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Best Way To Make An Opening

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  • July 14, 2011 at 2:59 pm #3801
    D-Jam
    Participant

    I would probably produce one the way you then see at shows like Sensation.

    You have gear, computers, a mic…go with it. 🙂

    July 14, 2011 at 3:31 pm #3803
    Howitzer
    Member

    It completely depends on the time and the venue. But heres a few things to consider:

    Your venue may be empty when you start so you’ll need to slowly increase the volume the more it fills.
    People are still sober early in the night so want to chat and chill out with a few before hitting the dancefloor at peak time. So start with the volume reasonably low, so you can chat over it comfortably.
    Dont drop any bangers until youve warmed the place up for an hour or so and its getting busy/late. Theres no point as people wont be dancing and you’ll potentially use up some of the later dj’s prime material.

    Set the vibe with some underground chillout music in your chosen genre thats suitable for the night and drop the more popular stuff a little later 🙂

    July 14, 2011 at 10:37 pm #3820
    yournamehere
    Member

    I wouldn’t use that Rollercoaster song for an opener unless the person paying me to be there asked or I was DJing a massage parlor without happy endings. Maybe an art show. The song has no drums. A reggae crowd in the bars/clubs I’ve gone to in Dallas would throw bottles at you and demand something else. That said, I’ve never been in those places when the DJ starts (because my family rolls into places after the party’s jumping). “Let Me Clear My Throat” is ok for an opener with a rap crowd, but it’s one I keep in my back pocket for when I run out of ideas or need to do a hard reboot on what I’m playing. Dunno how well it’d play with the crowd in question?

    I’m also guessing you have been in and around the venue when other people are working? You know what the crowd usually goes bonkers with? Maybe grab one of those songs and use it to kick off your set (but be careful you’re not burning stuff that’s way more valuable later.)

    Reggae/Soca crowds are completely different than any other group I’ve ever witnessed in person – the DJs will run stuff back and cut the audio to get the crowd singing, they will slam from one song into another at will, and it’s a method I’ve never had a chance to analyze for more than a couple hours at a time.

    July 14, 2011 at 10:44 pm #3821
    yournamehere
    Member

    The other way I look at opening a crowd is almost like Marco Polo. Or dynamite fishing, depending on how well of a read I can get on the room before I start playing. You may not kick off with a home run every time, but you may trigger that, “Hey, I wonder if he has _____” response that will bring your crowd to you. And depending on how well you can react to *that* can determine whether or not you win them over. This isn’t to say, “Requests are king.” Sometimes people are going to ask you for stuff you shouldn’t play until the room’s got more bodies, but you may be able to throw something similar on to appease those requests. “I’ll have it on in a little while” is a phrase that pays. It also depends on how your room cycles. If I’m working a crowd that’ll be there for my whole set, I may not be as willing to throw something on twice as I am if it’s a bar or a club where the population is changing on the hour.

    July 14, 2011 at 10:46 pm #3822
    TheShard
    Member

    D-Jam, post: 3764 wrote: Opening?

    When I play live I usually mix off he last guy’s track. I never really do “openings”.

    When I make a mix, I usually start off with a track that doesn’t have a long intro and kicks off into some nice energy.

    Do you have any examples of this “opening” you speak of?

    <justice – Live @ I love techno
    <deadmau5 – essential 11-oct-08

    July 14, 2011 at 10:51 pm #3823
    TheShard
    Member

    yournamehere, post: 3813 wrote: I wouldn’t use that Rollercoaster song for an opener unless the person paying me to be there asked or I was DJing a massage parlor without happy endings. Maybe an art show. The song has no drums. A reggae crowd in the bars/clubs I’ve gone to in Dallas would throw bottles at you and demand something else. That said, I’ve never been in those places when the DJ starts (because my family rolls into places after the party’s jumping). “Let Me Clear My Throat” is ok for an opener with a rap crowd, but it’s one I keep in my back pocket for when I run out of ideas or need to do a hard reboot on what I’m playing. Dunno how well it’d play with the crowd in question?

