LastMinuteDJs.net

Welcome to LastMinuteDJs.net’s DJ Guide. If you are reading this guide then you are interested in becoming a DJ. This guide contains lots of helpful hints provided by our DJs that should hold you in good stead should you make the step out onto the gig scene. This guide is primarily at the mobile disco DJ, but there will be some sections that apply to venue DJs.

LastMinuteDJs.net have been active as a company since February 2005. Our initial aim was to provide emergency DJ cover for bars and clubs when they are struggling or have been let down by their current DJs. There are a lot of call offs and let downs in this industry and we didn’t like the idea of anyone spoiling a party. We progressed into the mobile disco industry as we knew there were many gigs to cover there too, and with the number of small time disco operators out there, the chances of let downs were very high (and from several phone calls we’ve received from clients in real dire straits this seems to be spot on).

DJing can be a very fun job and there are good rates of pay to be earned by those who meet the required standards. I’m not going to pretend it’s an easy ride. You’ll receive a lot of grief from customers who want their song played NOW or those that don’t like the song you currently have playing and want it switched off NOW! Everyone seems to have an opinion on how you should do the job but just remember YOU are the DJ it’s YOU that is getting paid to do the job. YOU know best!

I hope this guide is helpful to help you get to grips with the basics of Party DJing. If there’s anything else you feel you need to know or something you want more details on do not hesitate to get in touch, and either myself or one of the other experienced DJs will be more than happy to give you as much advice and assistance as we can.

Forget mixing, the biggest skill of the DJ is undoubtedly Song Choice. You can be the most flawless mixer in the world, but if your song choice is wrong for the audience then the reaction to your DJing will be poor.

Initially you should be judging your Song Choice on the event. If it’s an 18^th or 21^st Birthday then the music is going to be predominantly current music. If It’s a 30^th, 40^th or a wedding then you are more likely to be playing the older music and the big party hits. If you are playing in a public venue then you will normally be given some guidance beforehand as to what the music policy will be for the night.

Naturally, the nature of the event will not dictate your playlist entirely. Chances are there will be a wide range of age groups in the room with requests of different styles. The request list will give you further idea as to what you should be playing in addition to the primary genre you have identified for the event.

Of course, you will still have to judge it on the night. A big part of DJing is being able to read the audience and adapt to what they are reacting best to. If you initially thought 80s, but they seemed a bit more responsive to the 70s disco tunes – then give them what they want!

Try to make the night flow by utilising small sets within the whole set. Try to keep like songs together. Playing 5 songs from one genre together will give the fans of that style more satisfaction than 1 song before moving on. Also a couple of songs from a genre gives you a more accurate view of whether the crowd like that genre. Poor reaction to a song may just be a disliking for that song, not an entire genre. Also try to keep a similar tempo going for a while before changing. Alternating faster and slower songs will only lead to you killing your dancefloor.

Perfect Beat matching and mixing is NOT that crucial for a lot of gigs. There are a lot of perfectly good DJs out there earning a living who cannot beat match and have no intention of learning how to when it is not that essential unless you are doing a high profile club gig.

Your job is primarily to ensure there are no gaps between songs and that the transition between songs sounds ok. If that means one song fading out while you fade another one in, so be it. If that means one song finishing on a strong beat and you starting another song with a strong first beat at the same time, then fine.

Song choice again is important in determining how good the transitions between songs will sound. Songs from the same genre and decade will sound better together because a lot of them have similar sounds. Fast songs should follow fast songs. Slower songs should follow slower songs (where possible).

Examples

You’ve been requested these 4 songs:

Eric Prydz – Call on Me,

Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl

Armand Van Helden – My My My

The Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup

Keep like songs together. So play Call on Me and My My My together, and play Brown Eyed Girl and Build Me Up Buttercup together. Don’t mix and match tempos.

Also be wary of songs that change tempo towards the end of songs. Just because the song starts fast, doesn’t mean the song will end fast. These songs can be particularly good for helping you change tempo of your set smoothly.

