SwingDJs

Ok, Jesse baited me into starting this topic.

LCJO's Happy Go Lucky Local is definitely a great pee break song when you are spinning -- what are some others that work for you? I find I need a minimum of 4:00 to feel comfortable taking a break away from the booth.

D & C in blue, all at once...but only if I'm feeling really evil.

Harrison

And Everything is Jumping by Artie Shaw, a good 5 minute song to let you pick a song, dance, and actually have a decently lengthed song to dance to, then back in the booth.

Harrison

You beat me to it. I was just starting a topic on this as well. Instead of being redundant, I'll delete my topic and post it here:

I know one of Julie Teter's main suggestions to DJs is to always go to the bathroom before you start your shift, but what do you do when you need to go in the middle of your set when you're DJing for 3-4 hours straight? I'm assuming in each venue you play, you've mentally mapped out the fastest route to the bathroom, how long will be needed and an appropriate song or string of songs to play while making the mad dash. Do you put on a long song or throw in a mix with a few short ones in a row or can you just make it in under 3 minutes?

Semi-humorous topic I know, but I figured it's something we've all thought about and dealt with before, especially after drinking a lot of coffee.

Jesse

At the place I DJ the most, a 4:00 song is adequate (as long as there isn't a line in the women's room) but I usually aim for something around 5:00 just to be sure

I think one of the DJs here once put on "Sing, Sing, Sing," and took his time.

What do you do if you're in the restroom and the CD skips?

Putting on sing, sing, sing and ducking out to the bathroom can also look like you're trying to escape the wrath of the dancers that vehemently dislike that song. If I were that guy I'd probably take my time too.

If I need to run to the bathroom I'll try to put on a long song and have something else all set to go next. Sometimes, I'll ask someone I trust to hit play for me if I'm not back in time. I've found the Ella-Louis-Oscar version of Stompin' at the Savoy at 5:11 provides me with ample time to make it to the bathroom. If people are looking like they want something slower to dance to, 3 o'clock blues at 8:30 gives me time to go to the bathroom and buy another drink and still make it back before the end of the song.

if you have to do it with one song, a good choice is "Disappointed" by Eddie Jefferson and James Moody. It's 6:19 and has vocals only for the last 2 minutes or so. So you have time and you have a cue as to when the song is starting to wind down.

what if you have to #2?

falty411 wrote:what if you have to #2?

Pull out D&C in blue and hope for the best.

Harrison

falty411 wrote:what if you have to #2?

Let It Roll, Ernestine Anderson (Let It Roll) - 6:45

falty411 wrote:what if you have to #2?

Drop "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" by Ernestine Anderson off the I Love Being Here With You CD and enjoy the 15:15 in the venue's bathroom

This is easy. I ask my wife to start the next song. Or if I'm using my own equipment the next song on the other CD starts automatically anyway. If I really need more time, I use a mix CD for the song that I leave on that has another appropriate song following it and let the auto-start function cue and play two more songs (on alternating CDs) while I'm away.

If none of that works I just ask another DJ in the room to stand in of a moment.

falty411 wrote:what if you have to #2?

Put in Anthology of Big Band Swing, sit on the pot, and wait for "Fish Market" to play.

There's also Air Mail Special pt. 1 and 2 by Lionel Hampton, that way EVERYONE can take a break .

Harrison