Dealing with Requests...

[SourceRaver]

Ok...you’ve scored a gig Dj’ing at a wedding or party of some kind. Chances are a number of people in varying states of drunkenness will approach you during the night to request a song. The problem is that you may not have the song or you know it won’t be appropriate and will probably clear the dance floor. What do you say?

My usually policy is to say I’ll play the song if I have it and then mix it in when I think it will have the least impact on the majority of the people at the event (i.e. right at the end of the evening when you have everything packed up barr one speaker and CD player).

Some other less honest strategies would be to say:

“Hey man, I played that earlier. You must have been in the toilet or outside or something.” (Works well on smokers)

“Sorry, I can’t play that track because it reminds the bride of her ex-boyfriend.”

“Sure, I’d love to play some ‘gangster cap in yo arse’ music so long as you can give me a few song or artists names.”

“Sorry. I lost my only copy of the Funky Chicken. I think my dog ate the CD...”

So...

Just for the sake of a laugh...what would you say?

(Real Tip: Take a playlist, pen and paper and ask people to write their request down. If you don’t, they’ll probably start asking you what you do have and drag the conversation on when all you really want to be doing is mixing the next tune in!)

[CBG]

lol.

"ahh no I sorry mister, I no speaka no Engrish!"

[Genetic]

i've found having the people that hire you to have a list of songs they like, getting all them on a list and then if someone requests give them that and tell them only songs from there can be requested.

alternatively tell them they can't request songs, only the people that hired you can!

or finally fuck off i'm mixing

[RhemyD]

do what you would do in an request situation. Write the name of the song down, the artist and let them know that you will play it when it fits into the mood of the evening.

Most of the time they will understand, just make sure they have a good time and if the floor gets cleared play their tune for good measure.

Never ever, ever, lie about what music you do or don't have. Not only is it unprofessional it mares bad on the rest of the industry as a whole.

[pill]

I try and avoid having people do requests on the night by having a song request system on my website that people can link their guests to (good for school functions, not really for weddings though) and by getting a list from the host as well.

Dodo's cheap mobile internet connects me to online music stores if theres one particular random song that I don't have that heaps of people want (particularly good when certain artists die and therefore all of there music suddenly becomes popular and you find one of their best tracks has mysteriously dissapeared).

[DjDennis]

so pill you have the apra format shift licence and recording what shows you do - who for - the cost - and what songs are downloaded and played etc at each and every show for the licence mob to know what artists to pay for the licence ??

well be carefull get caught without one and dont say you wasnt told

www.mipi.com.au

www.apra.com.au (format shift licence)

[Cupe]

Dennis, can I suggest you make a new thread with ALL the details to do with mipi etc. so you don't have to say it in every single other thread please?

[pill]

so pill you have the apra format shift licence and recording what shows you do - who for - the cost - and what songs are downloaded and played etc at each and every show for the licence mob to know what artists to pay for the licence ??

well be carefull get caught without one and dont say you wasnt told

Well dennis, as far as I'm aware, I am not actually conducting any format shifting so I don't need the format shifting license.

The few cds I have I play off a cd player.