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now starts slow, then goes fast, then slows again. So ideally you want a slow starting song to follow. I like using Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive. This starts slow following on from the slow ending of the previous song, then goes fast again as I want to continue with some more faster songs

Your job is to play the right choice of music to get the party going and to ensure that everybody has a good time. Most of the customers are far too busy trying to have a good time to really pay attention to whether you can mix or not. In fact, most of them will be very surprised if you actually do.

Remember, a mix that is one song fading out whilst another song is fading in will sound a hell of a lot better than a messed up attempt at beat matching. More people will notice failed attempts at actual mixing than will notice the absence of mixing altogether. If you do gain more experience and do pick up a bit of mixing, only do it when you are absolutely certain that it is right and going to sound good.

If you are interested in learning how to beat match and mix properly to enhance your DJing skills. We will be more than happy to provide training and guidance and to pass on our experience.

Dealing With Customers

Dealing with customers can be one of the best but also one of the worst parts of the job. If they are really happy and having a good time and are being nice, complimenting and thanking you, it can be a very rewarding part of the job. If they are being very picky and constantly telling you what to do you may feel like strangling them.

What you have to remember is that they are there to have a good time and you are there to make sure they do. If they want it, try to give it to them (unless it will spoil the enjoyment for others.) If it’s the organiser/manager then they are PAYING you to DJ. Unfortunately, they are the boss and you are their employee for the night so you have to be as cooperative as possible. Take their advice and requests on board and be civil even when declining.

If it’s a private function, the organisers are likely to have special points in the night they may want you to coordinate and announce – the opening of the buffet, the cutting of a cake, speeches, playing/singing happy birthday. These can be tricky to get right if you don’t get full information from the organisers as to what they want and when they want it to happen. On the other hand, they are nice to break up the night a little.

If it’s a bar or a club you are playing in, the management might have specific requests throughout the night for you to do. Again, they’re the boss – be as accommodating as possible.

The most involvement you will have with the general customers is probably whilst taking requests. Most people will have an opinion on what you should be doing – most people seem to be a DJ themselves or know what will get the dancefloor packed. YOU are the DJ. YOU have more experience than them. Be courteous, take their points on board then get on with your job.

If someone has a request – sometimes it’s easier to just take the request, write it down and say you’ll see what you can do or see if you can find it as opposed to saying no and getting in a confrontation. The wee white lie that the CD isn’t working normally gets you out of a confrontation when they do return to ask why it hasn’t been played.

Kids can be particularly demanding. If they are giving you a hard time or getting in the way, try to speak to an adult to move them away from the DJ area to somewhere safer.

The golden rule is, the nicer you are to them the nicer they are likely to be back although naturally you do get your exceptions.

Don’t get dragged into any arguments with customers. If there is a problem, pass it on to somebody else – if it’s a private party speak to the organiser, if it’s in a pub or club alert the manager or a member of the security staff. You are there to do a job. You have the right to work safely without fear of harassment.

If there are every any serious incidents that you don’t feel you can handle on your own then you will have my phone number and you can call me and I will try to help out as much as I can. It’s very rare that you will get any serious problems as most people are out to have a good time and it’s your job to ensure that happens.

It’s entirely up to you how much you use the microphone during gigs. You can use it lots to keep yourself entertained or you can use it the bare minimum. There are, however, a few key moments you are expected to use the mic.

Introduction

Welcome them to the party and introduce yourself. Give an announcement that people can come up to you with requests and that you’ll do your best to play them. You can do this up to an hour into the event.

‘Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome along to Zero Degrees for Andrew’s 21^st Birthday Party. My name’s Jamie and I’ll be playing the tunes for you tonight. If you have any requests fell free to come up and see me and if I’ve got it I’ll play it.’

Last Hour Warning

Let them know there’s an hour left to party. This lets those who haven’t been up to dance know that they are running out of time so should do so soon. Repeat requests message.

‘Ladies and Gents just about an hour left tonight of Andrew’s 21^st Birthday Party here in Zero Degrees. Still plenty of tunes to get through. If you do have any more requests, do come up and see me, and I’ll do my best to squeeze them in for you.’

Last Orders

The bar staff will normally prompt you as to when they want this announcement to be made – usually 15/30 minutes before closing time.

