No. 1 mistakes beginner DJs make when playing out?

[mute]

No, playing electro house doesn't count.

Ok, what are the most common mistakes for beginner DJs to make when they play out? Not setting the gains? Lifting the needle from the wrong record? etc etc?

[mashedman]

Being to dumb to realise they're shit and not ready to play out. Some people just have no shame. Can't say i've ever seen someone stop the wrong deck when i've being out. I did at a house party a few months back, it was amazing that i was still standing let alone mixing

[kurtisthomas]

Get drunk and not socializing with the promoters, managers, door girls

[blky]

havent had the chance yet but i reckon for those djs who only own a 2 channel mixer, then go and play out somewhere on a 4 channel mixer, and then not know wat to do, thatd be quite funny!

[miutante]

everyone has pulled the needle off the wrong record. some people would smile and ask the floor if they want a rewind .... some people would freak out. this is one of the key differences between a pro and a beginner.

[macc4]

telling everyone on a public forum you shitting yourself
then dropping acid and not playing at all.

[ferretrock]

I played a DJ set before I actually DJ'd (if that makes sense - I didn't own any gear, and was actually playing a band set later - but was filling in a 40 minute DJ set).

I thought that the crossfader was fucked because it wasn't turned onto the channels that i wanted on a xone:92 :P
I also didn't know how to set my own cues on a CDJ.
We (it was a B2B) also didn't bring our own cartridges and so we had about 50 useless vinyl and only had 10 cds to DJ from :|

I hope that my first set as an actual DJ that has practised will go a little better.

[Master Mischief]

One of the biggest hurdles for Bedroom DJs to overcome IS taking the first step away from the bedroom and overcoming their fear of playing out to a live. Of course peps make mistakes when intially play on club system or setup they're not used too. Experiance is how you get better. That and learning from your mistakes. I wouldn't refer it as dumbness...I put down to lack of preparation and professionalism why some seem shittier than others...

Some mistakes made by beginners IMO are...

Not having the basic skills to mix two choons togeather...ie...can't beatmatch, pitchbend...etc

Thinking your shit doesn't stink just because you can spin a few tunes...!!!

Forgeting to acknowledge the crowd...!!

Pan-caking/freezing up after making a mistake...running off stage...lol...(I've seen this happen...was hilarious...and boy she could run...lol...we dubbed her DJ Sprinter...)

Tune selection or poor programing...

Basic gear prep...ie...forgeting things like...headphones...spare needles...tunes...lol...

Being late to a gig...!!!

And yes...being too drunk or high on a first gig is a fast way to a short career...for any paid gig for that matter...

In summary, the #1 mistake for beginners and even experianced DJs IMO, IS a lack of preparation...period. The #2 mistake for beginners is a lack of professional curtiousy towards other DJs and punters alike...

Having a bit of professionalism in everything you do is what will separate you from the rest of the bunch...that and a willingness to learn from your mistakes.... ;)

END RANT

[adrian morton]

playing hit after hit between 10 and midnight and then not having anything good to play later on

[SlicyDicer]

Dropping acid then not playing

oh wait someone already said that

[Spicy]

^^ haha! i was about to make the same joke.

anyway, taking drugs (esp. pills, acid, getting stoned) are pretty crap when you gotta DJ on a first gig. disorientation FTL, while on pills you might get the false idea that you're kicking some major arse, when i fact it might be kinda average.

whizz on the other hand........... ;)


Can't say i've ever seen someone stop the wrong deck when i've being out. I did at a house party a few months back, it was amazing that i was still standing let alone mixinghehe, i've done that once or twice before, and it wasn't even on my first set. shit like that sometimes just happens, that's all.

[needaride]

going max doughies in the gravel n shit at lidcombe station.

[citrus00]

concentrating too much on beatmatching and shitty track lists

[Treason]

bitches like stitches

[J-radical]

if you do make a mistake, which everyone does (if they say they havnt then they are lying) theres nothing to do other than have a laugh, take a sip of your beer and get back into it. At first it will be embarrasing but in time you learn to really not care to much about fucking up. Man I still do it and it just becomes funny. People will remember it more if you freak out.

[Mad Rooster]

Most punters don;t know when you fuck up, as I've learnt. So don't make a deal out of it and press on.

No. 1 mistake by beginner DJ, overuse of flange and other effects.

[kloseline]

telling everyone on a public forum you shitting yourself
then dropping acid and not playing at all.

i seriously laughed out loud when i read this! ;D

[Lil Lizard]

telling everyone on a public forum you shitting yourself
then dropping acid and not playing at all.
lols:bow:

The other night I was teaching a mate to to DJ (on CDs), his finger was hovering over the cue button on the playing track, I knew what he was about to do so I watched.

Sure enough, tracked stopped, look on his face was that he needed a new pair of panties. I told him that he wont be making that mistake again.

[southern_dan]

:lol:

i saw the thread title and thought to my self, oh shit here we go.

note to everyone, don't stomp on headphones and then take acid!

[mentalyst]

Dropping acid then not playing

oh wait someone already said that
How about taking K and shitting yourself when playing.

