13th birthday list

[Dj brummie]

I had a late booking come in for yesterday from a 13th yr olds mother. She gave me this playlist 30 mins before function. How many of you would be able to cater for this type of music. I was totally out my comfort zone.

lupe fiasco-around my way (freedom ain't free)
drake - 0 to 100
ty dolla sign - or nah Ft. The weekend, Wiz Khalifa & DJ Mustard
Chris Brown feat. User _ Rick Ross - New Flame _Explicit Version_
Believe Me (ft. Drake) - Lil Wayne
Chris Brown - Loyal (East Coast Version) feat. Lil Wayne and French Montana
Kanye west, Jay Z - :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: s in Paris
Jeremih Feat. Yg - Don_t Tell Em - New 2014 -_ With Lyrics_-_HD_
Kid ink - Main Chick featuring Chris Brown-1
T.I. feat. Iggy Azalea - No Mediocre _Explicit_
Trey Songz - Na Na [Official Video]
YG Ft. Drake - Who Do You Love (Final Version)
Marion Band$ - Hold Up (Feat. Nipsey Hussle) [GTA V]
Bobby Shmurda - Hot :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:
Kanye West - Clique ft. Jay Z & Big Sean
Kanye West - Power
Young Thug ft Rich Homie Quan, Birdman - Lifestyle
Jay - Z - 99 Problems (Directors Cut) (Explicit)
Only - Nicki Minaj ft. Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown (Dirty Version)
Wiz Khalifa- We Dem Boys
T.I. - About The Money Feat. Young ThugFuse ODG - T.I.N.A Ft. Angel
I Don't :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: With You - Big Sean ft E-40
Naughty Boy - Think About It ft.Wiz Khalifa, Ella Eyre
PARTYNEXTDOOR ~ Sex On The Beach
Future - "Never SAtisfied" Ft. Drake [Prod. By Mike WiLL Made-It]
Lil Wayne Ft. Drake & Future-Bitches Love Me
Ace Hood - Bugatti (Explicit) ft. Future,Rick Ross
Kanye West - Gold Digger DJ SAY WHAAT Extended
Future Feat. Lil Wayne - "After That"
DJ Khaled ~ Hold You Down
Will.i.am - it's My Birthday Ft. Cody Wise
The Weekend - "Often"
Don't Waste My Time (ft. French Montana, chip, Wretch32, Chinx & Fekky) - Krept & Konan
Peso
kendrick Lamar Ft Dr.Dre Compton
Snootie Wild Feat. K camp - "Made Me"
Flo Rida ft Sage The Gemini - GDFR
Kid Ink - Body Language ft. User & Tinashe
CoCo
Dj Khaled - No New Friends (feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne)
Drake Started From The Bottom (Nothing was The same)
Young Dro - :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: That Bitch 2013
Swimming pool [Drank] (Feat.Kendrick Lamar)
Gas Pedal By Sages he Gemini Ft Lamsu
My :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: Remix feat. Lil wayne,Meek Mill,Rich Homie Quan & Nicki Minaj

[Nakatomi]

I know a handful of tracks out of that list but wouldn't be comfortable playing any of it. Being that it was for a THIRTEENTH birthday... it's not the bad language.. it's the attitudes portrayed by a lot of the tracks.. misogynistic to the point where they make 'Blurred Lines' sound like a feminist anthem, for starters. Not suitable for adults, let alone kids IMHO.

Given enough warning that'd definitely be a booking I'd have run away from. Actually, so would *any* < 16th birthday. A lot of what kids are into these days could be considered underground.. it never charts & yet is really popular. I'm never happy trying to work with music I don't know. I ain't 'down wit da kidz' & I sure as hell aren't willing to even pretend.

[Benny Smyth]

The last time that I did a birthday party with that kind of playlist, the guest of honour hired security staff (not a venue requirement - off their own back!).

It's all commercial stuff, but still...for a 13 year old?

Oh well. If that's the type of music they like, then so be it.:)

[DJColsie]

I wouldn't be comfortable with it

[Daryll]

Got something similar tonight, not quite as bad/good ( delete as appropriate...lol), again a 13th birthday , with foam pit and bouncy castle (inside...)
Mercifully these gigs don't last more than a couple of hours, some kids attention span is measured in seconds...

Cheers

Daryll

[DJ Jules]

I know a handful of tracks out of that list but wouldn't be comfortable playing any of it. Being that it was for a THIRTEENTH birthday... it's not the bad language.. it's the attitudes portrayed by a lot of the tracks.. misogynistic to the point where they make 'Blurred Lines' sound like a feminist anthem, for starters. Not suitable for adults, let alone kids IMHO.

