DJs: When people request tracks during your set

StarOceanHouse

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Jul 16, 2003
Messages
7,521
Location
Southern California
How do you guys feel about people requesting a track during your set? I tend to do this sometimes when a favorite dj of mine is spinning. Sometimes they'll do it, but other times they'll brush it off. Seems like some people get annoyed by it.

Personally, when I'm djing and someone requests a track that I do have a record of, most likely I'll put that track next. In a way it's kind of fun to deviate a bit off your set list if you have one. Even if it seems like the track won't mix well with the one currently playing, It's always fun to try it.
 
If its a close friend that'd be ok,

... but most of the time i see drunk arrogant jerks at bars asking house/breaks djs to play hip hop, and thats really really obnoxious.
 
I don't think I've ever played anything that someone has requested. it's not that I wouldn't. in fact, if someone were to request something that was appropriate I almost certainly would play it. but generally, the type of people who request songs have terrible taste in music.

edit: actually, that's not entirely true. I've had friends request tracks before sets (and probably during) that I have played.
 
I don't request, because the DJ needs to KNOW what I want at the moment. :P
 
but generally, the type of people who request songs have terrible taste in music.

at first I was thinking.... man toa$t is all about his music and his music only.... but then I thought about it, all my friends who request songs to djs.... have absolutely horrible taste!!! LOL, you may come off as harsh or abrasive at first but 99% of the time you are right on point.
 
I used to often request tracks (although I haven't done so for several years) - I think it's my inner-DJ trying to get out :)

No DJ I've asked has ever been rude to me, but then my requests have always been pretty reasonable (i.e. asking a tech-house DJ to play a tech-house track).

However, the only time a DJ has ever played one of my requests was when Slam played Funk D'Void's Heavenly remix of 'Diabla'. But seeing as this was (I think) Soma's 10-year anniversary party at Fabric, and seeing as 'Diabla' is one of the label's biggest ever tracks, there's every chance that Slam would've played it anyway without me requesting it :)
 
hehe back when I started clubbing (mid 90s) I would sometimes request tracks... we were regulars there at least every Saturday (sometimes Wednesdays or Fridays too) and would hang around the same spot with other regulars so the DJs and bar staff knew us fairly well... I'd always request stuff that would suit with what the DJ was already playing...

...from around 2002 I started going to raves, psy parties and more of the non-commercial club nights... on a few occasions I'd be at an outdoor bush doof and there'd be these girls in heels go up to my mates who'd be DJing psytrance (around about midnight so things are starting to get more on the full-on style) and make requests for commercial dance tracks... and when he'd just sorta shrug and say he has no idea what they're on about they'd walk off severely p*ssed off... hehehe

I think it all depends on where you are... generally a DJ has their track list all planned out... but if you happen to see them at the party beforehand and get to say hello, I don't think there's anything wrong with (politely!) telling them what you'd like to hear them play! You never know... ;)
 
If it's a track that they can tell by the sound of my set I'll likely have, it's no problem. But when it's a matter of screaming requests for tracks that are obviously not my forte, then I am sorry to say that they can fuck right off. If it's not obvious by the 125bpm bass-heavy, warped synth tunes I play that there is no way in hell I will have the tune they're gagging to hear in my bag, then they'll never get it. In my experience it's usually either people who are trolleyed or those that have no concept of musical genres that disrupt a DJ when they're playing, and it's not on.

Some of the pearlers I've been asked to play:
'Lonely' by Akon
'Raindrops' by Pendulum
'I Think Tonight's (Gonna Be A Good Night)' by the Black Eyed Motherfucking Peas
Jay-Z (for true)
Dee-Lite 'Groove Is In The Heart'
London Calling by The Clash

Those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head.
 
Top