Planning Is Key!!
I always structure my DJ sets according to the venue. We dove deep into this on this episode of the OFF THE RECORD podcast a couple of weeks ago, but here’s what I do when planning a set…
STEP 1. Research the venue
My set at 5 pm Ibiza Rocks pool party will be very different from my 1 am set warming up for a big artist. For my pool party set, I have playlists like ‘Summer Vibes, Summer R&B, Beach Mood, Pool Party House.’
I’m not going to overly plan this set, as I’m just going to go with the flow. However, I’m prepared for anything. For the 1 a.m. set, I am going way more specific. The artist is big in the UK House and UK Bass scene, so I’m getting playlists of about 40-50 tracks that are big bangers from that scene.
The artist isn’t a DJ, so I’m not concerned about playing something they produced or going in too hard.
STEP 2. Find out who is playing
Like I said, for my 1 am set, I know I’m on before the headline artist. What I would then do, is try to connect with the warm-up DJ before me and check what kind of set they are planning on playing.
Now a good warm-up DJ should know to scale it back a bit, but I just like to get ahead of it. With the festival sets I’m playing, I know there is a Drum n Bass DJ on before me, so I’m going to plan to switch it up from that genre.
HOWEVER, I am also prepared enough to start with DnB if it’s still poppin’ off! Finding out who is playing is great for networking; I sometimes drop a DJ a message, just saying that I’m looking forward to meeting them and connecting.
Trust me; it goes a long way!
STEP 3. Vibe with the promoter
For most gigs, the promoter wants me because I can put on a high-energy show. I get on the mic, cause mosh pits and all that good stuff. But for some (like the pool party), the promoter is looking for a totally different energy. Not to mention genre, many brands I work with have a specific audience, for example, I’m doing a 90s R&B event in August, and the promoter specifically asked, “Can you play this?” So I’m always trying to get total clarity with a promoter before and after taking a gig. Building these types of relationships is integral to getting yourself booked again and again.
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