Set Times

[Guest Mrs Simsy]

I think it works both ways... I can think of as many instances where I've been bored waiting for the next guy to come on. Niters that is, not really soul nights.

Jayne.x

Aah ha, good point Jayne!

P.S PMSL @ Little Stevie calling DJs 'other gimp'!

Edited October 23, 2008 by Mrs Simsy

[Mach]

its all down to pecking order suppose, i opened up many a night when i dj.d ...one good thing is you can try out different tunes, where as later on a dj can sometimes be wary of clearing the floor and decide to play it safe, back to the point though i agree with the 1 hour minimum spot, as said half hour you dont get chance to express yourself.

[Guest]

And i have seen dj sound pretty flat as they can't get a flow with the other gimp killing it for him ..

Short sets?? long sets?? sometimes one other times another..

I think the 1 hour set for a niter is still the best... You just make sure the best djs are playing the main hours when folk .. But who is judge who the best are???? the punters or the promoter... Maybe thats another topic..

yeh, a good friend of mine used to refuse to double deck with young Sean when he first started out because he used to drive him mad

and couldn't follow him but he's had a good laugh DJ'ing with many others. Maybe it depends on the individuals.. When Chris King used to run

nighters at Sheridan's, guys used to double deck at silly hours and it was a laugh.

Judge?.. oooh that has to be the other DJ's and soul police stood around chin stroking, certainly not the paying punters anyway..

Jayne.x

[Guest]

One on one off is thoroughly enjoyable in the right environment tis true

I'm not familiar with the reference Double Decking but I imagine that is what you are referring to

sorry - yep I was.

Jayne.x.

[soulsalmon]

its all down to pecking order suppose, i opened up many a night when i dj.d ...one good thing is you can try out different tunes, where as later on a dj can sometimes be wary of clearing the floor and decide to play it safe, back to the point though i agree with the 1 hour minimum spot, as said half hour you dont get chance to express yourself.

[/quoteTotally agree with you on this Chris,when i'm asked to DJ i always do the first spot if i can so so i can play unknowns,semi knowns etc without upsetting better known DJ's later on(but i have been known to do that as well)

ATB

Salmon

[KevH]

less then 1 hour sets work if you've got loads of dj's on .If some of the dj's are seen as up and coming,gives them a chance to earn their wings.Also could be seen as keeping the playlists fresh ,and keeping other more established dj's on their toes .

1 hour at niters works for me,again keeps it fresh.But got no problem with hearing 2 hours of quality.

90 minute sets give the dj time to play some things that they may not have had the opportunity to play during a normal 1 hour set. Some clubs already offer this time slot.Kev.

[Guest]

less then 1 hour sets work if you've got loads of dj's on .If some of the dj's are seen as up and coming,gives them a chance to earn their wings.Also could be seen as keeping the playlists fresh ,and keeping other more established dj's on their toes .

1 hour at niters works for me,again keeps it fresh.But got no problem with hearing 2 hours of quality.

90 minute sets give the dj time to play some things that they may not have had the opportunity to play during a normal 1 hour set. Some clubs already offer this time slot.Kev.

sums it up nicely.

Jayne.x

[Quinvy]

We do a lot of 75 minute sets at Burnley, and all the DJ's love them. You get to play your hour set, plust the ones you wanted to play, bit didn't have time to fit in... ...if you get what I mean.

Phil.

[Barry]

We do a lot of 75 minute sets at Burnley, and all the DJ's love them. You get to play your hour set, plust the ones you wanted to play, but didn't have time to fit in... ...if you get what I mean.

Phil.

There's something about that that doesn't quite read right - but I'll leave it.

[Guest Matt Male]

I disagree with you. The majority of the DJ's are collectors and collect all styles. They get put in a position that because they only get an hour that they are forced to play the biggies and indemanders, they aren't allowed to anythging else really. The likes of Butch, Andy Dyson, Mick H, Kitch, Arthuir, Sam etc can play right across the board and do so, 60's, 70's oldies, newies whatever.

Butch is getting asked quite a bit to do two, three and four hour sets, he's good enough and has a collection that can cater for all tastes, I know plenty of others who can do the same as well. Like I said it would then be up to others to show what they can do. Those who can't fall by the wayside and lets face it that can't be a bad thing.

Lets face it most soul venues aren't that diverse, basically 60's and 70's soul music, can't be too much to ask a dj to mix it up a bit can it????

