Do all the JH dances you've done suck?

I'm 14 and I started DJing in around December 2007. I've had two gigs to date, both at my JH school. Both were pretty boring, as the self-consciousness factor was through the roof, so there was no dancing to be had. Do any of you more experienced DJs have tricks up your sleeves to get the crowd moving? Any games? Do you ever do contests (who can dance better?)?
Thanks, Djembedrummer

Not sure if it has to do with tricks, just play the clean versions of the current top 40 songs. I've only DJ'd one Middle School or Junior High School dance, and it went fantastic. Several Sweet 16's also very good time.

The big thing with younger crowds (under high school) is they don't necessarily know how to act yet; they haven't figured out what's cool. Mainstream music, edited for content, and they'll warm up. IF you're an interactive type, you might be able to loosen them up a little earlier with some warm fuzzy games. Like high school, they'll get into it a lot easier if the environment is right; not a brightly lit room, but dance lighting, an adequate sound system, no big ackward gaps in the music. As long as they don't feel like they are in the spotlight (they prefer to be like sheep) they're ok.

The pre-teen/students are awkward at that age. Some don't know how to dance. They just show up for the dance because their hot new "flame" will be there.

To get people dancing "aim your target" at the girls. Get the girls dancing and the boys will follow.

Ask yourself about the type of music and songs you're playing. Are they what the people want or are you just showing off what a great and wide selection of music you have. Also, don't just play the top of the current charts. Don't assume that everyone listens to the current hits. Some guys never listen to the radio and only know the songs that their older siblings have brought into their home. Which is why you should be throwing in some older hits. I play alot of "jh/pre-teen dances" and have found that alot of the requests I am getting are stuff the kids where raised on; mainly their parents music. ie: AC/DC, Led Zepp.., etc. And, don't assume country is out. Play a couple of songs and see what happens; Dixie Chicks, Shaina Twain, Heartland and the biggest country band now, Rascal Flatts. If you're in an area that only listens to urban muisc, you can still play some older music. ie: "Baby Got Back", Grangsta's Paradise, etc. Even "Pump up the Jam" is back

Throwing in an interactive dance is fine. You might think that people won't dance to it, but you might get one person who will do it as a joke for their friends and it might start the ball rolling.

If interactive games is not part of your character, if you don't feel right doing them, then DON'T. Instead you can play an interactive game song like the "Limbo" by Chubby Checker. You may be suprised at the results. One of the top working DJ's in my market. just plays music and isn't interactive at all. He just plays the proper music that people want to hear.

Don't give up, just keep entertaining. For every event you play you will have learned something.

Let us know how you make out?

Get the girls dancing and the boys will follow.

That's really all you need to say right there! It aplies to pretty much any type of event.

From my experience, the JH dances are the easiest because you usually don't have to be interactive. Just play good music and in a few short minutes you will have a giant pit of humping 13 year olds. Seriously though, when I was in JH we had this thing called Middle School Madness at one of the YMCAs. The only time I remember the DJ talking was when a CD skipped and he got on the mic and apologized, and when he would say his company name and stuff at the end of the show. Nevertheless, the music selection was great and we all loved it.

I do a lot of JH dances around here and what works for me is play some good current stuff to start with (about 3-4 songs), introduce yourself and go into the cha cha slide or cupid shuffle, then into cotton eyed joe or jump on it....they are all cheese but almost every kid will be out on the dance floor doing the dance...then once you have them all out there, go into something VERY popular from the get go - like low or cyclone or 2-step remix or walk it out...and they'll be good to go. You can always play one of these songs again later if you get tons of requests to do so.

I totally agree with catering to the ladies at these events....they all like to dance to "barbie girl", love to sing to "since you've been gone" and "man I feel like a woman", get down to "lip gloss" and run around to "wanna be".

Play a two song techno set late in the dance, maybe even "what is love" by haddaway into sandstorm...tell them all they have to do is bounce to the beat...tell them to get their hands up...smile for the camera if your taking pics or video.

Always end strong. Save your best 6-8 songs for the last 30 minutes....make them leave wanting more....cue "hit the road jack" and tell them it's been a blast and you can't wait until the next dance!

Glow stix: Spend $40 on some glow bracelets: here is where I get mine http://www.extremeglow.com/Merchant4/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=NECK great prices and super quick delivery. You can sell them for $1 or $2 a piece and give away some for those doing all the dancing....soon kids will be on the floor just to get a glow stix.

Try this: Play "here in your arms" by hellogoodbye....in the song there are three points where it goes from low and calm into a high energy techno vibe. Tell the kids to all face you when you play the song and tell them you will let them know when to jump...get them clapping to the beat, when the high energy spot hits the whole gym will be jumping on your cue.

Don't forget the older stuff: Songs like c'mon ride this train, baby got back, jump around, hip hop horray...

