SwingDJs

It's the same as anything else. Unless people trust you, they are going to batten down the hatches and stay within their comfort zone.

If I make a mistake and DJ too fast, too soon (or whatever), I make sure I bring it back to solid basics before I try again.

Kalman

Amen.

About a month ago I played Casa Loma Stomp. Boy was that a mistake. About 95% of the dancers were not dancing and those that did really could not keep up. And it did not matter if they did lindy or bal. It was horrible. They just were not ready for that. Live and learn.

I try to watch the dancers over a song or two as I increase the tempo. If they are not adapting to the music or if they are hanging out doing Charleston to save their breath, I won't play some barnburner song.

Kalman

Playing

Wade In The Water
Fever
Casa Loma Stomp
Stormy Monday

in that order, usually doesnt work.

Kyle wrote:Playing

Wade In The Water
Fever

doesnt work.

HAHA

I just did that to get a rise out of you "it all swings" peeps.

Kalman

On a more practical level, one of my favorite pieces I use to transition is the perennial favorite, "Darktown Strutter's Ball" by Alberta Hunter. First, you trick them into getting on the floor during the bluesy intro, then let them swing out to the song, building enough energy for a faster song to follow.

Kalman

Hey I do that

I think part of the problem that Bob the Builder sees in Melbourne comes from the fact that we are going through a bit of Balboa madness down here at the moment.

Alot more dancers are picking it up at the moment so tend to use any opportunity to practice (I think) I'm not a bal-gal myself but I can understand the need to practice what you are interested in learning at the moment. I think it will eventually get a bit more balance and we'll be back to our old reasons for being upset with each other

Di

GuruReuben wrote:You know, I don't think I've ever seen the Big Apple being done to Flying Home. I would think it's to slow a song anyway.

In Seattle JSLH was doing the Big Apple to a version of Flying Home that's around 196 bpm - that's a good in the pocket tempo -- track 1 on the Lionel Hampton Swingsation Series CD. There is another version of Flying Home on there that is around 160.

Bob the Builder wrote:I’m fed up of having to DJ slow - mid range songs, because people don’t want to dance to faster tempos.
I’m also fed up of dancers just turning to Balboa when I put on an upper tempo song, even if it screams Swing out.

Brian

Here's my suggestion - pick a combo of two or three songs that build tempo that you personally would want to swing out to. Then play this combo each time you dj for a couple of months and go out and dance or have some of your buddies with fast skills dance to it -- if people see folks doing fast lindy well they will want to do it.

Personally I like Dipsy Doodle followed by Harlem Congo.

Kyle wrote:Playing

Wade In The Water
Fever
Casa Loma Stomp
Stormy Monday

in that order, usually doesnt work.

maybe that's what George tried

Here's another piece of the puzzle - the DJ has to be fearless and get over all these little self-perceptions about the crowd.

This is a groove crowd.
These people just do bal.
These people are lame.
They'll never dance to this.
They can't dance that fast.

These are excuses for not playing the best set you can. People want to dance and will dance if given the opportunity. Pigeonholing yourself means stunted dancers.

Falty, good call on the teaching aspect. I'm going to make faster tempos a staple of any lindy class I teach from here on out.

Kalman

djstarr wrote:

Kyle wrote:Playing

Wade In The Water
Fever
Casa Loma Stomp
Stormy Monday

in that order, usually doesnt work.

maybe that's what George tried

It was actually this:

Wink and a smile
Casa Loma Stomp
How Lucky

I had Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie cued up right after Casa Loma Stomp but when I saw the disaster I changed my mind and played it safe.

mousethief wrote:Falty, good call on the teaching aspect. I'm going to make faster tempos a staple of any lindy class I teach from here on out.

Kalman

are you sure its not too naive to think having people dance faster will help them be able to dance faster?

falty411 wrote:

mousethief wrote:Falty, good call on the teaching aspect. I'm going to make faster tempos a staple of any lindy class I teach from here on out.

Kalman

are you sure its not too naive to think having people dance faster will help them be able to dance faster?

Maybe it's a conspiracy.

Kalman