DJing at Raves

silentscience

silentscience

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Anyone have any experience with this?

I've been invited to play at a rave in September. I was just wondering if there's any useful info I should know?
 
"A munted dancefloor has a 2 second memory"-some bloke on another forum. I/e don't stress too much :P.

What style do you usually play and what sort of music will be played there?
 
Make sure they have decent monitors, that to me is the most important thing you don't want to cue in off the club speakers as they bounce of the wall too much, usually about a 1/4 beat out, loud headphones with good monitors and you can't go wrong.
 
Don't expect to get paid the original figure. Unless the party really draws, and even then, don't expect the cash to be handed to you.
 
erm - played hundreds....

what kind of advice are you looking for?

- bring tunes for every mood
- read the crowd, take it in another direction if thyey arent responding, dont just bang out a pre-planned mix
- bring sunglasses for the morning
- fucking go for it and give all the smiles and stage presence you can (i would rather book/ play with a dj whos loving every second, than one whose mixes are always perfect but has no flare)
- remember that its mostly djs who notice a mistake and the large majority dont. so chill with it.
- as to the above, the obvious exception is train wrecking - but i assume your beyond that point if your getting bookings. seriously though, dont drag out a mix that aint beat matched or rescued within a few seconds, just adjust your levels and slam the cross fader.
- when your bringing your track in, keep that ones bass and mid down - if it aint quite in, you'll notice before anyone else.
- bring back up needles
- bring or borrow decent cans - if iots any kind of proper event your monitors and soundsystem should be fat. make sure you can hear your cued track crisp and no distortion.
- stay away from excess of consumption before going on - especially alchohol and psychedelics if your not experienced.
- take a peek at the mixer/set up if you can, or best yet sound check - especially if your not familiar with all mixers - its less to worry about when your up there
- have fun and give it your best - if your enjoying it, everyone else will (providing your music aint waaaaaaaaay out of the event context)

anymore questions - feel free to ask

happy spinning

DJ
 
DJ 303 said:
erm - played hundreds....

what kind of advice are you looking for?

- bring tunes for every mood
- read the crowd, take it in another direction if thyey arent responding, dont just bang out a pre-planned mix
- bring sunglasses for the morning
- fucking go for it and give all the smiles and stage presence you can (i would rather book/ play with a dj whos loving every second, than one whose mixes are always perfect but has no flare)
- remember that its mostly djs who notice a mistake and the large majority dont. so chill with it.
- as to the above, the obvious exception is train wrecking - but i assume your beyond that point if your getting bookings. seriously though, dont drag out a mix that aint beat matched or rescued within a few seconds, just adjust your levels and slam the cross fader.
- when your bringing your track in, keep that ones bass and mid down - if it aint quite in, you'll notice before anyone else.
- bring back up needles
- bring or borrow decent cans - if iots any kind of proper event your monitors and soundsystem should be fat. make sure you can hear your cued track crisp and no distortion.
- stay away from excess of consumption before going on - especially alchohol and psychedelics if your not experienced.
- take a peek at the mixer/set up if you can, or best yet sound check - especially if your not familiar with all mixers - its less to worry about when your up there
- have fun and give it your best - if your enjoying it, everyone else will (providing your music aint waaaaaaaaay out of the event context)

anymore questions - feel free to ask

happy spinning

DJ
Click to expand...

that covers most of it, definitely bring your own needles, i would keep the mid at like 75% the trble like 85-90% and the bass 50% watch your EQ's and dont clip! dont sweat swaying off beat, let the fear/adrenaline feed your fire. interact with the crowd raise your arms cause a scene, have plenty of demos, BUT do not hand out anything you couldnt do live again.

accept any invitation to go playout somewhere else, every gig i got led to another, be it a house, apt. club or 2500+ person rave. mingle mingle and sell yourself after words. seek honest representation.

good luck, im jealous i miss it so much :D
 
Wyld 4 X said:
Best advice evar.
Click to expand...

That was advice given to me by some old guy we were opening for when I played in punk bands many years ago.

he says: "You aint old enough to go to jail, so if someone calls the cops on the show, turn the fucking amps up louder, hit the drums harder, say "Fuck you" as many times as you can, and don't fucking stop playing until they pull the plugs from the amps. People will remember you."
 
try not get too wrecked on drink and drugs (although it sounds amazing to you, everyone might not be of the same presuasion)

play music your audiance want to hear


learn from your mistakes as you go along and use them to better yourself the next time
 
Don't spend too much time with the stage sluts a.k.a. "DJ Groupies"
They will end up talking your head off, and will persuade you to take shots with them.

As Red Arrow mentioned earlier: "don't get too wrecked on drink and drugs"
Wait until you complete your set before you start to party.
The only thing worse than bad track is a bad train wreck.
 
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