Dj tips 7

The best DJs I’ve ever heard all taught me a
similar method in how to approach programming
a DJ set. Some call this “the push and pull” — giving
the crowd just enough energy to dance and be
excited, but never giving it all up until the right
moment. Oldschool house DJs like Derrick Carter
have mastered this method, with sets that build
up into banging music and then down into
something deep for a moment, pushing and
pulling the energy of the set to make the crowd
more excited. It’s amazing how well this method
works, in a single DJ set and also over the course
of an event.

Dj tips 6

Programming is probably the most important
aspect of a DJ’s set. A perfect technical mix with
no soul is never as good as a less-technical mix
with lots of vibe. The music is what moves your
audience and the flow of music from one track to
another can truly create a journey if you take the
time to plan that journey. Many DJs lose sight of
the journey when the excitement of crowd
response is happening and they slip away from
the journey and into musical instant gratification.
A seasoned DJ will never go the route of instant
gratification, it’s a short-term fix and a crowd will
burn out quickly on this vibe.

DJ tips 5

This has been a hot topic on our social media
channels lately, culminating in our recent Tips for
Opening DJs article where A-list DJs all
delivered a very similar sentiment — don’t try to
blow up the dancefloor at the wrong time. There
is an arc of energy that events hope to achieve
and promoters usually book DJs to fill these
different time slots hoping that they will bring the
proper energy for that time slot. Many beginner
DJs are so eager to play “their sound” and impress
their audience that they end up playing
inappropriately for their time slot (usually an
opening slot for up and coming DJs). The best
thing you can do during an early slot is lay down
an even-keeled, in-the-pocket vibe that doesn’t
give up too much energy too early.