At what point do you decide.....

[NKR]

...... this crowd aren't going to dance to anything.

We had a run of these and it was quite depressing (even though people would come to us at the end of the night and say thanks that was spot on we really enjoyed it.). You sometimes feel like you have lost your touch especially if you get a couple back to back.

But if people have enjoyed it you have done your job. It's just not that easy to gauge that when they are all sat down.

A bit of an airy question but to recap ....

-What point do you pull the head phones of in dispair at another big hitter hitting a dead end.
-How do you gauge if people are enjoying themselves when they are all sat down?

Everyone appears to be at BPM playing with the latest toys and drinking :beer1: , so I thought I would put something on. :)

[rob1963]

If I'd played half a dozen bankers (IE songs from my top 120 most requested songs list) to no response on the dance floor, I'd start thinking that there might not be any dancing.

However, I sometimes think this & they get up & start dancing really late in the evening (maybe an hour before the end), so you can never really tell until you've actually finished.

[Daryll]

I had one of those last night , a wedding in Liss , hampshire.
No matter what I played , I could have swore the guests were super glued to their seats :D . I played Abba to zz-top , 50`s to 00`s and current chart , nothing , but...........
I did get a tip and got four more bookings from this , loads of people said what a good time they had , sometimes that the way it goes.
there`s nowt so strange as folk . :D :D


Daryll

[NKR]

However, I sometimes think this & they get up & start dancing really late in the evening (maybe an hour before the end)

I know what you mean and then at 12:30 am are shouting 'more, more, more'

[deltic]

it happens, when it does you assume it is your fault,but if you look around and people are nodding and tapping in there seats then they are enjoying the music.
quite a lot of people are drinkers and not dancers.

[wensleydale]

If I'd played half a dozen bankers (IE songs from my top 120 most requested songs list) to no response on the dance floor, I'd start thinking that there might not be any dancing.

However, I sometimes think this & they get up & start dancing really late in the evening (maybe an hour before the end), so you can never really tell until you've actually finished.
You back already??

[DJ Jules]

it happens, when it does you assume it is your fault,but if you look around and people are nodding and tapping in there seats then they are enjoying the music.
quite a lot of people are drinkers and not dancers.

Quite a lot of people need some serious drinking to be "able" to dance (my wife is one of these). Now drink driving is socially unacceptable (not to mention expensive) and taxi's are pretty costly I think people are actually drinking less, and hence dancing less.

That's my theory anyway.

Julian

[rob1963]

You back already??

Was back at about 5pm Rich.

:D

[wensleydale]

Was back at about 5pm Rich.

:D

Good day?
Suspect those that stayed now have sore heads (apart from tom)

[rob1963]

Good day?
Suspect those that stayed now have sore heads (apart from tom)

Very good thanks (more on the BPM thread)...and I suspect you're right!

[Larry B Entertainment]

Had a case of this when I used to work for an agency. I did a gig for a load of solicitors and their families. I doubt whether more than 5 people danced all night no matter what I played, even their own requests didnt work. I thought the night was a waste and wasnt expecting any more work at that venue. Turns out the venue rang my boss and told them what a good job I had done and how their clients were very happy so I got 3 more bookings at that venue in the end. Its strange how people can enjoy them selfs but not show it.

[NKR]

Great responses guys thanks. I was just checking its not just me as I want everyone to enjoy every job I do and can start to feel like I'm losing my edge when I get a few gigs where people don't dance all night.

Then again I'm not a dancer, which is why I am behind the decks.

[JDB Entertainment]

Classic example for me was Saturday Night.

18th Birthday and the dance floor was empty for the majority of the night as they congregated outside in the smoking area.

They could still here the music and I could see they were enjoying what I was playing, but this has never happened at an 18th Birthday to me ever before!

The end of the night came and the mom, dad and birthday boy came up and said thanks what a great night it was(even though I didn't feel it was)

I then had the venue manager come up and say it was a great night and could they have some cards and would they be able to reccommend me as their first choice DJ. Which I gladly said yes!

I also gave out about 5 cards to people who are planning there 18th Birthdays.

