First Time Dj

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

people in Peterborough i know are supportive and if the paying customers like me i can do it again. I will have to post up my set list once done.

What i can say is 2 tunes i expect to play are

Arthur Conley - Star Review (that song i feel is played less, not even hear it out of hear about it anywhere) and

Sam Cooke - Sugar Dumpling which is one of my all time fav's and i can't imagine not hearing it out.

[givemesoul]

Sugar dumpling was played out at the last soulfusion,good dancefloor action had a little go myself,oldies still grabbed the top action ,along with voices cashing in & chuck jackson I've got the need,sounds great played out.As a paying punter get it right as they did at soulfusion & you can't go wrong.

[Guest Dante]

good one!

I'm in the same position. I'm going to do my first two DJ spots in july, so it'll be great to read some stuff about it.

Anyone did his first spot with a non-soulie crowd? 'cause where I'm going to play it'll be mostly ska/reggae fans and some mods...

Cheers

Dante

Edited June 12, 2007 by Dante

[Guest kent soul club]

Don't really feel qualified to give advice, but my first couple of times up were playing at scooter club parties, and I just played what I know people always dance to, with a couple of personal favourites thrown in.(mind you most of my favourites are all the well worn tunes people like to dance to!) Some people seem to frown on this and call it "playing safe", but imho if the people that pay to get in the door are on the floor you've got it right.

Good luck!!

Magoo

[Guest Simon]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

people in Peterborough i know are supportive and if the paying customers like me i can do it again. I will have to post up my set list once done.

What i can say is 2 tunes i expect to play are

Arthur Conley - Star Review (that song i feel is played less, not even hear it out of hear about it anywhere) and

Sam Cooke - Sugar Dumpling which is one of my all time fav's and i can't imagine not hearing it out.

In a perverse sense the first time is the easiest because nothing is expected from you & you just do your best, can't remember my first NS do but the first time i played about 12 years ago was at a 6ts club in Brighton now sadly deceased, i didn't know how to cue up so my girlfriend Sam (who'd djayed at Indie clubs in Leicester when she was at University there) done that part for me & i just chose the records.

Remember another early experience when i had actually learnt to cue up by this stage, the club was so dark by the decks that they had to provide candles, i held one of the candles up while i cued up the record & the wax leaked onto the record!

Simon

P.S. Hope i haven't put you off djing for life!

[Guest Bearsy]

My first time was at Kent Soul Club at the beginning of last year in front of 200 people who i knew most of and i was shaking like a leaf as im normally quite a confident person and full of myself . i was in a right state the week leading up to it and didnt stop shaking until the morning after but i think that was the adrenalin.

what a buzz though, take a towel to wipe away the persperation and stop the sweat dripping off your brow and have a couple of brandys close to try and calm the nerves and stop the shakes when cueing up.

But most of all just enjoy yourself and play what you like and just hope the crowd like your taste in tunes. you cant and wont make everyone happy so just believe in your tunes

Good luck

Bearsy

[Guest moggy]

My first actual Dj spot was around 25years ago in a wine bar in Birmingham

the mod revival was on going, and to be honest the crowd appreciated some real soulful stuff

as opposed to Secret Affair etc & what were becoming played out Ska tunes, so an easy first one in my case

Have done a few in the past

And the only advice I think i could give, would be !

Use the mic, dont hog it, just be confident and clear when announcing the track to be played

Nothing worse than just a record followed by record etc, oh and yes those jocks that mumble into the mics, and you cannot understand a bloody word thats been said

Good luck, and believe in yourself and your choice of choons

[Guest Matt Male]

I've DJ'd twice so i'm still a DJ virgin really, but all i will say is it's never what you think it will be like. I had an idea of what i was going to play before i went on my first time, i'd even written a few down. Well that went straight out of the window after about three records. You find you have to try to do lots of things at once, play to the floor, play what you'd like them to hear and managed requests as well. It's like spinning several plates at once.

I reckon (from my vast experience ) a good DJ has to do several things, introduce people to something they may not have heard before, maybe play some crowd pleasers but above all be sensitive to the floor. I think this will always depend on the venue and the music policy. It's no good sticking on a pile of your personal favourites and newies at an oldies night and then moaning at the stupidity of the punters, or playing oldies all night at a progressive across the board soul night.

I'm on for my 3rd time in August and the night is billed as 'across the board' which is the way i like it, i have a few 'rarely played' (not particularly rare) i want to play out which may or may not get a good reception plus some R&B which might clear the floor. I hope the crowd is appreciative but i'm ready to switch gears should i need to. So i suppose flexibility is essential.