[Skerik]

Levels and headroom - always the last thing they think about, when it should be the first

[snadge]

i seriously laughed out loud when i read this! ;D
me too :lol:

[Dr Fegg]

Most common mistake is they don't check whether the previous DJ has unassigned the x-fader so they cue up their first track thinking its just in their cans but it's all coming out the FOH speakers...

Well that's what I did anyway!

[Tha Gooch]

not watching the dancefloor enough

these days i onlyt ever look down to get thru the mix, always have your head up and try to guage what the crowd wants next

[Lil Lizard]

Most common mistake is they don't check whether the previous DJ has unassigned the x-fader so they cue up their first track thinking its just in their cans but it's all coming out the FOH speakers...

Well that's what I did anyway!

How long was the track playing for before you knew what was going on?

[The Good Doctor]

Without even going into specifics I'm constantly amazed at some of the beginner DJ's I see playing out. I mean you've all got to start somewhere but lots of these guys should not be let anywhere near a club for a long time yet, they don't even have the basics covered.

In a world of "Amway" DJ's is it any wonder cause the managers know they're bringing their mates with them, well at least for a few weeks.

[pomrocks]

Levels and headroom - always the last thing they think about, when it should be the first

that's an issue certainly NOT limited to beginners...the amount of times ive seen guys maxing all the channels and only hitting 1/4 if that of the master!!!! X(

[GeeKay]

playing hit after hit between 10 and midnight and then not having anything good to play later on

This wins it for me. Gives me the shits when you gotta jump on next and he/she has just delivered a peak time set when the crowd is just getting into it.X( :slap:

[TravGTi]

if you do make a mistake, which everyone does (if they say they havnt then they are lying) theres nothing to do other than have a laugh, take a sip of your beer and get back into it. At first it will be embarrasing but in time you learn to really not care to much about fucking up. Man I still do it and it just becomes funny. People will remember it more if you freak out.

Totally agree..

This man speaks from experience... was so smashed trying to play once at Ambar in Perth he threw in the towel part way into a mix, left me to take over and went and joined the peeps on the floor to have a dance! :rock:

[shaggdoggz]

I dont know but my main problems originally were recovering when some drunk idiot runs over and disconnects a cdj/turntable that is playing and having to quickly jump into another song while you fix what ever they screw up, first few times i froze up a fair bit, now i casually spin the stop/start jog releases around and quickly make a powerdown/up lame but it works better :). My second biggest problem is speakers blowing, and the lows in a speaker starting to hum after a few hours of play, so trying to keep the levels so it doesnt sound to bad or start to screw up. Overcrowded places with people packed and being pushed into the dj booth or leaning on it... beer spilt on a piece of gear screwing it up...
The next problems ive faced commonly is the guy after you not showing and being asked to continue on. Going from a 1hr set to 3hrs and not running out of tunes that match well is something i originally never planned but always am prepared now.
Knowing that when ur asked to play house music at a joint... they dont mean house music sometimes. I went to a place and was asked to drop donkey rollers type music after arrriving when i was planned for house electro style... jumping to hardstyle is a completely different thing to house! So having a set in a few other genres at hand is worthwhile.

[archietech]

is the answer "playing out"?

[kasper_flip]

I went to a place and was asked to drop donkey rollers type music after arrriving when i was planned for house electro style... jumping to hardstyle is a completely different thing to house! So having a set in a few other genres at hand is worthwhile.

lulz, maybe they meant DJ Zany - House Muzik :P

anyway cheers to everyone who replied to this thread, i will be playing my first gig out this time in 2 weeks, so this has helped me heaps!

[CHOPPY_INDAHOUSE]

Dont just hide in your bedroom so safe

[macc4]

Dont just hide in your bedroom so safe

problems in boogyman with closet again choppy?

[ferretrock]

+1 on the too much flange and the levels
i see too many Pro DJs peaking on the channels and/or master when the club is already WAAAYY TOO LOUD.
Ego much?

[SlicyDicer]

How about taking K and shitting yourself when playing.

sounds like a fun time

[rileya]

How about taking K and shitting yourself when playing.

You did this? Tried it at a mates once, realised after 1 mix it was way too hard. Concentration + K ftl

[DSILVR]

telling everyone on a public forum you shitting yourself
then dropping acid and not playing at all.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Ben Royal]

pressing stop on the CDJ that is actually playing.
Getting the levels wrong, both through the mixer and in your headphones.

[quantum8]

Levels and headroom - always the last thing they think about, when it should be the first

+1 on this

the redline is usually red for a reason (for most tracks), loudness doesn't always cover up the horrible low end clipping!

[Spectrum]

http://vu.bjr-labs.com/vu_help.gif


5. Left Channel BPM Counter
6. Right Channel BPM Counter


:rock:

[quantum8]

:lol:

so the max is 3bpm on that thing?

[elkc]

telling everyone on a public forum you shitting yourself
then dropping acid and not playing at all.

i 2nd to macc4

[ferretrock]

:lol:

so the max is 3bpm on that thing?

did you mean +3dB VU?
And if so - then yes it is - as are pretty much all VU meters - RMS is an average measure of power output, whereas you're likely used to instantaneous mesaturements ala the PPM level shown on most DJ mixers.. The Urei 1620's meterstrip and the Allen & Heath V6 are two mixers that I know show VU, as opposed to PPM.
Unless you're working with a digital mixer, VU tells you much more valuable things IMO.

