How to handle aggressive people who keep making the same request?

Try to ignore them from the off. Put your headphones on and if they tap grad you point to the headphones. You have to be firm when saying no. If those Jock types think they can wiggle their way in some one they’ll keep trying.

As a mobile DJ: Play what the guys that booked you want to hear, and if a wierd uncle has a strange requst, just tell him, that this is it outside of the planned scope of the party

In clubs/bars: Always be polite, but never let them get the upper hand. They may input, but you deside. Never the other way around

Also… and this may sound silly… Make sure you look like you can take care of yourself… You are working in the night life after all, and sometimes things get a little out of hand. So hitting the gym and learning some self defence techniques is never a bad ide. I find that looking the part helps in the way that requests are always asked in a polite manner, espeially from guys. And it also enables you to help out the bouncers for a few critical seconds, if they are in the other end of the room when things turn bad

Best regards
Klaus Mogensen

Sometimes you have to say “no”.

“no…I don’t play that tune”

“no…that tune doesn’t fit the format of the night”

“no…I don’t have an internet connection, and even if I did I’m not going to risk a crash to illegally download something”

“no…I’m not playing tunes off your iPhone.  Once I open that Pandora’s box everyone will be strolling up handing me smartphones”

“the more you annoy me, the less likely I’m going to play your tune.  Spend $1000 or more on bottles and then you’ll get priority service.”

“oh you know the owner or the promoter?  good friends?  then why aren’t they up here telling me to play your request?”

“Yes I will play your request…but not now at 10PM.  We’re open til 4AM, and that tune is something you play at midnight or later.  You say you’re leaving soon to hop to the next club?  Then why should I do anything for you if you’re not going to stay and patronize the club?”

Requests are a part of life, but sometimes the only way you’ll make them stop or slow down is when you put your foot down.  If you’re a mobile DJ, then you have to play them.  In a club or bar you don’t…not unless this person is a big spender or someone important enough to merit the added care.

Played in Club Ziggo this week. Lady comes up to me and says “I really have to leave shortly” (so I am like, yeah … a pity … but what’s that to me?) could I please, please play Proud Mary. As it actually fit in the set I was playing and I like the song, I figured why not. Unfortunately, due to some technical mishaps earlier in the week, I had my core collection up and running in Cross, but not my entire collection. Turns out I hadn’t transferred Proud Mary to my core collection yet. I did find Nutbush City Limits though. Also Tina Turner, also nice uptempo song. With about 30 seconds left before running track ended, I tossed it in, cueued it up and hit play. The lady looks at me with this “wtf?!” look. I look at her and mouth “sorry, no Proud Mary”.

She looks at me all angry and I hear her shout over the (pretty loud) PA: “what f*ck DJ are you!”. And she bounces out of the place.

I mean seriously!

I smiled and shrugged it off and just looked at the 200+ people enjoying and dancing to Nutbush City Limits.

Greetinx.

I had some hipster twats request LCD soundsystem *or* Radiohead. Gosh! A choice between shitty or narcoleptic? Dreams do come true!

I still remember what a dj told me, at a rock bar, when i was in my teens, and  i asked for a really heavy/obscure heavy metal song. He turned towards me, smiled, then put up a serious face and said: “Mate, do you want all the chicks in here to die?” then smiled again and turned towards his decks! Awesome! I still remember it 15 years later. Sometimes you can use a little humor.

Just say okay