Weddings Question For (Some) Wedding DJs

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ahoustondj said:
With that way of thinking, then why hire a DJ? An IPod loaded with songs can do the same thing. Apparently you have not heard some of the Horror Stories about IPod Weddings! ;)
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Best I can tell, an iPod does not announce the wedding party, does not announce and oversee the traditional events, etc. The iPod may have a hard time dragging the bride and groom onto the floor, to do a toast, or a special dance. They may be outside having a smoke -- what does the iPod do?

I think you could get away with an iPod in Canada, because they usually have a family member do MC duties, from what I've heard (disclaimer: I've never been to a wedding in Canada, so I cannot verify this).
 
I don't see beat mixing as a "dance contest", but more of controlling the energy on the floor. Keeping the energy going without the break of starting and stopping songs. Either way....it's a tool that a DJ that should know....even without a BPM match button.

Just like a mechanic has a tool box....... so do we...just different tools !
 
ahoustondj said:
How will it cost revenue if it is done without the Client asking for it?
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Based on the feedback that I've gotten, not saying it's the same in your area, multiple clients have told me this was annoying after having seen it done at someone else's wedding. They didn't like it and they specifically did not want it at their events. The dudes who were doing it lost bookings they could have had.

ahoustondj said:
Do you know of anyone who was not hired and lost a Gig because of Beat Matching?
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Yea, some of my competitors.
 
DJDerik Well said! This issue has been talked about over and over and all the DJ's who can't beatmix or remix say it's not important but they can't do it that's what it is and for some reason they do not want to master the craft which they have chosen. As an entertainer we need to always hone our mic skills, our mixing, our programming, and our organization skills. The guys who say it's not important can't it's that simple little do they know if they could it could enhance the overall performance of thier shows....
 
Only said it wasn't important in the context of a wedding reception .. it is a skill, a highly regarded one, just not as important in all situations.
 
Ricky your actually more wrong saying a club should be a full on dance party. Packed bars have folded over the years cause of various reasons. One being the DJ keeping them dancing all nite and not serving drinks. Floor rotation is the key there and a staff that hustles the drinks.
 
Maybe I'm foolish but I always want to be the best at what ever I choose to do. Why wouldn't someone who wants to be a DJ learn how to mix? Teach themselves about key and tone and tempo? Anyone can push a button and since the first PCDJ became the norm I think people rely too much on thier software and not thier ears. An athlete is always trying to improve, a doctor is always educating themselves, why can't a DJ as a professional strive to be the best and want to hone his/her skills? Anyway back to the topic it's not the be all end all if you can't mix but it will enhance your performance and make you better....
 
Jon Tuck said:
Rick your actually more wrong saying a club should be a full on dance party. Packed bars have folded over the years cause of various reasons. One being the DJ keeping them dancing all nite and not serving drinks. Floor rotation is the key there and a staff that hustles the drinks.
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Not sure if you were speaking of me, or the other Rick (I'm Ricky BTW).

I totally agree on the floor rotation at a club. Every 25 minutes, you turn the floor.
 
rickryan.com said:
Based on the feedback that I've gotten, not saying it's the same in your area, multiple clients have told me this was annoying after having seen it done at someone else's wedding. They didn't like it and they specifically did not want it at their events. The dudes who were doing it lost bookings they could have had.



Yea, some of my competitors.
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I am wondering why the Client could not have asked them not to do it! It is easier to not do it than to do it, I think!
 
Ricky.....yep.....get 'em hot and sweaty and send them to the bar :) We all want to put on the best show......only difference is we all have diffent ways of doing that....that's why we talk on here....to share our experiences. I've have man wedding where I really didn't do much mixing due to the type of music requested. Could i beat mix the songs....SURE....but was it the right choice is the question. While i was doing nightclubs i totally kept track of the bar sales and adjusted my sets to maximize bar sales.
 
To me, it's all about the songs. If two songs beat mix together well, I'll beat mix them. I'll typically beat mix some songs at every weddings. Songs beat mixed together sound great. Knowing how to beat mix is an important aspect of being a good DJ. But I believe, at least at weddings, some DJs are more concerned about beat mixing that they are about the actual song that's being played. I believe it's more important that the right songs are played at the right times. You can mix all you want, but if the crowd doesn't like the song, they'll soon forget how great your mix was. If the song is great, they'll soon forget how bad your beat mix was.

I don't typically play "dance mix" versions of songs, unless that's the popular version. I've never had a client ask not to do it. I did have some young groom to be ask me to put together 30 songs and his friend would listen to them and decide who to hire based on the mixes and the songs picked. I said no thanks.
 
Back when I was CD based, I would beatmix during the dance portion of the evening. Then I went computer based (about 10 years ago)...and lacking a MIDI controller...I stopped beatmixing. I could "slam" songs together with software & a mouse...but that was about it.

Then about two years ago I got a MIDI controller (VCI-100, in case you are interested) and I started beatmixing again....during the dance portion of the evening. I upgraded to an S2 this year, and I am loving it. Not every song...not every transition....but when I can, and when it works with the songs.
 
Djderik said:
While i was doing nightclubs i totally kept track of the bar sales and adjusted my sets to maximize bar sales.
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I usually did DJ back (same as bar back, only on the music) at the clubs. Another guy did the mixing, and I'd cover getting the CDs, checking with the bartenders, handling requests, etc. If he wanted a break, I'd take over -- I don't have any problem playing second fiddle.