Can't say i've ever played on acid, but errr... i don't think i could handle that :rainman: :lol:

[Funkedub]

lol ... winamp VU meter

[quantum8]

did you mean +3dB VU?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClEPOPeFX6c

[Blu-Dome]

played my second time out in a club the other night. most of the set went pretty much perfectly, but one transition i started to loose the beatmatch. i just couldnt get it. Stopped fading in the new track and started to freak out cause only 1:20 to go on the other track... luckily i just took a deep breath, dropped it again and recovered nicely.

funniest thing is that was the mix i got the most props for afterwards! hehe if only they knew...

so id totally agree, biggest mistake would be freakin out when you fuck up. i was so worried before about stuffing up but i realised no one really gives a shit. im sure il have plenty of fuckups in future but il just laugh and ride it.

cool thread, some good pointers in here.

[archietech]

nice work blu-dome!!! good work mate that's what i've come to read about!

i guess it boils down to the fact that only maybe 5 to 10% of people really have any idea what any of the dj apparatus does and when something's gone wrong.

[hoojee]

getting too cocky after a couple of mixes and pulling the 'i am god' gesture and ruining a breakdown with a trainwreck.

[mcdoofus]

:lol: I'm still perfecting that skill in my bedroom

:rock: --> :-0

^God ---> ^Trainwreck

[DJ_Ange]

whoever summed it up with 'lack of preparation' got it in one!

Pretty much everything above falls into this category.

Here's a few things that I've seen:
- Playing peak time tunes in a warm up set or playing way too hard following the main dj to close the night .... this one truly shows a complete lack of understanding for the genre & club night you are playing for. If you want to make a good first impression don't just play what you like and hope for the best, play to your set time and to the crowd. If you've never played or been to a night you have been booked for do your research beforehand.

- Not understanding basic mixer functionality - instead of just getting on & hoping you'll figure it out don't be afraid to ask someone for help (if there is a DJ on before you just ask basic questions like which channels are you on & if it's not blaringly obvious ask where the booth monitor & headphone buttons/knobs are etc, ... do a basic check yourself. It's really not that hard to figure it out before you put your first tune on.

- Overplanning: if you are planning your set from start to finish then you shouldn't be DJ'ing out. How can you play to the crowd if you've planned everything and not taken into account things like the crowd might not like what you are playing or your CD skips/vinyl is scratched. You have to be prepared for everything. Sure there are prob tunes you know you'll play but there really is no point in going too far

- not being able to back up what is on your Demo CD: one big fat word of advice .... do not ever give out a demo CD that is anything other than mixed live by yourself (I don't mean live in a club). If you can't back it up in a club what you claim to be able to do on your demo CD then you are setting yourself up for a fall. Sure you may fluff a mix and you might go back and retouch it but as long as you know you can do it

That's enough for now .. I tend to carry on a bit (haha)

[AlexPwns]

No, playing electro house doesn't count.

Ok, what are the most common mistakes for beginner DJs to make when they play out? Not setting the gains? Lifting the needle from the wrong record? etc etc?

Playing Electro House.

[falseProphet]

"Planning" your set too heavily beforehand, and hence failing to react to what the crowd is doing. Often compounded by not bringing nearly enough records either in terms of volume or variety to be able to adapt.

[truba]

did you mean +3dB VU?
And if so - then yes it is - as are pretty much all VU meters - RMS is an average measure of power output, whereas you're likely used to instantaneous mesaturements ala the PPM level shown on most DJ mixers.. The Urei 1620's meterstrip and the Allen & Heath V6 are two mixers that I know show VU, as opposed to PPM.
Unless you're working with a digital mixer, VU tells you much more valuable things IMO.

Can't say i've ever played on acid, but errr... i don't think i could handle that :rainman: :lol:
urei 1620 has no VU meters, it has nothing, you have to buy one yourself for it.

[truba]

- not being able to back up what is on your Demo CD: one big fat word of advice .... do not ever give out a demo CD that is anything other than mixed live by yourself (I don't mean live in a club). If you can't back it up in a club what you claim to be able to do on your demo CD then you are setting yourself up for a fall. Sure you may fluff a mix and you might go back and retouch it but as long as you know you can do it

That's enough for now .. I tend to carry on a bit (haha)
+1

[OZilla]

going max doughies in the gravel n shit at lidcombe station.


lol that was u?! i saw

[ferretrock]

urei 1620 has no VU meters, it has nothing, you have to buy one yourself for it.

i said the meterstrip - i thought it was a separate module?
perhaps i'm wrong, but i was sure someone (darko?) had posted a picture of one.

Anyway, back to the topic.
Yeah, fuck the ableton demos right off (when you are playing a turntable set) - if you can't play, you can't play.

[kasper_flip]

- Overplanning: if you are planning your set from start to finish then you shouldn't be DJ'ing out. How can you play to the crowd if you've planned everything and not taken into account things like the crowd might not like what you are playing or your CD skips/vinyl is scratched. You have to be prepared for everything. Sure there are prob tunes you know you'll play but there really is no point in going too far

i'm playing my first gig friday week, and at this point i have planned probably 70% of the tunes i'm playing, but after reading that i am not so sure its a good idea. basically i wanna do a good smooth first set to get over any nervousness/stage fright and then after that i'm gonna be doing all my sets on the fly... what do people think?

i have played at house parties etc, but thats a little different to a paid gig in a club.

