SwingDJs

I spent the better part of Saturday listening to music for the final touches of my Yehoodi show and got caught in the wrong mindset for DJing a dance. Everyone had a good time and I kept the floor moving but I was always a step behind and never quite "got it."

How do you all work yourselves out of the rut?

Kalman

I know you were off your game, but I still had a great time Saturday night. You played some stuff we haven't touched in many moons (Hucklebuck, Buena Sera).

But, back to the real question, what do you do when you are not on your game? I hate that feeling, it feels like I spend three minutes looking thru my book and 10 hurried seconds just throwing something in the deck before the song ends. Those are very stressful nights. I wish I knew how to get rid of them also. Maybe a couple of shots of liquid courage from the back pack

wheresmygravy wrote:I know you were off your game, but I still had a great time Saturday night. You played some stuff we haven't touched in many moons (Hucklebuck, Buena Sera).

Not "Buena Sera" - "Basin Street Blues/Sleepy Time Down South."

Yeah, it still felt lopsided and stanky. You played a good set, though. My hand off was weak - should have told you about "Stompin' at the Savoy."

My bad.

Kalman

mousethief wrote: How do you all work yourselves out of the rut?

Work through your book one CD at a time, playing one track that you've never played before off of each album.

I had that type of night last night. I try and slow down and look at my book CD by CD and see what I could play, though mostly I just suck it up and do my best.

If things are not going well, I will play proven favorites. Songs I am sick of that have been overplayed. Hits.

Luckily, there are a lot of proven songs, some of them I hardly ever get around to playing.

As a compilation DJ, I pretty much have specific mix CDs that will always get me out of a jam.

Nathan

mousethief wrote:I spent the better part of Saturday listening to music for the final touches of my Yehoodi show and got caught in the wrong mindset for DJing a dance. Everyone had a good time and I kept the floor moving but I was always a step behind and never quite "got it."

How do you all work yourselves out of the rut?

Kalman

I actually just try to slog through it. I figure at some point I'll get back into the flow of things.

Tina

I solve it by only DJing once every 7.5 years of my life, on average.

Some say that's entirely too much.

Blues! Blues is good!

Kalman

This kind of rut happens in radio and dance DJ work.

Here is a simple trick that one of the veteran DJs at the radio station I volunteer at taught me.

Keep a 30 or 60 min play list handy that you know has worked in the past. When you 'feel' the rutt happening, stop what your doing and pull out of the old stand by play list.

It sounds contrived, but it works everytime.

Hope it helps,

Jerry

mousethief wrote: Not "Buena Sera" - "Basin Street Blues/Sleepy Time Down South."

Kalman

Oh Yeah DOH!

You played several I wanted to know the details on, but I was having too much fun dancing to 'em.

That helps, J_J. I note almost all my sets, so I could use those for hands-on fix-alls.

Thanks,

Kalman

mousethief wrote:Blues! Blues is good!

*LAUGHS his fool head off*

Swifty wrote:Some say that's entirely too much.

I like how your new avatar isn't afraid to demonstrate your horribly thinning hair to the world at large. That takes guts. I salute you.

*combs his lustrous, dark hair*