Advice required - Mic lines and structuring sets

[Area51]

Afternoon all!

Im just getting into the mobile disco business after having an interest in it for some time. Ive been a club/bar dj for over 10 years (used to playing underground house/techno etc). I thought it would be a pretty easy transition into the mobile scene - but after doing our first gig the weekend, have quickly realised you need a whole different type of skill set to what I am used to!

Firstly, I absolutely SUCK on the mic - even simple announcements I just didnt have a clue what to say. Secondly, I felt we sort of blagged it with the music - do not know how to structure these types of sets at all. E.G do you tend to play a few songs of the same genre or from the same era in groups, or just keep it random and play any requests that come in?

Im interested to hear how you all got good at these things.

Any advice you seasoned pros can give on the above would be greatly appreciated!

[Shaun]

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Thank you.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I'm a teacher and have to think and talk on my feet 5 days a week but it's still something I'm very concious of even though I'm confident and good at it.

For working on the mic I'd say you just need to practice to get better and more confident even if that means talking to yourself in the car on the way to work (I do this for job interviews) or practicing in front of the mirror as well as doing it live.

It also helps to have a bank of phrases you can use without thinking. We end up talking guff when we're stressed and our brain isn't working fast enough, if you have a handful of key phrases for stuff like:

Introducing the birthday boy / girl / newlyweds etc,,,

To welcome everyone and introduce yourself at the start of the night

Get people to know the cake is being cut

That you're taking requests

Round the night off


and so on, it'll sound natural and relaxed even if it's something you've thought about and practiced dozens of times and use at every gig.

I'm not saying learn these word for word (though that might work for you) but having a good idea of what you're going to say when you introduce yoursel for example means you're not standing their like a tool trying to think up what to say on the spot which is where problems occur.

[Nightowl Discotheques]

Afternoon all!

Im just getting into the mobile disco business after having an interest in it for some time. Ive been a club/bar dj for over 10 years (used to playing underground house/techno etc). I thought it would be a pretty easy transition into the mobile scene - but after doing our first gig the weekend, have quickly realised you need a whole different type of skill set to what I am used to!

Firstly, I absolutely SUCK on the mic - even simple announcements I just didnt have a clue what to say. Secondly, I felt we sort of blagged it with the music - do not know how to structure these types of sets at all. E.G do you tend to play a few songs of the same genre or from the same era in groups, or just keep it random and play any requests that come in?

Im interested to hear how you all got good at these things.

Any advice you seasoned pros can give on the above would be greatly appreciated!

its not as different as you think.... the night for mobile is still about flow and beat... now dending on what type of club dj you were either an hour set or whole night dj it gets interesting when i crossed over from clubs my night went from an 8 hour set to 5 hrs so i had to fasten the pacing of a night typically ill split the night in to 3 parts a warm up, a middle build, and a big ending and group tunes in 2,3,5 of a type or beat
Requests are usefull pointers and i usually use those as start point for direction... however be carefull ... this is perhaps a scotland thing the guy who asks for 500 miles at 7.00 pm and hounds all night you till you play it later on as a bigger tune... also dont be scared to play a great tune more than once if the punters love it... but you have to find the tunes that are party starters or moment builders for example 500 miles once moves like jagger as many times as you can get away with lol dont worry about the mic that just comes i suppose take a deep breath talk moderatly and keep it simple and my best tip no matter if you have one punter or 200 your at work so go for it 120%

[dj foureyes]

As Jim said, have a practise of certain announcements like-
Good evening ladies and gents
Hi everyone, my name is Area51
Ay up me ducks, how you doing :)

Whatever style feels natural to YOU, use it. Also, I find, if you are talking on the mic, try to look relaxed, as if you were talking to a mate, and you will start to feel in control.

[chrisj]

My tip, do not use a monotone voice.

[welby]

Hi,

I think if you been a club DJ you should be able to read the crowd's reaction to the music your playing.

I do both Mobile and Club and find the mobile set requires a lot more genres of music while keeping the tempo and atmosphere.