    I’m also guessing you have been in and around the venue when other people are working? You know what the crowd usually goes bonkers with? Maybe grab one of those songs and use it to kick off your set (but be careful you’re not burning stuff that’s way more valuable later.)

    Reggae/Soca crowds are completely different than any other group I’ve ever witnessed in person – the DJs will run stuff back and cut the audio to get the crowd singing, they will slam from one song into another at will, and it’s a method I’ve never had a chance to analyze for more than a couple hours at a time.

    From what ive studied, they like to maintain a beat / rythm yh but for me its a bit uneasy to study cause _>>

    July 14, 2011 at 11:11 pm #3824
    Emma Partnow
    Member

    TheShard, post: 3697 wrote: Anyone know how to make a crowd pleasing opening?

    There are Many Presumptions in this thread since you asked your Initial Question; and I am beginning to get confused myself; I don’t know about you;
    Would it be Possible to Clarify ‘When’ your Opening would be ?
    Meaning;
    Following Another DJ
    At the Beginning of an Evening with ‘Few’ Customers
    An Opening Event where your Set is the One the Crowd have come to Listen To
    A Set where you ‘Need’ to Grab The Audiences Attention Immediately’
    These Answers would Narrow things down a little 🙂

    July 15, 2011 at 6:26 am #3836
    TheShard
    Member

    Emma Partnow, post: 3817 wrote: There are Many Presumptions in this thread since you asked your Initial Question; and I am beginning to get confused myself; I don’t know about you;
    Would it be Possible to Clarify ‘When’ your Opening would be ?
    Meaning;
    Following Another DJ
    At the Beginning of an Evening with ‘Few’ Customers
    An Opening Event where your Set is the One the Crowd have come to Listen To
    A Set where you ‘Need’ to Grab The Audiences Attention Immediately’
    These Answers would Narrow things down a little 🙂

    << Ill be the one to kick it off basicly.

    July 15, 2011 at 7:34 pm #3870
    Emma Partnow
    Member

    TheShard, post: 3829 wrote: << Ill be the one to kick it off basicly.

    If you are the DJ to ‘Kick Off’ the Night (maybe Early Evening); then as has been mentioned; a Track that would
    ‘Allow People To Continue To Mingle And Chat’ would be Best; but this doesn’t mean that it has to be ‘Boring’ as you could be Building Your Whole Set On This Opening (as I would); like ‘Telling A Story’; with your Opening Track you could get Everyone’s Attention and Make Them Stop Talking 🙂
    However; if it was an Evening or Event where People Have Already Gathered; and are ‘Waiting For Something to Happen’; then an Uplifting Track (within the Expected Genre) would be the Key;
    I do a Number of Radio Shows; and if I don’t ‘Grab The Audiences Attention Immediately’; they will just ‘Switch Off’;
    And so; although it is ‘Recommended’ to Hold Back ‘Killer Tracks’ until Later In The Set; in my case I will ‘Always’ Open With A Track that Will Make The Audience Stick With Me; rather than just ‘Turning The Dial’ to Another Station;
    I Don’t Think Any Of Us Will Become a Carl Cox etc – If We Don’t Break The Mould And Do Something ‘Different’ 😎

    July 16, 2011 at 10:13 pm #3942
    NewportDJ Drew
    Participant

    an opening? I found a good version of ATB’s 9pm till I come (2010reloaded clubmix) , good beat to start then play on with.

    July 17, 2011 at 10:45 am #3970
    Rob Francis
    Member

    If you’re the first DJ then chances are the room might be empty when you start. That’s my experience anyway.

    April 17, 2012 at 6:18 pm #18698
    The DJ Kevin Smith
    Member

    DJ Loso, post: 3750, member: 146 wrote: yea sometimes i dont know what to open up with either, lately i usually start off playing pop.BUT, you have to base it of your crowd, which at times the club/bar is empty when you start your set.

    You just have to read your crowd. Not rocket science but you have to subvert your ego (yes us dj’s all have them) and play what will get your crowd pumped.

    April 18, 2012 at 1:57 am #18725
    tylervulgar
    Member

    http://soundcloud.com/damianmarley/skrillex-damian-marley-make-it
    This is a perfect reggae pleaser

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