DJing Discussion

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Marathon Gigs.

Ollieboy 9:34 AM - 15 September, 2019
I'm talkn 3.5- 4hr. or more sets. Just got done doing this wedding gig where they cut out all the filler. No bouquet toss, no garter etc. just straight dancing. I was able to weave in and out of genres but was at full attack mode the whole time. Different groups would hit the floor so I wasn't looking to catch a break any time during the set. Couple spots where I struggled was big transition/BPM drops. (128 to 92) but I pulled it out ok. Anyone got any tips on how they get by or space out their music efficiently? (I'll play 2:30 min/song if I can get away with it.)
577er 3:45 PM - 15 September, 2019
I always have hours of music that works work for the wedding at hand. Hours MORE than you need, then you can see the next few songs ahead and eventually you get good at seeing all the options as you go.

Transitions are whatever works, drop it, Echo it, batmatch it at an exteam range and then pitch or snap to the right bpm from a loop that’s pitched to match the last song, wind down, echo spin back, finger drum it in just let the song end... it’s unlimited.

Those weddings are the best. No fluff and ritual just a party.
577er 3:47 PM - 15 September, 2019
Oh and a marathon gig is like 7+ hours and they are never weddings 😁
Ollieboy 3:59 PM - 15 September, 2019
Quote:
Oh and a marathon gig is like 7+ hours and they are never weddings 😁

😱 7+hrs.!!! Damn! That's like finishing 26miles then having to run back to the starting line. Thanks btw.
deezlee 4:55 PM - 15 September, 2019
I think you’ll find a lot of people who play over 4 hrs regularly, especially private events.
My regular bar/club monthly’s are 5 hrs (4 hrs if I have a guest).
Most private event Djs play the whole event solo.
I play all vinyl so I bring a lot of records.
dj_soo 5:16 AM - 16 September, 2019
4 hours is a standard gig for me. The other day, I did an 11 hour set.
KayPlaya 8:28 AM - 16 September, 2019
I wouldn't consider 3.5-4 hours a marathon set, at all. 99% of my sets are 5+ hours. For transition changes just get creative. The simple thing to do is use transition edits. Only people that ever seem to hate those are other DJs
DJ Matty Stiles 8:40 AM - 16 September, 2019
Man that aint a marathon gig!

A marathon is 6+ hours
Ollieboy 7:56 PM - 16 September, 2019
Quote:
Man that aint a marathon gig!

A marathon is 6+ hours

ok a half marathon but it's all a mater of opinion. I consider a usual set about 1.5-2hrs. But in my defense i did say "3.5-4hr OR MORE" but to get to the point, I'm asking how everyone goes about programming in regards to long drawn out sets.
KayPlaya 8:40 PM - 16 September, 2019
Quote:
I wouldn't consider 3.5-4 hours a marathon set, at all. 99% of my sets are 5+ hours. For transition changes just get creative. The simple thing to do is use transition edits. Only people that ever seem to hate those are other DJs


By "transition changes" I meant BPM changes... smh
deezlee 9:27 PM - 16 September, 2019
As far as programming you know read the crowd.
I save the heaters for later and all that but one time an og told me he didn’t save heaters for later, he just plays them and has plenty more in his crates for later, so now I try not to hold back as much.
Plus at a lot of private events, things are backwards and you play your best-working records early on. Especially weddings.
Ollieboy 10:06 PM - 16 September, 2019
Quote:
As far as programming you know read the crowd.
I save the heaters for later and all that but one time an og told me he didn’t save heaters for later, he just plays them and has plenty more in his crates for later, so now I try not to hold back as much.
Plus at a lot of private events, things are backwards and you play your best-working records early on. Especially weddings.

I agree alot of the heaters I have to hit kinda early cause some wedding the crowd just likes to eat and run. But if we get the floor hott early they tend to stick around. This last wedding I was specifically asked to stay way from aka Cha Cha Slide type of music. ( This stuff is usually a floor packer).
RonDu 4:31 PM - 17 September, 2019
I've done a few 12 hour sets. No song repeats either. The $$$ is wonderful. lol.
Ollieboy 6:37 PM - 18 September, 2019
Quote:
I've done a few 12 hour sets. No song repeats either. The $$$ is wonderful. lol.

How is it this even possible? Any pre-recorded mixes played? Gotta have a piss break or lunch sometime. There's gotta be some kind of program break or interlude.
dj_soo 6:42 PM - 18 September, 2019
long song or premade mixes for bathroom breaks or food breaks. Sometimes I'll still mix, but keep it ultra basic when I need to eat or something.
RonDu 7:19 PM - 18 September, 2019
Quote:
Quote:
I've done a few 12 hour sets. No song repeats either. The $$$ is wonderful. lol.

How is it this even possible? Any pre-recorded mixes played? Gotta have a piss break or lunch sometime. There's gotta be some kind of program break or interlude.




Never a premade mix. I'll find a song with an intro and long outro and handle my business.
DJ JulioYEG 7:34 PM - 18 September, 2019
weddings with ceremony cocktail and dinner music at least 10 hours big $$$$. I reccomend mcing when transitioning to a dif genre or bpm range then dropping the track. Or transition tracks from your record pool. Club gigs here usually 9:00-2:30 or 10:00-2:30 so pretty long aswell but at big clubs there's 2 of us.
Illiment 7:40 PM - 18 September, 2019
4 hrs is a marathon? LOL
Ollieboy 8:34 PM - 18 September, 2019
Quote:
weddings with ceremony cocktail and dinner music at least 10 hours big $$$$. I reccomend mcing when transitioning to a dif genre or bpm range then dropping the track. Or transition tracks from your record pool. Club gigs here usually 9:00-2:30 or 10:00-2:30 so pretty long aswell but at big clubs there's 2 of us.

True, if I include the cocktail and dinner portion then It would be 6.5 hrs. They didn't need a Dj for the church part. In this case i'm just strictly talking about the post dinner, no piss break, no partner, no garter or boque' shinnanigans, and just straight 4hrs of dancefloor. I MC'd a bit to buffer genre and BPM change when needed as well as redrum using the incoming track.
Ollieboy 8:38 PM - 18 September, 2019
I should re-title this Marathon Sets for clarification. My gigs generally run 6+hrs.
DJ Nin 1:43 PM - 19 September, 2019
I play 6 or 8 hour gigs at a Casino regularly, and I'm usually coming there straight from my day job so it's definitely a grind at times. Gig is usually pretty chill though. I'm playing background music and there's no dancefloor.

I'm all over the place musically. A lot of R&B / Soul / Funk. Chromeo. Tuxedo. Prince. Reggae. Random 80s stuff. Current pop stuff that I don't hate. Little bit of hip hop. Non obnoxious / too intense electronic stuff (Disclosure, Silk City, etc) & the occasional Tom Petty or Blind Melon jam. I have to play clean music but other than that really anything goes.