Hi Guys and Girls...as our ageing silver haired colleague may say.
I have recently got back in the game after several years in retirement from Djing.
I had 20+ years running a mobile and Club Djing around Richmond, Isleworth, Hounslow...you get the jist.
When i first started I based my style on the Dj that worked regular nights in my Fathers Pub. Martin Horne based in Brentford. Very good DJ I believe.
He was the first I had heard to have a theme tune back in 76 he was playing Hawaii 5 O over the years he had a few others.
I used to finish maybe cheesy now but with the Rocky theme big in the 80s!!!!!! always went down well, even though i had worries of drunks having a fisty.
Any of you guys have themes or tunes you always start and finish with....
Dont worry not going to nick the idea just wondered if I should carry on with this tradition or drop it like a bad habit!
Appreciate your thoughts.
Full Version: Buy the Theme Tune Play the Theme Tune
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I find that the last 2 or 3 minutes of the show can be a make or break moment. A time of the show, where I cant normally risk playing something with me being the only person in the room who would want to hear it.
The worry would be that if someone came up at a minute after the end saying "you didnt play my song", I'd give them the response of how the venue management (whoever) insist that we finish bang on time, and then wait the microsecond that it would take Mr (or Miss) Just-one-more, to say "well you could've played my record instead of that theme tune.
No amount of explaining that the theme tune was only 28 seconds, compared to his/her requested tune of 4 mins.
On the occasions where I have overidden everyone elses "last record" requests and ended with something that no-ones asked for (but lots love singing along to), I've played Abba - Thank you for the music.... from any of the parts which start with "so I say.........................Thank you for the music...."
The worry would be that if someone came up at a minute after the end saying "you didnt play my song", I'd give them the response of how the venue management (whoever) insist that we finish bang on time, and then wait the microsecond that it would take Mr (or Miss) Just-one-more, to say "well you could've played my record instead of that theme tune.
No amount of explaining that the theme tune was only 28 seconds, compared to his/her requested tune of 4 mins.
On the occasions where I have overidden everyone elses "last record" requests and ended with something that no-ones asked for (but lots love singing along to), I've played Abba - Thank you for the music.... from any of the parts which start with "so I say.........................Thank you for the music...."
I always finish with a rock version of the irish washerwoman wherever i play! produces much jigging and bouncing around !. Eskie used to finish with several diffirent things but i dont know if he still does. 
I used to close with Purple People Eater-Sheb Wooley.Playing that let the customers know that I was finished.
When I first started in the 1980s it was The Olvaltinies
When I first started in the 1980s it was The Olvaltinies
Finish with Morecombe and Wise - Bring Me Sunshine
| QUOTE |
| The worry would be that if someone came up at a minute after the end saying "you didnt play my song", I'd give them the response of how the venue management (whoever) insist that we finish bang on time, and then wait the microsecond that it would take Mr (or Miss) Just-one-more, to say "well you could've played my record instead of that theme |
Gary what if you play "their song" to close then someone else comes up and says the same thing.
You could be there all night
I used to use "High Fidelity - The Kids from Fame" (for obvious reasons 
) to launch into my welcome everybody bit, but I seemed to have dropped that lately.
I have been thinking of using just a short snatch of it at the end of the night, just to re-inforce the disco name before everybody goes home.
) to launch into my welcome everybody bit, but I seemed to have dropped that lately.I have been thinking of using just a short snatch of it at the end of the night, just to re-inforce the disco name before everybody goes home.
I pretty much ALWAYS pick what songs get played for the last 2/3 songs. Remember the last think people see or hear will have a large influence on whether the tell there friends that you were a "fantastic DJ" or simply "alright". Ok you might upset one or two people when didn't get their requests played but if you finish on a good couple of dancey tracks most of the guests will go home on a high.Majority rulesunless it's the bride and groom!
Once I have played those last couple of songs I usually play something quiet and relaxing or something a little cheesy like the Grandstand theme.
Once I have played those last couple of songs I usually play something quiet and relaxing or something a little cheesy like the Grandstand theme.
| QUOTE (cookiecat @ May 11 2005, 08:21 AM) | ||
Gary what if you play "their song" to close then someone else comes up and says the same thing. You could be there all night |
I know what you mean, but (as I explain to the "just one more" beggars) the venues I play normally insist on a dead-on finish.
At virtually every gig, I get more requests than hours/minutes left before the end of the gig. If I've played someones legitimate request as an Ender, then I (and the "wheres mine" beggar) usually agree that there simply wasnt enough time for all the requests (blaming the raffle, the bosses overly long speech, the award presentation, the cake cutting, the photographer, the 11:59 coach...whoever...).
More and more now, I'm cueing up several audience requests during the last-but-one song, and allow a live audience vote for the last record, inviting a show of hands. This works a treat - anyone then who had their request mentioned in the "contenders" list, but had it outvoted, then at least realises that their song was definately in the running for being played, but was honestly outvoted by the majority.
Very occasionally, on certain typical "enders" I've played two heavily spliced down tracks (2 mins each) instead of 1 four minute track, which treads the dangerously fine line between keeping two sets of requestors/people happy, vs the rare event of 2 lots of people observing that the tunes didn't last as long as "normal".
Never enough time...but then choosing the requests which will add the most to peoples enjoyment of the night, is all part of the job.
I never take in any requests in the last 30 minutes of the gig and make sure i play any left overs in the last 30 mins.
| QUOTE (ADS Entertainments @ May 11 2005, 08:15 AM) |
| Finish with Morecombe and Wise - Bring Me Sunshine |
Ditto,
the night normally finishes with several people dancing across the dance floor, and you normally hear people whistleing the tune as they leave.
Strange this should come up - I was cutting the grass at the weekend whilst listening to my iPod. I had a huge playlist on consisting of women artists. Suddenly this portentous drum riff started and I thought - "that would make a great opening to a gig". Later on, I got on the PC and played around with looping bits and pieces to give me about 90 seconds worth. The song? "Human Behaviour" by Bjork. It has a great "theme" feel to it - like a movie soundtrack. Mind you, working with David Arnold around that time might have had something to do with it.
I like the Eric & Ernie idea for closing
Cheers,
Jack.
I like the Eric & Ernie idea for closing
Cheers,
Jack.
Used to finish with either simply the best 
and elvis the wonder of you.
now if no special request by my client just finish with new york new york
probably the most played finishing off song.
and elvis the wonder of you.
now if no special request by my client just finish with new york new york
probably the most played finishing off song.
Usually finish with Frank Sinatra - New York, New York or for 18ths and younger people it has to be Bill Medley & Jeniffer Warnes - Time of my life.
I used to start with the closing tune from Bottom. it's vocal free so you can talk over it, turn it right down for really important messages and turn it up for good bits!
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