:agree:

However, I know the tracks (from working in a club!) and have done bookings similar to this. I always check with the parents first so that they're aware of what I'll be playing if I go with the playlist. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with my daughter going to it though when she's 13.

Julian

[Dj brummie]

Thanks for all your replys. Back to normality tonight with a nice Xmas party.

[Shaun]

:agree:

However, I know the tracks (from working in a club!) and have done bookings similar to this. I always check with the parents first so that they're aware of what I'll be playing if I go with the playlist. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with my daughter going to it though when she's 13.

Julian

Do you check with all the parents in attendance or just the party organiser? It might be fine with the parent of the birthday girl/boy, but with a list like that it's almost guaranteed that there will be a few parents that wouldn't be happy. I know I wouldn't. I'd imagine even if faced with the question from the DJ "are you ok with it", it'd be a tough decision to vocalise it or take your youngster away when you have a 13 year old all dressed up and ready to party.



I had a late booking come in for yesterday from a 13th yr olds mother. She gave me this playlist 30 mins before function. How many of you would be able to cater for this type of music. I was totally out my comfort zone.




The part in bold would be my "get out of playing from that list' right away. I state all requests must be in at least 7 days prior, but if it's a late booking then I might extend that to a few days before (as long as I had time to source them. If I was handed that list 30 minutes prior I would just apologise and tell them unfortunately I don't have any of them, but I'd substitute them with some great alternatives.


I've refused point blank to play requests in the past which I felt were inappropriate for young guests in attendance.

[chrisj]

I was much like you Shaun and would have done the same but I haven't done a 13th party for 2 years and never will do another.
When I'm 64.......I know it was a Beatles track....in January I will be even more particular about the gigs I do.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I had a similar gig like this in the summer but requests weren't so last minute. I felt really uncomfortable not with the swearing but with the content of the lyrics. I had asked parents and they said it was ok but understood why I asked. I would of loved to have gotten away without playing them but at the end of the day it centres around what the birthday girl wants...if I was a parent I wouldn't be ok with it though.

[Imagine]

Always a tricky one and to be honest - there's no easy answer.

Swearing.....there's bad language in a lot of the current chart stuff, but I do draw the line where it get's too strong.
As for the meanings of the songs.....do they actually know and understand between them what they're "singing" about (using singing in a very loose context there)

I do a LOT of teenage parties for some reason, and yes, I've seen playlists like these (although happily the majority of them are run of the mill top 40 stuff with some of the 80's/90's stuff their parents listen to).

Unfortunately, it's what a lot of them listen to (my son was into it when he was 13). Was I happy with it? No.....but then how many of our own parents weren't happy with our own music choices while we were growing up?

I ALWAYS speak to the organising parent pre-gig and just make sure they know what some of the songs are about. I also explain that as they've signed off on the playlist, then ultimately it's THEIR responsibility.

Am I out of my comfort zone on some of these requests.....oh yes!

Happily....I've never had a problem yet.

[Excalibur]

Getting a list like that thirty minutes before the gig? Ouch!
Given a free hand, even though my propensity for not refusing work is well known, I'd have backed out. Since that wasn't an option here, I'd have used my getout clause. I don't play songs with foul language in them to under 18s, no ifs, no buts.

I don't think that trying to hand over responsibility to parents re editorial control is a runner, either. Ultimately, the buck stops with us.
This one sounded like a nightmare.

[Daryll]

13th last night.
no problems, see http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?11119-Good-Gig-Bad-Gig&p=641573#post64 for play list.

Cheers

Daryll

[Rewind_Sounds]

The resemblence is uncanny from a 13th party I played only 2 weeks ago. The only difference being, the RnB, Hip Hop and Reggae style music is what I have grown up listening too so (I'm saying this whilst cringing) I actually have most of those tracks you listed above :p Although, having reached the grand old age of 30 now, and having a child of my own on the way, I do draw the line at certain song requests I got that night which included some of Eminems rather controversial hits from back in the day. They would have gone down like "shark :Censored:" with the parents I imagine!

[yourdj]

I would not have problem as that what they want. How late was the booking that they only gave you a playlist 30 mins before?

Assuming the parents are fine with the music and you sift through them and get clean versions then that would be fine. I would check that there are not lots of female guests coming as they may not like lots of that. I would get a second list together with shake it of type music. :)

i allways made appoint of not doing teenage boys parties as they have usually been rubbish, and have only ever done girls parties especially if it was a bit getto. One party I did back in the day half the people were not allowed in as they were known troublemakers and the other half were all wearing gloves all night (in a warm liesure centre) and thought that they were Dizzy Rascal (despite being white) and stood about trying to look hard all night.

