Crowd reading strategies, help?

Sadly there is no overall strategy that really works. I have tried in my beginnings and it just did not work and I have never seen it work for anyone else.

What can help you though: Watch people. All the time. Whenever you do not have to touch your controller, watch the people. Not only the people on the dancefloor, but also those sitting around or standing at the bar. Check out if they are moving, if the beat is in their feet or if the shuffle around.
With A LOT of time, you will manage to read them more and more and how they react to each song you play. With experience you get a feel for what to play next.

Next thing you can do: If you wipe the dancefloor clean, have a Plan B. I always prepare at least double the songs I need for a gig, plus at least 10-15 “Plan B” songs. The Plan B songs are tracks that are 100% dance guarantee hits. If I wipe it clean, I play one and the dancefloor will be packed. If you already have some time into your set you can mix a few of them in to make people go totally mental…

But in the end, it is experience and passion for the music you play. Passion and love for music you cannot learn, but it is the DJs most valuable asset. It is far more important than any other DJ skill you might have and if the music you play does not turn you on, you prolly will not be good at playing it out.

Since you playing at the bar, it is not always good too, to keep the dance floor packed ALL the time, I mean when they gonna purchased some drinks if you keep them on the floor all the time ?
Maybe when they leave the dance floor they want to sit down chill and drink, which is not a bad thing either,
Just observe really closely to your crowd, and when you think you mix down a same exact tunes within the realm, and people leaving, put that tunes you played on in question, why ? Better yet, get down to the floor, approach the crowd introduced yourself and asked them why (instead of just guessing), this is also a good way to networking with your crowds, show them how much you cared about them

Newportdj Drew, post: 43801, member: 244 wrote: I can’t stress enough that just because there is no one dancing that the people aren’t enjoying the music. I have had gigs that at end of the night and even tho the floor was empty that people really did have a great night and tell me so. If there is no one dancing I go into what I call ‘radio mode’. Play tunes from the 3 most popular radio stations in your area.

Radio Mode is an excellent idea, my local station always runs their own Top 40 charts during the weekend, I always pay really close attention to what is their most current top 10, especially what song is the #1 spot that week, most of the time 2-3 weeks later that #1 song becoming a well known songs around the area

+1 to all of these, especially SpecializED as it’s a very similar way to how I do things