Last minute playlist.

[dj foureyes]

Peeps, I am doing a 40th birthday party tomorrow, which was booked back in January and TODAY I have recieved from the customer a playlist of approximately 100 songs. Each numbered 5 songs has a name against it, which has obviously been put together by the guests. In an e-mail I have been asked to say who's request I am playing. I normally wouldn't mind playing from a list but I would like your oppinion on whether I should say something to the customer about getting a playlist 24 hours before the gig (and one or two of them I am struggling to find) and expecting a mention everytime.:(
I don't want to create a bad feeling but I do think he could have been more considerate.

[Excalibur]

I don't want to create a bad feeling but I do think he could have been more considerate.

He could indeed, but I reckon you'll just have to grin and bear it. ;) :(

[simonp]

Did you make it clear in the first instance when taking the booking, that you required a song list back to you in xx amount of days/weeks before the party?

I make it clear that any Event Form is back to me two weeks before the event in order for me to prep their playlist and source any songs on the list I may not have.

In your case I would get back to the customer before tomorrow evening and explain you will endeavour to play a good selection from the supplied list as rule of thumb is roughly 20 songs an hour therefore you've been given 5 hours of music, plus there will inevitably be requests on the night as well. Be honest and say because of the timescale of receiving the list, unfortunately you cannot source a few of the songs.

[ajm]

Playlists, I steer we'll clear of them. Why hire a Dj.

[DiscoPromotions]

Playlists, I steer we'll clear of them. Why hire a Dj.

A playlist is very useful information to know which directions you can with the music you play.. So for example, if you no Dubstep is on the playlist I would not play unless I receive a request or play something along same genre and gauge the reaction.

It is not a perfect science as both reading the Dance floor & watching around the Dance Floor is key. I have seem poor playlists in my time, but it is working with those playlists to make sure the night as successful as can be.

However, I will agree with your comment if a playlist is submitted and you are instructed to play them with no room to budge, even worse when the client does not want to be flexible with their choices..

[Vectis]

Playlists, I steer we'll clear of them. Why hire a Dj.

Because he who pays the piper calls the tune, and like it or not this is a service industry.

If there's a significant problem with the list, i.e. it's 8 hours too long or full of death metal for a family wedding, then enter negotiations.

[Paul The Party Dj]

I love playlists! I love making every night different and delivering what the client wants. Sometimes I need to talk through the selections to understand why they've been made - but I meet with my clients.

Lists with the names of the people who requested tracks are really useful - it helps you make connections in the room.

How did the original gig go?

[ajm]

He who pays the piper calls the tune, as you said.
My local Garage is a service industry, but I don't tell them how to do there job otherwise they would tell me to :Censored: off. I rely on there good reputation and past history, then I put my trust in them.

When someone hires a Dj then it should be the same, thats why you hire a Dj, for there knowledge and experience, amongst other things. No wonder people nowadays have little respect for the Dj if they need to be told what music to be played.

If a client suggests some tunes, fine, happy to play them along with requests on the night, and if they want a certain kind of music played, fine again. But you can't write out a whole playlist of tunes weeks in advance and fortale how the evening will pan out. I have read some of the horror stories on forums regarding playlists, expecially the cheek of someone who wanted to sue a dj because he never played a requested song, it is a joke.

Its my reputation at stake and they are paying for my 30 years experience, they are lucky to have me because I am bloody good at my job and I do know more than the average client and that's how it should be.

I can honestly say I have never worked from a playlist and I am booked up almost every weekend this year, bar november. But I always listen to my clients (as we all do) and work with them even if this means face to face meetings beforehand.


Moderator note: Please refer to Rule:16. Thank you

[axeman]

generally a playlist is a helpful tool, however in this case it seems the organiser isnt thinking this through fully, and instead is giving you a list of songs guests have been asked to choose in order to make a list.

how will you know what to play when? , who's in the room at the beginning of the night, or who has gone home in the last hour... it's sod's law you will be playing a song for Aunty mary when she hasn't arrived yet, is in the loo, or has already gone home, and she wasn't too bothered about the song anyway, and only choose it because she was asked to !! on the other hand their might be people really looking forward to their chosen song that you don't get round to playing or you play when they are somewhere else...

i would definately chat to the organiser and see how strictly they want the list adhered to, and if possible prioritised/shortened down a little

[DazzyD]

Is it a playlist or a list of requests? The two are very different!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Is it a playlist or a list of requests? The two are very different!

Agreed and it's all about how you deal with them and the client.

[dj foureyes]

I love playlists! I love making every night different and delivering what the client wants. Sometimes I need to talk through the selections to understand why they've been made - but I meet with my clients.

Lists with the names of the people who requested tracks are really useful - it helps you make connections in the room.

How did the original gig go?

Paul , see Good Gig, Bad gig, page 196. It was most definitely in the bad gig category, but not because of the playlist.

[Paul The Party Dj]

Paul , see Good Gig, Bad gig, page 196. It was most definitely in the bad gig category, but not because of the playlist.

Ooops - see what you mean. I guess all I can add is that this is why I always try and have a meeting - even for surprise parties.

I always try and throw a halogen flood in the van for marquee gigs - especially ones at private homes ... but I often forget :confused:

The great thing about mobile work is nothings ever the same from one gig to the next and frequently don't turn out to be anything like we expect. Meetings cut down on the stress - well they do for me anyway.

Cheers