Requests

[Javlingames]

Do you think requests are a privilige to guests or a condition?

Sometimes the way in which people ask for songs they act like its their god given right to have any song they request played, normally within 5 minutes!!

I know most of us actively encouarge requests and sometimes when youve got a tough night requests can help but i cant help but feel that customers see us as human jukeboxes sometimes, available at their command at any point in the night.

Your thoughts please.

[DazzyD]

I agree with you in how some people think it's their right to have their requests played. I always make it clear I'll try to accommodate requests but can't guarantee them although I do offer guaranteed requests made prior to the gig. This gives me time to build a skeleton set around the requests and gives an idea of how the night will flow.

[Shaun]

Mr requests slips have the following printed on them...

"Whilst every effort will be made to play all requests, we cannot guarantee every request will be included".

I also mention on the mic that I'll happily take requests and play 'a selection' of them through the evening. My main focus however is the clients requests, followed by the guests requests if I think I can slot them in.

[Kernow]

Do you think requests are a privilige to guests or a condition?

Sometimes the way in which people ask for songs they act like its their god given right to have any song they request played, normally within 5 minutes!!.

You get 5 minutes notice ? :eek: you're so lucky!! ;) ....... it's normally "NOW !!" :)


but i cant help but feel that customers see us as human jukeboxes sometimes, available at their command at any point in the night.
Your thoughts please.

Something actively encouraged by the Ipod/digital culture ? :confused:

[djdave01]

It amazes me how often people come up 5 minutes before the end and request songs.

If someone seems demanding or asks for something inappropriate, just tell them you have not got it.

BTW, nice picture Shaun lol

[DAVESOUNDS SERVICES]

DAVESOUNDS DISCO
"If we have it then we will play it "
(says so on my request forms)

Unless its total pants i,ll usually play it
( it makes the punters night)

Cheers

[CRAZY K]

Something actively encouraged by the Ipod/digital culture ? :confused:

Spot on and get prepared for a lot more of it.

The great public out there are just waking up.

Theres a Line Dance gig on Saturday ( not mine thank goodness) where apparently the Hen Party girls are rolling up with their requests on I pods:eek: :eek: :eek:

Probably pink ones;)

[Kernow]

Spot on and get prepared for a lot more of it.

The great public out there are just waking up.

Theres a Line Dance gig on Saturday ( not mine thank goodness) where apparently the Hen Party girls are rolling up with their requests on I pods:eek: :eek: :eek:

Probably pink ones;)

Not just the punters though is it ?, Digital/Laptop DJ's can now access and play tunes so rapidly, they've created an expectation. A double-edged sword if ever there was one ? :)

[Excalibur]

Not just the punters though is it ?, Digital/Laptop DJ's can now access and play tunes so rapidly, they've created an expectation. A double-edged sword if ever there was one ? :)

Might have three. ;) We don't need a DJ, we just need a PA for our Ipod/Laptop and a couple of flashing lights. :( :( :(

[Kernow]

Might have three. ;) We don't need a DJ, we just need a PA for our Ipod/Laptop and a couple of flashing lights. :( :( :(

It could become a Swiss Army variant ;)
"As it's a domestic occasion, only a wedding, we don't have to worry about PRS, PPL, PLI, PAT, Produb, PAYE !! :eek:........ In fact we can really take the P's out of the whole thing " ? ;)

:D :D :D

[simon1969]

Depends on what it is, if the danceflor is full or fits into the genre im playing!

[James]

I had a funny one a few months ago, so girl comes up and goes "can you play we speak no americano" i was like "sorry, never heard of it" she's like "oh my god it's No.1 in the charts"

I said "yeah sorry, i stopped listening to the charts about 15 years ago"

obviously, i've heard of the song now

If i can get away with it, i'll rarely play anything that's in the current top 40, unless the track is half decent

[Shaun]

I had a funny one a few months ago, so girl comes up and goes "can you play we speak no americano" i was like "sorry, never heard of it" she's like "oh my god it's No.1 in the charts"

I said "yeah sorry, i stopped listening to the charts about 15 years ago"

obviously, i've heard of the song now

If i can get away with it, i'll rarely play anything that's in the current top 40, unless the track is half decent

Surely as a mobile DJ it's part of your job to keep in touch with what's out there, whether you personally listen to it or not?