Like i say that was my experience. Above all enjoy yourself. I absolutely loved every minute of it

[good angel]

1974-5,my first DJ experience,I was bricking it,It got better I gave it up

And concentrated on the the dance floor

Kev

[Guest vinylvixen]

Take a deep breath, give the crowd your most winning smile and utter the mantra 'IT'S SHOWTIME'....and hit the play button on the decks....making sure you've got some vinyl cued up at 45rpm lol....cueing up is a piece of cake - hit the first note on the record and then turn the record back 2 1/2 revs - EASY PEASY - and forget the cries of 'groove burn' - g'wan and enjoy yourself and leave 'em wanting more No rocket science involved. Jo

[Guest Simon]

hit the first note on the record and then turn the record back 2 1/2 revs - EASY PEASY - and forget the cries of 'groove burn' - g'wan and enjoy yourself and leave 'em wanting more No rocket science involved. Jo

Oi Wallace, Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my real pet hate, cueing up records, you don't need to, it's so easy just to slip the record into the groove a few seconds before it's coming in, i haven't cued up a 45 for about five years & even if i say so myself i rarely have a long gap between tunes.

Simon

[Guest Trevski]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

If I wrote down now what I'm gonna play on Saturday, it will have changed by night, never mind the end of the year!

Edited June 12, 2007 by Trevski

[Guest Trevski]

Oi Wallace, Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my real pet hate, cueing up records, you don't need to, it's so easy just to slip the record into the groove a few seconds before it's coming in, i haven't cued up a 45 for about five years & even if i say so myself i rarely have a long gap between tunes.

Simon

Never cue anything, apart from lookin' daft in them headphones! Do it by eye, and immediatly one starts to fade, fade the other one in, or do a bit on the mike and fade it up. Sorted!

[Ezzie Brown]

ONLY DONE IT TWICE, SO SCARED I GOT SOMEONE ELSE TO PUT THE RECORDS ON WHILE I STOOD AROUND GRINNING LIKE A TWAT AND ASKING REPEATEDLY" IS THIS ONE OK?" yes merv it was you and i have recovered the use of my arms now thanks!

[Guest vinylvixen]

Oi Wallace, Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my real pet hate, cueing up records, you don't need to, it's so easy just to slip the record into the groove a few seconds before it's coming in, i haven't cued up a 45 for about five years & even if i say so myself i rarely have a long gap between tunes.

Simon

LOL....it's difficult to break a habit of 30 odd years I'll be cueing until I conk out over the decks Jo

[Guest vinylvixen]

Never cue anything, apart from lookin' daft in them headphones! Do it by eye, and immediatly one starts to fade, fade the other one in, or do a bit on the mike and fade it up. Sorted!

Blimey - shoot me now Different strokes for different folks, eh? What if the poor dj's too nervous to use the mike Next you'll be suggesting I use cross fading........ Anyway, I'm sure all virgin djs find their own way of starting a record....better still, throw the vinyl away and do your set from your laptop Better still - I'll get my coat Cue, cue, Barney McGrew....Jo

[Guest Simon]

LOL....it's difficult to break a habit of 30 odd years I'll be cueing until I conk out over the decks Jo

What you need is a cue patch Jo, wear it on your arm whenever you go out djing & it'll help you break that nasty habit.

Simon

[Guest vinylvixen]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

people in Peterborough i know are supportive and if the paying customers like me i can do it again. I will have to post up my set list once done.

What i can say is 2 tunes i expect to play are

Arthur Conley - Star Review (that song i feel is played less, not even hear it out of hear about it anywhere) and

Sam Cooke - Sugar Dumpling which is one of my all time fav's and i can't imagine not hearing it out.

When's your set in P'boro? I'm there on Oct 6th....

[Guest vinylvixen]

What you need is a cue patch Jo, wear it on your arm whenever you go out djing & it'll help you break that nasty habit.

Simon

NEVER.........I shall remain a cueing Luddite forever I shall cue them on the beaches......... Off to make lots of hiss on the beginning of all my records Jo

[Supercorsa]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night.

Here's how mine went...

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

well it would be end of October but they have def booked me for December end of year. i shall enjoy it and reason i have songs listed is cause of them are in my opinon crackers.

I have not missed in Peterborough a night in about 5 years so i am lucky to know what has and has not been played to death so i can play out underplayed oldies but only for us local people not excatly whole of UK.

The Elgins - Stay In My Lonely Arms i want played out as a Motown track, which is classic.

Also Jackie Wilson - Open the Door To Your Heart even though i hear no one here likes the version much and end up moaning so ask for Darrell Banks original.

