Tag Archives: professional DJs

Professional Teen Party DJ

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It did not occur to me all those years as a teen counselor, social worker and educator that I would get back into the professional DJ business and have the opportunity to use the skills I learned in another environment. True, I did DJ all the middle school dances at the middle school I worked at earlier this decade. You would think I would have made the connection, since I had been a full-time professional Teen Party DJ all the years previous to being a youth worker. I imagine if it was anybody but me I too would have seen the writing on the wall but I didn’t.  The good news is that I still gain the benefits without the obvious path recognized in advance.

 

I did the work I did because I like to be around teenagers. I know the rest of the world finds them challenging but to me they are one of the easiest groups to communicate with because they say what is on their mind if you create a space they feel comfortable in. When they are angry with you they tell you, when they are happy with you they tell you. When they want you to leave them alone they tell you.  When they want you to shut-up they tell you. I wish all of us would be that clear in our communication skills. Of course, they do not always choose the most mature means for doing so, but who does?

 

This is why I enjoy being a professional DJ and MC for youth events. When I am playing the right music, they let me know. When I am missing the mark, they will let me know even quicker. When it is an amazing night, they cannot stop sharing with you how much it has mean to them. I know most professional DJs would prefer not to ever have to deal with teenagers again; this is not the case with me. I love them!

 

One other aspect about providing music for teens today that I appreciate is the fact they can mix genres. When I was growing up, the rockers could not listen to dance music and the Top 40 kids were not welcome with any other group and you would never see kid listening country hanging with anybody who listened to anything else. The one exception is Soul, Funk and R&B. if it was good and it had he right groove, it crossed barriers with ease whether it be Sly and The Family Stone, The Jackson or anybody on the Motown label, we all enjoyed a food beat with fine melodies.

 

So I say, bring on the teen parties and let’s get this party started!

 

One more thing. Teens are the only people in the world who ever think I am still cool just because I do not care if I am cool or not. That alone makes them fun to hang out with!

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Professional DJ’s Closing Songs

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The night is coming to a close. Everybody had a great time. There are many people fighting to stay on the dance floor knowing they may be grooving to their last song of the night.  The professional DJ wants to make sure that everybody leaves with the right feeling to carry withy them. The Closing Song. It is often the way a professional DJ leaves their mark on the night.

 

When I first started out as a professional Rock DJ, my closing song was by David Essex; Rock On.  After a few years of radio, my closing song changed with it. My song to cap the night became John Lennon: Watching The Wheels as a tribute to my hero at the time. This was followed by The Clash for a short period of time then back to John. Over the years, it has shifted many times as my style ands tastes have changed with them.

 

Today I have two closing songs that match the event I am performing at.  Of course, if the host of the event has already chosen a closing song, I will honor that and follow their decision; it is their party! If not, it depends on the environment. These are the two songs that will typically grace the ears of those attending a gig as they down their last drinks, say good-bye to friends and family and grab their coats while heading for the door:

 

Turn Your Lights Down Low- Bob Marley and Lauryn hill

Hallelujah- David Buckley

 

For me, they both have such a nice way to send everybody home after a great night. What are your favorite songs to close a great night?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The Professional Rock & Roll DJ That Plays A Slow Song

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It baffles me how many professional DJs will not play slow songs at private events when the genre of choice is Rock. This is even true for some professional Wedding DJs!  I understand how as a professional DJ you work with the constant tension of not wanting to lose the people on the dance floor. Playing slow songs may facilitate an empty dance floor, a professional DJ’s worst nightmare.  Time and experience teaches a professional DJ that if the music is right, people will dance. Knowing what the crowd needs to motivate them onto the dance floor in my opinion is the skill that separates a good professional DJ from the rest of the DJs. I know it is sexier to scratch and make beats but they are not what inspire people to dance till they need to drink a pitcher of water or beer, it is intuitively responding to the crowd and having the right grooves for them to move and have fun.

 

Learning the correct slow songs for each occasion is a knowledge base by itself. Here are some examples when working an event with a room full of rockers:

Eric Clapton- Wonderful Tonight

Led Zeppelin- Thank You

Aerosmith- I Don’t Want To miss A Thing

The Allman Brothers- Melissa

Billy Joel- She’s Got A Way

Bad Company- Seagull

The Beatles- Something

The Black Crowes- She Talks To Angels

Bon Jovi- I’ll Be There For You

Bruce Springsteen- Secret Garden

Crosby, Stills & Nash- Our House

Dave Mathews Band- Crash Into Me

The Eagles- Desperado

Foreigner- I’ve Been Waiting For A Girl Like You

Guns & Roses- Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Motley Crue- Home Sweet Home

The Rolling Stones- Angie

U2-The Sweetest Thing

 

Many professional DJs are afraid of playing slow songs for a rock crowd but there are many songs to choose from and let’s face it, rockers love too! This was a just a quick list, I am sure I have left out many of the classics. So break out those classic rock slow songs let the lovers rock on!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

This Professional DJ Is Taking Requests!

