If a dj is booked to play a warm up set, play a warm up set!

[BigHaus]

With a top shelf DJ roster which ranges from Benji Candelario to Terry Hunter, Caroline Dunkley provides DJ and Artist Management services for the UK, Europe and beyond. This is her story:

WHAT WORDS DO YOU HAVE FOR UPCOMING DJ’S AND ARTISTS LOOKING FOR REPRESENTATION?
Have your own unique style, play what you love and make sure the crowd love what you play and try and get a hit record to make it easier for me to get you gigs!!

WHATS THE WORST THING?
A promoter not wanting to pay the dj his money at the end of the night.

WHATS THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE MADE IN HOUSE MUSIC?
Too loud, too hard and too fast. Some DJs think that they can make up for bad music by just playing louder, harder and faster. Also if a dj is booked to play a warm up set, play a warm up set.

WHAT CLUBS DID YOU FREQUENT WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED THE SCENE?
In Sydney I used to go to the Rat, Black and Mardi Gra parties at the Horden Pavillion and clubs like Spaigos and The Cauldron. When I came back to London I went to clubs/parties including Naked Lunch, Milk Bar, Boys Own, Full Circle, Love Ranch, Legends, and many more, we used to be out all weekend.

WHAT IMPORTANT TRENDS DO YOU SEE IN OUR INDUSTRY?
House music is moving to smaller clubs.

http://www.bouncefm.com/modules.php?...rder=1&thold=0

[BigPoppa]

Nice article...again! Also I totally agree about warming up. I prefer that spot in some ways because its harder to NOT play the big stuff that you know is gonna kill later on.

[AD]

What EXACTLY is a warm-up DJ?

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by AD:
What EXACTLY is a warm-up DJ?

Similiar to someone who warms up an audience before the top of the bill comedy act appears.

Now imagine if the warm up , told all of the top bills jokes.

;)


I think DJ's who don't have a range of music fall down on this. Or ones that care more for their own limelight over what the crowd wants.

Another thing caused by an over abundence of shite DJ's.


And another reason why the first thing any self respecting "gonna be DJ" should ask themselves before starting: - "what am I bringing to the table"

[ July 07, 2004, 04:18 AM: Message edited by: Martin Red ]

[AD]

So are you saying that the opening DJ should limit himself and his selection of music for the next DJ?

[m williams]

No one should limit themselves but.. playing shot after shot after shot of the songs that are big that week in order to beat the next dj to it isn't good no matter who's going after you. Especially when your set ends at 11:30 and the rooms still empty [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] Especially if you're not opening up just for one dj, but 4 djs that night. Another bad situation is if you're the dj going on next, but don't show up till 5 min before you go on and start playing the "hit" songs played half an hour ago.
But I've also been to many parties where the dancefloor has definitely appreciated the "warm-up" dj more. I just think that when there are sets in a night, they should still be played as you would if you were playing the whole night, no one can maintain the energy of prime time all night. If the dancefloor is ready to get to it, then don't hold back to save the next dj some work, but at the same time trying to make your set prime time when it ain't messes up the flow of the night.
**disclaimer** I am not a dj, so these are just thoughts.

[Ingela]

Originally posted by m williams:
No one should limit themselves but.. playing shot after shot after shot of the songs that are big that week in order to beat the next dj to it isn't good no matter who's going after you. Especially when your set ends at 11:30 and the rooms still empty [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] Especially if you're not opening up just for one dj, but 4 djs that night. Another bad situation is if you're the dj going on next, but don't show up till 5 min before you go on and start playing the "hit" songs played half an hour ago.
But I've also been to many parties where the dancefloor has definitely appreciated the "warm-up" dj more. I just think that when there are sets in a night, they should still be played as you would if you were playing the whole night, no one can maintain the energy of prime time all night. If the dancefloor is ready to get to it, then don't hold back to save the next dj some work, but at the same time trying to make your set prime time when it ain't messes up the flow of the night.
**disclaimer** I am not a dj, so these are just thoughts.

WORD!!

[Mike A]

Totally agree with the post by Martin Red. [img]graemlins/respekt.gif[/img]
Personally, I hate that term 'warm up set'!! To me a night in a club should be a musical journey. This means that if you play an early set you can get a chance to actually play stuff that will not work later on in the evening but is still quality music.

It also allows DJ's to test out new tunes that may not be 'big' right now but can move that way. A good example is the new mixes of Martin Solveig 'I'm A Good Man'. I have been playing this in my early set for weeks and now it has graduated to a main set record. As Big Poppa said it is actually a test of a DJ's ability to entertain a crowd (no matter how small or large) whilst not caning the big tunes! So stop practising those main room sets and concentrate on good music.