Hmm i don't know why because they have an hour they are forced to play the biggies and indemanders Chalky. Granted most probably do but surely that's either just a lack of imagination, or the promotor tells them what to play, or the dancers are too narrow minded to dance to anything but the current big sounds and oldies. It's nothing to do with the length of time of the set in my opinion. There are other factors.

I do agree that if a promotor books a named DJ, especially at a soul night, they should give that DJ longer to show his stuff and residents get less time (they are on every week after all). At least an hour and a half, maybe more. I suppose the ultimate answer is for promotors to give DJs free reign and for dancers to be more open minded i reckon.

As for having several DJs on a night, i personally like to hear a range of styles and tastes so it's more the merrier for me so an hour is just about right. Having said that there are also DJs that i'm glad to hear for only an hour because i'm looking at my watch waiting for the next one to come on. What a nightmare if you go somewhere and a DJ plays a crap set for three hours eh? I'd rather put up with an hour and move on to the next. It's Russian Roulette sometimes...

[Barry]

It's nothing to do with the length of time of the set in my opinion

Given, but you know that in general jocks showcase certain stuff within that first hour and how often do you see anyone go down any other route?

[Barry]

i

personally like to hear a range of styles and tastes

That's what a dj should be able to do though, no!?

What a nightmare if you go somewhere and a DJ plays a crap set for three hours eh

Yes, but how long would he get away with being booked if he made you feel that way?

[Guest Matt Male]

Given, but you know that in general jocks showcase certain stuff within that first hour and how often do you see anyone go down any other route?

Rarely and that was my point...

[Guest Matt Male]

That's what a dj should be able to do though, no!?

Obviously, that's why i said it...

[Guest dundeedavie]

sorry - yep I was.

Jayne.x.

double decking can either be a great success OR a complete bloody nightmare .....i've done it 3 times , twice it worked and the other one was like a car crash

[Barry]

Rarely and that was my point...

Right, I'm obviously disappearing up me own...."PHOOT!"

[Barry]

Obviously, that's why i said it...

In relation to having more dj's.

[Guest Matt Male]

Yes, but how long would he get away with being booked if he made you feel that way?

I was talking from a personal point of view here. There are many DJs that split opinion 50/50. One man's two hour set of heaven is another man's two hour nightmare. DJs still get bookings but not everyone likes them. I suppose you would just avoid them unless they are on a set with many others you like.

[Guest Matt Male]

Right, I'm obviously disappearing up me own...."PHOOT!"

[Barry]

I was talking from a personal point of view here. There are many DJs that split opinion 50/50. One man's two hour set of heaven is another man's two hour nightmare. DJs still get bookings but not everyone likes them. I suppose you would just avoid them unless they are on a set with many others you like.

Obviously, if the fella in question is not giving a varied set - which appears to be the problem given the recurrence of that statement in this thread.

[Barry]

It's a quagmire innit ha ha?

[Guest Matt Male]

Obviously, if the fella in question is not giving a varied set - which appears to be the problem given the recurrence of that statement in this thread.

hammer, nail, hit on head

Hang on i think i've just contradicted myself I want lots of DJs playing different sets, not lots of DJs playing varied sets which probably all sound the same... or do I... ow my head

Edited October 23, 2008 by Matt Male

[Barry]

hammer, nail, hit on head

That was a very clever way of keeping me happy and shutting me up at the same time mate, and for that I'm grateful - well done.

[Barry]

hammer, nail, hit on head

Hang on i think i've just contradicted myself I want lots of DJs playing different sets, not lots of DJs playing varied sets which probably all sound the same... or do I... ow my head

You also managed to give my an answer that I already knew and got me to believe that I didn't know it.

NEXT!!

[Dave]

Half hour sets are a good way to start the night: Nobody has to endure too big a portion of the sparse dance floor period when folks are getting going and they all get a chance to play at a more attractive time later. I think the guest, assuming he's there because he has a following, should then be given a 90 minute "prime-time" spot at least.

If this means only three DJ's at a soul night, so be it! The promoter will just have to drop one of his mates (who probably has the same records anyway)!

In reality this will seldom happen, as it might cost the promoter a return DJ spot at said mates event.

It baffles me sometimes when you see an event listed here with a "name" DJ and the promoter manages to give himself more deck time than the guest. I've even seen these guys list a prestigous guest then refer to themselves as "main DJ".