[Funkedub]

^^^^


plans mixes and transitions ... but not the whole set.

make contingency plans

be prepared for anything

[Mad Rooster]

i'm playing my first gig friday week, and at this point i have planned probably 70% of the tunes i'm playing, but after reading that i am not so sure its a good idea. basically i wanna do a good smooth first set to get over any nervousness/stage fright and then after that i'm gonna be doing all my sets on the fly... what do people think?

i have played at house parties etc, but thats a little different to a paid gig in a club.

take acid and then chicken out

[Master Mischief]

i'm playing my first gig friday week, and at this point i have planned probably 70% of the tunes i'm playing, but after reading that i am not so sure its a good idea. basically i wanna do a good smooth first set to get over any nervousness/stage fright and then after that i'm gonna be doing all my sets on the fly... what do people think?

i have played at house parties etc, but thats a little different to a paid gig in a club.

Depends on what your mixing IMO. Some genres need a bit of prep, like a Trance or Progressive House set or a VDJ set. Others, it's all up to you and how you decide to mix, who your mixing with, your set time and of course the crowd at the time.

My advice this being your first...pre-plan...but be flexible...

One thing that has helped me in the past is buying tunes in pairs or pairing tunes up. Not buying two of the same tunes. But by actually pairing two tunes up by however...I've found some go together really well...and some just clash...works for me...could work for you.

Just make sure you have your bag sorted and don't be late...;)

Good luck mate...rock their socks off...!!!

[Strech]

IMO theres not too much wrong with a planned set alsong as it works, if its seems like people are disinterested then beat matching a couple of other tunes you know will drag them back can't be that hard?

Plus planning it won't make it that much easier, you have to hit your exact cue points each time etc.. but what if you get distracted?

Just read the crowd, have fun with it all, dont constrict yourself to only a certain bunch of tunes. You'll find if the crowd digs one track you'll think "Damn I know and even better track than the one I planned next"

[genebourne]

Im not 100% sure id classify this as a "mistake" because its definately intentional, but i think its pretty laughable when i see a noob djing out who proceeds to give it the "hell yeah im the man" fist pumping, put your hands up mofos, just after he's dropped the biggest earbleeding trainwreck you've ever heard. and then does it again.. and again.

Makes me want to cut my wrists.

What ever happened to a bit of humility?

[TravGTi]

I think too much prep is an issue... and being too paranoid bout the beat mix.. (granted some genres require more anal beat mixing than others)... BUT most punters are oblivious to the difference between a half decent mix and one that would be near on complete perfection! the only chin strokers that are really watching are the other DJs and theyre only chin stroking it up cos they think they're better and should be playing instead of you!

In the grand scheme of things its about your tunes... you could be the worlds best beat mixer ut this comes with no guarantee that theres not gonna be tumbleweeds blowing across a vacant dance floor!

One of the most cranking gigs I've experienced was mixed in a very average manner by big name producers (I aint gonna start a whole rant about good producer does not equal good DJ now either) but it taught me to stay focussed on the tunes just as much as the transition.

I would personally prefer to see more people stepping up and being a little less concerned bout the chinstrokers hovering at the bar which make up 10% of the audience and worrying more bout the 90% tearing up the floor and showing some respect for what you're doing! (granted this assumes youve filled the floor).

[TravGTi]

- not being able to back up what is on your Demo CD: one big fat word of advice .... do not ever give out a demo CD that is anything other than mixed live by yourself (I don't mean live in a club). If you can't back it up in a club what you claim to be able to do on your demo CD then you are setting yourself up for a fall. Sure you may fluff a mix and you might go back and retouch it but as long as you know you can do it



This is a bit of a tough call... I could pretty well guarantee I can't do in a club what I can demonstrate on my demo CDs... I rely on a mixer that has Filters... most clubs Ive played dont have them. And dont tell me that the EQ is the same as HP/LP filters... This is just one example of why someone couldnt...

Im sure a lot of people do alot more advanced things at home with the tools they know who are then limited by the less capable and less familiar equip they get to use in club environments...

[mashedman]

This is a bit of a tough call... I could pretty well guarantee I can't do in a club what I can demonstrate on my demo CDs... I rely on a mixer that has Filters... most clubs Ive played dont have them. And dont tell me that the EQ is the same as HP/LP filters... This is just one example of why someone couldnt...

Im sure a lot of people do alot more advanced things at home with the tools they know who are then limited by the less capable and less familiar equip they get to use in club environments...
i think it was more aimed at people who do mixes on computers and then when they come in they can't even beatmatch

[quantum8]

yeah def sounded like it was aimed at the automix dj

[pEAkeR_hAT]

mate if you cant DJ well with just the EQs, then maybe you should stop using effects for a while...

[genebourne]

mate if you cant DJ well with just the EQs, then maybe you should stop using effects for a while...


true dat..

