+1 - I can and do mix when needed but similar to Steve, club like continuous dancing doesn't happen alot. In the club, sure. Mobile, for some sets, sure - but nothing like a club.
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Do you all mix?
- Thread starter Dj Nightmare
- Start date
+1 - I can and do mix when needed but similar to Steve, club like continuous dancing doesn't happen alot. In the club, sure. Mobile, for some sets, sure - but nothing like a club.
I've yet to ever have a wedding client ask for club style mixing. They find it annoying. More power to you if it gets you gigs or it gives you something to keep you from being bored but I have no use for it.
In all my 30 plus years of DJing, I have never had a Client tell me they did or didn't want Club Style Mixing or any other type or style of mixing. I do mostly Blending. Do some of you have to wait for direction from Clients for everything? Y'all can't play new songs for fear people won't know it. Ya'll can't play some songs because it was not requested. Blah, blah, blah! Where is the DJ creativity? This is worse then I thought, worse than a Jukebox. Is this perhaps another excuse? I know there are chaps where some of you are who Mix at their weddings so its hard to believe the Client don't want this! Same people who get Married and go to Clubs can also be found at Weddings. Anyways, ..............Music is Evolving. Catch up or be left behind.
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I have never learned to club mix. I do think it would be a cool tool to have in my tool chest. I do blend, I don't even use a crossfader all my blending/mixing is with the channel fadders. It was the way I learned in the 70's and 80's, so I guess I am dated 
Hi Ray,
I am like you. I rarely use to Cross Faders, except when doing scratching which I sparingly do. Like you, the Channel Sliders is my tool of choice. To me thats a bit difficult because you have to set the incoming song/channel to the right gain so you start the second song at the same volume level and ride out the first song as the second gains momentum. That is something that I have never had an opposition to by any of my Clients. As for the scratching, I see where it may not fit in at a Wedding with older folks but when Dancing gets intense, someone who knows what they are doing and when to do it can do Scratching. Eg. "chirping". Thanks for sharing. That is good to know you employ your skills and not rely on "Push Play"
I am like you. I rarely use to Cross Faders, except when doing scratching which I sparingly do. Like you, the Channel Sliders is my tool of choice. To me thats a bit difficult because you have to set the incoming song/channel to the right gain so you start the second song at the same volume level and ride out the first song as the second gains momentum. That is something that I have never had an opposition to by any of my Clients. As for the scratching, I see where it may not fit in at a Wedding with older folks but when Dancing gets intense, someone who knows what they are doing and when to do it can do Scratching. Eg. "chirping". Thanks for sharing. That is good to know you employ your skills and not rely on "Push Play"
I did say club like dancing / mixing doesn't happen alot. Mobile events are typically diverse - and there is a need to cover alot of genres, music and styles. In addition, I may have had a handful ask for 'club style mixing'. No one generally asks for it (or any other style).
As you already know, during dance time, you continue with a set of music (or not) based on the response from the floor at a given time .. or your idea to move to a different style. If I'm at a point of a good floor and I want to keep it going, I can keep it going. Some DJ's blend, some fade, some beatmatch, some loop, some scratch, some add effects, some do mashups, some do all the above and more. Some do nothing other than mix from one song to the next (and they've been in business for decades and have been very profitable doing just that). It's all in what you want to do. I've never had an event where it was nothing but 'club style' for the entire event. Like I said, maybe a set.
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Never had anyone ask, though I've done it a few times. I've said it before, around here you get jeers if you don't play a song start-finish .. just the way it is in the redneck North.
Same experience here - most people want to hear the song as it was released to radio (the most popular version to them).
Some of the responses here show a lack of knowledge and comprehension about Mixing. One can play a A SONG IN ITS ENTIRETY and still mix in the next track. One should not have to wait until a Client asks to do Scratching or Club Mixing or whatever, it should be already part of their skill set. What if the Client did ask, what would some of you do? By some of your own admissions you won't be able to do it because you can't! So would you turn down the Gig?
Blending two songs or seamlessly transitioning from one to another IS Mixing. Why perform like a Jukebox? It takes a little practice to perfect. Why not take the time to learn instead of making excuses like "the Client didn't ask"? Not for one minute do I believe that crap.
Blending two songs or seamlessly transitioning from one to another IS Mixing. Why perform like a Jukebox? It takes a little practice to perfect. Why not take the time to learn instead of making excuses like "the Client didn't ask"? Not for one minute do I believe that crap.
Canute, you once again demonstrate your lack of knowledge and comprehension. No one said you could not play a song in its entirety and still mix in a new song - that said, once you mix in a new song, if the first song is still playing, then you just changed song 1 (from its entirety).
Each and every DJ may or may not have each and every skill set within the term 'DJ' .. and each and every skill set may not be required, nor desired. This is not right or wrong. Similar to the term mechanic. A 'mechanic' may be a person that can do simple touch labor on your car (and not much else) .. yet another may be able to completely rebuild your car. In the world of computers, an IT support person may be able to do simple diagnosis of your machine .. yet another may be able to completely resolve any and all issues while another (believe it or not) can understand policy and theory yet has no actual (or very little) support experience. I'm also certain that each and every Art dealer does not possess the same skills and knowledge .. yet some may possess both and choose not to use it or them consistently .. or at all.
