Prepairing a 7 hour set!?

Huh? Playing pre-recorded sets by someone else ??? Whazzdat?

Playing 128 kbps MP3 is a big big no-no to begin with. So, let’s stay far away from that.

It depends largely on what the place looks like from say 7 to 9-10. If it is really empty, I’d actually go around the place, talk to people and ask if there is anything particular they’d like to hear and play that. You’re the DJ so if they tell you one tune I am sure you can come up with a couple more in the same genre.

As soon as the place begins to fill up, you’ll want to start in the lower BPM, lower energy corner and start working up in both tempo and energy towards the moment that it is packed. From there on out it’s a night like all other’s.

If you don’t plan on doing life stuff in the “low” hours, I would stay away from pre-mixed sets. If it is just background music, might as well throw a best of charts CD in there.

One thing you could do (you didn’t say if you are playing on your own gear or venue gear) is try stuff out. Great time to see what the (unfamiliar) gear is capable of. Or try a few new mixes out that you are not ready to do for a full house.

Again, it depends on what the promoter wants. If it needs to be background music, you can’t go experimenting with wild mixes or heavy new tracks of course. But if he doesn’t care, use the time to practice while being PAID!

While working residencies back in the mid-80s, I used to work 6-7 hours a day for 6 days a week. Trust me I did not have a fixed playlist for any night and no two nights were even remotely identical. You’d have your favorites, there would be new stuff to try out, there’d be a few requests, but most of all there would be creativity and knowledge of your collection.

Good luck & greetinx,
C.

Yeah, I can understand the jitters :). Been there done that and couldn’t even wear a t-shirt :cool:.

I have a relatively simple look at these things. There are two options:
1) you know what you are doing and generally do your thing well, in which case you have nothing to worry about
2) you have no clue what you are doing and are really (still) out of your depth for gigs like this, in which case nothing you do is gonna keep you hidden from sight for 7 hours straight.

I am assuming 1) is the actual state of affairs (you got asked right!). So just do your stuff. You can actually go up to the promoter and tell him you have some really nice tracks you’d like to try before the big crowd shuffles in, would he mind?

If he is any good as a promoter he will make up his mind AFTER the entire set. And he will be looking mostly for music choice, your interaction with the crowd (is there non-verbal communication with them, are you dancing yourself or are you just standing there watching your CD’s spin) and finally the reaction of the crowd. He’ll be able to tell if they are having a good time. If they are, you passed the test.

Greetinx,
C.

I dont understand why you keep on insisting playing pre-recorded stuff ? I mean, whats the problem here? Do you not like DJ ing ? Let it be 1 hour set 2 hour sets, 7 hour set, or hell 24 hour sets, I Love DJ ing, its my passionate…
You make it more like a burden to you than doing something that you love? I dont know, thats how I see it lol, correct me if im wrong…

7 hour set it easily break down to a few section,
Make it to each 1 – 1 1/2 hours set…
Each set you can play one genre, the next set different genre, just experiment play around…Once you found out when is your “prime time” peak hours” this is where you give it all you got ! This is where you show off…
Here’s example of my slots…I played from 05.00 PM – 11:00 PM

05.00 PM – 06.00 PM : Soulfull House Set
06.00 PM – 07.30 PM : RnB / Mash Up / Top 40 Set
07.30 PM – 10.00 PM : Prime Time Slot (In My case i Played local Anthem + mix match EDM, just try to tear the place down)
10.00 PM – 11.00 PM : Chill out Prog House Set

Terry_42, post: 42664, member: 1843 wrote: I agree.
and I was wondering why the hell it was so much sun out there and people already swimming in the ocean when I got out of the club :p

and did you went skinny dippin yoself Terry ? =P

No, but I dropped into the Hotel Pool once with my headphones still around my neck.
That is actually why I know that you can dry HD-25s in a hotel kitchen in the oven at 60°C and they will work fine the following evening.

Dizzle the Dj, post: 42891, member: 1780 wrote: You definitely get asked back more often if you try to make your transition smooth with the next dj. The average punter might not notice a poor handover, but promoters will. They’ll want to book a dj who plays well with others as opposed to one who tries to make the other booked djs sound bad.

well actually here in greece there are very few helpful dj groups in booths,there is always a little war going on about who will make the best mix. of course i don’t think that’s the right thing to do. and if i get along with the other djs we will try to make the whole night a blast helping each other.djs here are just not friendly,if someone comes to me kindly and ask for help during his mix cause he has a bad headache or some other problem i will help with no second taught.
however when an arrogant idiot comes saying you have no skill(only because “you are too young”) and tries to break your reputation by saying sh$t to the manager,at least for me, means that you have to defend yourself.and the best way to defend yourself as a dj is to do your job 100% right and get noticed and appreciated by the crowd.
I use something that i call “restauraunt trick” after i have finished my set i will go to the guys or some girls that are tired and not on the dancefloor and ask them if they liked my set(just like chefs do about their food) I pick however very wisely and always i try not to interrupt the flow of the club.all these things add to my reputation i seem friendlier and a better person than all the other djs sitting in their booth chilling out and not caring about the crowd.
Sry for the huge reply

PS.Promoters in greece care about how much people you will bring in the club they don’t even care if you can beatmatch.PR managers in most clubs are shit.