Remember, people are more likley to dance if they know the song...regardless of how good the beat is. Even if you don't like a current song, if it's popular - PLAY IT!

Good luck!

YMCA!!! I know I know,,,, but remember what you are there for..... you are there to let them have a good time, you are not there for your ego....

If you are DJing you own school, I can see how it might be hard throwing down some "cheese" and then having to take the stuff from your buds the next day at school.

Don't play for you, play for them....

Do a snowball dance,,,, have the girls line up on one side and the guys on the other,,,, get a couple to start to slow dance,,, after about 20 secs, say snowball, the girl gets a new guy and the guy goes and gets a new girl,,,, do this over and over,,,, don't let them dance for long....

You will have to remind them during the song, not to pick someone already on the dancefloor, they will anyway, but tell them.... the idea is to get as many people dancing...

after you do that, get them all or as many as you think you can, slide in another slow song and let them have the whole song..... boom, packed floor...

Thanks so much you guys for the quick responses. It's a big help. Ive tried lots of stuff haha like snowball, but it turned out weird for the Valentine's Day dance because no one wanted to play it, which seemed odd to me (it's all about the lovin', ain't it? haha). Getting the girls to dance first is also another ive tried, and it worked. A little bit of the new Britney Spears, and you get the "humping 13 year olds". I've never really been a person to dance either, but now I do, cause you start to feel sorry about the DJ after a little while.

Actually, all the middle or Jr HS dances turned out pretty well. My last was in June, 2000 so it's been awhile, lol. :)

Ya may as well face it ~ you've gotta have a lot of bass thump. The more bass response, the better. Some lighting effects will make a big difference as well. Even if it's just a mirror ball and pinspot.

I never did games or interactives. If there was to be any of that, the sponsors handled it. I was there to rock the house, lol.

Put on an extended dance mix and get out there on the floor and git down with 'em. Just make sure to get back to the console before the set ends, lol.

The ticket to music success is to have an inside contact ~ a student at the school who knows what his or her peers like. In my case it was my daughter. This way, I was able to play a little bit of everything and ya didn't have as many students lined up along the back wall all night. Make sure you don't segregate music ~ play for everyone as much as possible.

I'd set out a pen and pad for requests. Some of the requests were crap but I'd play as many danceable tunes as we had time for. Not every song on mainstream radio is danceable ~ Hootie and the Blowfish were big on radio back in the day but they flopped at school dances because they didn't have that energy.

The students were studying music history and were familiar with Motown hits. I played a few of those to good reception. Rockin' Robin filled the floors as well.

Line or participation dances are always a hit. The Train, YMCA, Electric Boogie, Perculator, Casper Slide, Booty Call, Bus Stop. Chubby Checker's The Twist and Limbo Rock are good, too.

One thing I'd do was get birthdays and announce 'em. So-and-so has a birthday this month etc. Also, you can pause for concessions and restroom breaks with giveaways like glow products.

This may seem goofy but it works: You've got several adults there ~ teachers, some parents, school principal etc. Play something they'll dance to. The students think it's cool and you'll make points with the people who book ya. Remember, teachers have weddings, too.

Give 'em all a chance to wind down with a slow dance every 15 minutes or so. Then bring 'em back with a floor thumper.

By the end, there's a load of parents waiting outside the doors and watching. I always saved a popular slow dance for the last song. In those days it was Garth Brooks' The Dance. Take the mic with ya and dance with a gal. When the song ends, unmute the mic and thank everyone for coming. Makes for a very good impression. :)

Thoughts?

One thing I'd do was get birthdays and announce 'em. So-and-so has a birthday this month etc.

Who do you usually find that out from? Do you get other kids to tell you or do ask over the mic?

Try this: Play "here in your arms" by hellogoodbye....in the song there are three points where it goes from low and calm into a high energy techno vibe. Tell the kids to all face you when you play the song and tell them you will let them know when to jump...get them clapping to the beat, when the high energy spot hits the whole gym will be jumping on your cue.
Haha I was too lazy to buy the song, so I listened to it on youtube. It's true that it would get people dancing like you said. PS The video is crap all the guys are in short-shorts.

Looks like the Glow Stick crazy has started at the dances I go to. This school I have recently started DJing again (after they got burned the past few times) gave me a rule that said "No Glow Sticks" don't know if they dont want me selling (the money is sufficient enough for whataburger after gigs lol) or if they will be selling their own. Either way I abide by the schools rules.

Haha I was too lazy to buy the song, so I listened to it on youtube. It's true that it would get people dancing like you said. PS The video is crap all the guys are in short-shorts.

yeah, I picked up that one from a local DJ friend who did it when we did a big HS dance together...works everytime!

Who do you usually find that out from? Do you get other kids to tell you or do ask over the mic?
The daughter was my contact. She knew who had birthdays. Otherwise, see if you can get the poop from the clients before the show.

If interactive games is not part of your character, if you don't feel right doing them, then DON'T.

