Category Archives: DJ Blog

Dinner Music for Professional DJs

Posted on by

When playing music for a group as a professional DJ, dinner music can be either one of the easiest or most challenging aspects of a gig. How can dinner music be challenging you ask? Good question.

There are the ‘guest wars’ over volume and musical styles. Uncle Joe wants “Some nice old Italian music, you know, Jerry Vale and Frank Sinatra” and the Groom is concerned that “My Polish family will go crazy without any Polkas at a wedding” then the Bride, who booked the event to begin with wants “Slow, Soulful music” and the original playlist you discussed called for Western Classical music during dinner with some Smooth Jazz. You can see how this can be confusing. So what does a professional Wedding DJ do to satisfy all these contrasting tastes and requests?

Play them all!  Since the dinner potion of an event, especially a wedding, will last about an hour; this is when you can spread your wings and let them all get some airtime.  Maybe start with some Smooth Jazz and segue into some Slow, Soulful music. When that has run its course, a Polish Polka or two will make the Groom and his family happy knowing that a couple more Smooth Jazz tunes will be needed to transition to the Italian favorites Uncle Joe demanded. As dinner hits the main course, relaxing Classical Music is always a positive choice being mindful that many of these pieces will have slow gentle beginnings but full-bodied upbeat middles that may not be suitable for dinner music.  It is important to always pre-cue your selections and take a quick listen to make certain it is good dinner music for this event.

Dinner music is a time for letting people enjoy food, conversation, connecting, maybe even introductions and getting in the mood for whatever will follow.  The middle of dinner should be the mellowest of music with the coffee and desert portion moving a little bit more upbeat to segue into the danceable music to follow. Be warned though, if your music is too good, you may have people leaving their full plates and heading to the dance floor. I have experienced this several times as a professional Wedding DJ and am sure if it is a sign of doing a good job or taking from the event itself. You be the judge.

I encourage all new professional DJs to not fall into the habit that many professional DJs do of running dinner solely on Auto-Mix and not paying any attention to what is going on. Remember, dinner sets the mood for the event and you want to be sure everybody is being prepared for a great night! Watch and feel what is working with the guests even though they are not dancing.  Feel the vibe and energy and choose your selections accordingly. We are the entertainment and entertainers do not go on auto-pilot. Bring the same energy and focus to dinner as you do to the rest of the gig and it will provide the foundation for a successful event for everybody!

josh_bene_family_dance_resized.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Professional DJ’s Best Friend

Posted on by

All experienced professional DJs have a best friend they bring with them to every gig. No, I am not talking about their buddy who helps lug in the gear and keeps an eye on things during a quick trip to the bathroom. I am speaking of the songs or artists that you know you can bring out when things need a boost to kick into high gear. It is kind-of like cheating with a stacked deck.

In different times and places, the songs and artists vary. For example; if you are the professional DJ at a Sweet Sixteen, your best friend as a professional DJ for that gig will typically be whatever the top dance songs are on the Billboard charts that week. This could be Akon, Myley Cyrus or Carrie Underwood or who knows who will top the charts next week.  If you are the professional DJ at a high school reunion for the class of 1962, then it may be The Five Satins, Elvis Presley or The Everly Brothers, and if you’re lucky, maybe even Roy Orbison.   This is nothing like what your ace in the hole would be for a college reunion from the class of 1983, which would mean Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls and maybe even Michael Jackson Thriller or The Clash depending on the group.

But what about a wedding? Weddings are somewhat different than other gigs because the guests can be very diverse including age, background and lifestyle.  At a wedding, an experienced professional Wedding DJ takes the songs and artists that they were requested in advance by the Bride and Groom, the requests they receive at the wedding, look at the guests age and lifestyle and throw in a dose of common sense of what is working and what is barely shaking the Jello and discern what the ‘aces in the hole’ are for that wedding.

There are the usual songs and artists that rarely fail; Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Old Motown, Soul and R&B, along with a few never fail slow dance songs like Always and Forever, Ribbon in the Sky, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and some Elvis. In certain circles you can also can count on the Slides, Cha Cha and Electric, Macarena, Thriller or any other group dances.  But beyond that, you are successful on your ability to gauge what will work to meet the needs of the diverse guests who may not know each other well or at all.

There are tables that may have a single, middle-aged cousin, two best friends of the bride from high school, the bride’s boss and husband, his former secretary and her new boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend of the bride with his pretend girlfriend for the wedding all trying to make conversation and find a way to enjoy the reception together. They can be the ones you have to get up on the dance floor, the immediate family and friends are rarely hard to please, since they are so excited anyway. But the more distant folks are the ones that will make  or break or wedding or any important event. These are the folks that every DJ needs to identify their ‘best friends’ for that event.