That whole grime scene and then dub step was crap. Bit sad really, but I suppose they are so un-sell aware they just adapt to what ever is "in" at the time.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

If I were given the list that was posted 30 minutes before the party I think I'd struggle in all honesty. I haven't heard of half of them!
I did an 18th last year and a number of the artists requested (in advance) are featured on this list so I would have had some of the stuff but I doubt if I'd of been able to comfortably fill 2 hours.

It's almost as if because we are DJ's, some people think that we should have every song, ever made.

[Excalibur]

It's almost as if because we are DJ's, some people think that we should have every song, ever made.
Ooh, thin ice. Even legally, with a wifi signal, and the correct Spotify or VDJ subscription, you can have an awful lot of tunes available. If you add in the Youtube videos ( which as far as I know aren't legal for us to play in public ) that's even more, so it is possible ( but not necessarily legal ) to have access on the night to an immense library of music.

PS, don't forget the clients' mobile phones, as well. ;):D:D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Agreed. I get all of that Peter but sometimes it just isn't possible to get tunes on the night is it. It might be because of dodgy wi-fi signals for example.
A few weeks back I did a wedding and there were a number of songs on the request list that I'd received in advance that I didn't have. I downloaded them all via Amazon Digital as I do with all of the downloads I need and put them on the Denon. What I didn't realise was that I had forgotten to transfer one of the tracks which was Paul Simon - Diamonds on the soles of her shoes.
Not sure why I panicked but I did because it was obviously something the Bride & Groom wanted to hear as they'd requested it in advance and they'd also mentioned that they'd have a number of guests travelling from South Africa. It hadn't been requested on the night as yet but I still wanted to make sure that I had it. I don't normally have the wi-fi setting turned on but tried it and luckily it picked it up straight away (I was in a permanent marquee at the venue). I registered free and within seconds was on the Amazon Digital site and got the track from my music library.

I'm glad I did because it was about 10 minutes later that someone came over and asked for it. I played it and it filled the dance floor!

It's not always possible to do that though is it.

[funkymook]

That whole grime scene and then dub step was crap.

What exactly are you basing that on? How involved in those scenes have you been? Or have you come to that conclusion from a few kids parties?

[theoloyla]

Don't think I could or would have done that gig.
Interestingly I had a young bloke come up to me the other night at one of my Xmas parties and ask for a track I didn't know. He googled it on his phone and showed me. I told him that I didn't think I had it but would have a look. He asked which button do you press on your console to see your library. I drew his attention to the cases of cd's on the table behind us both and he wandered off and didn't bother me again:D

[DJColsie]

Got to be honest, I don't even look for free wi-fi at the venue. As long as the phone as 4G or even 3G, download it to the phone or hotspot the iPad and download to that.

[Imagine]

He asked which button do you press on your console to see your library. I drew his attention to the cases of cd's on the table behind us both and he wandered off and didn't bother me again:D

I've had that several times over the past couple of weeks. Now as mentioned in another post, I DON'T carry CD's.....mine's all in 1's and 0's (several copies...just in case). What clients don't seem to realise is that a) They're not putting their grubby little booze addled fingers anywhere near my console and b) it's just not possible to physically scroll through the 20k permanent tracks on there.

As for the WiFi.....use it (plus a GiffGaff or 3 Mobile dongle) a lot. I've got the VDJ subscription to content unlimited which can be a lifesaver (you have to preview it first though!). Still waiting to hear from PRS whether they're happy for me to use it though. I did email and ask the question as there were doubts as to it's legality elsewhere on the web.....I'm still waiting for a definitive response (other than the buy a ProDub license once which was thrown straight back at them. They obviously didn't read the original question :mad:)

[Dj brummie]

They booked me the day before. I gave them a good price and they accepted, I chased the playlist and they emailed it to me while I was at the venue setting up. Too late to back out. I will not be doing any teenage party's from now on. I'm a mobile party dj. It was the worst 3 hours of any disco I've ever done. Never again

[Excalibur]

Agreed. I get all of that Peter but sometimes it just isn't possible to get tunes on the night is it. It might be because of dodgy wi-fi signals for example.

Absolutely true, Gary. My premise was conditional on all ducks lining up in a row. No wifi and no phone signal, and you're limited to what's on the HD. ( Or in the boxes, if you go both ways.


What exactly are you basing that on? How involved in those scenes have you been? Or have you come to that conclusion from a few kids parties?
Yo Mook. You iz not down wiv da yoof, like Toby and me.