So although the dance floor was dead most of the night and to me it was a bad night. The guests and venue and customer all said it was good!

[rob1963]

So although the dance floor was dead most of the night and to me it was a bad night. The guests and venue and customer all said it was good!

Which proves something that's been said many times on this forum...sometimes people just don't want to dance, but even if nobody dances all night, they can all still have a thoroughly enjoyable time.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Have had numerous on dancing but having a good time gigs.

I've taught myself (am still teaching myself) not to get desperate and start playing everything under the sun as this causes the sets to get disjointed and ultimately can work against you.

Keep playing those bankers and great songs, move fluidly from one style and era to another, and do what you know to be a good job. And deck anyone that tells you to play to the crowd (I actually got that from a punter with an empty dancefloor once :eek:).

[NKR]

Oh I love them crowd members too. Its amazing how many DJ tutors are in each crowd. Maybe there actually is a national body (that none of us know about) that sends at least one to everyones gig to ensure we don't wander off programme.

[Corabar Steve]

Was back at about 5pm Rich.

:D
What time did your quiz night end Rob?

[rob1963]

What time did your quiz night end Rob?

About 10pm as usual, Steve.

[Corabar Steve]

Oh, I thought you were back a bit early (11:18 pm)

[rob1963]

What time did your quiz night end Rob?


About 10pm as usual, Steve.


Oh, I thought you were back a bit early (11:18 pm)

By the time I'd got paid & finished chatting to people, I probably left around 10.30 as usual, in which case I'd have been home soon after 11pm...which is exactly the same time as I usually get home on a Sunday.

11.18pm would be early for any of my other quizzes, but the Sunday one starts & finishes half an hour earlier than the others...hence I get home earlier.

[Excalibur]

By the time I'd got paid & finished chatting to people, I probably left around 10.30 as usual, in which case I'd have been home soon after 11pm...which is exactly the same time as I usually get home on a Sunday.

:shrug:

So you could have driven back to Reflex and joined the party? :D

[Corabar Steve]

I didn't dispute that & there was no need for the shrug smilie, just thought 11:18 was a bit early to be back on the forum if you were working. Shouldn't you have been in bed by then anyway? You had a very long day.

[Corabar Steve]

So you could have driven back to Reflex and joined the party? :D
Would've made it way before we left.

[rob1963]

So you could have driven back to Reflex and joined the party? :D

Yes...I could if I wasn't such a lightweight!

:shrug:

After all, I only spent 6 hours driving on Sunday!

[rob1963]

I didn't dispute that & there was no need for the shrug smilie, just thought 11:18 was a bit early to be back on the forum if you were working. Shouldn't you have been in bed by then anyway? You had a very long day.

Sorry Steve, but the shrug smiley was because I couldn't work out why you were asking about the times of my quiz or what you were getting at.

As already explained, 11.18 is the time I'm usually home by on Sundays due to the quiz starting & ending 30 minutes earlier than normal.

To answer your last couple of questions, firstly no, I shouldn't have been in bed by then. I usually go to bed around 1am most nights, which isn't as late as it sounds, as I don't usually get up until at least 9am.

Secondly, you're right...I DID have a very long day, because unlike most people who went to BPM I spent 6 hours driving on Sunday, which I think is quite a lot...and I also went to work in the evening rather than drinking & letting my hair down.

[Excalibur]

Sorry Steve, but the shrug smiley was because I couldn't work out why you were asking about the times of my quiz or what you were getting at.

As already explained, 11.18 is the time I'm usually home by on Sundays due to the quiz starting & ending 30 minutes earlier than normal.

To answer your last couple of questions, firstly no, I shouldn't have been in bed by then. I usually go to bed around 1am most nights, which isn't as late as it sounds, as I don't usually get up until at least 9am.

Secondly, you're right...I DID have a very long day, because unlike most people who went to BPM I spent 6 hours driving on Sunday, which I think is quite a lot...and I also went to work in the evening rather than drinking & letting my hair down.
I never go drinking and letting my hair down. :( :o :o

[rob1963]

I never go drinking and letting my hair down. :( :o :o

Only because you CAN'T!

:eek: :p