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Playing a dubstep show, but I want to go for a different sound.

Home 2023 › Forums › The DJ Booth › Playing a dubstep show, but I want to go for a different sound.

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  • May 8, 2015 at 9:26 am #2190991
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Hey Normal,

    You are opening DJ, you have one job and one job only … warm-up! Exciting the crowd to the point that they are ready for the “headliners”. Anything over that (i.e. having the place rock while you are playing) is not good. So, you should pick your music accordingly. Lower BPM, lower energy slowly building up to the level that the next guy/gal should be able to start from.

    While DJ-ing is not a numbers game, here’s an example.

    Let’s say the DJ after you plays a style that generally covers a 125 to 135 BPM range. Energy levels from 7 to 9. You should be building up 115 to 125 and energy level from 4 to 6 or so. That way when the first headliner takes over from you, he can just go straight to it and not worry about the crowd being ready for him (or her of course). If you know the genre(s) the next DJ will hit, it pays to end with a genre that is close to his genres, making it a smooth transition rather than a culture shock.

    Warm-up DJs, imho, have no/very little educational value. Introducing people to new music is something I’d leave for the headliners. You don’t want to be experimenting when your job is to get people ready for the “big” names.

    My advice here is be humble, know your place, be accommodating to the person you are opening for. Being a warm-up DJ is NOT about you, but being a GOOD warm-up DJ will get you into a lot of places that might otherwise be closed to you. And you will get noticed, by the venue and the DJs you open for and get invited back. And building that network you will at some point get asked to be a headliner on a slower night or smaller event or even stand in for someone you opened for.

    So, if you can put your ego on hold, learn how to do the warm-up/opening thing right, it can be a real boost to your career.

    May 8, 2015 at 5:56 pm #2191471
    Steven Bennett
    Participant

    That was pretty much along the lines I thought myself. I’ve even been involved in a discussion recently whereas an opening DJ in Atlanta decided to go the full on route and attempt to outdo the headliner, which in this case, Bro Safari. Whilst he did get himself noticed, it might not have been for the right reasons so I totally understand where you’re coming from.

    However, and this is my conundrum begins, being in the scene around here I’ve noticed a trend in the shows and the energy from the crowd. Generally, the openers are mostly ignored until they start throwing down and a lot of the regional producers/dj go full on from the get go and typically the crowd responds well to it whereas you have a warm up by the very definition that makes no difference to the anticipation of the crowd. It’s like they’re pretty much pumped by the time they get there and usually don’t turn up until maybe the dj before the headliner.

    When it comes to dubstep shows, like one I attended recently that 3 very prominent producers who played back to back equally energetic sets with no difference in tempo or genre, the crowd lap it up. I’d say from talking to a lot of people I see and talk to at these shows, they respond better to the festival format of all killer no filler music. Which is why I’m conflicted on just playing a traditional warmup set or playing what I would imagine is a crowd pleaser with a little experimentation mixed in. Especially since a lot of my friends are coming primarily to see me play a gig at a venue. Of course, I’ve got a crate of music in mind that would definitely constitute a warm up set with mostly trap that would fit in with the vibe the organizers have in mind but surely a couple of surprise tracks wouldn’t go amiss.

    May 8, 2015 at 11:26 pm #2191591
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Again, as long as you are confident that throwing in the experiments is not gonna hurt your primary task for the evening, feel free. You ARE the DJ after all.

    May 13, 2015 at 4:21 am #2193041
    Lamid45G
    Participant

    How about throw some Twerk in there also ?

    May 15, 2015 at 5:08 pm #2194851
    Steven Bennett
    Participant

    I’ve actually found some great twerk to throw in there too. After the feedback on here, some discussions with friends and DJs I know and some consideration, I’ve decided to tone down the UK bass emphasis but go for a set that will fit in with the theme of the night and essentially be a crowd pleaser (hopefully) that will be opposite to the headliners (heavy dubstep) but will still complement them. So a lot of variety of trap, some twerk, moomba, a pinch of deep house and 4×4 because it blends so well and some great remixes I’ve discovered in my typical music hunting during work.

    I’m still wanting to avoid dubstep mainly, but I have an oldie or two I am dying to play, but hopefully on the night it will pull together great and everyone will enjoy it.

    May 15, 2015 at 7:08 pm #2194931
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    Go kill ‘m, tiger!

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