For those that view the skills as not needed, then there is no point to learning or performing them - and preaching what you think someone should know or have really doesn't change anything. You are not an authority on what the definition of a 'DJ' is .. nor the skillset required.
Each and every DJ may or may not have each and every skill set within the term 'DJ' .. and each and every skill set may not be required, nor desired. This is not right or wrong. Similar to the term mechanic. A 'mechanic' may be a person that can do simple touch labor on your car (and not much else) .. yet another may be able to completely rebuild your car. In the world of computers, an IT support person may be able to do simple diagnosis of your machine .. yet another may be able to completely resolve any and all issues while another (believe it or not) can understand policy and theory yet has no actual (or very little) support experience. I'm also certain that each and every Art dealer does not possess the same skills and knowledge .. yet some may possess both and choose not to use it or them consistently .. or at all.
For those that view the skills as not needed, then there is no point to learning or performing them - and preaching what you think someone should know or have really doesn't change anything. You are not an authority on what the definition of a 'DJ' is .. nor the skillset required.
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and to add........given the fact that the majority of the DJs in this community, and that Canute really doesn't work many weddings, he's certainly no authority and should tone the ego down a few dozen notches.
You guys make me laugh. Go on with your excuses.! You mean to tell me that mixing the last 5 seconds of a song into the beginning of another song is so unacceptable at a Wedding! Right!!!!!!!!!!!! ROFLMAO
To Mix or Not to Mix! Those who don't mix will always have an excuse as to why they haven't learned in all these years and how they never need it. Ofcourse you are gonna say that, you don't freaking now how. They will always say that their clients don't want it. I say RUBBISH! A great mixing DJ will always beat out a non mixing DJ with both playing the same exact songs. NO matter what anyone says, that is a fact. Playing a song from start to finish is boring and will never have a better effect then someone mixing to keep the dance floor pumping. If playing a song from start to finish was the most successful way, then you wouldn't have mixing DJs. Do you need to mix? No you don't, but for crying out loud at least take some time to learn the art, mixing has been in the Profession for ages. Learn it you might need it one day.
Thank you very much for that reinforcement Freddy. I don't mean no disrespect to these guys but I cringe when I too hear these excuses. Even new Songs they are afraid to play talking about "my Client did not ask for that so I don't play it". I try and share tips about new versions and all I hear is "In this area they are only used to this version" I say BS. Last night I did a 40 yr HS Reunion, I can't begin to tell you how these people were prompting me to mix in another song and keep it coming. I played Versions of songs such as the Arrow "Hot , Hot, Hot" and they loved it, to the point that they were making a Conga line.
Nobody is asking these chaps to get into the complicated Scratching and editing etc but my God, its pitiful to see a DJ just pushing play. As much as some want to upgrade their Gear, how about upgrading their skills! Wedding, non wedding...it does not matter. They act like people at a Wedding don't go out dancing or listen to the Radio. The lamest of all excuses is the one where they say "My Client did not ask for Club Style" or "they only wanted the whole song played", another piece of BS. In over 30 yrs of business my Style of playing/mixing has never been the topic of discussion with a Client.
Sorry but don't mean to beat a dead Horse, its very frustrating to see how Technology has allowed a bunch of people to enter the Game without the basic skill sets of a REAL DJ, yes I said it! Like Freddy said, if you don't know how, help is available from members here and Tutorials that are readily available on the Internet.
Like my Aussie friend would say "Have a nice day!"
I wasn't presenting excuses. I was referring to 'DJ' in general. DJ's can be anyone that performs 'one song to the next' to the top notch 'mixologist'. Some mix, some don't. Some scratch, some don't. The list goes on and on. All I was saying that it's not something that is needed nor required. It's a skill / form that someone can possess. Plenty get by not doing it. Plenty are really successful not doing it. In addition, mobile venues rarely have a call for lengthy mix sets. Beatmatching, looping, scratching, etc - all have their place and time (mostly in clubs). Are there mobile venues that you can use it at, sure.
Using my example of the mechanic, lots get by with the basics and do it very successfully. The mechanic that can completely rebuild the car is also successful. There are also mechanics with the knowledge to completely rebuild and adapt as needed. This is the same with most professions. Pilots. Should they all need to know the basics of flying? Yep. Do they all need to know how to fly an F22 Raptor? Nope. Does piloting one plane or the other make the flight any more or less successful .. or does the skill needed depend on the task at hand?
Do you think your local McDonalds will be hiring a chef because he or she has all the skills in the kitchen? I seriously doubt it .. but if they did, I doubt the customers looking for the same burger they have always had will be happy if the chef changed it up. Some may be happy with a new burger. Others like the burger as it is. In IT world, you also have a variety of people with skills and knowledge. Some are very basic, some are intermediate, some are expert and others have knowledge of the expert world yet perform in an as needed capacity. Some are quite content knowing the basics.
I disagree with this. All DJ's have different skills, personalities and ways of doing things. This is nothing more than their form. I don't believe that the guests at any show will go home and say - well you know, I think that show would have been so much more successful if he had only mixed his songs. You, for example - I believe that you can outmix anyone here and know things that no one here does. This is your style. Is it needed for a successful event? No. Does it help, sure it does .. but is it needed? I don't think so. The club is where this is more of a requirement.
I totally agree with this.
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