PS. Agree with the comment on Hosue Music moving to smaller clubs. Personally I think the whole big super club thing has actually ruined the scene and we need to get back to the roots.

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by AD:
So are you saying that the opening DJ should limit himself and his selection of music for the next DJ?

No man, i'm just saying the best thing to do is liase with the DJ if possible. Try and avoid playing all the big current dancefloor smashes.

There are more than one tempo, and there is more than JUST house or techno etc.

Personally, I never walk into a venue and head straight for the dancefloor, I get a drink, do the introdcutions, talk, joke and slowly get in the mood for the dancefloor , and I don't want to be greeted with a record that I would prefere to hear later during the night, there's fucking millions of tracks - old and new , if people don't use this resource - wasting my time.

Try leading up to whatever the next DJ is gonna play, just gives me decks and i'll show you, my art isn't description of the art , it's just the art.

And if I have to explain..... ;)

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by m williams:
No one should limit themselves but.. playing shot after shot after shot of the songs that are big that week in order to beat the next dj to it isn't good no matter who's going after you. Especially when your set ends at 11:30 and the rooms still empty [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] Especially if you're not opening up just for one dj, but 4 djs that night. Another bad situation is if you're the dj going on next, but don't show up till 5 min before you go on and start playing the "hit" songs played half an hour ago.
But I've also been to many parties where the dancefloor has definitely appreciated the "warm-up" dj more. I just think that when there are sets in a night, they should still be played as you would if you were playing the whole night, no one can maintain the energy of prime time all night. If the dancefloor is ready to get to it, then don't hold back to save the next dj some work, but at the same time trying to make your set prime time when it ain't messes up the flow of the night.
**disclaimer** I am not a dj, so these are just thoughts.

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by Mike A:
Totally agree with the post by Martin Red. [img]graemlins/respekt.gif[/img]
Personally, I hate that term 'warm up set'!! To me a night in a club should be a musical journey. This means that if you play an early set you can get a chance to actually play stuff that will not work later on in the evening but is still quality music.

It also allows DJ's to test out new tunes that may not be 'big' right now but can move that way. A good example is the new mixes of Martin Solveig 'I'm A Good Man'. I have been playing this in my early set for weeks and now it has graduated to a main set record. As Big Poppa said it is actually a test of a DJ's ability to entertain a crowd (no matter how small or large) whilst not caning the big tunes! So stop practising those main room sets and concentrate on good music.

PS. Agree with the comment on Hosue Music moving to smaller clubs. Personally I think the whole big super club thing has actually ruined the scene and we need to get back to the roots.

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] Variety is the spice of life [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by AD:
So are you saying that the opening DJ should limit himself and his selection of music for the next DJ?

Basically albert , if you and the other DJ's have similiar shit in your box, then we are talking one DJ is probably OVER STOCK and the promoter isn't muscial enough to decide what's what.

When I played abroad for the first time, I didn't know what was gonna be played and I was doing 3 - 4 hours at the start.

I brought 4 boxes on the plane trip , better safe than sorry.

There's a universe of music out there , we should use it.

[nahej_v1.0]

i got one of my first warmup sets coming up actually, i feel like finally ive got enough skills to program a nice one, ive just started to be able to do nice long blends, riding the pitch and pay alot more attention to keys especially since hearing the recent mr fingers mixes and am so converted! i am pretty nervous tho! phew! :D

[ July 07, 2004, 06:13 AM: Message edited by: jah ]

[nahej_v1.0]

Originally posted by jah:
i got one of my first warmup sets coming up actually, i feel like finally ive got enough skills to program a nice one, ive just started to be able to do nice long blends, while riding the pitch and paying alot more attention to keys especially since hearing the recent mr fingers mixes and am so converted! i do agree that if you are booked on a certain cd or style, that is ultimatly what your job is to do, if you are playing the warmupset, you cant bust out peak time floorfillers

[Mike A]

By the way, any DJ who turns up 5 minutes before going should be shot!!

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by AD:
So are you saying that the opening DJ should limit himself and his selection of music for the next DJ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basically albert , if you and the other DJ's have similiar shit in your box, then we are talking one DJ is probably OVER STOCK and the promoter isn't muscial enough to decide what's what.

When I played abroad for the first time, I didn't know what was gonna be played and I was doing 3 - 4 hours at the start.