[quantum8]

mate if you cant DJ well with just the EQs, then maybe you should stop using effects for a while...

i dont think he meant he couldn't dj without filters, he just wouldn't sound the same.

filters ≠ effects.

watch james talk in the mix, he relies soley on the filters and doesn't touch the EQs whatsoever..eqs just dont have the same frequency cutoff as a filter when used properly

[TravGTi]

i dont think he meant he couldn't dj without filters, he just wouldn't sound the same.

filters ≠ effects.

watch james talk in the mix, he relies soley on the filters and doesn't touch the EQs whatsoever..eqs just dont have the same frequency cutoff as a filter when used properly

Precisely my point... I can mix with EQs just fine... but the overall result is not as good as with filter usage...

I was all eq until watching Stacey Pullen mix for a few hours without eq- HP filter only on his Xone 92... went home and experimented and totally worked out why! just hate to have to go back!

[genebourne]

Yeah i actually like to mix this way too, but unfortunately like you pointed out earlier, alot of clubs dont have the manual hi and low filters (DJM600).

[liseyt]

Biggest mistake: not enjoying themselves, or not getting tonnes of their mates to come down and back them up.

Djing's sposed to be fun so go and have fun. If peeps criticise you then tell them you'd like to see them up there giving it a go. Tell your mates to come down and flood the dancefloor for you - you'll at least have the benefit of smiling faces on the dancefloor and management will love it that you've brought in some extra business.

Dont take it too seriously, it's not brain surgery. :)

[DJ_Ange]

i'm playing my first gig friday week, and at this point i have planned probably 70% of the tunes i'm playing, but after reading that i am not so sure its a good idea. basically i wanna do a good smooth first set to get over any nervousness/stage fright and then after that i'm gonna be doing all my sets on the fly... what do people think?

i have played at house parties etc, but thats a little different to a paid gig in a club.

ok here's my advice on this. You shouldn't need to 'plan' your actual set. Your collection should speak for itself meaning that if you have loads of tunes to choose from then you'll be able to make educated decisions on your track selection based on reading the crowds reactions/non-reactions. Knowing your collection inside & out will ensure that you have covered all bases without the need to actually plan anything.

Another reason to not plan a set is what if the DJ before you plays tunes you have selected to play? I was waiting to start my set tonight and I usually take the 5 minutes before I'm about to start to pick my starter tunes based on what the DJ before me is playing and how the crowd is reacting. As it turned out the first 2 tunes I was going to play were the last 2 tunes of the previous DJ so I had to think on my feet and change my selection very quickly .... knowing my collection ensured I could do a quick scan through and change my tactics.


This is a bit of a tough call... I could pretty well guarantee I can't do in a club what I can demonstrate on my demo CDs... I rely on a mixer that has Filters... most clubs Ive played dont have them. And dont tell me that the EQ is the same as HP/LP filters... This is just one example of why someone couldnt...

Im sure a lot of people do alot more advanced things at home with the tools they know who are then limited by the less capable and less familiar equip they get to use in club environments...

i think it was more aimed at people who do mixes on computers and then when they come in they can't even beatmatch

Yes I was referring to computer mixing. Sure you may have recorded a demo mix using a DJM-800 or effects units, etc and of course not every venue has all the top equipment but if you can't mix properly then don't claim to be able to do so by putting a computer mix together or getting someone else to do your mix for you. Sure you might make a good impression to get the gig but if you want to keep it long term you have to be able to pull it off live.

Another thing that does come with time and experience but is something to be prepared for .... being able to recover quickly from mistakes or problems. Whether it's a bad mix or an equipment malfunction .... DON'T PANIC! I've seen way too many DJs hear that a mix is going out and instead of nudging the track back into beat they just rip off the outgoing tune. This sounds far worse and is more noticeable than if a track remains slightly out as you fade it down.

And if you accidentally make a really big mistake like hitting the cue button on the playing track just start it again and quickly mix in the next track. Fuck knows we've all done that one a few times haha.

[archietech]

i'm sick to death of new dj's mixing by graphics instead of sound. it really really REALLY shits me. what's up with it? last night i saw someone who was playing awesome tunes / great selection and such but was actually spending more time watching his serato display (which was at 90 degrees to the decks n such making it even more obvious) than he was looking forward or whatever. each to their own and such but i find this a really worrying trend, especially if they ever try and spin (perish the thought) on vinyl or just cdjs. it really detracted for me, which i guess is pretty sad but PLEASE DON'T GET INTO THIS FUCKING FILTHY HABIT!!!! it's sounds not fucking graphics. beatmatching by aligning bars and shit is urr not even anything

sorry about that just really really annoys me and beginner dj's should not do this when playing out!!


*~*~kiSsEZ~*~* x x X x X X XXxx x X

[DjScar]

the key tips for a beginner dj to watch out for and easy mistake that can happen -

know ur tunes
know where to drop the next tune
watch to your gains and listen to volumes
relax and enjoy your set - if you fuck up dont worry about it, coz more then mostly people wouldnt have heard etc so chin up, forget about it and concentrate on the next mix


Enjoy!

[monts]

poor preparation, make sure u leave plenty of time to spare travelling there. Nothing worse then thinking ur going to be late stressing about that then freaking out when ur on. Also try to get experience on a few different brands of mixers. Find out from where u going to play what they have got, and check out the specs and operation from the manufactures web site if u dont have acess to one. Just helps a little bit to know what button does what.