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When I first started out in the DJ business many years ago it was unheard of for a DJ to not honor requests.  Recently, this has changed. For some reason, DJs seem to think they are above respecting the musical choices and desires of others. This even includes those who hire them. I do not understand this.

 

It is a simple rule of business that you respect those who pay you. If someone hires me for the night, I want him or her to feel good about their decision, not just for future business, although that should be reason enough, because they are helping me pay my bills. When did professional DJs become such primodonnas?  If you look back at the history of disk jockeys, we were always grass toots entertainers from Wolfman Jack to Scott Muney to Cousin Brucey. We made our mark as the ones who were willing to get our hands dirty and meet the needs of our listeners, which later become dancers as DJing made its way to the clubs and now mobile at weddings and parties.

 

For me, the requests are one of the best things about being a professional Wedding DJ; you get to make someone happy!  It is like working an ice cream shop; people come in and order what they want and leave with a smile when you give it to them. I hope someday soon this new breed of professional DJ who think because they play other people’s music they are special or ‘celebrities’ come back down to earth and enjoy the fruits of honoring customer requests!

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

How to Build A Professional DJ Playlist

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To9 create an excellent DJ playlist, here are some suggestions. It is important to first determine where to start. If you are in a club, it is a little clearer since you will be playing music of a similar beat-per-minute and style throughout most of the night. If it is a house party, similar to a club but you need to take into account the fact that people may need to get comfortable, relaxed and in some cases, drunk before you can crank things up to full speed.

 

Wedding DJs are different. At a wedding there are traditions and generations to consider. This is even truer for an afternoon wedding. People may not be ready to party yet so the professional Wedding DJ needs to allow time for folks to shift gears. Starting out with some slow music and building from there is typically the best strategy. As people are getting into the music, bring the pace up slowly and when you sense they are ready, let it fly!

 

As a professional Wedding DJ, you need to make space for slow songs throughout the reception. People will primarily request faster, party songs but we want to make certain everybody has a good time and often slow songs are the missing link.

 

Even at parties and clubs where the music selection is more defined, it is helpful and a great way to show-off your creativity by slipping in small doses of music that is related to what you are playing but it is somewhat different.

 

An example: Say you are professional DJ working a new club/lounge that is geared towards a Top 40 dance crowd aged 25-45. Stick with what works but every now and then stick in some hot Reggaeton or Classic Hip Hop to add some flavor. Watch the crowd and determine how much you can play before losing their energy and excitement. The way to do this is to match it to a song that may have roots in two genres like Enrique Iglesias, Taio Cruz, Shakira or Daddy Yankee, then move into something with a more Latin sound. These kinds of songs make great segues and do not get dancers lost or startled with music that does not fit in-sync with what you have been playing.

 

The most important thing is to take it slow when moving through genres, let people feel the shift and move with you as a cohesive unit. Remember, it is always about them. It is their music, their event and their party! he professional DJ just provides the rhythms and vibes to make it happen!

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The Professional DJ Moment

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I first started with this thing called being a professional DJ because I loved music. It was that clear and simple.  I grew to enjoy the attention and focus of clubs, parties and events as a bonus along with what was real good money then for being one of the three professional mobile DJs in New Jersey.  Over the years this has changed- I still love music, maybe even more so, I still like attention but definitely less so, the money is not what it used to be but not bad. These things have stayed constant to varying degrees but the aspect of being a professional DJ the most happens at least once during every gig, it is what makes this work worth it for me.

 

It is the moment when the bride/groom, event host or site owner comes over with a huge smile that cannot be contained to express their genuine gratitude for the performance and more importantly their guests thorough enjoyment. It is not the kind of thanks that you give to people to make them feel good; it is the kind of thanks you offer to somebody because it makes you feel good! You can see it in their eyes when they light-up with bright full cheeks and positive energy oozing out of them like they have never had a better night in their life. To me, that is what makes it all worth it and why I make certain I am well prepared for each event with the right music and equipment. There is little room for error and I want to do the best I can every time I show-up and do my thing.

