Last Minute Event DJ

It is not often but sometimes I have an open date approaching the weekend. It is even rarer when that date is a holiday three-day weekend like the Fourth of July. Stranger yet was that two separate clients wanted to hire me last minute for the same day but at different times. One needed a professional DJ for a First Communion celebration in the afternoon and the other a unique form of Wedding Party in the evening. We somehow found a way to schedule both of them and serve the families that requested our services last minute!

 

Fortunately for me, I have been doing this for a long time and don’t need much time or preparation to get ready for a last minute professional DJ gig. Of course, I appreciate the prep time when I have it, but can show-up wihtout much notice or details and do an excellent job providing professional DJ services and great music.

 

I was speaking with a friend over dinner last night about the fact that I always try to create a ‘playlist’ of songs which is more of a music bank then playlist. I take the songs that the client has requested and place them in a ‘playlist’ for their event. I then add on a 2:1 ratio another group of songs that would compliment their requests perfectly.  These are where I will start from at the event till I get a sense of the crowd and get a nice request list going from those attending the event. Together with the original list they offered, the ones I added intuitively, what I can see and feel working and the crowds requests – we end up with an excellent event full of great music and fun!

 

I am excited about both of these gigs and an additional Wedding on Sunday. The last minute Wedding is actually a kind of Wedding I have not served previously as a professional Wedding DJ. The Bride and Groom have already been married and celebrated at a destination Wedding in The Caribbean. This party is for the friends and family that could not attend their Destination Wedding. Should be fun!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ Top Songs of The 60’s

I wanted to look at what are the songs that people today think are DJ Top songs fro the 60’s as a professional DJ. I searched the Internet for a current poll and found one that seems like a good fit. Let me know what you think.

 

1      ****  NUMBER ONE ****
Hey Jude, The Beatles
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (9 weeks)
2  (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
3  Light My Fire, The Doors
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
4  Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
5  Yesterday, The Beatles
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
6  The Twist, Chubby Checker
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
7  I Want To Hold Your Hand, The Beatles
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (7 weeks)
8  The House Of The Rising Sun, The Animals
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
9  The Sounds Of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
10  Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
11  El Paso, Marty Robbins
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
12  My Girl, The Temptations
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
13  Oh, Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
14  Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2
15  (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
16  Paint It, Black, The Rolling Stones
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
17  Respect, Aretha Franklin
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
18  Come Together, The Beatles
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
19  The Theme From “A Summer Place”, Percy Faith
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (9 weeks)
20  Penny Lane, The Beatles
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
21  I’m A Believer, The Monkees
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (7 weeks)
22  Downtown, Petula Clark
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
23  The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens
1961 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
24  Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
25  She Loves You, The Beatles
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
26  Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix Experience
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #65
27  When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
28  It’s Now Or Never, Elvis Presley
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (5 weeks)
29  Honky Tonk Woman, The Rolling Stones
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
30  Cherish, The Association
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
31  You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, The Righteous Brothers
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
32  California Dreamin’, The Mamas And The Papas
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4
33  In My Life, The Beatles
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: did not chart
34  A Day In The Life, The Beatles
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: did not chart
35  Can’t Buy Me Love, The Beatles
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (5 weeks)
36  Mrs. Robinson, Simon & Garfunkel
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
37  Sugar Sugar, The Archies
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
38  Runaway, Del Shannon
1961 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
39  I Heard It Through The Gravevine, Marvin Gaye
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (7 weeks)
40  Will You Love Me Tomorrow, The Shirelles
1961 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
41  Help!, The Beatles
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
42  Love Child, The Supremes
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
43  God Only Knows, The Beach Boys
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #39
44  Are You Lonesome To-night, Elvis Presley
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (6 weeks)
45  Running Bear, Johnny Preston
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
46  Leaving On A Jet Plane, Peter, Paul & Mary
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
47  Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In, The Fifth Dimension
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (6 weeks)
48  Mr. Tambourine Man, The Byrds
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
49  Paperback Writer, The Beatles
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
50  All You Need Is Love, The Beatles
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
51  Ode To Billie Joe, Bobbie Gentry
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
52  Leader Of The Pack, Shangri-Las
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
53  Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
54  Wild Thing, The Troggs
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
55  Hello, I Love You, The Doors
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
56  Strawberry Fields Forever, The Beatles
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #8
57  White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #8
58  Daydream Believer, The Monkees
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
59  A Hard Day’s Night, The Beatles
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
60  I Got You Babe, Sonny & Cher
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
61  Someday We’ll Be Together, The Supremes
1969 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
62  Stop In The Name Of Love, The Supremes
1965 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
63  Hit The Road Jack, Ray Charles
1961 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
64  All Along The Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix
1968 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #20
65  Louie Louie, The Kingsmen
1963 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 2 (6 weeks)
66  She’s Not There, The Zombies
1964 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2 (1 week)
67  The Loco-Motion, Little Eva
1962 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
68  Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Brian Hyland
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (1 week)
69  Can’t Help Falling In Love, Elvis Presley
1962 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2 (1 week)
70  Yellow Submarine, The Beatles
1966 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2 (1 week)
71  It’s My Party, Lesley Gore
1963 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)
72  Stuck On You, Elvis Presley
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)
73  Save The Last Dance For Me, The Drifters
1960 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)
74  Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Frankie Valli
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #2 (1 week)
75  Somethin’ Stupid, Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra
1967 Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)