I don't think it' a "one size fits all" scenario.

I would just be natural and go with the flow and the mic announcements will flow.

Sometimes it's best to let the music do the talking but when needed the mic is your best friend.

Good Luck.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

My tip, do not use a monotone voice.

Oh yeah this too. Use a bit of energy and change up the tone so it's not boring.

That being said, I haaaaaaaaaaaaaate when you get the old Smashey and Nicey type thing going on. Sounds so tacky.

[Jonny Boy]

I recently gave an educational topic at a S. Wales NADJ meeting about how "warm-ups" can help overcome nerves & improve your clarity for announcements - after all, your voice is one of the most important tools in your business. These simple exercises can be done at home, before you start the night, and even (to some extent) before you open the mic.

For most evening parties announcements don't really need to be very long, I'd say, as audience attention spans are short and people are conversing.
So that's good news for you, Area51, since getting to the point means you'll spend less time out of your comfort zone in these "early days" - the more confident you become, the more eloquent you'll become.

Likewise, Jim & others are entirely right about having a loose "script" for key announcements: knowing the flow/format of what you'll say ahead of time means you'll be confident to move away from that format and appear natural or "extemporaneous"...like a singer who knows the lyrics & melody inside out can them improvise around the tune. Practice in the car, in the shower, on the loo. Nice.

The "how" you say is also important... you could benefit from "writing" you those important sentences for keystone moments (or Spotlight moments, as Derek Pengelly calls them) to reflect *your* personality/the style of parties you do.
It's important to be *yourself* as guests will spot you 'fronting it' as someone else from a mile off. While they are essentially performance skills (eg you're stepping out of the "inner you" and being the "outer you" character), try not to 'act' an entirely different person or be OTT/medodramatic. You need to appear genuine.

Even for DJs I suggest a brief vocal warm-up as the night starts... it saves you opening the mic and croaking down it. You can do it as you change clothes in the dressingroom/green room/backstage/disabled loo. ;-)

Most importantly I'd say don't forget to breathe and make sure to open your mouth around the shapes of the words as you speak. This'll stop you mumbling which is the #1 sin.

Get plenty of oxygen into you lungs with a few breaths before the announcements (settles nerves too) and especially inhale while speaking. You don't need to do it like the guy from Muse. ;-)
Don't *neccessarily* try do the whole announcement in one breath either. When practising your "scripts" - particularly for longer announcements - build in breathing points. (Again like a singer would with a phrase of lyrics.)

These breathing spaces (pauses) can also add emphasis if placed before key words of the message and also allow allows changes in your tone to make you more interesting to listen to. (Again, commanding attention.)

Look at vocal warm-up exercises on YouTube... you don't have to do as MUCH as a singer's warm-up would be, but things like mouth stretches using over-emphasised vowels (How Now Brown Cow, Aaaaa, Eeeeee, Aiiiiiiiii, etc), lip trills (making a buzzing or horse-like noise) and even slow melodramtic chewing-gum motions will warm and relax the muscles in mout mouth/neck/upper torso.
Thus helps you to hold your head & torso straight so that air flows straight out of your diaphragm so you speak clearly without using air from your throat (potentially damaging your vocal folds) and LOOK confident...2 important cornerstones of pulling people's focus and commanding attention.

If guests are busy talking, it can still be challenge, so it's never easy. The mic is therefore your friend.
Again to quote Derek P, "don't underestimate the power of








silence."
Soundbeds are well and good, but sudden quiet has much power too .

Hope this is of some help. Oh - and welcome along to the forum. :-)

[Corabar Entertainment]

....and especially inhale while speaking. Is that physically possible? :confused:

I've been sitting here for the last couple of minutes trying to inhale whilst speaking, and I can't! As soon as a sound comes out of my mouth, I can't inhale, and, logically, I can't see how it could be possible, either. :daft::daft:

[Jonny Boy]

Is that physically possible? :confused:

I've been sitting here for the last couple of minutes trying to inhale whilst speaking, and I can't! As soon as a sound comes out of my mouth, I can't inhale, and, logically, I can't see how it could be possible, either. :daft::daft:

LOL. I do believe you have been....

