Last night I was watching and listening to a DJ at an event that I had not met before. Since I had performed at this event in the past, I knew what was expected and the direction he would be headed. I even assumed there would be some crossover from the selections he picked to match the ones I had previously. I was wrong. It was surprising to me that a two and a half hour event had no common songs. There certainly are enough Rock songs that the same event can take place for twenty years and not once have a repeat but since the theme of the event was so specific, I thought at least one would be played again.
What I learned more than the differences in style was the difference in technique. He did not fade songs in and out during introductions by the event host. He just blasted them in and stopped them when the host was speaking. It certainly was more powerful than fading but felt a bit jarring, and maybe even took some shine away from the host and the other paricipants.
When I am performing at an event that is not about dancing or partying, I do my best to be part of what is happening and not take over the event. Sometimes our role as professional DJs is to provide the mood and energy but not be the focus. I think this takes maturity and experience to know when to let others be the headline and make room for them.
It was a fun event and glad I was able to be there. The DJ did a good job and his audio equipment met the needs of the event perfectly. When walking out at the end of the night, the event producer pulled me aside and asked if I would be willing to do the event again next time. I smiled and said, “Of course!” I already have some songs in my head…