The first song that surprised me by its placement on the list is #11 “El Paso”. I did not think that still today it had the same popularity as some of the others. I will be mindful of this the next gig I have that includes oldies. On the flip side, I thought  “Respect” would rank higher, since it is requested all the time. I also would have thought The Drifters “Save The Last Dance For Me” would be in the top 25. It never would have occurred to me, although one of my favorite songs of all time, that Jimi Hendrix version of “All Along The Watchtower” would even be on this list, forget about being #64. Glad I am wrong, even a professional DJ learns something from clients.

 

What songs surprised you?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Mr DJ, Please Don’t Go!

On Saturday night, I was booked as Wedding DJ by a fellow DJ due to overbooking on his part. We all try to support each other and when he asked me to take this gig awhile back I had no trouble filling in for him. One aspect of having somebody all else book a weding for you is you miss out on planning the reception with the couple getting married. Of course, I called her earlier in the week and we spoke a few trimes to make sure that we were on the same page. The wedding was held in the huge backyard of The Bride in Robbinsville, NJ just outside of Trenton.

 

I knew early in the night this was going to be a fun wedding party when I was playing basic Classic Rock as requested by the couple and folks were rockin’ at their tables eating salad. If Bryan Adams was having trouble keeping them in their seats, the rest of the night was going to be a breeze for this Wedding DJ. It was.

 

During the break between salad and dinner, The Bride sent The Maid of Honor to ask me to play some party music because she wanted to dance. One minute later the dance floor was packed and the caterer was yelling at me because no one was seated at their tables to serve dinner because the Wedding DJ had them too involved. I had to ask everybody to return to their seats for dinner. They all growled at me but grudgingly made it back to their tables for an excellent dinner.

 

When she was done eating, she again sent The Maid of Honor to ask me to crank things back up again and this time it took even less time for people to be bumping into each other on the dance floor. It was like this throughout the night. They sure loved to party!

 

We were booked for the standard five hour wedding from 6-11. Apparently, that was not enough for them. They asked us to stay another hour knowing the rate for overtime agreed upon in advance.  At 11:55 I announced last song and played the tune they requested to end the night, Black Eyed Peas “The Time (Dirty Bit)”. I felt like such a bad person since nobody left the dancce floor after I started turning off all my gear. I was just about to shut-down my main power when The Bride and her Father approached me and begged us to stay one more hour. Of course, all the guests heard this exchange and started chanting, “One more hour! One more hour!” with a few young ladies pleading mercilessly in the background. We gave-in and turned the gear back-on and readied ourselves to start the party again to the clapping and cheers from their friends and family.

 

What a fun group of people! We had so much fun just providing music for them to party and celebrate with The Bride and Groom. We realized that we needed to wear them out or they would never let us go home! Finally around 1:15 they started looking a bit ragged. Some even jumped into the swimming pool with cold water in their clothes to cool-off!

 

It was a great night and my ride home was full of smiles and contentment over a job well-done. By the time I got home, I was exhausted from the event and ready for bed myself with the chant of “One More Hour! One More Hour!” ringing in my head. Finally, the Wedding DJ can rest.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

How To Mix Genre As A Professional DJ

This week I have been preparing for a wedding this Saturday in Robbinsville, NJ.  The couple, like many young couples, have differing tastes in music. This is not a problem for a professional Wedding DJ whom is not stuck in the mind-set that they need to play one style to be effective, actually my experience demonstrates much to the contrary.