‘Ladies and gents we are fast approaching the end of the evening. If you want to get yourself another drink you better do so now because that’s last orders at the bar, that’s last orders at the bar.’

Last Song

Always announce that your last song is indeed your last This gives people one last chance to get up and dance and they won’t want to miss it.

‘Time for just one more song tonight, it’s almost 1 oclock. Mr Frank Sinatra to play us out this evening.

Closing and Goodbye

Before the song ends wrap up the night with a quick thank you and goodbye.

‘Ladies and Gents sadly that is all we have time for this evening. I hope you’ve had a good night, I certainly have. Can I just say a huge happy birthday one more time to Andrew. Thank you for joining us, have a safe journey home. Thank you and goodnight.’

Music To Avoid

In Scotland Football provides the biggest problems for DJs as far as song choice is concerned. If at all possible, avoid any songs with any Football connection at all times. Unfortunately this is not always possible as you will no doubt receive numerous requests for songs of this nature. Some of the problematic songs are big party favourites which makes it all the more difficult.

The rule of thumb is, if you manage to generate an opinion during the night as to the majority’s Footballing persuasion (most importantly that of the organiser) then you can, at your own risk, play a Football related song.

Tina Turner – Simply the Best

BIG party favourite – hijacked by Rangers. Rangers fans like to add some sectarian chants into the middle of the song, potentially causing trouble with any Celtic fans in the room. Avoid AT ALL COSTS – unless the guest of honour is a Rangers fan and demands it.

Gerry and the Pacemakers - You’ll Never Walk Alone

Similar to the above, except for the Celtic fans. Not as strongly perilous as Simply the Best (there’s no sectarian chants) but there’s still strong Celtic links.

The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Another huge party favourite that can really get the crowd going. Unfortunately, DJing in Edinburgh you have to be wary of the presence of Hearts fans. The Proclaimers are big Hibs fans and this is a big Hibs anthem. Hearts fans won’t take too kindly to it being played at their party.

The Beatles – Hey Jude

The anthem of the Hearts fans. Hibs fans won’t like it. Good to help you recover though if you’ve taken the chance on The Proclaimers and it has went down badly.

Baddiel and Skinner – Three Lions

This, and any other England related song is always likely to receive a very negative reaction north of the border.

Other things to think about are the ages of the customers. If you are DJing a kids party, you probably have to be very careful with the songs you are playing to ensure they don’t include strong language or you’ll have some angry parents to deal with. This is a very difficult problem to deal with as many young kids are big fans of the RnB artists and will no doubt request Eminem and 50 Cent. If you have clean versions – great! The NOW albums can be really good for this. Really old customers can be equally intolerant to bad language.

Finally, try to make sure the song choices fit the occasion. Weddings aren’t really the place for hard dance and RnB. Also songs like ‘Another one Bites the Dust’, ‘There May Be Trouble Ahead’ and ‘Golddigger’ will more than likely offend the happy couple. A little bit of thought can stop you getting yourself into any unpleasant arguments.

50s
Bill Haley - See you later alligator
Bill Haley – Shake rattle and roll
Bill Haley – Rock around the clock
Buddy Holly – Peggy Sue
Carl Perkins – Blue suede shoes
Eddie Cochran – C’mon everybody
Elvis Presley – All shook up
Elvis Presley – Hound dog
Elvis Presley – Jailhouse rock
Everly Brothers – Wake up little Suzie

Jerry Lee Lewis – Great balls of fire
Little Richard – Tutti frutti
Ritchie Valens – La bamba
Champs – Tequila
Cliff Richard – Living doll
Doris Day – Que sera sera
Lord Rockingham’s XI – Hoots mon
Peggy Lee – Fever
Julie London – Cry me a river