[Eclerkid]

dont stress too much about what you might stuff up. One way to gaurentee you will make an arse out of yourself is to think about all the ways you can in the days leading up to your set.


Top Tips....
Make sure you can mix on basic equipment, with no effects or bells and whistles
Know your music
Bring lots of mates
most importantly HAVE FUN AND SMILE!!!!

[trouble hifire]

. Also try to get experience on a few different brands of mixers. Find out from where u going to play what they have got, and check out the specs and operation from the manufactures web site if u dont have acess to one. Just helps a little bit to know what button does what.

+1 on this, the first time i played the rumpus room i had to use a xone92 and considering i had never played on one before (tho i didn't know what i was going to be playing on that night as no one could give me the info) i had issues and a half trying to fade the cue.

not fun, though we still rocked the place so its ok :-D

[Dee Jay Mikey]

I would have to say from experience is getting used to the delay from the booth and working out how to use a booth speaker.

NOT the same as when your playing at home with the speakers right at you!

As mentioned before.... getting used to a 4 channel mixer for the first time can be quite a daunting exercise too.

[ferretrock]

As mentioned before.... getting used to a 4 channel mixer for the first time can be quite a daunting exercise too.

I'd never touched a DJ mixer before and had to play an impromptu set on a Xone:92.. couldn't work otu how to assign the x-fader, nor knowing how to cue on CDJs. It was defintely an insta-failure. :rainman:

Luckily the crowd were mostly friends and playing in a band was the main agenda for the night.

[Dee Jay Mikey]

haha the Xone 92's look real busy when you havn't used one before!

[SlicyDicer]

i'm sick to death of new dj's mixing by graphics instead of sound. it really really REALLY shits me. what's up with it? last night i saw someone who was playing awesome tunes / great selection and such but was actually spending more time watching his serato display (which was at 90 degrees to the decks n such making it even more obvious) than he was looking forward or whatever. each to their own and such but i find this a really worrying trend, especially if they ever try and spin (perish the thought) on vinyl or just cdjs. it really detracted for me, which i guess is pretty sad but PLEASE DON'T GET INTO THIS FUCKING FILTHY HABIT!!!! it's sounds not fucking graphics. beatmatching by aligning bars and shit is urr not even anything

sorry about that just really really annoys me and beginner dj's should not do this when playing out!!


*~*~kiSsEZ~*~* x x X x X X XXxx x X

sorry king dick of DJ'ing I'll try not to upset you in the future. I like to have a quick glance to make sure I've got it set up on the downbeat, it's easier doing that than listening in the headphones and constantly cuing up the sound.

If the technology is there, I'm going to use it, I'm not too worried about pissing off purists all that much. I can mix both ways, if it came down to it I'll be just as happy mixing without a laptop, but using the laptop cuts down on about 6 useless obsolete things that I need to do and I can focus more on track selection, layering sounds, setting up extra decks etc etc. Not just mixing 2 songs together.

P.s I'm not the guy he's talking about, but my post sure made it seem like it. haha.

[AfroWhitie]

whoever summed it up with 'lack of preparation' got it in one!

Pretty much everything above falls into this category.

Here's a few things that I've seen:
- Playing peak time tunes in a warm up set or playing way too hard following the main dj to close the night .... this one truly shows a complete lack of understanding for the genre & club night you are playing for. If you want to make a good first impression don't just play what you like and hope for the best, play to your set time and to the crowd. If you've never played or been to a night you have been booked for do your research beforehand.

- Not understanding basic mixer functionality - instead of just getting on & hoping you'll figure it out don't be afraid to ask someone for help (if there is a DJ on before you just ask basic questions like which channels are you on & if it's not blaringly obvious ask where the booth monitor & headphone buttons/knobs are etc, ... do a basic check yourself. It's really not that hard to figure it out before you put your first tune on.

- Overplanning: if you are planning your set from start to finish then you shouldn't be DJ'ing out. How can you play to the crowd if you've planned everything and not taken into account things like the crowd might not like what you are playing or your CD skips/vinyl is scratched. You have to be prepared for everything. Sure there are prob tunes you know you'll play but there really is no point in going too far

- not being able to back up what is on your Demo CD: one big fat word of advice .... do not ever give out a demo CD that is anything other than mixed live by yourself (I don't mean live in a club). If you can't back it up in a club what you claim to be able to do on your demo CD then you are setting yourself up for a fall. Sure you may fluff a mix and you might go back and retouch it but as long as you know you can do it

That's enough for now .. I tend to carry on a bit (haha)

Agreed - all good advice man

[RudeTed]

Top 10 Rookie Errors:

1. Pissing under the decks
2. Trying to put a record in a CD player
3. Getting so excited that you stand on the DJ booth then fall onto the decks, cracking one of the CDJ's
4. Starting a push and shove fight with the General Manager because you don't know who he is and hes telling you what music you need to tend towards
5. Trying to pick up the GM's girlfriend after you finish your set
6. Making the mistake on not agreeing on a price then invoicing the club the week after for $150/hour
7. Rocking up to your set during the 4th day of your 7 day bender still completely wasted
8. Finishing your set then coming back and asking the following DJ if you can mix a few tracks
9. Shagging one of the bar chicks after your set in the disabled toilet and getting caught by security
10. Stopping the record of the last song of the previous DJ and yelling "Reeeemixxxxxxx" in the mic then dropping 5,6,7,8

[archietech]

random twoddle

nice reading skills mate, you've done yourself proud (again)

[BBC]

8. Finishing your set then coming back and asking the following DJ if you can mix a few tracks

Did this on Saturday night! Hahahaha. Vaguely remembered it the next night, good old Jagger cause a bit of amnesia that night! The dude was fine buy it! I jumped in, dropped one of my edits, then left. My god, what an idiot I must have been...

