dances, Teenage Discos etc if you want me to dig some out I will do.

Alternatively Black Magic, give me/others a list of decades that you want to know more about and I'm sure I can and others can give you some popular tunes/usual floorfillers. Okay nothing will work everything time but it will give you an idea.

RobbieDj- I most certianly disagree, It's the English they go into a restaurant and they don't like the food 9 times out of 10 they will not say anything but you can make dam sure they won't go back to that restaurant again. It's the same with discos if they don't like the music or what your doing most of the time they won't say but simply won't book you again. Sad reality....... I suppose you could swing this in favour of the famous equipment argument.

Sorry 757 I was not judging you.They are not your average party tunes and when I was in Newcastle earlier this year I certainly didnt hear anything like those tracks being played.
But you have worked the pubs up there so you should know.

Quote;
You have a lot to learn young man, judge me once you have had 20 + years in the game
Believe me I wish I was a young man-at 63 and having been in this game since 1979,first as a promoter and then as a social club dj and more lately as a mobile dj I am still willing to listen and learn.There are a lot of young dj's on this forum who can show us old dogs a few tricks.
I have been so used to just turning up and playing music all these years that when I had to start going mobile I realised I knew nothing about amps/speakers(some would probably say I still dont)and its thanks to the guys on this forum with their advice and expertise that I am slowly coming to grips with it all.

Going back to the original thread.To me playing the right tracks is the single most important factor to a successful dj.If you read all threads that have had a mention of either a clients playlist or tracks that some of the dj's on this forum have played or have in their collection the variation is incredible.The playlist that Gary had a while back-playlist from Hell-the soul/motown music that Eskie/Ian reel off at the share mention of soul/motown.I couldnt do half their gigs because I dont have the tracks or the expertise.
We all work in very different ways.Just take a look at the different tracks that have been mentioned on the thread-first track of 2005.
I went out this NYE with an idea of how I would run the nights music and that changed within 15 minutes of starting because I hadnt realised that there would be so many youngsters attending.It ended up as an alright night as it turned out but judging by some of the posts mine would be classed as a good night.

If you haven't already check out members links to their own sites - i.e. Brian Moles will give you excellent info and ideas for tracks....others have databases of all their tunes etc etc - and it's really interesting browsing through all of them anyway...