1910 Fruitgum Co – Simon says
Amen Corner – Bend me shape me
Andy Williams – Cant take my eyes off u
Archies – Sugar sugar
Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA
Beatles – I want to hold your hand
Beatles – Twist and shout
Beatles – A hard day’s night
Tremeloes – Do you love me
Bruce Channel – Hey baby
Chris Montez – Let’s dance
Chubby Checker – Let’s twist again
Chubby Checker – The twist
Cliff Richard – Summer holiday
Cliff Richard – The young ones
Crystals – Da doo ron ron
Dusty Springfield – Son of preacher man
Dusty Springfield – only wanna b with u
Foundations – Build me up buttercup
Gerry and the Pacemakers – I like it
Jeff Beck – Hi ho silver lining
Lesley Gore – It’s my party
Little Eva – The locomotion
Love Affair – Everlasting love
Lulu – Shout
Manfred Mann – Do wah diddy
Monkees – Theme from
Monkees – I’m a believer
Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack flash
Rolling Stones – Satisfaction
Roy Orbison – Oh pretty woman
Searchers – Sweets for my sweets
Shirley Bassey – Big Spender
Swinging Blue Jeans – Hippy hippy shake
Tom Jones – It’s not unusual
Tom Jones – Delilah
Tommy James - Mony mony
Van Morrison – Brown eyed girl
Diana Ross/Supremes – Baby love

Four Tops – Reach out I’ll be there
Martha/Vandellas – Dancing in the street
Marvin Gaye – It takes two
Mary Wells – My guy
Supremes – You can’t hurry love
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Eddie Floyd – Knock on wood
Fontella Bass – Rescue me
Sam and Dave – Soul man
Wilson Pickett – Mustang Sally

Abba - Dancing Queen
Abba - Mamma Mia
Abba - Waterloo
Barry Manilow - Copacobana
Barry White - my first, last, everything
Bay City Rollers - Bye bye baby
Bay City Rollers - Shang-a-lang
Bee Gees - Night fever
Bee Gees - Stayin' alive
Billy Ocean - Love really hurts
Boney M - Brown girl in the ring
Boney M - Daddy Cool
Candi Staton - Young hearts run free
Chic - Good times
Chic - Le freak
Drifters - Saturday night at the movies
Earth Wind Fire – Boogie wonderland
Elton John - Crocodile rock
James Brown - Sex machine
John Paul Young - Love is in the air
Karl Douglas - Kung fu fighting
KC Sunshine Band - That's the way
Leo Sayer - u mak me feel like dancing
Middle of the Road - Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep
Mud - Tiger Feet
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Nolan Sisters - I'm in the mood for dancing
O'Jays - Love train
Queen - Bohemian rhapsody
Queen - Don't stop me now
Rod Stewart - Do ya think I'm sexy
Rod Stewart - Maggie May
Sister Sledge - We are family
Sister Sledge - Lost in music
Status Quo - Rockin' all over the world
Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the middle with you
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel - Make me smile (come up and see me)
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Sweet - Wig wam bam
Tom Robinson - 2 4 6 8 motorway
Trammps - Disco inferno
Village People - YMCA
Jacksons - Blame it on the boogie
Jackson 5 - I want you back
Rose Royce - Car wash
Michael Jackson - Don't stop 'till you get enough
Frankie Valli and the four seasons - December '63
Donna Summer - Hot stuff
Donna Summer - I feel love
Tavares - Heaven must be missing an angel
Gloria Gaynor - I will survive
Kool and the Gang - Ladies night
Wild Cherry - Play that funky music
Hot Chocolate - You sexy thing
Real Thing - You to me are everything
Heatwave - Boogie nights
Sylvester - You make me feel mighty real
Slade - Cum on feel the noise
Undertones - Teenage kicks
Free - Alright now
Queen - Crazy little thing called love
Rainbow - Since you been gone
Queen - We are the champions
Thin Lizzy - The boys are back in town
Tony Christie - (is this the way to) Amarillo
Madness - One step beyond
Smokie - Living next door to Alice
Jacksons - ABC
Gonzalez - Haven't stopped dancin' yet.
Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the sky.
T.Rex - 20th century Boy.
T.Rex - I love to Boogie.
Jacksons - can you feel it
Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking
Dawn - Knock Three Times

