techniques for switching genres mid-set

I am not sure that I can be of help as I have never ever play any genre for more than 3-4 tracks at a time.
If I did I would proberbly be boored to death!
I change genre as I change every song, the way best sueted for the moment and the way I feel could work the best.
1There is the old blend together when there is an non vocal part.
I sometimes does a blend when there is vocal on one of the tracks, sometimes the song that shold be blend in starts with accapella then I use that. If the BPM differs so big that it is not blendable I try to blend it by 3/4 even if it is 4/4 or 1/2 tempo
there is always one beat that will fit in…..

2 Sometimes I just cut in the next song but it must be done by finess when the current song goes down or after a build up when everyone expects the song to go crazy….. And in exact timing of cause.

3 The old scool way! By fading the current track volume to zero rather slowly and then fade the next song up rather slowly.
That could be combined with a backspinn of the song currently playing when it is in low volume.
Done right this is a good way to change tempo IMO.

4 Some players and some SW does have vinyl emulation that sounds like you slow down the tempo like if you turn of the power on a TT. That can also be simulated by puting the pitch to + – 100% and slow the song currently playing down to zero rather slowly and then push play of the next song.

That is about all my secret DJ tools that I use when playing parties, weddings and clubs.
My way of DJing is always mix! Mix music, Mix mixstyle, Mix genre, Mix tempo Mix all the way…..
That way it never goes dull for me and my ordience.

As for your second part. I would suggest you to change the mastertempo…..

//DJ Hessler

Find what I call a “pivot” song. A dubstep track that has electro elements and vice-versa.

Back when I was DJing crappy suburban top 40 bars, half the crowd wanted rock the other wanted dance. Each side refused to dance to the other’s music. INXS “New Sensation” worked for both crowds, and once I got half the floor going I could drop INXS to pull the other “side” of the crowd in and create enough energy so everybody would just start enjoying themselves. I started to love how INXS saved my DJ ass, even though the song is pretty mediocre.

Once I started building my sets around this pivot song, I noticed how I would get creative in my transitions and lead-ups to this point. INXS worked well with Depeche Mode’s Strangelove (another hit from that era). So I’d go from AC/DC to Depeche Mode in three mixes and the crowd would dig it. Kinda creative, given the situation.

Now fast-forward a few years when I’m DJing in much cooler NYC bars, where you’re expected to play underground stuff. I still found the whole concept of pivot songs work to bridge from one genre to the other. The bridge wasn’t quite as drastic but the concept was the same, and the creativity remained and expanded because I had more creative freedom.

Once you start trying to tie the common genre elements together you start seeing your collection with all sorts of interesting possiblities. All sorts of little common hooks and riffs to play around with on a mix.