 

Saturday Night, The Professional DJ Moment came near the end of the night when the groom, who booked the reception came over to shake my hand with that “I just ate the whole cake look” on his face to give me that big handshake, many words of gratitude for the part I played in their special night and he couldn’t reach into his pocket deep and fast enough to offer me a tip even though he had already paid me in full before the event. It was not the money that mattered to me, although always welcome, it was that he was so excited and grateful he could not find enough ways to let me know how much he appreciated what I did and it worked out just the way he had hoped.

 

That’s why I am a professional Wedding and Event DJ.

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional DJs Bridging Generations

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One of the fun things a professional DJ gets the opportunity to play with is finding a way to meet the needs of people from often three different generations all at the same time. Recently, I had observed a professional DJ deal with this exact situation and was startled by his lack of sensitivity to the guest at this wedding. It was disappointing to witness. He was approached by an older gentleman who was expressing his frustration with the professional DJ not playing any older or slow music for him and his friends/family to dance. The professional DJ promptly told him that the Bride asked for new and fast music and that was it. No; “I’ll get to it soon” or “As soon as the dance floor clears” or even, “I am sorry Sir”. The man walked away grumbling about how he was treated. I did not blame him. I too would have been angry if I was him.

 

Meeting the needs of diverse audiences while at an event or club is essential to creating a fun and memorable gig. Sometimes it is as easy as playing an Elvis Presley or Frank Sinatra song. Others it is Brice Springsteen or AC/DC. And even sometimes it means playing Lady GaGa or Beyonce or Pitbull to make sure everybody is having fun. At the end of the day, isn’t that what the professional DJ is there to do?

 

Why do some professional DJs fight and resist requests so fiercely?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional Anniversary Party DJs

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One of the beautiful aspects of a professional anniversary party DJ at an anniversary party is the opportunity to chronicle lifetimes and moments of a relationship through music. It is an event that is really shared by the family. It speaks to their periods of joy and grace and the periods of hardship and struggles. All of which are the testaments of a marriage that has lasted time and the pressures of the outside world.

 

When I first started professional DJing anniversaries, they were not a big deal – at the time Americans stayed married through thick and thin. Times have changed and now anniversaries hold a higher value in this climate of divorce and separation. I am not judging, just speaking to a change in values of a culture and how long term marriage is becoming more of a miracle every day. One to be celebrated by and with the family.

 

As a professional Wedding DJ, we get the opportunity to play music from many eras and genres at such an event due to the diversity in age and personalities of the guests without the familial pressures of a wedding that often don’t allow the host s to enjoy the event.  Sinatra, Bennett, McCartney, Jackson, Ross, Madonna, Hammer, Beyonce and Lady GaGa all share the night’s entertainment. It is fun and sentimental all at the same time.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Professional DJ Learning & Expanding Musical Styles

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It is fun sometimes to take the time to learn music from different styles and genres that are not part of our normal DJ Music library. It opens new doors into what people enjoy and along the way we find new stuff that gets us pumped up about music and being a professional DJ. I have been experimenting with Trip Hop, Ambient and Acid Jazz lately. I did not grow-up with these styles of music an they are not as incorporated into many of the professional Wedding & Events DJ so I needed to dig on my own to learn about them and be able to expand my repertoire to include music from these groups and artists as well.  For any professional DJ who is feeling stale about the music they are listening to these days, I encourage you to step outside your world and explore a new genre of music, one that is far from what you typically listen. You might be surprised by what you find!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Older, Old Skool Professional Hip Hop DJ

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I remember when we first heard Sugar Hill Gang. It was Rapper’s Delight on Sugar hill Records. It was a relatively new sound that was produced on their own label. I do not know if they knew it at the time but the choice to lay down tracks on their own label was the beginning of what has shaped the music industry since.  I am certain they did not know they would fuel a musical genre that no one outside of Brooklyn and The Bronx thought would last more than a few years, forget about owning the business for the next 30+ years!

This was their first single and it was the first hip hop single to reach the Billboard Top 40 and they were the first hip hop performers on American bandstand, many folks believe RUN-DMC were first but it was actually Sugar Hill Gang. They were sued for sampling the beats from Chic’s Good Times, the first of many lawsuits that the Hip Hop business has had to encounter. They settled out of court and Nile Rodgers was afforded part o fall royalties forward. They were from Englewood, NJ and not NYC as most people assume.

 

They seem to have lost recognition for their pioneering music to others artists like RUN-DMC who were more famous and successful It is like Hip Hop refuses to acknowledge where it came form although it has had such a short history for a musical genre. Today, Old Skool means five or ten years ago, not the roots of a musical style that is diverse in its breath and focus based on a social movement of changing attitudes and actions to the greater good of all people. It is sometimes hard to see this in the music that is called Hip Hop today, although very danceable and fun.

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