At nighters 90 minutes plus slots can work, but that timespan of solely crossover/mid-tempo fare can be a killer!

[Guest]

Half hour sets are a good way to start the night: Nobody has to endure too big a portion of the sparse dance floor period when folks are getting going and they all get a chance to play at a more attractive time later. I think the guest, assuming he's there because he has a following, should then be given a 90 minute "prime-time" spot at least.

If this means only three DJ's at a soul night, so be it! The promoter will just have to drop one of his mates (who probably has the same records anyway)!

In reality this will seldom happen, as it might cost the promoter a return DJ spot at said mates event.

It's not necessarily a case of booking people to get return spots. Some people feel the more DJ's they have on, the wider the appeal of the night.. be it by area or by style of the DJ.

It baffles me sometimes when you see an event listed here with a "name" DJ and the promoter manages to give himself more deck time than the guest. I've even seen these guys list a prestigous guest then refer to themselves as "main DJ".

yeh..makes me laugh too!.. only on special occasions did our promoter get a spot that wasn't opening or closing.

At nighters 90 minutes plus slots can work, but that timespan of solely crossover/mid-tempo fare can be a killer!

absolutely!

[Guest Soultown andy]

Dj set times will obviously vary from club to club and there isnt and shouldnt be any rigid rules.We double deck once a year at xmas mainly to bring back as many of the guest djs who appeared through out the year,and with such a large crowd, last xmas 700ish it adds variety and for us it works.We do one hour spots in the main room thru out the year as again we have a large crowd from all over the uk and for us varity works,well 500 plus make the trip every time so we will stick with it.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Soultown andy

[Guest]

No like I said... its not for every venue... but it suits us.

Then again, we are only a soul night.

As for pissing our guests off... I think a 9 - 10 spot might piss them off more.

The 9 to 10 spot is the best spot to get at a Soul night IMO !

Everyone is getting into the night - getting a few beers down them and they tend to remember at that point in the evening what is being played (plus you can play what you want and not just the tried and tested) - (lots of toe tapping a chatting going on)

Me personally...........If I play tunes after 10 P.M. I usually drop records............get confused with covers......records end up back in the box without covers.... I end up spending the next day with a hangover wondering if I have lost anything and putting the company sleeves back with the correct 45s.........oh and checking I have not cracked any Which has happened a few times !!!

And 45 min sets are great for me because you can drink up to 4 pints without having to go for a piss or a fag (Just) !

True?

Mossy

Edited October 23, 2008 by mossy

[Guest]

The 9 to 10 spot is the best spot to get at a Soul night IMO !

Everyone is getting into the night - getting a few beers down them and they tend to remember at that point in the evening what is being played (plus you can play what you want and not just the tried and tested) - (lots of toe tapping a chatting going on)

Me personally...........If I play tunes after 10 P.M. I usually drop records............get confused with covers......records end up back in the box without covers.... I end up spending the next day with a hangover wondering if I have lost anything and putting the company sleeves back with the correct 45s.........oh and checking I have not cracked any Which has happened a few times !!!

And 45 min sets are great for me because you can drink up to 4 pints without having to go for a piss or a fag (Just) !

True?

Mossy

pmsl! brilliant.

[Jumpinjoan]

The 9 to 10 spot is the best spot to get at a Soul night IMO !

Everyone is getting into the night - getting a few beers down them and they tend to remember at that point in the evening what is being played (plus you can play what you want and not just the tried and tested) - (lots of toe tapping a chatting going on)

Me personally...........If I play tunes after 10 P.M. I usually drop records............get confused with covers......records end up back in the box without covers.... I end up spending the next day with a hangover wondering if I have lost anything and putting the company sleeves back with the correct 45s.........oh and checking I have not cracked any Which has happened a few times !!!

And 45 min sets are great for me because you can drink up to 4 pints without having to go for a piss or a fag (Just) !

True?

Mossy

I was actually being a little sarcastic. But your reply made me glad I posted.

[Jumpinjoan]

DJing is only a bit of fun when all's said and done.

I'm a punter like any other. I don't consider myself a DJ and I certainly couldn't promote. Jeez... Pete Lawson's do nearly killed me!

DDA is just good fun and half hour spots seem to suit... even the guests enjoy them.