[Larry B Entertainment]

I had a funny one a few months ago, so girl comes up and goes "can you play we speak no americano" i was like "sorry, never heard of it" she's like "oh my god it's No.1 in the charts"

I said "yeah sorry, i stopped listening to the charts about 15 years ago"

obviously, i've heard of the song now

If i can get away with it, i'll rarely play anything that's in the current top 40, unless the track is half decent

I would have been a bit embarrased if asked for something that was number one that I had never heard of. Would make me look a right :Censored:

[Mark Wild]

I had a funny one a few months ago, so girl comes up and goes "can you play we speak no americano" i was like "sorry, never heard of it" she's like "oh my god it's No.1 in the charts"

I said "yeah sorry, i stopped listening to the charts about 15 years ago"

obviously, i've heard of the song now

If i can get away with it, i'll rarely play anything that's in the current top 40, unless the track is half decent

She must have thought you were useless and told all her mates ;)

[Shaun]

She must have thought you were useless and told all her mates ;)

.....who in turn told their mates.

Nice to see that the poor image of us lowly mobile DJs remains intact.

[Mark Wild]

.....who in turn told their mates.

Nice to see that the poor image of us lowly mobile DJs remains intact.

Exactly :)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Monday morning first thing I do is go to the itunes music homepage and you'll see what is their number one as it takes into account downloads for songs released that week.

As for requests I use to be of the mindset that I had to play it at some point however now if I know a song is gonna bomb and I've got some sort of flow I won't play it.

I will say though sometimes the usual suspects havent worked and tried a leftfield song request which worked and this enabled me to play music more suited to them based on that.

[Javlingames]

Had a really drunk woman last night asking me to play lady gaga whilst i was playing lady gaga!! WTF? I said that this is lady gaga and she looked at me spaced out and said 'play lady gaga' then at the end of the night just as ive finished she said 'you never played lady gaga'. The crap we put up with sometimes.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Had a really drunk woman last night asking me to play lady gaga whilst i was playing lady gaga!! WTF? I said that this is lady gaga and she looked at me spaced out and said 'play lady gaga' then at the end of the night just as ive finished she said 'you never played lady gaga'. The crap we put up with sometimes.

I've had that a few times and everytime its been Lady gaga!

Its not like her songs are vastly different are they.....

[Javlingames]

I've had that a few times and everytime its been Lady gaga!

Its not like her songs are vastly different are they.....

I cant say i enjoy playing her songs.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Had a really drunk woman last night asking me to play lady gaga whilst i was playing lady gaga!! WTF? I said that this is lady gaga and she looked at me spaced out and said 'play lady gaga' then at the end of the night just as ive finished she said 'you never played lady gaga'. The crap we put up with sometimes.

Or "Play Alejandro by Lady Ga Ga" WHAT? I've just played it. " I know but I was in the toilet or outside having a fag" (insert appropriate) Play it again please NOW:Censored: :Censored:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I cant say i enjoy playing her songs.


Really?

I do. Doesnt ever seem to be a gig where playing gaga would be a bad thing. Gets girls dancing of all ages (to a point).

[rob1963]

Really?

I do. Doesnt ever seem to be a gig where playing gaga would be a bad thing. Gets girls dancing of all ages (to a point).

:agree:

I can't remember the last gig where I didn't play some Lady Gaga, but it must be a good few months.

[Mark Wild]

I can't remember the last gig where I didn't play some Lady Gaga, but it must be a good few months.


Me either ! I play Poker Face & Bad Romance back to back at most gigs :eek: :o

[Vectis]

I LOVE GaGa - the pop stuff is good, but the lesser album tracks are better. And the live performances are out of this world. I'm still reeling from last year's Brits. The night she proved she really does have balls*












* figuratively speaking

[Javlingames]

I always play her songs but it's not my cup of tea. Always packs the floor though

[Mark Wild]

With regards to people and their attitude when requesting songs, it never ceases to amaze me how rude and belligerent people can be when doing so. It's always refreshing when someone approaches you with manners and a slight understanding of your job at hand, I tend to make a bigger effort to get their song played, naturally.

