Tips for DJing in bars and lounges

stay well away from anything hard or fast it just doesnt work and will annoy the majority of people, also you need to be spot on with you mixing and transitions as there isnt a club vibe so all the patrons arent drunk or have taken drugs. You have no margin for error (not that you should be making errors in clubs) and remember the system your playing on wont be as loud but will be very subtle so mistakes will be amplified. I’ve found getting appreciation from bar/lounge crowd more pleasing than in a club, you have to work harder for it.

ps. never go over 126bpm imo.

Playing in a bar or lounge can be so varied from place to place. The club type bar and the chillout bars. Places you have to please the people and places you have to soothe the people.

The Club type Bar
The club type will have loud music and a quickly changing crowd as they move from place to place getting drunk before they head home or head for the clubs. Here you’ll need to play by the numbers to a crowd who won’t remember the last track you played or that you beautifully merged two tracks on the fly to create an awsome mashup. I try to get away from places where I become a request DJ, request are for my mobile gigs. Yes it helps to pay the bills but I’m not lucking fame or fortune.

The Chillout Bar/Lounge
I personal love the chillout bars and lounges as the crowd tend to be more static regulars that aren’t just out for a good night they’ve come out to be at that particular venue because of the atmosphere, an atmophere that you the DJ help to create. For me these type of gigs are the best, it’s like being a painter; you don’t paint by request you deliver your art and people will appreciate it, hopefully. In these places you can get a good relationship going to the point where it’s like playing to family. It very much about creating an ambience where they can relax, no loud music, no pumping bass, no Zabiela mixing.

The truth is the Club bars are more common with the ethos of pack em in get and get the money. Very little dancing but plenty of staggering as they down the cheap drink offers.

say you havent got it but tell her you going to play something that she will definatley like and make sure you say its for her….

Have as many different styles of music as you can muster so that you can change style if it is isn’t working out.

For me, it’s about continually moving through genres and styles so that hopefully you’ll be playing something for everyone. And as you mentioned in your blog post on this, let people know you are having a good time. I DJ in a wine bar that is also a wine shop, and often people walk in to buy a bottle for their evening out. They are often surprised to see a DJ playing, and seem to assume that its a private party. I always make eye contact and smile at them and nod hello as they walk by. Make ’em feel welcome Nd hopefully they’ll be there next time and this time stay to listen.

DJ Menno, post: 29856, member: 3768 wrote:

As well, I always help the crew cleaning of a table or two if there’s too many people or at the end of the evening. The owner will respect you a lot for that, you’re part of the team, not only a one time DJ.

All in all, I recommend it, it’s a very positive experience.

THIS. I’m at my venue 3 nights a week. It’s a sports bar so there are servers running around, bouncers, etc… My biggest asset in any situation is empathy. These people are working their asses off so if there’s something I can do to help while a track is playing I will. See a few glasses left in the bathroom? Bring them to the bar. See a drunk about get tossed out but he’s being unruly? Open the doors for the bouncer. Just last week, SUPER drunk dude passed out and knocked his pint glass to the floor. I grabbed a broom. And it really is the little things that count.

Now onto what I’m actually there to do. You have to let get of your ego a little bit. Club DJ’s, by nature, don’t take kindly to requests, nor should they. Totally different animal. However for some reason that mindset seems to permeate into a lot of my bar counterparts. Dude, you have to be flexible. Learn to play social politics. Tell them you’ll see what you can do, if it’s a great request but I don’t have it, I download it from Amazon right there. Nothing wrong with paying $1 to make someone’s night. I explain to them that I have to make everyone as happy as I want to make the person requesting the song. Give me a little bit to mix it in, if I just got into a country block, don’t expect me to break into Drake just because it’s you grandmothers birthday. Respect my workflow and you’ll get what you want.

I have become much more willing to work with requests and since I come from being a radio DJ I know how to work a crowd. If you take a gig like this you absolutely cannot be a prick, you must enjoy being out there with people and be willing to let the playlist take shape as the night goes in. Rigid won’t cut it and if you can’t loosen up this particular gig probably isn’t for you.

What a lot of bar DJ’s around here don’t seem to get it is that being obligated to play across all different kinds of genres is an amazing opportunity. Eventually I want to graduate to a club or lounge where I can get back to where my heart is, House and DnB. Until then I will make the best of this particular gig and abuse Traktor till it screams. These kinds of gigs are fantastic learning avenues.