He asked which button do you press on your console to see your library. I drew his attention to the cases of cd's on the table behind us both and he wandered off and didn't bother me again:D
Theo, that's absolutely superb. I love it.


Got to be honest, I don't even look for free wi-fi at the venue. As long as the phone as 4G or even 3G, download it to the phone or hotspot the iPad and download to that.
I've got a 4G phone, and I tether the tablet to it, but only after looking for wifi first, as it's usually faster.
One night in a sports club, I walked in, checked for Wifi, and The Cloud appeared, and the tablet connected automatically. Great. Then halfway through the night, that network disappeared, and I had no phone signal, either. Good news, bad news.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What exactly are you basing that on? How involved in those scenes have you been? Or have you come to that conclusion from a few kids parties?

You should know that Toby is an expert in everything he does by now. ;)

[yourdj]

You should know that Toby is an expert in everything he does by now. ;)

:lol:

Don't think so I am learning every day.
I am still an amateur by some standards, but when I do bookings I try and make sure I do them as properly as possible.

I Have only done a handful of kids parties especially if they require games as it require devolution to it that i can't give as I am a 90% wedding DJ. I prefer 16th or even better 18ths but I would not even think about doing anything below that now as thats better done by others.

The previous comment was not referring to the music as that was quite good but more to the gang "blad" culture that sprung up when everyone thought they were dappy from n-dubs. Stupid when you get a middle classed white boy come up to you with shifty eyes and say "Yo, what you chattin abaut Blad." ;) much better at the moment by the looks of things as it has a huge effect on the flow of the party if younger folk are more willing to dance and have fun, rather than stand in corners trying to look menacing as thats what they have seen on TV or something??

[DazzyD]

I've had that several times over the past couple of weeks. Now as mentioned in another post, I DON'T carry CD's.....mine's all in 1's and 0's (several copies...just in case). What clients don't seem to realise is that a) They're not putting their grubby little booze addled fingers anywhere near my console and b) it's just not possible to physically scroll through the 20k permanent tracks on there.

As for the WiFi.....use it (plus a GiffGaff or 3 Mobile dongle) a lot. I've got the VDJ subscription to content unlimited which can be a lifesaver (you have to preview it first though!). Still waiting to hear from PRS whether they're happy for me to use it though. I did email and ask the question as there were doubts as to it's legality elsewhere on the web.....I'm still waiting for a definitive response (other than the buy a ProDub license once which was thrown straight back at them. They obviously didn't read the original question :mad:)

As far as I'm aware, Content Unlimited is still not sanctioned for use in the UK. Yes, you will get hazy answers from both Atomix and PRS as, it would seem to me, neither of them know very much about the other!! Content Unlimited is provided via Grooveshark and, from what I remember, it might not be legal to use it for DJing purposes in the UK. I've fired off another query to Atomix to see if this has been resolved and if they have a definitive answer and I'm awaiting their reply.

[ckpr2]

I have had trouble at adult parties with kids never mind kids parties.

I have had kids running across the stage tripping over gear and wires.
Wires get pulled out and the gear goes off. Stuff knocked off the stage.

I have had to ask parents to remove kids from the stage as it is a dangerous place to play around mains and glass lights.
I was completely ignored so I asked the person who hired me to ask the kids parents to remove them from the stage.
He said the kids had been left while the parents went off to a different pub !

When the gear is getting bashed its cheaper not to do the gig in the first place.

On the other hand I have had great gigs with kids around.

[yourdj]

I have had trouble at adult parties with kids never mind kids parties.

I have had kids running across the stage tripping over gear and wires.
Wires get pulled out and the gear goes off. Stuff knocked off the stage.

I have had to ask parents to remove kids from the stage as it is a dangerous place to play around mains and glass lights.
I was completely ignored so I asked the person who hired me to ask the kids parents to remove them from the stage.
He said the kids had been left while the parents went off to a different pub !

When the gear is getting bashed its cheaper not to do the gig in the first place.

On the other hand I have had great gigs with kids around.

You get the odd one when kids are a complete pain but most are lovely, don't you?
I had a little girl last year do the following (in the time I was there):

- walk behind the decks and switch off the amp
- walk behind the decks and turn off the mixer volume
- stand on my uplighter and proceed to fall over and start crying
- take a chunk out of the wedding cake
- go missing for an hour with everyone panicking looking, delaying first dance.

I have got pretty good at educating kids or even telling them off through wedding MCing, but this one was on another planet.
She was really cute, but obviously had no lessons in how to behave properly.