[Excalibur]

With regards to people and their attitude when requesting songs, it never ceases to amaze me how rude and belligerent people can be when doing so. It's always refreshing when someone approaches you with manners and a slight understanding of your job at hand, I tend to make a bigger effort to get their song played, naturally.

Amen, Brother. To everything. :( :(

[CRAZY K]

Monday morning first thing I do is go to the itunes music homepage and you'll see what is their number one as it takes into account downloads for songs released that week.

As for requests I use to be of the mindset that I had to play it at some point however now if I know a song is gonna bomb and I've got some sort of flow I won't play it.

I will say though sometimes the usual suspects havent worked and tried a leftfield song request which worked and this enabled me to play music more suited to them based on that.

Being in the fortunate position ( by choice) of only playing gigs where the client gives me a playlist or preferred list as opposed to public gigs where the world, his wife and dog can come along and ask for just about anything I make it clear I dont do chart music--HOWEVER I will get ANY track the client requires on download and if its No1 no problem.

What is No1 I have no idea- probably another RnB dirge.

Just looked yep I was right;) :Censored:

BUT on checking im playing Nos 27,32 and 35 on Saturday so I do play chart music then--Status Quo new in at 31 Im in the Army now=-go for it Francis and Rick No 1 boys --:D

I will agree in the 70s not having No1 was like a hanging offence--now its not so bad.

[simonp]

I said "yeah sorry, i stopped listening to the charts about 15 years ago"


Awful answer, and sounds as though it was probably delivered with the attitude to match!


Surely as a mobile DJ it's part of your job to keep in touch with what's out there, whether you personally listen to it or not?

Absolutely


I would have been a bit embarrased if asked for something that was number one that I had never heard of. Would make me look a right :Censored:

:agree:


Me either ! I play Poker Face & Bad Romance back to back at most gigs :eek: :o

Is that because they both mix quite nice & easy at 119 bpm mate :lol: ;)

Back to the OP - I think it's pretty 'par for course' in todays society TBH - 'I want it, and I want it now' so-to -speak - It does frustrate me when they come up and ask for a song in the genre of music you were playing 20mins or half an hour ago, and have obviously moved on etc.

I think it is a 'digital' curse as well, if you can search and get it loaded into a deck in a matter of seconds, they expect it all the time - I do explain why their requests don't get played immediately most of the time, or when they say can you play it next (and it's a song I will use), I'm normally honest and say "No, but I'm sure it'll get played at some point during the evening", and I often show them as I drag into the 'request' crate, and say look it's there kind of thing. If it's a song that is never going to get played in a month of Sunday's, I'll assess what the persons like before giving a sarcastic answer or the normal 'haven't got that one on this database mate, good tune and all that' sort of answer.

[gaza]

I had a funny one a few months ago, so girl comes up and goes "can you play we speak no americano" i was like "sorry, never heard of it" she's like "oh my god it's No.1 in the charts"

I said "yeah sorry, i stopped listening to the charts about 15 years ago"

obviously, i've heard of the song now

If i can get away with it, i'll rarely play anything that's in the current top 40, unless the track is half decent


That is amazing, you don't do many teen parties then, because there would be lots of very unhappy clients.

[James]

Surely as a mobile DJ it's part of your job to keep in touch with what's out there, whether you personally listen to it or not?

I do keep up with new music, only the good stuff though :)

Just because a song is No.1 in the charts doesn't mean it gets played by me, 99.9% of the charts are (insert profanity of your choice here) anyway, and most of my customers don't want that rubbish played at their event

I'm not that concerned about keeping up to date with the top 40 as i don't take on any events for under 25's anyway, i've turned down many a booking after discussing music policy with the customer

[James]

Plus, i think a 36 year old man looks silly playing chart music, or i feel silly anyway

[Shaun]

Plus, i think a 36 year old man looks silly playing chart music, or i feel silly anyway

That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever seen posted here.