[RudeTed]

Did this on Saturday night! Hahahaha. Vaguely remembered it the next night, good old Jagger cause a bit of amnesia that night! The dude was fine buy it! I jumped in, dropped one of my edits, then left. My god, what an idiot I must have been...

BUT, do you consider yourself a rookie? if so, then :slap: otherwise go for gold haha.

[SlicyDicer]

nice reading skills mate, you've done yourself proud (again)

it's lucky I don't give a shit about what the internet thinks about me. Why does it get your goat so much that people look at waveforms to mix?

[Bekay]

easily the #1 mistake that new DJs make is banging out a peaktime set at 10pm

[quantum8]

^ def happens way too often...they all wanna 'show off what they can do'

[archietech]

it's lucky I don't give a shit about what the internet thinks about me. Why does it get your goat so much that people look at waveforms to mix?

the way you do is fine mate - as you said a 'quick glance' etc

i hope the king dick thing was a clever reference to my name hehe if so top marks. also it'd be worrying if you cared about what the internet thinks of you. also i'm easily the worst "dj" on the face of the planet.

i'm talking about "dj's" that are totally reliant on the graphics, as i said in my post, not people that occasionally glance at the ol' 'top, and again as i said the "dj" i'm talking about spent more time looking at his laptop than he did at the mixer or anything else. it's not called "graph-matching", though i guess that term should be coined.

as i said i think this is a really big mistake which beginners should look-out for (which is what the thread is about)

i don't know why it struck such a chord with you but obviously i wasn't talking about you...

don't you think it's important to actually know the tunes you play and such? don't you think it would be good to be able to play a pure vinyl or cd set? why would you even play on decks or cdjs if you were reliant on graphics?

put a piece of cardboard infront of your screen and see how you go!

again nice work on the insult :lol:

you sure you're not the guy i'm talking about?!?!

haha

[SlicyDicer]

haha maybe I am :P

Look, I agree with most of what you said, it's really important to know your tunes, but you can know your tunes and use the waveform to just make sure you're bringing it in exactly on cue.

yeah, I dunno. I just don't really care how people do their stuff, if I'm enjoying the music then it's really a secondary concern to me.

I'm just gonna leave it at that :)

[Master Mischief]

With vinyl you use the grove spacing as a visual guide pretty much the same way you use the wav form on CDJ's, Serato and Traktor anyhoo. It's all there as an visual aid to help with mixing. So why not use it??

I see where your coming from though Archietech...punters don't like it either. Mostly because they don't know what it is. Most think that when they see DJ's using lappies they're not mixing at all.

[kasper_flip]

i agree with archie, looks so lame when i see dudes on traktor/torq/whatever just matching using the screen...

[joeyk]

Know what your going to play on. It will help heaps. For instance last thing you want is not knowing how to monitor the music through your headphones.

Play for your set time, and too the crowd. Dont let your ego get in the way and start playing your favourite tunes. You are not playing for yourself you are playing for the crowd. Unless your a top DJ /Producer, and the crowd actually came to see you and your particular style.

[BBC]

i agree with archie, looks so lame when i see dudes on traktor/torq...

Fixed

:P










;)

[kasper_flip]

lol agreed. vinyl + cdj ftw

[phresh]

not having mastered beat matching before their first few gigs. get it down pat or dont bother.

[pEAkeR_hAT]

Or, just mix in the breakdowns and when one song comes back in unexpectledly just clang it for 16 bars, then motion for more free alcohol as you turn up the treble and blast everyone with the latest club anthem.

If you catch eye contact with any men in bright v-necks during this ear-piercing trainwreck, give em a high five and an acknowledging grin, as though you both know who will be ruling it with all the bitches tonight.

Once the song is over, just slam on another anthem mid intro, at a different volume (to catch everyone's attention), then proceed back to step one etc until your set is over..........at which time you can rail some coke and walk around like king-dick wondering why people would ever DJ at anything other than Top40 nights.

[RudeTed]

hey stop paying me out

[Maybach Hanson]

i would say the biggest mistake is not listening to other people your spinning withs mixes. you can have a bunch of bomb records and go up there with just a select few that youve been grooving on and it might not fit the vibe.

[littlebrains69]

Forget to poo before a 7hr set and spend the entire time getting emotional as if you were belting out some deep soulful shit.


No?

[quantum8]

^ is that anything like the model in a spa incident?

[littlebrains69]

Kind of......