I brought 4 boxes on the plane trip , better safe than sorry.

There's a universe of music out there , we should use it.

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] Bang on!! Dare to be different.

[Johann]

Originally posted by jah:
especially since hearing the recent mr fingers mixes and am so converted! i am pretty nervous tho! phew! :D

Any links for that particular mix? I try also to categorize my records by key but it's such a long process and, so far, I don't find any software that can handle key detection correctly.
What's your method to "keying" your records?

Thanks
Johann

[sammyrock]

This is Cum-tra-dick-tion if you read this correctly...lets see.

First it reads "Have your own unique style, play what you love and make sure the crowd love what you play and try and get a hit record to make it easier for me to get you gigs!!"

Then this "
"If a dj is booked to play a warm up set, play a warm up set."

Now what the hell is that??? How can someone have thier own style and play like a new jack at the same time? Oh Boy...

Never mind what do I know. [img]graemlins/all_coholic.gif[/img]

[GROOVE VICTIM]

WHAT WORDS DO YOU HAVE FOR UPCOMING DJ’S AND ARTISTS LOOKING FOR REPRESENTATION?
Have your own unique style, play what you love and make sure the crowd love what you play and try and get a hit record to make it easier for me to get you gigs!!


[img]graemlins/jpshakehead.gif[/img]

[RX]

ultimately, dj's should be so individual that no two dj's should be playing the sane shit anyway...when you think about the massive amount of music available, this is extremely possible...however, given that most dj's these days are playing to the crowd, statements like that about the warm-up dj sticking to warming up is appropriate...it's sickening, in my opinion - what in the fuck is a warm-up dj? this ain't no bally's, beeeyatch!

[sammyrock]

Originally posted by Ms Rickey X:
ultimately, dj's should be so individual that no two dj's should be playing the sane shit anyway...when you think about the massive amount of music available, this is extremely possible...however, given that most dj's these days are playing to the crowd, statements like that about the warm-up dj sticking to warming up is appropriate...it's sickening, in my opinion - what in the fuck is a warm-up dj? this ain't no bally's, beeeyatch!

AMEN!!!!

[Ayo]

Originally posted by sammyrock:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Ms Rickey X:
ultimately, dj's should be so individual that no two dj's should be playing the sane shit anyway...when you think about the massive amount of music available, this is extremely possible...however, given that most dj's these days are playing to the crowd, statements like that about the warm-up dj sticking to warming up is appropriate...it's sickening, in my opinion - what in the fuck is a warm-up dj? this ain't no bally's, beeeyatch!

AMEN!!!! </font>[/QUOTE]-------
as a dancer and not a dj, I've heard this before - stick to playing "filler" music...I think it's bull. When I go to the club early and know that the main dj is not on yet, doesn't mean I want to be put to sleep. I can totally take HOURS of hits. I want to be pushed to the limit. I'd much rather be totally exhausted with dancing the entire night than put to sleep at the bar waiting on the main dj to come. Like Ms. Rickey said...there is a ton of music out there. Plus, why not push the main dj harder, isn't that why he's getting paid more.

[Martin Red]

Originally posted by Ayo:
I can totally take HOURS of hits. I want to be pushed to the limit. I'd much rather be totally exhausted with dancing the entire night than put to sleep at the bar waiting on the main dj to come.

Whilst dancing all night , do you buy a number of drinks ?


and why do go out to hear hits, couldn't you hear the hits on radio and TV anyway.

or perhaps you need to describe "hits"


thanks [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ July 07, 2004, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: Martin Red ]

[RX]

Originally posted by Martin Red:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Ayo:
I can totally take HOURS of hits. I want to be pushed to the limit. I'd much rather be totally exhausted with dancing the entire night than put to sleep at the bar waiting on the main dj to come.

Whilst dancing all night , do you buy a number of drinks ? </font>[/QUOTE]well, he did say "at the bar"... [img]graemlins/all_coholic.gif[/img]

[Martin Red]

" I'd much rather be totally exhausted with dancing the entire night than put to sleep at the bar"

;)

[richierich]

You gotta be kidding me..Just beat the damn box....PERIOD!!!!! So why should we have to wait until the "Main" DJ comes on before we can hear some heat?? Sounds like half a party..There is waaay too much music out there for one DJ to be worried about playing the same thing as the next..If the "Main" DJ can't take the party to another level REGARDLESS of what the first DJ played..he/she shouldn't be the "Main" DJ then...GIMME A BREAK........LEMME KNOW WHEN THE PARTY STARTS....OMG!!!!