[Corabar Steve]

My thoughts exactly Shaun.

Tell that to Darren, Steve H, Robbie, Me, Rob, & numerous others on here who are definately the wrong side of 40

[Mark Wild]

Plus, i think a 36 year old man looks silly playing chart music, or i feel silly anyway


That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever seen posted here.

:lol: I agree, wtf man LOL !

[rob1963]

My thoughts exactly Shaun.

Tell that to Darren, Steve H, Robbie, Me, Rob, & numerous others on here who are definately the wrong side of 40

Indeed.

When I read the post you were referring to, my initial thought was that I better bring my retirement forward to TODAY!

:cry:

[James]

just my 2 cents chaps, i'm not saying it's right

[Mark Wild]

just my 2 cents chaps, i'm not saying it's right

Can you explain a little better why you feel stupid playing chart music?

[rob1963]

just my 2 cents chaps, i'm not saying it's right

Does that also mean a DJ in their 20s looks silly playing sixties music?

:confused:

[Corabar Steve]

I don't like playing chart music, but I will, & I certainly don't feel silly while doing so.


Does that also mean a DJ in their 20s looks silly playing sixties music?

:confused:
Or any DJ under 60 / 70 really by that token.

[James]

Does that also mean a DJ in their 20s looks silly playing sixties music?

:confused:

well no, because 60's music has heart & soul

00's or 10's manufactured chart music is all fake "oooh babe i miss you" or "i'm a tough guy gangsta" or even worse "i'm a tough girl gangsta"

Also,the music is rubbish, come on guys, for every one good chart song, there's 1000 other songs that are better, agreed?

ok the masses, want it, but my market aint the masses, if you can sort of see my point?

[Corabar Steve]

So it's more the content than the music then?

[rob1963]

well no, because 60's music has heart & soul

00's or 10's manufactured chart music is all fake "oooh babe i miss you" or "i'm a tough guy gangsta" or even worse "i'm a tough girl gangsta"

Also,the music is rubbish, come on guys, for every one good chart song, there's 1000 other songs that are better, agreed?

ok the masses, want it, but my market aint the masses, if you can sort of see my point?

I agree that the music isn't as good these days as it was. However, although the 00s and the 10s are my least favourite decades, I still don't feel silly playing the music from them.

[James]

a bit of both steve, a bit of both

personaly, i think chart r&b sends the wrong message out to kids

kids of 12 shouldn't be trying to be sexy or tough guys, they should just be kids

[Corabar Steve]

So basically you're saying you feel silly when playing a song about being sexy or tough? :sj:

[James]

ha ha, well you could put it like that i suppose

@ rob, as i said mate it's just my two cents, i'd feel stupid in a room full of 18 year olds, many others wouldn't

[Corabar Steve]

i'd feel stupid in a room full of 18 year olds, many others wouldn't
I just feel old

[James]

honestly though, and this is the truth, if the music was any good, i'd be up for it, but the music is terrible

strip away the vocals, and actually listen to whats going on in the composition

[Mark Wild]

If you "feel silly" playing chart music at any age you're in the wrong game and/or have some confidence issues.

[Shaun]

One minute you're saying it's the message portrayed in the lyrics, next minute it's the composition. It seems to me that you're just 'pulling at straws' to think of reasons to back up your earlier comment.....and failing miserably. :p

[James]

i refer the honourable gentleman to my "it's a bit of both" comment on page 5

[Shaun]

i refer the honourable gentleman to my "it's a bit of both" comment on page 5

Page 5? This thread is only on page 2 for me. Then again, I've set my user CP settings to 40 replies per page. Saves a lot of unnecessary clicking.

[James]

well then, i refer the honourable gentleman to my "it's a bit of both" comment on page 2

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Sorry but only you can say chart music is rubbish.

To the clients and particular the younger ones they have grown up with it and think its great and that the music that their parents listen to is rubbish.