Arrow - Hot hot hot
Bill Medley - The time of my life
Billy Ocean - When the going gets tough
Black Box - Ride on time
Bucks Fizz - Making your mind up
Communards - Don't leave me this way
Culture Club - Karma chameleon
Cyndi Lauper - Girls wanna have fun
Depeche Mode - Just can't get enough
Dexys Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
Diana Ross - Chain reaction
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
Gap Band - Oops upside your head
George Harrison - Got my mind set on you
George Michael - Faith
Human League - Don't you want me
Irene Cara - Fame
Jackie Wilson - Reet petite
Kelly Marie - Feels like I'm in love
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Kool and the Gang - Celebration
Lionel Richie - All night long
Los Lobos - La Bamba
Madness - Baggy trousers
Madness - House of fun
Madonna - Holiday
Madonna - Like a prayer
Madonna - Into the groove
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Phil Collins - You can't hurry love
Prince - Kiss
Proclaimers - 500 miles
Rick Astley - Never gonna give you up
Simple Minds - Don't you forget about me
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Spandau Ballet - Gold
UB40 - Red red wine
Weathergirls - It's raining men
Wham! - Freedom
Wham! - I'm your man
Wham! - Wake me up before you gogo
Whitney Houston - I wanna dance with somebody (who loves me)
Yazz and the Plastic Population - The only was is up.
Clash - Rock the Casbar
Jam - Town called Malice
Pogues - Fiesta
MC Hammer - Don't touch this
Salt N Pepa - Push it
Dire Straits - Walk of life
Duran Duran - Rio
Heaven 17 - Temptation
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the dark
Survivor - Eye of the tiger
Europe - The final countdown
Bon Jovi - Living on a prayer
Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
Guns 'n' Roses - Sweet child of mine
New Order - Blue Monday
Dead or Alive - You spin me round
Aha -Take on me
Adam and the Ants - Antmusic
Bananarama - Venus
Billy Joel - Uptown girl
Blondie - Call me
Bros - When will I be famous
Kim Wilde - Kids in America
Four Tops - Loco in Acapulco
Pointer Sisters - I'm so excited
Shakin' Stevens - This ole house
Waterboys - Whole of the moon

B52s – Love shack
Bluebells – Young at heart
Blues Brothers – Everybody
Boyzone – When the going gets tough
Britney Spears – Baby one more time
Chaka Demus & Pliers – Twist and shout
Cher – Believe
Cher – The shoop shoop song
Chesney Hawkes – The one and only
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
Cornershop – Brimful of Asha
Culture Beat – Mr Vain
Freddie Mercury – Living on my own
Hanson – Mmm bop
Madonna – Vogue
Mavericks – Dance the night away
Michael Jackson – Black or white
Pato Banton – Baby come back
Peter Andre – Mysterious girl
REM – Losing my religion
REM – Shiny happy people
Rednex – Cotton eye Joe
Rembrants – I’ll be there for you
Ricky Martin – Living la vida loca
Robbie Williams – Let me entertain you
S Club – Bring it all back
Sheryl Crow – All I wanna do
Shania Twain – Man I feel like a woman
Shania Twain – That don’t impress me
Spice Girls – Stop
Spice Girls – Wannabe
Spin Doctors – Two princes
Steps – 5,6,7,8
Steps – Tragedy
Take That –Could it be magic
Take That – Relight my fire
T-Spoon – Sex on the beach
Vengaboys – Boom boom boom boom
Vic Reeves and the Wonderstuff – Dizzy
Blur – Parklife
Blur – Boys and girls
James – Sit down
Oasis – Don’t look back in anger
Oasis – Roll with it
Pulp – Common people
Gina G – Just a little bit
Los Del Rio – Macarena
Whigfield – Saturday night
Lou Bega – Mambo no.5
Deelite – Groove is in the heart
Snap – Rhythm is a dancer
Snap – The power
Candi Staton – You got the love
Ce Ce Peniston – Finally
Dream – Things can only get better
M People – Moving on up
Bobby Brown – 2 can play at that game
Living Joy – Dreamer
N-Trance – Set you free
Underworld – Born slippy
Faithless – Insomnia
Sash – Encore une fois
Ultra Nate – Free
Energy 52 – Café del Mar
Tamperer – Feel it
Stardust – Music sound better with you
Phats and Small – Turn around
Armand Van Helden – u don’t know me
Reef – Place your hands
Nirvana – Smells like teen spirit
House of Pain – Jump around
Fresh Prince – Boom shake the room
Mark Morrison - Return of the mac
Mc Hammer – You can’t touch this
Shaggy – Oh Carolina
Vanilla Ice – Ice ice baby
Will Smith – Getting’ jiggy with it
Sir Mix-a-lot – Baby got back
Baby D – Let Me Be Your Fantasy

