Do you still "play" with your guests?

[Jonathan Ford]

Reading Gary's post in the "Good Gig, Bad Gig" thread made me think...this bit in particular:


Funniest thing of the night was when a huge bloke came over and asked for a song for his little boy who had been dancing around on the dancefloor to everything. His name was Evan and he was 6 and he loved Sex On Fire by Kings Of Leon. Funny thing was.....the bloke said "Can you play 'My House Is On Fire' by Kings Of Leon whoever they are!!?".

I made an annoouncement (it was just gone 8.00pm) and said "Ladies & Gents, I have a special song for Evan which you will all know. When we get to the chorus, I want everyone to sing "My House Is On Fire" as it's Evan's favourite song".....Loads of people laughed but they all joined in and the smile on the little boys face was brilliant. The bloke came over again afterwards and shook my hand and said..."That was ace mate. Thanks very much!".

I think this sounds really cool, and I love it. It also made me realise that I would never do anything like this....and this makes me sad. Last week, I found myself...*shudder*...playing the Grease Megamix (by request, I hasten to add). Now, had I played this in the late '90's, I would've dropped the fader repeatedly and had a laugh with the crowd, made a big issue of the finish etc.. Last week, I stood there throughout, stone faced, not a flicker. I'm beginning to wonder if I've gone too far with the "unobtrusive" aspect of my service, and lost my sense of fun. I can't remember the last time I dropped the fader so the crowd could sing, or said anything on the microphone other than announcements or asking for requests.

I suppose many of us would have performed differently in the past than we do today, but have you found a happy medium?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think it depends on the guests and the age group too. I still do weddings where there is limited chat and interaction, but also do bookings where they love lots of chat and interaction. I'm doing a golden wedding tonight and judging by the request list, they'll be up for the more chatty style of DJing.

[Shaun]

Same as Darren.

[DJ Paulie]

I always get the crowd to join in, grease, country roads, amarillo, 500 miles, love takes over, yeah 3X, and even wonderwall ! I always say who has made a request if I think it's a :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:e song as well, that way I don't look a plomker when it bombs ! Mind you at one gig I was asked to play proud mary, so i prelistened to it and thought it was a bit slow. When the guy came back to ask if I had it, I told him was bit slow so might play it towards the end. He kept on and so I played it. The crowd went mental, they all got in a circle and the birthday boy and his MIL (they were a gay couple) did the 'rollin' rollin' bit !

But if the crowd look like they wouldn't be up for that sort of thing then I won't do it. I think you have to sometimes think on your feet as to what's going to work. I played proud mary last week and hardly anyone danced and they were around the same age group !

[DeckstarDeluxe]

+1 with Darrens comment.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Funny you should mention this.

A couple of years ago, one of the nights I done in a local club was very much party & cheese orientated...so lots of mic work and crowd interaction.

Anyway, club music policy changed...and with mobile work it got less and lss so became more of the "stonyfaced" dj and out and out dance music mixing jock.

Thursday gone was the first night in the club moving back to cheesy party stuff...and it was a learning curve re-remembering the fader drops and voice overs. Really enjoyed it though....

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Generally, I only speak when I think it's necessary (announcements, first dances etc and sometimes when a song may have an abrupt fadeout - Build Me Up Buttercup springs to mind).

I ask my customers what they want me to be like. I can be the cheesiest of cheese if that's what they want... Most of them will say "Do what you always do" and so it's easy but last night NEEDED interraction to be honest. I used the kids as a tool in reality to break the ice and get people involved and it was easy. I am glad they were there. I didn't mention it but the daughter of the Bride (6 years old) had a favourite song which was called 'Chocolate' by Soul Control. I'd never heard it before but got it specifically for her.

I made a big announcement so that it was special for her and she loved it....Well, second time round she did. The first time I did it, she got embarassed and ran away! She also kept coming up and asking if she could judge people's dancing so I let her get on with it. It made her happy, the Bride & Groom happy and created a nice atmosphere. It's not something I do all the time but it was a nice change.

Tonight however....Well, 40th Birthday for a guy. No requests, no ideas etc...Not my ideal scenario but it's at a venue I have had a meeting with about another residency over Christmas so I'll give it a good shot anyway.