A little experimentation within the scope of what the couple have requested will often give you clues what and when to release the ‘aces’.  Example; if the bride requested Barry White and Marvin Gaye and they both go over well, then it is probably safe to assume Diana Ross post-Supremes, Smokey Robinson and Earth, Wind and Fire will be effective in getting everybody up and rockin’, and of course MJ is always there when you do not know what else to do. Each time you have a success, you build on it and it produces more opportunities for expanding the playlist to meet the needs of more people while still keeping those enjoying what is going on happy.

Learning your ‘aces in the hole’ and “best friends’ are two of the ways that an experienced professional DJ adapts to the situation successfully without losing what they have already established.

What are your ‘aces in the hole’ and ‘best friends’ as a professional DJ in the NJ, MY & PA region?

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Freestyle Frolic

Posted on by

On Saturday night I was in Tilson, NY at an event called Freestyle Frolic. It is a bi-weekly event where it is free of smoking, drinking and drugs sponsored by Dance New England. I have been to, danced and DJ at their partner events in NYC Barefoot Boogie but this was the first time I participated in their outdoor, freestyle event in the New Paltz area.

It was fun dancing and observing the different DJs throughout the night. I took particular attention to when and how they changed the flow and energy of the music to meet the needs of those dancing.  Since there was a big picnic first, the beginning DJ needed to slowly engage folks into dancing and getting them moving in a way that supported being outside, barefoot and taking in the beauty and tranquility of the environment. He did so with gentle coaxing through slow progressions of tempo and energy. I watched as each participant found their way to move and dance in way that felt right to them and helped them to feel comfortable with their body and atmosphere.  As people were starting to demonstrate more energy and enthusiasm, the DJ livened things up a bit in a slow methodical manner. This is what I have found effective as a DJ as well. It is somewhat different for a wedding or major event where it is assumed in advance that guests will be ready to get and move from the beginning but there is still a ‘warm-up’ period to get them comfortable.

The second DJ from 10:30-12:30 had the advantage of taking over when the dancers were already warmed up and now it was dark outside with a sky filled with stars and star-gazers.  We were ready for higher energy music and they delivered. They were a team of husband and wife and they alternated selections and mixes through the next two hours. It was a welcomed choice to slow down the music and add some layered, heavier textures to mix things up every now and then.  This allowed dancers to sink into the music deeper and for a richer experience that is hard to find in faster rhythms and beats. They seemed to be truly having fun ,mixing and choosing their music, a good sign from a DJ.

The final DJ who was to spin from 12:30-2:30, came in with more melodic and electronic music. There was a dose of Trance for those who were still up and moving. This allowed the dancers to move in their own way without forcing a style or tempo on them. I noticed how more creatively the dancing became when the opportunity was given. This is something that many new and young DJs often exclude.  New DJs and young DJs often choose what always works or what they like and do not create space for the dancers to make it their own, they force a tempo or style to suit their own needs or lack of experience.

After a night of dancing and music in the woods and mountains of New York State near The Catskills and Woodstock, I left with the feeling that I had learned or maybe been reminded of some simple concepts as a DJ.

1) Be creative but do not push your needs on the folks dancing.

2) Create space for people to get comfortable physically as well as socially on the dance floor.

3) Have fun as a DJ! No need to be cool or look like you are solving world issues or a cure for cancer. Enjoy the music, energy and dancing!

4) Be present and let go of what you thought you were going to play and pre-made playlists. The energy of the crowd will determine the best possible music for that moment and time. Listen and feel the energy and match it with your own gut feeling on what is needed for the dancers to enjoy the event most. It is their event and it should be for them- the music, the style and the beats. We just make it happen.

5) Dance is a social and community event even of it does not look or feel that way at the time. Help facilitate this process by being part of the event without ‘being’ the event.

djmichael_hoboken.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional BBQ DJ

Posted on by

Over the years I have had the opportunity to be a professional DJ at some outdoor events. They are fun and simple. They have the benefit of typically being laid back parties with plenty of good food and atmosphere.  It is also different for us as professional DJs to be at events that people are dressed so casually, as opposed to a wedding or corporate event where we are all dressed more formally. But a professional BBQ DJ?

Outdoor parties give us chance to spread our wings a bit more than usual since they are typically longer and less structured than indoor events. Besides, when do you get to smell freshly cooked BBQ at an indoor event?  If you are the professional DJ at the right event, the professional DJ PA system is cranked up pretty loud and fills a backyard or park area with great music.  Nothing like corn on the cob with Marvin Gaye or The Beatles!