 

This particular couple have very contrasting music that they enjoy. He is a fan of Country and Rock Music while she gets fired-up with some Dance, Pop and Hip Hop.  As you can see, they do not compliment each other very well musically.

 

So what does a professional Wedding DJ do to make both of them happy and their friends and family?  Glad you asked!

 

A bit of careful planning plus a knack for reading a crowd go a long way towards blending genres.  The planning piece is making sure you have the music they want. I needed to scan through my 35,000 song library and see if all the songs they want I have plus the songs and artists that would mix well with them. Next I created an iTunes playlist so I have their stuff all ready without having to search through the database. I do not put any of the music in order except for the special songs like The First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, Bouquet and Garter Tosses, etc. A good Wedding DJ wants to have the freedom to allow the energy of the crowd dictate the order of the music for the most part, unless the client asks for it to be in a specific order. I also take the time to make sure each file opens and plays correctly, can’t do anything about it while live and the whole reception is waiting for you to crank-up a tune for The First Dance. Then it is too late. When that is all completed, I am ready for the gig and that leads us to the more critical piece of blending styles at a event.

 

Common sense tells us that the Dance and Hip Hop will mostly belong after the dinner and traditional dances since they are made for fun, party dancing.  Also most of the songs in those genres do not make good background music at a wedding for enjoying dinner for guests of all ages.  The reverse is true to a lesser extent of Country and Rock.  A good portion of Popular Country Music works well during dinner, as many Rock Classics like the ones he picked; The Band, Journey, Pink Floyd and Bob Seger to list a few. Some of the Country selections like Lady Antebellem, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith make great dinner music if you appreciate Country msuic, which I do, and so does the Groom which is more important.

 

After dinner and Bouquet and Garter Tosses, we can move into the dance stuff like Beyonce, Keri Hilson, Rihanna, Ciara and one of my favorites these days, Yolanda Be Cool and DCup.  I do not want to forget that some of the Rock and Country stuff is also danceable and will mix that in when I play slow dance songs or immediately following a slow dance song.

 

Example:

After a set of fast dance songs from their list, I can mix in a slow song or two like Bob Seger “Like A Rock” and  Kenny Chesney “Me and You”. To slowly bring things back to a more partying level, I can play Neil Diamond “Sweet Caroline” since it starts slow and picks it up throughout the song. Now we are ready to blend the dance stuff back in again but still need a good song to segue with like Usher “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Again” This song begins with a medium tempo befoire getting things cookin’ by the first chorus. We are back in business and the dance floor is pakced with folks moving and grooving. I can play any fast dance songs without much effort at this point. If I wanted, I could dip back into the list and mix in Van Morrison “Brown Eyed Girl” or Guns N Roses “Paradise City” if I blended them properly. This will keep everybody happy.

 

Chances are that if The Bide or Groom like a certain genre, so will many of their friends and often family as well. I think it is critical as a Wedding DJ to not leave out large groups of people when selecting music because you don’t like it or think it is too hard to mix into the set you are playing. Think it through and use your common sense to make a great party even better!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Good Professional DJs Learn From Other DJs

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…

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Professional DJ Opens Up His Music Library

Last Saturday night, I had the opportunity to again DJ at Barefoot Boogie at Insight Meditation Center in NYC. Another DJ and myself were both celebrating our birthdays! I find DJing is one of my favorite ways to have fun and share my birthday celebration with others. This time was no different for this professional DJ.

 

Whenever I offer my DJ services for the Barefoot Boogie, I always like to try to open-up my massive music library – part for the challenge of scrolling through more than 35,000 songs and partially due to the fact the environment and crowd support a diverse and expanded playlist. I have so much fun excitedly cruising through the lists and finding the exact perfect next song to segue from the last one knowing that mixing it up with different styles and genres is what is appreciated most at Barefoot Boogie.

 

As my professional DJ name and business are growing I feel fortunate that many of my clients also appreciate diversity and varying styles of music and dancing. It reminds that being a professional Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ is where I belong! Here in this part of the country I get to provide music and entertainment for weddings, sweet sixteens, reunions, anniversaries, graduations and all kinds of events and parties with a diverse crowd and guests that are not all the same and, therefore, all want to hear different kinds of music. One of the true benefits of being a professional Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Freestyle Frolic

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.

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