Question about stopping the music at a gig.

I stop it sometimes if there is an important announcement.

A dramatic pause 🙂

Think of a DJing like driving down the highway.

You’re gonna be playing music pretty consistently for most of the night (cruising at a pretty steady pace). You may speed up or slow down depending on traffic, construction, or “mood of the crowd.” But shit, sometimes things come up and you gotta stop completely, especially if there’s a huge 18-wheeler lying perpendicular across the highway.

I’m not sure if that was helpful or not, but once I started with the metaphor I just kept going with it haha.

Chuck van Eekelen, post: 39491, member: 2756 wrote: I have stopped it a mobile gigs when thing got out of hand in the crowd (too much rowdiness going on, on the verge of a major fight breaking out).

The only other time was the best night I ever played in Germany many years back. It didn’t matter what I played (the manager had asked me to play some bad music so not everybody would be dancing, the bar turnover had come to a complete halt by then), people would just keep dancing. When the manager went ape … I just killed the music mid-song, went on the mic, told everyone we were taking a drink break and we would be back in 3 minutes … It was a hoot.

Greetinx,
C.

Great story! haha

IMO I wouldn’t say there are absolute rules as to when or when not to cut the music, your behind the wheel and if you feel the cut fits go for it and see how the reaction is. Sometimes its helpfully to momentarily cut the music while the dance floor is at its peak, imagine everyone singing the chorus of a well know song or throwback that you know you’ll get a positive response to. Just make sure your timing is on beat and that it isn’t for too long. Also some DJ’s like using the cross-fader to create a “gate” type effect and start cutting like a turntablist would. Hence its not appropriate in all situations but thats up to you to be the judge.

Somewhere on this forum is a video of a DJ who stopped the music to tell a really annoying drunk to go F herself. The crowd started cheering. I never did this myself, but was tempted to many times.

The bars I’ve DJ’ed have always told me absolutely never stop the music, even if there was a problem like a fight or medical issue. There were lots of fights at one club. The reason I heard was that it would call attention to the problem and make it worse.

So what’s better? Stop if there’s an outside problem/emergency? or keep playing?

if you see fists flying do the always hilarious record scratch.

Benacio, post: 39471, member: 9633 wrote: Other than some sort of technical difficulty, when would a DJ stop the music during a job? Also, is stopping the music (purposely) the Number 1 thing a DJ SHOULD NOT do?

It depends on the style you bring to your performance and the setting you are djing in.
When I play I usually have an MC or I’ll work the mic myself so I’ll stop the music or pullup the tune (start it over). Once they’ve had a few drinks, nothing gets them more riled up for a song they love than a little anticipation for it. I think it adds an extra level of excitement and gives the crowd a chance to interact more with you while you play the music. i grew up listening to Reggae and Hip Hop and many of my friends here are into D&B so having an MC and stopping the music during the set are part of the genres’ cultures