[Ecstatic Events]

I would typically do this at around 70% of functions. I love it. Encouraging guests to raise the roof singing it back etc.

There are some gigs where it's completely inappropriate. But I will "hype" my clients guests at every opportune moment.

My wife has been to TWO mobile gigs and often heard me play out in local Bar and Clubs. She tells me I'm to vocal sometimes :)

I had a client meeting during the week and asked their preferences re: interaction. They replied "We aren't hiring a jukebox, are we?"

[Excalibur]

Judge every case on its merits. Never generalise too much, nor have ideas set in stone beforehand. I still feel though, that without some interaction, you might as well plug an Ipod in. ;)

[ian8limelight]

Judge every case on its merits. Never generalise too much, nor have ideas set in stone beforehand. I still feel though, that without some interaction, you might as well plug an Ipod in. ;)

I fully agree, well summed up ;) :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm doing a golden wedding tonight and judging by the request list, they'll be up for the more chatty style of DJing.

They were and a very good night it was too. :)

[MikeW]

I used to do lots of interaction with the crowd and still do if required. But a lot of the better nights recently, have been ones where I have done less and let the music do the talking! I do feel guilty sometimes, but I think that may be the old school in me.
I am happy playing it either way :)

[BossmanKaraokeDisco]

Judge every case on its merits. Never generalise too much, nor have ideas set in stone beforehand. I still feel though, that without some interaction, you might as well plug an Ipod in. ;)

Totally agree

[DazzyD]

.... I didn't mention it but the daughter of the Bride (6 years old) had a favourite song which was called 'Chocolate' by Soul Control. I'd never heard it before but got it specifically for her.

....

:eek:


Judge every case on its merits. Never generalise too much, nor have ideas set in stone beforehand. I still feel though, that without some interaction, you might as well plug an Ipod in. ;)


I fully agree, well summed up ;) :D

:agree:

I've noticed, recently, that there's been a move away from the interaction that I used to do. However, I did an 18th last night and I was back on form. The girl said she'd had "the best night ever" and her parents were well happy too!

It's good to be me!! :D

[STEVE HANLEY]

I think the only time I ever drop the fader is during Sex on fire if I can hear them singing along to it.

I sometimes end the night with Don't look back in anger and do it then as well, but other than that, never

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I drop the fader on various songs to get them to interract. It doesn't matter really what kind of function it is and it depends on the atmosphere.
Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot, Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer, Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire etc are just 3 examples.

[DazzyD]

...

S Club 7's Reach, Otzi's Hey Baby.

I could go on...

[Ecstatic Events]

and on - and on - and on!!!

Billie Jean
Daydream Believer
U Can't Touch This

I'll stop now, I basically do it at 80% of events....

I'm there to entertain and it definitely works for me...

[Charlie Brown]

and on - and on - and on!!!

Billie Jean


Really!?

That does surprise me. If I was attending a party and the DJ lowered the volume encouraging me to sing along to pretty much every other song, I'd get miffed.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I think Mike was more suggesting songs you could do the volume thing on rather than a megamix of them.

Dynamite is another one I do the fader drop on too but it is all about what feels right at the time.

[Ecstatic Events]

If I was attending a party and the DJ lowered the volume encouraging me to sing along to pretty much every other song

Lol - Did I say I did that? Every other song???? :confused: :confused: :confused: Who does that?

There's a time and a place, if your audience are biting and you're reading the floor well, why not give them a little encouragement.

To summarise, I "play" with my audience at around 80% of gigs to 5 or 6 tracks throughout the night.

Is that better Charlie? :D

[DazzyD]

I think Mike was more suggesting songs you could do the volume thing on rather than a megamix of them.

Dynamite is another one I do the fader drop on too but it is all about what feels right at the time.

And Katy's Firework when there are loads of "ladies" dancing!!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Hey Jude is another one you could do it on but I don't feel its that effective on that particular track as the others

[Ecstatic Events]

At my last gig....

Cee Lo Green - Forget You. The crowd were all singing back the obscenity in place of "forget"

Makes me wonder why we all buy the Radio Edits etc. Naughty Guests!