Last month Gaz Simon said he liked it cos it allowed him to play a more 70s orientated spot for his first set and then 60s in his second.

And when Mick H came it was with the intention of his first set being stuff that we had never heard before and that's what he did. And believe me... he loved it as much as we all did.

Like I said... not for every venue because each one is different.

One thing I will say though is when you have top quality residents, like for example at Lifeline, with one hour spots there is no escaping the fact that some will get a not so great time.

Perhaps a rota would be a good idea... where one month a DJ did 11 - 12 and the next month 12 - 1 and the month after 1 - 2 and so on. That way all DJ's get the chance at the different times and also, we the punters, get the chance to hear them at different times also.

[Steve L]

)

Me personally...........If I play tunes after 10 P.M. I usually drop records............get confused with covers......records end up back in the box without covers.... I end up spending the next day with a hangover wondering if I have lost anything and putting the company sleeves back with the correct 45s.........oh and checking I have not cracked any Which has happened a few times !!!

True?

Mossy

I can relate to that mate

[Guest Beeks]

Then there is the other end of the Spectrum...Junior Vasquez(Co Founder and resident DJ of The Sound Factory in New York) used to DJ 12 hour stints...makes me feel exhausted just thinking about it haha

[Paul-s]

Fook me Joan that's a really short time!

Does that not piss off your guest DJs? That's only a handful of records...might as well play one on one off

On the contrary, it means they cant f--k off and not listen and pay attention to whats going on in the room. They have to stay connected to the night and particularly the music. I NEVER know what im going to play at DDA because i have to listen to whats going on that night....what the guests and other residents are playing. If i have a pre planned set, it may be like driving a square peg into a round hole and f--k the nights flow up. We also dont have guests rolling in just before their spot and leaving after. Its a WHOLE NIGHT and not an individual platform. The half hour spots means there are no egos in terms of "I must be on at the peak time" and also ALL the djs have to actually contribute to the night by listening aswell as playing. At a lot of events I go to, its as if the dj's are ALL seperate entities and not working together at all. As Joan said , it works very well for us and in the same way that people are saying that 2 hours is the real test, believe me, half hour spots have to be very well chosen and felt and require total committment to the night. A test in itself.

[Steve G]

I'd say DJs that can play a variety of styles I'd say 90 mins sets, poss 2 hours at a niter would seem sensible.

DJs that can only play one style - 30 minutes tops.

Soul nights - 45-60 minutes - again depending on the variety of style of sounds that a DJ can spin.

I mean personally if it was an R&B DJ I'd be bored after 5 minutes

Also many soul nights have a limited time when they are really "active" and buzzing (3 hours) and thus mixing it up a bit more makes it more interesting.

All in my humble opinion of course.

[Guest Beeks]

Fook me Joan that's a really short time!

Does that not piss off your guest DJs? That's only a handful of records...might as well play one on one off

On the contrary, it means they cant f--k off and not listen and pay attention to whats going on in the room. They have to stay connected to the night and particularly the music. I NEVER know what im going to play at DDA because i have to listen to whats going on that night....what the guests and other residents are playing. If i have a pre planned set, it may be like driving a square peg into a round hole and f--k the nights flow up. We also dont have guests rolling in just before their spot and leaving after. Its a WHOLE NIGHT and not an individual platform. The half hour spots means there are no egos in terms of "I must be on at the peak time" and also ALL the djs have to actually contribute to the night by listening aswell as playing. At a lot of events I go to, its as if the dj's are ALL seperate entities and not working together at all. As Joan said , it works very well for us and in the same way that people are saying that 2 hours is the real test, believe me, half hour spots have to be very well chosen and felt and require total committment to the night. A test in itself.

Good post Paul...I sort of get the reasoning behind it now...but you've gone and let the cat out of the bag

[Guest Beeks]

I mean personally if it was an R&B DJ I'd be bored after 5 minutes

AS IF!!

R&B is the most dancefloor friendly music there is IMO!!

If that doesn't get you moving Steve...only a Rocket up your backside will have the same effect

[Guest]

AS IF!!

R&B is the most dancefloor friendly music there is IMO!!

If that doesn't get you moving Steve...only a Rocket up your backside will have the same effect

Usually does the job for me!

[Jumpinjoan]

I'd say DJs that can play a variety of styles I'd say 90 mins sets, poss 2 hours at a niter would seem sensible.

