Bradley Stone

kubin, post: 18238, member: 1600 wrote: I think that the selection of tracks is actually more important than your mixing skills, although you won’t make it without the latter as well.

But having tools like Traktor or Ableton nowadays it’s a lot easier to do beatmatching and transitions rather than with CDs or Vinyls, so making a decent mix using some basic techniques is something you can achieve pretty quick if you dig into it.

Of course it’s getting more fun as soon as you’re getting more familiar with the programs you’re using and your skills developing, and that really helps you in getting attention as well, but making people dance relies much more on the track played than on the super-fancy high-skilled transition that usually only you and maybe a tenth of the people in the crowd are noticing.

Well this is what I was thinking, only the eagle eared minority of the crowd can actually appreciate a fancy transition anyway and like you say it is definitely down to the track that is being played that creates the atmosphere!

D-Jam, post: 18209, member: 3 wrote: When I started mixing, old Bad Boy Bill hot mix tapes were the music I’d get into. It was very commercially clubby music at the time. As I kept DJing, I became exposed to rave DJs, and the new breed of underground DJs that popped up in 93 and 94. From there I kept expanding and experimenting. It’s part of why I have a disdain for most commercial mainstream music.

Go out there and find live sets from DJs you like and respect…listen to them. Then check out others that might play with them. When you shop for music, always check out the suggested stuff that appears when you pick out tunes. Go on Beatport and look at the top 20, but then look at the suggested tunes that accompany the tracks in the 20 you like.

Check out Fatboy Slim if you like Guetta and DP. Check out Krafty Kuts and the Stanton Warriors. Check out James Zabiela. Just explore and always listen to mixes that have tracklistings…so when you come across something that catches your ear, you’ll jot down the tune. Believe me, I listened to recordings of Ultra Music Fest sets and was punching in titles on Beatport at the same time.

There is nothing wrong with playing mainstream stuff…I just think every DJ like you should make the effort to educate and entertain. Play the SHM track everyone knows, then look for 2-3 other tunes that carry that energy and vibe, but the general public hasn’t heard. That’s your start.

So you think its a case of listening to as much related music as possible, even though the majority of it will never make it to a live set?

Seems very sound advice though so thanks for that!

Brad

dj jamie turner, post: 15284, member: 1526 wrote: you should like i do,practice transitioning between songs a lot first,then you will find out why you may on some songs with long intros want to move the start cue point,(where the song will start when you press play)

Cheers, I understand I will be practising a hell of a lot, looking to get my first set in about 6 months time fingers crossed, after all – That’s what its about eh 😉

Brad