DJ Otzi – Hey baby
Westlife – Uptown girl
Las Ketchup – The ketchup song
Christina Aguilera – Dirrty
Kylie Minogue – Can’t get you out
Nelly – Hot in herre
Pink – Get this party started
Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
Christina, Mya, Pink – Lady Marmalade
Tom Jones – Sex bomb
Toploader – Dancing in the moonlight
S Club – Don’t stop movin’
S Club – Reach
Sugababes – Round round
Madison Avenue – Don’t call me baby
Ian Van Dahl – Castles in the sky
Spiller – Groovejet
DJ Sammy - Heaven
Modjo – Lady
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder on the
Darude – Sandstorm
Supermen Lovers – Starlight
Wheatus – Teenage dirtbag
Liberty X – Just a little
Eminem – The real Slim Shady
J Lo – Jenny from the block
Shaggy – It wasn’t me
Room 5 – Make luv
Junior Senior – Move your feet
Jamelia – Superstar
Busted – Year 3000
Girls Aloud – Jump (for my love)
Justin Timberlake – Rock your body
Beyonce – Crazy in love
50 Cent – In da club
Fatman Scoop – Be faithful
Mis-teeq – Scandalous
Outkast – Hey ya
R Kelly – Ignition
Sean Paul – Get busy
Wayne Wonder – No letting go
DJ Caspar – Cha cha slide
Eric Prydz – Call on me
Michael Gray – The weekend
Shapeshifters – Lola’s theme
Uniting Nations – Out of touch
McFly – 5 colours in her hair
Scissor Sisters – Filthy/gorgeous
Britney Spears – Toxic
Girls Aloud – Love machine

Rachel Stevens – Some girls
Peter Andre – Mysterious girl
Franz Ferdinand – Take me out
Green Day – American idiot
Killers – Somebody told me
Kaiser Chiefs – I predict a riot
Destinys Child – Lose my breath
Black Eyed Peas – Where is the love
Kelis – Milkshake
Usher – Yeah
Cabin Crew – Star to fall
Studio B – I see girls
Bodyrockers – I like the way
Charlotte Church – Crazy Chick
Gwen Stefani – Hollaback girl
Will Smith – Switch
Gorillaz – Feel good inc
MVP – Roc your body

Slow Songs
Procol Harem – A whiter shade of pale
Righteous Bros – Unchained melody
Carpenters – Close to you
Bee Gees – How deep is your love
Roberta Flack – Killing me softly
Elton John – Your song
Commodores – Three times a lady
Phil Collins – Against all odds
Bangles – Eternal flame
Van Morrison – Have I told you lately
Foreigner – I wast to know what love is
John Lennon – Imagine
Phyllis Nelson – Move closer
Chris De Burgh – Lady in red
Jennifer Rush – Power of love
Aerosmith – dont want to miss a thing
Bryan Adams – (Everything I do)
Spice Girls – 2 become 1
Robbie Williams – Angels
Patsy Cline – Crazy
R.E.M. – Everybody hurts
Westlife – Flying without wings
Leann Rimes – How do I live
Whitney Houston – will always love you
Lauren Wood – Fallen
Wet Wet Wet – Love is all around
Mariah Carey – Hero
Boyzone – No matter what

Martine McCutcheon – Perfect moment
Celine Dion – Think twice
Eric Clapton – Wonderful tonight
Paul Weller - You do something to me
Lonestar – Amazed
Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
DJ Sammy – Heaven(slow)
Will Young – Evergreen
Enrique Iglesias – Hero