Choosing which music to play at an outdoor event requires a bit of a different touch. Since generally the dancing won’t get into high gear till the sun is fading and the moon is making its appearance, guests will want to hear the music that they listen to at home and with friends.  This often means a professional DJ needs to prepared to  play Bob Seger, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bobby Darin, Bob Geldoff, Bobby McFerrin, The Bobs and The Bobbettes! Or Michael or Donna or Rihanna.  That can mean you may end up playing Eric Clapton, The Temptations, Sly and The Family Stone, Lauryn Hill and The Fugees, Lady GaGa, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Barry White and India Arie all in the same afternoon before it gets dark and the dancin’ begins!

It’s July and the summer season is in full swing here in the NJ, NY & PA area. I am excited about the one time of year we get to play music for these types of events.  Put on the charcoals and break out the baked beans because Summer and outdoor parties are here and we are ready to rock them out! Can you pass me the potato salad please?

michael.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

What makes a Real Professional DJ, A Real Professional DJ?

Posted on by

Yesterday I was reading an article in Skratchworx, a professional DJ magazine, titled “DJ? Who says so?” by Gizmo.

inMusic buys Stanton — some DJ industry analysis

 

It was an interesting to read the writer and the comments by the readers on the subject of what makes a professional DJ, a DJ versus just being someone playing songs. It is a topic I have reflected on many times. In some circles among the professional DJ community, a ‘DJ’ is only someone who works with turntables and scratches. In other segments of the community, a DJ is only a DJ if they know how to use the mic and MC. And still there are others that think a DJ is anyone who plays music and gets people to dance. The answers to these questions are not clear, nor perfect. Most of this is just opinion, and why is mine any more correct than yours?

 

I would like to take the opportunity to share my views on what makes a professional DJ, a professional DJ. I am certain if I wrote this again in a week or a month, my answers would be a little different. When I think of a professional DJ, I think of a man or woman who is using some kind of electronic equipment and playing somebody else’s recorded music through speakers for others to appreciate, dancing or just listening.  I have an image of them putting together a playlist of songs either in advance or preferably live to match the energy of the crowd. I feel them matching the beats and vibe of the music to keep the energy flowing and the audience lively. There seems to be a need for the DJ to have enough humility and respect for the people to honor their request when possible. But most of all, they need to be interested in music and its affect on people,; how people get energized, inspired, moved and pumped-up by music, sound, beats and rhythm. Music and people seem to be the keys to being a professional DJ.

 

I know there are folks out there that will disagree and say that DJing is about technical skills like scratching and beat-matching. I will not argue with them these are helpful skills to master on some level but professional DJs were professional DJs before both skills were invented and will continue to be DJs after the next set of skills are created.  I was a much better technical DJ with vinyl than I was with CDs. I never quite got the feel for CDs that I had with vinyl.  Since using a MacBook, I am less inclined to use those skills since some of them MacBook does for me, although I still do my own mixing of songs probably 95% of the time, if not more. Today I rely on my sense of what is working and what the person who booked the gig and the guests as my ‘ruler’ for what to do. Sometimes I will feel a crowd will enjoy some DJ ‘tricks’ to add some flair, others if it does not feel productive or desired I will stay away from that kind of stuff.

 

I stand by the idea that a professional DJ’s best ‘skill’ is their ability to read and respond to the crowd and the host(s) of an event. The technical skills are nice, but not the essence of what being a professional DJ is for me.

 

What do you think makes a professional DJ, a professional DJ? Is it their skills on the turntable or Vestex? How well and often they scratch? Their knowledge of music? Their willingness to honor hosts and guests? Their feel for the crowd? What makes a DJ a DJ?

josh_bene_family_dance_resized.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Why djay Software for Mac for Professionals DJs?

Posted on by

When at a gig, almost without exception, someone comes up and asks which professional DJ software package I use. When I tell them djay, they look surprised, especially after I tell them it is only $49 for the whole package. I think they imagine making everything work as seamless and precise as it is, I would need to buy some fancy expensive software that has all kinds of bells and whistles.  I do not think they take into account that I have been doing this for 30 years and do not need to cheat to make it sound the way it does.

There are many features about djay that I like. the first and most important is its ease of use with my MacBook and iTunes. It lets you access your entire iTunes library directly form djay, no extra downloads and exporting/importing needed. Just open djay and start spinning your music. You can drag and drop a song right from the library to the ‘turntables’ for mixing, that simple.

