Tomorrow is my first PAID DJ Gig!

[AlexHall74]

Hey People,

Tonight I negotiated a deal with a restaurant/bar in town to give me a shot at DJing as a portion of their live entertainment venue.

All of their paid gigs are happy hour/dinner (7PM-10PM).

I told them they need to build their after dinner business as they are closing early a few night per week still (they are only a few months old).

The owner said he is open to suggestions but that he wants to keep the current clients happy now, but will allow me to try and start a dance/party evening venue if there is a response from the general public.

His target market is 38-55 year olds.

This being the case I am building a set of tunes that was popular between 1965-1985.

I have a good idea of what tracks to play, but I would like to hear of any suggestions you all might have as I want to drop the best set possible.

Thanks a bundle for any insight.

Cheers!!

-Alex

[blay]

congrats alex!

so what is your dj name?

john farnham's 'take the pressure down' is hilarious mixed at 45 over the top of any current breaks release (he's aussie.)

cheers

blay

[Gopal]

Well Alex, after having been in your shoes many many times over the years. I wish you good luck. You are going to need it.

8)

[Merlot]

Good Luck bro! I'm sure anything from disco to 80's to classic rock will work! Have you thought about making it an upscale event. Maybe some "martini bar" music. A'la Miguel Migs, S.F. house style?

[jasedee]

Just hit em with some dirty funk......70's style (Aretha Franklin, Chic, Jackson 5, SugarHill Gang etc...) to current funk (think Katalyst, Plantlife etc...)

Good luck dude.....

[AlexHall74]

Thanks for the well wishes my people! :)

I have a good collection of mid fifties surf, modern surf, disco, jazz, funk, 70s rock, and some 80s stuff.

Probably the most eclectic set of my life.

I just want these bastards to know that I've got the tracks and I will pander to their desires if they keep paying me money. (OK, I'm a whore! :lol: )

I am not going to drop full on 80s tracks on them as I want to create an 80s night there on Fridays.

I'll post my playloist once it is complete.

Jase, good recommendations on the new funk.

Cheers everyone!

-Alex

[3o3]

Good luck you manslut!

[Juho L]

Genesis - Supper's Ready
ELP - Tarkus
Yes - The Revealing Science of God
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
ELP - Karn Evil 9
Pink Floyd - Shine on You Crazy Diamond

There you go. A perfectly good set of 70's music. And what's the best part: You can concentrate on drinking and eating because of the small number of tracks.

[Juho L]

to current funk (think Katalyst, Plantlife etc...)

Hold your horses, lad! What is this?! You talk about current funk without mentioning Tower of Power? Shame on you!

[AlexHall74]

Juho,

You are the Uber-god of 70s sets!

That's great, program the playlist, go have 9 martinis, then pack up and go home.

HAH! :lol:

And yes, Tower of Power MUST be part of the list, thou art correct.

[AlexHall74]

WOW!

Last night went really well.

I compiled a playlist and it got torn up immediately when the owner came up and said "I want to hear lots of beach music, 50s stuff, and whatever the guests want to hear."

YES SIR!

Thank God I bought 50s compilations and a lot of Beach Boys when I was yonger.

Then I broke out the disco:

Hot Stuff, Staying Alive, and Shake Your Booty like 1,2, 3! the waitresses were shaking it as they took food to the tables (and the male customers took notice), people in the bar were doing the "Stand in Place, Wave side to side, and make sure I don't spill my drink Dance"

Then the owner walked by and I cross faded over to the Torquays "Jamaican Me Crazy" and he smiled as it was beachy again and walked into the kitchen.

Then the folks on the deck (who were jamming to us over the house system) came in and requested Hank Williams Jr., Alan Jackson, and Stevie Ray Vaughn...a bit of departure from beach but OK by the owner as it was a request. They were howling in laughter outside (and buying drinks) so all was cool.

Then I threw on some Salsa and Kate (an early 60s regular customer and matriarch of a large family) shouted "I LOVE THIS SONG!" right as the owner walked out of the kitchen. :D

Once the dinner folk left I got into the 80s stash as the girls who were with the country guys said they wanted to hear some 80s stuff, so Thomas Dolby broke loose and the girls of the deck blinded their dates with "Science."

It was a really good night and I had a lot of fun.

I've DJed my friends parties for years but that's a group of people that I know all their musical tastes.

This was as much of a blind, random set as I could ever have run into and it was a blast.

I really hope that this turns into a once a week gig as it is a hell of a lot more fun than my IT job!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE!!! :D

[Merlot]

Congrats mate soudns like all went well. Good luck next week.

[MADSTATION]

Glad to hear it went well!

I've been mixing to 150+ parties(mostly raves and afterhours tho) so far and every experience is quite unique :)

[Gopal]

Good work bro. Sounds like they will definately be asking you back.