I'm just amazed I haven't posted in these forums for months and after all that time that was the most useful thing I could contribute...

[CHOPPY_INDAHOUSE]

were have you been?

[DJ_Tingles]

People with shit track selection annoys me no end.
I'm a trance DJ so track selection is pretty damn important to build properly to fully get crowds into it.
Cant' stand people who just drop classics, everyone goes mental, and then you wait 4 other boring out of place tunes only to have another classic dropped.
No skill at all there.
Also people who are just well and truly not ready to be playing out, but they know a guy so they get a gig. All mixes that follow are close to trainwrecks and you go home with your ears bleeding.

[manchild01]

Or, just mix in the breakdowns and when one song comes back in unexpectledly just clang it for 16 bars, then motion for more free alcohol as you turn up the treble and blast everyone with the latest club anthem.

If you catch eye contact with any men in bright v-necks during this ear-piercing trainwreck, give em a high five and an acknowledging grin, as though you both know who will be ruling it with all the bitches tonight.

Once the song is over, just slam on another anthem mid intro, at a different volume (to catch everyone's attention), then proceed back to step one etc until your set is over..........at which time you can rail some coke and walk around like king-dick wondering why people would ever DJ at anything other than Top40 nights.

possibly my favourite post ever!

[baax]

Im by no means a pro dj, but im not a noob , i think the biggest mistake is not playing to fit time/place.

Track selection is by far the most important part of dj'ing, imo.

[mixism]

Or, just mix in the breakdowns and when one song comes back in unexpectledly just clang it for 16 bars, then motion for more free alcohol as you turn up the treble and blast everyone with the latest club anthem.

If you catch eye contact with any men in bright v-necks during this ear-piercing trainwreck, give em a high five and an acknowledging grin, as though you both know who will be ruling it with all the bitches tonight.

Once the song is over, just slam on another anthem mid intro, at a different volume (to catch everyone's attention), then proceed back to step one etc until your set is over..........at which time you can rail some coke and walk around like king-dick wondering why people would ever DJ at anything other than Top40 nights.



That is gold!!

[generalninja]

+1 track selection. knowing what to play, and when to play it.

[The Good Doctor]

Last night I got to unfortunately witness a beginner DJ making every mistake in the book.
He started playing at 9pm to do a 3 hour set with a half full venue, a lot of which were suits still making their way home.

In the space of the 35 minutes I witnessed:
Every mix sounding like two jackhammers mating
His cue channel often still open to the main
Not even the slightest regard to warming up, just straight in with some 130 bpm commercial electro.
No set flow of any description
In the first 35 minutes of the club opening he'd played an electro remix of Finally, That Cry For You track, some Rihanna electro mix, Lady Gaga and Modjo's Lady and a couple of random R&B tracks.

I mean come on, WTF. Even if he's meant to be playing a commercial dance set basic stupidity like that is just not acceptable. How muppets like this can even get a gig in any venue is beyond me.

I don't expect newer/younger guys to roll up with the skills of a Coxy but surely there has to be a better standard set than that.

Then again when they're being booked in by people with no understanding of DJing or music genres its bound to happen.

[generalninja]

Last night I got to unfortunately witness a beginner DJ making every mistake in the book.
He started playing at 9pm to do a 3 hour set with a half full venue, a lot of which were suits still making their way home.

In the space of the 35 minutes I witnessed:
Every mix sounding like two jackhammers mating
His cue channel often still open to the main
Not even the slightest regard to warming up, just straight in with some 130 bpm commercial electro.
No set flow of any description
In the first 35 minutes of the club opening he'd played an electro remix of Finally, That Cry For You track, some Rihanna electro mix, Lady Gaga and Modjo's Lady and a couple of random R&B tracks.

I mean come on, WTF. Even if he's meant to be playing a commercial dance set basic stupidity like that is just not acceptable. How muppets like this can even get a gig in any venue is beyond me.

I don't expect newer/younger guys to roll up with the skills of a Coxy but surely there has to be a better standard set than that.

Then again when they're being booked in by people with no understanding of DJing or music genres its bound to happen.


where was this at?

damn, that sounds bad... :corey:

[Dr Bones]

anecdote about how all new/electro djs are shit/can't mix/are gay.

am i cool now?

[generalninja]

^ so new and electro djs are shit, cant mix and are at the same time, homosexuals?

its like that stereotype that P platers have.

[MessyDJ]

It'd have to be cutting sick on effects every 2 mins in every song...every buildup has a flanger going feral!

[Antzta]

What about the guy to rocked up to a set with a set of ear buds instead of headphones, as that's all he had been using at home LOL!!!!!! :lol:

[littlebrains69]

^^^Quite a few DJ's now mix with in ear buds actually. Nick Galea at the MET in Brisbane is just 1 example...

[Antzta]

^^^Quite a few DJ's now mix with in ear buds actually. Nick Galea at the MET in Brisbane is just 1 example...

No no, ear buds as in ipod style ear phones!

[liseyt]

doesn't matter what you use as long as your mixing is good!

[quantum8]

It'd have to be cutting sick on effects every 2 mins in every song...every buildup has a flanger going feral!

dont forget every transition as well

[RudeTed]

Speaking of flangers, just quietly, how good is the ableton flanger...