Tips were amazing, even though some of these guys were not very good IMHO. We'd usually roll out with a full pocket of coin ;)

I just wish I had the stamina, and a better knee to do it again.
 
soundinmotiondj said:
Back when I was CD based, I would beatmix during the dance portion of the evening. Then I went computer based (about 10 years ago)...and lacking a MIDI controller...I stopped beatmixing. I could "slam" songs together with software & a mouse...but that was about it.

Then about two years ago I got a MIDI controller (VCI-100, in case you are interested) and I started beatmixing again....during the dance portion of the evening. I upgraded to an S2 this year, and I am loving it. Not every song...not every transition....but when I can, and when it works with the songs.
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Manual Beat Mixing can be done from some DJ software too. I know for a fact it can be done from Traktor. I do it. However, if one can Map Keyboard Shortcuts, it becomes even easier as starts and stops are faster with keyboard than mouse clicks.
 
ahoustondj said:
Manual Beat Mixing can be done from some DJ software too. I know for a fact it can be done from Traktor. I do it. However, if one can Map Keyboard Shortcuts, it becomes even easier as starts and stops are faster with keyboard than mouse clicks.
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That's not totally true Canute...Depends on the user.

If the keyboard and the mouse, are both connected via USB, there will be no difference in the throughput.

For somebody that's not handy with a mouse, that might be correct though. I'm faster on a mouse for the most part, than I am on a keyboard. I've never tested the theory, but I'm taking a wild guess, that given all the years of mouse use, I may actually be able to do it faster via the mouse...

I have to take into the equation, how long it will take my brain to recognize the key (or keys) I need to press, whereas my hand is always on the mouse, and my brain is used to following the cursor on the screen.
 
SoftJock Rick said:
That's not totally true Canute...Depends on the user.

If the keyboard and the mouse, are both connected via USB, there will be no difference in the throughput.

For somebody that's not handy with a mouse, that might be correct though. I'm faster on a mouse for the most part, than I am on a keyboard. I've never tested the theory, but I'm taking a wild guess, that given all the years of mouse use, I may actually be able to do it faster via the mouse...

I have to take into the equation, how long it will take my brain to recognize the key (or keys) I need to press, whereas my hand is always on the mouse, and my brain is used to following the cursor on the screen.
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Well one would think that having a finger on lets say the F3 Key programmed to start Deck B, would be much faster, than clicking on a Start Button in the Software. No typing is needed just pushing keyboard keys.
 
It's usually pretty clear where a given DJ is coming from. DJs who claim that mixing is not important probably don't know how to dance well, and likely don't work with dancers or choreography very much.

Mixing isn't about what kind of event you are doing (wedding, etc, ) it's about how to store and use momentum to keep people dancing. A failure to mix affects dancers the same way you would be affected while watching a movie if the actors kept slipping in and out of character. You would no longer be immersed in the moment and you would rapidly lose your place or interest.

When a given song or period of dancing is particularly successful the ability to maintain people's immersion in that moment or rhythm is three times more effective than simply playing another great song. This applies to all manner of selections, slow songs, dance, rock, pop, Motown, etc. Mixing is also not all about "blending" beats and fades - it's about timing and properly masked or highlighted tempo changes.
 
Could be that perception is wrong and they're actually thinking about scratching????? Down here the norm is beat mixing all the time.
 
DJ SVO said:
Could be that perception is wrong and they're actually thinking about scratching????? Down here the norm is beat mixing all the time.
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..could be. Scratching would be annoying if over done or with the wrong crowd. The other possibility is what I like to call the ADD-DJ... these are the club jocks who go out of their way to slam a new song every 2nd chorus. They pack a whole lot of hits into a tiny space but do it with a hard drop on a single beat. That's okay when everyone is jammed on the floor - but not so cool if your trying to build a floor.

Mobiles sometimes mistakenly associate that style with real curb appeal and forget that in a tightly packed club people often end up stuck like sardines on the dance floor - it's just not that easy to vote with your feet. At a wedding or private event there's always plenty of room to walk away from a mix or song you don't like, and it also takes people longer to arrive at the floor when they hear a song they want. Unless used sparingly at the right time you can really annoy people at private events with that style.
 
SoftJock Rick said:
I've never found it important at a wedding.

A wedding is a social event, not a dance contest. I've found that most people want to hear the songs in their entirety, because they have some sort of emotional connection with the song. They also like a lot of breaks to chat and relax.

Keeping people on the dance floor 100% of the time at a wedding, is not the goal. Your goal is to help them have a fun social event, and entertain them. So beat matching doesn't matter IMHO -- and yes, it can be annoying to those at an event, who want to socialize.
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Rick I'm not one to disagree with you, but our crowds would be bored to hell if we let a song play in it's entirety. Once open dancing begins, I only let a song play for 2 minutes or less and then on to the next one. It's my way of keeping the crowd charged. Even my dinner sets are cut to 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.

Rick if you get a moment, take a peak at some of the video logs from my SCE team. The link to our site is below my signature. We are well known for club style mixing with class. Bringing serious boom and sound to some of the classiest venues in New Jersey. Everyone of the DJ's on our team beat mixes.
 
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