Hmmm... but what you might think of as a great two hour set might be someone else's hell on earth.

And if there is just the one room it might mean the venue is half empty by the time the next DJ comes on.

DJs that can only play one style - 30 minutes tops.

Soul nights - 45-60 minutes - again depending on the variety of style of sounds that a DJ can spin.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'variety of style of sounds'?

Also many soul nights have a limited time when they are really "active" and buzzing (3 hours) and thus mixing it up a bit more makes it more interesting.

I'd say this can also be said of some all nighters too Steve.

[Paul-s]

Good post Paul...I sort of get the reasoning behind it now...but you've gone and let the cat out of the bag

hey, im saying that it works for us ( a small soul room). Each venue has to decide for itself what works best and develop that! Dont think there can be only one way of doing it. Just saying that half hour sets require as much involvement , soul and musical inspiration as 1, 2 ,3 hour sets etc. I dont think one is easier or harder than the other.

[Steve G]

AS IF!!

R&B is the most dancefloor friendly music there is IMO!!

If that doesn't get you moving Steve...only a Rocket up your backside will have the same effect

It does get me moving Beeks - towards the exit.

[Steve G]

Hmmm... but what you might think of as a great two hour set might be someone else's hell on earth.

And if there is just the one room it might mean the venue is half empty by the time the next DJ comes on.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'variety of style of sounds'?

I'd say this can also be said of some all nighters too Steve.

Yep what I am saying Joan is for a 2 h set a DJ would need to play a variety of sound styles - not just one type of music, so some 70s as well as 60s. Agree if it's a single style some people would be turned off (like me and R&B ) and mix of tempos too - and old and new - I know it's all uptempo at the moment, but mix it up a bit that's all. Otherwise 1 hour tops.

[Guest gordon russell]

to many dj's without the knowledge or the tunes.To many dj's with only big ticket records and we're supposed to love em for it.Chalky hit the nail right on the head only a few with the class and style to dj for more than an hour.Sadly to many just buy the tunes for djing purposes.......so will never have a wide selection to choose from.

Edited October 24, 2008 by gordon russell

[Steve G]

.Sadly to many just buy the tunes for djing purposes........

Very true. "Trophy records"

Edited October 24, 2008 by Steve G

[Jumpinjoan]

Sadly to many just buy the tunes for djing purposes.......

Are there really people out there who buy records they don't like just so they can DJ?

Jeez I sound naive... but surely there aren't people like that.

[Guest]

Are there really people out there who buy records they don't like just so they can DJ?

Jeez I sound naive... but surely there aren't people like that.

Always has been Joan. You see them on here desperately trying to get a hold of the latest "big tune".

Derek

[Simon M]

Are there really people out there who buy records they don't like just so they can DJ?

Jeez I sound naive... but surely there aren't people like that.

For example Joan , NS jocks buying Urban Blues Project and Joi Cardwell as Soul Sam has got em working at venues

Edited October 24, 2008 by Simon M

[Guest]

I can relate to that mate

Rumour has it that certain non smoking older soul DJs can manage 4 and 5 hour sets due to the addition of strange plastic bags attatched to their ankles ??

Apart from their obvious longer time spent collecting, this is a very little known but unfair advantage over us young ones ..... who have to go behind the curtains and piss in empty pint glasses in order to achieve the longer sets !!!

These important but little talked about issues should be disscussed more in public IMVHO !!!

I was talking to a well known DJ at an event the other day when the converstion stopped mid flow and he started making growling noises at me ? I thought I had upset him ....but apparentley he was just having a wee !

Edited October 25, 2008 by mossy

[Guest gordon russell]

Are there really people out there who buy records they don't like just so they can DJ?

Jeez I sound naive... but surely there aren't people like that.

hi joan shall l post up their names lol

[Guest gordon russell]

Are there really people out there who buy records they don't like just so they can DJ?

Jeez I sound naive... but surely there aren't people like that.

can't remeber how many times i've been to a venue where someone has the gumption to play something new and or something underplayed.....you hear these tunes whenever you go to this venue or when you hear this dj,then all of a sudden because he or she is filling the dance floor with it you start to see it on other certain dj's playlist,you know darn well that dj has never been to said venue,but he's playing the tune or tunes that you've heard .....they've bought it just cause it's getting played wether they like it or not...thats why i'm so against playlists....tezza