I also appreciate the design simplicity of the package. I figured out most of the features within a couple of hours! Everything is labeled clearly and easy to understand for pro and novice alike.

Some of the fun features it comes with are looping, scratching, reverse play, built-in equalizer for each ‘turntable’, Beats per minute sync and ID and the ability to record your mixes in real time without anything additional.  Djay has an auto-mix function that allows you to choose a playlist and then push the auto-mix button to let djay mix your songs without you doing anything! It can also alter the tempo of a song to match the beats of the song that is playing if that is something you want to do.

Truthfully, I do not use most of the features. I have known how to mix, blend, scratch and find the right beat for a long time. I do however like to use the loop feature. It is fun when the dance floor is crammed with people having fun to pick certain samples of the song playing and loop it for a few seconds to add some spice and personality to the vibe. Two of my favorite songs for this are Prince’s “Kiss’ and David Guetta’s “Sexy Chic” (clean version), especially the part where Akon sings “without being disrespectful”. I like to loop ‘disrespectful’ several times and then release it back to its natural rhythm. You can really play with this feature and shift the feel and energy of a song with little knowledge or experience.

If you are a new professional DJ or one that is switching from vinyl or CD to computer, I definitely recommend djay. You will be up and running in no time. I downloaded djay on a Wednesday night and was using live at a gig on the weekend with no screw-ups or embarrassing moments, as if I had been using it for years.

If you want to just create your own mixes and music for yourself or for a party, djay is perfect.  Have fun and enjoy learning how to be a professional DJ!

http://www.djay-software.com/

djay3-itunes.png

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ 

Hey DJ: Just Play Good Music!

Posted on by

One of the things that is a constant in the professional DJ and music business is the notion of ‘good music’.  When I am working with a new client to book their event, it is very common when asking them what kind of music do you want at your wedding or whatever the event is to get an answer similar to this, “Please play only good music!”.

 

First note is that I would not or any other professional DJ on purpose play ‘bad music’!

 

Second and more important is that the term ‘good music’ typically translates as; ‘music that I like’. Of course, there is no such thing as good or bad music really. It is just a matter of taste and for most people, the difference between a talented composer and someone who writes music while walking down the street is not distinguishable.

 

Example:  If you are about to perform a professional DJ gig with a crowd of young, rural high school students, their definition of what ‘good music’ is would probably be much different than that of a Professor of Music History at Princeton University. It is not that one of them is right and the other is wrong, it is just that ‘good music’ is subjective and not really an accurate means of defining what you like.

 

It is safe to say that since he has passed on, Michael Jackson has been raised to a level of recognition that few have enjoyed globally. Does this mean his music is ‘good’? Would the reverse also be true then? If an ultra-talented cellist who performs only for private audiences and has chosen not to record anything to be released nationally or globally, and not know by many expert true offocionados a creator of ‘bad music’?

 

When booking a professional DJ for your event, especially a wedding DJ, be very specific in what genres and exact songs you want to have played and when. It is your event and you should be the one who has chosen the main direction of the musical selections.

 

It is helpful to request music for your event like this; “We want Soul and R&B music from the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, we do not like Modern R&B or Soul. We love Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Prince and Michael Jackson of course.” This is fairly clear without needing to spell out exactly which artists/songs you would be requesting.

 

This is not as helpful; “We like R&B and Soul.” This leaves a lot of room for misunderstanding, interpretation and possible confusion.

 

Be clear and concise in what you want at YOUR EVENT! Form there, an experienced professional DJ can follow along and creatively mix in what you requested, what your guests request at the event and what is working in real-time.

 

Remember: It is YOUR event and YOU get to choose the music. We just weave together the songs with the crowd and make it flow and create a unique and quality event for you.

IMG_6094_resized.JPG

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

How Does A Professional DJ Know It Is Working?

Posted on by

Sweat. Sweat is the easiest clue to knowing that what you are doing as a professional DJ is working. When the guests at an event have sweat dripping down their faces you know you are doing your job. Saturday night was one of those nights for me. Guest after guest approached about the music or requests or just to take a break and they had sweat all over the faces and clothes. It doesn’t look good but it sure lets me as a professional DJ feel good about we are doing.

Other signs are when the person(s) who coordinated and booked the event don’t come and talk to you much, meaning they are enjoying the event and there is nothing wrong.  They smile at you when they walk by and ask you if you had enough to to eat and drink.

It was fun for me to see everybody up playing and dancing on the dance floor. Since it was outdoors under a tent, as the night got darker, the LED Quest and Scorpion Storm lights seemed to sneak up on everybody without startling them. I got some decent photos that we added to our Photo Gallery. There were actually a bunch more but didn’t want to flood the page with every fun and goofy thing I saw.  The technical part of the photos were not good but I think they captured how much fun folks were having.