Pfffffffffff I love doing interactive games. I am not the type who is too afraid of what the crowd is going to say hehe. I lead very large youth events here in calgary and that has brought my confidence level to do stuff like that way up.

I have never had any trouble getting 12 to 16 year olds to dance.

Give them a bunch of top 40 in a dark room with tons of bass and a cool lighting setup. They will dance.

I have a trick:
I alwais save a song or two which are BIG hits and if i see that the party is going a bit down then i play that songs-if not i play the songs at the end and everybody goes home with a smile on theyre faces.

I am also going to be teaching myself to scratch, so that should get 'em "wowing"

]I am also going to be teaching myself to scratch, [/B]so that should get 'em "wowing"

I did that, and now my wife hates it. :) ;)

TMI!!

I agree save the best to the end. The parents walk in and are very happy.

I use both glownecklaces and bracletes from Glowspek.com if u buy them by the case no one is cheaper. They even come with the ends.

Let the kids pick the music ahead of time. Either through djintelligence or each homeroom picks 5 -10 songs. If the kids feel they are part of it they will respond.

I have found success in this group though they were my biggest challenge to date the first two events though I had the top 20 hits there were songs I didnt even know requested and I pride myself inknowing the most current music. From that point on I got my sub of Primecuts and I scoured the local Hip Hop top 40 stations most current Hit list and made sure I had all of them. if it wasnt on the list and I heard it for the first time and thought it was a keeper I would make every effort to purchase it. Keep ahead of most others on the music and the middle schoolers will love you.

would it be bad to admit here that sometimes at JH dances that i still sometimes resort to huggy bear, and the kids still dig it?
JH really sucks cause its an awkward age. usually the boys and girls separate and drool all night and then go back to school the next day and say "darn i should have asked such and such to dance with me"

Now I do this very upper eschelon private school in our area that's 6-12 and typical teenage stuff works at the High school and they dance all night. I have the high school on an annual program however the middle school had us for the 1st time a month or two ago and I worked my way through some hip hop and some top 40 and NOTHING.. then by request i played c'mon ride the train and it was like someone opened the flood gates. mind you if my math still serves me a bit, these kids were born in what 94-96 so they werent even alive for the songs that had them up the most:
c'mon ride it
Tootsie roll
Whoomp there it is (which was my senior class' song)
apache
cotton eyed joe
and even the good ole grease megamix


wow...

Kyle
1cdj

Grease is such an explicit song I had to quit playing it at Teen dances along with the Chicken Dance.

You never know what works sometimes. I was yelled at at a HS party at a christian school because I played "Play that funky music" by Wild Cherry.

I did a JH dance once and ended with Avril L "complicated". The kids packed the floor and I went out with my mic (turned low) and let them sing a few seconds. It was a huge way to end. Can't find a song with such appeal since. Keep hoping High School Musical will work, but it's more elementary school kids who like that one.

It is surprising that the old Jock Jams and MTV Party To Go CDs still work with the middle school crowd.

Sometimes ya wanna play newer stuff (and you do) but those old line dances still go over well for some reason. :)

When I was in Jr. High (back when they were building them pyramids in Egypt), the big thing was mid-50s rock like Bill Haley and his Comets. We weren't even born when that music was recorded.

Hugh- this year im getting the same reaction to Journey Don't stop believing again (it was like that 3 or 4 years ago for me too) the other big high school finish song for us is "heres to the night" by eve 6,

one funny thing that threw me once was a wedding i did at a church the pastors daughter was the bride and strokin was on their MUST PLAY list...

I had printed the list and high lighted it for the backlash but it went off without a hitch

kyle

had a Pastors Daughter want ITs Gettin Hot In Here as their Grand Entrance song. Daddy said whatever my baby wants play it. The playlist was respectful and modest.

Jon now the question i would ask was do you play an edited version that gets rid of that first "AS&" but what i really want to know and ive asked a lot of dj's this...

whats the deal with the phone in the basement?


kyle

Holy Cow Kyle where have you been. ITs like a Middle School Kid in a Candy Store LOL. But yeah Editted and the unknown shall remain unknown I hate it when people try to tell me what slang means. Me and the middle schoolers would rather prolong the innocense.

my blackberrys with me all the time, basement, to the penthouse lol...

these forums are great...

I just developed a new music trivia game for those of you doing game shows and or just music trivia games. I thought of this for my friend who is PD at Kiss 95-1 in melbourne


very topical here...


"The T-PAIN OR LIL WAYNE GAME"
you play the non t-pain or lil wayne recognizeable part of a song and they have to guess is it

t-pain
lil wayne
both or none

just to give you a rough idea lil wayne and t-pain we featured either together or separate in over 40 different charted songs and remixes in 2007-2008

this is kind of off topic but i did t-pain or lil wayne for glow sticks at a middle school the other day and they loved it..

kyle