First Gig coming up guys. I need some pointers please.

PS–see if you can’t move this thread into the right category 😉 This is the hardware area

Well, you mentioned the magix word, “REMIX”. And you can make your own remixes (even on the fly). Find a bit that sounds like it would make a good outro, and set a loop there. Lots of pop stuff is remixed in one way ore another for just this reason, to make it club ready.

Another thing is there are so many transition methods that only beatmatching is just as boring as using any of the others (not to you perhaps but to the audience, if I listen to a DJ doing only beatmatched mixes -however skillfully executed- it all becomes a bit of a blur without many “surprises”).

What you describe is a good method, although be sure to count the outgoing track so you can start the 1st downbeat where it would have been in the outgoing track.

Technically:
1) cue up the incoming track on the 1st downbeat you want it to start
2) open the channel fader on the incoming track
3) count down on the outgoing track
4) finger on the play button of the incoming track
5) other finger(s) on the outgoing track channel fader
6) when you reach 5…6…7…8…hit play here and slam the outgoing channel fader closed.

Seamless mix into another track without beatmatching.

Most of all. You are right that you need the experience with real crowd to develop that side of your skill set. Unless you are a true producer/DJ that attracts crowds that expect to hear YOUR stuff, in which case you can pretty much do what you like, you will always be faced with crowds that come to have a good time and your job as a DJ is to provide that. Obviousy by bringing in your own creativity and skills, but also by managing expectations and skillfully weaving in the things you really want to introduce your audience to. Not shove it down their throats.

With the exception of some big name DJs (who are more like stage performers, musicians than actual DJs in the traditional sense of the word), the show is about the music, the vibe, the party, not about the DJ. Now I am a mobile DJ, so lot’s of different rules apply, I am expected to play what the crowd wants. So a little subservience to the party is a good thing. Still I will bring in stuff I think is fun and suitable that the crowd might not know (yet). And it’s always a little succes story when that works out.

The good news about it is, that mobile DJs (and in particular wedding DJs) are the ones that get paid the big bucks. Also due to the diversity of audience (no wedding, birthday, anniversary is really the same), it’s a great place to rake in many frequent flyer miles of experience. It’s the best live school out there imho. Even if you then decide to go producer and only do your own thing, the lessons learned while catering to a “hostile” crowd (i.e. a crowd that won’t be up for your preferred genres, not that they’ll be growling at you 😀 ) will stay with you and serve you for the rest of your career.

Just my 24 cents as usual 😛

Actually when you get to setting up playlists, crates, sets, etx., this is where the DJ-ing starts. It is a) highly personal and b) very dependent on what kind/style of DJ you are. My ultimate crate setup might be a terror to you and vice versa. I have friends that have playlists that would drive me crazy and my playlists probably drive them nuts.

So this is one you have to find out yourself. The good things is that you can make and delete playlists easily and any track can be in as many playlists as you like.

Obviously things like key, genre, bpm-range, energy level are good selectors when it comes to making playlists.

More personally I am one of those guys that fell for the more is better trap and am stuck with a huge collection that is TOTALLY unpractical. Also I never liked using iTunes. But recently I have started rebuilding my core collection (planning max. 1500 to 2000 tracks) in iTunes. This means lots of new playlists and such too. And I am nowhere finished yet. So even if I thought it’d be helpful, there isn’t much to share with you yet.

You asked somewhere about doing 2-3 premixed tracks to give you a breather. I would not do that. You can have 2-3-4 track mini-playlists with tracks whose transitions you know and have practiced. This will prevent you from the stress of what to play next every track (as I stated before), but you should still do the mixing manually. It’s imperative if you play out to have that skill ingrained in your soul. So, imho, pre-mixed tracks are a no-no in the booth.

The only possible exception if you need a bathroom break like really bad! 😀