I'm there to entertain the clients, get them dancing and having a good time. I'm not there to preach a message for flips sake...

[gaza]

ha ha, well you could put it like that i suppose

@ rob, as i said mate it's just my two cents, i'd feel stupid in a room full of 18 year olds, many others wouldn't


I just feel old




When i do an 18th i think to myself that some of the young adults might look over when they turn up at the party and think to themselfs " the dj looks a bit of an old git", but when you are playing all there requests and the place is going mad and they are loving it and sometimes they even say what a great night they had, then it is fine.

[addoaddo]

I cannot understand how in this market you can exclude playing music that a client wants just because you do not like that music. Obviously if you are requested to play an 80's night you would not play chart music, but recently I played at a 50th wedding anniversary, expecting the music to be mainly older but as half of the guests were under 25 some chart music went down well.
DJ are not there to police the music but to play to the guests. This might be by reading the floor or playing requests that fit in to the evening.

[Excalibur]

Plus, i think a 36 year old man looks silly playing chart music, or i feel silly anyway
I don't feel silly playing anything, even the Birdie song. Mind you, looking silly, well that's a whole different ballgame. :o :o :o


That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever seen posted here.
A moot point surely. I'd accept it if you added "today" :D :D

My thoughts exactly Shaun.

Tell that to Darren, Steve H, Robbie, Me, Rob, & numerous others on here who are definately the wrong side of 40
Forty? :confused: Forty! :eek: Forty. Pah! Children. :p :D :D :D

I just feel old
Give it fifteen years then, pal. :p :D :D :D :D The feeling will pass. ;) ( Mind you, I felt very very old at BPM. :( :( :( )


One minute you're saying it's the message portrayed in the lyrics, next minute it's the composition. It seems to me that you're just 'pulling at straws' to think of reasons to back up your earlier comment.....and failing miserably. :p
Hmmmmmm. We're discussing feeling silly here, and this comes from a man whose avatar is wearing glittery deely boppers, and who was last seen getting his bits out in public!! :D :D :D Shaun, I'm not surprised that merely playing chart music doesn't make you feel silly, you're obviously made of sterner stuff. ;) ;)


Sorry but only you can say chart music is rubbish.
To the clients and particular the younger ones they have grown up with it and think its great and that the music that their parents listen to is rubbish.

I'm there to entertain the clients, get them dancing and having a good time. I'm not there to preach a message for flips sake...
Err, no Neil, that's because it's all :pants: nowadays. ;) Now the 70's, the decade that taste forgot............................:D :D :D :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Sorry but you ask any of the younger punters if they think chart music etc.. is pants and you'll get similar reactions to people of the same age 20 years ago.

There is some good stuff in the charts but if you ask yourself if they carried on making music the same way and styles as yesterday year then it would be boring as hell.

I think this year has seen some fab releases in the charts.

[STEVE HANLEY]

My thoughts exactly Shaun.

Tell that to Darren, Steve H, Robbie, Me, Rob, & numerous others on here who are definately the wrong side of 40

I always have at least 30 of the current top 40 with me at any one time, and when anyone teens /early twenties requests one and I have it the look on their face is priceless

[Excalibur]

I always have at least 30 of the current top 40 with me at any one time, and when anyone teens /early twenties requests one and I have it the look on their face is priceless

Give it time, pal. Laptop, dongle, just in time. Sorted. ;) :D :D :D :D

[Shaun]

A moot point surely. I'd accept it if you added "today" :D :D



Hmmm, you may have a point. :d







Hmmmmmm. We're discussing feeling silly here, and this comes from a man whose avatar is wearing glittery deely boppers, and who was last seen getting his bits out in public!! :D :D :D



:rofl: Not much I can say in defence to that. :d

[STEVE HANLEY]

Give it time, pal. Laptop, dongle, just in time. Sorted. ;) :D :D :D :D

Doing that now Peter. Thank god for Amazon:D :D :D :D :D

[Excalibur]

Doing that now Peter. Thank god for Amazon:D :D :D :D :D

And 3, Orange, 7digital, Play, HMV..........................:D :D :D :D