That's why you get blue comedians, you know. They're not breathing in between the cuss words.....

[Area51]

Thanks for the advice all, its definitely given me some things to work on.

Got another gig Saturday so will see how it goes!

[funkymook]

Is that physically possible? :confused:

I've been sitting here for the last couple of minutes trying to inhale whilst speaking, and I can't! As soon as a sound comes out of my mouth, I can't inhale, and, logically, I can't see how it could be possible, either. :daft::daft:

Circular breathing is an advanced DJ technique - breathing in through the nose while pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks. Very handy if you need to keep talking when your laptop crashes and you don't have a back-up!

[Corabar Entertainment]

LOL. I do believe you have been....

That's why you get blue comedians, you know. They're not breathing in between the cuss words.....Ahhhhhh! Vast difference in between and whilst! :lol:


Circular breathing is an advanced DJ technique - breathing in through the nose while pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks. Very handy if you need to keep talking when your laptop crashes and you don't have a back-up!

Why have I got an image in my head of Martin looking like a little chipmunk on the mic? :p:p:p

[Jonny Boy]

Ahhhhhh! Vast difference in between and whilst! :lol:



LOL - the pedants are revolting, my liege! :p:daft:

My bad. "Not hold your breath while speaking" *would* have been clearer wouldn't it?:o

When nervous it's an easy mistake to pent air up in the diaphragm while talking, making the vocal folds do all the work = throat voice = sore throat.

Rather like running a 800W speaker on a 200 W amp. Or something.

[WWDJ]

Not sure I've ever needed to do vocal warmups :)

The 'modern' way to do discos is a fairly liberal use of the microphone.

I feel that a DJ 'should' do the following as a minimum
- Say Good Evening and congratulate the happy couple / birthday person
- Encourage Requests a couple of times (especially if there is no definite playlist or they are slow crowd)
- Make First Dance / Buffet announcements
- Finish the night off with further congratulations and Good Night

Anything else is over above and if you have nothing to say, then i'd say that's fine.

The rest of my mic work normally consists of the odd witty quip to people who are 'having fun', like "Blimey, you can come to all my parties" or for a group of 'lively' girls ..."I see we're going to have trouble from you girls tonight" ... always delivered with a smile. But i don't plan to do this, it's just whatever takes me at the time.

The mic can also be your friend if you need to rotate the floor, so after 4 or 5 songs of a genre the dancefloor will have waned. Announce a "Let's have a little bit a Rock" ... and into Bon Jovi. They the audience know whether they want to sit down or stick around.

Finally, it can be good to cover up 'bad' requests you feel compelled to play e.g. "Here's Mr Blobby, for Uncle Jim".

Again, it's whatever feels natural but sometimes I might pick up the mic a few times within 10 minutes, other times I won't pick it up for 2 hours or more.

[funkymook]

Ahhhhhh! Vast difference in between and whilst! :lol:



Why have I got an image in my head of Martin looking like a little chipmunk on the mic? :p:p:p

I probably sound like one too!

[Excalibur]

The 'modern' way to do discos is a fairly liberal use of the microphone.
Errr, I think you meant limited. Sparing. Virtually non existent.
Liberal is how us Dinosuars use a mic. Giving our punters the full benefit of our words of wisdom and erudition. :D



Again, it's whatever feels natural but sometimes I might pick up the mic a few times within 10 minutes, other times I won't pick it up for 2 hours or more.

OK, I'll be more serious. It all depends on your audience, your functon, the music played, and your relationship with the audience.
If I've got a crowd of 18 year olds, and I'm playing nose to tail charty dance anthems, I'm going to :zip: . If I've got a wedding with mixed age groups, I'll keep them advised of the running order, and remind them that requests are not only taken, but welcomed.

Before any gig I can't tell you how much or how little I'll use it. In this respect, every function is unique.

