Why do we use the microphone?

[Excalibur]

That's not as daft a question as it may first appear. Because I was rapidly losing the will to live on Saturday night's function, I used the mic less. It seemed to me that they mainly wanted to socialise, rather than dance. However, my sparing use of the mic caused a noticeable effect.
As DJs, we're used to recognising tracks after a few notes. Our younger guests are also pretty hot at that, as long as you're playing modern stuff and classics. On Saturday, my guests were older, and many times, as I started a track, I could see them pausing to see if they recognised the next track, and whether they would dance to it once they did. Perhaps that's one reason some of us like to use the mic. Food for thought.

[Daryll]

I have never been known as a chatty DJ , I will introduce the first dance , buffet, and general announcements, but I admit to being a bit shy on the mic , I will have a bit of banter where it is needed , in the back of my mind is the stereotyped DJ , such as Peter Kaye, and unfortunately , a fair few clients seem to think that's the way it is, after all the mic is part of our "tool" kit, I sometimes get asked if I chat a lot , when I say no , just when required , it often gets a positive response, so I guess horses for courses.

Cheers

Daryll

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Totally agree with you mate.
I know it's a cliche but let the music do the talking.

[Excalibur]

Well thanks lads, remind me not to ask you two for moral support any time soon! :p

Chaps, I fear you may have missed the thrust of my argument somewhat. Gary, in my case, the music wasn't doing enough talking. Although the tracks I was playing were what some of us hear week in, week out, the guests weren't recognising them quickly enough to decide to stay on the floor. What I'm saying is that if I'd introduced more of them as I played them, I might have had greater success.
Undoubtedly, I usually talk far less now than I did years ago, but last night reminded me of one reason why we used to do it.

[funktions]

I have never been known as a chatty DJ , I will introduce the first dance , buffet, and general announcements, but I admit to being a bit shy on the mic , I will have a bit of banter where it is needed , in the back of my mind is the stereotyped DJ , such as Peter Kaye, and unfortunately , a fair few clients seem to think that's the way it is, after all the mic is part of our "tool" kit, I sometimes get asked if I chat a lot , when I say no , just when required , it often gets a positive response, so I guess horses for courses.

Cheers

Daryll

same in some ways, im not just a jukebox with no voice, but im not there as a stand up comic either.

[musicology]

Know where you're coming from. I have recently started to use the mic more as I too had backed off a bit and was noticing a certain amount of timidity with some audiences. I'm finding that getting a bit more chatty has actually helped to re-engage certain audiences and make them feel more at ease. I had to re-remember how I used to do it but, after a few stumbles, I found my voice again. It's also helped my confidence a bit more! I suddenly remembered how important it is that you need to get them to like you and trust you right from the off, then they relax more and don't think too hard about what they are going to dance to!

[Excalibur]

Know where you're coming from. I have recently started to use the mic more as I too had backed off a bit and was noticing a certain amount of timidity with some audiences. I'm finding that getting a bit more chatty has actually helped to re-engage certain audiences and make them feel more at ease.
Amen, Brother Mark. At last, someone who understands the question. Exactly my point.

[Nakatomi]

I think I'd have to go a long way to being a motormouth again, but I still choose the times I speak carefully. The Peter Kay 'scream if you wanna go faster' DJs still haven't died out & I daresay even they have their place somewhere. Not where I work though! ;)

If announcing music before you play it helps build anticipation and appreciation, go for it.

[musicology]

I think I'd have to go a long way to being a motormouth again, but I still choose the times I speak carefully. The Peter Kay 'scream if you wanna go faster' DJs still haven't died out & I daresay even they have their place somewhere. Not where I work though! ;)

If announcing music before you play it helps build anticipation and appreciation, go for it.

Quite right. There are 2 extremes of the spectrum and it's the experience that teaches one where to pitch oneself, and to continually self-critique in order to keep yourself on the ball.

[ckpr2]

I cant see the point in introducing every track.
Every one knows "Hi ho silver lining" so to introduce it would be redundant.

Clearly you need to introduce yourself at the start of the night and ask for requests.
"The buffet is now open" is required too.
"Last orders at the bar" is important.
Then at the end of the night thank everyone for coming and being a great audience even if they weren't !

[dicky]

I also can't see the point of introducing every track

back in the 70s/early 80s yeah I used to do that

Got back to DJing last November and didn't use the mic much - seemed easier that way

A few months on and after watching another DJ working at my current regular residency.... we work alternate Fridays, he told me that he came down to one of my gigs (I thought is was to to spy out the oppositon, in the nicest of ways as this guy is extremely well established around here but he says not) and he has already passed gigs to me, so I think he was just checking me out so to speak.... and I have had the pleasure of returning the favour of passing excess bookings to him already so happy days in my books

So anyway, I went back the following Friday and spied on him lol :p

Anyway to come back to topic, this guy is one for a lot of banter on the mic and I have just started to pick up on that to my own benifit I believe, and also to the support of various audiences

So I would say personally I am getting far more chatty rather than less - but not introducing songs..... more about interacting with the audience

Is that 'en vogue' etc these days? I don't know personally but feel I am developing a 'style' that could bring more (better price) bookings within a certain clientele and probably put others off, but this other DJ does well from it and is one of the few full timers I know around here, and having said all that who cares if I am enjoying it anyway (chatting) rather than just playing records.

Playing records!! Wow doesn't that sound old school - or should that be skool these days - or what???

Rich

[Imagine]

To be honest, it depends on the crowd and the gig.

Personally, I hate the mic. It's not the fact of making myself heard to the audience, I've got no problem with that. I just don't like to hear my own voice booming out over the PA.