[Guest Leigh J]

I've DJ'd twice so i'm still a DJ virgin really, but all i will say is it's never what you think it will be like. I had an idea of what i was going to play before i went on my first time, i'd even written a few down. Well that went straight out of the window after about three records. You find you have to try to do lots of things at once, play to the floor, play what you'd like them to hear and managed requests as well. It's like spinning several plates at once.

I reckon (from my vast experience ) a good DJ has to do several things, introduce people to something they may not have heard before, maybe play some crowd pleasers but above all be sensitive to the floor. I think this will always depend on the venue and the music policy. It's no good sticking on a pile of your personal favourites and newies at an oldies night and then moaning at the stupidity of the punters, or playing oldies all night at a progressive across the board soul night.

I'm on for my 3rd time in August and the night is billed as 'across the board' which is the way i like it, i have a few 'rarely played' (not particularly rare) i want to play out which may or may not get a good reception plus some R&B which might clear the floor. I hope the crowd is appreciative but i'm ready to switch gears should i need to. So i suppose flexibility is essential.

Like i say that was my experience. Above all enjoy yourself. I absolutely loved every minute of it

I hope its not in Nuneaton , take your Cds for when the shouts of ' get this new s**t off and play some oldies ' starts

Why does everyone feel the need to be a DJ ? there must be more of them these days than punters .

Im a collector always have been and always will be , this used to be enough , the dj ing was left to the pro's .

Now its the promoters mates purely for a bigger profit margin . There used to be credability in djing ,not now .

[Billywhizz]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

people in Peterborough i know are supportive and if the paying customers like me i can do it again. I will have to post up my set list once done.

What i can say is 2 tunes i expect to play are

Arthur Conley - Star Review (that song i feel is played less, not even hear it out of hear about it anywhere) and

Sam Cooke - Sugar Dumpling which is one of my all time fav's and i can't imagine not hearing it out.

i did a spot 20 + years ago norwich alldayer if i can remember guy h and ian clark were on the line up could,nt get the needle on the 45 made to many mistakes not for me bit to girlish stick to the dancefloor.

Billy

[Scallybob]

Are you DJing or just sticking a few records on?

If you're DJing how can you know now what you will play? A DJ reads the mood of the crowd and plays accordingly. You can shape the crowd a bit by smoothly moving from one type of record to another. Then they get confidence in you and give you a bit of an opportunity to do your own thing.

[Guest Roccia]

[Guest Glawsters Best]

Not my first time but my last... Me & Barbara double-decking at Cleerhorpes Saturday afternoon...

TOP SET MY BOY

[Guest Roccia]

TOP SET MY BOY

Thanks a lot mate!

[Supercorsa]

Not my first time but my last...

What you retiring then?

[Guest Roccia]

What you retiring then?

Don't think so... I like too much spinning those little pieces of vinyl... I'm working about our club 4th anniversary on November in Pisa with Ginger and Malc Burton as guest...

[Guest]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

people in Peterborough i know are supportive and if the paying customers like me i can do it again. I will have to post up my set list once done.

What i can say is 2 tunes i expect to play are

Arthur Conley - Star Review (that song i feel is played less, not even hear it out of hear about it anywhere) and

Sam Cooke - Sugar Dumpling which is one of my all time fav's and i can't imagine not hearing it out.

DONT PLAY FREDDIE HOUSTON - IF I HAD KNOWN.............OR ROY ROBERTS - GOT TO HAVE YOUR LOVE

TOTAL OLD Faggot SHIT TUNES FROM THE OLD TIMER DJS

[Kevinkent]

Is anyone able to post up experiences of how there first spot went ever for a Northern soul night. Because by the end of the year thanks to a few friends locally i am going to be a rookie DJ and doing my first spot at the City club in Peterborough, i am happy to be getting a chance and have songs listed ready to play out.

quote]

First time for me was a real buzz! A big cheer when I approached the decks for a 2nd set got me hoked for life.

For your first go, IMO:

• OK have a set sorted in advance, you should know the venue and what goes down well.
  
• Have your box in a good order so that you can deviate from your set as soon as you feel confident.
  
• Ensure, one way or another, that you have enough light to find your records (take a torch if you must).
  
• Get there early and familiarise yourself with the equipment without getting in anyones way.
  
• - and so that you know what's already been played.
  
• Have a spare record centre in your pocket.
  
• Relax and above all enjoy yourself.
  
• Let it be seen that your enjoying yourself, don't just turn your back on everyone and bury your head in your box (now there's a thought!) between plays.
  

GOOD LUCK.

"STOLEN HOURS"

RAMSGATE 21st JULY

Edited July 3, 2007 by KevinKent