[mattydj50]

It all depends on your audience, your functon, the music played, and your relationship with the audience.
If I've got a crowd of 18 year olds, and I'm playing nose to tail charty dance anthems, I'm going to :zip: . If I've got a wedding with mixed age groups, I'll keep them advised of the running order, and remind them that requests are not only taken, but welcomed.

Before any gig I can't tell you how much or how little I'll use it. In this respect, every function is unique.

Perfect answer. Like most things, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, and even after 40 years, I occasionally get it wrong, so don't be afraid to change tactics during an evening.

As for circular breathing, some DJs talk out of their arses so its easy for them to breathe through their mouths when talking!!!

[DazzyD]

Shaun - I think your invisibility cloak may need mending as I saw your post!!



Hello, and welcome.

Please take a moment to read below....



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;)

[ukpartydj]

The mic can also be your friend if you need to rotate the floor, so after 4 or 5 songs of a genre the dancefloor will have waned. Announce a "Let's have a little bit a Rock" ... and into Bon Jovi. They the audience know whether they want to sit down or stick around.

Finally, it can be good to cover up 'bad' requests you feel compelled to play e.g. "Here's Mr Blobby, for Uncle Jim".

100% think that any request which may work or may not should be explained / had something said about it ... if you're going to play the YMCA and you're not 100% on if it will work I often ask everybody to get up on the dancefloor and try and hype it up a bit as if there is no doubt in my mind it'll will work ... if it flops and clears the floor then I will make a bit of a joke about it and suggest that I need some more requests. If you just play a track which clears the floor you just look like a prat, if you talk a bit then you seem "funny".

I personally try and extract information from everybody I talk to in order to use it on the Mic - when somebody requests a track, ask them what their name is and if they want to dedicate it to anybody.

Turn the facts - the buffet is open into something that sounds exciting - right, I've got good news for anyone who's feeling a bit peckish - the buffet is now open! Help yourselves.

I always think of what I want to say before I say it so I don't mumble or mix my words up (I am however terrible for mixing up the first letter of two words that would be next to each other - please welcome the gride and broom!) ... that hasn't happened yet but you get the idea.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

100% think that any request which may work or may not should be explained / had something said about it ... if you're going to play the YMCA and you're not 100% on if it will work I often ask everybody to get up on the dancefloor and try and hype it up a bit as if there is no doubt in my mind it'll will work ... if it flops and clears the floor then I will make a bit of a joke about it and suggest that I need some more requests. If you just play a track which clears the floor you just look like a prat, if you talk a bit then you seem "funny".

I personally try and extract information from everybody I talk to in order to use it on the Mic - when somebody requests a track, ask them what their name is and if they want to dedicate it to anybody.

Turn the facts - the buffet is open into something that sounds exciting - right, I've got good news for anyone who's feeling a bit peckish - the buffet is now open! Help yourselves.

I always think of what I want to say before I say it so I don't mumble or mix my words up (I am however terrible for mixing up the first letter of two words that would be next to each other - please welcome the gride and broom!) ... that hasn't happened yet but you get the idea.

Spot on.

For dodgy requests I'll do something like@: I hate to do this to you all but Bob who's up at the bar just now (point to him) REAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY wanted to here this next one.

Apart from washing your hands of it, it makes a bit of a joke of it too.


Ladies and gents welcome to Gina's 50th, we all know the real reason your here is for the bevvy and the food so I'm now pleased to announce that the buffet is open.

Of course it depends on the crowd / client / event but you get the idea.

[ukpartydj]

I think no matter what any of us say though the only way you really learn is by having the balls to just do it and using our advice as some tests you can try.

[JAMdisco]

Just my input, some has already been said:

Think before you speak - less chance of gibberish
Make jokes out of situations (but not corny ones)
Only use it when necessary (like Peter said, young 'uns don't want some 'old guy' waffling on)
Don't 'crash' lyrics (speaking over singing) - not only unprofessional, but also hard to hear talking over singing.
When you talk over an intro or outro - always dip the music volume level a little.
Most of all - enjoy yourself - The enthusiasm will show through your voice.