All the time the parents were draining outside. Other parents were making a point of saying that it was not their child as they were embarrassed. When I have children I will not let them come to adult functions until they are 5, (especially wedding ceremonies) as they don't enjoy them and distract the parents from whats going on so they don't have any fun at all. They would have miles more fun with a professional childminder and some lego or something.

[Excalibur]

All the time the parents were draining outside.
Oh Toby, you haven't blocked that bloody drain again, have you? :confused:

[yourdj]

Oh Toby, you haven't blocked that bloody drain again, have you? :confused:

:)

[Imagine]

As far as I'm aware, Content Unlimited is still not sanctioned for use in the UK. Yes, you will get hazy answers from both Atomix and PRS as, it would seem to me, neither of them know very much about the other!! Content Unlimited is provided via Grooveshark and, from what I remember, it might not be legal to use it for DJing purposes in the UK. I've fired off another query to Atomix to see if this has been resolved and if they have a definitive answer and I'm awaiting their reply.

Thanks Darren

I'm STILL waiting to hear back from PRS (not holding breath). I WANT to be legit and I've told them that much. I've explained to them exactly how the service works and that it's literally only used for one offs (i.e. I'm asked for something, haven't got it on the night, get it, play it, clear it from cache). Everything else I get from the plethora of other outlets (Mixmaster, CD Pool, Amazon et. al).

PRS's response was "You need to buy a ProDub license".....what??????
I was actually quite rude with the response stating that they obviously hadn't read the original question, and was told that they'd "look into it". Still waiting :whistle:

I also contacted Paul at ampDJ at the same time just to see if he knew anything. His response:

"I see that Content Unlimited is run by VirtualDJ which is a bona fide company. When they initially started they weren't licenced for the UK but they are now (except for the videos we believe).
We know of another DJ who contacted them directly and they confirmed that they do pay royalties to artists and song writers."

I've actually seen the same information in other places around 'tinterweb as well. All I really want is something from the nice people at PRS to cover my posterior should the men in pinstripe suits ever decide to pay a visit.

[DazzyD]

Thanks Darren

I'm STILL waiting to hear back from PRS (not holding breath). I WANT to be legit and I've told them that much. I've explained to them exactly how the service works and that it's literally only used for one offs (i.e. I'm asked for something, haven't got it on the night, get it, play it, clear it from cache). Everything else I get from the plethora of other outlets (Mixmaster, CD Pool, Amazon et. al).

PRS's response was "You need to buy a ProDub license".....what??????
I was actually quite rude with the response stating that they obviously hadn't read the original question, and was told that they'd "look into it". Still waiting :whistle:

I also contacted Paul at ampDJ at the same time just to see if he knew anything. His response:

"I see that Content Unlimited is run by VirtualDJ which is a bona fide company. When they initially started they weren't licenced for the UK but they are now (except for the videos we believe).
We know of another DJ who contacted them directly and they confirmed that they do pay royalties to artists and song writers."

I've actually seen the same information in other places around 'tinterweb as well. All I really want is something from the nice people at PRS to cover my posterior should the men in pinstripe suits ever decide to pay a visit.

"We pay the royalties involved" is the standard response from Atomix. And it's usually followed by "and you need to follow your local rules". Grooveshark pay the royalties to ASCAP which covers USA and Canada and "parts of the European territories" :confused: Public performance in the UK requires payment to be made to PPL/PRS. I don't understand how royalties paid to ASCAP can cover royalties abroad??

UPDATE:

By golly, I think I've cracked it! ASCAP have "affiliation partnerships" with ther royalties organisations around the world with PRS being just one of them. http://www.ascap.com/about/collecting/affiliated.aspx

So, in lieu of a definitive answer, I think this points to the fact that Content Unlimited is probably legal in the UK by utilising this partnership. I think this is the best answer I've found so far!

[Imagine]

UPDATE:

By golly, I think I've cracked it! ASCAP have "affiliation partnerships" with ther royalties organisations around the world with PRS being just one of them. http://www.ascap.com/about/collecting/affiliated.aspx

So, in lieu of a definitive answer, I think this points to the fact that Content Unlimited is probably legal in the UK by utilising this partnership. I think this is the best answer I've found so far!

Funny enough, I had that conversation with a chap from PRS on the phone (yes I actually called them and got an answer....there's a first for everything).

He said pretty much exactly the same as you've said above with the affiliation links from ASCAP to PRS. The subsequent email was basically to try and get something in black and white from PRS so that if ever one of their guys does pay a visit I can show that I've asked the question and they've agreed.

I'm pretty sure it's legal (and the chap I spoke to on the phone many moons ago agreed as well) - it would be nice to have something in writing from PRS though all the same ;)

[Tony Murphy]

Wouldn't play it to children no matter what.