I felt good after breaking down, loading up my vehicle and heading home after this event, i usually do. I find being a professional DJ is very rewarding.  How many other jobs to you get to make people happy as your job function? I remember when there was a time when people doubted that we could actually be an alternative to a live band for making great events great!

IMG_6077_resized.JPG

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional DJs Need Good Clean Sound

Posted on by

One of the things that has been a quirk of mine is the need for good clean sound when providing music at an event as the professional DJ. I grew up with a Dad who was a bit of an audiophile and this was passed on to me. I have always had at least decent, if not more than decent audio equipment at home.

As a professional DJ, in some ways it is even more important to have high-end equipment that you can count on. For me, this is why I feel so comfortable using the Bose L1 Professional DJ System. I know what I am dealing with. Bose like Apple make good stuff. Working in a recording studio, we see a lot of equipment and get to know what holds up and is supported and what isn’t, Bose and Apple are two brands that we know what we are getting, know they work and are designed well. This kind of confidence is such a plus when showing up for a professional DJ gig with maybe only 30 minutes to set-up and get the system cranked up.

 

Good, clean sound. The Bose L1 system is just so clean. I feel like I am with the musicians while in the studio! I have heard things on the Bose L1 that I did not know were part of songs that I have been listening to for 30+ years and never heard before. To be able to produce that kind of sound in a PA system is unheard of. You can get the pounding and thunder in most systems, like a huge car stereo system. But not that kind of clarity and clean sound.  I have fiddled with this a bit when setting for gigs to test the acoustics of the room or space. Each time I start out by cranking up Prince’s “When Dives Cry” first. It has that guitar, percussion and clean sound that allows me to hear what I need to hear before everybody is present. When I have the time, I ask the other folks setting up for the event; wait staff, bartenders, catering crew, event coordinators, etc, what they want to hear while we are alone. The requests are varied, which allows me to hear the system with diverse music. One night it will be Mozart’s “Moonlight Sonata”, the next it will be U2’s “The Sweetest Thing” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the next maybe they will want to hear MJ’s Thriller. It does not matter what they choose, I will have the music and more importantly, it will sound better than maybe anything they have ever heard before. Not that over-equalized, synthesized bass and treble sound that is popular with electronic systems today- it is good, clean sound that everyone will and does appreciate. You can feel it in your belly, it is that clean!

If you are a professional DJ and want the best for your events, I highly recommend the Bose L1 System with Bass and Tone Match.¨Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The L1 system also has a unique feature. It sounds equally good from all angles- front. sides and anywhere in between. This means that every table at the wedding will have the same quality of sound!   Why would we use anything else as a professional DJ?

Bose-L1-Systems_with_tone_match_band_small_2.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Professional DJ Prepping For A Gig

Posted on by

A recent professional DJ gig, the Hoboken International Film Festival, required a bit more preparation than I am accustomed. For this particular event, I needed to create a playlist for the acceptance of awards at the Awards Gala. These songs were needing to be for when the winners would walk up to receive their awards and then return to their seats after an acceptance speech. Sounds easy?  Maybe not so much. For each award, I needed to have a different song that ‘matched’ the feel for the award and had a dynamic beginning and intro to create energy for the award recepients and the crowd. In all there were 21 awards/songs needed. Coming up with a playlist for this took about 4-5 hours of searching through my nearly 250GB library for songs that met the criteria needed. Fortunately, it came out OK:)

 

Today I will be preparing a playlist for a HS graduation party on Saturday night.  This special young lady has very diverse taste for a teenager. Most teenagers when they say they have diverse taste, they usually mean they like several different forms of the same genre of pop music; dance/Top 40/club.  This particular young lady wants Grunge, Pop, Top 40, Country, Rock, Classic Rock, Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Billy Idol and of course, Michael to go with Slides (Electric and Cha Cha), and current popular dance songs like Akon and PitBull. When I was her age my musical tastes were also diverse. Back then, this was not acceptable because music defined social groups more and there was little opportunity for stepping over social borders as there is today. I am excited about getting the opportunity to share in her big event. She has even let me know what songs she wants to dance with her Dad, boyfriend, best friend and a dedication to her Uncle who recently passed.

 

All this fun and I haven’t even gotten to the gig yet! Can’t wait to see what surprises the party itself will present.  Time to get back to putting some stuff together for Saturday night.

dj_michael_headshot_w_phones.jpg

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