Most times, I use it to introduce myself, ask for requests, announce the important bits and that's it.
If the crowd's up for a bit of fun, then yes, I'll put the occasional bit of witty banter out there....some guests actually like being the centre of attention and I'll play to that if it keeps them involved. Things like a bit of egging on when they're getting the Macarena wrong and the like ;)

Kids parties however due to their nature, I'm never off the damned thing (I've had to get a headset mic for those).

Introducing every song...nah! That's what I used to do in the 80's and I'm never going back to that.

[Benny Smyth]

What's a microphone? :p

[yourdj]

That "geeing up" announcement circa one hour before the end always has a noticeable effect.
Also at the end and start. Depending on the crowd I don't say too much. :)

Anyone who announces the next track and when it was made belongs in a museum if you ask me :p

[Excalibur]

What's a microphone? :p

A small deadly poisonous snake, as far as some folk seem to think! :(




Anyone who announces the next track and when it was made belongs in a museum if you ask me :p

" And now, from the long hot summer of 1976, it's Sweden's second biggest export behind Volvo ( unless Nokia have passed anyone ) Abba, and Dancing Queen ".

No, still seems bright and fresh, even today. :)

[dicky]

Didn't Dancing Queen come out around October/November time....?

[Nakatomi]

Didn't Dancing Queen come out around October/November time....?

August, if I remember right

[Excalibur]

August, if I remember right

Wikipedia agrees. Summer in my book.

[dicky]

LOL I had to go look it up now

ABBA "Dancing Queen" UK No1 - 4 September 1976 to 16 October 1976 (6 weeks)

Think that makes most if not all of us basically right :p

On a complete aside - and totally not in topic with this thread but wtf...... who else finds Mamma Mia more popular (dancefloor wise) than Dancing Queen these days?

Rich

[Nakatomi]

LOL I had to go look it up now

ABBA "Dancing Queen" UK No1 - 4 September 1976 to 16 October 1976 (6 weeks)

Think that makes most if not all of us basically right :p

On a complete aside - and totally not in topic with this thread but wtf...... who else finds Mamma Mia more popular (dancefloor wise) than Dancing Queen these days?

Rich

Mamma Mia, Does Your Mother Know & Waterloo are my go-to Abba songs for dancing. Dancing Queen sounds like a dirge by comparison. Feel the beat from the tambourine indeed. A daft lyric if there ever was one.

[ukpartydj]

I use lay all your love on me as my favorite due to the good beat but always get better response for dancing Queen ... Never really use the others much to be honest.

I probably should try a few different ones even if only to keep myself entertained!

Oh actually I use the megamix a fair bit!

[DazzyD]

.." And now, from the long hot summer of 1976, it's Sweden's second biggest export behind Volvo ( unless Nokia have passed anyone ) Abba, and Dancing Queen "...


That's not going to happen now. Microsoft bought out Nokia (Devices Division) to produce the phones for the Microsoft Mobile OS and then quickly announced they were discontiuing the Nokia brand.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/391327/end-of-an-era-nokia-lumia-to-become-microsoft-lumia

Besides, Nokia are Finnish, not Swedish!! ;)


LOL I had to go look it up now

ABBA "Dancing Queen" UK No1 - 4 September 1976 to 16 October 1976 (6 weeks)

Think that makes most if not all of us basically right :p

On a complete aside - and totally not in topic with this thread but wtf...... who else finds Mamma Mia more popular (dancefloor wise) than Dancing Queen these days?

Rich

Does Your Mother Know all day long for me! And, sometimes, I find Gimme Gimme Gimme goes down well.

[dicky]

I too must try Does Your Mother Know and Gimme Gimme Gimme :)

[Shaun]

Does Your Mother Know all day long for me!

Yep, same for me. I never play Dancing Queen unless requested.

[Nakatomi]

I remembered this thread when I was browsing the MastermixDJ website tonight for some ideas about 'utilities' etc.. They still sell pre-recorded 'announcement' jingles to announce first dances, bar closing times etc.

I wonder if anybody is seriously so microphone-o-phobic that they'd need to resort to those :lol:

But those pale into insignificance when compared to the 'Why did everybody get dressed up tonight just to stay sitting down?' ilk. Yeah, way to get the guests on your side, DJ :daft:

[Corabar Steve]

Why do I use a mic?

I got fed up with shouting.

[DazzyD]

I remembered this thread when I was browsing the MastermixDJ website tonight for some ideas about 'utilities' etc.. They still sell pre-recorded 'announcement' jingles to announce first dances, bar closing times etc.

I wonder if anybody is seriously so microphone-o-phobic that they'd need to resort to those :lol:

But those pale into insignificance when compared to the 'Why did everybody get dressed up tonight just to stay sitting down?' ilk. Yeah, way to get the guests on your side, DJ :daft:

The guy that did our engagement disco when I was with the ex. Instead of just announcing the buffet, he put a "buffet" jingle on. Ok. There may be some merit in that. However, this particular jingle had the phrase "But please avoid the sausage rolls" tagged on to the end! My ex, who had spent all day cooking - including a big batch of home-made sausage rolls - did not see the funny side of the DJ telling people to avoid her cooking! :eek:

[Nakatomi]

The guy that did our engagement disco when I was with the ex. Instead of just announcing the buffet, he put a "buffet" jingle on. Ok. There may be some merit in that. However, this particular jingle had the phrase "But please avoid the sausage rolls" tagged on to the end! My ex, who had spent all day cooking - including a big batch of home-made sausage rolls - did not see the funny side of the DJ telling people to avoid her cooking! :eek:

Oh dear. My ex, who used to roadie for me once gave a tip to avoid vol-au-vents when I played functions. Not so much out of food safety, but because a couple of the albums I used as background music were getting a bit crusty